Izavelle answers before Rosaleen opens her mouth, “Ashlea, just as I told Taylan yesterday morning, you must know that in our world, this ship, these towns that we visit, the Palace; nothing is always what it seems. We will talk later, but here is not the time.” Izavelle, daring her not to urge for an answer stares at Ashlea.


    Ashlea clearly understanding murmurs, “Okay Izavelle, later.” Her voice, a pitch higher than usual and her posture, slumped down like she has shrunk. She has the passion and desire to know why, and it is more important than anything else to her in this moment. Izavelle nods as a confirmation that she will follow through and tell her later.


    Soolena goes back to today’s planned trip to the mainland she turns to Rosaleen, “I was thinking that I could take Ashlea for a flight to the mainland, Izavelle you can also come along with us, I wanted to show Ashlea the landscape and teach her some tricks.” Soolena looks to me, “The plan I had was to also bring you on the flight, but with your injury I don’t want to risk you re-opening your wound. Instead, I was thinking that Rosaleen can bring you by boat this morning to the mainland, and you can see the sights on foot.”


    I answer, “Yes that is fine with me.” I rather curl up in a bed by myself for the rest of the day, but I know that I have no say in the matter, and these people don’t seem to let an attack, or an execution get in the way of their plans. I look at Rosaleen who seems satisfied with the suggestion.


    Izavelle says, “I think I will stay on board the ship today.”


    “Are you sure Izavelle?” Rosaleen says, “It is okay, I know that you love this area.”


    Izavelle shakes her head and refuses, “No, no it’s fine, I will stay back and keep an eye on things and help where I can.”


    “Okay” Rosaleen doesn’t push it, and I sense that she is a little relieved that Izavelle decided to remain.


    “Well, I am full,” Rosaleen says satisfied as she rubs her belly. I was able to manage three quarters of my overloaded plate; I really was starved.


    Ashlea shows a glimpse of her light heartedness to this conversation and smiles, “Looks like you were hungry after all Taylan!” She blows her cheeks up with air, gesturing to me.


    I smile a little embarrassed, “Yes I guess I was.”


    Izavelle touches my shoulder, “It is normal to feel hungrier; you are regaining your strength from the attack. Just remember if you are hungry you eat, and if you are tired then say so, so that Rosaleen knows to let you rest, okay?”


    “Yes” I confirm. I wonder if I can get away with saying that I am tired right now. I had better not push it.


    Rosaleen encourages, “Let’s go now.” We all leave the table, Soolena and Ashlea go upstairs to equip themselves with the flying suits, and Rosaleen and I go out to the side deck where the smaller boats are stored. Izavelle stays back, gathers our dishes, and disappears into the kitchen, since the servant who normally did this was the one, I killed earlier.


    A man whom I have only seen a handful of times in passing since I have been on the ship greets us in a friendly deep voice. “Good morning princess and good morning, Taylan.” He welcomes us with a smile and seeming unbothered by the events that happened earlier. I am guessing that he knows my name from the gruesome events that took place earlier.


    “Good morning” Rosaleen answers confidently, but still politely.


    I smile and say, “Good morning, Sir.”


    “I am guessing that you two are ready to make your trip to the mainland now?” He directs his question to Rosaleen.


    “Yes” Rosaleen answers with a smile.


    “Okay great the boat is already equipped, and I am just going to lower it now.” He advises.


    Rosaleen and I stand back and watch as the boat is lowered into the water. Rosaleen glances at me and suddenly seems startled by something. The immediate thought that comes to mind is if I have a bug on me, or something.


    Rosaleen says, “Oh that is not good, I can’t have you looking like this.” She leaves and goes back into the ship. What, do I have blood on me? I look at my clothing and my skin, from what I see I am clean. I feel clean. The man has taken no notice to Rosaleen quickly leaving because he is still concentrating on lowering the boat. Rosaleen quickly comes back with a long dark red scarf. The material is light and thin. The ends float behind her as she quickly walks down the deck towards me.


