The man stared at the boy with eyes of dramatic flair. He did not have much option left, this he knew well, and so he groaned, he groaned and pursed out the bag hanging from the side of his waist and held it out nervously. His lips donned a clumsy, crooked smile geared towards the bitter and chaffed sailors.

“Ah, aye, let us not act like this, what do you say?  Why not calm down first, how does that sound? My mas… I mean the little boy, he’s just lost his temper. That’s all. No need to get jumpy. How about this. Take this bag as a token of my apology,” laughing nervously, he belched forward and stuck his hand out.

The sailors, all with a grim and ghastly countenance immediately brightened at the sound of coins jingling inside the bulky bag. One sailor immediately snagged the bag from the man.

“Aye, I agree, mate. We can settle this like real men,” said one of the sailors. “You gotta learn to discipline that boy, my friend, else he’ll die of early death.”

“Ha-ha, yes…” the man laughed apprehensively.

The sailor looked over his shoulder and stared at his mates.

“We’re not angry, are we?” he said.

“No, ‘course not! I was just out here wonderin’ if the little boy’d lost his mind,” said one sailor. “All’s good. We good here.”

The rest agreed, nodding their head vigorously. At one point someone suggested they head to the bar for a drink and they did; later they were found drunk as a fiddler.

Only the man and boy was left in the dock.

The man wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and looked at the boy gazing at the blue sea. “Your Majesty, what is happening? I’m confused as a bee without nectar! Pray tell me what is going on, Your Majesty.”

Without warning, the young king slammed his door open at dawn a few days ago –– told him to dress up and get ready. Fast. Then they jumped on the horse and immediately galloped straight south. Didn’t even get no explanation.

They’d been on the road without sleep and food for a few days and the man was heavily famished. He requested the young king for a short rest. Said the horse needed rest else they’d die from overworking themselves.

The young king nodded at his assessment and at last they took a break.

The man smiled, relieved.

Thereafter, they entered a nearby inn and hurriedly eat as they listened to the conversation between two commoners.

“Aye, d’ya hear what’s happening in the mansion?”

“Ya talkin’ ‘bout Count Alessin, right?”

“Ya, that one.”

“Ya. So I heard his wife died recently. Heard he left the funeral early. Didn’t even bother to see his wife buried. Heard he had an illegitimate child from a love affair too. Soon as his wife died he brought that child to his home, but his legal daughter kicked him an’ the bastard child out like it was nothin’.”

“Huh. How’d that happen?”

“The legal daughter didn’t want no child from another woman in the mansion.”

“Wait, how’s that possible? Why would the Count with a title get kicked out o’ his own house an’ by his own daughter?”

“Heard the late Countess was o’ noble royal blood. Her property was the dowry for marriage. It was signed in the contract that should she die, her heir would be her child. Guess the Count had no right to his wife’s properties. A load of bullocks I tell ya.”

“God, can’t believe he’d get kicked out by his own daughter. What an embarrassment!”

“Know what though, the Count’s got a headstrong daughter. He won’t hafta worry ‘bout her future.”

“See, that’s why I can’t have no daughter. God, I can just imagine what ah’ll hafta deal with, but if I do end up getting one, best believe she’ll be an obedient, little girl. Can’t have a child runnin’ loose like that. Not in mah’ house.”

The innkeeper’s wife, she’d been stirring the pot as the two men raved on the latest scandal.

“What’s wrong with you?” she said irritably. “What kind of a father brings home a bastard child from another woman soon as his wife dies? That sure tells a lot the kind of man he is! A stinkin’ bastard, that’s what!”

“What a load o’ bullish nonsense is you speakin’, you ignorant woman! If the Countess had done her job properly, he wouldn’t needa go out findin’ someone else to fulfill his desires! He’d stay faithful! Hah! Bet the Countess’ a fish in the bed!”

“What? Oh, so this is the woman’s fault? What rotten values have ya got in that fart brain of yours?! Aiish, you don’t deserve my food! Spit ‘em all out, you damn bastards!”

* * *