“It is my pleasure to present you with the Prince of Tepindia, Mason Bradwr,” the announcer's voice carried throughout the ballroom. My eyes scanned the crowed, looking for someone, I don’t know who, but I’ll know when I find them. That was the only reason I agreed to come. That dumb oracle got it in my head that I’ll find my mother if I come ‘blood will call to blood as the sea’s meet on land.’ Honestly, I knew it was a load of rubbish because my father told me mother died in childbirth.
Averting my eyes, I bowed and quickly descended the stairs to the ballroom floor. Everyone looked so elegant and stunning as they glided through the room as smooth as the sea. My father didn’t even bother to come, though he was personally invited by the queen. Instead he sends me as the ambassador for Tependia. Though personally I believe it has to do with him wanting me to find a bride so I may ascend the throne but my true love lies with the ocean instead of the land.
The ocean calms me, soothes me, and calls me. I have felt this way since I was eleven. Ever since the accident. As much as they say it messed me up, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was under the sea for twenty minutes before someone pulled me out. Instead of being afraid though, it gave me peace. Before that I had never even encountered the water. I was strictly forbidden to go near it and still am. Though I go behind his back often and sail the Crimson Sea when I get the chance. It is was I loved, I don’t think I could ever love someone more.
Though my love for the sea is great, I must admit that the women were beautiful. One in particular caught my eye. Not in a attraction way but more in curiousity way. She lingered close to the window with a women who could’ve passed as her mother. Both women had long, beautiful red hair. It was rare to see red hair, maybe that’s why I was drawn to them, because we shared the rarity. There dresses stood out as well. The younger one wore a long, emerald colored gown with a silver chainmail belt and gold jewelry. The older one’s dress was more elaborate. It reminded me greatly of the ocean. The fabric was a dyed turquoise silk with shells and jewels embroidered around the neck seam. She wore shell earrings and a gold necklace.
“Ah, Prince Mason, how lovely to see you made it,” a voice drew my attention from the ladies. Spinning around I smiled welcomingly at Queen Alcina, the Queen of Solor Isles.
“Lovely to see you too my Queen,” I replied smoothly, bowing to her.
“And what of your father?” she mused. There was a slight tightness to her question.
“I regret to inform you that my father did not make the journey,” I grimaced.
“How… unfortunate,” she said softly. She seemed to be lost in thought.
“I apologize greatly my queen,” I nodded.
“There, there, it isn’t your fault,” she laughed.
“My Queen, who are those ladies over there?” I asked softly.
“That would be my lovely sister Queen Pax, and her daughter Princess Delilah,” she smiled warmly. I smiled back. Now that I know, I actually saw the resemblance. She shared their red long hair and sharp features.
“What is she queen of?” I asked, curious because I knew all the royals and had never heard of her.
“She is queen of the sea,” Alcina cooed.
“As in the wife of Atlas?” I wondered aloud.
“Yes, the wife of Atlas. Though he was not able to make it,” she smiled. It seemed there was more meaning behind it than I knew.
“May I meet them?” I asked.
“Yes, of course you can,” she laughed. “Follow me, I’ll introduce you.” I nodded and followed her across the room.
As we got closer the more I saw how similar they were. And my curiosity of them grew. There were so many redheads in one family. It was baffling. My father had brown hair as well as my sister. My mother had passed when I was born. But this family clearly had strong genes.
“Pax, Delilah, this is Prince of Tepindia, Mason Bradwr,” she introduced me. I bowed to them. Honored.
“Nice to meet you,” Delilah grinned. Her emerald eyes sparkled. The mother however, didn’t say anything. She had a strange look on her face as if she had seen a ghost.
“It’s my honor,” I smiled politely.
“Sister, a word,” Pax requested of the queen. She smiled and guided her off, leaving Delilah and I alone.
“Is your mother alright?” I questioned, “I hope it wasn’t me.”
“No, you’re fine,” Delilah chirped, “I’m not real sure what is wrong.”
“Well, she will say eventually now won’t she? In the meantime, why don’t we dance?” I offered, not in the sort to pursue her but more of a chance to find out who she is.
“It would be my honor,” she grinned.
I guided her to the dance floor and spun her around. I wasn’t a great dancer but the formation dance was easy to follow. The waltz was my favorite, it was a personal and beautiful dance. I spun her around and we danced, switching partners every now then. By the time the music slowed the queens had reappeared. We walked over there and I bowed to them.
“My Queens,” I said politely.
“Delilah, come with me,” Alcina beckoned. I bid her farewell and watched her go. Now I was left with Queen Pax. She seemed calmer than she had been before she talked with Alcina.