    “Face me.” She barks.


    “Chin up.” She orders. I do what she asks, and she gently ties the scarf around my throat.


    Rosaleen quietly confides to me, “I don’t want strangers knowing that you were hurt. If people see, they will usually ask, and we have no time to wrap our heads around making up some fabrication to cover up your attack. An injury stands out and I prefer we conceal it.” She gently secures the scarf in place with a fancy knot. “There that is much better.” Rosaleen seems happy with her own handy work.


    Naturally, my fingers touch the scarf, and I reply, “I don’t mind the scarf, but what is wrong with being truthful?”


    “I don’t want to startle anyone with what happened, and once things become known then it tends to branch out into exaggerations and then choosing sides and more problems. Keeping it hidden is better and easier for everyone.”


    The man calls up from the boat; having already gone down the ladder to do a quick check of the boat and is now climbing back up, “It is ready now.” The boat’s solar panels shine, and the propellers idle in the water. He takes a step back up onto the deck. As he steps off the ladder and in a synchronized motion Rosaleen steps onto the ladder like the maneuver between the two of them was choreographed and descends first; I follow slowly and awkwardly stepping onto the ladder and descend to meet her on the small boat.


    Rosaleen un-hooks the ropes that lowered the boat and hollers back up to the man, “You can bring up the ropes.” She takes the boat out of idle, and we are now on course to the shore. The sun is out with a few fluffy white clouds in the sky. The rays of light warm my skin. It feels so nice and soothing, mentally, and physically as we travel through the water. I sit back on the cushioned seat and relax. Rosaleen sets a good speed not too fast and not to slow just a steady movement. It is late in the morning and the water is no longer still. The wind creates a few small waves that cause the boat to bounce and splash the odd time as we make our way to the shallow waters. The warm breeze feels nice, and I start to smell the aroma of spices in the air as we make our way to the shore.


    Rosaleen slows the speed of the boat to a putter as we approach and then turns it off. We glide forward and ride the waves, as they are a little stronger now that we are in the shallows. Rosaleen takes a rope and hops out. The water is up to her knees as she walks up onto the shore and securely ties the rope around a tree. She runs back to help me out.


    “Come Taylan.” Rosaleen is back in the water knee deep, extending her arms up to me, and I grab onto her to correct my balance, stepping to the ledge and then step down into the water. It is a sandy bottom with the odd tree leaf under the water.


    “There we go.” Rosaleen says encouragingly, “What do you think of this place?” She asks clearly wanting me to be impressed by the surroundings. She has a special place in her heart for this place. Seeing this side of Rosaleen reminds me of being in the company of my own sisters.


    “It is beautiful and the smell in the air is so wonderful.” I look around; it is a narrow beech. You can tell that this part of the beech is not frequented because there are no signs of buildings, or walkways and the trees have grown close to the water.


    Rosaleen catches me looking at the forest that has grown so close to the shore, “They are cinnamon trees, and they grow all around here. I am sure you will get to taste it. The locals use cinnamon in a lot of their cooking.” I glance at the trees that surround the shore to make a mental note.


    “Rosaleen, can we talk before we do anything else? I would just feel better in knowing what your thoughts are on everything that has happened.” I feel a bit dizzy and need a few minutes to recuperate; she senses it too.


    Rosaleen says, “Come let’s sit over there.” I fight the fatigue, and we walk not too far from the boat and sit on the warm light brown sand, facing the ocean.


    She asks still looking out on the water, “Where would you like to start?” Her question is not needed, she knows what I intend to know. I ignore the stupidity of her question and just cut to the chase.


    “Well let’s start with the man who attacked me. Why do you think it happened?” I pause to watch her reaction, which is blank, emotionless, I cannot read her, and then I follow her gaze out on the water.


    I can hear her swallow, “I didn’t think you would be attacked.”


