The ship's bow rose and fell with the rhythm of the sea, which was more turbulent that morning than the local fishermen had predicted. The ship, majestic and enormous, danced before Borin, and he reveled in every step of its dance. The joy in his eyes spilled into his soul, making it hard for him to breathe from the excitement and imagination of all the things he could do with the ship and all the places he wanted to go.

  For several mornings now, Borin had been the first to reach the deck, watching the ship's movements. He would close his eyes and listen only to the waves that licked the wooden hull with a soft splash and then crashed against the nearby rocks. Soon, he would hear that sound again—this time, from aboard the ship. And the ship would sail into unknown waters.

  The sea was his home, and the God of the Sea would guide him. He didn’t know if that was true, but he felt it was. And that’s what the sailors said. But no one could truly be called a sailor if they had only crossed the open waters of the Western Sea. Borin wanted more. He wanted to sail deeper, to row until no shores were visible behind him.

  “Elrik, Lord Borin,” the shipwright, missing a finger on each hand, approached him. The craftsman, with his four-fingered hands, looked at the new ship with the same satisfaction as Borin.

  "I'm ready to set sail, Elrik. The ship looks ready. Yesterday, I climbed aboard just to feel it, to feel the waves."

  “From what I know, it’s not good luck for the captain to board the ship before it's ready. But those are just superstitions, Prince. How does it feel?”

  “Magical. But I don’t want to be the captain, Elrik. Cassius will be the captain.”

  “Cassius the Blue? Are you sure about that? I think you should reconsider. Are you aware…”

  “No, Elrik. I don’t care. I just want to enjoy the sea. I’m not good at navigating or reading the currents. Let Cassius handle the crew. He’s proven himself on more than one voyage. I just want to sail.”

  “But his journeys always ended in murder, theft, or smuggling. He even served time in Thorn for some of his crimes. What does your father think?”

  “My father doesn’t matter. Well, he does, but if it were up to him, this ship wouldn’t even exist,” Borin gestured to the ship. “Don’t expect him to come here, let alone board. My father doesn’t like the sea or the smell of fish. Especially after…”

  Borin didn’t continue. Everyone knew about Liora, his aunt and his father’s sister, who had disappeared in that very sea and never returned. Borin was sure Elrik understood.

  “The king doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would ever set foot on a ship.”

  “You mentioned everything on the ship is ready, but there’s one thing left.”

  Elrik smiled and clasped his hands together. Then he continued, visibly more pleased:

  “Every ship, my young prince, to ensure it sails smoothly and doesn’t take on even a drop of water, needs wine.”

  “Wine?”

  “A proper feast. A blessing, an anointing. Call it what you will.”

  “This is the first I’ve heard of such a thing. Won’t the ship sail just fine without it?”

  “It will sail, but according to seafaring beliefs, it’s bad luck if the ship isn’t doused with blood and wine.”

  “Now blood, too? How many superstitions surround a single ship, Elrik? I’ve already heard two.”

  “These are the ones I know. The others, your Cassius will tell you once you set sail, though, knowing him, he’ll be content with wine and perhaps a tender lamb.”

  “That sounds like something barbarians would do.”

  “Again, I tell you, Prince, if you don’t believe me, ask Cassius. But I warn you, his mouth will water at the mere thought.”

  Borin had heard of such traditions, but he hadn’t thought they were still practiced. Behind him, on the wooden pier where they stood, all kinds of people moved about. Some sold fresh fish; others docked or departed with their small boats or ships, heading into the Western waters. Still others recruited crew members or traded goods, whether stolen or purchased from elsewhere. The place was lively and smelled of fresh fish. And nearly everyone, fishermen or passersby alike, knew who Borin was, often meeting his gaze. He was used to it.

  “Prince, have you thought of a name for the ship?” Elrik continued to bombard him with questions he didn’t have answers to.

  “I suppose that’s another superstition?”

  “I wouldn’t call it a superstition. Where have you ever seen a ship without a name? When you’re at the mercy of nature and the sea, it’s better to follow every tradition that’s ever helped before. And Captain Cassius will tell you the same. Speaking of which,” Elrik pointed toward the ship, “it wouldn’t hurt to load some weapons on the deck, sir. You never know.”

  “I’ve thought about that, Elrik. I’ll talk to Cassius. He should know what we need.”

