Rea 13

TW// Mention of execution, corpses

Rea was standing by the window overlooking at the entrance of the castle. She was waiting for her mother's visit.

Everything was falling apart.

First the kingdom, then Elias went missing, the whole kingdom was starving, then Tivon came to her looking like he had seen ghosts, the village got raided by pirates. She gripped the window still.

Not just any pirates. The Rose Sparrow. And then Tivon and Cornelis disappeared. No, Tivon didn't just disappear. Elias took him.

Why did he do that? She leaned against the window. Why? What did she do to the Gods and Saints to deserve this? Her options and solutions were running low. Now she only had Ivan and her parents for help. Ivan went searching for Tivon and Elias and wouldn't return till next morning.

A carriage entered the castle. As it came to a stop, a woman with similar blond long hair exited the carriage, dressed in a thick blue gown with white fur on its sleeves.

Rea moved away from the window and headed down to meet her mother. She had called her mother to come to her a day before her birthday, because she needed help. Her mind and her now so fragile body couldn't do it anymore. Rea knew that she should've asked for help a long time ago, before everything went downhill rapidly. She just couldn't bring herself to ask.

Rea always hated asking for help. She never wanted to show herself fragile and weak. Especially before others. Even the ones closest to her.

Her mother was waiting for her in the castle's main hall. When Rea saw her, feelings swamped her. "Lorain?"

She turned around and smiled. Rea ran into her arms and dug her head into her shoulder. Her mother was still taller than her. Rea looked up at her. Her mother had the kindest green eyes and despite her age, she still looked young, her skin smooth as Rea's. She missed her.

Lorain cupped Rea's face and wiped away a tear, Rea didn't even know had shed. "Look at you my little star, so grown now." Her voice was soft. "Have they been feeding you at all?" She frowned.

"I'm okay, mother. They are taking good care of me."

"I'm glad to hear that." She smiled.

Rea looked over Lorain shoulder. "Father isn't with you?"

Her smiled vanished. She hesitated for a brief second. "Father is sick."

It didn't even shock Rea. With all the things that had happened around her, she wasn't even surprised. It was also because her father had taken sick a lot of the times.

"He'll be okay. He always is." Said Rea.

Lorain managed only a brief smile, but she didn't nor deny nor confirm it. "I'll only be staying for a couple of hours, because of it." Rea nodded. "So, I brought this with me today." Lorain reached into her sleeve and pulled out a tiny box. She handed it to Rea. "For your birthday."

Rea opened the box and two blue star-shaped earnings sparkled at her. "They're beautiful." She looked up and smiled. "Thank you."

Lorain started walking down the hall. "So, tell me, what has been bothering my little star?"

Rea closed the box and followed her mother. "Three days ago, a village was raided by pirates."

"So, I've heard."

"And they've taken Tivon." Her mother looked back at her. "Ivan went looking for him, but there is no trace of them." Rea looked down at her hands, her bitten down fingernails. "I..." She hesitated. "I d-don't know what to do any more mother."

"Oh, Rea." She reached for her face. "I know it's hard handling a kingdom, but you have studied it. Father has taught you."

"He taught me for The Kingdom of Lucine, but I need to rule two kingdoms mother."

"What you need, Rea, is alliances."

"I have those. I have The Rose Sparrow."

Lorain stopped. "The one who raided your villages?!" Rea shut her mouth at the roughens and the accusation in her mother's voice. "You need real alliances. You need to marry a prince."

She had this talk with Lorain every time she even briefly mentioned the kingdom. "Mother, you know I-"

"Rea, you called me for help and I'm telling you what to do. Don't try to deny it, you know it's the only solution. You'll have a great opportunity at the ball you've been preparing for."

It was useless to talk back at her. Rea only looked down and spoke. "Yes, mother."

"Now come on. I'm starving."

Lorain was leaving after lunch. The visit didn't help Rea in the slightest. Her mother's only solution was marriage, which would never happen, Rea was certain of that. She would never marry a man for the sake of the alliance. It would make her look weak. But what if that meant saving the kingdom? Saving her people?

Lorain kissed her on the cheek. "Promise me you'll find someone at the ball."

"I promise." Rea knew it was an empty promise.

