The World of Rhune

Hannah walked along the dock, her long hair blowing in the wind coming of the sea. Her amber eyes scanned the small fleet of five schooners. Hannah was a little disappointed she wouldn't be able to take her own ship, something she commonly raced with and was often found in during the summers. She was quite good at the races actually, ranking fourth in the national races, one rank ahead of Amir. "Why aren't we taking our own ships?" Hannah asked, slightly annoyed at the fact. "I'm guessing it's because mother thought it would be rude to take them to Andato, and they are exactly fitted for tempests, their racing boats not traveling boats" Hannah nodded ruefully, "I guess that makes sense. At least we each get to captain our own ships." She brightened considerably at this thought. Amir chuckled, "Well we still will be under a certified captain of course." "Damn," Hannah muttered under her breath. "Don't worry I'm sure no certified captain would mess with you." Hannah rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the grin the followed. She playfully punched her brother and said," Let's go check out these boats, they better be in order." "Don't forget about the crew," Amir teased. "Well, duh, if they aren't absolutely stunning crews they better be ready for a mouthful." "Well we all know the horror of your mouthfuls," Amir grinned, but there was quite a bit of truth to that. He doubted anyone else in the country knew, and used quite so easily, the language Hannah had picked up from who knows where.

They shoved each other as they made it to the ramp of the schooner Hannah would be commanding. Hannah held her chin high, something that seemed to be a key trait picked up from her mother. Amir did not have this but seemed to command his own kind of power, people tended to gravitate towards him. The crew was in a line across the deck, a sum of twenty sailors, the majority well seasoned sailors. The crew saluted the two royals in the common way of Cancri, the right hand little finger tucked behind the thumb and the other three extended fully over the heart. The two saluted back and Hannah dismissed the crew.

"What happened to your mouthful for them?" Amir hid his grin as he asked. "They seemed pretty okay to me," Hannah muttered. "All talk, are you?" Amir teased. "You know that's not true, better than anyone I would think," She stuck her tongue out at him. He chuckled, "Whatever you say. I'm guessing we're casting off in the next five minutes or so, I better get over to my ship. Don't want to be late, besides we'll be docking at Andato in three days, two with good speed." "Then I'll be aiming for two, you better hope you can keep up," Hannah taunted him. "We'll see," And with that Amir left the boat.

Hannah sighed and when she turned there was a boy at her side. He was standing at salute and Hannah was a little bewildered to see him there. "Um, you don't need to salute, is there something I can get you?" A lopsided grin spread over his face, but it was obvious he was trying to hide it, "No ma'am, I'm here to serve you in any of your needs." "Oh, right, well no need to be serious," Hannah said. She looked closer at the boy. He looked to be about Amir's age, eighteen, a year older than herself, and he was uncommonly close to Amir's height. However, he didn't have quite the same build, Amir was athletically built, lean and thin, there was no doubt this boy was this, but we was more firmly muscled. His hair hung over his ears, but not quite as long as Amir's, a slight wave in it from the salt of the ocean. His eyes were a blue that matched the ocean around them, and the depth seemed to even go deeper than that same ocean. His skin was traditional tanned shade of their country, may even a little darker from being out on the sea. "Hmm, what is your name?" Hannah asked. "Jasiri, fearless you know. Wait was that to not serious, ma'am?" Hannah laughed lightly, "No not, not to serious, it was fine," Hannah thought for a second, "I'm Hannah." "Of course you're Princess Hannah,' Jasiri gave a little cough and then added, "Ma'am." Hannah rolled her eyes at him, "I'm just Hannah to you." "Alright just Hannah, is there anything you need?" "Ha ha," Hannah said with dripping sarcasm, "that's a new one."

Hannah turned away from Jasiri, eyes scanning the deck, "Well, you could show me to my quarters." "Of course, just Hannah, right this way," He said as he strode to the end of the deck where a small door led below decks. He led her to the room at the center most end of the hallway, where you would feel the sea the least. Hannah stepped into the room, no doubt the largest on the boat, and it was probably about ten feet by eleven feet. It was sparsely furnished, with a small bed, accompanied by a nightstand with a few drawers, and on the other side a wooden desk with a matching wooden chair. "Home sweet home," Hannah said with a grin, obviously pleased with the new prospects of her room. "Yeah, so is there anything you would like now, Hannah?" Jasiri seemed to like using her name, Hannah noticed, she guessed just the fact the most people had to address her with her royal title. "Actually there is something I'd like to know. Why are you serving me?" Hannah was honestly curios, usually younger boys of about eight or nine worked as cabin boys. Jasiri seemed to understand what she meant, "Oh, I'm not serving you the entire trip. I'm a Rigger, I'm only here because the cabin boy is further entertained at the moment." Hannah raised her eyebrows and Jasiri wiggled his. Hannah rolled her eyes but couldn't help but grin. "Well I guess that makes sense, I was thinking you are little old to be a cabin boy." Jasiri scoffed, "I'm embarrassed that you would even consider me a cabin boy." "Alright, Jasiri, whatever," Hannah said, going to sit on her bed.

