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An oppressive galactic empire claims that THEIR starships' faster-than-light engines are fueled by the enslaved gods of their defeated foes. You freed a "high priority" prisoner on one of their ships. Now their FTL engines don't work.
As I stood in front of the large doors deep in the engineering section of the Thakayian starship I was very much not supposed to be in, I hesitated.
It hadnât been my choice to serve on the Thakayian flagship. Not my choice to serve the Thakayian empire at all, in fact. But I lived in the empire, and I wasnât a Thakayian. I didnât even know what I was, leftovers from one of the countless civilizations they had conquered, most likely. And that meant the choice was never mine.
I was told to serve, told to be a custodian. Told what to eat, when and where to sleep, when to speak. And no wasnât an answer.
Assuming you enjoyed your head being attached to your body, anyway. Which I very much did.
So, why in the name of all the old gods was I standing in the most forbidden part of this blasted ship?
Something that sounded like a thousand voices screaming all at once rang through my head and I winced.
Oh, yeah. Thatâs why.
From the moment I set foot on that ship, my dreams had been plagued by that sound. Somethingâor someoneâscreaming at me night after night, images of different parts of the ship dancing behind my eyes like a fever dream, like it was trying to talk to me but didnât know my language and was trying to show me instead. I had tried for weeks to ignore it, hoping it would go away. But it didnât. And I couldnât take it anymore. So, I followed the images, letting my body move as if I wasnât even the one controlling it.
And I ended up in front of that forbidden door.
The voice screamed again, louder and with a more desperate tone than I had ever heard it make before, and my head spun. I hesitated again, but hit the door sensor, and it slowly slid open.
The room beyond it looked almost identical to the rest of engineering: same panels, same lights, same machines. I would have just assumed it was just another part of engineering. If it werenât for the massive glass cylinder in the center of it with some kind of energy floating inside, a bright mass of swirling tendrils, always moving, constantly shifting between colours my brain couldnât quite identify.
I cautiously walked inside, jumping a bit as the door slid closed behind me, and made my way to the glass like I were being pulled to it. I reached out, and the second my fingers made contact, my head nearly exploded.
The voice grew louder and louder and I clutched my head. Gods, it hurt. Like my head was being split open from the inside. Like it was trying to escape. But for the first timeâand I didnât know if it made me more or less scaredâI could actually understand what it was saying.
âHelp!â
I stumbled back, covering my ears, but the voice only got louder, more desperate, more afraid. And every word just made the pain worse, a pulse that wouldnât stop.
âHelp!â
Stop.
âHelp!â
Youâre hurting me.
âHelp!â
Please!
âHelp!â
âStop!â I screamed, grabbing the closest thing to me and hurling it at the glass with all my strength.
The second the glass shattered, two things happened. First, the ship, which had been traveling at faster-than-light speeds, ground to a halt, and I was thrown to the ground. But I didnât care about that because the second thing that happened was the voice stopped, and I cradled my pounding head.
It still throbbed with echoes of the screaming, but it wasnât nearly as bad as it was before.
I lay there on the floor for a minute, then the voice returned, clearing, and thankfully much, much quieter than before, âThank you.â
I slowly looked up and saw that the energy was now floating in front of me. It was much brighter this close, and my head pulsed again, making me wince. It started floating toward me, and I tried to move away, but moving just made my head pound even harder. The energy stopped for a moment, like it were thinking, then it moved, condensed. It got brighter too, and I had to look away.
After a minute, the voice spoke again, not in my head this time, âThere. Is this form less distressing for you?â
I looked back and to my shock, a youngâor perhaps ageless would have been a better termâman, emaciated and clearly exhausted, kneeled before me instead of the energy. Though his eyes still shone with the same colours that the energy had. He smiled softly, sadly, and held his hands up in a soothing gesture. âI deeply apologize for frightening you. And for causing you harm. It was never my intention. When you finally made proper contact with me, Iâm afraid I overdid it.â He held his hand out to me but kept it at a distance, âI can take your pain away, if you would permit me.â I hesitated, but another twinge of pain shot through my head and I nodded. He smiled happily and slowly placed his hand on my head. The second he touched me, the pain vanished, and I blinked. âIs that better?â I nodded again, and his eyes actually brightened. âGood. Iâm glad.â He stood and held his hand out to me again.
I found myself taking it without hesitating, and he helped me to my feet, treating me like I were some precious, delicate thing. âWhoâŚare you?â
He sighed then, chuckling sadly, âIâm afraid the name you might know me by has long since been forgotten. Though that may have worked in my favour. I doubt my captors would have let one of my children on board if they actually remembered who I was.â
I frowned, âYour children?â
âThe Ishthrians,â he clarified, and my frown deepened. I had heard the name before, one of the Thakayiansâ many conquered enemies, but they had fallen centuries ago. He must have seen the doubt on my face and smiled gently, âYou must be descended from the Ishthrians. I would never have been able to reach out to you if you werenât. I apologize for how weak and distorted my voice must have sounded, but you are a very distant descendant of my children, so it was the best I could manage.â Once again, he looked at me like I were something precious and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. âThough only a drop of Ishthrian blood is enough to connect me to you.â
My mind suddenly raced through all those stories the Thakayians loved to spew about their FTL drives, how they were powered by the gods of their defeated foes. I had always thought it was propaganda, but nowâŚ
I swallowed, unsure if it was alright to practically be standing in the arms of a god. But he didnât really seem to mind. âWhatâŚwhat now?â
Alarms suddenly started blaring through the ship, lights flashing red, and I could just barely hear the thunder of Thakayian soldier boots making their way toward us. The manâsâthe godâsâface hardened, no longer looking tired, and he gently pulled me behind him, standing between me and the door. âFirst,â he said softly, the air starting to crackle as energy began gathering around him, âI will get you somewhere safe. Then I will free my brothers and sisters.â The door burst open, and Thakayian soldiers poured in, guns pointed right at him. But he didnât look the least bit concerned and simply held up his hand. âAnd then we will free what remains of our children.â
Warnings â description of fighting, blood, wounds
Masterlist
Vascoâs worst nightmare finally comes to pass.
Vasco ducked under the beastâs claws as it swiped at his head and drove his dagger up into its heart. It cried out and tried to struggle for a moment before falling over, dead. He pulled his dagger free and scanned his surroundings. No beasts were headed his way, and Sylvie and Siora were holding their own quite well, so he took the opportunity to catch his breath.
The beasts were monstrous and feral. It was no wonder that Hikmet and San Matheus had reached out to Constantin for aid in fighting against them. What had been a wonder was his reluctance to help them. Thankfully, Sylvie had been there when the emissaries made their requests and offered her services. Speaking of Sylvie, Vasco immediately scanned the battlefield for her and located her just in time to see her set one of the beasts charging at Siora on fire. It was strange; the creatures seemed to do everything in their power to ignore Sylvie wherever they could.
Even in the midst of battle, he could practically feel the tension rolling off Sylvie in waves. Constantin had been acting strangely since he was cured of his Malichor: cold, distant, uncaring. Never to Sylvie, who he clearly still adored like no other, but definitely to everyone else. Sylvie had noticed it, and frankly, it terrified her. Vasco hated it. She was only able to have a few days of rest; it wasnât enough. He worried for her.
