As gulls flew over the sparkling turquoise ocean, a black haired youth in a brown tunic and trousers leaned against the side of a ship,watching some dolphins that were playing near the vessel. The ship’s owner, a merchant named Samuel Potter, stood nearby. He was a massive man, strong as an ox, with fiery red hair and a welcoming grin on his face. His large hands were callused with labor, and his emerald green eyes sparkled.

While a gentle breeze ruffled the teen's short, choppy hair, the ship plowed through the waves, and salty spray sprinkled the deck. There!The merchant was gazing at her again! Would he see through her ploy?All the young woman could do was trust God to protect her. Sighing, Hadassah returned to her sweeping. Could it have been only a few days ago that she had been a carefree girl with not a thing to worry about? Her mind returned to that dreadful day.

The sun had risen dazzling and cheery, laughing down at the vast meadows as enchanting flowers opened to drink up the morning light. A few pleasant huts dotted the landscape. The one on the far right was where everything had begun.

Hadassah had jumped out of bed, fresh and eager to take on the day. The smell of fish frying and fresh fruit drifted from the kitchen where her mother, Ruth, was preparing breakfast. Hadassah dressed hastily in her favorite blue cotton dress with her leather belt and boots. She added her knife onto her belt and fastened her elegant locket around her neck. Hadassah then crossed the corridor and stepped outside to assess the weather. She breathed in the fresh morning air; it was going to be a beautiful day.

Hadassah enjoyed life with her loving mother and handsome older brother,Eleazar. Her father was a mystery, and her mother never spoke of him.Since she had never met him, Hadassah had no reason to miss him.Stepping back inside, she began setting the table as her mother added the finishing touches to their meal. Whistling a cheery tune, Eleazar joined them, full milk pails in hand from the morning milking. He greeted his sister fondly and said grace as they all sat down to eat.

After chores, Hadassah set off to take advantage of the wild berry season.“The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the sky is a lovely shade of blue,” she sighed contently. Sometime later, her bucket now full of mouthwatering, juicy berries, Hadassah decided to head home. The sun was now directly overhead, and she was worried she would be late for lunch. On the way back home she began day-dreaming of surprising her brother with a delicious pie when he returned from working in the garden later that evening.

As she approached their hut, she noticed a parchment nailed to the door. Curious, she proceeded to read it and was shocked by what it said:

Missing! Any information regarding Hadassah Cypress will be rewarded accordingly! Up to 20 silver pieces

It had a sketch of her, and in the bottom right corner the seal of Lord Colten, the ruler of the Isles of Arvad! Hadassah gasped, rooted to the spot. “What's going on? This must be a mistake. I haven't been gone that long,have I?” she wondered. At once, she burst into the house,announcing her arrival as guilt stabbed her for worrying her mother so.

It soon became obvious that a struggle had taken place. Things were scattered everywhere, pages were torn, and chairs were broken. She examined the scene, an anxious feeling creeping into her stomach. She searched desperately for her beloved mother and adored brother,scouring the house, yard, and garden. They were nowhere to be found.

Her mother and brother had been taken captive it seemed, and evidence pointed to Lord Colten as the culprit...but why? All she knew was that she would be next if she didn't pull herself together, and quickly. She decided it would be best to leave the island until she could figure out what was going on. Disguising herself as a boy would probably be a good idea as well.

Hadassah crept into her room and packed some necessities, such as her pocketknife, flint and steel. Next she crossed over into Eleazar's room to pack some of her brother’s clothes. She put on a pair of his trousers and a tunic, throwing the rest into her knapsack. Stuffing her hair in her brother’s cap was impossible due to its length, so Hadassah reluctantly cut it, short, choking back tears as the thick,wavy locks fell to the ground.

Treading quietly in her boots, she strode into the kitchen of her home and packed some food. She then stepped outside, hoping no one would recognize her.

Hadassah strode to town looking for transport. Upon a store front, she had spotted a sign hanging with large lettering. It read:

Cabin Boy needed on ship sailing to Bloemeneneiland. Inquire inside.

“We’re nearing the island of Bloemeneneiland!” Samuel bellowed merrily, breaking Hadassah from her musing.

“What a unique name,” Hadassah commented, trying to deepen her voice.

“The Isles of Arvada were discovered by men who adored the Dutch language, so most of the islands have Dutch names and meanings, such as the island of Bloemeneneiland, which means ‘Flower Island’,” he considerately explained.

“What does the Island of Geheimen, my homeland, mean?”

“The Island of Secrets,” he replied.

“The Island of Secrets…” Hadassah quietly repeated to herself. A few minutes later, they docked in the town of Soaland. Hadassah thanked Samuel gratefully and, despite his protests, refused any payment, saying the passage was payment enough.

“If you ever need a lift, I'm always in need of a good cabin boy,” he offered. “I come to this island frequently to trade.”

“Thank you! You have been more than kind,” she gratefully replied.

They parted as friends, both hoping to meet again. Hadassah then set off to explore the town, while Samuel began selling his merchandise.

