Chapter 25 — Captain, Meet the King
Alexander had faced armed men, storms, pirates, and enemy fire.
None of those experiences prepared him for breakfast with Amara’s father.
King Adisa had requested his presence aboard the royal vessel at nine o’clock.
Amara found Alexander adjusting his coat for the third time.
“You're nervous.”
“No.”
“You've checked that button twice.”
“It was loose.”
“It isn't.”
Alexander looked at her. “Your father commands hundreds of soldiers.”
“So do other men you've met.”
“Other men were not fathers of women I've kissed.”
Amara smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
Alexander sighed. “How much does he know?”
“About us?”
“Yes.”
“Enough.”
That answer was not reassuring.
“What exactly is enough?”
Amara walked toward the door.
“You'll find out.”
“Amara.”
She smiled over her shoulder.
“Good luck, Captain.”
For the first time, Alexander seriously considered desertion.
The King's private cabin was spacious but surprisingly simple.
Adisa sat at a table covered with reports concerning Rourke and the men involved in Amara's kidnapping.
“Captain Whitmore.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Sit.”
Alexander obeyed.
The King studied him for several seconds.
Alexander had endured military examinations that felt friendlier.
Finally Adisa asked, “Tell me exactly how you met my daughter.”
Alexander had hoped they might discuss international trade.
Or weather.
Perhaps war.
Anything else.
“She arrived at my family's estate.”
“Voluntarily?”
Alexander hesitated.
“No.”
Adisa's expression changed.
“Continue.”
“She and Lela had been sold under fraudulent circumstances.”
“I know that.”
“My family did not know they had been kidnapped.”
“And when Amara arrived?”
“She was furious.”
The King almost smiled.
“That sounds accurate.”
“She refused practically every instruction.”
“That also sounds accurate.”
Alexander relaxed slightly.
Then Adisa asked, “Was my daughter considered your family's property?”
The room became quiet.
“Legally, documents claimed that.”
“I did not ask about documents.”
Alexander looked directly at him.
“No. I never considered her property.”
Adisa held his gaze.
“Good.”
One word.
Alexander nevertheless felt as though he had survived the first battle.
The King picked up another report.
“I am told Amara attempted to escape from you.”
“Yes.”
“On your horse.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She wanted to reach the coast and find her family.”
“And you stopped her.”
“She was alone in unfamiliar territory. Rourke's people were still active.”
Adisa nodded slowly.
“What happened when you caught her?”
“We argued.”
“How badly?”
“Your Majesty, with respect, have you met your daughter?”
Adisa stared at him.
Then he laughed.
The tension disappeared.
“I have spent her entire life arguing with her.”
“Then you understand my position.”
“Completely.”
Alexander smiled.
Perhaps he would survive breakfast after all.
Then the King asked, “And when did you kiss her?”
Alexander's smile vanished.
Adisa leaned back.
“Captain?”
“I was hoping we might skip that portion.”
“We will not.”
Alexander chose his words carefully.
“The first kiss occurred after an argument.”
“My daughter tells me it was a mistake.”
“She did.”
“And then?”
“We made the same mistake again.”
Adisa slowly raised an eyebrow.
Alexander immediately regretted the phrasing.
“At least you are honest.”
“I am trying to remain alive.”
“That is wise.”
The door opened.
Amara entered.
Alexander had never been happier to see her.
“What are you doing to him?” she asked.
“Talking.”
“You are interrogating him.”
Adisa looked offended.
“I invited him to breakfast.”
“There is no breakfast.”
Both men looked at the empty table.
The King called for food.
Amara shook her head.
“I knew it.”
She sat beside Alexander.
Her father noticed the choice of seat.
Naturally, he noticed everything.
“Captain Whitmore was telling me about your escape.”
Amara looked at Alexander.
“Traitor.”
“Your father asked.”
“And the kisses.”
Alexander became very interested in the table.
