After three days at sea, Mira tired of the two Order members constantly surveying her. After Amethyst introduced her to Tiero, he barraged her with questions when nobody else was around to hear.

  “Can he hear me now?” He grinned, “The real Encante?”

  “Yes,” Mira nodded, “Now, leave me alone.”

  “Agrowl hasn’t recognized me,” He crossed his arms, “Granite says it takes time.”

  “That’s because Agrowl hasn’t acknowledged Yteva as her Vessel,” Amethyst grinned, “Which means my queen can take her throne.”

  “I do not want a throne,” Mira growled, “I want to kill Isaan.”

  “Yes, but –”

  “No!” She waved them away.

  “Would you like to train?” The woman pestered her, “It’s been a few days. It may help ease your spirit.”

  “I would also like to spar,” Tiero clapped his hands together eagerly, “You’ve refused thus far.”

  Mira looked out over the vast waters and debating jumping overboard to escape the constant bickering interrogation. Encante laughed at the thought and reminded her that she can’t breathe underwater, nor did he know which way was the closest to land.

  “They will keep you on your toes,” He chuckled, “Why not oblige them?”

  “Not you too,” She flicked the stone on her amulet.

  “Does he want to fight as well?” Amethyst grinned.

  “Anything to get you two off my back and away from me,” She sighed, “Fine. Clear space and we can practice.”

  Tiero and Amethyst bounced eagerly. It reminded Mira of Tella’s enthusiasm about sweets. Her heart panged guiltily at the thought of the young girl. Then, she grew quiet as her mind traveled to Pallik. A cold pain spread over her chest. She fought to keep the dreams away the past few weeks by utterly exhausting herself. It was harder to do that on a boat in the sea.

  “Come back when you’re ready,” She drummed her fingers along the railing, “I’m going to climb up to the crow’s nest and look around. Call when you are ready.”

  “Yes, Lady Mira!” The two said in unison and bowed.

  She walked towards the main mast and hoisted herself upwards. She could finally be alone. She never thought freedom would come with so many people wanting her attention. At least the Wilted Rose members would find their own way to Hangral. After she got there, she could figure out a way to find Isaan and put an end to this disaster.

  Mira stepped onto the highest point with railing on the ship. She tucked her legs under her arms and took a deep breath. As she let herself embrace the cold pain, she heard someone chuckle. She wiped the wetness from her eyes and looked towards the noise.

  “I didn’t know you knew how to cry,” Bo sarcastically commented, “Whatever could have happened?”

  Mira patted away the water in her eyes, “What do you want, Bobabano?”

  “You’re on my ship. I tend to go where I see repairs are needed,” He narrowed his eyes, “Why are you up here?”

  “I’m trying to spend some time to myself,” She untucked her legs and stood, “I see that still won’t happen.”

  He stood on the cross beam that held the cloth sails. The white fabric had a red mermaid holding balls of fire – the symbol of Agrowl’s navy. The triangular hat on his head held a golden pin with the same symbol. They stared at each other in silence.

  “This ship is tightly packed. There isn’t much room to be alone,” He smirked, “That’s also why I come up here.”

  “Then I shall leave you to it,” She stood and dusted herself off.

  “I’m curious, though,” He held up a finger to pause her, “Why were you crying?”

  “Why do you care?” She narrowed her eyes.

  “It’s nice to know you have a weakness.”

  “My weakness died in a fire with a sword through his chest, at the hand of my ma –former master,” Mira corrected herself and turned from him, “And the other will no longer speak to me. Is that what you want?”

  “I didn’t know a thrall could have friends,” He chuckled, “Good for you.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  Bo felt a twinge of guilt at the statement. He knew how terribly thralls could be treated, and Amethyst told him to be kinder to this woman. He wasn’t going to apologize for what he said, but he could at least have been nicer.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Mira looked at him in confusion before he nodded knowingly. It may have been a small step, but it was still a step. He sighed as her hollow eyes stared back at him with a disinterest he wasn’t used to seeing. Most gazed at him with lust, fear, anger, or admiration. He remembered she always had emptied eyes.

  The dwarf Thesson was paying him handsomely to ferry this infuriating woman to the capital. If he couldn’t convince her to go to Agrowl, then he could find someone to verify that his aunt hired Isaan to kill his parents. After that, he never had to deal with her again.

