We often don’t realise how much we’ve changed until we cross paths with people from our past. A big fish in a small pond will find it hard to grow until it ventures into the ocean.

  -Excerpt from ‘Ballads of the Sea’ by The Unchained Bard

  “Rose, is that really you?” her father exclaimed, leaping to his feet and rushing towards her.

  She didn’t even get a chance to respond before he wrapped her in a tight embrace, lifting her into the air with his beefy arms. For a brief moment she struggled against it but fast relented, sinking into the warmth of his chest.

  All her fears and hopes faded for that moment in time as she hugged her father. Eventually he released her, grasping her shoulders firmly and looking into her eyes.

  “You are in a lot of trouble, young lady,” he said in the firm tone he saved for scolding her.

  “Seriously?” Rose scoffed, raising an eyebrow. “That’s the first thing you say?”

  He let out a booming laugh and released her shoulders, taking a seat on the grass. He then patted the ground beside him and she took a seat, watching as a twinkle appeared in his eye.

  “Well, I would be remiss in my duties as a father if I didn’t tell you off. You know I had to talk Daniel’s father down for almost a whole week after you stole their boat,” he said, throwing her a sideways glare.

  “Oh! I actually have the money to pay them back now,” she said, realising at that moment she wasn’t a penniless village girl anymore.

  Though whether a fishing family had much use for tidestones was… questionable. Hopefully she could scrounge up enough regular money.

  “Good. Though the person you need to be paying back is me, given that I already helped them pay for a new boat,” he replied with a smirk.

  Rose realised he’d been messing with her and gently slapped him on the arm. When he winced and his eyes widened in shock she realised that her growth was much more impactful than she realised…

  “Wow, that actually hurt! What have you been eating, my little fish?”

  “We had a really good chef on the ship,” she replied, trying her best to keep tears from forming. She still hadn’t gotten over the loss of Nasar.

  “I can tell. You’re damn strong,” he said, giving her a strange look that she guessed meant ‘I’m not sure how to feel about my fifteen year old daughter being stronger than me so I’ll leave it unsaid.’

  Rose looked around, wondering where her mother was. She should be close by if her father was here. Knowing her mother she was probably helping tend to the wounded.

  “Where’s mother? Is she nearby?” Rose asked, gaze wandering around the survivors gathered on the hill.

  Her father didn’t respond, so she turned back to him. His joyful expression had vanished, replaced with a solemn gaze and a frown.

  Rose’s heart skipped a beat and her stomach dropped.

  “Father? Are you alright?”

  She almost didn’t want to listen to his response, his face telling her everything she needed to know already. Nevertheless, she still had to find out the truth.

  He sighed, the deep sigh of a man who’d experienced great loss and lived to tell the tale. “Your mother was always an angel. It’s why I fell in love with her in the first place. She was so kind, always willing to help others before herself,” he said, looking off into the distance and not meeting her gaze.

  “She was,” Rose agreed, wiping away a tear.

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  “This time, her kindness was her downfall. When the first explosion happened, no one knew what was going on. By the time the evacuation warning had spread it was too late for most of the village,” he continued, pausing occasionally to take deep breaths.

  “Because of the location of the house we escaped the initial wave of attacks, but like the angel she was, your mother insisted on helping the neighbours escape. Old Bethel was trapped, you see. Of course, I did most of the lifting and eventually we got her out, but then your mother spotted her dog still inside… I tried to stop her but it was too late. The place collapsed with her still inside.”

  Even her stoic father was crying now, while her own cheeks were wet with flowing tears. Rose was glad her mother had died a hero, but it would’ve been better not to die at all.

  For a damn dog…

  No, that’s a horrible way to think. Every life has value. It’s not mother’s fault she was that kind of woman, but Minenblum’s for being cruel, Rose admonished herself.

  Rose hugged her father once more, sharing the pain of loss and understanding his guilt. She’d felt the same way when Nasar was killed.

  “It’s not your fault,” she said, knowing it was an empty platitude but still offering it nonetheless.

  What she didn’t say was that she believed it was probably her fault… though she’d already had to scold herself once about that line of thinking.

  “Even so, I’m sorry. I should’ve been able to-”

  Rose held up a hand to stop him. “Really, it’s not your fault, father. Don’t let the guilt eat you alive,” she said with a melancholy sigh.

  He nodded but she knew he didn’t take the words to heart. The wound was still too fresh. Some things only time could heal.

  After a few seconds of silence he turned back to her, his frown washed away and his tears dry. “Anyway, it’s wonderful to see you again. Tell me about your adventures, my little pirate. Your letter was quite the read, but I want to hear it from the source.”

  Well, it’s probably a great way to take his mind off things, she thought to herself. She began to tell her father everything that had happened since the night she ran away from home… or well, sailed.

  Though she did skip a few questionable moments, like the fact she’d almost died in the first week because of her own stupidity or how she’d killed plenty of people already. Some things didn’t need to be said.

  ***

  Rose was currently chatting with her father on the back of the same doori as a large group of people made their way to Greengate. Some of the survivors had opted to stay behind, but the prince had left a few soldiers to look after them.

  After she told her father about meeting her uncle he’d agreed that travelling to Greengate was probably the best choice. There wasn’t much left for them in Fairwater Bay.

  Her father had loved her tale, appropriately reacting at the right moments and especially enjoying the stories about fighting colossal sea beasts. When she eventually reached the end, recounting her most recent battle with the commodore, he clapped her on the back.

  “Good girl, I’m glad you gave that bastard what he deserved. You really have grown up… I never used to take you seriously when you used to run around saying you’d become a pirate but I guess I should’ve listened.”

  “If you’re going to be a pirate though, you better make sure you’re the damn greatest pirate that ever lived. Make Saltbeard look like a pretender, my little fish!”

  She giggled at that. Trust her father to be utterly over the top. He didn’t even end it there…

  “Now, the most important question,” he chuckled deviously. “What level is your Fishing? After all those wild battles it must have grown quite a bit.”

  Rose tapped the side of her nose and winked. “That’s for me to know and you to wonder,” she teased.

  “Damn girl, only fifteen and already keeping secrets from your father?”

  “I’m joking,” she replied, rolling her eyes at his ridiculous act. “Level twenty six.”

  He whistled loudly. “That’s a lot higher than I was expecting, but it makes sense given what you’ve told me. You’ll overtake your old man soon enough.”

  “Maybe, but I’m sure you’ll always have something to teach me.”

  “Damn right, and don’t you ever forget it,” he replied, tousling her hair.

  Yet her crazy growth in Fishing wasn’t even the part that surprised him the most. No, what he’d found most strange was her blessing.

  Not only that, but he seemed to not even react when she mentioned it. Like it was something to be expected, or maybe… he already knew, Rose realised.

  What she didn’t know was how. It wasn’t the best time to press him for answers but when it came to gods and mysteries one really couldn’t delay.

  “What aren’t you telling me about Sylack?”

  “Rose, what are you talking about? Sylack is my—well, our—god. The deity of fish and fishermen. What more do you need to know? I’m happy you received his blessing and from the sounds of things you’re using it well,” he said, eyes darting about as he spoke.

  “Father… tell me the truth,” she demanded, narrowing her eyes.

  He sighed, rubbing his temple with his palm. “Fine. You’re right,” he replied, finally relenting. “You deserve to know the truth.”