I know that Kieji thinks this is crazy, and maybe it is, but I don't want to go to that academy. I have spent my whole life trying to be the person my mother wants me to be, but I just can't do it. I know that if I told her I was leaving on Kieji's ship instead of my own, she would call the guards and a battle would happen, and I do not want to risk Kieji getting into trouble. He tried to convince me that it was not a good idea, but I think that it's brilliant! My mother will think that i'm at the academy for the next three years, and the academy wont know of my existence there because ill swipe the records. I am so excited! The carriage comes to a halt at the edge of the port, my mother will say her goodbyes here because she does not want to mingle with the port workers. I look at the ships along the harbour and spot the one with the academy's flag on it, a white dove perched on red ruby. Turning towards my mother I take her hand in mine. I feel a twinge of ache in my heart, I have never left her before and I felt terrible for lying, but this is my life and I am going to live it my way. Besides, I'll come back in three years time. We said our silent goodbyes as custom and I walked towards the boat, my luggage was already brought on board earlier, which must have been quite light for there was only a few things in them. My real luggage was loaded in crates on the Akivirian ship. When I approached the ramp I looked at Kieji's sprawn being carried up the ramp of his boat. I gave a subtle nod so that he knew I was still going through with the plan.
In order for my plan to work I had to be quick. I stood on the edge of the boat with the other young women and waved at my mother on the port. I saw her graceful gloved hand waving back at me.
"Makes you feel like they love you, doesn't it?" To my right a girl of my age was standing there gaily waving to her family. She had blonde curls that were on pills ontop of her head, and she wore a blue and white, sailor style, travelling gown that was fitted to her frame. Her skin looked as soft as velvet and was the color of milk.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"They give the illusion that they love you, but they just want to get rid of you as fast as they can. Don't want to do any of the work, so they just ship us off to boarding schools and academy's."
I thought on that for a moment. Then the ship was starting to lift off, everyone was still waving, I waited till we got far enough that no one on the port would recognize faces. I slid out from the railing and walked towards the captains office trying not to bring any attention to myself. Wearing a light travelling gown I made no sound. I chose this dress because it is light and and the tan color was not eye catching in the least. I flattened my back at the edge of the door frame going into the captians office and discreetly poked my head through. Keeping my head slightly down so that my wide brimmed hat covered my eyes I walked into the room.
"What can I do for you young lade?" The captain looked to be in his early thirties, he has a pleasant smile and seems to be willing to do anything for anyone, which was a good thing for me.
I pitched my voice a little higher than usually and put on a performance of a shy timid young girl.
"Some crew men on the deck were calling me funny names." I added a little sobbing sound, "One of the nicer ones told me to come and get you so that you can put them right."
He stood from his desk and walked towards me with a concering look.
"Would you like to come with me so that they can appologize to you?"
"No...no thank you sir, I think I will just stay down here for now." I shuffled my feet making it seem like he was making me uncomfortable, which judging my character he didn't like.
"I will go right away miss!" and with that he hurried out the door. I quickly ran over to his desk forI had very little time. Luckily he was checking off names on the list of girls going to the academy. I ran my finger down the list of names till I found my own. then using the ink quill I put a line into it and a note saying that I was not going and forged the captains signature below it. Since I was late on the application my name was added in last so I don't think that he will question it. I quietly walked out of the office and went back onto the deck. Kieji's ship was not far behind us, and with their ships being swifter than ours I had very little time left. I gave my hat to a servant girl peeling potatoes over the side of the boat, she was surpirsed and gave me a huge smile. She probably hasn't held anything so fine in her life. I quickly made my way around the edge of the boat to the front. I looked up towards the upper deck to make sure no one was looking. no one there. I had to be infront of Kieji's boat to guarntee me getting on without getting hurt. I was just starting to climb the railing when I heard her.
"What is vanes name are you doing?!"
I turned to see the girl who had talked to me when we set off. I didn't know what to say.
"I...ah.." I stammerd.
"You are not seriously going to kill yourself are you?"
"of course not!!" that was a mistake.
Her face lit up in ackowledgement. "Your running away on that ship arn't you?" she pointed to Kieji's fast approaching ship. I could see Kieji on the dock ready to help me when I needed it. I needed it now, but he could do nothing. I couldn't think of what to do with this girl.
"I'm coming with you," She started to walk towards me.
"You can't" I didnt know how else to stop her, so I swung my fist and hit her in the side of the head, positioning my hit so that it would seem as if she fell and hit her head on the railing. I caught her before her body fell tot he ground and gently placed her by the railing. She was out cold. I felt bad but I couldn't bring her along, we never would have made it, especially her in that heavy gown. I heard voices and Kieji's ship was parrell with mine.
