Heart of the Sea

CHAPTER FOUR

Ten-year-old Thalassa ran around the forest, touching the trunk of the trees as she goes. She was wearing her favorite white dress Aeras had given her as a gift from one of her travels. Her hair flowing softly behind her like twinkling wings. Her laughter filled the air; synchronizing with the birds’ tweeting, and the crunching of leaves making their own type of music that relaxed and made her feel accepted. Made her feel she belonged somewhere.

Her family loved her with everything. Flaws and all. But- Thalassa knew she was different. She could feel it in the way they hid her away from the rest of the world. She knew it was for her own safety. Still- she longed for something she could not even explain. Her parents had taken in a small family of four to work for them. The father and the son worked in the stables and those of physical work while the mother worked inside the house. The last member was a child two years older than Thalassa.

But- Thalassa does not feel comfortable with her around unlike what her parents expected. So, she would always escape and ran around the forest to play by herself. Aeras would gladly play with her if she so much as asks. But- Thalassa knew her sister was old enough to not play with her and that she wanted to read. And there were still plenty of books waiting for her. So, she chose not to bother her although Aeras was always there for her.

The loud sound of water took Thalassa’s attention. She spun on her feet as she tried to find the source of the sound. When she had distinguished the direction, she smiled to herself and ran towards it as adrenaline of discovering something new ran through her veins. The closer she got, the louder the splash of water sounded.

And when she removed a tree branch that was covering her way, she was awed at the breathtaking scenery in front of her. There, in the middle of tall trees and humongous jarred rocks was a small waterfall.

It has been days since the ball at the palace. Thalassa had spent those days in bed; dreading about the way she had felt oddly comfortable at the hands of Mr. Sinclair when they had danced. She would not talk about it with her sister, and Aeras worried if her sister was not feeling all that well after being tired from a long night of dancing.

But- despite her worries for her sister, Aeras had other things in her mind. Like how she was happy that prince had clearly remembered her. Yet- hurt because he had not contacted her again. So, she had spent those days similarly with Thalassa.

“I know what would lift your spirits up and make you forget about the prince for a while,” Thalassa stated as she entered her sister’s room, her own troubles pushed to the deepest corner of her mind.

Her sister, who was star struck by prince Nicholas, couldn’t stop thinking about the childhood friend and at how he turned out to be a kind, handsome, gentleman.

“Oh, Thalassa. He is the most charming gentleman I have ever seen. He’s kind, caring, and perfectly well mannered,” Aeras swooned and pulled Thalassa down on the bed with her.

Thalassa laughed as she gave her sister a squeeze. “Are you sure you are not being bias, my dear sister?”

“What about you, Thalassa?” Aeras had asked, perfectly ignoring her sister’s suggestive words. “What do you think of dear Mr. Sinclair? When the two of you danced, everyone gave way to such a wonderful performance. And I couldn’t help but watch. The two of you look perfect for each other.”

Standing up, Thalassa picked her mask off the ground where it fell. She was afraid that if she faced her sister, Aeras could read what was in her mind. But- she knew she could keep her voice calm despite everything. “It was just a dance, Aeras. And you know, dear sister, I am in need of a new book. Come and race me to town and if you win I shall answer any questions, you throw at me.”

Picking the challenge, Aeras rose from the bed and made a move to change to her riding attire while Thalassa went down to prepare two horses. She wore the same clothing as she did at the palace, and only her eyes were visible.

Aeras would have gladly gone to the town alone for some of Thalassa’s errands like buying a book or others. But- when Thalassa had turned fifteen, she would go to the town alone, dressed up like her usual outfit. She had discovered that people stay away from her and liked it.

But- despite dressing up like she did, she still cannot go outside when the sun was in his highest peak or when it was too sunny outside. So, when for the past few days it had been cloudy, Thalassa saw a way for her and sister to stop thinking about the ball.

Aeras arrived outside and mounted atop of a horse with a mane of fair white hair while Thalassa chose the brown stallion, and by the saddle she tied a satchel filled with two bottles of water for the road. And on Thalassa’s mark, they set off towards the town.

Their house was three miles into the forest. The forest, which needed to be crossed to arrive at the town, was a journey of an hour and a half. Hidden under her layers of cover, Thalassa raced her sister across the forest at a speed considered dangerous for two young ladies. And so, the journey was met under only an hour. They slowed down at the gates of the town and jumped down to tie their horses by the side where water was available for them to drink.

“I won,” her sister breathed, despite arriving at the same time.

Thalassa answered with a smile only she could see but Aeras could hear it in her voice. “We have fared quite closely,”

Her sister laughed. “As always.”

Setting off for the bookstore, people stared at Thalassa for it was a hot day for such clothing like hers. But the siblings hadn’t seemed to mind as they went from store to store. Horses were allowed inside the town, but they mostly toured the town on foot, seeing as it was easier to enter a store.

Suddenly, a group of men appeared from different directions and surrounded two men. All the bystanders ran and hid away from the trouble, hiding behind the curtains of their houses. Thalassa and Aeras stared at the ruckus and realized that the men were bandits, dressed in dirty and sometimes tattered clothes, surrounding none other than the prince and Mr. Sinclair.

