Loving the Dead

Chapter 7

After I had taken a bath, Calypso came back with a pair of riding pants and boots that were mens. She still looked suspicious of me, but she didn't press for more information.

"You're really not from around here are you? Not to be rude ma'am, but you don't really act like a proper lady. You don't wear dresses and make-up, you "train", and your hair is always down or in a braid. I don't quite understand you Miss Annora, but I want to let you know I like you a lot better than some of the girls here." She said with a wink.

"No don't worry about it. You could say I wasn't really raised as a proper lady. I fight, and it's a passion I have. The men do not look down upon me, and in fact, some of them even look up to me." I said.

"That quite interesting milady. I've never heard of a lady to fight in a war before. That's quite amazing." She said, her eyes bright with wonder.

"Well thank you, I know it's very different around here, but I don't really want to change my ways for them." I said. I feel like I could talk with her for hours, but we had to stop when a knock came to the door.

Calypso went and opened the door, to see Jacob standing there.

Calypso went in to a low bow, saying "Welcome Prince Jacob."

Prince? Jacob was a prince?

"You're a prince Jacob?" I asked.

"Yes, the King you met earlier was my father." He said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were the prince, I would have been much more respectful." I said. I hope I wasn't coming off as rude, and I was never taught how to curtsey before. Often as children Breccan and I would make fun of them for it.

"It's quite alright, I didn't exactly expect you to know. Are you ready for the tour?" He asked.

I gave a nod, and we made our way out. I turned back to see Calypso, and she winked. I haven't even known that women for even day and I already loved her.

I closed the door behind me, and I walked beside Jacob.

"I'm sorry but I haven't caught your name yet. What is it?" He asked.

"Annora, prince." I said.

"Annora, is it? Well please don't feel the need to call me that. Treat me as any other person here. First off, I have some questions. Why are you wearing pants?" He asked, giving me a quizzical side glance.

"I told you, the women in our village are warriors, not frilly dolls. We fight, not sit out." I said. I hate explaining things over and over again.

"Ok. I heard you talking to someone earlier, but the servants weren't there. Who was it?" He asked.

My goodness this man asked a lot of questions.

"I talk to myself sometimes. Sorry if I come off weird, but my people live a lot different than us. " I said, sighing at the end.

"You're fine Annora, I just would really like to learn about your people. I've never heard of women fighting before." He said.

"It's alright Jacob, I don't mind." I said with a smile.

We walked down the hallway in silence for a few moments, a slightly uncomfortable air coming in. So I spoke up.

"Where are we going first?" I asked.

"Oh yes, we'll start at our dining hall. We have beautiful gardens outside also that I would like to show you." He said a smile. His smile was breathtaking. His eyes crinkled around the edges, like an old soul would have.

"Um, Annora, what are you staring at?" He asked.

I snapped out of my trance. What was wrong with me? Jacob was a stranger, and my people wanted to kill him. I am much more ruthless than this.

"Oh I'm sorry, I was thinking and wasn't paying attention." I said blushing. Why couldn't I stop blushing?

"Oh it's quite alright. Come on the dining hall is right up ahead." He said, chuckling.

We went though the dining hall, and it just showed how much the British were spoiled. The room had a table with a table that look like it seated up to 40 people and huge white pillars were found wherever you looked. Also huge extravagant chandeliers hung from the ceiling. I did have to admit they looked very beautiful, but we have never had anything like that before. We've usually hD to fight for money to buy food or mostly steal it. We were pirates, and we didn't live the "proper life."

Thinking about home made me feel a little sick. I missed sailing the seas with Breccan, fighting along side with him.

"Ok, now that I have shown you the dining hall, why don't I show you the gardens?" He asked.

I nodded, and we went outside. What I saw took my breath away.

The gardens had huge blooming flowers of all color and sizes. All I really saw was rainbow.

Jacob noticed my jaw hanging wide open, and he said with a smile "Amazing isn't it? I always come here to get away from things."

"It's beautiful. But why does it seem so barren?" I asked quizzically. I didn't see any one around.

"No one really has time to come here except the servants to tend to it, so it's really just mine. It's nice to come here by myself." He said, his eyes looking like they filled with something that almost look like sadness.

"Not to intrude on your business, but did something happen here?" I asked.

He sighed, and looked off in to the distance. His eyes filled with grief. I didn't know what happened, but I just wanted to hold him, tell him it would be fine.

What was going on? I can't stop thinking about him. Jacob.

He turned to me, and said, "I'll tell you. My mother died when I was 9. She would come down here almost everyday with me, and she would read stories with me, or tell me about her childhood. I would look forward to it everyday.

After she died, my father fell in to depression. He wasn't doing his duties, and that's where I had to step it. I kept telling my Father it would be fine, and we would pull through. He ignored me for a long time, but finally stopped and said he was sorry for not being as good as a father as he should have, and will fix his mistakes. He's been an amazing King since then, but has never been the same as that day my Mother died." Said Jacob, bright blue eyes staring off in to the distance.

I felt terrible. Jacob was forced to fend for himself when his mother died.

"I'm sorry you probably don't want to listen to me drone on about my problems. It's just something about you, makes me feel like I can trust you with anything." He said meeting my gaze.

I blushed. Jacob was very wrong with trusting me with things, but that made me think. Were the British really that bad?