Coming to the edge of the trees, I snuck through the gardens and walked in the back door like nothing was wrong.  Andy's boots were not under the bench, but he was planning to hide inside, so he may have still been wearing them.  I walked calmly through the servants' hallway and continued up the grand staircase.  I headed toward Aunt Audrey's room, Andy's hiding spot.  At least, I hoped he had made it there without being caught.  

I peeked my head in the slightly open door, knocking softly on the door frame to announce my presence.  I saw Aunt Audrey with a tray of food in her lap, reclining on her bed.  She smiled at me and waved me in.

"Audrey," I began, slipping through the door and over to her bed, "Has Andy been in here recently?"  I sat in the chair next to her bed, and she offered me a piece of bread.  I took it and tore it in half, eating the first half and handing the other half back to Audrey.  Of course I wanted to eat the whole thing, but I wasn't going to take all of Audrey's food.

"You know, he was,"  Audrey assured me,  "But his father wanted to speak with him.  I believe it was about another expedition."

"Already?"  I exclaimed, jumping up from my seat.  "That's not fair!  It's been one day since he got here!"  I sat back down and glared at nothing in particular.

Aunt Audrey chuckled at my outburst.  "I know, Andrew is just so busy these days.  He's all grown up."  She smiled and reached out, patting my hand.  "This one shouldn't be too long, I think.  You should go find him and ask."

I nodded, giving up on glaring since Andy wasn't even there to see it.  "Do you know where he is?"

"His father said they were going out to the docks."

My eyes widened.  "Wait, is he leaving now?"  

Audrey frowned.  "Well, I hope not.  He didn't even say goodbye."

I popped out of my seat and dashed toward the door.  "I'll report back soon, Audrey!"

My aunt's laughter tinkled out into the corridor.  "Alright, Winnie." 

I ran down to the servants' hall again to grab my boots, nearly ripping the hem of my dress in my hurry to put them on.  It seemed I was hurrying a lot recently.

I turned and headed out to go through the castle to the main entrance, since it was closer to the docks.  As I opened the servants' door, I ran into a boy coming in the other way.  I backed up to apologize, only to see that the boy had sandy blond hair.

It seemed I was also running into Miles a lot recently. 

"Sorr-- woah, Miles?  Again?"  Realizing that exclamation might sound rude, I quickly backtracked.  "I only mean we've seen a lot of each other recently.

Miles didn't look thrilled about my statement, but he shrugged it off.  "I guess, yeah, we kind of have."

I nodded once, rocking back on my heels.  "Well, I'm heading to the docks to kick Andy's ass for planning another expedition so soon, what are you up to?"

Miles's whole face lit up, his sea blue eyes widening.  "Andy, like Andrew?  Your cousin?"

"Uh huh."  I had to laugh at his sudden enthusiasm.  "Why?  Do you know him?"

"Oh, uh, not personally, of course, but I do know of  him."  Miles seemed to be getting more flustered, and he ran a hand through his hair as he continued,  "That was a silly thing to say, the whole kingdom knows of him... Anyway, I saw him earlier today, talking to Susan right before she got soaked with water in the ballroom."  Miles's eyes grew wide as they focused on me, attempting to hide a smirk.  "Was that you?  I should have guessed!"

I laughed, then realized I was wasting time.  "Listen, Miles, just come with me!  I can introduce you to Andy, then you will be able to say you know him, rather than you know of  him."  I wriggled my eyebrows, then grabbed his elbow and tugged him after me.

"Well, uh, actually, Princess, I'm not really supposed... to..."

We had already reached the doors to the castle.  I stopped and turned on my heel, huffing.  I  reached up to scratch my reddish hair, only to find a twig caught in it.  "Miles, I'm the princess;  I'll make up an excuse for you if anyone asks where you were,"  I explained, tugging at the stick stuck in my hair.  "And, can you please call me Winnie?  Or at least Winifred.  Princess is way too formal."  I finally got the stick out of my bun, which I was sure was completely messed up at that point.  I exited the castle, beckoning Miles with the little twig.  His nose wrinkled up when he was confused.  So did his forehead.  Finally, he relented and followed me out into the grounds.

"Thank you,"  I said as we continued down the main path toward the docks.  "We need to hurry, I'm not sure if he's left yet."

I filled Miles in on what had happened that afternoon, leaving out the part about Symphony.  He already seemed uncomfortable enough.

"So,"  Miles ventured after I had finished my story,  "You aren't sure if he's even at the docks?"

"Nope."  I was walking ahead of Miles, who still didn't seem to understand the deadline we were working with.  "But that was the last place he was, at least.  And my uncle, Andy's father, may or may not be going with him, so either way I may or may not be able to yell at him."

Miles definitely looked nervous about me yelling at the king's brother, which I found sort of funny.  We passed the shops on main street, drawing many stares and gasps.  Miles was on edge, since he wasn't born a princess of Aglon.  He wasn't always the center of attention.  However, I was used to it.

We reached the side street leading to the docks and turned right onto it.  I pushed through the crowds on the docks, searching the faces for Andy's crooked smile or his curly hair.  "Hey, watch where yer goin' there!"  An old sailor called to us.  I ignored him, hoping Andy hadn't already left.

Miles suddenly grabbed my elbow.  "There!"  He exclaimed, pointing over the heads around us.  He was only a little taller than me, but he had seen Andy's mop of brown curls before I did.

