Forbidden (The Secret World Of Atlantis 2)

Chapter 12 - To Be A Sailor

I glance at the young sailor in confusion, then turn back to Eros’s smug face. “Why would you pull Fara into this? This is my battle to fight,” I argue, not liking how this is turning out. Eros’s expression shifts right back to a blank one at my disagreement.

“Is it now? If it was, you would find your own way back to the Academy. Not board this ship,” he remarks coldly. His words sting. How can he say that? He knows I had no other choice! There’s no other way to reach the Academy during the year!

“Please stop. I’m going to help in any way, that I can,” Fara jumps in, before I’m able to react. I give him a pointed look. There’s no way I’m letting someone else take a hit for me.

“Just let me explain, what I have in mind,” Eros asks a bit more gently. I stiffen. Right. He can read my thoughts. I hate how I always seem to forget about that lately.

“Go on then,” I give in, but not without a hint of skepticism in my tone. Eros’s face hardens once again and he stares at me, waves of anger washing off him. I can sense, that I’ve provoked him. And only then I realize, how harsh I was. I shouldn’t have acted this way. I hurt him even more, when he’s trying to open up and help me.

I can feel his anger toning down, but when he opens his mouth, he doesn’t address my thoughts. “Let’s go to Fara’s cabin, I’ll explain everything there,” he offers. But before we even move, the head sailor is hot on our heels.

“Get to work, boy! You’re not being paid to fool around with students!” he scolds Fara. Great. What am I supposed to do now? Offer the man even more jewelry? I can sense Eros getting confused, but the feeling doesn’t last for long, as he rummages through my head for more information. Hey, get out of here! I yell at his mind, sending him a menacing glare. He freezes, but he quickly composes himself and turns to the head sailor.

“Sir, we need Fara’s help to turn the Royal Navy away from your ship. I’m sure you’ve seen them following us,” Eros jumps in, before anyone speaks up. The man stares at him, frowning. “I propose a deal. If you let us borrow Fara to make the Guardians think, the Princess is escaping, you’ll also get this, when we arrive to the Academy,” he reveals, showing off a golden ring, that I’ve seen him wear so many times. There’s a lion roaring on the emerald green front.

I can see the sailor’s eyes glistening at sight of it. He gives us a short nod and gestures with his head over to Fara. “Use him however you please,” he allows us, turning swiftly on his heel and heading back towards the rudder without waiting for a response. I raise my eyebrows, turning to Eros, who is already descending down the stairs. That leaves me with no other choice, but to follow him.

As we’re nearing Gunguru, the three of us are standing on the deck, anxiously watching the Royal Navy closing in on us. Fara’s clothes feel a bit too big on me, but at least they hide my feminine curves. I’m also wearing my hair under his hat, so it looks like I’m truly a boy. I glance over at Fara, who looks a bit uncomfortable, wearing my dress and the scarf over his head. But it fits him and he’s about the same height as I am, so it’s the perfect switch.

When Eros said Fara would be chased across Gunguru, I thought he went completely mad. But I must admit he’s come up with a brilliant plan. I just hope we manage to pull it off. “Get to the ropes. You must look like you’re truly a sailor, so no one’s going to suspect anything,” Eros wakes me up from my thoughts. I nod, turning to Fara with a grateful expression.

“Thank you for agreeing to do this. You’re saving my life,” I tell him and the sailor just smiles, shaking his head.

“It’s the least I can do. Now get over there. They’re already close enough to see us,” he points out and I nod, heading over to my spot while trying to imitate the way Fara walks. I sit down and begin untying the ropes, that were resting on the floor. The head sailor gives me a short nod, as our eyes meet. We filled them all in on what is going to happen, so there won’t be any unexpected surprises.

Meanwhile, Fara kneels down behind the railing, so no one can spot him. Eros is standing right next to him, pretending to be watching the Royal Navy’s ship with curiosity. “Remember to run like a girl,” I hear him say to Fara, who lets out an amused chuckle. I would feel offended, if the situation wasn’t so delicate. I was after all fast enough to outrun Eros many times.