  “Why do you even want to go to Hangral?” He frowned, “I heard you escaped prison. You could have gone off anywhere else. Why put up with the charade of being arrested?”

  “I am going to see a friend.”

  “Another friend? That’s three now,” He chuckled, “Next you’ll tell me you’ve got a lover.”

  “You do not need to talk to me,” She glared at him, “You’ve made your feelings well known. Amethyst may have a bet with you, but I want no part of it.”

  “You know of the bet?” He placed his arms on the railing between them.

  “I do not know, nor care, what it is over. As soon as we reach Hangral, you don’t have to see me again.”

  “Why are you hostile to me, of all people?” He scoffed, “You killed my parents. You should be groveling for my forgiveness.”

  “My apology, sincere or not, would mean nothing to you. You do not view me as a person –only as another man’s property,” She shook her head, “It’s hard to watch you treat your thralls so terribly and expect you to understand what exactly happens to them.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “What do you think happens to them when they disobey an order?” Mira’s eyes stared into him, “Tell me.”

  “The spell corrects their behavior,” He shrugged, “I don’t know. It doesn’t concern me.”

  “Exactly, you have no idea the pain that is caused by those brands. You will never know. You don’t even care enough to know how badly you hurt these people.”

  Mira held a hand towards the barely clothed men scrubbing the floors of the deck. One deeply sunburned human’s blistering skin oozed when he jerked from the belts that smacked his back to work faster. She watched him look over them with confusion.

  “If they didn’t want to be thralls, then they shouldn’t have agreed to it. If they don’t like it, then they should save money to buy freedom.”

  “Do you think I agreed?” She scoffed, “Do you think I wanted to be enthralled as an infant and spend my days enslaved to a madman? Do you think I enjoyed it?”

  She watched as the man fell to his knees and another crack from a deckhand caused him to stumble.

  “Do you even pay them enough to ever buy their freedom?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t handle their payments,” He shrugged, “I don’t know their stories.”

  “Exactly,” She crossed her arms, “You don’t know how painful those brands can be. Until you do, my apology will never matter.”

  Mira felt herself getting heated. Anger burned under her skin and dared to fight. She felt dangerously close to losing control.

  “I never thought of that.”

  “You don’t care how your toys are treated,” She poked a finger into his chest, “Until you actually see them as people, then I don’t care for your opinion either. So, I’m not going to apologize. It wasn’t my fault.”

  “You know, I’m captain of this ship,” He frowned, “I can kick you off any time.”

  “I’d love to see you try.”

  “Lady Mira!” A voice called from below them.

  They both looked down to see Tiero wave excitedly.

  “We’ve made enough space! Come join us!”

  She stepped onto the railing and dove towards the deck. Bobabano instinctually reached out to grab her, but it was too late. He watched her graceful dive and the roll when she landed shocked him. He had seen men killed from a fall of that height and she did it without a second thought.

  “Captain Bo!” Tiero called up, “Care to join us?”

  The orc wrapped his arm around a rope and repelled to the deck below. He grinned and held out his fist to bump Tiero’s own. Mira adjusted her shirt to allow more free movement. Amethyst held out her arms and stretched eagerly.

  “Why do you stretch so much, Auntie?” Bo asked.

  “I’m old and don’t want to pull a muscle,” She winked, “Can’t let my lady slack on any practicing before the tournament.”

  “I haven’t decided if I’m joining,” She rolled her eyes, “Or if our acquaintance will be.”

  “I think you should,” Tiero shrugged, “It may be a wise decision to showcase what you can do, rather than anyone else.”

  “I would rather not make myself the center of attention,” She looked around to the watchful eyes, “That is not my… specialty.”

  “Are we going to fight, or what?” Bo pulled his sword from the sheath at his side, “I’m itching to brawl.”

  Mira looked to Tiero, “What are your specialties?”

  “I’m a healer, Lady Mira,” He nodded, “Different than others, but still a healer.”

  “And you fight?” She raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t there an oath healers have to take?”

  “Shamans do not require oaths,” He cracked his knuckles, “But I tend to avoid fights.”

