02 — Symphonies of the Seas

Chapter 2

Olga barged in the room, having an apple pie in her hands while beer on the other. Now I see why she has to kick the door. "Princess! It's been a week already; I see that you can now walk properly," she said with a big smile plastered on her face. She has so much energy early in the morning.

She put the food on the table as I sit on the chair. “So, I will just let you know that I will be out later. There is a festival in the middle of the city,” her eyes twinkled. "For sure, I will reach my quota for tonight!” she exclaimed while her fingers are intertwined together and her hands below her chin.

She looked at me, and her smile faded, "Sorry! I said too much, go eat…eat!" she said and started marching towards the door. “Olga, wait. I want to join you,” I said. It turns out that Olga and Kael are thieves. Kael is the owner of this tavern, and Olga is the chef. They usually serve beers that have higher alcohol levels. Thus, their customers quickly get drunk and pass out. Then they would steal their money, gold, and other possessions. But huge events like festivals are like a buffet to them.

 “I want to see the….festival,” I said to her sincerely. I have only seen festivals in the books in the palace library. I never knew it actually exists outside the palace. I badly want to see it.

“Well, if that is the case, I have to get you a disguise!" she said excitedly and went out. I know I am meant to hide, but it doesn’t mean that I will not see the world. For the past week, I have watched the sunrise and set through the windows of this room. I also get to observe the town’s people. They sing and dance in the morning, a very far ambiance from my first morning here. Olga said that there are many thieves in this town because it connects three out of five kingdoms by land and two through the ports.

Olga returned in the afternoon. She was gasping for air as she opened the door. When she composed herself, she exclaimed. I almost fell down from where I am sitting. "What happened?" I asked as I get her a glass of water. She received it and giggled after drinking. “Well, it is really no big deal, but….. a chariot from El Terra encountered an accident!" she said, accompanied with hand gestures. “And they said that a royal was in that chariot," she continued.

I got intrigued, “How would they know that it was a royal who was riding it?" I asked. "First, because there were five chariots that are traveling together. Next, one chariot was filled with jewelry. And lastly, a book was found in the chariot that caught an accident," she said.

Indeed, royals usually travel with three up to ten chariots. Although I haven't experienced traveling, I have witnessed my father go with four chariots and went back to the palace with nine. The other chariots were filled with imported items, usually jewelry and gold.

"And the best thing….I got the book!" she said and showed me a book. "How did you get this?" I asked in disbelief. “Really? You are asking me that? Do you want a demonstration?" she said jokingly. I am glad that she is slowly dropping the ‘princess’ as I said that I am not living in that title now.

I examined the book, and it was about geography. It also has a map on the first page. I remember memorizing this as a kid. For years, it became a blur. But my memory got refreshed as I trace my fingers on the map. Commoners and slaves do not have access to formal education. Thus, if someone possesses even the thinnest book, they might be either royalty or a thief.

Olga and I left the tavern when the sun was about to set. She made me wear brown trousers, white long sleeves, and a dark blue coat with a hood to hide my face. Clothes that she 'borrowed.' She also braided my hair so it won’t be covering my eyes, but there are few stubborn strands that fell from the braid.

My sight was filled with different colors of light. They are attached in a string that runs on the posts of every tent. The tents have varying designs, but what caught my attention the most is a black tent. There are musical notes in golden paints. They glow like twinkling stars. "Now, you can enjoy the festival but make sure to hide your identity. Let us meet here in two hours, okay? I just have some job to do," Olga instructed before she faded into the crowd.

I marched towards the black tent without a heartbeat. Inside, a mini-stage in the center, chairs before it, and musical instruments in a cabinet. I approached the cabinet and picked up a flute. I have learned to play different instruments, but this one is my favorite. “Make sure you can pay for everything you touch, princess," said a familiar voice, stressing the word 'princess.' My eyes found Kael on the other side of the stage. He wears a dark blue linen shirt and black trousers. The last time I saw him was when Olga dragged him outside of the room the day I got here. I did not ask Olga his whereabouts because I do not mind his absence. I know it is impolite not to show him my gratitude after saving me on the tavern's side, but I am uncomfortable saying so. Plus, he carried me without my consent and dropped me like a sack. A part of me hates the sight and thought of him even though he is barely doing anything, what more with that memory.

I rolled my eyes and put the flute back. I have no intention of playing it anyway. And if he also owns those instruments, then the more reason I should not play them is because they might have been played by his nasty mouth. I went out of the tent furiously; I can't believe my festival mood will be ruined by a single person.

On my way out, I bumped into a guy. He seemed to be chased by….knights! My eyes widened, and I immediately went back inside the tent. The guy also went inside. Kael is not here anymore, so I tried to hide behind the cabinet. To my surprise, the guy joined me and tried to also fit in. I looked at him with wide eyes as I recognized him. “River?!" I almost exclaimed but remembered the knights.

“It is Prince Rive- wait, Titania?!" his eyes widened like a fish deprived of water. I cringed at his reaction. He hugged me so tight. “I-I can’t believe you are here, so what is this thing I heard that you eloped?! So what about me, right? I am your first love, after all. So I jumped out of my chariot on the way to your palace because you aren't there after all….and look, destiny!" he said all of that without freeing me.

I pushed him away from me, causing the instruments to fall and create high-pitched noises. I didn’t mean that to happen, he looked hurt too. I was checking on him when I saw Kael appear out of nowhere. His lips went on a thin line as he watched River and me. I had no time to react as the knights entered the tent. Kael grabbed my hands, and we started running towards the back of the stage. Two horses are waiting outside. He carried and made me sit on one of the horses. It is tall and has shiny hair. It matches the vibe Kael gives in; it feels like trouble. But unlike him, the horse smelled better.

