Natalia broke her contact with Raja, putting her hand to her lips as the cold of separation hit them. After a long silence, which she used to balance her thoughts, Natalia spoke, "I think I would like to see the ship." She wanted to escape from this luxurious room, which felt so small with Raja in it, and stood with a slight wobble. Raja rose with her. He didn't touch her, but she knew he would have caught her if she had fallen.

Once she felt steady, Raja stepped away and pulled a dark blue cloth from the chair. He brought it back to Natalia. She looked at the fabric Raja handed her and realized it was a robe.

"I will need help with this garment. It is unfamiliar to me," Natalia admitted. Without any change in his blank expression, Raja took the soft fabric and helped her slip it around her body. He stood close enough that Natalia could smell the accumulation of sweat and horse from a long ride. Unlike the stench that followed the soldiers when they rode, Natalia did not find Raja's odor overwhelming. It was likely he bathed more frequently than the Queen's soldiers, and there was a gentle musk that tempered the reek that should have come from what must have been days in the saddle.

Raja stepped back after he tied one side of the robe to the inside of the other and folded the top where it lined up with what she realized was a type of button on the front near her right shoulder. These were the same color as the robe, so she had not noticed it at first. When he finished, he wrapped a cloth around her middle and tucked it on the sides. It should have been restrictive, but the central material felt more supportive than confining. Did it provide support while riding, or exist just for appearance? When he moved back to the other side of the room, Natalia realized that the cloth she wore had the same musky smell. Something in how the fabric was made or stored must be the cause.

"You could," Raja began, distracting Natalia from her musings on the cloth, "wear the britches underneath. Tradition does not dictate you wear them all the time unless you are traveling." He was holding a pair of white trousers. While they did not look uncomfortable, Natalia did not trust herself to sit again to put them on. It had taken so much energy to stand the first time.

"I feel comfortable without them," Natalia answered. Raja placed the pants back onto the chair he had lifted them from and grabbed a length of blue fabric from the table by the bed. Natalia could not fathom what it was.

"This is a head covering," Raja explained as he held the strip of cloth in his hand.

"That, too, is new to me." With her tacit permission, he wrapped the soft material around her head and face.

"Most will know that you are not of the tribes and will assume you wear the veil as a courtesy to me," Raja explained as he inspected his work. "Your skin and voice will give you away." Natalia nodded and tested the fit of the headwrap. "It is no longer the fashion among my people for women to wear veils, though it is still prevalent among the mountain tribes, and many young women wear them while traveling."

"Do men wear headcoverings?" she queried when he appeared to finish his explanation.

"Yes, they are often worn on long rides to protect against elements by both genders. But it has never been fashionable for men to wear." Raja put a hand to his head and glanced at Natalia with a hint of embarrassment. "Would you mind if I adjust my hair? There is a stool here for you to lean on if needed." Raja placed what Natalia would have thought was a tall table or shelf beside her. It stood at just the right height to lean on without fully sitting; though it did not look like any stools she was familiar with, she appreciated its functionality.

Once Natalia rested comfortably on the stool, Raja untied his hair and combed it quickly. While she waited, Natalia chose to watch him. She was surprised when he did not rebraid it and disappointed when he tied it in a tight bun on top of his head, using a stick to hold it in place. No strands fell loose as Natalia would have expected. Natalia frowned at her displeasure. Unexpectedly, she found the man's long hair attractive. The men in her village had worn their hair long, unlike the men of the Queendom. Her hand touched the cloth covering her head self-consciously. She did miss her hair.

When Raja finished, he offered his hand to Natalia. She reluctantly accepted it and used his strength to stand again but immediately broke contact once she was stable. Her mind had only briefly touched his and met a sturdy shield that Natalia could not yet pass. Relieved, she took a deep breath and walked out of the cabin before him.

She could feel her excitement build as she stepped through the door. This would be her first time walking free in many years.

After exiting the dark hold, the sun blinded Natalia for a moment. When she could see again, the movement of the sailors busily working astonished her. She then noticed a familiar seeming man and woman in conversation on the other end of the deck. Though his appearance was quite different than she remembered, Natalia recognized the soldier she had known as Red.

