Another reason

Aurelia

People of all ages and races were being forced to work on the Queens new war ships. They all had chains around their ankles and spiked collars around their necks. It was clear they were beaten and starved. I found it either very bold or incredibly stupid to have her guards holding whips and dealing out lashes on those deemed not working hard enough.

“What…. how……why?” I couldn’t finish any of my thoughts.

My eyes took in the sights that reminded me of my past. Behind me a whip cracked, I jumped and my hand went for a sword that wasn’t there. My fear started to take over and my vision started to darken. A deep, booming laugh pulled me out of my dark thoughts.

“I can see how these sights would upset a delicate Lady such as yourself! We should move on from here. The complete ships are around that bend over that way.”

So, he assumed how these sights would upset me as a delicate lady? I was okay with allowing him to maintain that thought. We walked and I seethed with anger. Captain Galorian was talking but I wasn’t paying much attention. I took a quick look at Kairios and saw the same anger I felt on his face. I wanted to take his hand to comfort us both but I couldn’t, we had a part a part play for now.

We walked the short distance around the bend Galorian had pointed out, all the while he chatted about his adventures and the most precious of the sights the world had. In any other circumstance I would have been interested and asked questions however, I needed this time to regain my thoughts. What I was about to see ahead of me was too important to be distracted.

The tallest sails were visible before we fully came around the bend of a small cliff. As far as the eye could see in the moonlight were large ships. I counted up to fifty-three before giving up, it was too dark and it seemed there were a lot more to be counted.

“How many more ships does she have?”

“I’ll have to disappoint the lovely Lady; I cannot tell you that. The Queen would be very upset with me if I give away any of her secrets and I intend to maintain her favor for now.”

I hadn’t expected him to tell me or at least trust him if he did say anything. It seemed odd to me that he would bring me here anyway, what game could he possibly be playing?

“Thank you for showing me such an… interesting sight. I should return home. The night has gotten away from me.”

“I would like to see you again. Will you join me for dinner tomorrow evening? I have a magnificent cook aboard my ship” He asked as he swept into a gallant bow, waiting for me to reply.

I couldn't refuse the opportunity, no matter the risk.

“I would be delighted to enjoy dinner with you, Captain.”

“Wonderful, I shall send a carriage to Lady Lyanna's house to pick you up in the evening, come Mana, we have much work to prepare.”

We all walked back to the main gate together. I took in every single sight as we went on. I would need to work quickly to save these people. When we got through the gate and were about to part ways, Galorian grabbed my hand and planted a kiss on it. I was so shocked! I didn't move or pull my hand away.

“I will be counting down the hours until I see you again.”

With that he quickly spun on his heel and walked away from us. I stood there with a blank expression as I watched them walk away.

“You will not be attending that dinner alone. I can't believe you let him touch you like that!” His angry eyes snapped me out of myself.

“He caught me off guard and on top of that, as you are well aware, I have a part to play here. He seems willing to give up free information. I need to do this; he could be a great ally to us. He knows things we wouldn't have even thought to ask. Do you not trust me around him?”

“I trust you. I certainly don’t trust him. Whatever information he freely gives you will have a cost eventually. We have to go.”

His words had a sobering effect on me, he was right. I had to be realistic, that man was way to cunning to be trusted. I had to remind myself that he supported my Aunt and he knew about those poor slaves set to build the ships. I wondered if he would be willing to support me instead... why did the thought of his support give me butterflies?

“Kairios.... I am sorry. I shouldn’t have allowed him to touch me. I won't let it happen again.” I truly felt bad, it couldn’t have been easy for him and he never reacted outwardly.

His only response was to take my hand in his as we walked the rest of the way home. I was suddenly very tired and paid little attention to the sights around us. When we finally returned to the house, all the windows were full of light. They had all stayed awake to wait for us to come back?

The door swung open before we even had walked up the two steps that were at its base. Saira emerged with the look of great relief in her eyes.

“I was so worried about you both!” she said as she came up to me and gave me a long hug.

I was such a fool. I had completely forgotten my mother was with us at the start. I had not noticed her slip off. She probably left us when we were redirected to the ship yard, then came home and told them what was happening.

“I was worried as well, what could be happening, but I saw something that made the risk worth it. We should go inside and I can tell you all about it.”

When we came into the front room my Mother, Lyanna, and Massel were all waiting.

“Captain Galorian is a very dangerous man; you should never be alone with him.” Lyanna warned me before I was able to tell them anything.

“Yes, I can tell that for myself. He also invited me to dinner with him tomorrow on his ship.” Lyanna’s eyes were wide with anger but had nothing to say at first.

“What could he possibly be planning with you.”

“I don’t know. I'm playing my own little game with him as well. He took us to the Queen’s ship yard. She has more ships than I would have thought possible. I counted fifty-three but there were more, it was too dark for an accurate count. There were slaves building them. I saw humans, Elf kind and it didn’t matter what age. Young and old were being whipped by Palace guards and they had chains and collars!”

“So, my sister is now dealing with slaves? She is truly doing everything she can to destroy his Kingdom. Slavery of that magnitude has been outlawed for many years. We will have to be more careful; she is showing that she is capable of doing more than I would have believed her capable.”