âVasco, look out!â
He spun around at Sioraâs scream and saw one of the beasts charging at him fast. Too fast. He could never dodge it in time. He gritted his teeth and braced his arms in front of him, his daggers pointed forward. If he was going down, that beast was coming with him.
Something crashed into his side hard, sending him sprawling into the dirt a few feet away. He turned over and his eyes locked on Sylvie just in time to see the beast slash at her with all its might, where he had been before she pushed him out of the way. The world faded away, and it felt like he was watching in slow motion as Sylvie flew and landed hard in the dirt a few dozen feet away.
And she didnât get back up.
Vasco screamed her name so hard his throat felt raw, but he didnât care about that in that moment. He scrambled over to her, ignoring how numb his legs felt, and stood between her and the beast, holding his daggers up in his shaking hands, ears ringing and heart threatening to beat out of his chest.
The beast stared at Sylvie and Vasco growled, but he could actually see the fight seem the leave the creature. It let out a cry to its comrades, and they all froze mid-fight, taking off into the forest.
He waited a moment after they disappeared to make sure they were actually gone, then his daggers fell from his trembling fingers. He spun around and collapsed on the ground beside her, âSylvie! Sylvie, can you hear me?!â She didnât respond, and he carefully turned her onto her back.
And his heart dropped into my toes.
Three large, deep gashes stretched across her chest from her shoulder to her abdomen, blood soaking her coat and staining the grass around her at an alarming rate. He ripped his coat off and pressed it hard against the wounds to slow the bleeding. Sylvie whimpered, but her eyes didnât open, and he carefully brushed some loose hair from her face. âSylvieâŚâ
âVasco!â Siora fell to the ground beside Sylvie and forcefully pulled the coat away. Her face turned pale, and she started healing herself, but locked her eyes with him. âHer wounds are too severe for me alone.â
Vasco swallowed the bile in his throat. âDunncasâs village is nearby.â Siora nodded, and he carefully slipped his arms under Sylvie, picking her up. She whimpered again, and his heart broke before they started racing for Dunncasâs village as he held Sylvie as tightly to his chest as he could.
Please, my tempest. Please donât leave me.
Vasco watched silently as Sylvieâs chest rose and fell softly, finally resting after Dunncasâs healers along with Siora had practically pummelled her with healing magic, potions, and poultices. At that moment, he couldnât have been more pleased with Sylvieâs choice of allies since the moment they had entered the village, Sylvie bleeding out in his arms, the healers had descended on them without asking for an explanation and rushed her into one of their homes. He had refused to leave her side, leaving Siora to explain their situation to Dunncas. The healers had been less than pleased for him to be in their space, but frankly, he didnât give a fuck what they thought. The healers had said with proper care, Sylvie would recover, though if they had made it to the village only minutes later than they did, it would have been a different story entirely. Though she was far too weak to be moved any time soon.
Vasco held her hand tightly in his from his spot by her bedside. It was the only thing they could do without shaking. Images upon images kept flashing through his mind: Sylvie pushing him out of the way, her getting hit, her poor body flying through the air and landing in a heap like a rag doll. And the blood. Gods, the blood. It was the only time he had left her side since she had been hurt. He had nearly scrubbed his hands raw cleaning them in the creek, but no matter what he did, he couldnât not see her blood staining his skin. Or the smellâŚ
Sylvieâs hand squeezed his, and Vascoâs head snapped up, locking eyes with her tired but content ones. âSylvie!â He jumped up and scanned her body, his hands hovering over her but never touching. âAre you alright?! Are you in pain?! Stupid question, of course you are in pain. I can get the healersââ
Sylvie tried to reach out to him, and he immediately caught her hand. She smiled tiredly at him, âVasco, please, calm down. Iâm fine. JustâŚjust sit with me a moment.â
He hesitated, then sat back down, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. âYou most definitely are not fine.â He took a deep breath to steel himself. âYou almost died, Sylvie. If Siora and I had gotten to Dunncas even a minute laterâŚwhat were you thinking?â
She shrugged and immediately winced, waving him off when he moved to get up. âI wasnât really thinking, I suppose,â she said quietly. âYou were going to get hurt and IâŚmy body just reacted.â
Vasco couldnât decide whether to strangle her or kiss her. He decided to just shake his head instead. âYou should not throw your life away like that, Sylvie. It is far too precious. Iâm not worth it.â
She didnât say anything for a moment, then pulled her hand free and shakily reached up to his face, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek as she smiled gently, âYes, you are.â
His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Eventually, he just pressed her hand to his reddening face. He felt that familiar, warm, wonderful, terrifying feeling deep in his heart and just smiled to himself. I wonder if I ever stood a chance against such a magnificent tempest.
He remembered when they met, how struck he had felt just by looking at her. And realized he never had.
You're teleported to 44BCE Rome in your everyday street clothes. You're brought before Caesar and he believes you're from the future, hoping to bring him fortune. One day he questions you, asking "How do I die?"
Somehow, I knew Julius was going to ask me that question from the moment I practically fell into his lap on the Senate floor. The other senators were afraid of me, thinking I was some kind of bad open from Apollo, and avoided me like the plague. But not Julius. If anything, I couldnât get him to leave me alone. I was very lucky Calpurnia wasnât the jealous type because I swear; I spent more time with her husband than she did. He wanted to know everything about the future, Romeâs future and the worldâs.
So, I really shouldnât have been surprised when Julius asked me how he would die in the middle of a banquet he was holding with the other senators. But it still caught me off guard.
The entire room seemed to grow silent, and I couldnât help but glance around. My eyes hovered over Gaius, Decimus, and Brutus, who all looked very interested in what I was about to say. I swallowed and looked back at Julius, forcing a smile, âIn your bed, from what I remember. After a long, peaceful life.â The room seemed to let out a breath it had been collectively holding, and I tried very hard not to notice how disappointed Gaius, Decimus, and Brutus looked.
The music picked back up, laughter returning and drinks flowing. But Julius remained quiet for the rest of the evening, his face unreadable and his eyes never leaving me. I tried my best to ignore him, hoping beyond hope he would just let it go.
Alas, it was not meant to be, as he summoned me to his chambers just as I was about to get ready for bed that night.
I swallowed as Julius waved away his guards and servants from his lectus and the door shut behind me. âH-how can I help you, Caesar?â
He studied me for a long time before speaking, âHow do I die?â
I cursed internally. âI already told you, Caesarââ
âAnd you were lying,â he interrupted. âYou are a great many things, Evelyn, but a good liar is not one of them. The others at the banquet may have been fooled, but I like to think that after all the time weâve spent together, I know you a little better than they do.â He stood and walked over to me, and I willed myself not to run away.
Julius had always been kind and respectful to me, not like the other senators who just saw a âlowlyâ woman, but there were times where I could see the power-hungry warrior the senate liked to whisper about.
He must have seen the discomfort on my face because his softened. âI donât want to put you in an awkward position, Evelyn. But this feels like something I should know. Please, how do I die?â
I studied him for a minute, and before I even realized it, I told him everything. The plot, when it would happen, who was behind it, their motivations for it. Everything. Julius seemed to have that kind of charisma about him that made everyone around him do whatever he wanted them to, all while thinking it was their idea in the first place.