Jasiri leaned himself in the door entry way, obviously more relaxed now. "So, you're going to hang out with the Prince, is that right?" His voice was teasing and Hannah decided it might be better if she showed him that he shouldn't be too at ease. "What I or the Prince does is none of your business," She glared at him through her amber eyes and raised her chin in defiance. "Sorry, I didn't - I mean of course it's not - I shouldn't of," He stumbled. Another sailor came walking down the hall and without even pausing; he slapped Jasiri in the back of the head, "Stop flirting with the Princess, Jay." The sailor kept walking and called back to them, "You're just making a fool of yourself!"

Hannah was quite amused as the blood flooded Jasiri's cheeks, she grinned at him and cocked her eyebrows, taunting him. "Yeah, well I better go get the cabin boy, we should be casting off son," Jasiri mumbled as he quickly left. Once he was out of the room Hannah laughed really hard. She wouldn't make him feel bad, but she couldn't help it. Hannah looked around for her bags, she cursed lightly when she noticed her bags hadn't been brought on board yet. Her mother had forced her into a white summer dress, that hung to her knees. It was warm in the jungles but it would be a lot colder once they made out into sea, and it kept her from climbing in the rigging, something she was very fond of. She sighed and headed back to the top deck.

She scoured the deck with her eyes, until she saw just off the ramp what she was looking for. It was a bag of clothes, the rest of her bags where on another boat; she would be able to use them once she docked in Andato. She grabbed her bag and quickly made it back to her cabin, where she was surprised to see a little boy waiting there. He was only about seven, and he looked very dapper in his little uniform. "Well hello there," She smiled at the little boy. He looked extremely nervous as he said, "Hello, Princess. I'm Sammy, and I am your cabin boy." Hannah could tell just those to sentences had been rehearsed and guessed the boy was so uncomfortable because she was the Princess which he obviously knew. "Well thank you, Sammy, and you can call me Hannah." "Yes, ma'am," He said with a little more confidence. Hannah smiled when he still didn't use her name, but she didn't press him. "Alright Sammy, well I don't need you to get me anything, but I need a little privacy." She kneeled down to talk to him. He nodded, "Yes, ma'am." He left the room quickly, closing the door behind him. "I must look old with all these ma'ams I'm hearing."

She quickly got out of her dress and slipped into a pair of white, woolen breeches and a blue, long-sleeve tunic. She quickly braided back her hair, though it still hung down to her waist this way, and her bangs still hung just over her eyebrows and layered strands that wouldn't stay in the braid. With her hair this way someone would clearly be able to see the tattoo at the nape of her neck. A brightly colored quetzal bird in flight, Hannah's personal royal symbol. (Each person born into royalty of Cancri is given a symbol that has a meaning; the quetzal bird symbolizes beauty and freedom.) It was a tiny tattoo, being only a few inches each way, but was very intricately designed, similar to the detail put in her other four tattoos. These four were all golden and circled her ankles and wrists, these were simpler in design though, be made to look like bands. However these were all covered by her sleeves and boots she now pulled on.

As she left her cabin she nodded to Sammy, who stood by the door. The boy hurried to follow her and she shortened her stride so she could keep up better, "You don't need to follow me everywhere, Sammy. Go have fun." Sammy's face looked a little fallen, "Yes ma'am, just call if you need anything." He then scampered off to below decks, probably to hang out with the other cabin boys Hannah assumed. Hannah took in a deep breath of the salty air before reaching the rigging. As they prepared to shove off sailor climbed up and down, unfurling the sails. She quickly ascended the rigging, putting most of the crew to shame in their climbing ability. Then again, Hannah thought, she was well used to climbing the rigging from the summer adventures here, as well as the rainforest vines and slick trees she was so adept at scaling. She quickly reached the topmost of the rigging and hopped up onto the width of wood that surrounded the crow's nest, and looked out into the sea. "This is where I'm headed Finally, I get to go see the world," She murmured to herself. "Well most of us see the world on a weekly basis, you know."

Hannah jumped a little, nearly losing her footing, before turning to glare at Jasiri who was hanging single handedly to the rigging. "What are you doing?" Hannah questioned as she turned back to her view. "Just taking care of you," He said. "I don't need taking care of," Hannah muttered. "Well I agree with you there, but you better get used to me 'cause I'm going with you to see the world, Princess." "That's stupid, of course you're not," Hannah said turning to look at him, she searched for the joke on his face but he seemed pretty serious. "Well, Princess, actually I am. See, I volunteered to go on the ship you will be on for the world travel. Your parents felt the need to keep people loyal to Cancri on yours and your brother's ships. You could probably guess why, even though we have an alliance you are the heirs." Hannah said, "And they chose you. They care oh so much." Jasiri grinned, "Oww, offensive" Hannah rolled her eyes, "Well you're right about one thing, I better start getting used to you, Jay. Oh and what's with all the Princess's now, what happened to just Hannah?" Jasiri's face broke out into a broad smile, "I gave it some thought, and Princess seemed more fitting" Hannah just turned around, but after she heard him start to climb down she laughed a little, and she thought she heard someone chuckle below her. At least I'll have one friend.Sort of, Hannah thought to herself.