His eyes meet mine as he reads my thoughts once again. He looks like he’s about to smile, but he doesn’t. That’s what you think, he remarks, his voice echoing around my head like a melody. I turn back to the ropes, refusing to respond.

I find myself checking how close to the port we are numerous times, before I can finally feel the ship coming to a stop. That’s when my eyes meet with Fara’s and I give him the sign.

He crawls over to the staircase, that leads below deck and positions himself somewhere in the middle of it, before standing up. I hold my hand up, watching the other ship follow after us. But only as they stop, I raise my thumb and Fara bolts up the stairs, then jumps over the side of our ship.

The sailors, including me, rush over to watch him climb down the net. The head sailor even starts yelling at the Guardians, that the Princess is escaping. They spring into action immediately, a ladder rolling down the side of the ship and they begin climbing down before it even unfolds completely. I watch Fara run down the pier with my bag, not turning his head once. He was instructed strictly not to do that, or else he would risk the Guardians realizing, that it isn’t me, they’re chasing.

“What are you lads staring at? Back to work!” our boss yells, making us all return to our positions with long noses. Who would’ve thought that sailors can be such good actors? Well, I suppose the right amount of money would make anyone give their best performance.

I try to move as Fara once again, as I return to my post, grabbing the ropes once again. I’m careful to have my back turned against the other side of the ship, so the Guardians can’t see my face, when they come aboard. And just a few moments later, I can already hear their voices as they climb onto our ship. I force myself to remain calm and keeping doing my work. I can’t give away, that I’m nervous.

“How did the Princess escape?” I can hear one of the Guardians ask in frustration. I draw in a breath as I wait for the head sailor to answer.

“She was locked into a cabin. I don’t know how she managed to get out,” he responds, sounding annoyed with the interrogation. There’s a silence suddenly, already making me think, that I’ve been discovered, when one of the Guardians snorts.

“You fool. It’s like you don’t even live in a magical world,” he remarks in a disrespectful tone. I furrow my eyebrows. This is not how Guardians usually behaved. At least not in the presence of Royals. “Or perhaps she had help,” he then suggests and I know he must be looking at Eros.

“Who, him? Don’t be ridiculous, he’s been on the deck with us, since we left Dairelis,” the sailor fights back. But the Guardians aren’t buying it.

“I’m sure the young Prince can speak for himself,” one of them hints with an overly sweet tone. This is not a good sign. If they’ve moved to Eros already, things might go wrong.

“As much as I’d love to help her, I wasn’t exactly able to leave the deck. They blasted me with some bloody spell, to prevent me from descending down below,” he grunts with an annoyed tone.

“You act as if you weren’t trained by us. Do you think we forgot about the extent of your magical powers? Even if you couldn’t get below deck, you’re strong enough to break her out right from where you’re standing,” the same Guardian comments, making panic rise in me.

“Do you think I would admit it, even if I did help her escape? You have nothing without a proof,” Eros claims. He’s walking on a thin line right now. I just hope they don’t decide to talk to the rest of the sailors. If they do, I am doomed.

“You spoiled brat!” another Guardian growls and I can’t help myself. I turn around to look at the scene unfolding, only to see everyone focused on a man, holding Eros up by his collar. But the boy doesn’t seem intimidated at all. In fact, he’s more pissed off than anything. He grabs the man’s wrist in a not very gentle matter, pushing his hands away from his shirt.

“And what shall I call you, the man who dared to attack me at the very doorstep of my home?” he grits through his teeth, turning around to gesture towards the castle of Gunguru. I don’t hear what the man tells him, because Eros sends a thought into my head. Go. Fara’s coming.

I don’t wait around, not even for a second. I’m up on my feet before he even finishes and by the time, that the Guardians begin turning around at the sound of footsteps, I already disappear below deck. I quickly rush to the window, overlooking the pier and open it up for Fara to get in without anyone noticing. Then I rush into his cabin, remove his clothes and throw them on the bed, before slipping one of my dresses over my head.

