6 Recklessness

After her arrival this year, Sam began to realize that some things had changed in the Palace. One change was the coming of Edgar. She had long lost a lot of her fans to Edgar the great, as she now mockingly called him in her thoughts. Her sister too had stopped spoiling her. Her father discussed important matters with him. All this thoroughly annoyed her.

Never before had she felt so left out in all her life. What would happen when he becomes king, what would her position be? It was the first time that she actually began considering her future, something she had avoided for long. Now that she tried to look into the fate that awaited her, she shuddered. Was she going to be a pirate for life?

The second change in the Palace, she could not make out what it was. Something was definitely off. Sam thought hard and tried to connect the pieces together. Fewer dishes on the table, fewer servants cleaning the Palace, fewer new dresses on her sister. Was it always this way?

She also remembered noticing that there were many shut down shops in the capital, and fewer goods to sell in the remaining shops.

Sam got up from the lakeside where she was thinking all this and quickly made her way to the chamber of commerce. The minister in charge was summoned. The numbers were checked.

"Why is there a reduction in trade between the capital and the rest of the country?"Sam asked the minister.

"Your highness some of the trade routes have shut down".

"And why is that?"

"Prince Edgar already knows."

"It doesn't matter. I must know now!"Sam tried not to show her anger. On one side she was angry that she was seen as useless, on the other side guilt consumed her

regarding her ignorance.

"The rebels have gained strength in the west. They have shut down the principal trade route to the capital, attacking merchants and such."The minister replied after some hesitation.

"So a bunch of thieves has taken over the trade route?" Sam laughed.

"And why would Prince Edgar not take action?" She asked.

"Because his majesty the Prince is not in charge of the defense and war affairs yet."

Sam smiled. Finally, there was something where she could prove herself. The idea excited her. Fighting was her forte after all.

She immediately contacted the general and collected a bunch of soldiers.

They immediately set out to the far end of the capital to the Degarthy forest which was the main area where the thieves were concentrated. When the news reached King Korbe, he was worried. A bunch of thieves was nothing to Sam, but they weren't just any bunch of thieves. They were organized rebels! Nothing like the indisciplined pirates she fought at sea.

Prince Edgar could read his majesty's thoughts.

He stood up and said, "If your majesty would grant me permission,.."

"Permission granted."King Korbe replied with a grim expression on his face.