Serpent: Book II of the Asterian Trilogy

by Sarah Olson

"I can’t believe they are letting us come!" I exclaimed as I followed Stephen up the narrow stairs.

  "Well, you managed to be pretty convincing," he said with a laugh. "Enough for Roy to give up his quarters."

  "Well, she’s always had a way of getting what she wants," Ethelyn said smugly, behind me.

  "Ethelyn!" I gasped, turning to look at her. "You make me sound so manipulative."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Does that surprise you? After all, you got a group of merchants to hide your identity and bring you to Malan, and now you bought your way onto a trade ship."

  I pursed my lips. I had nothing to say to that.

  Stephen laughed. "It doesn’t matter. You got what you want, so just be happy."

  I rolled my eyes. "You two are horrible."

  He smiled. "Well, I guess I will see you in the morning. Good night." He turned and headed down the hall to his room just as the door behind us opened.

  "I thought I heard you," Wesley said, looking at Ethelyn and me.

  "We just got back," I said.

  "Come in. I’d like to talk to you before you head off to bed." He gestured to the room behind him.

  I stepped around him, followed by Ethelyn, into the quaint room.

  It smelled musty, and a dying fire crackled in the fireplace.

  "Are you sure you want to do this?" Wesley asked as he closed the door.

  "Yes," I replied. "I’ve never been more certain."

  "Aria, I know an adventure may seem appealing, but it’s dangerous going out there. I realize Ethelyn and Stephen will be on that ship too, but what if something happens? Your family is probably terribly worried about you. I wouldn’t be surprised if word reaches this town within the next few days that you are missing."

  I sighed and sat down on the hard bed. "Wesley, I knew leaving was a risk. But this is something I want to do. These people have sailed this ship many times, and I am certain within the next month, it will dock safely in Asteria, and I will be home. You don’t have a say in this."

  "Ethelyn," Wesley said, his eyes pleading for support, "don’t let her do this."

  I laughed and shook my head. "Wesley, you forget that she serves me and does what I say. That is her job."

  He walked over to the window and looked out into the night.

  "You cannot stop me, Wesley," I said, standing.

  "I’m certain I could find a way," he threatened.

  "Wesley, please," I half-begged, suddenly afraid of this train of thought. "Just let me go and don’t make it difficult."

  He turned and looked at me, his eyes worried and defeated. "I will not stop you—but the Asterians will come looking for you, and if they ask me where you have gone, I will tell them."

  I nodded. "I expect nothing less."

  He gave me a tight smile and then picked up a bag from the floor. "Kara wanted me to give you this."

  "What is it?"

  "Clothes; she said it would be better fitting than whatever it is you packed."

  I sighed but gratefully accepted the bag. "Thank you."

  He turned to Ethelyn. "Keep her safe, for I suspect you are much more than just her lady-in-waiting."

  Ethelyn nodded. "I will."

  "When we return to Asteria, be sure to visit," I said.

  "Of course, Your Highness," he said with a bow.

  I gave him a reassuring smile in an attempt to convince him that I would be safe, and left the room wondering if the smile was for me just as much as it was for him.

  ☐☐☐☐

  "Wake up, Milady," Ethelyn said, gently shaking me

  I opened my eyes and looked around the dark room; a single candle lit to fight the shadows.

  "Is it time to go?" I asked, sitting up groggily. It felt as if I had just fallen asleep.

  "Soon," she replied, pouring water into a washbasin. "Stephen just came by to make sure we were getting ready."

  I slid out of bed and blindly stumbled my way to the basin. "Could you have lit more candles?" I asked, annoyed.

  Ethelyn began to light a few more in response.

  I splashed water onto my face to wash the sleep away. It was crisp and refreshing.

  "I went through the clothes Kara gave you and laid something out for you to wear," Ethelyn said, as I dried my face on a hand towel.

  I walked over to the bed and looked down at the short-sleeved white blouse that was paired with a dark brown bodice and a burgundy skirt.

  "It’s very Malanese," I commented.