He sat behind me and pulled the strings of the horse. I have no choice but to clench his forearms due to the sudden movement. The horse ran like lightning. This is not the first time I have ridden a horse, but that was very slow compared to this pace. The horse turned several times on the tents, which caused chaos to the people. They are going out of our horse's way, but it resulted in the destruction of some tents. Rose petals and bubbles scattered on the road. Good thing, the horse seems like it doesn’t bother and find this thrilling. I looked back and saw River behind us; he is riding the other horse. Behind him are the knights who are chasing us.

And I realized that I might not be who they are chasing but River! But that thought faded when several arrows went in our direction. I heard Kael mumbled something before he made the horse run faster. He whistled, and the horse of Kael is now on our side. He is now passed out on his horse and has an arrow on this arm. I wonder how he remains on the back of horses wiggling on its every step. “Is he…dead?” I whispered.

“He is not, and you should only think of how you will stay alive. Hold these strings steady,” he said and let the strings fall on my lap. I panicked, but I immediately grabbed the ropes; what is he even thinking?!

I tried focusing on the strings, but I can feel how Kael throws the daggers on the knights. He would also make me duck my head occasionally. And I….do not know what to feel! I am riding a horse running like there’s no tomorrow, there are people exchanging daggers and arrows on my back, and River, who is unconscious and wouldn’t even feel this frustration! He might be having the best dream in his entire life!

 After hours of riding, I saw the port nearby, and the sun is now setting. I guided the horse in that direction; I will escape here no matter what. Kael retook control of the string as we enter the port, I looked back, and no knights are chasing us anymore. River is still unconscious. And I remembered how to breathe again.

Kael stopped the horses near the seashore. I heard the waves as they crash on the shore. And that makes a beautiful sound. “This shore area is called the Symphonies of the Seas since the waves and the shore produce an alluring music when they meet," Kael calmly said and jumped from the horse. He helped me go down, and I ran closer to the shore to clearly hear the music. I would like to mock his calmness after all the madness that have happened just awhile ago. I didn’t even know how he managed to get here without a scratch. But I just shrugged the thoughts off.

The music sounds like a lullaby - soft, almost whispering, and calming. I watched the sunrise above the sea line. The air blew my hair, which is now detangled from the braid. I glanced at Kael, who is now beside me, watching the sunrise too. "Thank you," I said, almost a whisper. “You have saved me two times already," I said and went closer to the small waves. I removed my boots to feel the sand and the seawater. This is the first time I have stepped my feet on the ground without footwear. And I am glad that it was a seashore. My footprint scattered on the seashore along with beautiful sea shells.

I turned and smiled at Kael, who remained where he is standing. He looks weird, trying to suppress his smile. I tried scooping some water and picked some seashells. They are wonderful. My heart is so full of the magnificence of the sun, sea, and seashells. Even we have a bad blood, or its just me, he was the one who helped me to escape death from the arrows. Now, having the best sunrise I could ever imagine. I returned with the beauties lying on the sand.

When I was about to pick up a starfish, Kael suddenly pointed a knife at my neck. I looked at him, questioning the sudden action. On his back, I saw my mother, who is smirking. “It was nice to see you again, my dear. I just hope this is the last time. You may now kill her, Kael. Just like how you always wanted,” she said.  I can’t breathe with every words she is spitting. The waves went wild, the air slammed in to my skin as harsh as the waves, and the sky seemed to turn his back at me.

           “May I just correct you, Titania. I have saved you thrice already. The first was in the Silent Woods, the second was from the theft, and the third was a while ago. But I won’t be sure for the fourth,” Kael whispered and snatched the holy embers from my pocket. He poured the contents on his knife and shoot it towards my mother. The blade went directly on her heart, her eyes widened. Kael picked another knife from his bag and poured the remaining contents of the ember. He went to her without glancing at me. He whistled again, but the tune was very far from the first one. This was high-pitched and ear-shattering.

           “You….you are a traitor of your kind. I should have killed both of you when I had the chance-" she was cut off when Kael pierced the other knife on her body again. Their eyes both burned in anger and hatred. A flashback of how my mother stabbed my father filled my sight. The melodies rung on my ear, forcing me to shout to ease the pain. The waves came to me, I tried to go back at the shore until everything shut and fell silent. Finally.

           I was still confused with everything that has happened five years ago on that seashore. I am confused, but my spirit pushes me to try. I am now across the sea. I am trying not to cry every day and brave every sunrise. After all these years, I have searched for answers and trusted no one. I ran away from the kingdom, especially from Kael. His arrogance made me want to stab him, but his calmness made me want to cease in to existence.

But no more running. I got tired, but fueled at the same time. My mind still have a lot of questions, but it was always overpowered by every beat of heart. Today, I am at a seaport and brave enough to finish my business. The waves are calm today, but I can’t trust its calmness again. The ships are now approaching the ports like they were not late by an hour. Their trace on the surface of the sea is slowly fading as the sun goes down. Before, I was not sure which I liked more. Is it the sunset or sunrise? Is it the end where I’ll be clueless or is it the end where I am shattered?

I checked the remaining two embers in my pocket, I already have some of the answers and these helped me. And now, the only thing left to do is to prove them. If the symphonies are really authentic, or I only misheard the heartbeat of a traitor.