Epic Tale - Chapter 8 - Part 1

Several days later the Sangue Padre stopped at a port to gain fresh supplies. Nemo knew it was the last port he could leave the ship before returning home. The Sangue Padre was almost empty right now, most of the crew enjoyed themselves on the town, Lady Riddle included.
Nemo sat down on his bed and pulled forward the amulet he wore around his neck. It was an ornamented brass disk with a red gem in its middle. Inside him rose the well known urge to throw it away, but as usual, he didn't do it.
"Why the long face?", Nemo heard a cold voice asking and while hiding the amulet under his shirt again, he looked up. The bard was leaning against the doorframe, playing with a dagger in his hand and his eyes were a mixture of grey and green.
"I think it's none of your business.", Nemo stated calmly.
Lilt glared right at him.
"But I think otherwise. I don't know how you got everybody around here fooled and made Riddle love you, but I swear, if you ever lay a finger on her, I'm going to kill you."
Nemo got up and positioned himself in front ot Lilt.
"Are you trying to threaten me?"
"I'm warning you.", the bard hissed.
They both stared at each other for a while.
Finally Nemo showed a grin.
"Riddle can be lucky she has you.", he said.
"Can't say the same about you.", Lilt gave back and left when voices from the deck told him the majority of the crew arrived back home.
Nemo looked out of the small window on the sea. All he needed to do would be jumping... and add more names to the list of people out to get him.

On deck, new members were introduced and welcomed. Patienced narrowed his eyes when he saw Angel in a conversation with another black winged person. But he didn't dare to interrupt them. Angel was still mad at him for what the demons told her. He watched bot of them petting Omega and noticed Angel blushing. Patience clenched his fist, but kept an eye on the two. Soon they were chasing each other in the sky. Patience had never seen Angel so happy as in those moments. Being her protector was one thing, but being in love with her was another. It stung him to see her like this, but his master wouldn't allow him to leave. He left the deck to seek solitude.
Patience wasn't the only one who noticed the two talking. In a corner Vixen watched with interest. She was close enough to hear their conversation before Angel and the new one took off flying.
At first they were echanging courtesies, but then there was a moment when their hands met by accident. Angel blushed and Vixen's intense interest didn't let her take an eye or ear from the scene. The demoness enjoyed seeing Angel still having issues with contact. This was going to be a helpful weapon to cause some misery and drama. Aslansa would for sure not be trying to stop her when it came to messing with Patience. Vixen smiled deviously when Angel and Zane took off the ship to chase each other in the sky.

Nemo knew exactly how long the Sange-Padre would need to arrive at Zerina. He was counting the days backwards and felt like he was brought to his execution. When he was sure it would soon show up at the horizon, he left the cabin. Nemo was standing on the stern of the ship staring at the ocean painted orange by a rising sun. Then he heard a voice behind him.
"Home, cruel home...?", Riddle asked next to him.
"You have no idea...", Nemo muttered and was about to leave. The trickster softly held him back. "Then tell me."
"Do you really want me to ruin such a romantic moment?", he smirked. Ridle shrugged her shoulders.
"Just in case you haven't noticed already, I'm a master in destroying a romantic mood."
"I guess you won't let me get away without telling you then."
"Aye."
Nemo sighed.
"First off, my name is not Nemo.", Riddle bit her tongue. The sarcastic "Oh really?" lying there for sure would stop him from telling.
"My name is Leith and as I told you already, I'm in fact a prince of Zerina."
Riddle nodded slowly, but behind her forehead, thoughts were speeding. A prince! So many men out there and she had to fall for a freaking prince! Fate/Karma/Kismet or whatever was responsible for this, had a sick humour...
"But you aren't the crown prince, are you?", the question slipped past her lips before she could hold it back and cursed herself for asking this stupidity. This must sound either very greedy, very stupid or very derogatory.
"I am."
Riddle had to correct herself. Whoever was responsible for this, didn't have a sick humour, that person was a complete scumbag. Of all the women in the world she was one of the least suitable to star in a sappy romance! This was so unfair! Why couldn't he be a beggar or a boring everyman. Why had the only guy she had a serious interest in to be a goddamn crown prince?!
She felt Leith's eyes on her, searching for a reaction.
"Is everything alright?", he asked.
"I'm just a bit surprised, that's all.", Riddle lied, clinging tightly to the little composure she had left.
The look in his face told her he didn't believe her, but Leith didn't say anything.
After a while he continued.
"It's tradition that our leader is a woman. So when my mother abdictates, my wife would be the next in line."
Riddle could not prevent her mouth from falling open. His wife?! He was married?!
"That is, if I had one.", Leith added. Riddle relaxed and hoped he hadn't noticed her reaction.
"Do you have a sister to be the next in line?", she asked.
"Aye, but there's a problem. If I just stepped aside, I still could reclaim the throne once I'm married."
"Stupid rule."
Leith shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't made it."
"That is the reason those assassins are after you?"
"Not really. Fact is, I want nothing of all that. No arranged marriage, no intrigues, no jelous siblings. So I left. I figured this would be the best solution for everybody. But obviously I am considered a traitor who brought shame to our whole kingdom and only my death can avenge it."
"Your kingdom has some strange laws."
Leith sighed. "Aye... the curse of martial traditions. Traitors bring shame to their origin. Great shame can only be washed away with blood of enemies or a heroic deed."
Riddle shuddered. "Sounds like a perfect realm."
Leith smirked. "You'll love it. Fraud, lies, deception... I wonder how many people would want your head after the first day."
"I bet you nobody, because they won't see the truth.", Riddle smiled sweetly and added: "It's your head I worry more about."