Song of the Sea

Chapter 2

Once I'm back inside, I run to the library. I pull books off the shelves and stuff them into leather bags. I crawl through the passageway and enter my room. I grab a knapsack and shove some trousers and shirts inside. I ring a bell and a servant comes. I open the door just a little, not enough for her to see what I'm doing.
"Please prepare a basket full of fruit and small treats for me. As quickly as possible." As she hurries away, I can hear the clamor of people filling the courtyard. I finish packing my clothes and run to my desk. I rifle through papers, trying to see what's important and what's not. I end up taking some pens and maps of the whole world. I spy the book I brought to Cai in the corner of my room and scoop it into my arms. The girl arrives with the fruit and I sling it over one arm. I tie the bags together and throw them over my shoulder.
I run to my balcony and see the ship Cai sails, The Sea Gypsy. I spot his dark hair in the sails and whistle. His head pops up and he waves. I wave back and signal with my hands. He nods and begins to climb down. I grab a rope from beside the door and shimmy down the wall. I had this installed when Cai and I first met so I could sneak out aboard the ship late at night. I run through the hedges and emerge in the port. I spy some of my father's guards making their way across the square, and I weave around the edges until I make it to the ship. I signal to Cai again and he smiles. He talks to the captain for a moment, then the captain began shouting orders.
"Hoist the sails! You there, make sure the rigging is secure!" He makes his way to me. "Where to, miss?" I smile and motion for Cai to come here. "To the Devil's Lagoon."
We set sail as soon as the sails are up. I had climbed up to the crow's nest to keep a lookout for my father's men. Some are milling around the square, asking merchants questions. I had made sure nobody had seen me, so I hoped they wouldn't be able to tell anyone where I was. I notice some guards making their way towards the ship and crouch down. The captain and Cai should be able to take care of them before they make it far. I watch as they climb the gangplank and are confronted by the captain. I don't hear what they are saying, but I can see by the way the captain gestures that he is agitated. The guards put their hands up in mock surrender and laugh. They clap the captain on the back and walk along the deck. They corner a young lad, not much younger than I, and ask him something. The boy shakes his head and the guards smack his head. They ask him another thing. The boy raises his hands and shakes his head again. The guards snatch his hands and pull him forward. They begin to make their way off the ship before the captain starts yelling. The guards drop the boy and begin beating the captain. I gasp and smack a hand over my mouth. How dare they lay a hand on the captain! Before I could climb down and go give them a piece of my mind, a sharp whistle came from across the patio. The guards looked up and gave the captain one last kick before exiting the ship. Cai ran over and helped the captain belowdecks while the crew got ready to sail.
At last, we take to the sea. Once we are far away, I stand up and stretch my arms. Behind me, Vodor is just a speck on the horizon. I swing down the ropes and look for Cai. I find him with the captain in his cabin.
"Hey. What's up?" he asks me. He's pressing a towel against the captain's brow.
"Not much. Are you alright, sir?"
"Perfectly dandy. Although I will have some bruises." The captain coughs. "I really wasn't expecting them to attack me like that. What's wrong with them?" He pushes Cai's hand away and points at me. "Your father and his men are big trouble, young lady. If that happens again, then we'll have to stop this voyage."
I nod. "Of course, sir. I'm sorry on behalf of my father."
He sighs. "So I hear we're heading to Insula De Aur. You do realize nobody's been there before, right?"
I sit down in a chair and prop my feet on the table. "Yes, but I found a map that will hopefully lead in the direction of it." I dig through my back and drop the book on the table. "See?"
Cai pulls the book towards him. "Sir, just imagine what it will be like. Gold everywhere. And now that we have a lead on it, it's actually possible we can get there." He beams. "We'll be rich!"
The captain slides the map out of the book. "But to get there, we have to go through the Balcken Sea. Do you know how many ships have been lost there?" Cai starts to say something but the captain raises his hand. "I will take you, but if we encounter any storms or sea monsters I am turning around. Do you understand?" Cai and I nod vigorously.
"Thank you, sir." I rest a hand on his shoulder. "We couldn't do this without you."
"No, you couldn't," he says in a gruff tone. He leans over the map. "I need silence now to figure out our heading." I motion to Cai to come. I shut the door softly behind us and squeal.
"We're finally going!" I dance around him. "Can you believe it? Our first voyage and we get to see the legendary island of gold!" Cai smiles and picks me up.
"I know! It's too good to be true." he beams as bright as the sun. "Mira, I am looking forward to this. To go to the island, yes, but to also be with you without anyone yelling down our backs."
I kiss him on the cheek. "You're so sweet," I say. "Can you show me around the ship?"
"I thought you'd never ask." He leads me out onto the main deck. "I'm going to show you the prettiest part. Follow me" He wanders to the front of the ship. "This is the forecastle. That," he says, pointing out to a long appendage sticking out above the water, "is the bowsprit. If you climb out and lay in the nets, it's like you're flying above the water. Want to try?"
"Yeah! Is it scary?"