The room grew quiet as we all thought about the facts of what was happening. Slavery was the last straw, she wouldn’t just be stopped and punished. She would have to be killed.

“I am going to bed. This night has exhausted me.”

It was very late and everyone else was just as tired. We all said our goodnights and I grabbed Kairios’ hand. When we were upstairs and alone, I turned to him saying,

“Will you stay with me tonight? I'm afraid to be alone and Saira shouldn’t mind.”

“It was seeing the slaves treated like that, wasn’t it?” Of course he knew what bothered me, he was the only one who knew me so well.

“The sounds were the worst. The cries of the children's pain, the worst was the crack of the whip against flesh. It was like I could feel my scars crying at the memory of that pain.”

We walked into my room and helped each other get undressed. The feel of his skin against mine helped to sooth the pain I was in. He pulled me into a long hug and kissed my hair. He whispered that he loved me and he would always protect me. When we laid down, I cuddled up as closely as I could and fell asleep immediately.

My sleep was plagued by the memories of my past and the sights of the slaves. I tossed around in the bed and woke up a few times throughout the night. Kairios woke the few times with me and would hold me until I fell asleep once again.

When the sun was up, I decided I should just stay awake for the day. Kairios beside me and Saira in the other bed, were both asleep and I was lucky to have not woken them up on my way out of the room. The house was quiet and calm. When I went into the kitchen to make something warm to drink and something small to nibble on. Thinking I would be alone, I was surprised when Lyanna was in the kitchen already.

She seemed to have the same ideas as I did. She looked up at me while continuing to stir her cup.

“Good morning, may I join you?”

“That would be enjoyable. Would you like to try a cup of the Arabica? It was gifted by a friend years ago whom loved to travel long distances, it is my favorite.” She poured and passed me a steaming cup. Along with that she pushed a small plate with sugar cubes and a small cup of cream.

When I looked into the cup I was surprised at how dark and thick it looked. I took a sip and thought it was way to bitter for my tastes. That’s what the sugar was for, so I added a cube and a splash of the fresh cream and tasted it again. It was magnificent!

“Tonight, you have dinner with the Captain. I must warn you about him. It was the truth when I said he was being named a pirate. He has been very careful not to leave the evidence needed to imprison him. He never leaves a survivor behind to question.

He and his men had gotten sloppy though and we found one. The descriptions were spot on. He claims to be loyal to the Queen but his actions are speaking differently. I don’t know what his plans are now but he is absolutely selfish and unreliable.”

“I will be careful. There is much that I might be able to learn from him with just one dinner. I won't be going alone. Maybe he can be useful to us in a way, even if he will always be an enemy.”

We ended our conversation there as Lyanna had some work to attend to. Saira, Kairios and my Mother were all now awake and came to the kitchen for their own breakfast. There was a long day ahead before I would need to get ready for the dinner tonight.

We spent the day for the first time in luxury and relaxation. The maids spoiled us in a way that I never knew existed. The time to get ready came to quickly and I was reluctant to go upstairs. When I walked into my room there was a magnificent red dress hanging by the mirror.

Standing beside the red dress was a small table with a box on top of it. Curiosity was burning through me. When I opened it, I saw a white and black fur with a note on it.

“To my love, a rare gift for a rare beauty.”

I pulled the massive fur out of the box and looked it over with tears in my eyes. It wrapped around me completely and was dragging on the floor. I hung it up with the dress and went to the bath that was ready and waiting. Saira came to help me bathe and get ready. She washed and brushed my hair till there wasn’t a single tangle left.

When I was clean and the water ran cold, I got out and we started to put the dress on. The bottom half of the dress was made of a light material that seemed to flow like blood. At the hips there was jeweled belt that separated the two materials of the dress. The bodice was made of a material so thin with a small metal breast plate that just covered the intimate parts. My shoulders and arms were left bare.

I looked myself over while Saira finished my hair and added a few touches of make-up. I had once felt like the most beautiful woman when Kairios made me an outfit of leaves and grass but this was a different kind of beautiful. I looked like a Queen should.

“Kairios won't want to let you leave the house, you look so beautiful.”

We both laughed at the truth of Kairios being over protective. We had spent too long getting ready and when I went to the entrance, I saw a stranger standing there. Kairios came to stand close to me and said quietly,

“I caught this animal in the woods awhile back, remember? I was finally able to get it made into something as beautiful as you are.” He pulled the cloak off my arm and wrapped it around my shoulders. The clasp was a silver dragon that connected at the center of the body.

“Thank you.” I wanted to give him more of a thank you but the eyes on us were not to be trusted.

The stranger at the door cleared his throat to get our attention.

“My Lady, the Captain awaits your arrival. Shall we make our way?”

“Yes, let's be on our way. My guard appears to be ready as well.”

We walked through the door and saw a carriage with flowers over flowing from it. There was hardly any room to sit between the beautiful and delicate bundles. There was so many different kinds and an array or colors. It smelled amazing. Galorian was really putting in a lot of effort to this dinner. I would have to be alert and not fall prey to his charms.

I had to get as much information from him before I was found out. How far would I be willing to go to get what I wanted, and would Kairios be able to keep it together long enough to keep us out of trouble? So much was riding on tonight.