"Oh no!" I gasped. Without thinking about how I was goign to get on with Kieji being at the front I dove off the railing into the water. Swimming under the water I took a diagnol path to put me closer to the middle of the ship rather than the end. Usint alteration I alterned my body to be slightly lighter than the water so that I could swim faster. I kept swimming along the ship, struggling to keep up with it. I had to wait till I was out of immediate view of thet academy's ship. My arms and legs were screaming in protest and I could feel a cramp coming into my right leg. I had to get onto the ship. I altered my body weight to be lighter than water and quickly picked myself up and ran across the water. Kieji had a rope haning on the side for me to grab hold of. I jumped as far as I could up the rope and grabbed hold. My arms were tired from the swimming so it took everything I had to start hauling myself up the rope. I was luck that keiji had everyone from the crew on the other side of the ship, saying that he wanted to be in peace for awhile, and I am so happy that princes have that kind of power. Finally I was at the railing of the ship. With the rest of my strength I flung my body over the side. I was soaked, so when my feet hit the boards I slipped, and everything went black.
In order for my plan to work I had to be quick. I stood on the edge of the boat with the other young women and waved at my mother on the port. I saw her graceful gloved hand waving back at me.
"Makes you feel like they love you, doesn't it?" To my right a girl of my age was standing there gaily waving to her family. She had blonde curls that were on pills ontop of her head, and she wore a blue and white, sailor style, travelling gown that was fitted to her frame. Her skin looked as soft as velvet and was the color of milk.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"They give the illusion that they love you, but they just want to get rid of you as fast as they can. Don't want to do any of the work, so they just ship us off to boarding schools and academy's."
I thought on that for a moment. Then the ship was starting to lift off, everyone was still waving, I waited till we got far enough that no one on the port would recognize faces. I slid out from the railing and walked towards the captains office trying not to bring any attention to myself. Wearing a light travelling gown I made no sound. I chose this dress because it is light and and the tan color was not eye catching in the least. I flattened my back at the edge of the door frame going into the captians office and discreetly poked my head through. Keeping my head slightly down so that my wide brimmed hat covered my eyes I walked into the room.
"What can I do for you young lade?" The captain looked to be in his early thirties, he has a pleasant smile and seems to be willing to do anything for anyone, which was a good thing for me.
I pitched my voice a little higher than usually and put on a performance of a shy timid young girl.
"Some crew men on the deck were calling me funny names." I added a little sobbing sound, "One of the nicer ones told me to come and get you so that you can put them right."
He stood from his desk and walked towards me with a concering look.
"Would you like to come with me so that they can appologize to you?"
"No...no thank you sir, I think I will just stay down here for now." I shuffled my feet making it seem like he was making me uncomfortable, which judging my character he didn't like.
"I will go right away miss!" and with that he hurried out the door. I quickly ran over to his desk forI had very little time. Luckily he was checking off names on the list of girls going to the academy. I ran my finger down the list of names till I found my own. then using the ink quill I put a line into it and a note saying that I was not going and forged the captains signature below it. Since I was late on the application my name was added in last so I don't think that he will question it. I quietly walked out of the office and went back onto the deck. Kieji's ship was not far behind us, and with their ships being swifter than ours I had very little time left. I gave my hat to a servant girl peeling potatoes over the side of the boat, she was surpirsed and gave me a huge smile. She probably hasn't held anything so fine in her life. I quickly made my way around the edge of the boat to the front. I looked up towards the upper deck to make sure no one was looking. no one there. I had to be infront of Kieji's boat to guarntee me getting on without getting hurt. I was just starting to climb the railing when I heard her.
"What is vanes name are you doing?!"
I turned to see the girl who had talked to me when we set off. I didn't know what to say.
"I...ah.." I stammerd.
"You are not seriously going to kill yourself are you?"
"of course not!!" that was a mistake.
Her face lit up in ackowledgement. "Your running away on that ship arn't you?" she pointed to Kieji's fast approaching ship. I could see Kieji on the dock ready to help me when I needed it. I needed it now, but he could do nothing. I couldn't think of what to do with this girl.
"I'm coming with you," She started to walk towards me.
"You can't" I didnt know how else to stop her, so I swung my fist and hit her in the side of the head, positioning my hit so that it would seem as if she fell and hit her head on the railing. I caught her before her body fell tot he ground and gently placed her by the railing. She was out cold. I felt bad but I couldn't bring her along, we never would have made it, especially her in that heavy gown. I heard voices and Kieji's ship was parrell with mine.
"Oh no!" I gasped. Without thinking about how I was goign to get on with Kieji being at the front I dove off the railing into the water. Swimming under the water I took a diagnol path to put me closer to the middle of the ship rather than the end. Usint alteration I alterned my body to be slightly lighter than the water so that I could swim faster. I kept swimming along the ship, struggling to keep up with it. I had to wait till I was out of immediate view of thet academy's ship. My arms and legs were screaming in protest and I could feel a cramp coming into my right leg. I had to get onto the ship. I altered my body weight to be lighter than water and quickly picked myself up and ran across the water. Kieji had a rope haning on the side for me to grab hold of. I jumped as far as I could up the rope and grabbed hold. My arms were tired from the swimming so it took everything I had to start hauling myself up the rope. I was luck that keiji had everyone from the crew on the other side of the ship, saying that he wanted to be in peace for awhile, and I am so happy that princes have that kind of power. Finally I was at the railing of the ship. With the rest of my strength I flung my body over the side. I was soaked, so when my feet hit the boards I slipped, and everything went black.
