Lance sat down on the edge, letting his feet touch the water. It was a front row seat to a spectacular natural event. He sat his fruit down and made a call to a friend. A man named Barron, who lived back in his hometown of Boston. Fin was under his dock near the bottom. She could hear him on the phone. She slowly swam up, taking her time. His feet barely touching the water’s surface. Fin got close. Lance became uneasy. And again, didn’t understand why.
“B. What’s up man,” he said to his friend. “Lance. What the fuck man! You disappear. Don’t answer your phone. What’s good? How’s Cali?” Barron asked. Lance chuckled. “What! Ok. You my father now. I’ve been busy man. When you coming? You would love it here. The weather. The…” he said, then removed the phone from his ear and looked down at his feet. “Lance! Lance!” Barron shouted. “Oh. Sorry man. I thought I saw something,” he said. Lance continued staring into the deepest part. He could see a shadowy figure. “Hey man…I need to call you back. Somethings come up,” he said. Barron responded in his usual long-winded way. Lance didn’t hear a word of it. He sat the phone down. Something was in the water, floating motionless on the bottom. He couldn’t make out what it was. But he had a sinking feeling it was a woman. He could hear Barron calling him again. “Hey. I need to call you back. Something’s in this water man. I need to check it out. Give me a second,” he said, before hanging up.
He took a deep breath and stood on the ladder. What is in the water, he thought, as he went down one step. His feet were in the water. He contemplated whether he wanted to enter and if so, how far. He had just gotten out of the shower. And whatever it was it was probably gone. He decided he would go in, if he saw something again. There were no predatory fish in the water. And if it was a fish, he was sure it would swim away. But he believed it was a diver. And he was determined to prove himself right.
“Did you find her?” King Orfe asked his son. “No. We weren’t able to catch up with her. We will resume looking tomorrow. She is very fast. I’ve never seen anything swim like that,” he replied. King Orfe was feeling better. He arose from his chair and walked up to his son. “What is on your mind? You seem troubled. She will be back. First time jitters. Her father stated she was nervous on the way here. That she is very sensitive and emotional. Give her time,” he said. Prince Andreus didn’t believe that description. The woman he had met in the waters that fateful day and now at his castle, was not some timid, emotional being. He knew better.
“No father. She is much stronger than that. I never told you but I’m going to tell you now,” he said, looking at King Orfe. “What is it?” his father asked. “I met her before. I took soldiers and we swam to the waters off Mojarro,” he said. He watched for a reaction. King Orfe didn’t look too surprised. His son had always been aggressive and inquisitive. Always seeking answers. King Orfe always saw the good in his son. And his bold tendencies to break the rules, his way of self-expression. Harmless prying. His father nodded. Prince Andreus continued.
“She caught us as we were about to leave. I wanted to see the place for myself. It is as remarkable as we have heard,” he said, as he walked to the window and looked down at the guards. King Orfe had never been there. He wasn’t interested. As long as they continued to get what they wanted in trade, there was no benefit. “What were you looking for? You broke the laws of the land. You went without being invited there. And what if she decided to tell her father?” he asked. Prince Andreus smirked. “She won’t father. Besides… What can he do about it? Our army outnumbers theirs. They wouldn’t stand a chance if we decided to take what we wanted.
King Orfe looked swiftly at his son. “No Andreus! And besides…The other two cities will not support that. It would create panic. And without the trade from Panga and Piratchu, we would suffer. Our forefathers fought so we wouldn’t have to. The land was divided into four. And laws were put in place to keep the peace. You mustn’t think like that. Mojarro is generous. And you are to marry their princess,” he urged. “She doesn’t want to. I see it in her eyes. She never liked me. From that first day. Yet I have thought of nothing else. She is wonderful. I must have her. And I will. Or I will go… Take what is mine. Including the princess. You are ill father. I will be king soon. It should be my decision,” he said.
