He changed the subject immediately. “I am betrothed and sworn to wed another, so I will not give in to you. Right now, I’m going to sail to the coast to rejoin my men. If you will agree to accompany me and assist me for the next few Moons, I will entreat the King to give you a pardon for your crimes and I will try to work out a compromise with you.” A resigned look came over the Siren’s expressive face. Then her mood changed drastically and she nodded her head in avid agreement and pleasure. The blanket slid down when she got up and she threw her nude body at him in wanton abandon.
Prince Vandar dodged her like the Red Plague! “No. We’ll have to have a few rules between us and the first rule is we’ll have none of that. Get dressed.” After giving him a very disappointed look the Siren clumsily tried to don some clothing, but all she accomplished was some ineffective motions. It was soon apparent to Vandar that clothes were simply beyond her understanding. He assisted her in putting on some of the smaller of the sailor clothing she had scattered around the cave.
He tied her long, wild hair at the nape of her all too shapely neck with a piece of leather like a boy would, then he slapped a wide-brimmed hat on her head. With the loose clothing, she would pass for a young lad, except for a close examination. He allowed her to gather a small bundle of her personal items. She managed to do that much by herself. He found some small stockings and boots that must have belonged to some long forgotten cabin boy and handed them to her. She looked at them blankly. He resignedly sat her down on a nearby chest and he put the stockings on her, then he laced the boots to her small feet.
She was so unused to clothing and footwear he had to assist her to the boat. Vandar had a sudden inspiration and knelt in the sand. With a forefinger, he wrote out his name in the sand. “V-a-n-d-a-r, Vandar.” He told her. “That’s my name. Can you write yours?
” Vandar had no idea whether Sirens were the way they were because of a curse or if they were born that way. Evidently, this one had either been educated as a child or some poor, doomed sailor had taught her, because she picked up a stick. “Lorelei”, she wrote, then she looked up at him for approval. “Lorelei. That’s a beautiful name. Quite a fitting one for someone who lives by the sea.” The Prince told her.
She seemed to enjoy hearing her name immensely and she urged him to say it again. “Lorelei.” He repeated for her as she cocked her pretty head to one side to listen intently. He reached over and refastened her shirt over her distracting breasts. The Prince picked up the boat anchor, he coiled the rope, and he placed them in the boat. As he bent to shove the boat into the water, she reached to help. They shoved it down the beach into the water, he assisted her in, then he climbed in and they sailed out to sea.