Princess Rosaleen looks intrigued and asks, “Please join us on the ship for dinner. I will send for your mother to join us.” Her words come off more as a demand than as a question.

The small boat that brought Princess Rosaleen, Izavelle and Soolena to the shore earlier has returned. The driver turns the boat off in the shallows and allows it to drift up onto the sand. We are trapped without a way out. We can’t run or hide, and besides at this point, I’m not even sure that this is a good princess or a bad one because we are so far removed from the Thresolon City and the happenings of the Palace.

Little is known about Princess Rosaleen. We know that she is young, but King Wolfrim hasn’t really brought her into the spotlight. She has a confidence to her and isn’t afraid to show it. My guess is that she isn’t much older than Saydira and probably has a suitor lined up for her at home. Why is she here? Why do I get the impression that there is more to this than a dinner? Something isn’t right, but all we can do for now is; go.

The small boat comes to a slow along the side of the ship. We climb a ladder to the main level. The crew who greeted us is left to store the boat. This ship is jaw-dropping. It is like a smaller version of a cruise ship or a massive yacht. It is so much wealth for one person. It is white and everything seems to be clean and new. Leather bound seating, huge spacious decks for lounging and servants. The inside is a spacious home, white carpets and lightly stained wood flooring, white leather couches and loungers and windows from floor to ceiling on both sides in the living room area. We don’t get a full tour of the ship, but from what I can see so far, our home fits into this ship at least ten times. We settle on the front deck at a more intimate table. A servant quietly approaches and asks, “Is there anything that I can assist you with?”

Rosaleen nods, her warm confidant eyes and a smile to match, “Yes, sangrias for all please and a couple of trays of assorted fruit.”

The servant nods with a rehearsed smile, “As you wish, my Princess.” He quietly departs.

Rosaleen starts the conversation, “Today, in the reef was amazing.” She turns, saying to my sisters and me, “I have never experienced anything quite as beautiful as what you have shown me today.”

Saydira answers with a kind, but a bashful expression, “Your welcome Princess”.

“So, what do you think?” When we glance at Rosaleen she glances around her; showing she is referring to her ship.

Ashlea says breathlessly, “It is something that we have never experienced. You do have a magnificent ship, and your servants are so kind.”

Rosaleen chuckles, “I guess that today is a day full of firsts for all of us.” She lifts her glass, “Cheers to that.” We all copy her, lifting our glasses and then sip our refreshing drinks.

Another servant, escorting my mother approaches the table and introduces her, “Princess, Nafeeza is here to visit.”

Rosaleen addresses the servant then my mother, “Thank you; please sit down;” and she gives one more request to the servant, “and before you leave a glass for Nafeeza as well.” The servant returns with the drink, and he disappears again.

My mother looks at my sisters and me with a bit of uneasiness. I can tell that she is wondering how much this princess knows of our family. Funny as it seems, my mother is the only one who is clothed at the table, wearing one of her new dresses made of a purple and rare Ashanthian silk that the princess offered in her trade. The dress drapes her body and ends at her knee. She looks regal. Mom makes a joke of it to break the silence. “Princess I love the fabric and this dress. Your tailor did a wonderful job, but I can’t help, but ask; should I undress?” Everyone looks to one another and laughs. We never dressed when the boat returned to take us to the ship.

Rosaleen says, “No, please wear your dress. Your daughters have taken us to visit the reef, and that detail escaped us. We never dressed afterward.”

Mother says to Saydira, Ashlea, and me, “How kind of you to show the princess the reef.” We all look at Mother and can see in her eyes, buried far down for only her daughters to sense, that she is now worried for us.

Princess Rosaleen replies, “They are very kind and welcoming. They have the same characteristic as you. It amazes me that no one from your family has been called to serve or has followed a loved one to the city. Your family is very intriguing to me, and I want to know more. Tell me your story.”

Mom and Saydira explain our life to the Princess, our home, our way of living, our likes, and dislikes. As the conversation continues, servants continue to bring out appetizers, the main dish, lamb, followed by desserts of sweets and chocolate. This has been the most delicious meal that I have ever had. We have eaten so much that we are all somewhat sluggish. There is still a hint of uncertainty that lies within Mother, my sisters and I, but the impression that I have is, that the princess seems to be better than bad and unconsciously I let my guard down.

Rosaleen concludes, “Shall we dress now and move inside?” We all follow Rosaleen’s lead.

Rosaleen instructs Izavelle and Soolena, “Soolena please see Nafeeza to the living room. Izavelle assists the girls and me and we will meet back in the living room when we are back, Soolena you can excuse yourself and dress and quietly return to us.” Soolena nods and escorts Mom to the living room. My sisters and I follow Izavelle and the Princess.

We are quickly washed down with soap and a damp cloth by Izavelle and sprayed with a perfume, and like Moms dress, we are clothed in what I assume to be Rosaleen’s beautiful dresses. Izavelle works her fingers and quickly fastens our hair into simple tied up hairstyles, and we are shown to the living room where Mother is already sitting on a white leather couch and sipping her drink. We sit with Mom on the couch and Rosaleen, Izavelle and Soolena sit across from us. The sun has just set and the sight of the sky through the large living room window is revealing a canvas of pinks and oranges.