She smiled and turned to the carriage. "Mother?" Rea called behind her. Lorain looked over her shoulder. Rea knew she shouldn't ask what she did, but she needed to know.

"Why did you never talk about my aunt?"

She froze. Her eyes were fixed on Rea, her expression cold. She turned around and said quietly. "Don't talk about her to me."

She started heading towards the carriage. Rea ran after her. "But mother, she was your sister. Why did you never talk about Elysis?"

Lorain turned around pointing a finger at Rea's face. "Don't you speak that name ever again."

Rea stood her ground. "Why did you push her away?"

"Rea."

"Why did you never want to her near me?"

"Rea!"

She could see the anger rising in her mother's voice, but Rea didn't care. "Why was she murdered?!"

"ASTREA!" She shouted.

Rea stopped, startled. No one has ever called her by her full name. She had almost forgotten it. It sounded wrong on her mother's tongue.

"No one murdered her. She killed herself. Stop telling yourself otherwise."

"But mother, Elysi-"

A slap crossed her face. "Stop saying her name!" Rea's eyes were wide. She reached her hand over the already swollen skin. "I never want to hear that name again. I forbid you from talk about her, Rea!" Rea stared at her open mouthed. "Did I make myself clear?" Rea didn't say anything. "Astrea!"

"Yes, mother."

Her anger was gone in a second, like it was never even there to begin with. She smiled and reached for Rea's cheek. Rea flinched away. "Take care of yourself. If father gets better, we'll come visit you." She turned to the carriage. "I love you. Goodbye."

Rea only stared after the moving carriage, her hand still on her cheek. She had never seen her mother this angry. What did Elysis do that triggered her mother into slapping her daughter and then pretending like nothing happened?

A sudden nausea and tiredness hit Rea. She struggled back inside, barley gathering enough strength to get to her chambers. She asked her mother for help and all she gave her was more worry and even more questions.

She knew Elysis didn't kill herself. She knew that her aunt would never do that. She had to be murdered. Rea staggered to her bed and sat down. She saw the stab wound. She couldn't have done it herself.

Her body was pictured clear before her, like she was holding Elysis in her arms in that moment. Elysis face smiled at her as Rea fell on her bed and fallen asleep.

She got woken by the door to her room closing. She jerked up and looked at Ivan.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up."

Rea blinked at him. She needed a moment to process where she was. She hadn't had a dreamless sleep in months, she almost forgot how good sleep was. Rea set up from her sheets, still dressed in the same clothes as the previous day. "It's okay Ivan." She looked at him and noticed that he held a little cake between his hands. "What's that?"

"Oh." He hurried to her and sat beside her. He put the cake in front of her. "For your birthday."

Rea smiled and took the cake. "Thank you, Ivan. Truly." He handed her a fork. "You didn't have to."

Ivan reached for her cheek. "What's that?"

Rea had almost forgot about it. She held her cheek and looked away. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure? If your mother-"

"It's okay, really." She looked up and smiled.

Ivan looked out the window as Rea took a bit of the cake. "A ship is waiting for you in the harbour."

Rea looked up. "Huh?" Worry flooded her in seconds. "What ship?"

"Your ship." He must've seen her confused face when he continued. "Your ship is waiting for you to sail off to wherever you'd like to for five days. It's my birthday gift to you."

A trip to wherever she would like to go? She wanted to sail with her ship for months now, but she never had the chance. Or time. With all the work to be done, she didn't even allow herself to think about it. "Ivan that sounds amazing, but I can't the work-"

"Don't worry about work," he said. "I got that covered. Nobody will know you'll be gone. The only ones who know is me and the crew. I'll say you've taken ill and that you only wish to see me. I'll do the work for you."

"What about the upcoming ball? I still must send out the invitations."

"I've already sent them a week ago. And the ball is in two weeks. You'll be back by then."

"Ivan, I don't think-"

Ivan took her hand. "Don't think about it. It's your birthday and you aren't allowed to think about work for five days."

The smile on Rea's face grew bigger, she wrapped her arms around Ivan. "Thank you, Ivan. That's the best gift you could ever give me."

"It's the least I can do for you." Ivan looked at her. "Now go get ready. The Aster is waiting."

Rea jumped out of bed filled with joy that she hadn't felt in years.

