Chapter 3
CHAPTER
3
(Thirty Days Remain)
I awoke to the morning sun glaring through my windows and Versa practically pouncing onto my bed. With a squeal of excitement, she exclaimed, “Father has told me all about your new adventure!”
I rolled over to face her, trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. “Huh?” I questioned groggily.
“I always knew you’d be the one to do something amazing. I’m so jealous; I wish I could come with you.”
My head was pounding, not only from being woken abruptly—and this early, which I hated—but also from Versa’s tone, which in no way matched that of my parents’ the night prior.
Before I could even say a word, she continued to ramble on. “I mean, I am devastated you won’t be here for the wedding, but who could say no to an opportunity like that? I don’t blame you, not one bit!”
Versa inched closer to me as I pushed myself up on my elbows, holding my hand up to the window to shade my eyes from the sun. “I can’t believe you leave in a month, but I know we’ll make the most of it. You can help me finish up the planning and—”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped in confusion.
She paused and looked at me with hurt in her eyes, and I admit I hadn’t noticed the sharpness of my voice until I saw her reaction.
She spoke softly and slowly this time, “You know, how you’ve been assigned to be a translator on a ship with one of father’s guild members.”
It started to make sense, as I transitioned from the delirium of sleep to a state of awake.
“You were always better at the old tongue than I was. I just couldn’t see much use in studying something that was hardly spoken…” she trailed off. “But look at you now! You’re going to see the world, finally.”
This was it. The bold and creative lie my parents had come up with to keep my sister completely in the dark as to why I’d be leaving soon and wouldn’t be at her wedding. I felt sick to my stomach that my father dared to use a real desire of mine to conveniently put a bow on this little charade. He knew I wanted to join the guild; he promised me it would happen someday, and here we were pretending he had kept his word.
I gave them credit. Saying I’d be a translator was not something I would have come up with. I’d have bet that was my mother; nice touch. Although, a good lie requires a commitment to the details.
I think I had underestimated how exhausting it was going to be keeping up with these lies around Versa, and already it made me want to flee. But, for her benefit, I swallowed the anxious feeling and replied, “Oh yes, I am so excited…but I didn’t know how to tell you. I just can’t believe I’m not going to be here to see your hand given in marriage.”
Versa placed her hands on mine and smiled at me with all sincerity. “You’re forgiven. Think nothing of it! Look at it this way, one less ball… I know how you despise them.”
She wasn’t wrong, balls weren’t my thing, and being she was a daughter of a High Lord also marrying into a wealthy family, no expense would be spared on such a spectacle. I glanced away briefly, shielding her from the sight of the grief beginning to creep into my expression.
Yes, I hated dances—despite my skill—but I loved my sister and I wanted to be there for her on her big day. I wanted to be there for all her big days. The day she became a wife, a mother. All of it…I’d never get to see it.
Before my thoughts betrayed me, I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward me in an embrace. I whispered into her neck, “I’m going to miss you more than you can imagine.”
As she pulled away from me, my attention was drawn to the parchment by the window, and I became nervous that she might notice it. After all, she thought I was going to be gone for a long time, but not forever. I’m sure there was going to be some grand part two to this lie that eventually explained why I never returned.
I laughed internally at the thought of the headlines and rumors. I could see it now...
Daughter of merchant, lost at sea—never returns.
Daughter of a High Lord taken to her untimely death by a creature of the sea.
Daughter of House Blackthorn taken captive and slain.
Thinking of the ways in which my parents would fake my disappearance was beyond depressing, and I immediately sought to distract myself. If I was never to return or speak to anyone I know or love again, then the only believable reason was that I had died.
If letters went with no reply, if visits went unplanned, there had to be a culmination to this lie. Because forever was what the Offering demanded.
I had to focus. I had things to do and time was already dwindling. My sister knew me too well. We were one soul split in two. Sometimes, I think she knew my motives before I did.
“What are you going to do before you leave?” she eyed me mischievously. “I hope it’s absolutely debaucherous.”
I let out a high-pitched cackle because she thought just like I did. Make the most of everything. I smiled at her and gave an equally deviant look back when I replied, “I have some ideas…”
My sister and I sat in the dining hall, sipping on warm tea and enjoying sweet rolls. I added two extras to my plate and chomped away obnoxiously because, if I had no future, who gave a damn about maintaining one’s figure for training, attracting a spouse, or otherwise. I slapped a heap of butter onto the second roll as my mother and father entered the hall.