  Ethelyn smiled. "Malanese, yes, but not royal."

  "I suppose it will work then," I said, slipping out of my chemise.

  Ethelyn helped me into the clothes, and I was grateful Kara and I were about the same size.

  "Are you excited?" I asked Ethelyn, as she fixed my hair.

  "I will admit that the voyage can hold some great adventures, but I am not certain that I can be very excited about it," Ethelyn said after a moment.

  I rolled my eyes. "Is that to mean you will not even try to enjoy it?" I asked.

  "Let’s get on the ship first and see how I feel then," she replied. It was apparent in her tone that she was not interested in encouraging me.

  Once we were ready, we headed into the hall where Stephen was waiting.

  "Let me take your bag," he said to me.

  "No, I got it," I replied. "I am not a lady, remember?"

  He shook his head in amusement. "Very well, then—are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?"

  I laughed. "Couldn’t be more ready."

  When we stepped out into the street, the first rays of sunshine were beginning to creep into the sky. The docks were alive with sailors bustling about as they prepared for journeys I could only dream of taking. I spotted Captain Matek speaking with a man on the dock Stephen led us to.

  "Good morning," Captain Matek said as we approached him. "You made it just in time to catch the last boat to the Enigma."

  "I’ll take your bags," the man standing by the captain said.

  "This is Tarique," Captain Matek said, gesturing to the man as he took my bag.

  "I’m Norah," I began, "and this is Ethelyn."

  "It’s a pleasure to meet you," he said with a kind smile. He had dark curly hair and a trim beard that outlined his mouth.

  "Norah and Ethelyn are guests that will be accompanying us all the way to Asteria," Captain Matek said.

  "That’s a long route for a journey that would take little more than a week on horseback," Tarique said, a faint glimmer of suspicion in his eyes.

  "But not nearly as exciting," I said, giving him a bright smile. I would rather that he didn’t get too suspicious before we had even made it aboard.

  He laughed, giving me the relief I needed. "I’d have to agree with that."

  Stephen helped me onto the longboat, and Ethelyn followed. I settled in beside her, the boat rocking as the others followed suit. This was it—who knew how long it would be until I touched land again. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as we tilted ever so slightly when Tarique pushed us away from the dock. The boat glided across the water and away from the busy seaport. I took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, salty morning air, attempting to calm my nerves.

  "It will be a couple of weeks before we reach the first chain of islands," Stephen said, as he and Tarique rowed the boat towards the Enigma.

  My stomach tightened, and I glanced over at Ethelyn. She gave me a reassuring smile which I returned. I couldn’t let her see how nervous I was.

  I gazed back out into the open water and watched as the Enigma rose up to meet us. She was truly beautiful and well cared for. The polished hull gleamed in the morning light as she towered over us.

  "She’s a beauty," the captain said, following my gaze. "Just had her repainted and varnished a few months ago. This is the first time we take her out to sea since."

  "She really is," I said in awe, as we pulled up to the side of the ship.

  Stephen stood carefully and hooked some rope to the front of the bo
at as Tarique did the same in the back.

  The captain grabbed onto a rope ladder that hung off the side of the ship and began to climb. Once he had reached the top and hoisted himself over the rail, I gestured for Ethelyn to follow first. It had been a long time since I had climbed a ladder.

  "Your turn," Stephen said, once Ethelyn was over.

  I placed my hands on the rungs and began to pull myself up slowly, praying my feet would not miss one. I clenched my jaw and kept my mind focused, trying to avoid the thought of falling. The rope ladder shifted with every step. Just when I thought I would never get to the top, a pair of arms reached over the railing and pulled me up.

  "You all right?" Roy asked once he set me down on the deck. "You look a little pale." He wore a loose long-sleeved shirt that opened over his chest, with dark pants and leather boots. A small leather pouch hung around his neck.

  I nodded. "I’m fine, thank you." I brushed myself off and then turned to take in the large deck.

  The crew bustled back and forth, some glancing at me curiously. To my left sat the entrance to the captain’s cabin and other rooms, and above that, stood the massive ship’s wheel.