The Aster was a magnificent royal ship. It wasn't as big as the others, but for Rea's liking it was perfect. She loved its smooth black cherry wood and its lofty white sails. The railings were carved up into delicate patterns. She gripped it as she watched The Kingdom of Naydawin disappear. Ivan was doing her a huge favour. She would repay him later. For now, she wouldn't think about work. The only thing she would allow to do on this journey, is to find Tivon and Elias.

One of her crew members approached her. "Princess Rea."

"Rea." She turned around and smiled. "On this ship I'm only Rea."

He straightened his back. "As you wish, Captain Rea." Rea's smile widened. "Where do we set sail to, Captain?"

Rea looked out into the sea. There was an island they hadn't looked for Elias yet. She remembered Luana talking about it. There was a chance that the two of them could be there. They might not get there in time that she had, but she could still try.

"Set sail towards Ascot. Keep your eyes sharp. If you see anything out of the ordinary tell me."

The sailor nodded and turned down to the crew and shouted orders. As he gave them, he pointed down at the sailors. "And drop the sail by the Crow's nest."

"I'll do that." Shouted Rea.

Before anyone could argue against her, she tightened her ponytail and headed for the main mast. She climbed it up in mere minutes. When she got up, she let loose the sail and tightened the ropes down. When she finished, she took in the view. The breeze from up there was refreshing and Rea took in a big breath of salty air.

This was freedom. She could pity Elias. Living your life out there, where only the ocean is your limit, always breathing the fresh air.

With all the air curling her hair and the sun warming her skin, she had to remind herself that it was not always that pretty. The sea was not always your friend with all the rough sea and storms and enemies. Elias also had his curse. No one was ever free.

Rea had only one wish. She would help Elias and Tivon get rid of the curse if it were even possible. She would help Cornelis, whatever she needed help for, helping Tivon in the process. She would help Ivan find the sparkle he'd lost when Ameer died, and she would help her people. She would build a kingdom where people could live without worry and fear. Where her people would be free.

Only then she would be free.

She would have promised herself that, even if that wish was beyond her.

"Captain Rea!"

Rea was in her cabin, looking at the map of Krens. She looked up from the maps. "Yes."

"We've found a ship."

She was up in an instant and started walking towards the door. "Which one."

"We couldn't tell."

The setting sun blinded their eyes for a split second. Rea looked for the ship.

"Doesn't it have any banners?" As soon as Rea came to the ships railings she understood. The ship was no more, only wooden parts floating on the sea's surface. "Are there any survivors?" She asked.

"None are alive, Captain."

Rea gripped the railing tightly as she saw the bloated bodies on the surface. Their heads and their extremities were hanging downward towards the bottom of the sea, their skin wrinkled caused by the rigor of the muscle within the skin. They hadn't drowned. They had been killed.

Something bothered her about them. All these bodies were small and young. These had to be young boys. But what were they doing here in the middle of the sea?

"Orders, Captain?"

Rea looked for any signs of Tivon or even The Rose Sparrow, but there was nothing indicating that they were here or responsible for it. It could've been the storm from yesterday's night. Winter storms in Krens could be fatal for a smaller ship.

"If there are no survivors continue sailing. Lit up the lanterns for the night."

"Yes, Captain."

The ship moved forward. One of the body whose back was uncovered, caught Rea's eye. The boy's back was covered with scars. The birds must've gotten to him. But the cuts were too clean and precise. No animal could've done that.

Rea headed towards her cabin. She wanted to get some sleep, for they were heading towards a storm. She would want to be on deck for if the crew needed help.

Rea laid down on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. The scars on that boy really were unusual. Rea saw them once. She couldn't quite remember when or on who, but she knew that they looked familiar.

She looked out of the cabin's window. The sky was already pitch black, dark clouds rolling towards them. She closed her eyes, hoping that she would fall asleep, but the image of the scars was clear in front of her. They were shaped into a peacock feather. Rea was sure now that that was no animals doing. She had seen scars in the exact same pattern on someone.

Elias.

She saw them on Elias.

Rea opened her eyes. Luana made those wounds. That boy, no, those boys were part of Luana's pleasure house. The ship was destroyed, and they were killed as part of the rebellion. She jumped out of bed and started heading towards the door.

Suddenly something exploded outside her cabin, the impact of it sent Rea falling to the ground.

Something had hit her ship.