Inside the storage room, our hammocks swung violently from side to side. Lightning flashed outside the single small window, and thunder rattled the beams and timbers around us. The shouts of the sailors, coupled with their loud footsteps on the deck above, weren't exactly comforting. I could tell the crew was working hard, but I'd also never been on a wooden sailboat in the middle of a thunderstorm in a strange sea with monsters in it. I'd been trying and somewhat succeeding to suppress my anxiety for a few hours, but every flash of lightning sent a jolt up my spine.

  Tristan was once again curled up into a ball, but her head was in my lap this time. After fighting with her to allow me to take care of her, the violent rocking of the boat allowed me to overcome the stubborn woman's inhibitions. And she called me stubborn! If I was as stubborn as a door, she was as bad as a mule. Luckily, once we'd argued, she lay down in my lap, and after a few hours of nausea, I managed to calm her down enough to sleep.

  Brushing my hand along her hair, I looked outside the window. Lightning lit up the dark night, giving me glimpses of the rolling storm clouds stretching to the horizon.

  "The sea of light indeed," I murmured.

  Lightning flashed again, followed closely by deafening thunder.

  The sound drowned out Vral's light snoring for a good minute. When the rumbling finally ceased, I heard the flip of a page turning next to me, then the snap of a book's covers coming together. Turning, I saw that Sophia was looking at me and Tristan.

  "I can't wait to get to land." Sophia said as she rubbed her legs. She'd been sitting cross-legged on the floor beside me at Tristan's request. The priestess adored the woman's humming. "I love sailing, but rough seas like these dampen the feeling a bit."

  "Have you sailed often?"

  A smile crept onto her face, and her eyes sparkled. "Yes, I have."

  I could tell she didn't want to impose with her stories. "Tell me about it."

  Her smile grew. "My father loved sailing. Since I was a little girl, we would take a trip on our private ship deep into the lake every few months. Those are some of my favorite memories. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the sea helped raise me. Plus, it's in my blood."

  "How so?"

  "My ancestor sailed these seas when he helped found this land. The stories are that he loved the sea more than any of his consorts. They say it was his true mistress."

  "His consorts?"

  She laughed. "He had seven. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, he wasn't particularly virile. Only one had a child."

  Seven? How could anyone handle that? "Is that normal for nobles? To have many consorts?"

  "It's normal for the powerful. My great, great aunt had thirteen men and women as her consorts. That's just the way of the world." When I didn't respond, she asked, "Is that not how it works on Earth?"

  I shook my head. "Not really. Not anymore. It was common in history, though, and some cultures across the world from where I lived still do that."

  Her lips turned. "I find it odd that that practice ever died out. Isn't it natural for powerful people to want what is best for their lines? I know I would."

  I laughed. "We don't really think in terms of bloodlines anymore. It's kind of antiquated."

  "I don't see how that could be. Bloodlines are very important." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. "A child inherits much from their parents. Skills, abilities, traits. Potential class unlocks. Heritages. Much of that is inherited; thus, powerful pairings are coveted."

  I chewed my lip while thinking about how classes worked. They seemed to be a huge part of society. "Where I come from, classes are reserved for fiction. Video games, stories, all sorts of places. We just exist. Find our path. Live our lives. That's it."

  A cloud crossed her features. "No one helps guide you down a good path?"

  Shaking my head, I answered her. "No, we choose our paths ourselves."

  "And do people choose well?"

  I snorted. "Not really, no. A lot of people don't live particularly remarkable lives. Most people do their job, go home, relax, eat dinner, sleep, and repeat it all the next day. There honestly isn't that much more to life on Earth."

  The cloud lifted, if only a little. "That sounds... freeing, I suppose. Dull, but freeing."

  "That pretty much sums up Earth, yeah."

  "But, then, how are people led to their purpose?"

  "Most just don't have one. The majority of people just kind of live."

  "They just... live?" She said the final word like it was a question.

  "Yeah, that's about the size of it." Thunder boomed overhead, making us flinch. When the booming ceased, I continued. "People are lucky if they can find a calling or a passion back home, and they're even luckier if they can make money doing it."

  "So people's talents go wasted?"

  "They are."

  Lightning split the sky again, sending flickering shadows across her features. "You said some time ago that you struggle when things get hard. However, you have done nothing but stand tall every time we've been faced with a challenge. Why do you doubt yourself?"

