Chapter 3: The Knight and the Ruler

“What were you thinking?!” My father said in a high tone. Obviously, he wasn’t pleased to find out about what I did. The young lady of the East was not supposed to be sneaking out in the middle of the night just to meet the prisoners of the West. And to make it more fatal, I met the prisoned pirates of the West. I couldn’t fault my father. I also thought what I did was stupid.

I couldn’t respond. No matter how calm my thoughts were, my body seemed to be disagreeing with it. My lips were quivering. My whole body felt so cold that I think even my bones were frozen. It felt like any attempt of moving would break me into pieces.

“Caleb, please. She’s had enough for this night. She’s so scared. Our daughter needs to rest.” My mom rescued me. She wrapped me in a thick blanket and led me to my bed.

“My apology, Lord Caleb. I should have secured the prison more carefully,” Lord Magnus said. I couldn’t remember how it happened, but suddenly, the head of the West Family was in my room with Chester Weston. He was looking at me like I was an idiot. God! I so hate him.

“My daughter has been like this for many years now. I’m sorry for bothering all of you,” my father replied calmly.

They decided to put Tarnus outside my room since he volunteered for it. He should be with his men resting but I made him sacrifice sleep just to watch over me. I probably made too much destruction for one night. They decided to settle things first thing in the morning before they all got out of my room. Oh, how I hate having my room as the venue for all the political matters. If only I could kick them out.

When they left, I couldn’t sleep. The Skull. The thought was still echoing in my head. I was talking about Lord Threy Weston and not some part of the human skeletal system. But they seemed to fear this skull. And as far as I remember, being feared was far from the boy’s carefree and adventurous personality. Or had he changed these past five years? We were all entitled for changes but changing for the worse? Was that really possible.

My mind refused to agree. No. They were probably talking about another lunatic pirate. And Lord Threy was no pirate. He was just sailing the sea. He was just looking for someone. I turned to my other side as my heart revolutionized from the idea. He was really stupid to do that. I wish I had done more than I did to stop him before. If I was only strong enough during that time.

My mind was still chaotic when the door slowly opened. It seemed that whoever opened it was trying not to wake me up. My heart beat faster as I remembered what happened in the prison. But before I totally panicked, I saw Tarnus’ head showing up from the door.

“Tarnus,” I said with a sigh of relief.

“Lady Primrose, you should be sleeping by now,” he said softly as he entered the room and approached my bed.

“I can’t sleep,” I answered sitting on my bed to face him. I tapped the side of my bed to offer him a seat. We used to be friends. We still are. However, his duty as the head of security of the East family seemed to have dulled it.

He smiled at me as he pulled up the blanket up to my waist. He was a good-looking man that every girl in the East land desires to marry him. But he wouldn’t. He said he still has more important priorities.

“It’s going to be another long day when you wake up. I’ve heard that there will be lots of political agenda for today. You need enough strength to face everything,” he said. He was always sensible and rational.

I frowned. We were supposed to go home by tomorrow. “What made us stay longer?” I asked.

He shrugged. I think the pirates became a main issue in this meeting. And what to do with them will be the topic of the day. Something occurred to me when I met his eyes again.

“The Skull. The pirates told me about The Skull,” I told him.

He seemed to think of something then his expression changed. “I’ve heard that The Skull is the most feared and ruthless pirate sailing the sea. He committed lots of crimes and yet no one really knows him. He’s not a Pirate Captain but he’s one of the most important individual in the pirate ship.”

“Threy Weston. He might be Threy Weston.” His face started to darken and became serious when he heard the name.

“You must not speak of his name, Prim.” He finally called me by name, without my title.

“But Tarnus, the pirates—”

“He’s gone. Forget about him. For all we know, he’s probably dead for many years now and his bones are in the deepest part of the sea,” he cut me off. Tarnus knew Threy. They were the same age and he’d never liked him from the very first day. He even punched him when he learned that he stole my first kiss. I remained silent and decided not to argue with him about it.

“You should sleep now, Primrose. This thing about pirates is already too much for you. We must go back to the East as soon as they settle everything.”

I just nodded and he went back to his post outside my room. I couldn’t remember how I drifted to sleep after our conversation. But I know that this thing was far from over.

Sea. Deepest Blue. Endless Horizon. I woke up to my mother shaking my shoulders. I tried to push her hand away and protect myself with thick blanket.