When I finished, he said nothing for a long time. âAre you okay?â
He nodded his head absentmindedly. âGaius and Decimus I can expect doing something like this, but BrutusâŚâ He sighed. âI always had a feeling about him, but I hoped it was just me being paranoid. Oh, Brutus...â
I swallowed, âWhatâre you going to do?â
He looked at me and smiled in a way I couldnât tell was kind or calculating. âI am going to turn your lie into truth. And you are going to help me.â
Warnings â very mild swearing (literally one word)
Masterlist
After all the challenging things Sylvie has had to deal with, Vasco decides she needs a break. And what better time than her birthday?
âVasco, are you ever going to tell me where you are taking me?â
âSoon, Sylvie, we will be there soon. Patience, Your Excellency,â he replied as he guided her through the streets of New Serene, ignoring the confused stares of the people they passed.
He could practically feel her roll her eyes under his hands, but she laughed anyway. Such a beautiful sound, one he hadnât heard nearly enough lately. She had finally started to act like her usual self after receiving her mark and Constantin being cured of his Malichor, and it was a great relief to all those around her.
And it all happened just in time for her birthday.
They finally reached the docks, and Vasco took in a deep breath of sea air, finally feeling at home. He noticed Sylvie perk up at the familiar smells and sounds as well and smiled. He skimmed the docks and finally spotted his ship, steering Sylvie toward it. He had to beg Admiral Cabral to have his ship back for the day, but she agreed easily after she learned why he needed it.
When they got to the end of the gangplank, he positioned her then removed his hands from her eyes. âHappy birthday, Sylvie.â
She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light, and when they landed on his ship, she practically glowed, âYou got me a boat?â
Vasco deadpanned at her and she giggled. He couldnât help but smile at the sound, âAdmiral Cabral gave me the ship for the day. We can go wherever we want, no worries, no responsibilities. Just the water.â
She looked excited, then her face dropped. âBut my work. I haveââ
âAbsolutely nothing to do today,â he interrupted, âI got it all sorted with your cousin. You are completely free for the day.â
She stared at him for a minute, then a large, ecstatic grin split her face. She threw her arms around him tightly, âThank you, Vasco!â She pulled back enough to kiss his cheek, making his face explode in red, then raced up the gangplank onto the ship.
Vasco caught himself as he swayed and swallowed hard, trying desperately to control his racing heartbeat. Gods, this woman will be the death of me. When he felt like he could walk without falling over, he followed her onto the ship and watched as she reunited with Jonas, Flavia, Lauro, and the rest of his crew. He couldnât help but smile fondly as they all smiled and hugged and laughed, like family reuniting after a long time apart. It warmed his heart in a way that he hadnât expected but didnât dislike.
He cleared his throat, turning on his captainâs voice, and walked over, âAlright, you layabouts, thatâs enough loitering! Everybody to their posts, we have a ship to pull out! Letâs see if youâve gotten soft under your other captainâs hand!â
They spent the day sailing off the coast, as far out as they could, and Sylvie seemed to be having a grand time running around the ship, helping to adjust the sails, and learning to use some of the Naut navigation tools. She even got to steer the ship for a time and looked like she could light the whole world with her smile.
But all good things must come to an end.
âCaptain! The sun is starting to set, sir. If we want to be back at the docks by dark, we should head back now.â
âThank you, Mr. Lauro. Letâs head back then.â Lauro saluted then ran off to relay Vascoâs orders to the helmsman. He saw Sylvie move out of the corner of his eye and turned to see her visibly deflate. His heart dropped, and he searched his brain for a way to lighten her spirits.
âCaptain?â He glanced at Jonas as the boy stepped forward, his eyes locked on Sylvie. âYouâve been on land for a while now. Surely some of your abilities have waned in all this time youâve been relaxing on the island.â Vasco stiffed and was about to snap at him when Jonas grinned mischievously, âI bet Lady de Sardet would be able to beat you to the crowâs nest.â
Vasco blinked. This brilliant little shit. He smirked back at Jonas, âOh, I doubt that, Jonas. She is still a bureaucrat, after all.â
âNow, wait just a minute.â The two men grinned at each other, and Vasco wiped his smile before turning to Sylvie, no longer looking despondent and instead looking determined. âI spent most of my childhood on the deck of a ship. I can more than handle myself.â
Vasco turned to her fully and tilted his head up slightly in challenge, âThen prove it, my lady.â
She held his gaze for a moment before smirking, âI would be more than happy to take you up on that offer, Captain Vasco. But I would hate to embarrass you in front of your crew.â
Vasco met her smirk, âYour concern is appreciated, but I doubt it will be necessary.â
The two of them moved to the bases of the rigging, and the crew immediately crowded around them, obviously having listened in. Sylvie and Vasco got situated on the ropes, and he nodded at Flavia, who nodded back and took off her hat, holding it high. âAlright, you two, on three! OneâŚtwoâŚthree!â The second her hat dropped, they took off, the crew cheering hard below us. Vasco distinctly noticed that they were all mostly cheering Sylvie, though he couldnât really blame them. She was much faster than he thought she would be.
But not fast enough. He managed to reach the crowâs nest a few steps before her.
He pulled himself into it and took off his hat, waving it to his crew below. They cheered for him as Sylvie reached the top herself and he helped her climb in. He worried for a moment that she would be upset, but she was smiling and laughing. âIt seems there is some benefit to Naut training. Well done, Vasco. Though I will be victorious the next time we race!â
He smiled back at her, âI donât doubt that, Sylvie.â He pulled himself away from herâwith great effortâand shouted back down at his crew, âAlright, youâve all had your fun; back to work! Mr. Lauro, I want to be fully docked before we lose the light!â
âAye, sir!â
He turned back to Sylvie to find her leaning against the railing, her head back and eyes closed, just letting the wind hit her, a few loose strands of her golden-brown hair blowing behind her.
Gods, this woman is a vision.
He thought back to what she had told him that night about her childhood dream to join the Nauts and wondered how their lives would have been different if she had gone through with it. Would they have met? Been friends? Maybe somethingâŚ
Sylvie turned to him and smiled softly, her blue-green eyes putting the sea around them to shame. That terrifying feeling he got before returned in full force. He really was doomed with this woman, wasnât he?
âThank you, Vasco. Truly. Today was wonderful. I couldnât have asked for anything better.â
He swallowed that feeling down hard, âYou are very welcomeâŚSylvie.â
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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As your ship pass through, the sirens calling out to your crew for their deepest desires, a siren calls out to one of them saying, âIâm so proud of you, my son! Give me a hug!â
I knew it was a siren the second I heard my motherâs voice.
There wasnât anything wrong with the imitation. It was flawless, in fact, down to her natural inflections and the slight lisp she always had when making an 's' sound. Had the voice said anything else, I might have genuinely believed it was my mother. But the siren said she was proud of me. It called me her son.
And my mother would never say that.
Against my better judgement, I looked out to the rocks, spotting my siren with ease. The illusion was perfect, too; Iâd give the beast that. The thing that easily gave it away was that my âmotherâ was smiling at me. I donât think my mother had ever looked at me with anything less than a scowl my entire life. Well, apart from the satisfied grin she had shot me when she sold me to some smugglers when I was just a boy. âFinally good for something,â she had said.