The king paced slowly. His son was getting out of control. “You are not king yet. I still make the decisions. And I say no! We will not take anything from them. Her father has gone back to retrieve her. To convince her of what is best. She will be your queen. You will take the throne. And you will keep the peace between the lands,” he replied. Prince Andreus walked to him. “And if she doesn’t?” he asked. The king turned to his son. He hadn’t thought of that. Part of the plan was to finally join the lands. Change history. He refused to consider the alternative. “She will.”
“Look again,” King Zander commanded, as he stared into the faces of his soldiers. Finora was not at the castle as he assumed. He immediately ordered his soldiers back in the waters of the Palimora Sea. Lark was instructed to go to the Trojian Sea and check everywhere, including the dunes.
Aterra looked at her husband. She worried about her daughter. She regretted not opening up to her. She blamed their talk or lack thereof, for Fin’s difficulty in accepting her new life. “We will find her,” Zander said to his wife. Aterra shook her head and quietly walked away. The king felt bad. Fin had never gone missing. And days had already passed. She should have been home. She was known to take a moment to herself. Usually on the grounds of the compound. He was troubled. Something told him she never left the water.
Days passed. Zander kept watch for any sign of his men returning from the waters. He saw one of his soldiers coming. He ran down the stairs and out the door. “Well,” he said. “Sire. We cannot find a trace of her. Nothing! Should we go back in the waters towards Eulachon. Maybe she never made it here,” he suggested. Zander thought of the dangers of those waters. It was filled with some of the most dangerous creatures around. “Yes. Send men back. I want two teams. Search here near the dunes. And send some men back to the Palimora Sea again. And don’t come back until you find her,” he said.
Day tuned to night, and the soldiers returned in large groups. The king watched out the window and his chief commander checked with each lead man, to get report of their progress. The men walked past Lark shaking their head as they headed to their quarters. They were exhausted. There was still one team not accounted for. Lark worried. He looked out into the distance. He could see no more men walking towards the castle.
He turned and looked up at Zander and shook his head in disappointment. King Zander let out a deep sigh. He would have to tell Aterra that her daughter would not be coming home that evening. The men planned to return to the waters and resume their search. Lark went to his personal room. He shut the door slowly and sat on his bed. He put his face in his hands and closed his eyes. If Fin had met a terrible fate, he would never forgive himself. He was supposed to watch her. He was Zanders personal guard. But the King always told him that Finora and his wife, were the priority if they were in a large gathering or on unfamiliar ground.
A knock on the door caused him to jump up. He ran to the door. He hoped it was the last team of men coming to tell him that they were delayed because they were chasing Finora. He snatched the door open. The king stood before him. A distraught look on his. A look that matched his. The king was well aware of Larks’ affection for his daughter. “May I come in,” he asked. “Yes sir,” Lark replied. The king entered his room then turned to face him. “I want men in the water early. As soon as light allows,” he said. “Yes sir. Of course,” Lark said, trying not to look so affected. Efforts that fell flat.
“I know you are bothered by this. Probably as much as I am. I know that you care for my daughter,” he said. Lark tried not to look shocked. He had believed his attempts at covering up his feelings had been well executed.
“Sir. She is like family. Yes… I want her safe. Yes…I am worried,” he said. The king smirked. “And y
ou love her. Yes?” he asked. Lark looked intensely at him. The acknowledgment of his feeling causing him to break down internally. “Um sir…I…,” he stuttered. “You don’t have to say. I’ve known for some time. The look on your face when we met Prince Andreus said it all. And I know you’d rather be in the water now. That you probably won’t get much sleep tonight. But I need you to, because it is important that you lead the search for her. Because it is you, who will find her. You are compelled to do so.”
Lark was speechless. King Zander was like a father to him. He had been a part of his army since he was a teenager. He was one of the youngest soldiers to join. His skill and in-depth knowledge of the waters and the land, made him a valuable asset.