Amara slowly turned toward her father.
“You asked him about that?”
“I am your father.”
“You are impossible.”
Adisa smiled. “I have been told it runs in the family.”
Breakfast arrived.
For several minutes, the conversation became almost normal.
Then the King asked, “Why did you trust him?”
Amara's humor disappeared.
She looked at Alexander before answering.
“Because he helped me when he thought I had nothing to give him.”
Adisa listened.
“He didn't know I was your daughter. He didn't know about the reward. He believed I deserved freedom simply because I was a human being.”
Alexander said nothing.
Amara continued. “When he finally understood what had happened, he was willing to fight his own family over it.”
Adisa looked at Alexander.
“Is that true?”
“My family was wrong.”
“Many men find principles easier when principles cost nothing.”
Alexander understood the test.
“If necessary, I would have paid every financial loss myself.”
“Why?”
Alexander glanced at Amara.
“Because keeping her through a piece of paper would have made me no better than the men who sold her.”
The King nodded.
For the first time, Alexander felt that Adisa was not examining an officer.
He was examining the man his daughter loved.
After breakfast, they walked onto the deck.
The harbor spread around them, filled with the royal ships.
Adisa and Alexander moved toward the rail while Amara spoke with Minister Okoro nearby.
The King lowered his voice.
“There is something you should understand about my daughter.”
“I am listening.”
“She was difficult before you met her.”
Alexander smiled. “That is reassuring.”
“She challenged ministers at sixteen. At eighteen she informed one of my generals that his strategy was outdated.”
“Was it?”
“Yes. That made it worse.”
Alexander laughed.
Adisa became serious.
“But she returned to me changed.”
Alexander looked toward Amara.
“I know.”
“There are moments when she watches doors. She notices unfamiliar men. She dislikes anyone standing behind her.”
Alexander had noticed all of those things.
“She survived,” he said.
“Yes.”
The King looked at him.
“And you were there while she learned how.”
Alexander shook his head.
“She did that herself.”
The answer seemed to please Adisa.
Amara joined them.
“Have you finished discussing me as though I am not present?”
“Almost,” her father said.
“No.”
Adisa sighed.
Alexander smiled.
Amara looked between them suspiciously.
“You're getting along.”
“Unfortunately,” Alexander said.
“That worries me.”
“It should,” her father replied.
For a moment, the three of them laughed.
Then a royal officer approached carrying a message.
The humor disappeared immediately.
Rourke had been seen.
A man matching his description had attempted to board a vessel during the night. When questioned, he fled.
Alexander took the report.
“How far?”
“Less than twenty miles.”
Amara's expression hardened.
Her father turned toward the officers.
“Prepare men.”
Amara stopped him.
“No.”
Adisa looked at her.
“Father, Rourke kidnapped me because he believed he could take people without consequences. I want him arrested and tried. Not killed because an angry king wants revenge.”
The King stared at his daughter.
Then slowly nodded.
“Alive, if possible.”
Alexander looked at Amara.
She looked back.
The search was not finished.
As they prepared to leave the ship, Adisa called Alexander aside one final time.
“Captain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“If my daughter chooses you, understand something.”
Alexander waited.
“She does not need another man to command her life.”
“I know.”
“She needs someone strong enough to stand beside her without needing to stand above her.”
Alexander looked toward Amara.
“I know that too.”
Adisa offered his hand.
Alexander took it.
“Then perhaps you are not entirely unsuitable.”
Alexander smiled.
“Is that royal approval?”
“No.”
“Progress?”
“Considerable.”
Amara called from the gangway.
“Alexander!”
He turned.
She was waiting for him.
Adisa watched the captain immediately walk toward his daughter.
The King had crossed an ocean expecting to find the criminals who had stolen Amara.
He had not expected to find a stubborn American officer standing beside her.
Alexander had survived pirates.
He had survived Amara.
And, for the moment at least, he had survived her father.