 âMy dear son!â the siren-mother called out again, a warm smile on her face that would have belonged on any other motherâs, but just looked wrong on hers. âI have missed you so much!â
I very nearly laughed at that. Missed me? This siren must have been young to make such mistakes in its illusion. My mother would have drowned me herself if she could have gotten away with it. The only reason she didnât throw me to the wolves was that a single woman with a boy to run errands for her was only slightly better off than a single woman alone. Though she made sure to never go a day without reminding me how I ruined her life.
The result of a one-night stand with an unknown man, her family disowned her when they learned she was pregnant. It was a tale as old as time. About a dozen other women living in the slums I grew up in could claim the same backstory. The second I was old enough, she sold me to make some quick coin, and I had been on the sea ever since, moving from ship to ship.
âMy darling!â the siren-mother called out again, sounding annoyed that her illusion wasnât working, âDonât leave your mother waiting!â
I snorted then, âOh, terribly sorry, mother dearest, I was just preparing a gift for you!â And with that, I pulled out my pistol and shot the creature right in the chest, sending it falling back and breaking the illusion immediately. I heard the other sirens hiss and cry and shout for their fallen sister before slithering back into the waters from whence then came.
My crewmates slowly started to come out of their own illusions, taking their posts when they were able, and I patrolled the deck until we were out of the sirenâs territory.
The captain came up to me then. âGood work, boy! Hate those devilish things. Itâd be a pretty sweet way to go, though!â He laughed hard and slapped me on the back, making me stumble forward a step. âHowâd you break their tricks, anyhow?â
I sighed and looked back out over the water, âJust lucky, I guess, sir.â
Warnings â mentions of dead island creatures, mentions of deceased Nauts
Masterlist
Now that Vascoâs journey to find himself has come to an end, he needs Sylvieâs help to reaffirm his loyalties to the Nauts.
âSylvie, you really donât need toââ
âVasco, I am not having this conversation with you again. I am going to help you on this loyalty mission of yours, and that is final.â She stopped in the middle of the street and raised an eyebrow at him, smiling. âIf youâd prefer, I could make that an order.â
He sighed heavily in fake resignation, âVery well, my lady.â She rolled her eyes hard at him but kept her smile. He returned it softly, âThank you, Sylvie.â
âYouâre welcome, Vasco. Itâs the least I could do after everything youâve done for me. I owe you that much.â
He shook his head fondly, âYou owe me nothing, Sylvie.â If anything, he was the one who owed her everything, taking the time to help him while also searching for a cure for her cousin. It was trying on her; he could see that. She didnât smile as easily as she used to. But still, she did it with a smile on her face. A small smile, tired, but a smile nonetheless.
Thankfully, it didnât take them long to find the Admiral.
âCaptain Vasco!â Admiral Cabral smiled as they approached. âIâm glad to see you again! Did youâŚprofit from your time on land?â She looked between him and Sylvie with a knowing glint in her eye, and Vasco realized he still had that dumb little grin on his face.
He quickly wiped it off and cleared his throat, âIâŚdid, Admiral.â She grinned, and he quickly continued before Sylvie could understand the implication. âThatâs why Iâve come to see you.â
Her face turned serious then. âYou want me to entrust you with a loyalty mission?â
Vasco nodded, âIndeed.â
She studied him for a moment then nodded, âVery well. A short time ago, we lost one of our ships near the island, near the southern part of a region the natives call Wenshaganaw. The reputation of the Nauts suffered from it. I need someone to investigate and restore our reputation.â
âAt your orders, Admiral, and with pleasure!â
The Wenshaganaw coast was a maze of cave tunnels, dark, dreary, and absolutely full of bloody bats. When they finally reached the end of the tunnel and could see the beach and the ship, Vasco grinned, âLook, there it is!â His grin faded however as he got a better look, seeing the ship was fully aground and somehow, almost completely on its side.
Siora stared, âI have never seen a boat on its side like this. It looks like the corpse of a Morimil!â
They approached the wreckage cautiously, taking note of the dozens of island creaturesâ corpses that littered the ground around it. Sylvie squatted beside one of them and studied it for a moment. âThe corpses are chained up. These beasts were captiveâŚâ She glanced up at him, âCould they have died during the sinking?â
Vasco stepped beside her, looking over the same beast, then shook his head, âI donât think so. They donât seem to have drowned. Something bigger slaughtered them with no effort at all...â
They drifted apart, each exploring a different part of the beach for what felt like hours before Sylvie called Vasco and Siora over to her. She motioned to the twisted hunk of metal she had found behind the wreckage as they approached, âIt looks like an enormous cage but lookâŚâ
He blinked as he realized what she was pointing out, âItâs been brokenâŚâ He paused, then looked at Sylvie. âIs this ringing any bells for anyone else?â
Sylvieâs eyes lit up with recognition, and she looked over the hull of the ship again. âThe hull was torn apartâŚand given the way that the wood is broken, it came from the insideâŚâ
Vasco stepped beside her again, motioning to the ground, âThere are scratch marks almost everywhere on the wood, but they do not look like the marks a reef would make.â
âThis ship was apparently carrying creatures from the island. The largest one managed to escape and made a hole in the hull as it tried to run away, just like in SereneâŚâ She shook her head sadly, âThe sailors did not stand a chance.â
âThe Admiral will not be satisfied with our deductions; she will want concrete proof.â He rested his hand on Sylvieâs arm. âLetâs keep searching.â
She nodded and began another sweep of the area. Vasco went to join her but noticed Siora smirking at him out of the corner of his eye. âWhat?â
She tried to look innocent. âI donât know what you mean.â
He sighed heavily, âSiora...â
She giggled, âI just enjoy watching the two of you together, that is all.â Vasco raised an eyebrow, and she continued, âYou are like minundhanem. Yet you try to deny it. Even though you light up in her presence like a flower finally being given sunlight. It is very amusing.â
He didnât need to understand her language to understand the tone, and his cheeks nearly caught on fire. âSiora, thatâsââ
âVasco! Siora! Take a look at this!â They both looked in Sylvieâs direction to find her holding up what looked like a book. âI think this is the captainâs journal!â
âPerfect. Thatâs exactly what we need!â Vasco called back, and she grinned at him. He moved to go over to her when he noticed Siora smirking at him again. It took him a moment to realize he had begun smiling without even noticing it, and Siora giggled as his cheeks turned red again, scampering off to Sylvie before he could snap at her. He sighed and pulled his hat down a bit to cover his blush as he joined the two women.
Gods, Iâm in trouble.
The Admiral looked up from her papers and smiled, âDe Sardet! What can I do for you?â
âRegarding the mission you entrusted Captain Vasco withâŚâ
âWe have come to give our conclusions,â Vasco finished.
The Admiralâs face hardened. âIâm listeningâŚâ
âWe examined the shipwreck and the surrounding area. A creature they carried on board managed to set itself free. An enormous beast, it made a hole in the hull and caused the sinking.â He lowered his head, âWe could only find dead bodies.â
The Admiral closed her eyes a moment, mourning their brothers and sisters. âAlas, I was expecting itâŚMay the sea be their shroud; we shall not forget them. Did you find anything?â
Sylvie handed her the captainâs journal. âThe captainâs journal tells the tale of the ship from their departure to the sinking.â
âThank you, Vasco. De Sardet.â She tightened her grip on the journal. âIt seems that the potions of the Alliance failed us once more. And rest assured, we will never transport another one of those creatures; they are too dangerous for our ships.â She sighed sadly then smiled, âOur honour is safe, thanks to you. You have proven your loyalty, and you have regained my trust. What you have achieved for us all deserves to be a part of your history, Vasco.â
âI am most grateful to you, Admiral.â Vasco bowed his head again, then caught Sylvie smiling at him out of the corner of his eye. She looked so proud, so happy⌠âBut I would like to request something.â
The Admiral raised an eyebrow, âA request? Speak, Captain.â
He took a deep breath, âAs you know, De Sardet was sea-born, despite being taken away from us. I know that you have sent me on this assignment so that I would reflect on my own condition, but I believe you were also hoping I would manage to make the legate want to join us. After proving to be invaluable and respectful of the Nauts, perhaps itâs time to officially recognize my companionâs birthright?â He risked glancing at Sylvie then and was not disappointed. Vasco had never actually seen Sylvieâs jaw drop before, though it was a sight he would be glad to see again.
