Chapter 35

Their voyage to the Capital was quiet.

The city was coastal, and only half a day's boat ride from the palace, but the pressing silence made the trip seem much longer.

Lyla didn't mind. She had much to think about.

The weather on the coast was much hotter; she was sweating by midday. Lyla found her favorite spot at the prow of the ship; there was a tiny bench there that she liked to sit on and watch the waves break while she listened to Aveline give Ari directions. Eli had plopped himself down on the deck nearby, his head buried in a book.

One of the littlest boys- Nate- was allowed to watch with Lyla as long as he sat on her lap. He barely said a word, his black eyes moving with fascination over each of the craggy island rocks they passed.

"A little to the left," said Aveline with her chin in her hands. Ari nudged the wheel to the side, changing course, and the ship rocked slightly in the solid arms of the ocean.

Lyla gestured to the sea. "Do you see the cave, Nate?"

"Cave." He turned the word over in his mouth, mimicking her pointing with a small, chubby arm.
After a few hours, Jamie finally emerged from below deck. "How much longer?"

"An hour or two, give or take," said Ari above the ocean breeze.

Jamie walked over to Lyla and sat down.
"You're a bit pink."

Lyla glanced at her. "Where?"

"Your cheeks, and sort of your arms, too."

"Is it bad?"

"It's fine."

"My mother always said sunburn was one of the signs of an undignified lady," chuckled Lyla. She couldn't say she missed the Apreuna Duchess all too much, but the guilt in her chest had loosened, somewhat.

Jamie smiled softly.
"When we arrive at the Capital, we don't really know what to expect, do we?" she said nervously, glancing back at their companions.

"Speak to the king, I assume." Lyla rubbed her arm with one hand. A sheepish, private part of her still hoped that the Verignes royals were innocent in the drug trade. At least, perhaps, princess Camille, or the king... "It should be an easy trip. We'll be in and out quickly. Sightsee with the princess, meet the king, it should be all very pleasant."

"Perhaps Ari and Aveline can even find someone to murder for no ostensible reason," Eli said lightly. Lyla grimaced.

"That's a great idea, Eli." Ari took a hand off the wheel and offered up a radiant smile. "Keep talking, and that someone could be you."

Eli rolled his eyes as unfolded to his feet and stalked away.

Lyla's emotions swirled as she focused down at the wooden slats on the floorboards. She followed every line and circle with her eyes, trying and failing to ignore the fact that there was a tenseness in the air that would not seem to break.
She hoped it would end soon.

Jamie huffed out a breath as she turned to Lyla as if to share her exasperation.

Lyla shot a glance at Ari and Aveline and lowered her voice, as if they couldn't hear every word she was saying. "I'll speak with him." She handed Nate to Jamie, who looked thoroughly uncomfortable with a child in her arms.

"You don't need to do that," Ari muttered to her as she passed.

"Eli's always been very black and white about things- it's just the way he is," offered Lyla, as if this helped anything.

"I know." Ari wrinkled his nose. "It's very annoying."

Eli sat by the hull, his black boots propped up on the railing. Lyla carefully arranged her skirts and took a seat beside him. He was scowling.

She waited. In the distance, a small fish leapt out of the water, stirring the constant rhythm of the waves. The sun loomed high in the midday sky, not a cloud in sight. Lyla figured she ought to start covering up; she would arrive at the Capital freshly sunburnt, and then what would the nobles think of her?

"I suppose it would help me to understand her if I knew why she did it," Eli mumbled finally. Lyla looked at him, but his gaze remained fastened on the sea.

"Did what?" Perhaps a stupid question, Lyla thought wryly to herself, but Eli didn't seem to notice.

"I don't know..." He reached forward, wiping off a smudge on the toe of his boot with his thumb. "Everything. She doesn't tell me anything about who she is and why."

"Ah." Lyla nodded. "The criminal thing."

"It's just... Aveline doesn't have any reason to be a pirate. She's beautiful. Smart. Kind. She could make an honest living, do very well for herself... yet she insists on this life. They both do, for reasons I just don't understand."

Lyla felt her eyebrows furrow. "Ari and Aveline are very secretive people."

"I know we've talked about this before, but..." Eli frowned at his hands. "Does that not bother you?"

"What?"

"Ari and Aveline. The entire crew. They're always hiding something. Does that not make you uneasy?"

Lyla thought about it for a second, debating how to answer.
"No."

"Why not?"

"I've never really been the nosy type," she admitted. "People have their business, I have mine."

"But you live with them," he pressed. "You work alongside them, and you have no idea who they really are, where they came from, the nature of the things that they keep from you... "

Lyla sighed, picking at a loose thread on her dress. "I don't know, perhaps it's because I feel as though I've gotten to know them, that we've established trust, or maybe..." she trailed off. "God knows Ari and Aveline don't volunteer information about themselves, but if I were to pull them aside right now and ask them to be honest with me, to tell me all the cryptic and mysterious things I should know about them... I imagine they would do it."

"So why don't you?"

"Because I don't need to," she said simply. "I don't know. I don't think it's very important. My relationship with Ari and Aveline isn't dependent upon their pasts."

Eli tsked. "Or you're just perceptive; you find out more by watching than by asking."

"That, too." She gave a little laugh. "I've found that you can learn more about a person by what you observe rather than anything they may tell you."

"You're kind, Lyla." Eli's eyes flickered to hers, and then away. "But I don't have that sort of luxury."

As she walked away, Lyla wondered if that was true.

Ari and Aveline waited for her at the helm. They fit so well on the ship; wind-tousled hair, loose shirtsleeves under their vests. Aveline's hand rested comfortably on the dagger at her hilt, and Lyla thought she could see dried blood on Ari's boots.