“Get some sleep. You have a long day ahead. She doesn’t want to be found. She is the fastest in all the waters. No creature could catch her. She is alive. She is angry because I tried to force her to do something she doesn’t want to do,” he said, as he walked to the window. He stared out at the beautiful dark blue sky. His emotions almost getting the best of him as he fought to keep control over himself. “That girl has always been a handful. Even as a kid. I should have known better than to try to follow some tradition with her. She is different. She can’t be forced to do anything. She moves when she is ready. Just like now. Going after her is useless but I can’t sit and do nothing. And I know you won’t,” he said, as he turned back to Lark. “Please find her,” he said. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“A message from Prince Andreus,” the guard said, as he handed Zander a note. He read it then crushed it in his hand. His guards instantly became anxious. “Sire?” one said, hoping it wasn’t bad news. King Zander rose from his throne and walked towards his wine case. He poured haku in a gold goblet and walked back to his chair. Fin was still missing, along with a group of soldiers who were unaccounted for. There were now, two search teams in the water.
“Is everything alright Your Highness?” he asked. “Yes,” Zander said nervously. The king wished Lark were near. He only discussed his most crucial and secret information with him. And it was Lark’s job to inform the troops. Lark was in the Palimora Sea with a crew he hand-selected. It was a dangerous task. They would need to go into Eulachon territory. They hoped to slip by the Uaru. The sea’s soldiers would not allow them to cross past a certain point.
They lived in the waters. Appointed by a panel of citizens from each of the four cities. And it was their job to keep the soldiers and anyone else from entry into land they were not citizens in. It would keep trade fair. Keep down the temptation of treasure seekers. And above all, promote peace. Each city elected fifty men. And once they entered the waters, they never came home. As an incentive, their families were greatly rewarded. It was a job many wanted but few were chosen for. It was noble. It was powerful. The men were regarded as heroes. It was an honor.
The king sent the guards out. He sat in his chambers, thinking of his daughter. He couldn’t comfort his wife. Nothing could. Only the sound of her child’s voice would do. And Aterra was not the only one missing Fin. The letter from Prince Andreus eluded to his cities disappointment at not having a queen. His letter claiming that the monarchy looked less stable without one. Prince Andreus was expected to marry and marry soon. His father was dying.
He wasn’t sure how much time he had. And the letter was filled with words that sounded more like demands than suggestions. King Zander sat at his throne. The prince had revealed his hand. It was as King Nephrus had stated. He had warned Zander that Prince Andreus was trouble. And he wished he would have listened. Prince Andreus could marry anyone. A commoner, if he wanted. Queen Rasbora had two princesses to choose from. But he had his sights set on Fin and was now aggressively looking to seal the deal. With a letter that hinted at a possible war.
King Zander took a sip. He had to think of his options. He could see the prince was nothing like his father. A father who appeared too weak to care. Zander’s mind raced. He played several scenarios out in his mind. Eulachon was three times the size of Mojarro. But there was comfort in knowing that Panga would be on his side. King Nephrus had already shown a dislike for Prince Andreus. It was Piratchu that he worried about.
If he could get the Queen to side with him, then a war would not be so easily won by Prince Andreus. The three cities combined would be more powerful. But Queen Rasbora was friendly with the neighboring city of Eulachon. She had high regards for King Orfe. And trade between then was easy and beneficial. Her city was joined to theirs. Land that was separated by volcanic land and abandoned arapaimas. She would be hard to convince. And informing her could backfire. If she betrayed his trust and warned them, it would send Eulachon charging his way. It was a lot to think about. And at the center of it all was Fin.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen. But if Fin says no, then he will not be marrying my daughter!
Berries Oh Berries
“Did you get the card and money I sent for Miles?” Lance asked his brother, as he sat in the parking lot of the grocery store. “Yeah. That was generous. You didn’t have to do that. He’s turning eleven. That’s a lot for a kid. I put it in his account. He’s got a list of things he wants. Thanks! That meant something to him. I’ll make sure Yaz gets something out of it as well,” Allan said. Lance smiled. It was his nephew’s birthday and he hated he couldn’t hand him a gift. So, he sent a birthday card with a cashier’s check inside. He had been there for every birthday. Every celebration. But he was now, miles away. He felt the burn. “Yeah, it’s cool. As long as he gets what he wants,” Lance replied.