The Admiral grinned, âIf De Sardet wills it so, I would be glad to add another member to our family.â
They both looked at her, and she blinked, âIâŚif youâre sure I wouldnât be overstepping...â
The Admiral shook her head fondly, âNot at all, De Sardet. Vasco is right. This was your mission as much as his. And despite theâŚcomplications surround your origins; one this is clear: you are sea-born. If you are willing, it would be an honour to have you join us.â
Sylvie looked at Vasco hesitantly, and he nodded encouragingly, his heart thumping wildly. A thousand emotions crossed her face before settling on a watery smile. âThe honour would be mine, Admiral.â
The Admiral smiled, âWelcome amongst your own people, De Sardet. I will send someone to tell the tattooist to receive you both.â
Vasco bowed his head. âThank you, Admiral.â
She nodded back at him, and they started toward the docks where the tattooist was when Siora stopped. âI will take my leave. This seems to be a deeply personal matter for both of you.â She shot Vasco a knowing look that he tried very hard to ignore before bidding them farewell and leaving.
He held back a sigh and went to move on when Sylvie caught his hand. âVasco, IâŚâ She searched for the right words but just shook her head, her eyes tearing up again. âThank you.â
He smiled and squeezed her hand, âNo thanks needed. You deserve it, and it is your right. You are a Naut, Sylvie; you always have been. Itâs time the world sees that.â
She looked at him for a long moment with an expression he hadnât seen before, then wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his neck. His arms wrapped around her automatically, and they just held each other for what felt like a moment and an eternity all at once.
Eventually, they pulled away and headed to the tattooist. As they approached him, Sylvie looked at Vasco excitedly, and he chuckled, motioning her to speak. She grinned, turning to the tattooist, âWe have come to receive our tattoos. The Admiral should have informed you?â
âIndeed!â he smiled happily. âCongratulations to you both. With whom shall I begin?â
Vasco stepped forward, âIt would be better if I went before De Sardet. Iâm used to itâŚâ He noticed Sylvie almost deflate and chuckled to himself. Adorable.
The tattooist nodded and patted his stool, âThen take a seat, Captain! It shouldnât take long.â
The tattooist kept his word and did both of their tattoos as quickly as he could without rushing. Given it was her first tattoo, Sylvie took it like a champ, barely flinching at all. When her tattoo was done, Sylvie very nearly skipped over to Vasco, âI can hardly believe this is real. Iâve dreamt about the Nauts for as long as I can remember. The little girl who used to watch the ships sail in and out of the harbour in Serene never would have believed this day would come.â
He chuckled and motioned to his new tattoo, âWhat do you think about it? I feel more Naut than ever!â
She grinned, âIt looks wonderful, Vasco. Congratulations, youâve more than earned it. And what of mine?â She tilted her chin up to let her tattoo catch the light better. âHow do I look?â
Vasco looked at her, and a feeling he had never felt before struck his heart like a physical blow. Something he couldnât quite identify.
Or perhapsâŚone he was scared to identify.
Sioraâs words rattled around in his head, but he shook it off and smiled softly, âYou lookâŚperfect.â
Your harassing neighbor dies. Then a bullying coworker dies in a crash. Within a month, people youâve had bad blood with start dying.
The police are watching you closelyâbut you havenât done anything⌠at least, not that you know of.
I slammed my front door shut hard behind me and nearly collapsed against it. Sixteen freaking hours being interrogated by the cops and now I couldnât tell if I wanted to fall into my bed or run a marathon.
I couldnât believe Chad was dead. And Mrs. Roberts before him. And the cops thought I did it. I mean, we werenât exactly best friends, but stillâŚ
I clenched my hands to keep them from shaking and stumbled to the bathroom, splashing some cold water on my face.
âOh, get a grip, would you?â I nearly jumped out of my skin and spun around my bathroom, looking for the source of the voice. âOver here, nitwit. In the mirror.â I hesitated for a minute, but looked into the mirror. For a moment, all I saw was my reflection. Then, one of my eyes went fully black and the corner of my mouth stretched into a wicked grin. âThere we are. How you doing? The boys in blue kept you for a while, huh? Sorry about that.â
I swallowed hard, âWhoâŚwho are you?â
It smirked, âIâm you. At least, the you that would exist if youâd stop holding back like a wuss.â
A cold feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. âYou killed them.â
âYou betcha.â
âWhy?â
It snorted, âWhy? You really need to ask me why? They were assholes. Chad always took credit for your work. You lost out on that promotion because of him! And Robertsâdonât get me started on that old bat. I did you a favour.â
I shook my head. âItâs wrong.â
It laughed, âOh, please. Donât act so high and mighty. If you hadnât wanted them dead, genuinely dead, even for a moment, I wouldnât be here. But I am.â It smirked at me. âYouâre stuck with me, friend. And I promise you, no one will ever cross you again. And if they do? WellâŚâ it shrugged, âthey wonât last long enough to be of any consequence.â
I could hear its laughter echo in my head as my legs gave out and I sank to the floor.
"Your son will take your throne from you," they prophesized, spitting each word out of teeth clenched tight with hatred. Why they'd bother prophesizing such an event befuddles you; your son is literally your chosen heir, after all.
My chamber doors shut tightly behind me and I sighed heavily, leaning back against them. I tried to ease my growing headache by rubbing my fingers against my temples but failed.
Fools. I was truly surrounded by utter fools. The whole lot of them.
âMama? Is that you?â
My body stiffened for a moment then relaxed as I recognized my sonâs voice. âTristan?â I looked around my very empty chambers and frowned, âWhere are you, my shining star?â The blankets around the skirt of my bed rustled, and his tiny head popped out from under my bed. I frowned and walked over, holding my hand out to him, âTristan, what are you doing under there? Come out, it must be very dustyââ
âNo! I canât!â
I jumped a little at the loud shout that came from my young son and frowned again, âWhy canât you, my love?â
He sniffled and my heart clenched, âItâs not safe for you. The seers told me everything. Iâm gonna hurt you, take your big chair and fancy hat. Iâm gonna hurt you, Mama! I donât wanna hurt you. But if I stay under here, then youâll be safe.â He disappeared back behind the blankets.