"A bit at first, but then you feel it, and it's amazing. Here." He helps me up. I crawl on the wood until I get above the nets. I look back, and Cai gives me thumbs up. I smile back at him. Then I fall. The net wraps around me like a cocoon. I twist around until I'm facing the ocean. I lay on the bowsprit with the water foaming under me, the masts towering high above me. I am set free! My stomach drops with the swells and can feel the mist lightly brush over my skin. I let the ocean rock me back and forth as the sun warms my back. I lay like that until the movement lulls me to sleep.
When I awake again, the sun is going down. A pod of dolphins race under me. I watch them play in the wake of the ship before inching back to the deck. I step off and go to the mess hall. There, the sailors are having the time of their lives. They dance around and are chugging rum like nobody's business. They start singing, and someone brings out a fiddle. He starts playing and a man stands up and sings:
"Oh, we'd be alright if the wind was in our sails." The rest join in.
"We'd be alright if the wind was in our sails
We'd be alright if the wind was in our sails
And we'll all hang on behind...
And we'll roll the old chariot along!
We'll roll the old chariot along!
We'll roll the old chariot along!
And we'll all hang on behind!"
I see Cai stand up.
"Now, another festival wouldn't do us any harm," he sings. The sailors start singing and jumping up and down.
"Oh, another festival wouldn't do us any harm
Woah, another festival wouldn't do us any harm
And we'll all hang on behind!
And we'll roll the old chariot along!
We'll roll the old chariot along!
We'll roll the old chariot along!
And we'll all hang on behind!" They finish and start laughing.
"Let's do Haul Away Joe!" Cai cries. They shout and start singing. I smile and go above deck to watch the sea.
I did not wish to go back to my cabin, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the sunset. The ocean is glassy, and the ship cuts slices through the waves. I take a deep breath and my chest expands. My heart starts beating so strongly I fear it might beat through my chest. I face the wind and my lips peel back from my teeth in a smile of pure joy. I feel the wind whip through my hair and lift my arms. I close my eyes and feel the dying sun on my face. I am flying. The sound of the men beats through the ship and I feel free. Like I belong. I no longer have a care in the world. I am free.
The next day I am woken by the sound of waves pounding against the hull. I scramble out of bed and pull on some clothes. I run out of my cabin and immediately get thrown against the side. I make my way to the end of the hall. I peer onto the deck. What I see creates a sinking feeling in my stomach. Rain pelts the deck and waves crash over the deck. The ship tilts side to side. The crew is running all over, securing things and trying to keep her steady. I can't see where Cai or the captain is. I peer up and thunder booms. A bolt of lightning illuminates the ship. Gray covers everything again. I stumble back to my cabin and decide to wait out the storm. I pick up a book and start reading.
By the time the storm is over, I made it through two books and had started on another when someone knocks on my door. I open it and am greeted by a soaking wet Cai.
"Storms over," he says. "You can go on deck now. Suns out." He shakes his head and water goes flying. I shield my face. "Oops, sorry!"
"Do you want to eat lunch with me on the deck?" I ask him. He grimaces.
"I wish, but the captain told me I had to secure everything in the hold. Things always get messy during storms."
"I understand. Have fun!" I watch him walk down the hall before going down to the kitchen.
"Hey, miss." The captain is cleaning a table in the middle of the room. "What can I help you with?"
"Oh, I'm just looking for lunch." I make my way to the back.
"Where's Cai? I thought he would be with you," he says.
I stop. "He said you told him to go secure the hold," I reply.
The captain squints. "No, I told him to change so that you two could eat together."
"Maybe he is just changing and doesn't want me to know? That still doesn't make sense." I shrug. "I guess I'll find out later." The captain waves at me and leaves. I continue to the back and grab some food. On the way out, I grab a checkered tablecloth with some food wrapped in it.
I go out to the deck and go to the half-deck. I spread out the tablecloth. The planks are still wet, so I fold it over. I let the sun bask over me while I eat. A shadow falls over me and I look up.
"Can I join you?" Cai asks. He did change his clothes into something much nicer. He's wearing a blue waistcoat and a white shirt with lace sleeves under it.
"Of course." I scoot over. "Why are you dressed as a prince?"
"I wanted to make a good impression if we meet people on the island," he says.
"Oh, that makes sense." I chew for a bit before I register the words. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah! See land there?" He points straight out. I have to squint, but sure enough, there's an island. "It's Insula De Aur! We made it!"
I tackle him in a hug. "Oh, my god! We did it!" I pull back. "I better go change. As you said, I need to make a good impression." I run back to my cabin and squeal. We found it! I pull on a dress and hurry back out. I find the captain.
"Why'd didn't you tell me we were almost there?" I exclaim.
"Cai wanted to tell you himself," he says. "Didn't want to ruin it."
"Thank you for taking us," I say. "How long before we get there?"
"Maybe an hour," he says. "Be very wary. Get some weapons." I nod and hurry to the armory. I strap a bunch of weapons to my body. I grab a coat and stuff some in there too. I emerge again just as the ship drops anchor.
"Cai! Mirabel! You two choose some people you want to take." The captain calls us over. Cai chooses a couple of people then we get into a rowboat and head to the island.