As they made their way toward us, my mother’s deep red hair contrasted dramatically in the sunlight against the pale lilac gown she donned. It was not a flattering combination.
Normally, they sat at the complete opposite end from Versa and I, which often led to feeling like we were eating breakfast separately. They must be feeling sentimental—or wanting to listen in closely to ensure I kept up with the lie.
“Morning,” my father said nonchalantly.
With my mouth stuffed full of sweet rolls, I figured I’d throw them a bone by showing them I had already been ambushed. “Father, you’ll have to let me borrow some of your maps for my voyage,” I quipped dryly while eying him and shoving another bite in my mouth.
My mother was already displeased with the curt manner of my speech, complemented by the completely unladylike behavior I was displaying with my food. Something absolutely out of character for a daughter of a High Fae family whose upbringing most definitely included all things etiquette.
I slurped my cup of mint tea for good measure. My prompt caught them both by surprise, but they quickly recovered and played along.
“Of course, darling,” my father nodded, helping himself to the spread. “I’m sure the Seafarers will have their own, but it doesn’t hurt to have extra. After all, none are as detailed as mine.”
My mother nodded in agreement and spared us a fake smile before sipping from her steaming cup. I glanced at Versa, who was completely buying it, and almost disinterested, as she began glancing through the sketches of her wedding gown options. She’d only changed her mind fifty times, but who could blame her; everyone was going to be looking at her.
Before I even knew what I was saying, I spoke with conviction, “Since I have such little time to prepare before I have to leave, I just wanted you to be aware I will be very busy.” I paused expecting someone to interject, but they didn’t, so I continued, “I have some affairs to get in order, some friends to say goodbye to—you know, typical things…” I almost snorted at how formal I sounded, when all I was really trying to say was that I was not going to be around much since I’d be busy checking things off a ridiculous list I’d made before the king destroyed my life.
I could tell my sister was only half listening since all she did was chime in to offer, “But you’ll make time for my dress fitting and provide some help planning, right?”
I rolled my eyes. She didn’t take notice since hers were still plastered on the dress sketches. She had no idea the severity of my situation; how could I fault her for thinking her wedding list was more important than my end-of-freedom list?
My mother and father eyed me intently, because unlike her, they did understand. And, although they had no idea what I’d be pursuing, they had already understood that whatever these days entailed would be of my own making.
My mother, trying to keep up the act of just another casual morning, turned to my sister and quietly began to discuss the details of the nuptials.
Shoving another bite of breakfast into my mouth, I turned to my father, tilting my head with a complacent smile that read, How am I doing?
I was almost feeling cocky enough to throw my feet up on the table, but then Versa would have been tipped off that something was truly awry if I was going to push my father’s limits unnecessarily. I kept my feet planted under the table like a lady should, but slumped my posture a little in defiance.
My father grinned, his thin dark beard framing the corners of his lips as he continued to play along. “I am sure you’re going to love your time at sea, but we should make sure you pack accordingly. You’ll need something more practical, as gowns won’t be needed on the decks.”
I tried to hide my scowl as I replied in between bites of breakfast, “Yes, I think my fighting leathers, trousers, blouses, and boots would all be better suited.”
At the mention of my attire, Versa finally squeaked in alarm, “Fighting leathers! Father, what are you sending her off to do? I hope she won’t have a need for that. I pray she doesn’t run into those barbarians or their kind; please tell me she’ll be safe with whoever her captain is!”
I knew what barbarians she was referring to. Years ago, there was an uprising led by a group of Seafarers against the merchants. They blockaded the port, took hostages, and killed indiscriminately to prove their viciousness was not a bluff.
They felt the merchants guild had become too powerful and were taking advantage of the Seafarers. Their kind weren’t overly keen on negotiations, so the disagreement began with bloodshed rather than diplomacy. The horrors they inflicted were practically war crimes. There wasn’t an ounce of etiquette or decorum, and my father described how the once beautiful blue bay that sparkled with seafoam was painted in blood and driftwood from destroyed ships and lives taken. To make things even more salacious, the rebels were led by a Seafarer who was, in fact, High Fae. It was treason for members of the High Court to turn on one another.
