Seabird

By Shawna Barnett

In this prequel to WINDFALL, Liana Foley begins a journey of self-discovery that turns a lost princess into a pirate captain.

After the king and queen of Caerwyn are killed in a coupe, their children escape to the Island colony of Madzetal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hansen House, LLC
• Release date: May 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735323985

Book preview

Prologue

My first memory is of lightning.

Then, strong arms, carrying me to a place I’d never been before but felt like home.

A skinny brown door. My brother. My new sister.

One voice strong and deep and burred. Another, musical and lilted like a lullaby.

I don’t remember my parents. I can’t recall the face of my mother. My brother says if I ever want to see her, I should just look in a mirror.

But how can I see a queen behind my own eyes?

Lightning illuminates my room, and thunder cracks the sky. I wake, gasping. Clawing out of bed, I yank the curtains closed, but it doesn’t help. I want to cry and scream and fall on the floor all at the same time.

My sister sleeps through it. I slip back in the bed, beside her. Each breath she takes tells me she’s safe, safe, safe. 

Lightning comes again, with rain slamming against the window. I squeeze my eyes shut before the rumbling comes, cover my ears and settle in for the long night. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a few hours of fitful sleep.

Chapter 1

Sweet Sister

3rd of Brydlfest, 1712

The Emporium

Madzetal

The Island Colonies of Caerwyn

Hurry up, Liana, called Nellie, tossing a cross look over her shoulder at me. She could move quickly when she wanted to, and I had made her late by lagging with my chores.

I made a rude gesture with my middle finger at her back. Nevertheless, I tried to keep up, knowing how important it was to her that we make it to the Emporium at one o’clock sharp. I wiped beads of perspiration off my neck. It was the worst time of day to be out. The heat proved terrible, and I wished instead that we would meet at the beach rather than the bustling marketplace.

Narrow side streets lead our way towards the harbor. I spotted a familiar tavern with a white door. Indigo flowers hung above the entrance. The swinging sign mingled amongst the blossoms read, The Blue Orchid. Clamoring noises echoed from inside.

We crossed into the flourishing marketplace. Native Islanders and Northern folk alike gathered in the Emporium, an open space with commercial buildings on all sides. Each had a unique color, varying from burnt red, bright yellow to bleached white. Shoppers, going this way and that, followed no sensible flow. Their voices, reminiscent of the chattering monkeys in the rainforest outside the city, overwhelmed my exhausted senses. Colorful patterns at the textile booths and shimmering jewels mined from the far side of Madzetal nearly blinded me. 

I avoided knocking shoulders with a boy my age. My legs awkwardly tangled together as I swerved, and I held Nellie’s arm to keep right. She shook me off absentmindedly and carried on.

I usually avoided the Emporium, especially at such busy hours, but Nellie absolutely loved it. She visited every day, even when shopping wasn’t necessary. Her friends often met her there in the afternoons. She flourished under the attention, while I usually withered.

I tried to keep close to Nellie but was momentarily distracted by a flutist carrying a happy tune. Noticing an empty basket at her feet, I shoved my hands into my apron, searching for a spare coin or two. Nellie carried all the money for the shopping today, but I had my own stash. Making eye contact with the flutist, I flipped a coin to her before scampering off. 

I lost sight of Nellie’s bouncing curls, sending me into a mild panic.

It wasn’t that I disliked being alone. I actually preferred it. I just disliked the idea of losing Nellie in the crowd. The Emporium was near the docks, where many seedy folks gathered—pirates and the like. Marin always told us to be careful when we were off on our own. Nellie could become absorbed in whatever social happenings caught her attention. She wasn’t always aware of the ill-intentions of others. Nellie just thought I worried too much. Maybe she was right.

Liana! A familiar voice made me whirl around. Inanna, one of Nellie’s friends, waved me over. She broke through the crowd to meet me, flashing a beaming smile of greeting. Where’s Nellie?

I, uh, don’t know… I shrugged, gripping my basket. I lost her.

To my surprise, she looped an arm in with mine. Let’s go find her and Eilina.

Emboldened by the gesture, I smiled back at her. Though Inanna wasn’t really my friend, she had always been nice to me. She lived a few streets south of us and had often thought to include me in whatever she and Nellie got up to. I liked her. But ever since she had become her father’s apprentice, she spent less time with us. Her father was a surgeon and since Inanna had come of age, he began to teach her the healing arts. It was good, though. Inanna was the smartest girl I’d ever met. She would help a lot of people.

I like your hair, said Inanna as we walked. She craned her neck to look at my thick braid. Did Nellie do it?

Mmhmm.

Inanna had made flat twists in her own hair, strung with copper beads and forming a crown-like circle at the top of her head. She trailed her fingers down my plain plait, twirling her finger down the end. It’s nice.

Thanks. A warm feeling bloomed in my chest and my cheeks hurt from smiling. I always found it hopeful when she did things like that. But deep down I knew it was only innocent, friendly affection.

We found Nellie and Eilina at the far side of the Emporium under a shaded canopy, oohing and ahhing near the jewels.

Found your little sister, Inanna announced as we approached. I blushed.

Oh, there you are, said Nellie, before yanking Eilina closer. Now, show them, show them!

Eilina, a year older than Nellie and Inanna, tilted her shoulders in false shyness before thrusting out her left hand. A gold ring adorned her slender brown finger. Inanna squealed with excitement and let me go to throw her arms around Eilina. Oh, congratulations!

I politely mumbled my own felicitations, but Eilina hardly seemed to notice that I was there. That was fine. I wasn’t much interested in hearing the story of how her beloved whatever-his-name-was proposed to her. Instead, I surveyed the clear sky above the market. Cutting through the blue, the masts of ships in the harbor peeked above the buildings to the south. In the typical tropical fashion, there appeared to be no evidence of the thunderstorm last night. The ground was a little muddy and a thick humidity hung heavy in the air, but otherwise the cause of my sleepless night had completely vanished.

Liana? Are you coming? Nellie asked, snapping me out of my daze. Eilina and Inanna strode ahead, three stalls down.

Yes, I said, hurrying along.

Are you alright? she asked, leaning closer.

Just tired.

She clucked her tongue. Why didn’t you stay home, then?

I didn’t want to disappoint you. I opened my mouth to say something cleverer, but someone in the crowd caught my eye. Finley Hock, the son of The Blue Orchid’s owner, drove a horse drawn cart with a shipment of casks on the street that wrapped around the Emporium. Oh, Divine. Don’t look now. It’s Hock.

Visibly resisting the urge to turn around to see, Nellie groaned. Young or old?

Young. I said.

Does he see me? she whispered.

Don’t think so.

Good. Let’s go. I haven’t seen him since I rejected him in front of his father.

"And all the patrons at The Orchid." I snorted at the memory.

That’s not nice to laugh about. I felt sorry for him.

"No, you’re too nice, letting things get that far. You should have just told him no when you first noticed he wanted you. Downright cruel to string him along."

You wouldn’t understand…

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it felt like an insult.

What did you find wrong with him, anyway? I asked, genuinely curious. It wouldn’t be a bad life to marry Fin. I thought he was rather good looking, myself. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be his wife, helping to run a thriving business, meeting adventurous sailors and travelers from far and wide.

I could do better… she muttered.

I imitated her father. Of course, ya could, darlin’. Ye deserve a prince. Nay! A king!

Nellie