  I looked back at Roy, wide-eyed. The ship was larger than any I had ever been on.

  He smiled. "Welcome to the Enigma."

  Once everyone was aboard, the captain had a few sailors heave the boat up onto the deck. Stephen took our bags before they flipped it onto its side and secured it to the railing.

  I watched the chaos as Roy began to shout orders. A group of men hoisted the anchor as others began to release the sails from above.

  "Come," the captain said, gesturing to Ethelyn and me.

  We followed him up the steps that led to the quarterdeck.

  He stood behind the wheel and looked down onto the deck, watching the sailors run back and forth. Shouting and orders floated through the air.

  I walked over to the rail and watched as the seaport began to shrink behind us. The wind blew into the sails and pushed us out to sea. Instead of my initial fear, I had a feeling of excitement for the coming weeks. This would be an adventure I would never forget.

  Chapter 12

  I STOOD IN THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN as he stretched a map over his desk, the ship rocking steadily beneath me. The seas had been calm since we left the inlet. The sun was bright and the sky cloudless.

  The captain’s cabin was large, with windows looking out into the sea. There was a red Malanese flag stretched across one of the wood-paneled walls, the light catching on the golden circular design in its center. Beneath it sat a large trunk and on the other side of the cabin, was a sizable bed jutting out from the wall.

  "Here is our route," Giyon, the sailing master, said. He was a much older man with long graying hair knotted behind his neck. His gray beard was short, and I could see the edge of a fading tattoo peeking out from under his open shirt.

  I walked over to the table and looked down at the map.

  Ethelyn came up beside me. "I have never seen a map of the islands before," she said.

  I was surprised by the awe in her voice. Ethelyn never seemed to be amazed by anything.

  The captain smiled. "And now you will get a chance to see some of the islands yourself."

  "Well," Giyon said, running his finger across the map, "we will head northwest until we hit the islands that run along the Malanese Peninsula. We will then continue our way around and head south to Asteria. It’s a simple enough voyage—that is if the winds are cooperative."

  The captain laughed and clapped Giyon on the back. "They will be." He straightened and looked at me. "If all goes well, we should be docking in Asteria in a month’s time."

  I smiled. "That’s perfect."

  "So, are these two guests or are they going to help out on the ship?" Giyon asked.

  "That was the next thing I wanted to discuss," Captain Matek said. He leaned against the desk and looked at us. "Any ideas on how you can help?"

  I folded my hands in front of me and averted my eyes. What skill did I have that would be useful on a ship? The answer was nothing. I was a princess, not a sailor.

  "How about in the galley?" he asked.

  "The galley?" I said, looking confused.

  "Also known as the kitchen," he teased.

  Of course, I could work as a cook—not that I knew anything about cooking, but I could learn.

  "I’ve got Bruhier working in there as the cook," the captain added.

  Giyon laughed.

  "Well, I use the term cook very loosely, but you can help him out. I’ll have someone introduce you to him after I show you your room. Now how about you, Ethelyn?"

  "Stephen said I could help him if that is all right," she said.

  I smirked. Perhaps Ethelyn would have tried harder to convince me to travel to Kings City instead had Stephen not been part of the Enigma’s crew.

  "It’s not an easy job," the captain warned.

  "I know, but he’ll teach me. If it gets to be too much, I’ll be certain to let you know," Ethelyn countered.

  "Very well then," the captain replied. "Let me show you your room."

  We followed him into a narrow hall just outside his cabin and to a door near the end.

  "I’m not going to go in with you since it’s a tight fit with three people," he said, opening the door, "but here are your quarters. It’s small but better than sleeping below with the crew."

  I smiled. "Thank you, Captain Matek."

  "Don’t thank me; I’m getting paid when we reach Asteria, remember?"

  I laughed. "Of course."

  He smiled. "Well, I’ll let you ladies settle in." With that, he turned and left us alone in the hall.

  Ethelyn and I stepped into the cramped room. There was a small bed coming out from the wall, windows overlooking the sea, a small desk by the far window and a closet where our bags had been stored.