This was a very difficult time for my family as my mother, sister and I waited for what seemed like an eternity to hear any news of my father and his well-being.
Night after night we’d go to bed crying. I remember Versa and I slept together most of those nights, clinging to one another for some small sense of comfort. While his guild’s fleet had lost many ships and lives, he returned to us unscathed but extremely shaken. He would not speak in detail of the atrocities he had witnessed, but one night, I had eavesdropped on him and my mother. I never shared the details of what I’d heard with Versa, and as for myself, I wish I could take back my curiosity from that evening.
My father’s jaw clenched at the memory of the barbarians, “No Versa, of course not. She’ll be under the protection of people I trust completely. Plus, they finally caught up with that evil scoundrel who incited that entire uprising, and he will be tortured and imprisoned for eternity.”
My father paused, appearing in deep thought, probably suffering flashbacks. “Death isn’t good enough for him,” he added bitterly.
I grabbed my butter knife and pointed the dull end at Versa’s arm, making a short jabbing motion to lighten the mood. “What, sister, you think I can’t handle myself against a couple of Sea Fae?”
She cocked her head at me in annoyance that I might dare get butter on the silk sleeve of her dress. My father finally returned from his own thoughts and gave me a warm smile before adding, “Cress can handle herself, of that I have no doubt.”
The frustration of this entire conversation was broiling beneath my skin. It was clear sitting around the manor all by my lonesome was just as irritating as sitting with my family and playing pretend. Versa continued to thumb through sketches. I turned to my left and saw the ornate golden clock that had been in our family for centuries, and I was reminded that each minute that passed where I sat here putting on an act, wearing a mask and stuffing my face, was one less to achieve all the things on my list.
I stood abruptly, screeching my chair across the marble floor. The unpleasant noise caused my sister to glance up at me once more and, before she could show any measure of concern, I stated flatly, “I have a lot to do today, don’t wait on me for dinner.”
I practically waltzed out of the room, already sweating at the thought of any of them knowing what I intended to take care of first.
As I made my way up to my room, I supposed I could have asked to speak with my father in his study, just to understand the full extent of this wild tale we’d be spinning. But it didn’t matter, not when I was on a mission.
The lady’s maid drew me a hot bath and I opened the windows to let in the fresh summer air and sunlight. I gave her a nod of appreciation and indicated I’d like privacy. I figured if today was the day some male was going to take me, I might as well be clean, smell delightful, and look like a lady. After a brief soak, I exited the tub smelling of lavender and I paused to stare at my naked body in the long mirror next to my armoire. I was every bit a grown female, but at this point, I felt a bit shy that I was going to have to present myself bare in the very near future.
I studied the angles, dimples, and curves of my body. Turning and posing, trying to stand in a way that I thought showed off my best assets. I opened the door to view my dresses and selected one to mark the occasion. It was not something I’d have normally worn, and in fact, it was one Versa had designed to match her own. The neckline was scantily cut to accentuate the collar, and…other things… The sleeves were long, loose, and elegant. The skirt was fitted until just past the waistline to show off the bodice, all the way down to the hips, and drew close to the leg so as not to make it unbearable to get around. Like most of my dresses, it was made of velvet and I fancied the dark teal color.
I didn’t know where this passionate episode was going to take place; I certainly didn’t want to be overwhelmed or distracted by my attire. I left off any jewelry as I didn’t want to worry about losing it. I also changed my mind and elected to leave my hair down, knowing that if I left with it styled and came back with it looking like a bird’s nest, I might not be able to hide the embarrassment on my face. I only knew this because sometimes Versa would crawl back into my room after her late-night rendezvous looking completely disheveled.
Once fully dressed, I looked myself over again in the mirror one last time. I inhaled deeply. No time like the present.
I headed to the stable and waited impatiently while the stable hand saddled my dapple-gray horse, Rain. I saw my mother staring at me from a window and gave her a polite wave.
In a flash, I mounted and took off and was immediately glad I chose to leave my hair down as the wind rushed through every strand, the breeze offering me a reprieve from the blanket of heat that had already overcome the morning.
Exhilarated at the freedom of leaving the grounds without an escort, I knew exactly where I was headed to accomplish item number one on the list; to someone who had made a bargain with me. It was time to call in that favor.