I saw red. Those bastards dared to talk to my son without me present? I took a deep breath, years of wearing a mask for the court coming in handy in a way I never wanted, and lifted my skirts, getting comfortable on the floor. âTristan? Let me see you, my darling.â He hesitated a minute before popping his head out from behind the blankets again. Now that I was closer to him, I could see his big eyes were red from crying and my heart broke. âOh, my darling boy, come here.â He shook his head immediately and moved to scurry back under the bed, but I held my arms out, âMy star, you will not hurt me. I promise. Just come here; itâs alright.â He hesitated for a long time, then scrambled out from under my bed and practically fell into my arms, his tiny body shaking with sobs. âOh, my sweet boy.â I wrapped my arms around him tightly and carded my fingers through his hair, shushing him, rocking him, and humming that old lullaby I used to sing to him as a baby. When his sobs finally softened to sniffles, I pulled back and cupped his face in my hands, wiping his tears away with the sleeve of my gown. âNow, my darling star, you listen to me and you listen well. You are not destined to hurt me.â
âBut the seersââ
âThe seers are fools,â I interrupted firmly but gently, âYou are my son. My heir. Of course, you will take the throne from me one day. When you inherit it. Just like how I intend it to be. This is not a bad thing, my love. This is how it is meant to be.â
He studied my face for a long moment, looking for lies, and his little face twisted in that way a childâs face does when they are trying to understand things they are not old enough to grasp, âButâŚthen why did the seers say it was a bad thing?â
I fought to keep my hands from tensing and pulled Tristan back into my arms, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead, âI donât know, my darling. But I will find out.â
Warnings â swearing, the murder of training dummies
Masterlist
Sylvie finally learns the truth of her origins.
Vasco could hear Sylvie before he even entered the Coin Guard barracks. He hesitated to call it training, more like rampaging. It would have been amusing, walking through the barracks with all the grizzled, veteran soldiers avoiding the training grounds like frightened kittens and looking at the doors as if a bloody dragon was going to burst through, if he didnât agree with them. He took a deep breath before opening the training grounds doorsâŚand fought to keep his jaw off the floor.
The grounds looked absolutely destroyed. Weapons were spread haphazardly across the floor, like someone was changing them with each swing, and the dummiesâŚgods. Some were chopped up, some were snapped in half, some had been exploded, some were practically burned to a crisp. It was a massacre.
Vasco heard a blast and turned to the main training area, seeing Sylvie working on the next dummy. It didnât take a genius to tell she was furious, with the way she way absolutely decimating it. Poor thing probably wouldnât last long against that kind of assault.
He noticed Kurt standing off to the side, watching Sylvie devastate the poor dummy, and joined him wordlessly. After a silent minute, Vasco asked, âHas she been at it long?â
âSince I refused to train with her after you all got back from San Matheus.â Vasco raised an eyebrow, and Kurt motioned to Sylvie as she finished with one dummy and dragged over the next. âYou think I want to get in front of that?â He sighed while shaking his head, âI havenât seen her this angry since the court ignored Constantinâs orders when his father was away.â
âShe has good reason,â Vasco muttered and tightened his grip on his coat. Just the thought of Petrus and everything he had kept from Sylvie, after everything she had done for all of them, set Vascoâs blood absolutely boiling.
Kurt nodded as he watched Sylvie stab her sword right through the dummyâs head. âI heard. To be honest, I canât tell if Iâm impressed or disappointed that you didnât drop the old bastard to the ground.â
âTo be honest, neither can I.â
âCaptain!â They turned as a young guard ran over, watching Sylvie cautiously and giving her a wide berth. âCommander Sieglinde needs you, sir. Says itâs urgent.â
Kurt sighed, rolling his shoulders. âNo rest for the wicked, I see.â He turned to follow the guard, then stopped, locking eyes with Vasco. âIâll leave Greenblood to you.â
It was a simple sentence, but the look in Kurtâs eyes gave it an entirely different meaning. Vasco straightened and nodded. Kurt studied him for a long moment, then nodded back and left with the guard, who looked all too happy to leave.
Vasco took a deep breath and turned to Sylvie. She had never looked more like a tempest to him than in that moment. He cautiously stepped closer to her. âSylvieâŚare you alright?â
She paused her onslaught and just stared at the dummy without responding. Then she raised her hand and snapped her fingers, the dummy catching on fire immediately. âNo.â She sighed, turning to him and running her hand over her face, âI justâŚhe justâŚwhy wouldâFUCK!â She spun around and kicked the burning dummy as hard as she could, sending it flying into the wall behind it and making it practically explode. âIâm furious,â she said through gritted teeth, âIâm fucking furious. And angry and upset andâŚI donât even know what Iâm feeling anymore. IâmâŚIâm tiredâŚof everyone around me lying to me and making decisions for me.â
Vasco gingerly rested his hand on her shoulder, âNot everyone does, Sylvie.â She sighed heavily, but put her hand over his, squeezing it gently, and just leaned into him. They stood there quietly for a moment before he spoke, âDo you want to see Petrus now?â
She sighed again then nodded.
Petrus had an equal mix of relief and apprehension on his face as Sylvie and Vasco approached him. Probably wise, given the amount of murders Sylvie had committed against the training dummy population. âIâm happy you came to find me,â he said. âAllow me to apologize once again. I should have spoken to you sooner, told you what I knew, and not betrayed your trust.â
âIndeed, you should have,â Sylvie snapped, then took a deep breath to calm herself.
âAs I said,â Petrus continued quickly, âIâd like to make up for it and help you find your family again.â
âHow do you intend to do that?â Vasco asked.
Petrus glanced at him, then looked back at Sylvie, âAs you now know, I knew your mother. We had trouble communicating at first, of course. But we gradually learned to understand one another. She was important in her village. Based on what I know today, I think she was a doneigad. She told me her name, Arelwin, and told me about her family. She even gave me a pendant for you. You were only a child, so I gave it to Princess de Sardet for safekeeping.â
Sylvieâs hand rose to her chest, no doubt touching the amulet under her coat. She was quiet for a minute. âDid myâŚmother tell you the name of her village?â
Petrus shook his head, âNo. But Iâm sure the Nauts can help us. They were the ones who took your mother to the continent.â
âIt was such a long time agoâŚâ She chewed her lip. âHow can I find out if they remember?â
âThe Nauts record everything down to the gentlest breeze,â Vasco interjected, âWe must have written something in a logbook somewhere.â Sylvie grabbed his arm and her face brightened.
âSo, do you want to try and find out where you come from?â Petrus asked hesitantly, âDo you want to find your relatives?â
âYes,â she said slowly after a long pause, âAll this isâŚso new to me, butâŚI suppose so, yes.â
Vasco covered Sylvieâs hand on my arm and smiled reassuringly at her, âLetâs go then.â
âDe Sardet,â Admiral Cabral smiled gently as they approached, âAfter what I revealed to you, I was sure you would come back to find me. What would you like to know?â
Sylvie steeled herself, âYou told me that I was born on one of your ships, of an islander captured on the island.â
âWeâd like to know about this womanâs origins,â Petrus added.
The Admiral shook her head, âIâm afraid I canât help you. I did not take part in those expeditions. And our old archives are far from here...â
Petrus looked desperate. âIs there no one on Teer Fradee who can help us? Please.â
She sighed, âVery well. I do know of an old captain who could perhaps help you out. His ship is moored in the port of Hikmet, if Iâm not mistaken. His name is Captain Lisandro.â
Sylvie smiled and bowed her head, âThank you for your help, Admiral.â
They turned to leave, but Admiral Cabral called out to them before they could get far, âDe Sardet?â Sylvie stopped and turned, and the Admiral continued, âDonât get too caught up in the past. That one in particular. Nothing good will come of it.â
Petrus chuckled dejectedly, âWhether or not we choose to get caught up in it, Admiral, the past always catches up with us. Sadly, I am paying the price of this.â
Vasco glared at him. As if he had any right to act as if he were the victim in this situation.