  I laughed. "That's not a loaded question or anything."

  "Not in the slightest." She grinned at me.

  "I... I've struggled with doubt for most of my life. Ever since..." When did it start? "I guess it's been ever since my sister died."

  Her hand found mine. "What happened to her?"

  Before I could answer, the hatch above us swung open, and Harrick's soaked head popped into the hold. "Guardian, I need you. Come to my quarters. We've a difficult night ahead. And bring your sword and shield this time."

  "Coming."

  Sophia stood before I did. "I'm coming."

  I wasn't about to protest. Instead, I stroked Tristan's silky black hair. As I did, her eyes opened, and the groggy priestess looked up at me with the most pitiful look I'd ever seen.

  "Are we there yet?"

  I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Sorry, but not yet. Harrick needs me. I need to get up."

  She groaned. "Would you carry me to Vral?" Her voice was a whisper. "I'd feel better with someone to cuddle."

  Without hesitation, I stood and scooped her up into my arms. Carrying her to my hammock, I gently set her down next to Vral. The second she hit the netting, she pulled Vral into her arms and nestled against the goblin, who never stopped snoring. The hammock swayed violently in the heavy storm outside, but neither seemed to notice. Vral hardly seemed to care, and Tristan seemed to be getting her sea legs finally.

  Stroking Tristan's hair a final time, I strapped my sword on, pulled my shield over my shoulder, and the noblewoman and I climbed up. The moment we emerged on deck, the storm struck me like a hammer. Rain lashed my face, and the wind cut through my clothes like they weren't even there. I pulled my cloak tight and began the long walk across the wet deck.

  Massive waves rose around the ship, and the men barely seemed to be holding on as they worked to navigate through the storm. A wave struck the side of the ship, jolting the entire vessel to the side. Grabbing a nearby rope, I pulled myself across the deck to the captain's quarters.

  Halfway across the deck, Sophia

  yelped behind me as a wall of water slammed across the deck. Turning, I grabbed

  her waist just as the wave flooded us. For a single instant, her feet came out from under her, but I managed to hold onto both a rope and her before the water washed her away.

  "Thanks," she shouted over the wind, her fingers digging into my arms.

  Setting her down, we made our way across the ship. When we arrived, Harrick

  appeared, his beard streaming water. "To

  my quarters! Now!" He pointed toward the aft, where a door barely visible through

  the downpour swung wildly on its hinges.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  We

  fought our way up the steps. The other sailors scrambled in the

  rigging above, their shouts torn away by whistling wind. Another wave hit, and

  the world tilted violently. My boots slid across the slick wood until I

  jammed my knee against a railing. Pain shot up my leg, the same one I'd damaged in the storm that brought me to Reial.

  We

  reached the captain's quarters in a final lunge. Inside, lanterns swung

  from the ceiling, casting shadows over the maps and charts nailed to every

  surface. The air smelled of faint mildew, wet wool, and something herbal—maybe

  something that kept the mildew at bay. Considering how wet everything in his quarters was, he had to have been using something.

  Harrick

  slammed the door and immediately spread a yellowed map across his desk,

  weighting its corners with pins. "We're being pushed toward the

  Maw," he growled. "At this point, there's no other option but to run it."

  Sophia

  leaned over the chart, her damp purple hair brushing the parchment. "The twin

  spires should be..." She traced a route with one finger. "Here. You always said to keep them starboard until the black rock appears."

  Harrick's eyebrows climbed, and a smile split his bearded face. "Good. You remember."

  "I could never forget." Her voice held quiet pride. "I had a good teacher."

  I studied the map, but it was little more than a mess of jagged lines and ominous notations. "What's so bad about this place?"

  "Besides needing a great captain to navigate, which I've got covered, there's another issue with the place,"

  Harrick spat.

  "Sirens," Sophia added.

  Arden's lessons popped into my head. "They sing, right?"

  "Those are the ones. Lure men to their deaths with their songs. Only affects men, but men make up the ranks of most sailors, including all my boys."

  "Then what should I do?"

  "I need you to guard the deck, make sure none of my men get taken by a monster. Sirens live in the Maw, but they're hardly the only beasts there. Also, if any of my men get any funny ideas, I need you to set them straight." He stroked his beard. "And don't be gentle with 'em. Once the song takes hold, you need it beaten out of your head."

  I nodded. "I can do that."

  Words appeared in my vision.