  “He knows, indeed. This is the fourth ship I’ve handed over to him. And countless others he’s seized illegally or appropriated. But I’m not the one to judge him.”

  Borin couldn’t get enough of the sight of the ship. For years, he had dreamed of a ship to sail the seas. Ever since he was a child, and his father’s sister proudly sailed her own. She slept here on the pier and rarely returned to her room in the kingdom. That, in turn, led Borin to sneak aboard while Liora was away, exploring all her maps and notes—carefully, without touching anything. And he didn’t understand any of it anyway. He just gazed at ship diagrams, sea charts, and strange words that, as a child, he didn’t understand and now didn’t remember. She loved the sea, and only now did Borin understand why.

  He reached for the top button of his shirt, unbuttoned it, and reached into his chest. His fingers found the metal medallion hanging around his neck, resting against his pale skin, still bare of the thick hair that marked other men. Borin clasped the medallion in his palm, pulled it out, and turned it between his fingers before his eyes. The medallion had a round frame in which an animal, with tentacles like an octopus but a human head, spun.

  “The symbol of Raven Star,” Elrik said beside him. “Where did you get it, Prince?”

  “It was a gift.”

  “From him? From Raven?”

  “Yes, Elrik.”

  Elrik stared at his chest, where the medallion gleamed, reflecting the sunlight.

  “Forgive me for asking, but how...? It’s believed that Captain Star has been dead for at least ten years. If he isn’t imprisoned in Thorn. No one’s heard anything of him for that long.”

  “That’s true, Elrik. I haven’t seen him either. In fact, only once—when he gave me the medallion. I was four, and Raven was just a ship’s captain. But I don’t remember much. I think my father’s sister had brought him to the kingdom for dinner.”

  “I remember that, Prince. I had just arrived in Volkar. Your father wasn’t too pleased to have him in his court. It’s something your father probably doesn’t even remember, but I was there. I was building the flower arches over one of the entrances. Your mother wanted the flowers to climb the wall and hang from the arches. She had seen it in Meihar. That was the first and last time I saw Raven Star. And then your father asked me to help with the ship.”

  “The Dread Prince?”

  “A funny name for a ship, isn’t it? He needed a carpenter to maintain the ship during the voyage. But I had just arrived and was building a house for my family. And I was helping the king—your father—so I didn’t even consider speaking to him.”

  “Raven never returned from that voyage.”

  “And the news that followed his disappearance was even worse. Not a word about his death. But there were plenty of reports of arson, robbery, murder, and burnt villages. Even your father was briefly accused of aiding him. By God, King Severin is the best ruler this kingdom could ask for. I don’t believe any of it.”

  Borin listened to Elrik as he gazed at the ship. Everything the carpenter said was true. He had heard it, too. But he didn’t believe the stories about Raven Star. In his mind and dreams, Raven was a great ship captain and was still out there somewhere in the wide sea. Just like his aunt. He wanted to be like Raven. He grasped the medallion again and squeezed it.

  Elrik extended his hand and handed him a piece of parchment. Borin took it.

  “A blueprint? Of the ship?”

  “Yes, Borin. I don’t need it anymore. Take it with you. You never know what might happen out there on the big blue sea or what places you might find yourself in. Let the next carpenter who encounters the ship know how to help.”

  “Elrik, what about you? Don’t you want to come with me and set sail?”

  Elrik laughed.

  “No, Borin. I get that offer often, but I’ve never accepted it. I have unfinished business here. Over time, I’ve realized that I’m more needed on land than at sea. And I feel the kingdom still needs me and has more for me to give. Besides, I’m expecting my sixth child. I can’t leave my wife alone with six children while I go off to chase youthful passions.”

  “Rest assured, if you come along, your wife and all your children will be well taken care of. I can even bring them into the kingdom to live with my father. He knows you and won’t mind. Your wife can assist the ladies of the court or in the kitchen, and your two eldest sons could become soldiers or even knights.”

  Elrik smiled again and placed a hand on Borin’s shoulder.

  “Borin, you remind me more and more of your aunt. But she was a bit tougher and didn’t plead with simple carpenters like me. Keep dreaming, as you’ve always done, but don’t beg anyone. Especially not someone beneath you. And I am beneath you. I work for money, not for friendship.” Elrik removed his hand. “Take it as advice from me. Otherwise, sooner or later, you’ll be left without a ship and come back empty-handed and robbed. The people who board the deck are former murderers, con men, and thieves. That doesn’t mean they won’t be loyal to you or deceive you. But they will watch your every move. And you need to show them that you’re above them at all times. Not by force, but by being someone they need as a leader.”