As if sensing their arrival, both stopped speaking and looked toward Natalia and Raja. It seemed like the man had kept her from some important task with his words. The woman smiled and nodded at the couple, then bowed respectfully at Red and hurried away. Red appeared unperturbed and walked over, giving Natalia a warm smile in greeting.

"Ah, you are finally awake. I had worried you would sleep the entire day away! You look better already." His deep voice bathed her in comfort. "Let me introduce myself to you properly now that you are fully awake. I am commonly called Paulo and am certainly not a soldier." He laughed at his joke and gestured for her to walk while he spoke. Raja shadowed them discreetly and did not interrupt. "You have, I am sure, many questions, and I will answer them all in time, but I ask for patience. I cannot yet answer most of them." His smile crinkled the skin beneath his eyes.

Natalia felt more at ease around this big man than she had around his Red persona. This version of himself, Paulo, must be closer to his true countenance. He seemed so much more comfortable.

"Where are we? What time is it?" Her voice cracked when she spoke. She looked up and saw the sun at its highest point. It was mid-day already. When had she last had something to drink? Paulo handed her a flask and laughed when she looked at it with uncertainty.

"Just water," Paulo assured her and smiled encouragingly. Natalia took a drink of the refreshing liquid and felt invigorated. She hadn't realized she had been so thirsty. "We are aboard Fortune's Friend, one of the Kingdom's luxury cargo ships."

"Cargo ship?" Natalia looked around her in disbelief. The fine craftsmanship was evident even to her untrained eye. Every piece of metal was polished to a gleam, the wood was freshly painted or stained, and everywhere it was practical, artisans had created ornamental carvings to show off the wealth of the ship's owner.

"Yes, well, not every cargo ship in the Kings' navy has such an illustrious owner, but it is a working vessel nonetheless." Paulo's voice sounded almost whimsical as he looked around the fine deck. "Shall I show you around?"

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Natalia looked back at Raja, who nodded silently.

Paulo met Raja's eyes and smiled before he showed them around the massive ship. Natalia marveled at the sailors' bravery as they shimmied up the wooden masts and dangled over the edge while repainting the white vessel. Paulo explained the necessity of minor repairs and keeping the hull watertight while still at sea, but it still astonished her. The water was beautiful and calm, lulling her as they ducked into various holds. She saw fine dining halls, crew quarters, lounges, and the cargo hold. Paulo hid nothing from her, even introducing them to the Captain on his bridge. Natalia knew she would not remember her way around after this one tour but suspected, by the careful way he looked around, Raja would.

She was free, or so Paulo told her, but she did not yet feel free. Despite Paulo's welcoming demeanor and Raja's calm insistence, it would take time for Natalia to believe she was unfettered. Her guarded heart could not help but suspect she had jumped from one cage to another. Was she trapped on this ship, in all its luxury, as much as the Queen had trapped her?

Just as Natalia began to feel a wave of fatigue threatening to overtake her, Raja recommended they find something more to eat. Natalia could not say how long they had been wandering through the elaborate vessel, but she did feel hungry again. The sun hung much lower in the sky, casting shadows over the deck. It had to be mid-afternoon or early evening. Was it too early for dinner? She watched several sailors head towards the lower tiers that held the various dining spaces with hope.

"There is always food to be had aboard this ship; the crew eats in shifts. It is time for the early supper now. Shall we give it a try?" Paulo answered her unasked question with a laugh when Natalia agreed with a nod. Before they moved, Paulo stopped a sailor. Natalia could not hear the exchange, but Paulo smiled broadly and pounded the smaller man on his back. The sailor seemed pleased and ran away with a happy look.

"Our host is already in the main dining room. I am anxious for you to meet," Paulo explained as they descended into the belly of the ship.