After talking a few minutes, the brothers got off the phone. Lance cut off his car and took another minute to check his emails. He took his time to go in the store. He was working long hours trying to get caught up in his father’s company. Everything was coming along. He hoped to redirect some of the work to the engineers and account executives, so he could work less hours. He was still healing from the trials of his life. The last year being filled with back to back tragedies. Lance sat his phone down. Simple task like grocery shopping had a way of forcing him to reflect on things he needed to forget. It was a quick run. He was in and out with a bag filled with fresh fruit.
The drive to Ellice Street was scenic. Lance carried the last of his groceries into the house and pushed his glass and metal door closed. His phone rang as he walked into the kitchen. He wondered who was calling him. Only his family had the house number. “Hello,” he answered. The silence on the other end was deafening. “Hello,” he repeated. He could hear the soft sounds of breathing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was Paula. He was sure. She was back to calling and holding the phone. “Say something,” he said. The caller hung up. Lance held the phone for a second before hanging up. He called Allan.
“Hello,” Allan answered. “Hey. Um. Listen…Did you give Paula my number?” he asked. Allan hesitated. He knew Lance would not be happy. But he believed the two should work out their loss together. And get back together. They were good for one another. But the tragedy was too damaging. Allan hoped talks would help them recover.
“Yeah. She called a few days ago. Said she needed to talk to you. Why?” he asked. Lance sighed. “You know why. She doesn’t want to talk. She wants to blame. She has unresolved anger over it. And I can’t talk to her. I’m dealing with my own guilt. She needs therapy,” he disclosed. “Of course she does,” Allan replied. He held the phone. He hesitated. “But so do you,” he said. Lance instantly became agitated.
“No. Actually I don’t. I’m doing fine. I am mourning normally. It’s going to take some time. But I’m good. I moved here for a reason. I need time away from Paula. Away from everything. You should have asked me first. I am not ready to talk to her. And until she gets the help she needs, I’m not sure what benefit I can be. Next time ask me Allan,” he said. Allan agreed. Lance hated that Allan was so involved. He had no faith in his abilities to cope with tragedy. Allan himself had had a nervous breakdown. And he had a habit of projecting his own feelin
gs onto the environment around him.
The truth was Lance was healing. He had come a long way. He was far from needing medical intervention. He didn’t require talks with a psychiatrist although it would have been a benefit. Lance hung up. His brother had angered him again. Being a father instead of a brother. Over-stepping his bounds. Misjudging him. Another reason California was the best place for him.
L
ance sat on the end of his dock. His linen pants legs rolled up. His feet in the warm blue water. He planned to sit until the sun set, then return to his patio and sit next to the sparkling rock, fire pit table. The large round outdoor fireplace gave evenings a nice ambiance. And as wonderful as his evenings were, something was missing. It was great. But Lance knew it could be better sharing such occasions with someone he loved. The sunset worked its magic again. He could shake the trials of his frustrating day. The view and fresh air were all he needed. Lance sat comfortably, a bowl of fruit, a mp3 player with earbuds and his cell phone at his side.
He ate strawberries, melon and blueberries as he watched his neighbor’s boat go by. The boat coasted slowly. Small ripples hit his feet. The owner waved at Lance. He had wondered who the new owner of the home was. It was the boaters first time seeing Lance. They hadn’t met yet, but Lance was nonetheless cordial. He knew his neighbors were anxious to meet him. The wife of the man on the opposite side, brought over a pie. She welcomed him to the neighborhood then asked if he would like to have dinner with her and her family. Lance declined and thanked the woman for the pie. It was a cherry pie that didn’t last but a few days.
“Howdy,” the man yelled. Lance waved back at the man, then continued to eat his fruit. He placed the earbuds in his ear and hit play. His playlist was full of old rhythm and blues, and music by some of his favorite artist like; Gladys Knight, Elton John and Michael McDonald. Music he grew up listening to. Songs that always made him feel like his mother was right there. She would have approved of his music. It was her playlist. He got comfortable. He moved his feet around in the water. He took a deep breath in.
Pretty Fin Page 11