    “Well why do you think then?” I raise my voice; flustered by her vagueness and urge her. She has not revealed anything to me.


    “There is more in play. Izavelle has advised you of this right?” She glances at me as she asks.


    “Yes, Izavelle warned me to trust my instinct and understand that nothing is always what it seems.” Izavelle never really explained what exactly was in play.


    “Okay well, that man, his name was Shrago. He has been a member of my crew for the past year when I set course at King Wolfrim’s approval. I took this ship to see my Kingdom and explore the world. I wanted to do this before my obligations of my palace role and the desire that everyone seems to have, for me to marry would commence. Shrago was one of the men that Wolfrim personally approved to go with me, to serve and protect me. Until recently, I realized what the true reason was. He intended for Shrago to keep watch over me and to report anything that Shrago thought the king should be made aware of.” Rosaleen squints like she is visualizing them before her, but the only thing that is really in front of her is the rolling waves of the ocean.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Rosaleen continues, “About few months ago we were here at this exact island. It was my first time visiting this area. Shaylo, who was his wife, Izavelle, Soolena and I came to the shore. We continued to the nearby town, exploring the shops, and taking in the sites. To my surprise, the people in the town recognized me as someone else, a person by the name of Newlyn. Newlyn is a familiar name to me. It connects to my past. I didn’t correct these strangers and instead listened to their light conversations that they were having with me. Izavelle and Soolena were engaged in these conversations of this so-called Newlyn and genuinely curious while Shaylo kept silent. In retrospect, I understand why, but at the time, I just assumed that she wanted to return to the ship. Izavelle and Soolena were able to piece together where we could find this Newlyn. I was curious to see the person that I resembled. We ended up traveling to a secluded estate that wasn’t far from the town. We entered the open ten-foot double iron gates of Newlyn’s property and reluctantly Shaylo followed. Shaylo’s argument at first was that we should stick to our day’s plan and not disturb this stranger; however, I ignored Shaylo’s suggestion. My curiosity was immense, and to my luck, Newlyn was there. We met and it was like peering into a mirror.


    When I was young, I was told that my mom, Newlyn had left the Palace and years later, she had died. I never attended a funeral, but as a young child, I accepted what I had been told as truth. It turns out, that this woman was my mother. When we came face to face, she immediately recognized me and pulled me into her arms, holding me and hugging me as she cried. She thought that I had been killed because I have been kept away from the public, and she was surprised and in shock that I was standing before her. Izavelle, Soolena, Shaylo and I spent the entire afternoon at her home. Newlyn explained what had happened to her and my father, the real King Wolfrim and making a point to watch Shaylo. Newlyn’s eyes burning with anger at Shaylo as if daring her to argue the truth or make a move.


    Shaylo is a proud person and in hindsight, I can see why she didn’t try to avoid Newlyn’s home to avoid detection. Sometimes the smartest people make the most stupid decisions. Shaylo could have made up any excuse to leave and go back to the ship, but she didn’t. I think it was part curiosity because, from what I understand even Shaylo didn’t truly know the exact location of my mother’s whereabouts, and the second is I think that she truly thought that justice would not come to her, and that she could somehow talk, or fight her way out of any confrontation.


    Before my mother explained her story, this is how I understood my past. The King Wolfrim that is currently in power, the Imposter. I didn’t always know him to be the Imposter that my mother calls him, but I did always know that he wasn’t my real father. To the outside world, people didn’t know any different, and I always acted like he was my family. In my reality, he was a dear friend to my family, and it was explained to me that when I was young my real father asked the Imposter, to take over and rule for him. My father didn’t want any part in me or my mother and abandoned his obligations and his family. As a young child, I felt lost but never questioned it. The Imposter King Wolfrim took advantage of my vulnerability, and in a way used it to draw me in. Needing someone to love me, I quickly learned to love him as my new father. The Imposter also explained that my mother was heartbroken by my real father’s departure and never returned to the Kingdom, leaving me in the care of the imposter, King Wolfrim. The Imposter had explained to me that my mother wanted me to continue to live the life of a Princess, I believed this; that my father and mother left me, years later I was told that my mother had died, and my father was never heard from. Newlyn, in a single afternoon turned everything upside down and explained everything about my Family’s past.”