Sylvie put on her best diplomatic voice as they approached Lisandro, still dusty from travel, âHello, Captain.â
Lisandro looked them over and raised an eyebrow, âWell now, what fair wind blows you into port?â
âAdmiral Cabral advised me to speak to you about a matter of some concern to me.â
âThe Admiral? Coming from a legate, I should have expected thatâŚso?â
Sylvie swallowed, âYou are the only one on this island that can help me.â
Lisandro blinked, âReally?â He looked a little closer at Sylvie for a moment, and his face softened, âOh, I think I understandâŚthatâs why your face looked familiar. The Congregation is good at keeping its secrets, isnât it? This story is not a new one.â
She shook her head, âTwenty-five years. Twenty-five years since the Nauts brought a woman who was captured on this island to Serene.â
Lisandro nodded, lost in thought. âI rememberâŚand yet, it wasnât the first time. But on that occasion, a child was born...â
âSo, you can understand why weâd like to learn where this captive came from?â Petrus pushed.
He nodded, âYes, yes. I have seen more than a few Nauts looking for their parents. But what have you got to do with all this?â
Petrus winced, âI met that woman in Serene. I got to know herâŚwell.â Sylvieâs and Vascoâs heads snapped in his direction, and Petrus quickly looked away. This old bastard.
Lisandro picked up on the tension. âListen, itâs not that I donât want to help you, but my memory is no longer what it was. I wasnât the captain at the time. I wasnât the one who decided where we moored the ship. So, I donât see how I can help you find out where this woman came from!â
Sylvie practically deflated, and Vasco squeezed her shoulder before stepping forward, âFrom one captain to another, if you would allow me?â
âYou said it yourself; a child was born at that particular time. A Seaborn.â Vasco saw Sylvie look at him with wide eyes out of the corner of his eye and continued, âAnd we always help one of our own.â
âVery well,â Lisandro sighed. âI need to look in my old logbooks. Iâm sure Iâll find something. Wait for me here. Iâll be an hour at the most.â He nodded at Sylvie then left to find his books.
Sylvie was still staring at him. âAm IâŚâ She looked like she was having trouble putting together the words. âDo you really think IâmâŚa Seaborn?â
Vasco smiled at her, âI bet itâs why you have such a love for the water. Your soul has been calling out for it since the moment you were born.â
He didnât think heâd ever seen her smile so big.
Luckily, Lisandro came through and pointed them in the direction of a village on the plains in the island's southeast, one the natives called Vignamri. The chief was helpful in his own way, explaining how Sylvieâs mother, who was indeed their doneigad, had been captured for her healing powers and how Sylvieâs father, along with many other warriors of their village had gone to rescue her, only to be killed. And that Sylvie had a living relative, Slan, her motherâs sister. It stunned her, but she recovered quickly and after asking around the village, they set off to find her.
Only to find the poor woman being set upon by beasts.
It seemed Sylvieâs knack for getting into the middle of things was a family trait.
Petrus turned to the woman after they vanquished the last of the creatures, âHow do you feel, Madam?â
Slan breathed heavily, brushing herself off, âWell. Thank you for stepping in. I donât understand what has happened. Usually, these animals accept me. Something must have frightened them.â
Sylvie didnât say anything, just studied her aunt, and Petrus continued, âWe are glad we arrived at the right time. We would have been very upset if something had happened to you.â
Sylvie stepped forward then. âExcuse me, but are you Slan, the doneigad of Vignamri?â
âYes, thatâs me. Were you looking for me?â
Petrus nodded, âYes, we were. If you would allow us, weâd like to accompany you and tell you our story along the way...â
They slowly made their way back to the village, explaining the story to Slan along the way. She was stunned at first, of course. But when they reached her home, she turned and looked at Sylvie, âIâŚI just canât believe it. YetâŚif I think about it, your face reminds me of hersâŚâ
Sylvie blinked away some tears and carefully pulled the amulet out of her clothes. âMy motherâŚor rather, the woman whoâŚraised me gave me this amuletâŚâ
âArelwin gave it to me to give to her child,â Petrus explained, âand I passed it on to Princess de Sardet.â
Slan took the amulet with shaking hands and traced the carvings. âIt looks familiarâŚyour father had given it to your mother when they were bound.â She swallowed her own tears and held the amulet close to her heart. âItâs good that you are wearing it today. My poor, beloved Arelwin, who died far away from us allâŚâ She cursed in the native language, wiping at her eyes. âI still miss her so much!â
âIâŚâ Petrus hesitated, then glanced at Sylvie and continued, âShe wanted me to help her die, but I was unable to do such a thing. Someone would have figured it out. I would have been sent back to ThĂŠlème, and I would have lost everything. So, IâŚwatched her suffer, and one day, she died...â
Sylvie sighed heavily, âPetrus, I cannot hold it against you for letting her live.â
He shook his head, âNo. You donât understand. IâŚloved her. I loved her, and I didnât even have the strength to end her suffering. Sheâs the only woman Iâve ever loved...â
âEveryone loved Arelwin,â Slan interjected. âShe was marvellous. You cannot blame yourself, man of the Light.â She reached out then and touched Sylvieâs arm, smiling tearfully, âWhatâs more, you brought me her child. For that alone, she would forgive you if she were among us. All is well now. The child of Teer Fradi has returned home, and with her, the spirit of her mother.â She reached up and cupped Sylvieâs face. âYou are home, my magem! Welcome.â
Tears started falling down Sylvieâs cheeks then, and she laughed. Sensing a shift, Vasco grabbed Petrus and pulled him out of Slanâs house to give them some privacy. They sat down on the steps, and after a moment, Petrus looked at him, studying him. He didnât say anything, and Vasco turned to him, âCan I help you, priest?â
Petrus studied him for a moment longer. âYou donât like me, do you, Captain?â
Vasco paused before answering, âI donât like people who hurt Sylvie.â
Petrus studied him again before smiling, âIâm glad she has someone who cares for her so dearly.â
Vasco ignored his heated cheeks and looked away.
After some time, Sylvie emerged from Slanâs home, eyes red from tears but looking lighter than she had in days. She looked at Petrus as the men stood. âPetrusâŚI wanted to thank you.â
Both men looked stunned at her. âThank me?â Petrus asked. âDespite everything you now know about me?â
Sylvie shrugged, âYou may have been a bit cowardly in the past, to the point of letting the woman you loved suffer. You were manipulative, and you lied to everyone, including yourself.â Petrus looked down, and Sylvie rested her hand on his arm. âBut thanks to what youâve told me, Iâve been able to find my family and my origins. And for that, I thank you.â
Petrus teared up, âMy child, what youâre saying touches me more than you can imagine.â He hesitated a moment, then reached up and covered her hand. âAt least Iâve done something good for once in my deceitful life. For you, and for her. I hope the Enlightened will remember this when I stand before him.â
They said their goodbyes to the chief and headed out of the village. After they passed the border, Sylvie fell into step beside Vasco. âDonât think I forgot about you.â
He shook his head, âI didnât do much.â
She smiled at him, âYou convinced Captain Lisandro to find his logbook. And I donât think Iâd have the strength to do this without you by my side.â
He fought the blush off his cheeks again. âYou give me too much credit, I think.â
She shook her head fondly, âAnd you give yourself too little.â She stepped forward, and before Vasco could react, she rested her hand on his chest and kissed his cheek. His face practically exploded in red, and as she pulled away, her cheeks were almost as red as his. âThank you, Vasco. For everything.â Vasco could only nod stiffly, and she smiled softly at him before walking back over to Petrus.
