Captain Fawkes

Cassidy’s POV

Our trunks were packed and ready for our departure. Father came to see us off, but their majesties didn’t. Alex still wasn’t speaking to either of them beyond civil conversation when necessary; meaning that he didn’t talk to them at all.

Officially, we were going to Lupus on a diplomatic trip. Alex and I would be acting as ambassadors for the duration we were there to discuss renewals of the trade deals that Nasales had with Lupus. Unofficially, we were there to find the truth.

Alex had gone to King Edward and requested to be in charge of this deal. The King had only instructed him to be well prepared and granted him permission with a pat on the back. He didn’t twitch, but I felt the anguish in my chest.

We didn’t have a plan, but we were going to be there for at least a week. That might be enough time to find something.

I was worried though. Duke Kellen would be back in Lupus for the trade deals too. Frankly, neither Alex nor I liked him very much. The man seemed to know more than he let on and played his knowledge like a hand of cards. Alex gave me concerned looks when my worry bled through the bond, but I waved them off. I didn’t dare share my preoccupations. He had enough on his mind, I didn’t need to add to his burden.

We were travelling by ship. The trip would take a week on waters and was not the most ideal mode of travel, but certainly the fastest. Journeying on horseback would take an extra three weeks. Alex and I were too impatient for that.

Though by the first night on board, I was wondering if we should have just spent that extra three weeks on the road. Alex was painfully seasick.

It started out as a gently rocking boat at the port. Alex had been fine then, a little pale, but okay. Out on open waters was when trouble began. The waters were choppier, and it rocked the boat a little too hard for him to handle. An hour out at sea and he vomited over the sides.

I rubbed his back as he clutched weakly at the taffrail. “Oh, darling.”

I brushed the hair out of his eyes. He coughed and whined sadly, his eyes teary.

“Here, sit for a bit.” I grabbed the offered stool from a tall guard standing nearby. “Thanks,” I said.

“You’re welcome, your Highnesses.”

Alex visibly perked up. “You!” he yelled hoarsely.

The smartly dressed man with a Captain’s hat saluted.

Alex angrily pointed at him while I tried to figure out what he was upset about.

“You didn’t come to my wedding!”

I didn’t realise Alex was so close to his personal guards. “Alex, honey, I’m sure he has a good reason.”

Alex slumped. “He does have a good reason.”

The man grinned, his sandy blond hair ruffled in the ocean breeze. “I apologise, your Highnesses. I was stationed at the borders and unable to leave my post at the time. I offer my sincerest congratulations on your nuptials.”

Alex sulked on his stool and turned around to give the man his back. I hastened to accept the well-wishes on our behalf. “Thank you,” I replied. I glanced worriedly at Alex, who behaving rather childishly.

“Don’t mind him your Highness,” said the guard. “He’s always like this when there’s someone to coddle him.” My eyebrows raised. “Prince Alex has been that way since I first beat him in hand-to-hand combat.”

“Oh,” I wondered aloud, “How long have you known each other?” For this man to speak so familiarly about Alex, he must have known him for quite a while.

His corn blue eyes twinkled. “Allow me to introduce myself, your Highness.” He bowed. “My name is Garrison Fawkes, everyone knows me as ‘Fawkes’, but you can call me ‘Trouble’.” He winked at me.

Alex swivelled back to face us. “Stop flirting with my husband!” he growled.

Garrison laughed. He reached out to slap Alex very firmly on the back. “It’s good to be back, my prince,” he said and disappeared into the Captain’s cabin, dropping a “See you guys at dinner time!” before the door shut.

~

I brought Alex go to the ship doctor to see if there was anything he could take for his ailments. The doctor brewed him a strong chamomile tea and prescribed Alex some peppermint for the nausea.

Alex was told to take a nap and he went quite willingly, his complexion still pale. He let me tuck him in and while he rested, I did some reading up on the sea kingdom’s customs. We would be stopping by the constructed island of Atlantis on the way to Lupus and I needed to brush up on my culture knowledge. After all, the ocean was our neighbour and therefore our greatest ally or enemy.

Alex woke up in time for dinner and we went to the Captain’s cabin for our meal. He looked much better, still pale but no longer positively green. I knocked politely on the door.

“Come in,” Garrison called from inside. We entered and saw Garrison standing by the table waiting. “Good, good! You’re both here,” he said cheerfully.

“Thank you for inviting us, Captain Fawkes,” I replied.

He waved a hand dismissively. “No need for formalities, your Highness! I am a simple man with simple desires.”

Alex scoffed from behind me. I smiled. “Indeed,” I said. “I will address you ‘Garrison’ if you call me ‘Cassidy’.”

“Done.” He grinned. “Come, have a seat. I’m sure you are both hungry after all the efforts of the day.”

We sat and ate, chatting amiably. Alex had recovered enough to take some meat in his stew and having a more settled stomach did wonders for his emotional state. He was certainly much chattier than I had seen him since the whole parental revelation thing. Granted, Garrison seemed to be his childhood best friend?

As the meal wrapped up, Garrison brought out a small velvet bag, large enough to fit a small book. “Really sorry I couldn’t be there to see you two get married,” he paused dramatically, “I did get you a wedding gift and I’ll bet my ship that no one else has thought to give you anything like it.”

Alex sniffed curiously. “Did you get us a book?” he asked dryly.

Garrison scowled. “Stop cheating. And yes, but it’s special.” He handed me the velvet bag.

I slid the book out and froze at the name on the cover. Karma Sutra.

“What is it?” Alex asked, leaning over to look at the book in my hands.

I passed it to him and took a sip of water to cool my burning cheeks. Alex turned the cover. He coughed and stared wide-eyed at the image rendered in sharp detail on the page.

Garrison laughed. “I was stationed at the borders between Nasales and Gaiala. You know Nymphai, very open-minded people. You’re welcome,” he said and winked. At us. Alex was stammering furiously, and I was almost literally on fire. The bond between us was currently an endless loop of embarrassment mixed with arousal.

Garrison watched us in amusement. “Anyone would think you’d never had sex despite being married and all.”

Alex spluttered. “I- you!” He settled on “Shut up!”

I cleared my throat. “Thank you for your exceedingly… thoughtful gift,” I said, my voice cracking on ‘thoughtful’.

“Don’t mention it,” Garrison was having way too much fun. He produced another bag. I almost fainted. The only good thing about this was that Alex was too distracted to be seasick. In fact, all the colour had returned to his complexion.

Alex snatched the bag away and stuffed it under his chair. He scowled at Garrison. “We’ll look at it in private.”

Garrison raised his palms in surrender. “Of course,” he smiled. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on your private moments.”

Alex threw an apple at him. He dodged and the apple went sailing through the cabin window, plopping into the calm sea waters. “Thank you for dinner,” he ground out. “We’ll just be going now.” Standing, he pushed the book and the second unopened bag in my arms, picked me up and walked out. And I let him, too stunned and wide-eyed to complain.

~

In our own cabin, Alex paced in front of the door, as though guarding the place from unwanted visitors like Garrison if the grumbling under his breath was any indication.

“Damn Fawkes,” he growled. “Always sticking his nose…” he muttered something intelligible.

Without Garrison around to tease us, I was able to calm down. Seeing as Alex was rather occupied, I reached for the unopened bag. Undoubtedly, Garrison had left us something too lewd for polite company and I was curious.

It turned out to be some Aloe Vera gel. The lid of the pot was clearly engraved with ‘suitable for penetration’.