Pierce, who pushed the prince behind him, held a mighty sword in his hands as he waited for the bandits to close their ranks on him since he couldn’t leave the prince’s side.

Thalassa ran towards a stall and took a piece of long iron to use as a weapon. Then she ran towards her sister and whispered, “I shall help Mr. Sinclair occupy the bandits’ attention, and you shall run with the prince. Let him use my horse and bring him to our home.”

Her sister nodded, and together they both ran towards the circle. Thalassa gave the first bandit a kick at his back, making him fall to the ground, and gained attention from the others. She made way for her and her sister towards the men. Pierce turned to look at her like he couldn’t believe she was there.

How he knew it was her despite that he could not see her face was not lost on him. But- then, he thought, out of all the people he knew; only she dressed like that. Though, despite her clothing that revealed nothing but her eyes, Pierce could see her warrior aura surrounding the woman.

“Ms. Haskell, I do not believe I have asked for your help.” He started; the haughtiness in his voice was nothing new to him. He was raised with it; and to remove it was harder than slaying the thirty bandits in front of him.

And- he had mostly done that because there was a certain feeling that arose in her presence. A certain feeling that had told him he would not have like it if she was pained even for a moment. But- his haughtiness did nothing but make the woman laugh at him.

“I guess you have to make do, Mr. Sinclair, for I shall help without your consent,” Thalassa replied before turning to Aeras. “Now, sister.”

And then, she attacked every bandit in front of her and created enough space for the prince and Aeras. The older Haskell pulled the prince towards where their horses were resting. Pierce caught onto the plan and helped Thalassa in vanquishing every bandit their weapons met.

One went after her sister, and Thalassa pulled him by the neck and threw him to the ground, where she gave him a quick but painful kick to the shin. And soon, the prince and Aeras set off for the woods.

Thalassa stopped to watch the man in his fighting. And her breath was caught at the sight of his every move. He truly was a master of the deadly arts. His skills were unsurpassed like the rumors had said. And she couldn’t hide the smile that escaped her lips.

She watched as the sound of sword clashing filled her ears. Pierce was most gracious in his movements. He kicked one in the knee and stabbed another. Then, pulling his sword out he jumped high and landed on one’s shoulder that fell to his knees. Pierce gave another one a round kick and swept the others off their feet.

She was mesmerizing by how easily he carried himself. And she could understand where his haughtiness and pride had come from. If- she was as good as him, Thalassa doubt she would not feel superior to other people. He had this way with him that made sure she could not look at another while in his presence.

It also hadn’t helped that Thalassa felt quite beguile by his traits that people found loathsome. She wanted to uncover the past which led him to his current self. There must have been something that affected him for him to turn out the way he did.

And before long, all bandits were either dead or unconscious. Ironically, as soon as the fight was done; came the guards. Mr. Pierce gave them order to dispose of the dead and imprison the rest for questioning before walking towards Ms. Thalassa.

“Where has your sister brought my cousin?” Mr. Sinclair inquired.

“First of all, Mr. Sinclair, you are very welcome,” Thalassa replied. “And my sister brought the prince to our home, where he will be perfectly safe until you can join him.”

“I’m sorry for my lack of manners. But I hadn’t asked for your help. Nevertheless, I shall thank you,” he answered in a tone that was anything but thankful. “And may I know which direction is your home?”

Swallowing the answer she wanted to say, she answered the second question. She may have been beguiled by him; it still hadn’t changed that he was indeed loathsome. “We shall set off for it. Directions will merely confuse you as we live in the forest.”

Together, they set off towards the gate where Pierce’s horse was waiting for him. His and the prince’s horses ran as soon as chaos erupted, but thankfully, a guard caught his horse. And in arrival, Thalassa remembered that her horse was used by the prince.

“May I entice you to ride with me?” Mr. Sinclair had asked and Thalassa had looked up at his voice. There was no mockery in his voice; just simply thoughtfulness.

“Goodness! That’s unimaginable!” Thalassa exclaimed. “I shall walk.” Then, even before she could take a single step, she slapped a hand on her forehead. “I also don’t have my water,”

Pierce, already on his horse, heard her. “Wait here, Ms. Thalassa.”

Thalassa, with no other choice, stood still and waited as Pierce trotted, with his horse, into the town. And when he came back, he gave her a satchel with water bottles. Shocked, Thalassa reached for it. She removed the cloth covering her mouth and drank one bottle.

“With your illness, I am sure you do not want to be walking under this sun, and I shall not forgive myself if I let you do so,” he said as he gave a hand to help her mount the horse.

Putting the bag strap on her shoulder, she reluctantly took his hand and climbed. As she sat, she realized that she had no means of holding on. Sensing her trouble, Pierce laughed lowly. His laugh was a tone deeper than his voice and it vibrated throughout his body; making it harder for Thalassa to not feel it.

And it was a sound she would not mind to hear once more.

“You may hold on Ms. Thalassa, as to not let yourself fall on the way.”

Thalassa, as stubborn as she was, shook her head. “No, kind sir. I shall manage without doing so.”

Pierce, with a smile, took the reins and sent the horse into a swift start that steadily gained speed at each step. And due to the force of the sudden start, Thalassa involuntarily held on to Mr. Pierce’s waist to avoid herself from falling.