In that moment, I can hear footsteps on the hallway and I freeze. Before I even think of a hiding place, the person already steps into the cabin and I breathe out in relief, as I realize it’s Fara, wearing some citizen’s clothing. “Did you ditch the dress?” I whisper and he nods, handing over my bag.

“Hide in the storage room. We’ll come find you, when the Guardians leave,” he instructs me quietly and I don’t need to be told twice. I peek out of the cabin, to make sure it’s empty, then make my way towards the flap in the floor. I close it down quietly just in time, because not a moment later, there’s a commotion by the staircase.

“Sailor! What are you doing down here?” one of the Guardians asks, probably directing the question at Fara. I freeze as I realize how close they were to discovering me.

“It’s going to be lunch time soon. I came to collect some money from my cabin,” he explains sheepishly. One of the Guardian scoffs, not seeming convinced at all. At that moment I tiptoe to the rack in the space, trying to be careful as to not make any noise.

“Step aside. Is this where the Princess was locked up?” I can still hear a Guardian ask. Fara doesn’t respond, so I suppose he just nodded to them. Planks creak above me, as they walk across the hallway. Then nothing.

It’s quiet for so long, that I already think they’re actually standing by the flap and deciding on a way to surprise me. Whatever they do is going to make them succeed, it’s not like I have anywhere else to run! I close my eyes, saying a quick prayer to the Gods. If they’re watching, I need their help now. More than ever.

Not a moment later, I can hear the planks creaking once again. But this time it sounds like the Guardians are moving away, in the direction of the staircase. My suspicions are confirmed as soon as I am met with a deafening silence. I’m all alone.

I don’t know for how long I’m standing there, hiding behind the rack and trembling, as there was no time to put any undergarments on. I could do that now, as I have my bag with me, but I don’t want to risk making a sound. The Guardians might still be on this ship and the last thing I wish for, is to give them a reason to come down here.

When I hear the wood above me creaking once again, I freeze. Is it the Guardians again? My stomach growls suddenly. Wonderful. Just in the right moment. I don’t have time to deal with hunger. I might be in danger of getting captured.

I squeeze myself even more tightly against the rack, careful not to make a sound, as the flap opens up slowly. Then a pair of footsteps creeps down them. I clench my hands into fists, ready to fight the potential danger. If it is a Guardian, it’s time to take advantage of the element of surprise, while I still have it, or else I have no chance of beating them.

I jump from behind the rack, already throwing a fist forward, but it stops right in front of Fara’s surprised face. I pull it back in shame. “I’m so sorry, I thought you were a Guardian. Why didn’t you call out to me?” I ask him, only making his shoulders raise.

“I didn’t think you would try to break my nose,” he responds truthfully. Well, that’s a fair answer. “The Royal Navy sailed away a few minutes ago. They said that the Princess they caught was just a man, dressed up in her clothing,” he informs me with a hint of amusement. I let out a chuckle.

“Did you really make a man dress up in my dress?” I ask, impressed with his resourcefulness. He shrugs once again, as we start making our way upwards.

“He didn’t seem to mind it,” he explains. I shake my head in disbelief, feeling genuinely happy for being able to escape the Guardians. But that would never be possible without Fara’s help. And Eros’s ingenious idea of course.

As soon as I step foot onto the deck, I realize he’s missing. I turn to the young sailor, as panic overtakes me. “Please don’t tell me, that they made Eros come with them,” I say, everything inside me screaming in agony. This can’t be happening, not when I’ve just saved him from death! But Fara just furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

“I thought you knew … He’s staying with his parents until tomorrow morning, when we leave for the next city,” he explains. My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach, as I turn to look at the castle, rising at the middle of the city. I’m not surprised, that he’s decided to pay his family a visit. But I just thought he would care enough to take me with him.