  You have received the quest [The Maw at Midnight]

  [The Maw at Midnight]:

  Do you accept this quest?

  "Good." He opened a drawer in his desk. "We'll need to take precautions." He pulled out a small cloth bag. Opening it, he revealed a large number of wax balls inside. "I've enough for my crew, but no extra." He shot Sophia a look. "Make him some earplugs for the man, will you?"

  She nodded. "Done."

  "Come out when the boat stops rocking. That's when we'll be in the most danger."

  "Will do."

  Sophia's fingers tightened on the table. "I'll stay with him, too, make sure he doesn't fall under their sway."

  The captain scoffed. "With what? Pretty words?"

  Before

  she could retort, the ship lurched violently. A chorus of shouts came

  from the deck. Harrick cursed and threw open the door. "I leave for one minute, and you damn dogs..." The rest of his words were drowned out by the storm. The door swung shut behind him.

  Turning back, I saw that Sophia's pale blue eyes were on me. She reached out and broke an inch off a nearby candle. Breaking it a second time, she rolled both wax pieces in her hands until they became balls, then handed them to me. "Put them in your ears."

  "Will this work?"

  "It'll help."

  "And if it doesn't work?"

  "I'll be there." Her words were firm.

  Doing as I was told, I shoved the warm wax into my ears. The loud wind and waves around the ship instantly became light and diffuse. She said something in front of me, but I couldn't make it out. I shook my head, and a look of relief crossed her face. She gestured at a chair nailed to the floor next to the wall in the cabin. I took it, and she took one adjacent to it. There, we waited until it was time.

  ***

  It was maybe half an hour before the boat stopped rocking. The air got thick and wet, and the smell of decay filled the air.

  Looking at Sophia, she gave me a nod, and we both stood. She walked to the door, opened it, and we headed back into the storm. Back

  on deck, the storm had lightened up dramatically. Instead of waves on the deck, large black shapes floated by on either side of the ship. I squinted, trying to make out what they were.

  They were stone spires, cutting out of the water like daggers. We were in the Maw.

  Through the

  light rain, I glimpsed two jagged peaks rising from the sea—the spires

  Sophia had mentioned. Sophia pointed at them. Her face was pure joy. They were white and massive, standing at least two hundred feet into the air, and there didn't seem to be a single blemish on them. Compared to the jagged outcroppings we were floating by, they seemed like they were fashioned by some titan in a former age.

  A thought struck me. They might actually have been.

  I walked up to the wheel, where Harrick was throwing the wheel to the side. As he did, the ship turned, and we barely missed a massive stone finger ahead of us. I hadn't even noticed it. From that vantage point, I could just barely make out the entire crew. Sophia positioned herself at my side and placed her hands on the railing, scanning the horizon for whatever dangers that lurked out in the dark.

  Harrick seemed to know exactly where to go. He threw the wheel hard to either side, dodging every barely visible stone that appeared. I realized he probably had a skill that helped him, but even with a skill, his movements were precise and measured. No amount of Goddess magic could supersede pure practice and skill.

  In both directions, jagged rocks jutted from the waves

  like broken teeth. Worse were the wrecks—dozens of ships in varying

  states of decay, their splintered hulls standing like tombstones in the night, reminders of captains who weren't Harrick. I was happy to be on his ship.

  Movement

  caught my eye. Figures perched on the rocks, their forms indistinct in

  the rain. As we passed closer, details emerged—pale limbs, thick hair, eyes that glowed faintly green. They were sirens.

  One

  stood atop a half-sunk galleon's figurehead, her mouth moving in what I

  knew must be song. Even through the earplugs, a whisper of sound

  reached me—a melody that wrapped around my thoughts like smoke. My feet

  moved without conscious command, carrying me toward the railing.

  Sophia grabbed my arm. The song's pulled faded when her hands touched me.

  The

  siren smiled, beckoning with long fingers. Her lips formed words I

  couldn't hear but somehow understood: "Come. The pain

  ends here."

  However, with her holding my arm, I didn't feel the siren's pull. At least, it wasn't nearly as strong. I turned. Sophia's piercing eyes were on me again. Her jaw was set, and her eyes were steady, unshakable. She gave me a nod. That's what she was saying without saying.

  Looking back out over the ship, I saw one of the sailors climbing down one of the masts. He had an awkward, lopsided smile on his face. I pointed. Sophia let go of my arm.