Rosaleen starts the conversation, but this time her tone is more serious, she sips her drink, sets it down and speaks, “Even though I have known you all for a very short time, I find myself liking all of you in such a way that it feels that I have known you all forever. I think of myself as a good judge of character and find myself intrigued by the life that you lead. I am not stupid and know that neither are you. I know that you are worried, especially your mother.” My sisters and I glance at Mom whom is looking at the princess with worry. The princess continues, “You are worried that one day your family will be called upon to serve. It isn’t your daughters to blame for your family being discovered, it was the fate of me coming to see your pearls and fate in my curiosity to see where the pearls came from. I have a proposal that you should not take lightly,” Rosaleen takes another sip and sets her drink down. “I am a kind master, and you can clearly see from the way that I treat and provide for my servants. Give me two daughters Nafeeza; I will leave you one, so you are not alone. I promise that you will never receive a letter to serve.” Rosaleen pauses, staring down her nose for a second to let Mother process and continues, “They will remain and serve me, just as Izavelle and Soolena. They will be cared for and treated kindly and I will never trade them.” Rosaleen smiles with confidence then takes another sip from her glass and sets it down. “These daughters of yours are young and beautiful; they will never see or be subject to the violence that the ones who are called to serve normally see.”

Nafeeza knew that this was coming. She felt in every muscle of her body even before she boarded. Should she have lingered, or even worse, deny the Princess’s request, the letters would soon be received, and her girls could be hurt, or even worse, lost in a battle. Women normally aren’t called to fight, but they are called into dangerous situations to help soldiers, feed, clothe, care for, and be companions to them. I am holding my breath and the tears that are pooling in my eyes. I know this is the last time I will see Saydira and Mom.

Nafeeza speaks with a tremble in her voice, “I accept; Ashlea and Taylan are yours.” Her voice cracks a bit as she tries to hold herself together. The princess is clearly overjoyed that Mom has agreed.

Rosaleen commands, “Girls, hug your mom.” Ashlea and I wrap our arms around her. She is shaking.

Mom whispers to us, “You know that this is better than receiving a letter; don’t you?”

I whisper back to her while failing to hold back my tears, “Yes I know Mom, I will never blame you.”

“I love you both so much.” She kisses us on our foreheads and holds us tightly for another moment. Saydira comes from behind and hugs my sister and me as Mom continues to hold us.

Saydira whispers to us both, “Stay safe, obey your Princess. I love you, and I will take care of Mom. Keep us in your hearts.”

I whisper back to Saydira, “I will forever keep Mom and you in mine.”

This is our parting, and I never thought it would happen as suddenly as it has. Mom and Saydira are escorted to a small boat that drops them off on the shore. Ashlea and I are ordered to remain in the living room. We watch in the light of dusk, as Saydira and Mom are being dropped off on the shore. I can see that Saydira has her arm around Mom, guiding her up the path that leaves the shore into the forest. They are gone. I feel alone even though I have Ashlea. We are with people, who seem nice, but the truth is, we are no longer free, and we haven’t a clue what is expected of us.

The princess returns alone, she dismisses Izavelle and Soolena for the night. The princess quietly walks in and sits on the white leather couch she was sitting in earlier.

“Don’t be scared; be excited, this is the start of your new life.” Rosaleen calls to a servant, “Three more drinks, white wine please.” The servant quickly pours the drinks and hands them to us.

“Drink to your new life, cheers.” The princess raises her glass, and we reluctantly do the same and drink.

“Girls I have much to teach and show you before we return to the City. The good thing about both of you is you really haven’t a clue of what is going on in this world, and you will need to be taught and trained before our return. Don’t be sad in my presence. Come let’s go to sleep”.

Rosaleen leads us down a long straight hallway leading to double doors with crystal knobs. She opens them. We step down three steps into a spacious room. Her bed is at the end of the room, opposite to the doors, and its three steps up to her bed. Off to the right are two doors. One leading to a massive walk-in closet and the second door is a luxurious bathroom with a giant shower with multiple showerheads and a tub that can hold more than a few people at a time to bathe. The wall to the left is floor to ceiling windows; the windows are facing out towards the open water. It is dark now, and the sky is sparkling with the moon and stars.

“Come here my girls”, Rosaleen retrieves a couple of nightdresses. “Put these on.” Ashlea and I remove the dresses that were lent to us and put on the nightdresses. “You are sleeping with me tonight.”

Ashlea is hesitant and looks at me, and I shrug not understanding and say, “Princess, are we to share your bed?” I don’t bother to mask my confusion.

“Yes, into bed with me now,” Rosaleen orders us over. She steps up to her bed, draws back the silver-colored sheets, and climbs in. I climb in first followed by my sister. Rosaleen reaches over to her bedside table and touches a remote that turns off the lights. The bed is huge, and there is more than enough space for all of us. I settle down on my left side in the middle and it is the princess to my back, and she is snuggling up to me from behind and I am holding Ashlea in my arms.

“We have a busy day ahead of us, sleep” and just as Rosaleen has ordered, I close my eyes and dose off. I have too many questions, but one is why is this princess literally keeping us this close?