  “Are you not joining the tournament, then?”

  “No, not past the first round,” Tiero smiled softly, “I am there to provide healing for Captain Bobabano and Princess Ravenna.”

  “You don’t have to call me princess, Shaman Tiero,” She opened the door from their cabin and stepped onto the deck, “That’s not how it works.”

  “Would you like to be my sparring partner?” He asked her.

  “I actually would like to see her fight,” Amethyst pulled a dagger from her belt and tossed it to Ravenna, “Care to dance, little niece?”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Oh, I hoped to watch Mira,” She blushed and pushed her glasses up her nose, “If that is alright?”

  Mira looked as all eyes on the deck stared at her response. She aloofly scanned for a suitable opponent. Not many were powerful enough to actually provide her with useful practice. She looked to Amethyst and nodded.

  “Very well, Am—”

  “Lady Mira,” Tiero interjected, “I would be honored if you allowed me to show you what I am capable of. The Cauldronbone tribe may have absolved my mother’s tribe, I was one of the best.”

  “Why did your tribe get absorbed?”

  “Mother claimed a man in the Cauldronbone tribe. We merged after,” He nodded, “But the Shando tribe were known for their warriors as well.”

  She eyed the orc suspiciously before she nodded, “How will we fight?”

  “Do not do anything to damage the ship,” Bobabano grumbled, “Besides that, I don’t care.”

  “Captain Bo,” He grinned, “May I borrow your sword?”

  He tossed the weapon. Tiero ran his hand over the golden blade and swung it casually to feel it slice the air.

  “You know how I heal, Tiero,” Mira nodded, “I do not want you to hold back.”

  “I won’t,” He waited for her, “Where is your weapon?”

  Mira held her hand towards him and rotated her wrist. As the shaft of the spear formed, she twirled the weapon and pointed it at him.

  “How strong is that sword?” She looked at Bo.

  “Strong enough,” He grunted.

  Tiero leapt towards Mira and chopped his weapon down like an axe. She stepped to the side as he reached her and held out her blade to block his. The blades collided as Mira gained a sense of his speed. She slowed her pace to allow him to push himself, but not enough to overpower him completely. As the pair danced around each other’s attacks, Mira felt something building behind her. The instinct caused her to turn and swing at the sudden bolt of lightning that Amethyst flung to her. When Tiero saw an opening, he pounced to strike. She quickly rolled out of the way and caught his ankles with the tip of her blade. He grunted in pain and fell to the deck. He grabbed his bleeding ankles quickly.

  “That was a dirty trick, Amethyst,” Mira growled and looked back at her, “If you wanted to join, then do so.”

  “If you insist,” She chuckled, “The poor boy needs something to keep up. You’re not even trying.”

  “Are you okay?” Mira watched Tiero wince.

  “Yes. You caught me by surprise,” He gripped his wound.

  Mira watched as a sticky substance formed on his hand that he smeared over the cut. The yellow, gooey glob was uncomfortable to look at and reminded Mira of snot. The orc shook his hand, and the substance went away.

  “If you would, Lady Mira,” Tiero pointed to the wound, “It needs heat.”

  Mira crouched over him and pushed her body heat outwards. Her hand glowed and steamed as she reached for the wound. When she touched the blobby substance, it hardened instantly, and his skin absorbed it. The wound closed quickly with only a scab remaining.

  “That is an interesting power,” She nodded.

  He grinned, “That is why I am a shaman.”

  “If she joins,” She grabbed his hand and hoisted him to his feet, “I expect you both to fight.”

  Mira ran her hands along the shaft of her spear as it broke into two short swords. Amethyst stood to her left and Tiero to her right. When both nodded, she lunged towards the woman first. She attempted to hook her hatchet around Mira’s blade and spin, but the brute force behind the woman’s strike threw her from her feet. Tiero slid across the deck to trip Mira, but she simply jumped and swung down at him. As Amethyst built another spell, Mira pushed energy into her legs and sprinted at the woman.