“Primrose, you shouldn’t be acting like that especially when we are not under our own roof. Please, let’s show our hosts some punctuality.” She said as the tugged the blanket from my body. I decided to roll on my stomach. Oh my God! Please tell me she didn’t just speak of punctuality. Punctuality doesn’t belong to my list of Good Morning words.

“Primrose!” She said a little bit louder. I know she was trying not to have her voice echoing in the hallways. That would be shameful. I wanted to get up. I really wanted to open my eyes. But at some point, my mind and body were not cooperating with each other.

“Mmmm.” I managed to mumble as an answer. I was already getting used to my mother’s nagging and already drifting back to sleep when I heard a faint knock on the door. I heard my mother walking towards it.

“Is there a problem, my lady?” The familiar voice said and I frowned. What was he doing here?



“Oh, I’m so sorry if you’re bothered by our situation. My daughter has difficulty waking up. It usually takes time for her get up in the morning but the meeting is going to begin few hours from now.” She answered.

“Let me handle this.” He offered and the situation was slowly becoming clearer to me now.

“Oh, are you sure about it, Lord Chester?” My mom asked and the name made me want to jump out of my bed immediately. But the bed was so soft and warm and I was just so sleepy.

“Sure. And Lord Darius is looking for you.” His voice was so friendly and convincing that after few more words, I heard my mother’s footsteps fading from the room.

“Things never change. The West is still treating you like a baby.” He said in a sarcastic tone. I decided to ignore him. Maybe his plan was to not make me attend the meeting so that I wouldn’t crash his pride again. Maybe he would go out of the room soon.

But all of my thoughts faded as I felt a hand on my bare arm. It grabbed me strongly and I was forcefully dragged out of my bed. I ended up sitting in the middle of my bed with wide eyes.

“And you’re still violent!” I said in an angry tone. I’d heard news about him hurting his subordinates or anyone under his power. He didn’t hurt me, o fcourse. But the way he touched me, I felt it simmering just underneath.

“I am waking you up, silly girl.” He said with his arms across his chest. I hated him more right then, standing in front of me like some man full of pride.

“I’m already up. Now, can you please leave this room.” I said trying to be calm despite of my anger. I shouldn’t forget that he was our host.

“You are asking me out of my own house?” His tone was full of mockery. He stepped closer and sat on the bed. I tried to edge away from him. “Everything you see here is my property. And every people under my property will be ruled by me.” He added.

I rolled my eyes at him. He was giving me a show early in the morning. “Oh, really. I’ve heard that Lord Magnus is the highest official of the west. I’m going to confirm your claim from my educators.” I said.

“I will be the next ruler after him for I am his only heir.” I think his guts were still full to an annoying extent so I decided to break it.

“Uh-oh. You’re not the only son,” I commented and I think I got him. He stared at me dangerously and suddenly, he grabbed my arm.

“I am the only son of the west family here.” He said in a very serious tone.

I tried to free my arm from him. “Let me go!” I shouted when his grip became tighter. The door burst open and we both saw Tarnus standing on the doorway. He assessed the situation and realized what was happening when he saw Chester holding my arm.

At first, I saw anger in his eyes but it died down in a second. “My lord, Lady Primrose seemed to be in your painful grip. I’ve sworn to protect her against any kind of harm. Could you please let her go?” He said in a very calm voice. I silently wished that he was not that calm. If I were a boy with a greater strength than this bastard Chester Weston, I would probably kick him where it would hurt.

“So, the greatest knight of the East to the rescue,” Chester said and let go of my arm. He went to the doorway where Tarnus was standing and looked back at me. “But I’m serious about everything here being my property.” He turned to Tarnus. “Including the girl you are protecting.” He said grinning and went out of the room.

Tarnus was gritting his teeth as he approached me. “Did he hurt you?” he asked worriedly.

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about me. I flipped him off that was why he had to resort to a lame monkey-tactic.”

He nodded while looking at me. “Why you are not yet dressed? The public meeting will start in few hours.” He said and I jumped out of the bed.

“Oh, no! Please, meet me outside, Tarnus. I have to rush on preparing myself.”

He understood my request. Today was the day when they were going to settle everything. And the only thing I was interested for now was the imprisoned pirates. How were they going to deal with them