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  Borin tried to speak, but Elrik continued, stopping him:

  “I may be a simple carpenter, but I grew up around ships. I know what happens there and can tell a good captain from a boy with a dream. You’re a dreamer, Borin. There’s nothing wrong with that. But when you step aboard, be a different man.” Elrik pointed to the ship. “Everyone Cassius brings aboard will be a dreamer like you. And they’ll act as if they’re the dreamer on the ship, not you. That’s why you need to show from the start who’s in command.”

  “Iris.”

  “Excuse me? Iris?”

  “Yes, that will be the ship’s name.”

  “A good name. Yes, fitting for a ship. But why Iris?”

  The ship before him suddenly disappeared. The blue sky reappeared. Borin turned to his left. Elrik was gone. A blonde girl, no older than ten, ran beside him. He looked down. The ground was closer than before, and his sword was gone. He looked into the water and saw himself. But he wasn’t a grown man of twenty-three; he was a child again. He was about ten years old.

  “Borin!”

  He felt a pinch on his arm and grabbed the spot where it hurt. He looked up. The blonde girl was laughing and running away from him. He chased after her. Iris. It was Iris. She was so fast that he couldn’t catch her. They ran across the kingdom’s fields, passing his brother, who was surrounded by the ladies of the court and their daughters. He paid them little mind. He was looking for Iris. He saw her braids behind a bush. He crept closer…

  “Borin?”

  He heard a voice behind him. At first, he didn’t recognize it. Then he turned. It was Elrik.

  He woke up.

  “Prince, are you all right?”

  “Yes… yes. I’m here.”

  “You had a fit or something.”

  “Again?”

  “Again? Are you ill? Should I call the healer?”

  Borin looked around. Two other fishermen were nearby, and everyone was looking at him. He was sitting on the ground.

  “No. I just remembered something. It doesn’t matter, Elrik. I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? You’d better get up. There are many people here. They’ll talk.”

  “Let them talk. I’m leaving soon anyway. Have you seen Cassius?”

  “In fact, I haven’t seen him in a while. I was surprised you chose him. I didn’t know he was still around.”

  “Can you find me the best lamb in the kingdom, Elrik? I know you’re a carpenter, but do me this favor.”

  “A lamb?” Elrik smiled. “I have six. One of them will be where you stand tonight. Consider it a gift from me.”

  ***

  The fire crackled near the deck. In the distance, the ship Iris lay almost motionless on the calm sea. The moon had just risen, its reflection stretching across the water almost to the shore before them. At this hour of the night, the deck was deserted. But on the meadow behind the wooden stalls where fishermen sold their fish during the day, the enormous fire consumed the wood one by one, growing with immense power. A few steps from Borin, the lamb lay peacefully on the ground, unaware of what was about to happen. It chewed on the grass, rolling it in its mouth before swallowing. Two boys, no older than five, sat beside it, petting it, and the lamb seemed to enjoy the last moments of its short life.

  Borin lifted the wooden mug and tasted the wine. There was no mistaking its flavor. It was from their vineyards. Even at the edge of the world, he could recognize the aroma of the grapes growing beneath his windows, whose scent woke him every autumn. He had ordered two barrels for tonight. Before they sat by the fire, he thought it would be enough, but now he was starting to doubt it. Cassius, or as they called him here—the Blue—was downing glass after glass, and when he went to refill, he drank as much as he could on the spot before refilling his cup. He was a massive and stocky man. Almost all the buttons on his white shirt were undone, and the top one was about to burst from the strain of his thick body. His face had a reddish tint, and now, from the wine, it had turned even redder. He had thin black mustaches, which he liked to stroke, especially when he was deep in thought. His hair was also black, though white strands had started to appear.

  Borin was finishing his second cup, sitting close to the fire, pondering the names Cassius had listed. With those long nicknames that often followed every name daring enough to set sail, it seemed to Borin that Captain Cassius had named at least ten men.

  “Jack Silver, Sharp-eyed Jack, and Griff the Golden-haired. That’s it.”

  “Only three?” Borin lifted his cup again, only to find it empty.