  The rapid pangs of colliding blades caught the attention of everyone on the deck. Mira’s movements were fluid, so much so that Bobabano thought it looked more like a choreographed dance he’d see on a stage. Anytime Mira got the upper hand, Tiero pounced to gather her attention. When Amethyst threw her hatchet at Mira, her lightning spell rang out. She looked and quickly saw Tiero running towards the energetic bolt. He swung the golden sword down as Mira’s foot implanted into his chest and sent him flying into the gathering crowd. She grabbed onto the spinning hatchet’s handle and threw it back at the orc. The spell impacted her and threw her off her feet. As the hatch embedded itself into the wall behind Amethyst, Mira landed back on her feet and snarled at her now fizzy hair.

  “That was a cheap shot!” She yelled at the orc, “You knew he couldn’t see it.”

  “I also knew you would step in,” Amethyst shrugged and pried her axe from the wall behind her, “Just as you knew I would dodge instead of ducking.”

  “Goddess above, Lady Mira,” Tiero stood and rubbed his aching chest, “Can we go another round? This is fun!”

  “Care to settle a bet?” Amethyst smirked.

  “I do not want to be a part of your bet,” She growled at the orc, “I am not your entertainment.”

  “Fine, fine,” The orc rolled her eyes, “I just wanted to see if you would blindfold yourself again to fight. It was fun last time, wasn’t it?”

  She sighed, “Why must you dance on my last nerve?”

  “Is that a yes?” Bobabano called.

  Mira yelled, “If everyone will leave me alone after.”

  Amethyst walked over and pulled off her shirt. The nasty scars underneath showed the aged warrior’s battle history better than her skills. She wrapped the shirt around Mira’s eyes. The fiery Vessel settled it into place and let her mind adjust to her closed sense. Lilac lines rippled as people walked along the deck, waves crashed against the hull, or the wind hit the sails. Mira took a deep breath and focused before she felt something different.

  “Wait!” She called.

  “See, she –”

  “Silence!” Mira hissed and focused on the odd sensation.

  Something slivered beneath the boat. She hadn’t ever felt anything like it before. Mira knelt and touched the deck as she tried to focus. She only felt a hint of a large mass below the ship, but quickly approaching. Each breath felt like it pulled closer to her. She tried to cover her ears to better focus past the grumbling sounds of annoyed men, cawing sea birds, and splashing waves.

  “What is that?” She asked Encante.

  “I don’t know,” He hummed, “But, it is coming right for us. It may have sensed your power.”

  As he spoke, the mass moved faster. Mira ripped the blindfold off and looked at Bo.

  “Call all hands-on deck.”

  “What? You’re not the cap—”

  Something collided with the ship from below and Mira scrambled to her feet. She looked to Amethyst and her honey-colored eyes rapidly shifted white. The pain in her chest took over as she felt the wraith’s form on the verge of escaping.

  “Dammit, Bobabano!” She turned to Tiero, “Something is about to attack the ship.”

  “What?” Ravenna looked to her, “How do you –”

  A large, greasy blue tentacle slammed against the side of the boat. Reptilian eyes popped open along the outwards facing side and narrowed as they looked at the crew. Ravenna screamed. Tiero tossed Bo his sword and ran to her side.

  “How big is it?” Amethyst grabbed onto a rope.

  “I should be able to take it,” Mira pried her hatchet from the wall and tossed it to her, “But I will need help.”

  The orc grinned eagerly and looked at the men on deck, “You heard the lady. Grab your weapons!”

  The chaotic seconds between the call for arms and more tentacles slamming against the side of the hull was enough time for Mira to sprint towards the main mast and grab onto a rope. As the ship shook from impact, a gurgling roar from below broke from below the water.

  “What in the void is that?” Bo gripped onto a rigging near the edge of the ship.

  He looked over the edge to better see the monster. The eyes blinked at him all the way down each tentacle to a mouth that contained an uncountable number of needle-like teeth. The fork tongue licked angrily at the air and the warbling scream came closer as it pulled itself on the side of the ship.

  “That’s an Isle monster,” Mira gripped the rigging next to him and stabbed at the nearby tentacle, “Get your men to safety.”

  “This is my ship. You can’t just –”

  “Listen to me very carefully,” Her voice intertwined with something inhuman as she commanded, “Get your men to safety.”

  The voice took him aback, but he did as told, “Men! If you don’t have the talent, get underdeck. Water and wind mages, prepare yourselves for a quick escape.”