    Rosaleen explained to me that her real father always had a couple of people around. They were his protection and his help that assisted in his duties. These people were his look-a-likes whose responsibilities were to represent the real King Wolfrim at public functions because her real father enjoyed and preferred that his time be spent outside of the public eye. His time was high in demand, and these substitutes were used to stand in for him. After years of representing the real King Wolfrim, the substitutes wanted to retire after their initial agreement had ended with the King. When the substitutes voiced this to Rosaleen’s father, he refused their request and refused to pay them more to coax them into staying. He ordered them to continue to serve. These substitutes did not like the idea of being kept and instead, plotted and managed a short-lived success in escaping the Kingdom. They were captured soon after and imprisoned for treason. One of the substitutes was clever enough to bribe and make a promise to a palace guard to set in motion his escape on a night when Rosaleen’s Mother, Newlyn was not with Rosaleen’s real Father and a simple switch was made. The real king was imprisoned in the clever substitute’s place and soon after put to death by his own treason ruling. The imposture that Rosaleen had always thought of as a second father and a friend ordered his allies to take her mother away. Newlyn was given a small group of servants to live in a secluded area of the world. She was stripped of all her titles. The Imposter King Wolfrim who is now in power ordered her to never think of returning, or revealing the truth, or else her daughter Rosaleen would be murdered. Newlyn had feared, despite the threat on her daughter’s life that the imposter King Wolfrim had murdered Rosaleen regardless of his warning because in her heart she could not see why or how such a killer and traitor would stand to raise a child whose father he had grown to despise.


    I took a moment to absorb her story and could not help, but say, “That is insane, so you are the only true heir to the thrown and this imposter killed your father and banished your mom, and you just happened to find your mother after all of this time, and by accident?” Rosaleen nods to confirm.


    Scratching my head, I say, “I don’t mean to come off as insensitive, but I am starting to understand what Izavelle means.” I sigh in disbelief to this twisted tale. Rosaleen simply draws in the sand. She knows that I am still taking it all in and gives me the time to let this all-sink in.


    Rosaleen murmurs, “Taylan the only people who know that I know the truth were the people that were there that day with me.” I don’t know why but I focus on Rosaleen’s pearl pendant necklace that my mother made for her, and she is rolling one of the three pearls on her chain in between her index finger and thumb. It distracts me, all this talk about her family and those pearls they are reminding me of my own family. She says, “You are so innocent and removed from everything. My heart is telling me to trust you, and you do need to know this to understand the big picture. Never speak of this to anyone.” She pauses as if reading my thoughts and continues, “Ashlea will be informed as well, and I instructed Soolena to tell her.”


    “I understand.” I look at her while touching her hand to acknowledge. “Rosaleen, so where does Shaylo and Shrago fit into all of this?”


    “Shaylo and Shrago were not my true servants they were eyes for the Imposter, King Wolfrim. Shaylo was with us and knew that Newlyn was my mother, but I didn’t know this until my mother pulled me aside and spoke to me alone. I think that Shaylo didn’t try to make a run for it because she also may have been hoping for some sort of truce with being a part of the reuniting of a mother and daughter. I am not sure what goes on in Shaylo’s twisted head. She didn’t run, or really, fight, she did fight with words. It was because she knew she was outnumbered. Who knows? Anyways, Newlyn explained that Shaylo was at the Imposter, King Wolfrim’s side along with her husband Shrago the night that my mother was banished from the Imposter King Wolfrim Palace. Shaylo showed no loyalty to my mother, or for the people that were banished with her. Shaylo and Shrago were a part of the imposter’s inner circle; Newlyn realized this the night she was sent away. She asked Shaylo to allow for her servant, Zethel to continue to stay and look after me, just to have someone she trusted to care for me. Shaylo laughed in her face saying, that she would never suggest it, or give her any hope that her daughter would be cared for or could even survive through the Imposter King Wolfrim’s reign. Shaylo made the final order to send my mother away and just like that, it was done.” Rosaleen takes a breath, draws more lines in the sand with her toe, and continues.