Seeing him next to a royal ship, I moved even quicker through the crowds, apologizing this way and that.  I stepped on two sailors' toes and nearly knocked over a barrel of imported wine before Andy was within reach.  Naturally, the first thing I did when I got to him was punch him in the arm.

"Wha-- Winnie?  What on earth--?"  Andy was cut off by my hand, covering his mouth.

"Unless you are planning on explaining why you thought it was okay to leave again so soon without saying goodbye, then you need to be silent."  I growled.  Andy raised one eyebrow, his eyes sliding over to Miles, who was standing sheepishly behind me.

Sighing, I dropped my hand and gestured limply to Miles.  "Andy, this is my friend, Miles.  He is the only reason you won't be getting beaten up today."  I turned to Miles and brought a grin to my face, hoping he wasn't too upset by me being upset.

He wasn't.  He was smiling brightly, and when I looked back at Andy, he was smiling too.  A little less brightly, but that could be due to the fact that I had just punched him.  "It's good to meet you, Miles."

Miles nodded quickly.  "It's good to meet you too, Andy.  I mean, Andrew.  I mean... sorry?"  Miles scuffed his shoe on the ground awkwardly, and I could tell he felt embarrassed.

Andy, to my surprise, stepped forward and laid a hand on Miles's shoulder.  "Andy.  Call me Andy."

"Uh, okay."  Miles smiled again.  At least one good thing would come from that day.

I rounded on Andy.  "Now, Andrew, were you just about to leave me here without telling me where you were going?  Did you think this would be a funny prank or something?"  

Andy stepped away from Miles, holding his hands up in mock surrender.   "Woah, woah, I didn't even know this was happening!  My dad dragged me here saying he had a surprise for me."  Andy lowered his arms, suddenly grinning a bit.  "He's taking me on a sailing voyage for my birthday!  It's coming up in, what is it now... five days!"

"Yeah, I know.  I'm your cousin.   You're only a month older than me.  How could I forget?"  I paused, the wheels turning in my head as I made a terrible realization.  "Wait, are you not going to be here on your birthday?  But I haven't finished your present yet!"

Correction:  I hadn't even thought about his present yet.  I still had five days to figure it out.  I work well under pressure.

Andy raised one eyebrow and shook his head.  "No way, I'll be here.  The voyage is a four day trip, out to the edge of the Crador peninsula and back.  My father said he is letting me go so I can practice.  Just in case I want to captain a ship someday."  He almost rolled his eyes at that last part.  "I think it will be a lot of fun though."

"Of course it's going to be fun!"  I cried, flinging my arms out and almost whacking Miles in the face.  "You'll be out on the open sea, navigating the waves, using the stars for guidance, logging any aquatic animals you encounter..."  Suddenly, my jaw dropped.  "Oh my--  Do you get to choose your crew?"  My mind was racing, finding connections between Crador and Symphony and the voyage.  I could document sirens for the first time, on the scene!  It would be a dream come true.

"No, the crew is all picked out, and I can't bring any guests with me."  Andy's smile had drooped, seeing my excitement.  "I asked my father right away.  Sorry, Winnie.  Maybe some other time..."

I heaved a sigh.  Yes, I was being dramatic for comedic effect, but I could almost feel my heart drop in my chest.  I loved being around the ships and the sailors and the ocean, but I was never allowed to sail.  Number one, my mother would never allow her daughter, the princess, to leave the kingdom in a "rickety wooden drowning machine" (her words).  Number two, sailors were superstitious, and some believed that having a woman aboard the ship was bad luck.  Obviously a person's gender had nothing to do with whether or not a storm would hit the ship, but I didn't have much say in the matter.

"Andy!"  A deep voice boomed across the docks.  Andy spun around to face his father where he was standing on the deck of the ship.  "Finish... whatever it is you're doing, and hurry on up here.  We leave before sunset."  My uncle pointed at Andy as he spoke, then he turned back to face the crew of the royal vessel.

Andy turned back around slowly, and now it was his turn to look sheepish while I clenched my fists and Miles watched the interaction with one eyebrow raised.  "Wait,"  Miles blurted out, making me pause while my anger and frustration built up, "You're actually leaving?  I thought this was some kind of joke or prank, or something."  He looked at the glare I was preparing to level at Andy.  "Well, it's just-- you,"  Miles explained, looking Andy in the eye, "You were grinning just like you did before Susan got soaked earlier today.  I guess I kind of assumed that was your 'I'm pranking you' face."  Miles's face slowly colored as he spoke, looking like he had regretted speaking in the first place.

For some reason, mentioning the prank from earlier that day diffused the tension, and both Andy and I relaxed a little.  "Yeah, I'm really leaving, Miles," Andy replied.  "I swear I didn't know though, it was a surprise."

Miles and I nodded at the same time.  I felt guilty for feeling so angry with him, since this voyage was a gift.  "Sorry, Andy.  I hope you have fun."  My attempt at enthusiasm failed, but I made up for it by giving him a halfhearted smile and punching his shoulder.  Affectionately, of course.  "I'll have your present ready when you get back from this trip, so you'd better prepare yourself."

He smiled.  "Okay Winnie.  Tell my mother I'm sorry about not saying goodbye."

"Sure thing."

I spun to walk away.  Miles was standing there, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.  "Alright, buddy,"  I muttered, ignoring the slight smile playing on his lips and grabbing his arm to drag him away.  I may have been mad at Andy, but he was going on an awesome adventure.  It was his own fault he would be missing whatever went on in the next few days.

"Come on, Miles,"  I commanded as we strode away from the docks, "I need to show you something."