LITMIR.BIZ

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eavesdropped for another minute, but the conversation was disappointing.

      “They come from the sea! They are extremely dangerous! They could crush the whole kingdom! They want the princess! The best thing is to give her to them!”

      It’s definitely not about pirates. The pirates of the seas don’t yet have a fleet of their own to take over an entire country. They act in isolation. She knew, for she had watched their ships at sunset. The king and his advisers must be talking about some foreign conquerors. She was only surprised by the phrase “coming from the sea.” Would it not be more correct to say they came by sea or from across the sea. Otherwise, the meaning would be fantastic. What kind of creatures could come ashore from the depths of the sea?

      Probably the kind of creatures you saw in the mirage in the mirror, the memory reminded her. Immediately the cold voice of reason answered her. It was only a mirage. A mirage is something that does not exist.

      Would you like it to exist?

      Lilophea gripped the coral beads tighter in her hand. They were pleasantly cold on her fingers. They made her feel at ease.

      Morrin had been waiting for her on the gallery for a long time. There was a wonderful view of the sea. The privateer paced to and fro, an earring in his ear gleaming in the sun.

      “He is a beauty!” The peacock said. “We must go away with him.”

      “He didn’t invite us along,” Lilophea shushed the bird.

      “Good bye!” Seneschal corrected her. “Your job is to flirt with him to get us comfortable quarters on his vessel.”

      “What have I come to? The bird is telling me what to do.”

      “I’m not a bird, I’m your friend.”

      It is a pity that the feathered friend did not think of the fact that during the sea voyage the unguarded beauty could be captured and sold into slavery. And along with her in captivity will be her bird. She must ask Seneschal if he has been in a cage before.

      Right now Lilophea was more interested in looking in the mirror. There was one framed in brass in the gallery between the columns, but Morrin was standing in the doorway to it. He had tanned himself on his voyages and was so handsome that she wished she had worn a dress and tiara to meet him. Since when had Morrin become so fond of her that she wanted to dress up for him? Could it be Seneschal had cast a spell on her? He decided to bewitch her to someone who had a ship at his disposal. What absurd thoughts were going through her head?

      It was quiet everywhere, except for the distant lapping of the waves. Lilophea could even hear her skirts rustling. Azure with white lace, they themselves looked like waves. Morrin liked to jokingly remark that the blue hue of the morning sea was the princess’ favorite color. It probably was. Lilophea didn’t think much about what shade of fabric to choose. But seamstresses also noted that the color of the sea wave was her favorite. So be it. The sea is beautiful. It’s all right if her outfit resembles the sea.

      “Your Highness!” The privateer gave her a bow that many courtiers would not have dared. Where did he learn his gallantry? Does he have a teacher of etiquette at sea? Is it any kind of newt? Lilophea wanted to make a joke on the subject and suddenly felt the salty taste of blood in her mouth. How did it happen that she bit her tongue? And from the waves in the distance, quiet singing voices sounded as if they were coming:

      “Do not divulge our secrets!”

      Lilophea looked back at the waves lapping on the shore.

      In the presence of the privateer, Seneschal was busily silent. He was probably afraid that Morrin might want to kidnap the talking bird and sell it at a profit.

      “His name is Seneschal and he is my best friend,” the princess announced, but the peacock did not make a sound. As if he was full of water in his mouth. How cleverly he suddenly turned from a chatterbox to a reticent!

      “It is a magnificent bird,” praised Morrin. “It is blue! They’re rare here.”

      He’d acquired an amusing hat with many colorful feathers. He wondered what bird’s tail they’d been plucked from. Of course, Seneschal hesitated at the sight of the feathers, and wondered if he should ever speak to their owner.

      “I have a favor to ask of you.”

      “I am at your service.”

      And she was afraid to even breathe a word of what she wanted to ask. The sea reeked of cold. It suddenly seemed dangerous. She wondered if she should ask about the creatures that supposedly lived in its depths. Lilophea bit her lip for a moment and then said something different from what she wanted to say.

      “You don’t know who Father is afraid of. I heard him talking to his advisers about those who come from the sea. It is strange, really.”

      “Well, if you mean the island savages. But it’s hard for them to get here, even in junks.”

      “Ask somebody, though. You know a lot of people in the port. I don’t know anyone. And you sail the seas, you talk to other captains. Yes, and in the sea itself you might notice something.”

      Lilophea stammered. You have to give him a few compliments to flatter him. Then he would do her errands more willingly. A little flattery never hurt. Morrin must understand that he was the best privateer that came to court and that was why she was turning to him. The real reason was that he happened to be the youngest, and he was the easiest person for her to get along with. Well, he’s better off not knowing that. The main thing was to praise him as a navigator.

      Her compliments flattered the young man. He even began to tell the princess about his activities and plans for the future.

      “I want to be not just a sailor, but a discoverer. I want to find a luxurious deserted island with tropical forests, waterfalls, mountains, in which the ancient gods are carved, and make a new state out of it.”

      “And…”

      “If I found such an island, would you be my queen?”

      Did she hear him right? The rascal is proposing to her. But you have to admit he’s a charming rascal.

      “Have you found it?”

      “I have one in mind, but the magic that dwells there interferes.”

      “Is it magic?”

      He nodded.

      “Is it real?”

      He nodded again.

      “Well, there are also all kinds of crooks, swindlers who pretend to be fortune-tellers, soothsayers, and fortune-tellers.”

      “Or they are royal wizards.” He nodded slyly at the passing barnacle, so busy calculating that he hadn’t even noticed the strange pair, the princess and the privateer.

      “Well, yes,” Lilophea looked behind the old man in the blue, silver star-embroidered robes and pointy toed cap. There were several in the court. They all scattered strange chips, looked through spyglasses at the night sky, drew whole maps of different symbols and numbers, but no one could truly predict the future.

      “Will there be a harem on your island state?” She asked Morrin, as if in passing.

      “That depends on you.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “It will be my kingdom, so I will make the rules. I confess I have a liking for Oriental customs, and would have had a harem, but that was before I had a woman in mind who I thought would be worth more to me than a harem on her own.”

      “Does my father know of your ambitious plans yet?”

      “Not yet,” Morrin looked cautiously around. “Better not to tell him just yet.”

      “It seems you plan to keep your little island nation independent

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