“Cursed!?” Prin’s eyes went as wide as full moons, in an expression that the captain clearly interpreted as dismayed shock, but in fact was more akin to eager fascination. So he wasn’t the only one. It’s not like he truly suspected he was, but to have confirmation. What if it was somehow the same witch?

Captain Thompson shot him an apologetic look. “I know how this must sound boys, but trust me, I am no crack pot.”

“We didn’t think you were.” Elwin assured.

Captain Thompson leaned back in his chair and sighed with his whole body. “I have done a lot of bad things, a lot. Even while most of my youngers I went around with my head held up, thinking I had some kind of moral code. That made me superior, or something, to my peers.” He snorted loudly. “You can’t have morals and be in the . . . line of work I was in, if you know what I mean.” He suddenly got up and went to the door, opening it and peeking out into the hallway. When he saw that the coast was clear, he closed and locked it before sitting back down.

“I have barely told anyone about this, Valor himself does not know, even though it is pertinent to his whole life.” He looked at Prin and Elwin in turn. “I thought about telling him many times, but I wasn’t sure if it was the best thing to do. Or if he was ready for it.”

“We won’t tell anyone.” The prince said quickly. He looked at Elwin. “Right?”

“Of course not.” Elwin said. “Although, if you don’t feel comfortable . . . I mean, everyone has their secrets . . . for a reason . . .”

Prin bumped his knee into Elwin’s, wishing he would shut up. He had to hear this story. “No, please, I would like to hear it.” He said, hoping it was the right thing to say, and wouldn’t serve to convince the captain he was about to make a mistake. Wouldn’t do to seem too eager. Though he was. Maybe he could even tell Captain Thompson a (modified) version of his own curse story in exchange? If it seemed appropriate.

Captain Thompson settled into his seat. “I suppose, what can it hurt?” He threw up his hands in an elaborate shrug.

The prince thought he wanted to tell it, even though he feigned indifference. Maybe it was something he had wanted to talk about for a long time? Or maybe he was just someone who relished telling a story.

“We have to start with, I was not always as you see me.” He half laughed- half coughed, patting his round belly. “Back in the day I was quite something to look at. My hair curly and long-ish, my figure lean and posture very straight. Extravagant clothes. You might even say I was a bit of a dandy. And I knew it too. I relished the attention I got from people.

I think there is a portrait around here somewhere? I’m not sure . . . Eh, it’ll turn up. You’ll see what I mean.

I was a very accomplished . . . sailor, as well. Plenty of money and fine things to spread around.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Suffice to say I had a lover in every port, maybe two or three.” He laughed again. “Boy did I have a lot of energy! Oh, to steal back a portion of it now from my wasteful younger self, ya’know?

Anyway, so, lots of lovers, but I was up front with all of them, or at least any that attempted to get too serious.

I was not the marrying type. Period. Or at least, so I thought then. But I didn’t realize I was wrong about that particular notion until much later.

And, not only that, but in my, er, business fortunes rise and fall, people die young. I could not be relied on to support them financially or even guarantee my continuous return. Do you know what I mean? Some random day it would be the last time they ever saw me, and there was no telling when that might be.

So, I thought, with the standard disclaimer I was being square with my own moral compass. I slept well at night, anyway. Even if it was in the arms of someone different each night . . .

There was a lady, well, a lady she was not, but a beautiful young woman, in a provincial island town where we would stop a couple of times a year for refueling and a bit of a vacation, to rediscover our land legs, and all of that. She was . . . remarkable. Strong, talented, striking to look at. Stood out from the locals like an orchid in Antarctica.

She tried to put her natural brains and talents to good use, treating people for medical ailments, serving as a midwife, mixing concoctions that could improve your luck, or your finances, maybe . . . help you ruin the lives of your enemies, for an appropriate price.

You will find someone who does similar in a lot of small towns? Not like her though, not like her . . .

I suppose she had what you would call natural inborn talent for witchery.

In fact, that’s how we first met. I came to her for . . . Eh, a story for another day I guess.

So, we became close. Very close. But I still had to leave her when the boat was ready to launch. The ship sails with or withoutcha, that’s the way it goes. And I could never see me sticking around in that small town. And, what? Pick fruit?” He laughed. “Still, I was always eager to return and see her again when the time came.

A couple of years after we first met, I arrived at the island and I took the, rather arduous, I couldn’t do it these days, walk to her house in the woods. She wasn’t there. I waited around with her dog for a while, as it looked like she hadn’t been gone long and would be returning.

It started to get dark and I was getting worried, or maybe more like just impatient, she wasn’t the type you had to worry about. She could take care of herself. So, me and the dog went looking for her. See, I figured the dog would lead me to her? And I was right.

When we finally found her she was in the ocean, walking naked towards the shore, towards me, with a smile I could just barely make out in the moonlight. And a huge pregnant belly that couldn’t be missed.

I just knew, without her even telling me, that the child was mine. Plus the timing added up, it had been just about nine months since I had last visited her.

She told me that it would be a girl, and a child full of blessings. That the fae who lived in the woods had told her this, and she had decided she must keep the child.

To her credit, she never asked me to stay. Maybe she didn’t even want me to. But still, I was relieved to be on my way without having to witness the birth. That is young people thinking right there.” He shook his head at his own foolishness.

“I say all this, like I wasn’t interested in having a baby, but I loaded up with gifts and glories for my little girl in the six months it took me to make it back to the island. I had gold and silver, and jewelry and fine cloth, as well as the kinds of things I imagined a baby would like, small toys, ivory rattles, and blankets made of the softest wool. Those kinds of things.

As it happened, while I was away, two things of great importance happened, instead of one. My baby girl was born, and a hurricane hit the island wiping out a quarter of its inhabitants.”