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She appears at my side, opening the cabinet to pull out one made of dimpled, blue leather. She hands it to me and I’m surprised by how heavy it is.
“This one’s about the sirens of the North. My favorite.”
“Educational or fiction?” I ask, resisting the urge to open it up.
“Fiction—definitely. I don’t think I’d survive reading anything else. I’m more of a romance person, and let’s just say the sirens don’t lure men to their death in that one.”
I press my lips together, nodding my understanding before placing it back on the shelf and closing the door. “Sounds captivating.”
“Oh, it is. Do you read?”
“All the time,” I say as I stand to pull my things from the chest. “Mostly adventure stories. Some have romance too. I’ve never been outside the castle and the courtyards, so anything that tells me about the world surrounding it typically grabs my attention.”
“Well, in that case, you’re about to see quite a bit. We’re porting in the Luminaries first, then if you go with us, we’ll be heading back to the mainland. We’re supposed to port near Mortys.”
“For what? Why not go there first? It’s closer.” I pause, setting the dress in my hands onto the thick fur comforter.
“I don’t ask those questions. I’m sure Hook has his reasons.”
“He mentioned you were looking for something important. Is that in Mortys?”
“We hope so. My brother has waited a long time to find it.”
The ship creaks and the floor rocks slightly. “What was that?” I grip the edge of the bed and Smee laughs.
“We’re leaving the bay. Or rather, the anchor has been pulled so we can. It’s alright.” Her smile meets her eyes as she takes the dress, popping open a hidden door on the wall that leads to a shallow wardrobe.
I stand, moving to a port hole in the wall that gives a view of the ocean. The castle looks so small from here, like a replica someone has built on a table instead of the imposing towers I’ve wandered through. The trunk lid shuts with a smack and I turn to find her opening the bedroom door. The sound of music and raucous laughter filters into the room.
“Come on, princess, let’s show you around.”
“Scarlet,” I remind her. Smee smirks, like my rejection of the title suits me. I might be a princess by blood, but the moment I married Sebastian, I knew I’d have to adapt. Part of that is being neutral on whether I stand with or against my father. So, in the meantime, it’ll be best if I try to see through their eyes and find common ground.
Smee takes me down the hall, rattling off the names of those living in the rooms around mine. I don’t think I’ll ever remember all of them. At least not anytime soon. She shows me where the bathrooms are, which are shared, along with the showers. Next, we go up the stairs to the mess hall, which is where the cooks on the ship will serve food for meals and where the drink taps are. It’s the first floor below the desk and spans almost the entire ship in length. My room is directly below it.
“I’d take you to the bottom levels, but it’s not very interesting down there. It’s mostly storage. Besides, this is where everyone spends most of their time, anyway.”
She’s not kidding. As she pushes open the door from the stairwell, the room is alive. Dozens of men are drinking and playing cards. A handful play instruments on the far side of the room, and others dance and sing along with it. Mugs clink and laughter fills the air. The warm glow of flames in lanterns paints everything and everyone in a golden hue.
Sebastian’s commanding presence draws a crowd as the men gather around him, asking questions and demanding tales of his fight. Some of the other crew members cast me side glances as Smee drags me toward the wooden barrels. Odd metal pegs jut from the curved surface.
“Whisky, wine, water, or beer?” She spins, handing me a mug.
“Um… water I guess.”
“Wine it is.” She nudges my hand toward a barrel and pulls up on the metal spike in the side. A metallic purple liquid spills into the glass. It’s not just any kind of wine. It’s fairy wine. I’ve seen my father drink it, but I’ve never been granted a taste. It’s a delicacy and reserved for only the most precious moments in the Solarian castle. Even then my father hoards it like there will never be more made. There’s got to be at least a dozen or more barrels of it.
“How…” I breathe out the word before I can stop myself.
“What? The wine?”
“Yes, the wine,” I say, letting the sarcasm flow. “It’s rare, isn’t it?”
“Not where we’re from. It’s just as common as anything else. Have you ever tried it?” I shake my head and she pushes up on the bottom of the glass, silently telling me to drink up. “You’re in for a real treat, then. Just be careful. It’s strong.”
12
Scarlet
