The prince was literally on the edge of his seat, leaning forward to get the most out of the captain’s tale. He had no idea where it was going, but after the death of a quarter of the island’s people, he knew it was nowhere good.

“Did- Did the witch and her baby die?” Prin asked.

He could feel Elwin looking at him sideways and knew what he had asked may not be polite, but at the moment he didn’t even care.

“No, nothing like that. She was safe enough inland. Had a lot of fallen trees and the like, but the hurricane left her home intact. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had her own ways of affording herself protection from . . . forces of nature. Or she may have stayed with her forest friends.” The captain said thoughtfully. “However, when we got back there, the devastation was still obvious to see, although the work of putting the town back together was well under way.

Even though the physical damage was being righted, and the goodbyes had been said, funerals had been had, the entire feeling of the place had begun to shift.

When our ship landed, instead of being greeted with flowers and treats from the local tourism board (we were good for the economy, you see. And by and large never caused any trouble), we were greeted with cold stairs and unfriendly demeaners.

I didn’t care what any of them thought, anyway. Things like that don’t bother me much right now, let alone back then.

Anyway, I had to rent a horse and cart just to carry all of the presents, as well as foods I picked up in the village. I even brought a flop eared baby goat, hoping that it would delight the little girl. Black and white, it was. I looked them all over carefully to choose the cutest.” Captain Thompson laughed at himself.

“It was a wonderful visit, boys. I hope some day you may know what it’s like to be fathers. There is nothing like it on earth. We took to each other just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “And I even flattered myself into imaging there was a family resemblance.” The captain smiled at the memory. “She was a plump and happy little thing, just like you want ‘em to be. Oh, Wrena was a squalling, skinny little mess! My gods, she could scream until she turned purple, and you would stick handkerchiefs in your ears just to dull it down a little. Come to think of it, she has still not stopped complaining. But I digress. This baby, my first as far as I know, was a real pip. Almandine, her mother called her. After a red stone used in jewelry, ya see.”

“That’s a pretty name.” Prin said, his voice gently encouraging.

“I thought so too.” The captain said. “I guess I felt a little bit of what it’s like to fall in love. Boy, am I corny! It’s just not a feeling I had ever allowed myself. But with a baby . . . it feels safe. You know what I mean? It feels warm, like it will last forever, and never be rejected. I don’t know.”

Elwin reached out to hold Prin’s hand, and Prin knew what he meant by that.

“The time came all to quickly when I had to be on my way again, with promises to return as soon as possible.” Captain Thompson said. “In fact, just a few months later I took an opportunity to hitch a ride back to the island all on my own. Because I just couldn’t stay away a moment longer.

I knew I was missing out on the baby part of her life, if I didn’t watch it would all pass by me in the blink of an eye and I would come back to a little adult.” He chuckled. “I didn’t know then how long it actually takes to raise them up. I guess I still don’t know that, since I haven’t yet successfully managed it.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“You seem to be doing a fine job.” Prin said. He wasn’t sure himself if he was deliberately lying or just trying to sugar coat it to be polite. But it did seem like the captain loved his kids and was trying to do the best he could, and that was worth a lot.

“You think? It’s hard to be a single father even though I did still have a lot of help.” The captain said.

“No one’s parents are perfect.” Elwin said. He was probably thinking of his own when he said it, but he looked over at Prin with an apologetic face, as though remembering that “not perfect” was a vast understatement when it came to some people’s parents.

Captain Thompson waved his hand at them dismissively. “This is true, most of them are terrible. Just talk to a random assortment of people you meet, they’ll tell you.

Anyway, we’re going off topic and I’m sure Valor will not be kept waiting much longer, so I had better get on with it.

When I returned to the island, the attitude was downright hostile! I was told that they were dismantling the larger of the two docks, the one designated for larger ships and tourists, so there was no point ever coming back again. This would be the last time.

I wasn’t sure what to make of that but rest assured, I believed myself more then capable of coming and going from wherever the hell I wanted to be.

I hurried to see my lady of the woods and glorious first-born offspring, and when I got there, Almandine was already trying to walk. Time does really fly, especially with kids.

It was another wonderful visit, although I could sense that she was very tense, that she was holding something back. But I was too focused on the baby to press the issue.

A week or so later, when it was finally time for me to leave or lose the chance of catching up to my ship entirely, she took me aside. There was a look on her face I had never seen before and tears in her eyes. I’ll never forget it, boys.” The captain shook his head, looking away as though he couldn’t stand to meet their eyes for the next part.

“She told me a story that I couldn’t bring myself to believe, and there was my big, horrible mistake. There was my hubris.

She told me that the villagers had turned on her, blaming her, as well as all outsiders in general, for everything ill that had befallen them. Specifically, the hurricane which wiped out not only so many of their friends and loved ones, but fishing vessels, homes and businesses, orchards full of fruit. The works. They thought she had cursed them. Although why on earth she would curse them on masse, the gods only know.

Then she got to the part I couldn’t wrap my head around. She told me that her fae contacts had told her that Almandine would be killed by the villagers. And that I must take her away with me. Far away over the ocean, to avoid her fate.

I could not figure out why she had waited until now to tell me this. Honestly, I thought she was playing at some kind of game. Not that it would have been like her.

I laughed. I can’t believe it, when I saw the look on her face, that I would dare to react so, but maybe it was half in shock, and fear? It’s the only explanation. Also, being young and stupid, and invincible, I didn’t believe supernatural forces could have any real impact on the lives of mortal men and women. And babies.

Obviously, I refused. I couldn’t take care of a baby! And certainly could not take her with me on a pir—sailing vessel. One I was not yet even the captain of! I may have – No, I certainly said, in jest, that women weren’t allowed to sail with us, that it was bad luck. Even tiny ones. And that had she been a boy I could have taken her with and put her to work as the cabin boy.

If only I could take back my words! If I couldn’t take back my actions, I could at least take back that I said ‘if only she were a boy’!

It gave the witchy woman the impression that I would have loved Almandine more, enough to sacrifice what was really the only livelihood I had ever known, and something I was truly good at, if she were a boy instead of a girl. Which I swear to you, and to all the gods, is not even true!

My reaction of foolish dismissive disbelief would have been no different.” He shook his head. “Her scathing expression told me I had misplayed my hand entirely. I offered to get her off the island, and pay for passage for her and the baby anywhere she wanted to go. But I didn’t really expect her to take me up on it. Since I still half thought of the whole thing as a joke. And, she didn’t.

It was the last time I would ever see baby Almandine. Alive, anyway.”