The Princess and the Pirate, ch 11: The Daring Escape

Fioretta sat down on the bed, looking about the room, her prison. A sudden weight fell upon her. Never before, in her entire life, had she been left with absolutely nothing to do. Boredom felt like a lead blanket to the energetic young woman. She felt little snippets of sunlight that had forced entry into the room through the tightly shuttered windows. She listened to the exotic birds and the strange animals sounds that came from the zoo, awaiting her pleasure in the evening. The air became stale as the room warmed with the day.

At lunch time, a tiny door within the door to the room opened briefly as a tray of food was pushed roughly through. Fioretta ate with her usual dignity, but she really did not feel much like eating. When she was done, she lay back on the bed, thinking. Then she remembered the only book in the room.

The Ever Mysterious Morel Islands seemed very plain and simple at first. Yet as Fioretta flipped gently through its pages, she made another important discovery: the Morel Islands described in this book were one and the same as her very own homeland. She examined the maps and could visualize only the route from her castle home to Harbor Town where—it seemed a lifetime ago—she had boarded the doomed ship on her way to a thwarted adventure. She lovingly touched the pages, remembering.

She turned to the first chapter and began to read.

At first the book was dull. It described various physical features of the land, the products of the labors of the people, populations of towns, and the like. Then she became engrossed in the accounts of the country's legends. Certain people there were said to be guides for visitors on their way to the Beautiful Place. It detailed various dangers throughout the land and described a people wholly unknown to Fioretta. These people thrived on carnage. Their greatest joy lay in capturing and tormenting people. Fioretta was glad these were just legends—surely her parents would have warned her if these people truly existed.

The time passed, and Fioretta began squinting in the dimming light. She had just set the book on the little desk, having gotten up to stretch, when a knock came at the door. Captain Matthew came in with dinner in hand.

After their quiet meal, Fioretta donned her veil and took Captain Matthew's arm. He took her down a long hall past many doors until they came to a large set of elaborately carved, double oak doors. He unlocked these, and they stepped outside into the twilight. Fioretta breathed in the fresh air until she felt intoxicated by it. She quietly let Captain Matthew lead her toward the zoo.

Fioretta was highly skilled in patience. All the while she looked at and commented on the little monkeys, the colorful birds, the strange creatures she had never seen before, and the slithering reptiles that repulsed her, the question of the portrait and the brush and mirror set burned in her mind.

Finally, as the pair drew near the end of the displays, she said, "Captain Matthew, this zoo is absolutely marvelous. I've enjoyed our little outing thoroughly."

"I'm so glad you like it so well. Shall we have a cool drink before I take you back to your room?" Captain Matthew said jauntily.
"That would be lovely," Fioretta answered demurely.

He took her to a little table at the entrance and exit to the courtyard zoo. It was very peaceful and beautiful there where the birds were all just tucking their heads under their wings for the evening. He rang a little bell, and a man came from around the corner of the building carrying a pitcher and glasses. He was short and fat and his skin had been crisped by many years in the sun. He walked with a limp and looked every bit the part of the proverbial pirate. After pouring the drinks and leaving the pitcher on the table, the man walked off without saying a word.

As they sipped their drinks in comfortable silence, Fioretta said, "Might I inquire about the grooming set that you so kindly left in my room?"

Captain Matthew looked a little surprised, but he answered, "Why, I don't know much about it really. It was my mother's. I thought you might like to use it to freshen up."

Fioretta wondered whether the Captain was telling the truth as he knew it or if he knew more.

She looked up at the clear, star-filled sky, then looked him directly in the eye. "You see, that particular pattern is a royal pattern. It exactly matches a pattern on a particular tapestry in my very own castle."

The pirate laughed heartily. "Now that I would not know about. My dad could have picked that up anywhere from anyone. I just thought to try to make your stay a little more comfortable."

Fioretta sipped her drink, pondering his response. Then she said, "You would not happen to know how your father acquired the little portrait that lay in the only book in my room would you?"

"No, sorry," he replied with a touch of finality. "I really didn't even know there was a book in that room. The room holds all my mother's treasures, which were not many."

The princess felt very frustrated as the lock clicked on the door to her room a short while later. She did not even bother to light the candles or dress for bed. She simply lay down across it looking at the ceiling.

She had only lain there a a quarter of an hour or so when she distinctly heard her name whispered through the shutters.

"Christopher!" she almost yelled, but restrained herself to a whisper. "Christopher! You've come for me!" She ran lightly to the shuttered window and tried to peer through the minuscule cracks.

"Fioretta! I'm so glad to have found you!" said Christopher's tired, relieved voice. "I don't have long. I'm going to pry these shutters open."

In almost no time, the shutters flew open with Christopher standing triumphantly with his arms outstretched to her. She grabbed the little book with the portrait and the grooming set, and he helped her through the window.

They stealthily walked through the zoo courtyard and out into the cover of the jungle that seemed to sprawl all around them.

When they were far enough away, Christopher stopped to let her rest on some boulders. "How in the world did you find me so quickly?" Fioretta exclaimed, her voice full of admiration.

Christopher smiled at her and said, "I left the other men to build their rafts while I called for Andrea and Alexander."

Fioretta laughed out loud, "Your dolphin friends?" Christopher was known far and wide for his gift with animals. He had a special affinity with a pair of dolphins that liked to swim in the inlets and bays along the coast of Christeland. He had actually trained Andrea and Alexander to do various things for him, almost like a pair of dogs, using a series of whistles.

Christopher looked down, abashed. "Ever since I trained them, I've always had them follow my ships."

Fioretta looked at him wide eyed. "That's amazing," she said wonderingly. "And they followed the other ship with you hanging on?"

"Well, sort of," he replied. "I found some planks that I lashed together. I gave Alexander the rope, and he pulled me along."

"Amazing," she repeated. Then her face became serious. "What about Mirabelle and Laura? Have you found them yet?"

Christopher grinned, "I sure have. I'm actually going to leave you right here with my dagger while I fetch them. I didn't want to travel from the guarded area in a pack—more of a chance to get caught."

He handed her the dagger and disappeared into the night. He brought Mirabelle and Laura back to Fioretta just as he promised, and then they made their way deeper into the jungle. As they went along he explained, "I watched them the night before. Those pirates don't really expect you to escape, so they don't really look in on you. I'm hoping we'll have at least until morning before they realize you are gone."

Mirabelle, breathless from exertion, panted, "And how are we getting away from here if you came by dolphin?" She felt testy, dirty, and out of sorts.

"I've stolen a boat," Christopher declared like a hero.

Fioretta countered, "Did you also steal a map and compass? What about food and water?" Fear began to gnaw at her throat. What would be the point of escaping the pirates only to be lost at sea?

Christopher answered, "I always carry a map and compass with me—it makes me too nervous to think of being stranded anywhere on the seas. The boat was already loaded with food and water when I stole it."

It took the little company about three exhausting hours to make it through the jungle trails to the other side of the island where Christopher had stowed away the boat. It was hardly the kind of vessel one would want for traveling the ocean. It had a little cabin, but it was not much bigger than a good sized rowboat. Fioretta wondered if they could make it anywhere.

He had just gotten all the young ladies into the tiny craft when Laura screamed. All their heads turned to see the group of five pirates with drawn swords coming at them from down the beach, Captain Matthew at their head.