A slender, well-dressed man with light brown hair and striking green eyes met them at the grand dining hall. His face wore a friendly, relaxed smile, yet something about how he occupied his space without effort hinted at his importance. And when he walked towards them, his stride had a regal bearing. Once they were close enough, Raja bowed slightly to the man, and Natalia followed his lead, but Paulo did not.

Paulo's failure to show any deference surprised her, though this did not seem to offend the young man of likely royal lineage. To Natalia, this provided a hint about what her friend was. A man who could look eye to eye with a man of such apparent rank without any homage was either royalty himself or influential in another way.

"Prince Theodore, Third Son of the Kingdom," Paulo explained to her as he brought them to the head table. "An old student of mine and our host for this journey." Theodore's eyes captured hers briefly. Though the bland expression on his face didn't seem to change, she saw curiosity and intelligence in his eyes. Natalia wondered how much of the air of ease and mildness about him was a deception.

With her interest piqued, Natalia watched him closely as they moved to the table. The Prince's sharp eyes captured everything around him. Though his soft hands appeared never to have seen combat or hard labor, his movements betrayed a control that indicated a good amount of combat training. Natalia chose not to speak and was careful not to touch him. She let Raja and Paulo make her introductions.

"I am Raja, Son of the Inyoni, and this is my wife, Tali." Natalia was startled at the name but agreed it was the right choice. At least he had not chosen to call her Nati; she had not heard that term of endearment in many years, and the sorrow it brought when Lukas used it had been hard to suppress. Raja pulled out a chair for her to sit, forcing Natalia to look away from the Prince for a moment, but not before she noted a spark of surprise in the Prince's eyes.

"Raja Iyonison, I am pleased to have you aboard, especially since you have brought Master Paulo with you." The Prince's voice did not betray any concern. It was as light and carefree, but the title he had given Raja had an effect. Raja had started almost imperceptibly at its use. Had she not been sitting so close to him, she would not have noticed the transient tension in his frame. Natalia knew so little about the tribes and wondered about the importance of the name.

While they waited for their food to be served, the Prince spoke casually about various topics. While speaking, Prince Theodore would often touch Paulo. The gesture seemed almost unconscious, as if he thought Paulo would disappear any second.

Despite herself, Natalia felt comfortable with the Prince; his demeanor eased her and allowed her to enjoy his wit. Yet, regardless of his idleness and good humor, she felt something about him was familiar and almost wise. Had she more vigor, she might have probed his mind superficially for signs of magic, but in her current state, she could not.

Brightly clad servers brought their food to them, and more sailors entered the hall. The Captain came and bowed at their table courteously but did not join them; instead happily joined his crew at the lower tables.

After the servants cleared the last course from the table, there was a lull in the conversation. Raja looked at the Prince thoughtfully. "How long until we are in the Kingdom?" he asked.

"It will be more than a week. I must stop at various ports to make small trades and diplomatic gestures for my father. It is the only reason he gave me Fortune's Friend." He stretched back in the chair. "I am bringing a much-anticipated shipment of smoked fish from Azos to the King. It is a favorite of his. We are often there." His smile at Paulo was full of shared secrets. Natalia wondered about their relationship, their age difference connoted a master and pupil tie, yet their behavior did not support this.

Natalia was forced from her contemplation by a movement beside her.

"We thank you for your hospitality, but I believe my wife and I would benefit from more rest," Raja said as he stood and put a hand under her elbow before she could flinch away.

"Yes, Paulo said you have been on the road for many days. Take this time to rejuvenate." The tone was dismissive, but Theodore's eyes still brimmed with interest as he spoke to Raja.

"I find the water is the best place to recover," Paulo added, distracting the Prince with a casual hand on his leg.

"Of course you do, Water Wizard." The Prince teased, then flushed under Paulos's gaze. "Ah, they do not yet know, sorry."

Natalia looked at Paulo and smiled. Water Wizard, she had felt magic around him today, which she had never felt before. How he hid it from her and the many priestesses they had encountered while in his soldier guise? She would ponder this puzzle on another day. Her exhausted mind refused to consider it and agreed with Raja that she needed rest.

WC2579

Last Edit 1/1/2023