11. Sage
Sage
Someone delivered my bags not long ago. It was a thinner man who hardly said anything, just dropped the bags and left.
Since then, I’d started picking through them, taking my dresses that had been crinkled and stuffed in here and hanging them.
Though there was hardly any space, the closet just fitting two.
The rest of them I began hanging around the room, using the twine I found as a rack.
They covered almost every inch of wall I had left.
My makeup, hairbrush, and toiletries I set along the desk, basically filling it.
There was no vanity mirror, but I had my small compact I’d have to make use of.
There was a knock at my door, that came with a lack of footsteps.
I glanced up, irritation setting in before I even saw my current keeper.
He leaned against the door casually, looking me up and down.
I didn’t like it. Though I couldn’t place it, the way he looked at me was so…
different than most. Usually, I was set on this high pedestal, looked up at as a member of high society.
But he looked at me like any other person he’d ever seen before. Something about it made me feel off kilter.
“You’ve really… made yourself at home,” he said.
“Is that a problem?” I asked.
“Nope. I just didn’t expect so much… tulle when I came back.”
“Is there something wrong with my dresses?”
“I didn’t say that either.”
“It was implied,” I asserted. “You didn’t seem to have a problem with them last night.”
Even I knew goading my captor wasn’t the smartest thing I could be doing, but I’d never been that bright.
His jaw tightened. “No, I didn’t. On a ship they just might be a bit… cumbersome.”
“I’ll be just fine, thank you.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Now what?” I asked.
“My crew is getting ready to set sail,” he said. “Should only be a few days journey to our first stop.”
“To your… friend?” I asked with curiosity.
“I wouldn’t call her that,” he said. “I don’t think anyone would call Maralda a friend. But no, we need to make a stop first.”
“I’m not here to run errands with you,” I said flatly.
The corner of his mouth ticked, as if he might… smirk? Surely not. But that twitch was gone just as quick as it arrived.
“It’s not just an errand,” he assured. “We only have so many supplies, and with the need to get going now, we need to stop on our way there to make sure we’re stocked up.”
“Fine,” I agreed, as if I had any say in the matter.
“Thanks for your permission,” he snarked, “but don’t worry, we’ll get that off and you back to your lavish parties in no time.”
Annoyance crept in. “I do more than go to parties,” I huffed.
“Like what?” he asked.
“I—” It took me a moment. “I take care of my garden.”
The amused look on his face made me want to punch him. “I see, so lots of responsibilities.”
I felt like I was about to hit the roof. No one talked to me like that. “And what do you do?” I snapped. “Seems like a lot of nothing while your crew does all the real work.”
I was hoping to wipe that amusement off his face, but I only seemed to spark it further.
“Nonsense, I’ve been put on princess duty,” he said. “Have to make sure you don’t run off.”
“To where?” I rolled my eyes. “The ocean?”
The reminder made my stomach churn.
Don’t think about it.
Don’t think about it.
Don’t think about it.
My eldest sister’s words rang in my head.
That was her answer to everything. If one just ignored the discomfort, eventually it would stop feeling so uncomfortable.
And in a way she was right, when I was distracted, usually by some kind of company.
But when I was alone I couldn’t just… push it from my mind the way she seemed to think I should.
Maybe it was some kind of moral failing, I couldn’t be sure.
At least for the time being I did have a distraction right in front of me.
He shrugged. “Who knows. I also need to give you your assignment, right?”
My brows furrowed. “My what?”
“Assignment,” he said. “We agree you’re not a captive, right?”
I crossed my arms. I wasn’t sure I was ready to fully admit that, but I nodded, knowing, deep down, I willingly agreed to this mess.
“Great, well, unless you’re in the brig, you’re assigned a job. No one sleeps or eats for free on the Violet Ghost.”
All I could do was stand there, mouth agape.
I wasn’t dense, most everyone worked for a living.
And I’d tried to do things around the castle when I was younger, but after one too many broken “precious heirlooms” after dusting, I was told my skills were better off somewhere else.
Which turned out to be code for don’t touch anything.
“I don’t know how,” I said.
“Someone will teach you.”
I wanted to argue further, but he cut me off.
“I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow for your first day.”
Yeah, we would see about that.