Part of Your World (Twisted Tales)(72)
“Oh, joy,” Ariel said grimly. “Excuse me, sister; duty calls.”
“Of course it does,” Attina said with a sigh, still chewing on a leaf. “Hey! If you do see Eric again, have him grab us some more apples, will you?”
“But when will my ships be done and ready to launch?”
It was getting harder and harder to pretend that the summer cold that had taken her voice was still hanging on, especially since she didn’t act like the rest of the ridiculous, simpering ladies of the court did when they had ague or anxieties or chills or whatever else they complained of. Ursula continued to stomp up and down the castle corridors, and she ate like a champion.
But right then she didn’t even care about her voice; she slammed her fists down on the table and bared her teeth at the broad-chested older man standing before her.
The fleet admiral regarded her with icy black eyes.
“We have employed every qualified shipwright in the kingdom, My Princess—and quite a few unskilled manual laborers. The shipyards are at capacity. If we had scaled this up properly, we would have built a second shipyard beforehand. You’re asking for a battle-ready fleet to be amassed in almost no time, out of thin air. Give us more space and another month and you will have one of the finest armadas on the continent.”
“In a week, if I wanted to, I could…set certain things in motion that would allow me to no longer require a month, or your pesky ships, or even you,” Ursula growled. “A month is too late. For your own health, if nothing else, get those ships on the sea and loaded with explosives, now.”
Anyone else would have looked uncomfortable at the order, but rarely did any emotion pass over the dark skin stretched tightly over the bones in the admiral’s face.
“I don’t care if you’re actually a witch,” he finally said. “I don’t care if you believe the moon gives you special powers or if you can control the seas. But neither spiritualism nor cetaceamancy nor threats to my person will make these ships ready any faster, unless you have the power to conjure a hundred more men and another dock. If all goes well we will launch and begin our assault on the Verdant Coast by the end of the summer.”
“Who said anything about attacking the coast?” Ursula demanded. “Forget about the stupid forts and towns for now. You have new orders, drawn out here. And you will get those ships done in two weeks, because I am your princess and that is your job.”
“Then it is not my job any longer,” the admiral said crisply, undoing the medal at his chest. He neatly—not viciously—threw it on her desk, where it landed with a thwap. Then he took off his blue tricorn hat and put it under his arm. “Good luck, Princess.”
He spun on his heel and marched off, every inch the military man.
Bother.
She had been really looking forward to wiping out the mer as soon as possible. It was like the best treat ever. It would still happen, of course—just later than she wanted. But she hated waiting around for things. Was it time to try the circuex?
No…things weren’t that bad. Yet. Just mildly annoying.
But ah, there is that other idea I had for getting to Ariel. It’s not as grand, but would keep me amused for a while, and give those pesky townsfolk something to think about besides their own worthless opinions on my military expeditions.
Eric came striding into the room a moment later. “Why is Admiral Tarbish in such a huff? I’ve never seen him like that!”
“He quit,” Vanessa said mildly, picking up the medal and examining it. The admiral’s move was unexpected, but not necessarily unwelcome. It was a definite opportunity, and surprisingly, conveniently done.
“QUIT?” Eric exploded. “Our fleet admiral just quit?”
“Yes, I’m afraid he lacks the confidence to amass our fleet of ships in a timely fashion. Never mind, I have the perfect replacement. Lord Savho very much likes the sea and has been looking for some way of…contributing…to our current military endeavors.”
“Savho has never captained a ship, much less led an invasion! Or an exploration! Or a trading mission! I doubt he’s ever been beyond the bay!” Eric swore, taking his cap off and throwing it on the ground in the most unprincely display of humors Ursula had seen yet. It was almost amusing.
“But he does have a lot of money, and he would be extremely loyal,” Vanessa said with a shrug. “I’m sure the first mate or whatever can bring him up to speed.”
Eric felt his anger collapse under exhaustion and the weight of it all. How did you get rid of a woman who, with no magic powers to speak of, managed to manipulate and twist the whole world around her finger?
Or tentacle, really.
“Listen to me,” he said wearily. “I don’t like you. I don’t love you. But I’m married to you, and you are, currently, the princess of Tirulia. And you are tearing Tirulia apart. I’m not going to let that happen. For now we are still Prince Eric and Princess Vanessa, and you have to stop communicating with my generals and admirals without me. Starting now.”
“Careful, Prince Eric,” she said, trying to sound calm—but a quaver crept into her voice. “What might have been yours at one time is now shared by us. Should anything happen to you—”
“Should anything happen to me?” Eric laughed dismissively. “I’m not Grimsby. I’m hearty as a horse and everyone loves me. There are many who do not love you. Including my parents, who are king and queen—or had you forgotten that? You’ve been lucky so far: they don’t like to get involved in the territories their children control. They believe we should be able to rule independently. But if something ‘unusual’ happened to me, you would be out in less than a day, possibly tarred and feathered, and my sister Divinia would take the castle. She never liked you anyway.”