  “Three. But what men… Jack’s been with me from the beginning. A true friend. He’s a trader. Bargains with everyone. Even with me, though we’re friends. You can’t fool him or cheat him out of anything. He always comes out with a coin on top. I used to call him Silvernick, but he got upset. So Silver stuck.”

  “How can I trust such a man?”

  “Don’t. It’s that simple. Trust me. I know how to handle him. But he’s crucial to me.”

  “And Jack?”

  “Jack is my eyes. I’m the brains; he’s the eyes. He can spot a target faster than an eagle. Well, he’s not as fast or strong as an eagle, but he’s shrewd and very smart. He’s saved my life several times.”

  “Your life?”

  “Long story, Prince. Not just one. I’ll put it this way: I’d trust him with my life.”

  “And Griff?”

  Cassius laughed, took another sip, and wiped his red mustache with his sleeve.

  “Griff is a beauty.”

  “A beauty?”

  “Believe me, that’s the best quality you can have on a ship.”

  Borin raised an eyebrow and stared into the fire. He didn’t understand, but he didn’t want to. Cassius’s breath was turning his stomach.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Cassius, though I’ve never seen you in action. But these three…”

  “If you trust me, you have to trust them, too. I wouldn’t even board a raft without them. Though,” Cassius smiled under his mustache, “it probably wouldn’t hold the four of us.”

  “The ship is big…”

  “I saw. Your wooden toy is impressive. Elrik outdid himself again. It’ll be a pleasure to command it.”

  “Don’t you want to know where we’re going?”

  “No. I know dreamers like you, Prince. You just want to play, and you have no goal. We’ll cross the waves for a few days, then you’ll get hungry, bored, and want to go back. I’ve seen many like you. But since you’re paying well… I’ll be honest. I want to take your money. I don’t expect this to last more than four or five nights.”

  How dare he speak to him like that? Borin’s blood boiled. He was irritated that Cassius didn’t see him as anything more than a child. And he treated him like one.

  “But you’re paying,” Cassius repeated. “And we’ll play if you want. It’ll cost you a silver coin per man per day. At every shore where we dock, you’ll pay for the whores and the drink. If this ship’s game drags on too long, we’ll talk about coins again. Don’t try to haggle; I won’t settle for less. But if you decide to give more… well, I won’t stop you.”

  “And if you’re right and we just sail and return?”

  “That’s what I’m telling you. You pay day by day, and that’s it.”

  Borin listened and tried to process it all. The venture wasn’t too expensive. Enough money and material had been spent on the kingdom’s ship, so those coins weren’t a significant issue. And maybe it would be worth it. But Cassius was right about one thing. Borin had no clear goal. He just wanted to feel the sea beneath his feet. And then? His heart raced at the thought of what came next. What if he got bored that very night and returned with his tail between his legs? His father would be proven right. So would Elrik and Cassius. None of them trusted him.

  “Sir,” Cassius interrupted his thoughts again, the taste of wine from Cassius’s breath wafting into Borin’s face, “and one more thing.”

  What did he want now?

  “On the ship, we’re equals. You’re not a sir there, nor a lord’s son. You’re just like me and the rest of the boys. But I can command a ship, and you can’t. So, I’ll be above you. If you don’t like it, you can always back out now. And if you don’t like it while we’re at sea… well, don’t take it as a threat, but that beautiful ship would take me to places where even your father and all his power couldn’t find me. And you’d be exploring the depths of the sea.”

  He resented being spoken to that way.

  “Well?” Cassius extended his hand. “Will we work together?”

  Borin looked again at Iris—his ship, took another sip, and firmly shook Cassius’s hand. The fat ship captain drained his cup, spat noisily into the fire, and went to refill his wine.

  Whenever a celebration sprang up on the meadows around the kingdom, new people from all sides arrived. Tonight was no different. At first, it was just Elrik and his family, Cassius with some of his men and friends, the lamb Elrik had brought, and the three knights who followed Borin everywhere. The knights who accompanied him at every step would be the least of what Borin would miss from Volkar. He was a prince and the king’s second son, which made him an easy target for attacks. He knew that but believed he could protect himself. His father didn’t see it that way. Neither did Tiberius—the general of the king’s army.

  Now the meadow was filled with all kinds of people. Unknown women danced around the fire, children pulled and tugged at the sacrificial lamb, Elrik had disappeared into the crowd, and drunkards and fishermen drank from the barrels of wine as if it were their last day on Earth.