“Prince Mason Bradwr, correct?” she asked me softly, breaking the silence.
“Yes,” I nodded, “ And you are Queen Pax, correct? Queen of the seas?”
“You are correct,” she smiled softly, as if thinking of something else.
“The ocean is my favorite place you know, against my father's wishes I sail around the crimson sea when I am supposed be on hunting trips.” I mused.
“I would imagine he wasn’t to happy about that?” she laughed lightly.
“If he found out he would be,” I said softly.
“Your father, he is a man who lives for order,” she whispered softly. Once again she seemed she was remembering something else.
“You speak as if you know him?” I inquired curiously. She grimaced and looked me over.
“You look so much like him yet completely different,” she said. “He really wasn’t always all that bad, he used to be very honorable. After his father passed he was never the same.”
“Did you know my father?” I questioned. Frustration flaring up in me, she wouldn’t answer my question.
“Yes,” she said, her voice cracked. Her sea green eyes seemed wet with tears as she recalled troubled memories.
“You knew him?” I couldn’t believe, how did he know her? He spoke to no one outside of the kingdom.
“Knew him? I loved him for awhile,” she laughed bitterly.
“But he has never loved anyone?”
“I know he hasn’t. That is why I left him,” she said.
“When did you know him? He has only ever been with one woman since I can remember,” I asked. I baffled me that my father spoke to someone other than his advisor. He even had Scylla’s mom killed so she would spread that he had an affair with a commoner.
“I knew him 19 years ago,” she said softly.
“You knew him just before I was born,” I laughed. But as soon as I realized what I said everything clicked. Red hair, acting strange, green eyes, and she knew my father just before I was born. There was no way. It’s impossible, my father told me she was dead. I thought the oracle was lying.
“Mason…,” she said softly seeing the look on my face.
“Are you? You can’t be,” I shook my head, putting my hand on the column for support.
“I… it’s complicated,” she said. She placed her hand on my arm and looked at me sadly. This woman was my mother. How? She was supposed to be dead.
“You, you’re supposed to be dead. That’s what he told me,” I stuttered.
“To him maybe, but I am very much so alive,” she shook her head.
“Why did you leave me?” I asked softly.
“I never left you,” she shook her head. “I was going to take you from your father to live in the sea where you belong but he lashed out in anger. I woke to find you gone, I thought he killed you so I fled to the sea where I belonged.”
“What do you mean, the sea is where I belong?” I asked.
“Have you never realized your draw to the ocean?” she asked.
“I am forbidden to go near the sea, though I began disobeying him after the accident. But, I do love the sea, I always have,” I said softly.
“Mason, you aren’t timorous,” she smiled. How was I not? I didn’t completely connect with anything except water and even that I never thought it meant anything.
“I don’t see how I am not,” I shook my head.
“Your father is timorous and I am of the Mer race, that makes you of the Pirate race,” she explained.
“But those are just people?” I asked confused.
“No, they come from the children of timorous and mer or sirens, as well as them. Normal timorous cannot connect with the sea as we can, they fear it,” she mused.
“I-I’m a pirate?” I questioned. A deep feeling resonated in my chest, something I had never felt. It was the feeling of belonging, of purpose. I could never imagine myself leading Tepindia, I was never fond of the politicalness of leading. This gave me a purpose.
“You don’t have to follow it, but, if you were to want to change your path then you are always welcome as my son. Instead of the Prince of Tepindia, you can become the Prince of the Seas. But you don’t have too,” she smiled fondly.
“I, my father would never allow me too,” I frowned.
“If you would like to, if you would truly like to join me, then we can arrange something where he believes you are dead,” she offered. Excitement grew in my chest and I couldn’t help but smile.
“This would be the best thing I could ever wish for,” I said thankfully.
“Then we will arrange an accident to where your ship is sunk,” she smiled. She seemed relieved.
“May I request my crew make it safely to land?” I asked, not desiring the death of my people.
“They will not be harmed,” she promised.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’d like to formally announce, the new heir to the throne, my son Mason Woevask,” Atlas’ voice boomed through the hall full of people. I smiled at the people and looked over to my mother, she beamed with pride.
“It is my honor to serve the seas to the best of my ability,” I nodded to the people.
“With the blood in your veins Mason, you will be a wonderful leader,” Atlas approved.
“Thank you sir,” I nodded to him.
“You set sell with your sister at dawn to account for all our people,” he ordered.
“Yes sir,” I said. After he dismissed me I turned and went to explore the world of my new life. The life of a pirate.