    “My mother suggested leaving Shaylo with her because if it ever got back to her husband Shrago that I discovered my mother, it would certainly get back to the imposter, which would change everything for me. I agreed to it. Zethel offered herself to take Shaylo’s place as part of my crew.”


    “Rosaleen, what about Shrago he must have known something was up when you all returned without his wife and with Zethel instead?”


    Rosaleen admits, “Shrago knew that something had happened. He asked me, and I simply advised that I believed there may be hostility in the area towards my father’s Kingdom and ordered Shaylo to stay back and observe. I told him that we would move along our course so that our ship wouldn’t attract the attention of the locals and then loop around back over the next few months and retrieve her.”


    “Did Shrago accept this?” I ask.


    “Yes, he had no choice; I am the one in charge. He asked if he could join her to help on the Island, and I reminded him that King Wolfrim ordered him to remain by my side. Shrago was conflicted and knowing that if he were to leave me, his life would become more difficult by disobeying the king than letting his love slip away from him. He accepted and I assured him that it would only be for a brief time, and we would eventually go back for her.”


    “What about Zethel, he must have recognized her when she came onto the ship?” I ask.


    “He wasn’t there to meet us when we returned that evening. Zethel has never appeared to be a part of the group that included me, Izavelle and Soolena. Izavelle immediately took Zethel to her new living quarters and discreetly trained her as a house cleaner to clean the living quarters of the ship. No one really pays attention to the cleaners.


    Izavelle trained her and handed her off to the younger staff that had no idea who she was other than the fact that she was a new face having been recently recruited from the Island. The pleasant thing about the younger generations on board my ship is they have no knowledge to any of what I have shared with you. They are as clueless as the public.”


    I ruminate all the information in silence and draw a conclusion, “So Shrago attacked me because he despised what you put him through, with leaving Shaylo behind and alone?”


    She cannot bring her eyes to mine, but instead wraps here arms around her knees and sets her gaze somewhere in the sand, her hair is slowly changing to a shiny tan color. She replies, “Yes, I think that he saw how I have warmed to you and Ashlea, perhaps he worried that the bond that I once had with his wife was fading away and maybe that made him question whether I would really go back for Shaylo? I think that the arrival of you and Ashlea made him worry, and I think that seeing the two new assistants made him that much more paranoid or stressed for his wife not returning to her role by my side. I guess that he wanted to get back at me for sending his wife off, so he attacked you.”


    The waves are rolling up onto the sand, the light rhythmic swishing sound, such a beautiful relaxing place and oddly enough, I am trying to figure out why the worst experience of my life happened.


    Rosaleen finally speaks, and with a shrug of her shoulders as though she is playing down everything that has happened to me in the last twenty-four hours, “You know Taylan, Shrago is better off dead. I couldn’t just kill him even after knowing what my mother shared. It would have not reflected well for the rest who live and work on my ship. Your attack in a way, it was a good thing because it gave the ideal reason to get rid of him; he was a danger, not only for attacking you, but he was also aligned with the Imposter.”


    I shake my head in disbelief to her, “Do you expect me to buy that?” I accuse, “You knew deep down that this would probably happen, and you did nothing to prevent it?” I get up in a rush and walk down the beach away from Rosaleen. Just what I thought… Rosaleen was hoping that Shrago would screw up with the arrival of Ashlea and me. We were bait. Rosaleen catches up to me and jumps in front, drawing me to a halt. She extends both of her arms to catch my shoulders and holds me firmly within her grasp.


    “STOP” she roars, “I am your Princess, your Master.”