SAUDADE

I'm scared of the sea. I can't help but to think of the danger it brings. The width and depth seemed to be forever. But I know that someday, I'm going to swallow all my fears and sail into that immense body of menace. Because I have to find him. I have to see him. I have words I haven't said to him. There are things he doesn't know yet. And I don't care if it matters now or it never really means anything at all. I just have to find him.



Chapter 1: Sea Port City



I missed being in this city. I breathed the salty air in as my horse trotted across the sand. I pulled it to a halt when I reached the spot where I can see the shadow of that very far place.

In reality, I didn't think I can even see its shadows, at all. But I couldn't help but imagine that that place is just there, looking back at me. I smiled at that thought. If I could just live in the Sea Port City. I was interrupted in my introspection when I heard steps of horses' hooves approaching me. I turned my head and saw Tarnus and his army of five.

"Lady Primrose," he said in that quiet way of his.

I smiled at him. "Tarnus," I answered.

He was a protector of my family. The best one. And yes, we had protectors because we happened to be quite important. My family was from the East and it so happened that our bloodline was the ruler of the Eastern Land. Tarnus could have been a council member of the land since his father was already a member of the council. However, he still chose to guard my family. And he was also a friend.

"It's very dangerous to roam this land without protection, Lady Primrose," he started on the lecture but I just laughed at him.

"Oh, come on, Tarnus! Stop calling me Lady Primrose."

The other guards looked uncomfortable. They know that it was unlawful to address a person of high social standing by their first name in public. But this place has the beauty of a private beach and Tarnus was also one of us. I couldn't understand why he was more formal and stiffer that usual or what he was worried about.

"Lady Primrose. Please, we're not in our territory," he insisted. I sighed. If I knew him at all, he wouldn't drop it so I just nodded and smiled at him sweetly, earning a smile back.

Still, I couldn't help but tease him a little so I gently tapped the side of my horse run. 'Run, Argos!' I whispered to the white beast. It did run faster. Argos loved me.

Tarnus and his men quickly recovered and immediately ran after me. But they were too late. I was already too far for them to catch up. Argos was the fastest horse we have in the East. They would never beat me. I was laughing loudly as I rode to the West Castle causing the guards to look confused. They were probably wondering if the approaching woman at the back of the horse has lost her mind.

"Hello, guards of the West!" I declared, stopping Argos at the front of the gates. "My father is already inside, waiting for me with the rest of the Westons." As I finished talking, Tarnus and his horse stepped in beside me.

"May I introduce Lady Primrose Crimson of the family in the East." After Tarnus' introduction, the guards let us in.

"That is so unfair. I spoke longer than you did," I whispered to Tarnus. He just frowned at me. He really was hopeless.

The maids of West Mansion led me to a room and fixed me up. I was sure the ride had been rough on my appearance and I had to be presentable to company. They helped comb my reddish blond wavy hair, changed my dress into something more appropriate for a lady attending a formal dinner. This part of my life had always bothered me. This was just so vain.

I carefully entered Weston's dining room and met pairs of eyes watching me, expecting me. The West Mansion never failed to amuse its guests. The gentlemen stood up as I walked towards them but I headed straight to my father's side. We both sat down as my father let me seated. My mother was on my other side.

"Your daughter is very lovely," our hostess and wife of Magnus Weston, Lady Amanda said. The Westons had two sons and no daughters. I had heard that she liked doting on high society girls like me so it was no surprised to hear her praise me. Still, I couldn't help but flush from her compliment.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"She is the loveliest," my father announced. "And too much to handle for some gentlemen," he added which drew laughter from everyone in the room. I smiled, used to the way my father continued to tease me about my tendencies to not be a traditional lady.

They continued to talk about me. They talked about how well I dress and about my 'finest qualities--like my blue-greenish eyes and my hair. Of course, they also talked about how I should marry Chester Weston soon. I didn't find the last one humorous, though.

Our food was served as the conversation continued. Instead of listening to their politics and the issues of governing the Eastern and Western lands, I indulged myself by the food of the castle. Weston was known for serving the best seafood dish in the continent. No surprise as they are near the coastline.

"We don't have to worry about the pirates," I heard Magnus said. Getting my interest, I decided to tune back into the conversation. For me, Pirates mean adventure. I'd always wanted to hear stories about the pirates on the far seas.

"Those filthy pirates are always trying to take the goods from our cargo ships. They think they are so great but our soldiers would never let them. They think they can out-think us! Well, they should think again," Chester declared. It would appear that he was on the council. He was also not my favorite person.

"That is a very bold statement for someone who has never caught a pirate."

As soon as the words left my lips, I wanted to stab my tongue with my fork for not keeping my commentaries to myself. I realized that my statement was not flattering to him-the Weston son. I just couldn't help it. He had always been so... arrogant. And I didn't like how demeaning he sounded like against pirates.

"Being in the sea makes it easier for them to escape. But at the very least, we can minimize their thieving from our resources," he seriously pondered. "The sea is our territory and we know how to protect it." I didn't miss the tone that says he was not happy by stabbing at his pride.

I sipped my wine before responding. "Of course. But the sea is the pirate's expertise." I seriously want to swallow my tongue. I should just stop. I should have just concentrated on their food.

"That's why they are called pirates, Lady Primrose," Chester said evenly.

Our little conversation had become the focus of the dinner guests. Aware that it might get a little out of hand, I decided to steer the conversation away. "Your seafood delicacies are fantastic," I remarked, picking my fork and picking a shrimp on my plate. Someone rescued me from further conversation with Chester by agreeing with my statement and making bold praises about the food.

But even so, I knew Chester would never just get over a girl like me trying to top him. In his own household. I knew he hated me right at this moment. Well, we could throw some knives to each other. But it would not be appropriate at dinner.

My dislike for Chester started six years ago when I first met him. I was fourteen and he was sixteen. The four families of the land had a get-together-the West, South and North families were visiting my family at the East Castle. I was about to greet Chester and the other children while they were playing in our gardens. But he and his brother had a different idea. They decided it would be fun to play with the East family's little girl. I fell into a pool of mud and ruined my best dress because of them.

But that wasn't really what made me dislike them even more. After that humiliation, Chester goaded his brother into making more mischief and being boys... well, you know. And so, Chester's brother stole my first kiss. I hated the two of them. I would hate him even more than Chester if things were not so complicated and hopeless. But now, all I had was my hatred for Chester because his brother was... already gone.

I was pulled back from my little thoughts when the castle's bell rang, indicating an emergency. Everyone was quickly alert. My mother grabbed my hand. One of the West Castle's guard approach Magnus Weston and whispered something inaudible to my ears. After a moment, he was ready to leave.

"My guests, you will be escorted to your rooms," he said. "But for now, I have to deal with a situation. My armies just caught a small group of pirates." He excused himself for bailing out on us on dinner. All the other guests murmured that they understood and that the situation was serious. Magnus left with Chester in tow. My father, being a noble man, also offered his help and left with Magnus, telling my mother and me to wait for him in our rooms.

After that, everyone was safely escorted back to their rooms. The shuffle of feet surrounded me from all sides and I was only vaguely aware of someone escorting me to my room. Inside, my heart and mind were in chaos.

Pirates.

They caught pirates.