  “Take Ravenna and get under deck,” She commanded him.

  “There is no chance I am not staying up here,” He shook his head.

  As the beast crawled its way up the boat, the ship began to tip towards the water. Amethyst jumped to the side and looked over. Men scrambled about the ship to grab onto a rope to tie themselves to stay aboard.

  “Goddess. Mira, have you seen one of these before?”

  “Not this big,” She pulled herself up higher on the rigging, “Prepare your strongest spell. I am going to need it.”

  “What do you mean?” Amethyst looked at her.

  “Stop asking questions and just do as I say!” Mira yelled and looked over the mass of tentacles and teeth below, “And whatever you do, keep everyone on board.”

  The water swirled around the beast and threatened to take the ship with it. Before anyone could stop her, she dove into the water. Amethyst reached out to grab the woman, but it was too late.

  “Bo, listen to her,” She whispered, “You can’t help with this.”

  “I’ll be damned if I watch this thing destroy my ship because you two think you can handle it,” He stabbed his golden sword into the eye closest to him, “I’m in this fight.”

  Amethyst felt the buzz of static mana around her. The hairs across her entire body stood on edge as she focused her spell. Whatever her Vessel needed of her, she would do. She had to trust her Guardian and his Vessel. All she had to do was listen to them. If she had to exhaust herself completely to do it, then she would.

  “Grab onto me,” She looked to Bo.

  He hesitated but did as he was told. She held out her hand and imagined the sun. She imagined the sky above them blessing her with the strength to smite the beast. She filled her mind with thoughts of her wife as she enhanced the mana around her. As she looked past her fingers and saw the beast’s tentacle wrapped around her ward, anger boiled her blood. Her emotions violently buzzed to capacity. Then, she let the spell go.

  The thunderous spell was all Mira needed. As it snapped towards her, she grabbed onto it and held the power in her hands. She felt herself singe her skin. She heard Amethyst’s screams of pain from above. Mira wrapped herself in the static and the beast recoiled at the energy. When it tried to fling her upwards, she summoned her spear and prepared herself for a strike.

  Bobabano Cauldronbone watched as she flipped elegantly in the air. The yellow lightning danced around her like she was the cloud it came from. He gripped on to his collapsing aunt and watched the amazing strike. As Mira’s eyes glowed intensely and her body burst into black mist, he finally realized that she was not just a woman. The black misty figure engulfed her. They were not yet the wraith, but the monstrous form shadowed her movements. They plummeted at the monster with the electricity shaking around her glaive. The raw, abysmal roar of the monster below as the weapon struck was second only to the thunderous impact of the spear. The beast nearly split in half as it struggled to release the ship. The large waves impacted from the side as the dying beast pulled at it.

  He watched in awe as the she bounced around the beast, slicing at tentacles. The black mist gracefully danced with her through the churning waters and splatters of green blood from the beast. It was a beautiful symphony of annihilation as the miasma ripped the monster away from his ship. As the last tentacle was sliced from it, the boat lurched to the side. The force from the released creature nearly capsized them immediately. He stumbled and reached for anything to grab onto as he felt soft steps land next to him.

  “I told you to get to safety,” The wraith’s inhumane voice scowled him through her lips.

  He couldn’t respond before Mira wrapped a rope around Amethyst’s shoulder. In his awestruck state, he could only watch as she tied the woman against the ship’s railing and stand on the tittering deck. Mira dug her fingers into the wood below and yelled out as the tittering ship finally capsized. He plummeted overboard before he could react.

  Bobabano felt the icy cold water engulf him and his head hit something hard. He always imagined he would die at sea, just not this young. He couldn’t see in the salty water but tried to find which way was up. The current tore him away from the rigging and he tumbled further into the darkness. He lost his grip on the golden sword, and it was swept away from him. Even in his final moments, he couldn’t have his father with him.

  The water seemed to further freeze around him, but it was too dark to tell. This would be his end, after everything. He held his breath for as long as he could before he slowly exhaled. Bubbles left his lips and he tried to open his eyes. The salt burned as he searched the blurry water for the light that moved towards him.