  Rushing down the steps, I reached the man just as he stepped onto the deck. I held up a hand, but his awkward grin turned into a mask of rage. He swung at me with as much power as he could muster, but, contrary to my instincts, I didn't move. The punch landed on my jaw. It was nothing. It didn't hurt at all. I was far stronger than he was.

  The sailor's eyes grew wide. Throwing my arm out, I wrapped my bicep around his throat. With my other arm, I spun him around, locking his throat against the corner of my forearm and bicep. Kicking his hips out from under him, I felt as all his weight dropped into my arm. The man thrashed about, but within seconds, he grew limp and still. Guiding him to the ground, I set him down and found a nearby rope. Throwing it to Sophia, I scanned the ship, looking to make sure everyone else was good. Luckily, they were.

  I started to walk back up the steps, but something caught my eye. Far out in the water, a woman was beckoning to me. Her arms moved in slow, serpentine arcs, and the barest whisper of song filtered in around the wax in my ears.

  I took an involuntary step.

  Shaking my head, I tried to ignore the song, but I couldn't. My head was pulled upward by an invisible hand. And there, out on a large rock, was Tristan. Her piercing sapphire eyes glowed in the night. I could hear her voice in my head.

  I took another step.

  I tried to pull my eyes away, but I couldn't. I blinked. There, besides Tristan, was Vral. Her red eyes burned in the night, a grin plastered across her face. Her usual leather tunic was unbuttoned, revealing her toned abs and the lines of her small breasts.

  I stumbled forward. The railing was close. I shook my head, tried to blink away the visions, but I couldn't. One of the balls of wax fell from my ears. Countless songs filled my mind, pulling me in every direction. Within the cacophony, three stood out more than all the others.

  I took another stop and felt the railing hit my hips. Looking up, a third figure sat on the rocks. Sophia. She was nude save for a sheer sheet of tight fabric that hugged every one of her ample curves.

  I felt my leg hike over the railing. My other tried to follow, but something held me back. Two

  arms encircled me from behind—not restraining, but embracing.

  The smiles and longing looks faded. In their red and blue eyes, rage.

  "Don't go. Please."

  I felt the arms tighten around me. "I don't want to lose anyone else." A head pressed against my back.

  [Lion's Courage]

  I felt a power wash over me. The voices were drowned in the wave of confidence that enveloped me.

  Sophia's grip tightened. "You promised to protect me."

  Like

  a spell breaking, the compulsion shattered. I stumbled back from the

  rail, nearly crushing Sophia as my knees gave out. She held me upright as I found my footing. Turning, I could see that

  her face was pale but determined.

  Behind her, the Great Tower shimmered, and the first rays of light glinted off the orb high in the sky, painting the storm in eerie gold.

  As the light grew brighter, its rays burned away the clouds and began to touch everything. Looking back toward the rock, I watched as the beauty of my lover and friends melted away, revealing gaunt

  faces, hollow eyes, and flesh stretched taut over too many bones. The

  one that had been Tristan shrieked before diving into the waves.

  Dozens more splashes followed. Soon, every rock was empty of sirens, and a large black stone was fast approaching.

  "Good work, men! You can now say you're one of the few who've braved the Maw in the dead of night!"

  You have completed the quest [The Maw at Midnight]

  You have reached Guardian Level 6.

  Five shouts followed. We'd done it.

  I turned. Sophia had a broad smile plastered on her face. She gestured at her ears, asking me to pull the wax out.

  I pulled the remaining one out, then shrugged. "I lost one back there. Thanks for being with me. I'd have gone in for sure."

  Her face dropped, then her cheeks grew red. "You lost... one of the earplugs?"

  "Yeah. It fell out when I was trying to fight the song off. I couldn't have done it without you." I remembered the form the third siren took. My cheeks got hot.

  "But... That means..." She shook her head. "That means you're strong-willed! Yeah, that's it." She turned abruptly and marched to the steps that led up to Harrick. "Let's go up top. The view's about to be spectacular."

  I had no idea what just happened, but I didn't care. I survived freaking sirens! That was one for the history books. Feeling incredible, I followed the woman up the steps and stood next to her at the top. Her hand found mine as we looked out over the sea. In the distance, a large city appeared. The light struck its white cliffs, making the entire sea sparkle and glow in the morning light.

  She was right. It was absolutely beautiful.