  Cassius’s heavy bulk bumped into his leg as the captain settled beside him again. This time, he wasn’t alone. On his other side was a young man with black hair that fell around his face and a fringe that nearly covered his eyes. He wore a shabby brown coat over his shirt, and every time he spoke to Cassius, he leaned forward as if he wanted their conversation to remain between them. Cassius shook his head at the newcomer’s recitation and turned to Borin.

  “This is Jack.”

  “Your brain?” Borin glanced at the sailor, who greeted him with a sly smile.

  “Yes,” Cassius took a drink and shook his head, glaring at the fire as if he were threatening it. “He’s smart, that bastard.”

  “And the other two?”

  Cassius struggled to turn his bulk around, but when he failed, he turned back to the fire, staring straight into the flames.

  “They’re somewhere back there,” he pointed behind him, “in the crowd.”

  “When will I meet them?”

  “There’s time, boy. Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we think about work. And those,” Cassius pointed to the three knights standing beyond the meadow, watching them, “how do we get rid of them?”

  “There’s no way, Cassius. They have orders and will follow them even if it costs them their lives. I assume they’re my father’s men.”

  “To you, they’re your father’s men; to us, they’re your men. After all, you’re from that lot over there,” Cassius pointed to the castle, “and still? Even on the ship?”

  “No! If I must, I’ll take their lives, Cassius, but the ship will carry me, you, and your men.”

  “And maybe a few girls,” Cassius laughed. Jack laughed along with him, even though he probably hadn’t heard their conversation.

  Borin was starting to dislike them. There was no chance he would bring women aboard. And as he watched them, he wondered if these were the best sailors in the kingdom. He could only imagine what the worst would be like.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Elrik.

  “Prince?” Elrik knelt behind him and, with his familiar calm voice, reminded him, “If you keep drinking, the night will pass, and you’ll forget why we’re here.”

  He was right. Borin almost immediately stood up. Cassius and Jack remained seated by the fire. The warriors in the distance also stirred, seeing Borin rise.

  “Elrik, get those kids away from there.”

  Elrik motioned to the children, but they didn’t hear or see him. Then the carpenter whistled loudly, and two women approached, pulling the children away from the lamb. It looked around for a moment, then bit off another blade of grass.

  Borin approached, bent down, and took the rope around its neck. He tugged it towards him, and the lamb stood up, obediently standing beside him. It let out a weak bleat, but it was really just looking for its mother. Borin walked towards the ship, with Elrik and Cassius following him. Cassius was swaying, already drunk. A few people from the crowd on the meadow also broke away and followed them. The majority, however, remained to revel. He was right. Most didn’t even know why they were there.

  The wooden pier had dried out. The sea was calm, with no waves. The ship Iris lay almost motionless. Borin turned his back on it and faced those who had followed him. Behind them, the three royal guards crept closer.

  “A speech, Prince!” Cassius raised his cup high. Now that Jack was beside him, Borin could see just how large the difference was between the two men.

  “I’m not much for speeches. But if I must say something, I will. The ship that Elrik built has been my dream for years. Ever since I saw a great man, to me, a sailor, who is now my next dream—Raven.”

  “Raven Star?” Cassius shouted loudly. “What are we looking for with that scoundrel?”

  Borin pretended not to hear him and continued.

  “Tomorrow, I will seek my father’s permission, King Severin, to set sail, and in a few days, I will depart.”

  “Hooray!” Cassius didn’t stop reminding everyone of his presence.

  “And now,” Borin drew a long knife from his belt, grabbed the animal’s snout, and ran the blade across its throat. The lamb bleated for a moment, then gurgled. Blood flowed down Borin’s hands, dripping between the planks of the pier. Borin took a wooden bowl and placed it under the animal’s throat while the blood still gushed strongly. When he had enough blood, he let the lifeless body fall to the ground and approached the ship. He dipped his fingers into the bowl, smeared them with the warm blood, and stood before his ship.

  For a moment, in the distance, the moon glinted at him, catching his attention. Tonight it wasn’t full. It shone, half of it hidden by what the old books called the dragon’s back.

  Suddenly, the image of tonight’s moon appeared on the ship. Painted in blood. No one said anything. Only Cassius roared:

  “Let’s drink!”