  He felt something grab onto his back and pull him closer. As it turned him, he saw red waves floating around him. Was it his own blood? No, it moved more like hair. He wondered if mermaids were real after all, or if it was his brain easing his transition into the next life. He had always wanted to meet a mermaid, ever since his father talked about them.

  Bo felt warm lips against his and a hand pulled his jaw down. Air filled his lungs, and he wondered why the icy water felt so odd. Then, arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him close. He struggled against the firm grip until he felt a small hand on his chest. The mermaid wanted to comfort him in his passing, and he couldn’t even thank her.

  Then, Bo felt something freeze against his back. The icy wave plunged him upwards. His ears rang from the swift rising. When he saw light approaching, he wondered what exactly was happening. As the pair breeched the surface, Bobabano cleared his eyes to see his mermaid was actually the auburn-haired assassin he detested. He tried to fight against her, but he felt himself slipping away again.

  Mira mounted him and pressed her hands against his chest. She pressed down firmly and to restart his heart. After a few pumps, she titled his head back and blew air into his lungs before trying again. His skin was too cold from the plunge into the water. She hadn’t been quick enough.

  “Quickly!” Mira called up to the ship, “Get the ropes!”

  “He’s too cold, Mira,” Encante spoke to her, “You need to get him off the ice.”

  “I can’t take him off the ice and I can’t keep him afloat myself.”

  “Then let me help,” Hints of mist surround her as he spoke.

  Mira felt her shoulders shatter. She growled in pain as white bone erupted from her back. It stretched outwards and flicked out into dark, scaly wings. She wrapped her arms under Bobabano and felt the wings flap wildly until her feet left the float she created to bring them to the surface.

  The wings felt inorganic to her body but with every movement, the muscles around her new form registered in her brain. She knew that she didn’t control them with more than a thought, because the beast behind them echoed in her mind. She felt the magic running through her chest and it carried her on the winds. As her feet landed softly on the wooden deck, she knelt to place Bo in front of her.

  Ravenna cried and ran towards her cousin. Amethyst held her back as Mira held out her hands. Fire danced at her fingertips, and she placed them against Bo’s skin. She imagined the warmth and urged it to spread across him. The orc’s cold skin thawed, and she looked at Tiero.

  “Start your healing,” She laid against Bo as her pushed her body heat into him.

  “His sword!” Ravenna yelled, “Someone has to get it!”

  “The waters are too cold!” Thesson yelled, “He will have to live without it.”

  “Amethyst, come warm him,” Mira stood and walked to the side of the boat, “It was his fathers.”

  “Wait!” Thesson reached to grab her.

  “I will survive,” Mira plunged into the water below.

  Tiero pounded his fists against Bo’s chest until the orc coughed up murky water. The monster’s blood still clung to the water around them. He sat upwards and looked at his friend in confusion. He looked around his ship to see all eyes on him. The entire crew was soaked in freezing water. As he remembered his ship’s previous state, he saw the wall of ice on either side of the vessel that held it out of the water like a frozen hand. Most of the crew were tied to the ship in various positions and pulled themselves back onto deck as it settled. When he heard water splash, he turned to see the winged wraith lowering to the deck.

  The inhumane creature tucked its shadowy wings against its back and tilted its head unnaturally at Bobabano. It touched a skeletal finger against his neck to check his pulse before it dropped the golden sword at his feet. The sickly thin, long arms pulled back and it stepped to Amethyst.

  “The youngling will need rest. I will need your help to heal her. She overexerted herself,” Its coldblooded voice echoed in the silent deck, “Catch her.”

  “Yes, Great Protector,” The elder held her arms out.

  The mist exploded and Mira fell from the wraith’s height. Amethyst caught the unconscious woman and placed her against the wooden deck. Bo watched in horror as his aunt sliced open her hand and placed the bloody wound against Mira’s pale skin. Color returned to her skin as it drank the orc’s blood.

  Bo crawled over to her and moved her wet auburn curls from her face. He cradled her face and looked at her in a mixture of shock from the cold and worry.

  “What does she need?” Bobabano looked at his aunt.

  “She’s a blood mage,” Amethyst sliced her hand again when it began to heal over, “She should not have pushed herself this hard so quickly. We need to help her heal.”

  “Everyone!” Bo stood and called to his men, “Gather yourselves and save our queen!”