Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,87

believe the moon gives you special powers or if you can control the seas. But neither spiritualism nor cetaceamancy nor threats to my person will make these ships ready any faster, unless you have the power to conjure a hundred more men and another dock. If all goes well we will launch and begm our assault on the Verdant Coast by the end of the summer."

"Who said anything about attacking the coast?'' Ursula demanded. "Forget about the stupid forts and towns for now. You have new orders, drawn out here. And you will get those ships done m two weeks, because I am your prmcess and that is your job."

"Then it is not my job any longer," the admiral said crisply, undoing the medal at his chest. He neatly—not viciously—threw it on her desk, where it landed with a thwap. Then he took off his blue tricorn hat and put it under his arm. "Good luck, Prmcess."

He spun on his heel and marched off, every mch the military man.

Bother.

She had been really looking forward to wipmg out the mer as soon as possible. It was like the best treat ever. It would still happen, of course—just later than she wanted. But she hated waiting around for things. Was it time to try the circuex?

No...things weren't that bad. Yet. Just mildly annoying.

But ah, there is that other idea I had for getting to Ariel. It's not as grand, but would keep me amused for a while, and give those pesky townsfolk something to think about besides their own worthless opinions on my military expeditiom.

Eric came striding mto the room a moment later. "Why is Admiral Tarbish m such a huff? I've never seen him like that!"

"He quit," Vanessa said mildly, pickmg up the medal and examining it. The admiral's move was unexpected, but not necessarily unwelcome. It was a definite opportunity, and surprisingly, conveniently done.

"QUIT?" Eric exploded. "Our fleet admiral just quitT

"Yes, I'm afraid he lacks the confidence to amass our fleet of ships in a timely fashion. Never mmd, I have the perfect replacement. Lord Savho very much likes the sea and has been looking for some way of... contributing...to our current military endeavors."

"Savho has never captained a ship, much less led an invasion! Or an exploration! Or a trading mission! I doubt he's ever been beyond the bay!" Eric swore, taking his cap off and throwing it on the ground in the most unprincely display of humors Ursula had seen yet. It was almost amusing.

"But he does have a lot of money, and he would be extremely loyal," Vanessa said with a shrug. "I'm sure the first mate or whatever can brmg him up to speed."

Eric felt his anger collapse under exhaustion and the weight of it all. How did you get rid of a woman who, with no magic powers to speak of, managed to manipulate and twist the whole world around her finger?

Or tentacle, really.

"Listen to me," he said wearily. "I don't like you. I don't love you. But I'm married to you, and you are, currently, the princess of Tirulia. And you are tearing Tirulia apart. I'm not going to let that happen. For now we are still Prmce Eric and Princess Vanessa, and you have to stop communicating with my generals and admirals without me. Starting now."

"Careful, Prince Eric," she said, trying to sound calm—but a quaver crept mto her voice. "What might have been yours at one time is now shared by us. Should anything happen to you—"

"Shouldanything happen to me?" Eric laughed dismissively. "I'm not Grimsby. I'm hearty as a horse and everyone loves me. There are many who do not love you. Including my parents, who are king and queen—or had you forgotten that? You've been lucky so far: they don't like to get involved in the territories their children control. They believe we should be able to rule independently. But if something 'unusual' happened to me, you would

be out in less than a day, possibly tarred and feathered, and ray sister Divinia would take the castle. She never liked you anyway."

Vanessa turned pale.

Interesting, Eric thought. Had she not considered the possibilities before?

...or no, she just hadn't thought Eric would think of the possibility. She was counting on his still being hazy from her spell—and perhaps not that clever to begin with. The princess was a haughty egotist who thought that everyone around her was dumber and less capable than she. Just all-around generally unpleasant, besides being a tentacled sea witch, Eric