1st 5 Pages March Workshop - Savage Rev 1

Name: Amelia Savage

Genre: Young Adult, fantasy romance
Title: Sea of Betrayal

Chapter One

“What a horrid smell!” Annabelle’s mother covered her dainty nose with one hand. “I don't understand how your father tolerates this. And now your brother…”

Annabelle welcomed the ocean air. The breeze whipped her long golden hair, and she struggled to keep the strands from her face. Her leather boots sunk into the sand as she followed her mother to the public market. She insisted to take the long detour by the beach, knowing her mother would prefer sand over mud.

Shouts of merchants unloading their crates muffled her mom’s complaints. Annabelle focused on the sound of the waves crashing against the wooden posts supporting the dock instead.
 Sweat and dampness provided the ideal environment to all the flies gathered around the stalls. The port was busy, like every Friday morning, but unlike her mother’s elegant clothing, Annabelle’s simple blouse and pants blended in well with the crowd.

“And as if I didn’t have enough on my mind, I must handle myself what those incapable servants are paid for. Let’s get this over with. The wharves are no place for ladies,” her mother
 continued in her usual haughty tone.

Annabelle rolled her eyes. Her behavior never met her mother’s expectations but lately, things have gotten infinitely worse. She somehow got the crazy idea that finding her daughter a suitable husband would transform her into someone less wayward. These were her mother’s exact words. Complete nonsense.

“So if you really want me to be the perfect proper lady, it doesn’t serve you well to bring me here with you, Mother,” she snapped.

Annabelle shouldn’t have said this as she preferred being outside rather than home. Especially when her mother was all in her ‘reception prep mode’.

As they headed to the oysters merchant’s stall, her mother added: “I need you here with me because you know how to talk to these people.”

These people were the reason she had food on the table and clothes on her back. Her mother shouldn’t misprize them because they worked to get those things. As First Lady, she should help them and try to find a way to make the community better instead.

Annabelle could have replied but it was no use. A heavy silence grew between them as they walked toward their destination.

“Thief!”

She turned to the sound. Women cried as a stocky hooded man bolted through the crowd. Annabelle dropped her satchel and ran after him.

“Annabelle!”     

Ignoring her mother’s scream, she kept running, dodging barrels, boxes, and people staring at her, their eyes wide. The robber was fast, but she was faster. Robberies happened more often in Narrow Bay, Hastenia’s Capital and if the guards weren’t able to do their job she had to try. She had weaved and dodged through the haphazard stalls a hundred times before chasing her brother. This was not so different.

The thief turned his head and pulled a stack of lobster cages behind him. Annabelle jumped to avoid them. Everyone jerked aside to let her pass.

She got close enough to grab his jacket, making him stumble and fall. Struggling to stand, his eyes widened as if he had just realized who had chased him. She punched his snub nose before he had time to react. Her fist hurt but she tried not to let it show, reminding herself to check it later.

“This doesn’t belong to you.” Annabelle yanked the pouch from his hands.

Alerted by the commotion, two officers approached, their pistol raised. Their green uniforms were pristine, probably because they had been doing nothing all day. A forced smile formed on Annabelle's face and she bowed before handing the pouch to them. Then she headed back to her mother.

Indignation blazed in her eyes. “Annabelle, you should have let the patrol apprehend him.” Her mother scowled as she examined Annabelle’s tan pants, now covered in dirt.

“Mother, if I hadn’t helped, the thief would still be—”

“That is not your problem.”

Annabelle sighed, letting the waves splash bursts of cool water on her heated skin. She stared at the sea. A three-masted man-of-war appeared in the distance and all her tension released at once. Her father would be back tonight. He was the only one able to prevent her mother from controlling her life and she hoped to be able to convince him to let her sail away with him.

“Don’t wait for me, I’ll stick around here a little while longer.”

Her mother turned to the sea and nodded. “Don’t stay too long. You must not be late for your dinner date with Arthur tonight, remember?”

Even if she wanted to forget, her mother was a talking calendar.


Chapter Two

Noah could see the coast as he leaned against the guardrail. Familiar shapes in the distance slowly turned into hills and houses. They would arrive soon. This new promotion was tiring but worth it. He never planned to get higher in ranks but if Governor Heatley was pleased with his hard work, then Noah was.

Patches of orange and red stood out among the dense green barrier on the horizon. It meant in a few weeks, they would put the Mystical in drydock. He would miss the gentle rocking of the ship and the sound of the waves splashing against the hull. But storm season awaited. He would rest then.

“Lieutenant Jensen.” Governor Heatley’s voice was calm but firm.

Crap.

Noah straightened and saluted the country leader. “Sir?”

“In my office. Now.”

By the serious tone he used, it meant nothing good. And Noah who thought times were getting easier. What a fool. He followed the governor to his quarters, acknowledging the other officers he passed. They seemed relieved they weren’t the ones being summoned.

The old man entered his office, which also served as a private cabin, and headed to his big mahogany desk. “Close the door.”

The light coming from the multiple stained glasses windows added warmth to the austere furniture. Noah did as ordered and straightened even more, making his whole body on edge. Inhaling the deep scent of salt and wood, he felt at home. He shouldn’t.

To calm his nerves, he looked over the governor’s shoulder, examining the spines on the shelf against the cabin wall. Volumes he had read a dozen times. Noah couldn’t stare at the leader’s eyes. Bright hazel eyes he knew too well as they were the same as Anna.

Governor Heatley sat and waited for Noah to do the same. “I want to thank you for your loyalty.”

This was unexpected.

“It’s an honor to work under your command, Sir. I’m just doing my job. I’m grateful for the new title and responsibilities.”

The governor smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You worked hard and deserve to rest, but I need you on my next mission. Trusted circle only…”

Another trip. Another chance to be out at sea. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“Of course, Sir, anything—”

“In South Islands.”

Noah’s heart constricted.

South Islands. The only place the governor forbade him to return after ‘the accident’. And Noah was perfectly fine with this decision. He even forgot this place existed when he buried those terrible memories. He wasn’t ready to travel to his old homeland. Never imagined he would have to go back there somehow.