Riptide; Chapter 1

The wind whips by, tossing the strands of hair it catches into my face. If the storm hadn't broken our already weakened mast, we'd be making excellent time. I sigh, tapping my finger on the railing of the bow. The storm had proved to be our saving grace, even if it had nearly dragged us under in the process. Our main mast was gone, having taken out the foremast as it fell, and our sails were in tatters, but at least we had made it out, most likely unlike our pursuant.

I glance over as someone stops beside me. I don't bother straightening my posture. "Admiral," I say by way of greeting.

Admiral Coswik remains silent a moment longer. "We should have enough material to get enough of our sails operational to get moving again."

"Any sign we're still being trailed?"

Another moment of silence. "One way or another, we seem to have lost the Rivetian ship."

So that wasn't what was bothering him then. "What is it?"

"The crew, and I, have concerns."

I sigh. Not this again. "If my brothers can fight, so can I." I was fourth in line for the throne. If any of us shouldn't be allowed to fight, it should be Declan.

"This isn't a matter of skill or capability, Captain," he counters. At least he had the good sense to not use my other title right now. "It's a matter of practicality."

I turn to face him. "Unless you're making an argument for none of us being allowed to fight, I find myself uninterested."

Admiral Coswik sighs. "I'm not saying any of you should be kept from fighting, as much as that would please the queen. What I am saying is that you should refrain from taking missions this far from friendly territory. The risk isn't worth it."

"And my brothers don't risk getting hit by stray bullets and arrows on the front lines?"

"I wasn't aware the earth was now prone to rising up to send men to its depths."

I don't bother responding. His point was clear enough. Injuries could easily be dealt with on land or at sea. The weather could be easily accounted for on land. Out on the open sea, it was not so easily accounted for. His point was only proved by the last storm which we had narrowly survived.

"All I am saying is that while you are fourth in line, your parents would hate to lose any of you. . . And four can easily turn to none during a war."

I stare out across the rolling waves in silence for a moment before nodding. He made a valid point, but I wasn't ready to admit it. "I will take your concern under advisement."

Admiral Coswik chuckles. "Spoken like a true captain."

I snort. I open my mouth to make a retort, but I'm cut off by a cry from above.

"SHIP ON THE HORIZON!" The sailor perched in the nest of our miraculously still standing mizenmast calls out.

Admiral Coswik is quickly on the move with me trailing at his heel. "COLORS!" He calls back as we descend to the deck from the bow.

"No white flag! Only one flag though, sir! Flag doesn't appear to be yellow or black, sir!" The sailor calls back.

Admiral Coswik is silent as we stop before the stairs leading to the quarter deck. If they weren't flying a white flag either they hadn't seen us, or they were hoping to avoid us. Our own colors weren't flying. Admiral Coswik had decided it was safer not to. Not that we could easily manage that with our main mast gone. If its solitary flag wasn't black, it probably wasn't a pirate's ship. No yellow was defiantly a positive sign; it wasn't Rivetian.

Finally, Admiral Coswik looks up at the sailor. "Heading?"

The sailor lifts his spyglass again, silently watching the ship for a bit. "Heading this way, but I can't confirm they're heading for us."

Admiral Coswik nods absently for a moment. "Keep an eye on them. Once we know their colors for certain, alert me."

He doesn't wait for the sailor to confirm his orders before turning and heading for the door of his cabin. I quickly follow him.

"Shouldn't we leave orders to fly the distress flag if they're friendly or neutral?" I point out.

Admiral Coswik shakes his head as we enter his cabin. "No. Depending on who it is, we don't want to signal them."

"And if they happen to notice we're in distress and come by anyway?"

"Well, if they feel compelled to do so without us signaling, I would say it's safe to say they are one of the strong allies we'd signal anyway."

"Admiral Coswik-"

"Princess Hannele," Admiral Coswik cuts me off, voice hard and definitive. His eyes are just as hard when he turns them on me. "As the admiral of this ship, my first responsibility is to the safety of it and every soldier on it under my command, including you so long as you wish to remain captain. My second, and just as important responsibility is to the crown. I gave your father, and mother, my word that I would do everything within my power to make sure you return alive and well. If that means I must lock you in your cabin, so be it. We do not have the supplies or manpower to survive another fight. As long as I am breathing and this ship is sailing, my word on it is law. If you ever wish to captain your own ship, you need to learn to temper your desire to fight. Sometimes it's best to avoid a fight."

I force myself to hold my tongue. As annoyed as I am, I can't deny that he's right. I also know that he has the power and authority to have me locked up and he wouldn't hesitate to if he thought it was necessary to keep me from doing something rash and impulsive. I simply nod.

Admiral Coswik nods in response. "Your instincts are good and your heart points true, but you cannot let your emotions, especially that dog that wants to fight, run free. It will drag you to the bottom of the sea faster than any storm."

I nod again. "Yes, Admiral."

"Go oversee the work on the sails. The faster they get repaired, the less time we spend as sitting ducks."

"Yes, Admiral."

Admiral Coswik says nothing as I leave his cabin.