Behind them rose the gilded spires of the Capital on the horizon. The sight of the city turrets flocking the green coast made Lyla catch her breath.

"We're nearly there," said Ari. "If you'd like to change, princess, now would be a good time."

Lyla glanced back at the skyline, and then to her friends.

"I will be just a moment." She ducked around them to head below deck, feeling the two pirates watching her as she left.

-

"Why can't we dock the ship at the main port?" Eli complained as Ari pulled out the ropes. Lyla clutched the railing as spray from the sea stung her cheeks; the Capital lay before in its glory. She had never seen anything like it; clusters of gold and silver towers mingling into the clouds like some sort of angelic kingdom. "We always hide off in some cove, like criminals. It's embarrassing."

Lyla didn't mind the walk to the port. A carriage would be waiting for them to take them into the city. She wondered if they all were in danger, being here, and then thought that if they were, she shouldn't be in a good mood. And yet...

"Wait for us here," Aveline told Inez. Ari helped Lyla down from the ship, taking care that she didn't trip over her dress. It was more of a ballgown, truly; billowing and laced at the bodice, the color of a pale rose.

Jamie lifted her hand to her hair, which had begun to curl just a bit at the ends.
"Does it feel humid to you?"

"It's the seaside, Jamie, of course it's humid." Eli strode ahead of them, outfitted in his nicest breeches and boots.

A guard bowed to them as soon as they approached the port.

"Her Highness is waiting for you in the city," he said shortly. Their carriage was silver and pulled by two black horses. Lyla clambered in, nearly tripping in her excitement, followed by her companions, who were notably less enthused.

She threw open the window and rested her chin on her hands as she watched the city center seem to grow before them.

People littered the streets; finely dressed in rich browns and greens and reds, splashes of color on the cobblestone. Curling metal bars shaped like flowers and spirals framed the tower windows and balconies. They passed under awnings with glistening lanterns hanging off the sides. The city sparkled and glimmered; opening up into a million meandering pathways with cafes and flower shops that Lyla longed to visit.

They stopped at the center of the city near a row of fine townhouses. A familiar figure stood in front of one of them in a garden of daffodils with a crowd of courtiers surrounding her. She wore a sleek purple dress and looked cross. She brightened as soon as the carriage pulled up, however, and waved her hand excitedly.

"Look, there's the princess." Ari couldn't have sounded more bored with himself. Lyla ignored him, raising her hand to wave enthusiastically back.

"Come out, hurry!" Camille shouted.

Their footman opened the door, and Lyla waited for her companions to exit first. It smelled of cinnamon and smoke, and everyone seemed to fall silent as they stepped outside and entered a city of gold and extravagance. Lyla had never felt as small as she did craning her neck to see the spired buildings that were so tall, and so closely packed together.

Jamie inhaled sharply. "It's..."

"Beautiful," Lyla breathed, taking her footman's hand as she hopped down from the carriage. Her full, fluffy skirts made her feel much like a princess as she gazed at the breathtaking city that loomed before her.

Lyla took another step forward, her eyes on the horizon, but accidentally tripped on the expanse fabric around her feet. She toppled forward with a squeak, and two arms shot out to catch her.

Lyla's breath died in her throat as she looked up to apologize and found herself staring into the face of a boy she had never seen before.

Less of a boy; she realized quickly, forgetting herself momentarily as she scanned his polished features. He was tall and finely dressed, a silver buckle gleaming on his belt. Two smoldering caramel eyes blinked at her under spicy brown hair. He had hazel skin and high, refined cheekbones, and a dimple that flashed in his left cheek when he spoke.

"Yes, it is," he said in a silken, rich voice.

Lyla blinked with a start under his stare and straightened herself upright. He released her immediately and backed away.

"It was so wonderful of you all to come," pronounced Camille, sounding proud of herself as she faced the view of the Capital with her hands on her hips. "You must be exhausted from the journey. I shall take you to your apartments at once."

She graciously pretended not to notice Lyla's fall as she beckoned them on, and Lyla quickly lost sight of the boy in the crowd.

"Are you alright, Lyla?" Aveline murmured, taking her arm. "That was almost quite a tumble."

Lyla shook herself. "Fine," she said with a loose smile, craning her neck to spot wavy brown hair in the sea of people, but he was gone.

"We have all been waiting eagerly for your arrival." Camille plowed through the people like a workhorse, and everyone parted for her. "It's going to be a wonderful trip. My father is anxious to meet you all, you know."

Ari and Aveline exchanged glances.

"You look lovely, Lyla," said Camille once, glancing over her shoulder. Lyla hid her sweaty hands in her skirts. "And Eli, is the Capital as lovely as you remember?"

"Lovelier," Eli admitted.

"I have been missing my personal guard these last few days." Camille's full, lower lip jutted out in a way that resembled a pout.

"Have you seen my father?"

"Oh, he's around here, somewhere," she teased, her sapphire gaze gleaming.

"Camille... " Eli brushed a sandy curl from his forehead.

Camille? Lyla watched Aveline's jaw tighten just the smallest bit at the familiar way in which Eli addressed the princess.

"He's fine." The princess rolled her eyes. "With the king, the last time I checked. He's very much looking forward to seeing you." Her hands clasped together, and the glitter on her nails sparkled in the sun. "We'll take dinner in the ballroom this evening, and tomorrow I will show you the city. You'll absolutely love your rooms," she gushed. "By the time the trip is over, you won't want to leave."

Lyla clutched her skirts and gazed once more at the cosmopolitan domain, and as she sucked in an awed breath, she thought she wouldn't be surprised if Camille's prediction proved correct.

**i didn't edit this chapter that well, so sorry for mistakes.
Lyla had some interesting thoughts this chapter, no? And now the gang is finally at the Capital!!
thanks for reading and I'll see y'all on Monday!**