Page 40 of Sea's Secret

Meria is a good distraction, which is probably why I also care about her well-being.

That is it.

She was easy to spot in the dark jungle in the dim morning light. In her hands, she had a white sail. She was smiling as she turned around to face me. I felt my own lips curl upwards. Joy was all over her beautiful face, and somehow, that large grin transplanted itself onto my mouth, too.

Smiles are contagious, I told myself. But, when Sands smiles, you don’t smile–or when–

I shoved my useless and unhelpful thoughts to the side and focused on Meria. It did not matter the reasons I smiled, or acted kind, or cared for that maiden. We were alone. I could do whatever and be whoever I wanted. She was beautiful, yes, and I, as a pirate, loved jewels and gold and other glistening, beautiful things, so it made sense that I was drawn to her, like she was a treasure, and I wanted to keep her safe.

See, that is all. I sighed, feeling relief wash through me.

“I have this from a ship. We can use it for the cave.” Her words shook my ridiculous thoughts away.

“The floor of the cave is that uncomfortable for you?” I asked with a small smile. She was talking more than she had before. Perhaps, with time, she would warm up to me.

“Well, the sand on the shore would have been more comfortable,” she said. “But everything is so still here; it is hard to sleep.”

“But there would be no protection from the elements if we slept on the sand. What do you mean by ‘still’?”

“Oh, true, and um, I just mean–” She didn’t finish the sentence. She appeared embarrassed, so I went on.

“You must be speaking of the movement while on a ship. I miss the lull of the ship, too. Where did you find it?” I asked, pointing to the sail.

“On the other side of the island, there is a broken ship.”

“A ship?”

“Yes, a wreck.”

“Oh, I should look at that. See if there is anything else we can make use of.”

“It is interesting. But, most things here are.”

“Do you think your family will send rescue for you?” I knew I wouldn’t be rescued, and I did not want to spend the rest of my days on a magical island, even if I was with that beautiful woman.

“My father is not searching for me, of that, I am sure,” she said.

Why? Why would her father not search for her?

“I am sure he is looking for you as well as he is able.”

“He banished me; I refused to do as he asked,” she said with a frown.

“What did he ask?” I asked her, and she frowned again. Maybe, that was too forward.

“Something impossible. My father is so stubborn and stuck in his ways!” she nearly shouted as she dropped the ripped white sail she had been holding.

“You can yell? I did not know you had it in you, Meria,” I said playfully, and I was not going to think about how out of character it was for me to tease a maiden.

“Sorry–” She quickly bent down and picked up the sail. “I did not mean to be–”

“Upset? I understand; truly, parents can be rather horrid. My mother, for example, sent me away, too. We do not call it ‘banishment,’ but now that I think of it, that is what I am–‘banished’ from her and from my home.”

“So you are not able to travel to Walden?”

“I can, but not to the palace–not yet, anyway, not until I find my sister.”

Why in the fathoms am I telling her these things? These things that I just barely told Sands after knowing him for years.