Xander sat at the dinner table, pale and still shaky. He had spent most of the journey throwing up his breakfast, but now felt able to eat and keep it down. Travelling by sea always made his stomach weak and on top of a hangover, things were not feeling good, but at least some of the nausea was passing.
Now it would give him the opportunity to speak to his bride alone, since she seemed reluctant to talk out on the deck. Considering he was a man never to be turned down, it was a knock to his ego when she clearly was not eager to give him any attention. He was far too used to having females falling at his feet.
He heard footsteps outside the door and he began to turn on the charm. He watched as Briganti pushed open the door, throwing her hat on to a chair before lowering herself on to a seat opposite. Even in her scruffs, she looked beautiful, especially with her hair tied away from her face.
'Firstly, can you please not do that,' she snapped as she sat herself opposite him.
'Do what?' he asked smiling.
Briganti leaned forward, elbows on the table. 'Fae charm doesn't work on the mers. The least you could do is give me the respect that I'll like you without magick,' she said bluntly.
The smile fell from his lips. 'I am sorry,' he spluttered.
She seemed satisfied and proceeded to pull the leg from the cooked chicken that had sat tormenting him on a platter between them. He watched in amazement as she gnawed her way through the meat. Most of the ladies in Court would be horrified by her manners.
'Look,' she continued taking a gulp of wine. 'I'll be blunt, I don't want you on my ship and I get the feeling neither do you. So why don't we do a deal?'
'Which is?' he asked taking a sip from his own goblet.
'When we get to Hecate just forget to board. I'll get the Scales. Come back play dutiful wife. Happily ever after.'
Xander smiled, the offer did sound tempting. 'And I would benefit how?'
'By staying alive,' Briganti smirked.
'Tempting,' he said, 'but how is it going to look if my queen saves Celestia, while I do nothing?'
'So, it's your image you’re bothered about?' Bri said keeping her voice steady.
Xander shrugged. The idea of not going to Nepta was a wonderful one, but the shame of being branded a weak king was greater.
'Well you’re not getting on my ship,' Bri stormed, knocking over the chair as she rose.
Xander rose too, he could feel his own blood starting to boil. He hated being told what to do, especially by a woman who thought she was better than him. He’d already noticed how most of the crew reluctantly followed his orders and that he hated.
'I will be your king and I will do as I choose.'
As soon as it left his mouth he realised his mistake as his body hit the table and cold steel on his throat.
'PRINCESS!'
They both looked up and saw Orlson standing at the door. Xander felt the weight move from him and the knife hit the table with a clang. He let out a breath of relief as he watched her push past Orlson and leave the room. He offered his new saviour a cup of wine as a thank you, although Orlson ignored it.
'You must forgive her, Your Highness. She has spent a life around the roughest of men and has learned to be far too headstrong.'
Xander sighed as he rubbed his neck where she had held the blade.
'At least she fights for her beliefs. She will be a good queen. All I do is look the part.'
Orlson shrugged, not knowing what else to say. 'I must go and see if I'm needed on the deck,' he said finally, leaving Xander alone once more.
Sitting down, his stomach rolled once more. This Briganti was going to be a handful and he was under no illusions that she could outwit him in all things.
Chapter Six
Celestia's Tales: The Lybiria Scales Page 6