  "You can have the bed," Ethelyn said, opening a trunk by the closet. "There’s enough blankets in here to make myself one on the floor."

  "Are you certain?" I asked, even though I was grateful she offered right away.

  "I am still your handmaiden," she said with a smile. "It’s kind of you to ask, but I am here to protect you and keep you comfortable."

  "I appreciate that," I said, returning her smile—and I truly did.

  Now that we were on the ocean and leaving everything I knew behind, it was comforting to have someone who knew me along for the voyage. Even though I hadn’t planned for Ethelyn to come, I was glad she did.

  Just as we finished settling in our tight living space, Stephen came to fetch us and led us down to the first level below the deck. It was a large room with three long tables.

  "This is where the crew eats their meals," he said. "And since you will be working in the galley, Norah, you will be down here."

  We followed him to a door that opened into the galley.

  Inside, stood a Malanese man reorganizing the pantries that lined the room. There was a stove in the back by stacked barrels and an open window that welcomed a breeze into the musty room.

  "Bruhier," Stephen called to the man, "I’ve brought your apprentice."

  Bruhier turned to us. He had a pudgy, pockmarked face with an eye patch over his left eye. His dark hair was thinning, and he was overweight.

  "Which one?" he asked, eyeing us carefully.

  "Me," I said. "I’m Norah Dalton."

  He nodded. "I see. You don’t look like you’ve ever worked in a galley before."

  "I haven’t," I replied. "That would be why I’m an apprentice."

  He nodded. "Well, not like I can complain, eh? After all, I never get extra help unless the captain sends one of those idiots down here."

  Stephen laughed. "Well, I’ll leave you to it. Come on, Ethelyn; I’ll show you how to do my job."

  "You’ll be all right, Norah?" Ethelyn asked, her eyes sizing Bruhier up.

  "Yes," I replied. "I’ll be fine."

  "All right, enough is enough," Bruhier s
aid, waving his hands. "Stephen, take your girlfriend out of here so I can teach this one how to work."

  "He is not my—" Ethelyn began.

  "We’ll see you later, Norah," Stephen interrupted. With that, he pulled Ethelyn from the galley, and I found myself alone with Bruhier.

  "All right, please tell me you’ve cooked something in your life," Bruhier said.

  I pursed my lips, not wanting to lie and then truly destroy a meal.

  He rolled his eye and sighed. "Of course I’d have to start from the beginning," he said sarcastically. "Let’s get to work."

  I followed Bruhier around the galley as he showed me where everything was. He told me if we ever ran out of something, we could usually find it stored below.

  "We always eat foods that go bad first," he said, showing me crates of fruits and vegetables. "The salted meat lasts a bit longer and then when we run out of that, it’s biscuits." He held out something that looked like a flat circular piece of hard bread. "Not the greatest tasting, I know, but it keeps the sailors fed. Thankfully, we will be making a few stops over the next month, so we will be able to replace what goes bad." He put the biscuit away. "We better start preparing lunch."

  Lunch was madness. I didn’t cook anything since Bruhier didn’t trust me yet—not that I was complaining—but I did help by handing him the things he needed. He made some stew and then had me serve the sailors as they came down in shifts to eat.

  "So there are two women aboard this time," one said as I handed him a bowl. "What’s your name, girl?"

  I glanced up at him and forced a smile. "Norah."

  His dark eyes sent a shudder down my spine. A jagged scar ran across his chin, and he had a crooked nose that looked like it had been broken too many times.

  "I see," he said, a smirk forming on his lips. "You here to keep us company then?"

  I swallowed. "I’m just helping in the galley."

  "Shame," the man said. "Us men do get pretty lonely on these journeys."

  The sailor beside him laughed.

  "Hashim, leave her alone," a voice said behind him.

  I looked over Hashim’s shoulder at Roy as he walked up next to Hashim and picked up a bowl for the stew.

  Hashim laughed. "I was only having a bit of fun."

  "I mean it," Roy said, glaring at him.