She was fascinated by how many colors of flowers covered the island, their bright colors decorating the meadow like sprinkles on a cake. The market was open, and there was no end of interesting things to look at: brightly colored dresses, eye-catching jewelry, and one stand even had a monkey! Hadassah enjoyed herself, but many things set her heart aching again, like when she saw some antler handled knifes that reminded her of Eleazar or some delicate pink flowers that her mother would have loved. As night began to fall, she was offered a place to sleep, in the barn of a sympathetic family.

The next morning dawned clear and bright, with birdsong resounding through the air. Hadassah awoke, too drowsy to open her eyes. Her neck was stiff and cramped, and her head was pounding brutally. She groggily opened her glazed eyes but hastily shut them as the blinding light sent waves of pain coursing through her head. Longing for her soft, warm bed, she yawned involuntarily and staggered outside. Instant regret. The sunlight intensified the throbbing in her head. Re-entering the barn, Hadassah stifled a groan and reached for her knapsack. It was still there, safe under a pile of hay, where she had left it. The pretty woman with golden curls, who had allowed Hadassah to stay in the barn, offered her the job of a farm hand in exchange for room and board. Not sure what else to do, she anxiously accepted, praying that a man's role would not be terribly grueling.

While Hadassah was working, Samuel had just arrived back home at Geheimen. He whistled along as people quickly scrambled to get out of the giant man’s path. Unexpectedly, he stopped. A poster had caught his eye. It had an oddly-familiar looking girl on it. Where had he seen her? “That’s it!” He exclaimed, rushing to the palace. He was good friends with Lord Colten and had just realized the young lady Colten was looking for had ridden on his ship, disguised as a boy!

Meanwhile, Hadassah was learning why God had set different roles for men and women. Chopping wood and planting fields was much harder than sewing or baking or even cleaning! At least she was not needed at the smithery…yet. At any rate, the work kept her mind off of her cherished family.

The next day Hadassah was chopping wood, again, when Edith, the lady who hired her, sent her to fetch some supplies. As she entered the town, she felt as though someone was following her. Was she imagining it? She turned a corner, quickening her steps. The sound of footsteps echoed behind her. No, she definitely wasn't imagining it. She broke into a sprint, glancing over her shoulder. The stranger did as well. Hadassah panicked. She raced through the town, he was gaining on her. Ducking into an alley, she suddenly stopped, mouth gaping.

Lord Colten stood before her. How did he find her? Turning around in a desperate attempt to escape, her eyes locked with her panting pursuer; he was none other than Samuel Potter!! “How could you?” she exclaimed, fury erupting within her as a sense of betrayal pierced her heart. Her mind was reeling, she stepped backwards as the world began spinning around her. She was vaguely aware of Lord Colten running toward her, then everything went black.

Hadassah opened her eyes to wooden roof supports. “Where am I?” she wondered. Then it all came back, Samuel’s betrayal, her attempted escape, and Lord Colten running to her. “Am I in prison?” she questioned, sitting up. Someone stirred in a chair nearby as she did so. She closed her eyes, expecting the worst.

“Hadassah?” her mother queried in her tender voice.

“Mother!?!” Hadassah cried as tears began to flow. “I thought I would never see you again,” she sobbed. Ruth just wrapped her arms around her precious daughter, too overwhelmed to speak. Hadassah wiped her eyes on her sleeve and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Let’s go into the sitting room and I’ll tell you,” she replied. When they entered the room, Hadassah caught site of her brother, and flew toward him.

“I missed you so much!” she said, laying her head on his shoulder as his strong arms encircled her.

“I missed you too,” he tenderly replied. After she had calmed down, Hadassah eagerly awaited the explanation of what was going on.

“Well,” her mother began, “it all started when I was a teenager. I met a boy and we became best friends. As we got older and spent more time together, we became convinced that it was God's will for us to be married. Afraid his parents would object, however, we chose to marry in secret. You see, your father,” here she paused, “was heir to the throne of the Isles of Arvad, and I was merely a peasant's daughter.”

Hadassah was shocked, but kept quiet as her mother continued. “His father died a couple years after we were married, and I was pregnant with you. He was to begin his rule immediately, only to discover that a Lord must only marry royal blood. He would have willingly stepped down, but his younger brother would be next in line for the crown. His brother is a cruel, greedy, and evil man. Out of concern for the people, your father kept our marriage a secret and hid us away so that he could begin his reign. It was my idea, and it took him quite a while to agree to it.”

“Your father’s brother, Acheron, recently found out about our marriage, despite our careful concealment, and decided to use our family as leverage to take the crown. He nearly captured us, but your father, Lord Colten, found out about his plan and showed up just in time to transport us safely to the castle. He looked everywhere for you, and well, you know the rest,” she finished.

Hadassah sat, utterly stunned. At that moment, Lord Colten entered the room. She hesitated for a bit before running to him and flinging her arms around his neck. He smiled as tears filled his eyes.