The Bee Keeper's Daughter. Kingdom of Meridian. Vol 1.. Shian Serei

had always known her parents love, but seeing them step in the way of death to protect her, made her shake with a sense of unworthiness. She could hardly swallow from crying and running in the damp night air. She tried to silence her despair by thinking of reuniting with her mother.

      The men began to come from below deck with bowls of food. They sat on the deck and talked as they ate and drank.

      Dima finally appeared, carrying a bowl of borscht and a cup of water. The captain spoke to him as he walked across the deck.

      «Ah Dima, missing all morning for the loading but made it in time for lunch?» he said sarcastically.

      «Da Captain, I had an urgent family matter to attend to before pulling out, I apologize for my absence,» Dima said respectfully.

      «I heard, Sorry to hear about your uncle. Any news on your aunt or cousin?» The captain asked.

      Maria feared Dima could give information about her or her mother and listened carefully.

      «Net, they vanished into the woods. That’s all I know.» Dima said sadly.

      «Hopefully, they will find safety.» The captain replied, patting Dima on the back, «Can you handle first watch tonight?» he asked.

      Dima nodded and walked toward the place where Maria was hiding. He sat with his back to her and slid his soup under the cover for her, pretending to have the cup still in his hand to avoid suspicion.

      «Masha, eat this!» he whispered.

      Her delicate, shaking hands slid from beneath the cover and pulled the bowl inside. Dima could hear her gulping it and wondered if anyone else might notice. He coughed to mask the sound and alert Maria to be quieter.

      Dima reached inside his coat and carefully lowered a quarter loaf of bread to the deck and tucked it behind him. «Masha,» he said in a whisper.

      Maria’s hand appeared again, just long enough to pull the bread out of sight. It was just bread and soup, but at the time it was a feast. She felt less tense now; her hands stopped shaking, and she focused on finding her mother.

      «Dima» she whispered. «Did you find my mother?»

      «No» he whispered as he reached to take the cup back into his hand, noticing it was empty.

      «Do you want water?» he asked, wondering how he would give it to her without drawing attention.

      «Net, spacibo» Maria whispered, «I’ll need to pee if I drink anything.»

      «We are leaving soon. Your mother must have found another way out of town so you should go with me!»

      Dima waited for an answer but then realized Maria had fallen asleep now that she had a meal.

      The ship cast off, taking the strength of the northward wind into its sail. A cool breeze slid beneath the covers as the boards of the deck creaked from the ships movements along the river. Maria awakened as the sun was setting, and realized the ship was now well on its way to Yaroslavl.

      From her limited view, she could see Dima talking to the man who was steering the ship. Dima then came and sat in front of her as before. He slipped more bread to her and told her they would arrive early in the morning.

      «I’ll have to get you off the ship before the crew wakes up to unload. There won’t be much time, but I can make arrangements to get you to my mother’s home in Neva.» He said quietly.

      «I’m going back to Rostov tomorrow to see if your mother is still there,» he said confidently.

      «Thank you Dima, she is a clever woman; I’m sure she is already in Yaroslavl,» Maria said hoping her wishes were true.

      «Just be ready when I come for you!» Dima said as he quickly stood up.

      Footsteps of the captain echoed on the deck as he walked over to Dima.

      «Enjoying your rest while on watch, young Petrov?» the captain snapped.

      «Just tightening my shoes, sir, all is well,» Dima said in a nervous tone.

      «Indeed. Keep an eye out for stowaways. Those Tatar soldiers will be searching every ship coming in or out of port now.» said the captain as he walked below deck.

      Dima hoped Maria didn’t hear the captain’s words. He was more like her brother than a cousin and was determined to save her.

      Maria began to see her life change from dreams of the future to an unknown existence with each passing moment. The helplessness of her situation crushed her spirit, but her resolve to survive was never stronger. Her parents sacrificed everything for her, and she wanted to deserve the selfless bravery of their deeds, even though she felt responsible for setting those acts in motion.

      «If only I had stayed in the cart» her thoughts tormented. «If I could just go back and change that one decision, my Father would be alive, and we would be on our way to Neva as a family.»

      The remorse and guilt swam around her like a heavy breeze until she could not bear the weight of it. A depressive mood guided her eyes to close as she slept concealed under the cargo tarp as if an invisible hand closed her eyes to sleep, avoiding the pain of her conscious reality.

      Oxana’s Tavern

      «Masha! Wake Up! We have to go!» Dima whispered.

      Maria woke and felt the cold early morning air swirling around her. The ship was tethered to the dock with a town dimly lit in the distance. Dima pulled her to her feet while the crew continued sleeping. She was weak and stiff as she tried to stand after being still for so long.

      «I can’t walk,» she said faintly as she fumbled to stand.

      «You have to!» Dima insisted as he looked around to ensure their stealth. He pulled her by the hand and her feet began to step one by one. Her clothes still packed inside her dress, she shifted and adjusted as best she could to keep up with Dima’s quick pace.

      They made their way down the gangplank and quickly walked toward large stacks of freight, stored at the port.

      «Where are we going?» asked Maria

      «To see a friend,» Dima said mysteriously

      Maria had never been outside of Rostov, and all the new surroundings were curious and strange to her. She read the signs above the shops as they walked, Tobak, Producti, Bar. Reading had never been so useful as now with so much unfamiliar space around her. The two of them wove between freight and piles of fishing nets, avoiding lighted areas. They reached the main street and then walked along an alley until they arrived at a strange looking tavern.

      Dima knocked at the door, it took a while but soon a woman with short blonde hair and brown eyes appeared at the door. She clearly had been sleeping and was groggy but instantly recognized Dima and let them in.

      «Dima? Shto takoe?» She asked in an unpleasant tone as she pointed at Maria.

      Dima placed several coins in the woman’s hand, telling her to hide Maria from everyone until someone came for her later.

      The woman looked at the coins and hesitantly accepted, inviting them inside as she looked up and down the street to see if anyone was watching.

      «This is Oxana, you can trust her, she runs this place and will help you. I have to return to the ship before they see I am gone!» Dima said as he hugged Maria. «My friend will come for you tomorrow and take you to Neva. Kiss my mother for me!» Dima said sweetly.

      «Spacibo Oxana!» Dima said as he kissed Oxana firmly on the lips, surprising her and Maria as he made his way to the door, quickly exiting.

      Oxana watched looking favorably as the sound of Dima’s steps could be heard running down the alley. It was clear that she liked him or knew him well. She closed the door and looked back at Maria. She studied her for a moment, a slim girl covered in dirt, wearing a dress stuffed with clothing, summarizing her predicament and thought Maria