Vasco brushed his fingers over his cheek, still feeling the ghost of her lips on his skin, and fought hard to keep the grin off his face.
He couldnât stop himself from practically skipping back to New Serene, though.
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Your party is in peril, summons gone, allies falling fast. You hesitate, hand hovering over the last name on your listâthe summon you swore never to use. After a long breath, you let it loose. The air cracks. Reality bends. You just hope you wonât regret this later.
As the black smoke rose from the ground in front of me, I cursed using every word I could think of. Why? Why now? Why did it have to be him?
Of course, I knew the answer and glanced over my shoulder at my fallen party. Aidon on the ground with a large cut from an orcâs axe across his chest, propped up against Esha as she tried desperately to stop the bleeding, her broken staff useless beside them. And Perryn in front of them, holding up both pieces of her broken bow like daggers, ready to defend them. Though she wouldnât be able to hold off the horde of orcs circling us for long. None of us could.
He could, though. Unfortunately.
âI truly never thought Iâd see the day you would summon me, wife.â
My head snapped back toward the pillar of smoke. âI told you never to call me that, Azephyon.â
The smoke molded to the rough height and shape of a tall man. âAnd I told you to call me Zeph. So, it would seem neither of us is getting what we want.â
I glared at him hard and could practically feel the smirk rolling off him. The cry of a charging orc caught our attention, and I motioned to the horde, âDo you mind?â
The shadowâs head tilted to the side in what Iâm sure he thought was a coy way, âNow, I believe it is customary for the summoner to give orders to their summon, is it not?â
I sighed exasperatedly, âAzephyon, this is an order: deal with the orcs.â
He bowed exaggeratedly, âAs you command, wife.â The smoky limb that was supposed to be his hand rose, a snap sounding through the air, and the orcs justâŚvanished. He turned back to me and I didnât need to see his face to know he was smirking. âThere. Was that satisfactory?â
âYeah. Sure.â I went to turn to my friends but could feel Azephyonâs eyes locked on me. âWhat? You want a reward or something?â
âI believe it is appropriate. PerhapsâŚa kiss?â
I snorted. Hard. âFat chance of that.â I started walking toward my friends but paused, âGood job. And thank you.â I rushed over to Aidon before Azephyon could make any comments and kneeled in front of him, hands hovering over the large cut on his chest, âAre you okay? Here, give me a secondâŚâ As I healed him, I hesitated, then looked up at my friends for the first time. And winced.
Even through their injuries, they were all staring at me with wide eyes, like I had slapped each of them myself.
âW-wifeâŚ?â Aidon breathed, eyes locking on Azephyonâs smoky shape.
Before I could reply, the air charged with Azephyonâs magic and I looked over my shoulder in time to see his smoky form condense into the proper body of a handsome young man, eyes glowing like embers and dressed in silken finery befitting his station as a prince of one of the ruling houses of the underworld.
Well, if I had to be wed to a demon, at least he was attractive.
As if he could read my thoughts, Azephyon caught my eye, smirked, andâI swearâflexed. I rolled my eyes to cover my blush and returned my attention to Aidonâs wound, ignoring the shiver that went up my spine when he chuckled at me. He bowed exaggeratedly, âAzephyon Carrion of Tilvyris, heir to the House of Carrion. And husband of your beloved little summoner here. At your service.â
They all blinked at him, then looked at me. âTressa?â
Once Aidonâs wound was fully healed, I sat back on my heels and sighed, âItâs not what you think. Itâs an arranged marriage, set up by our families. Every hundred years, a member of my family marries a member of his. In doing so, my family has a consistent supply of good familiars and summons, and Azephyonâs family has ties to the material world.â
Perryn blinked, âHow veryâŚpractical.â
âAnd you agreed to this?â Esha asked worriedly, glancing between Azephyon and me.
I shrugged, âIt could be worse. We agreed for it to be a marriage on paper only. He stays in the underworld, and I stay here. No feelings involved.â
The silence that radiated from Azephyon was almost deafening. âI may have broken our agreement on that last pointâŚâ
My mouth dropped open and I stared at him. It was the first time in the twenty years I had known that Iâd seen him look bashful. It would have been adorable if my heart wasnât pounding in my ears. âWhatââ A war horn cut through the air. âAzephyon! I told you to take care of them!â
âIf my memory serves me, you ordered me to take care of the orcs. Iâm quite certain those are goblins.â
Trained from birth as an assassin, your mind was bound by a powerful control spell. Sent to kill an archmage, they cast Dispel to weaken youâaccidentally freeing your mind instead. For the first time, your dagger points wherever you choose.
I could tell something had changed the second the chant left my lips. The darkness behind Bladeâs eyes faded, and his body went from poised and precise to awkward andâŚalmost disjointed. And there was an abrupt change from extreme murderous intent that had been rolling off him seconds before toâŚsomething scared and confused.
âWhatâŚâ Blade stumbled back, looking around my private library as if he were seeing it for the first time. As if he hadnât been chasing me around the shelves for over an hour. His eyes landed on me and scanned my tattered robes, âArchmageâŚ?â He blinked a few times, then reached out to me, âWhereââ
I immediately raised my wand at him, âEasy now.â
He jerked back, raising his hands defensively. âWait! I donâtââ
It was at that moment he noticed the daggers in his hands, laced with basilisk venom.
He let out a noise like a wounded animal and dropped the daggers as if they were scalding. âWhatâwhyâŚwhy do I have thoseâŚthings?!â
I blinked, âBecauseâŚyou were trying to kill me?â
He stared at me as if I had spoken in a completely different language, âKill?! I donâtâIâd neverââ He stopped abruptly, looking like he was trying to piece together his memories, âWould I?â
After a minute, I cautiously lowered my wand. âYouâŚyou donât remember?â
âNo. No, IâŚâ he paused, pressing his hand to his forehead, âDid IâŚ?â
I studied him hard. It could be a trick, of course. It would hardly be the first time Blade had tricked me. But there was something about his eyes⌠âIâŚcould show you, if you wish.â Blade studied me in turn, clearly debating within himself, but he nodded. I raised my wand again, whispering the chant to a memory-sharing spell under my breath. I couldnât show him his own memories, but I could show him mine.
His eyes lost focus as my memories of our encounters danced in his mind, and to my shock, tears started rolling down his cheeks; his face actually breaking before my eyes. âI canâtâŚhow couldâŚIâm so sorry!â
I had to fight to keep my jaw from falling. âYou really donât remember, do you?â
âNo, Iââ He cried out in pain, his hands flying to his head. He stumbled back against the wall, sliding to the floor in a heap.
I hesitated before kneeling in front of him, âAre youââ
âThey took me,â he nearly sobbed, fighting to breathe, âwhen I was a boy. They took me from the abbey and brought me to a dark place andâand then they cast a spell andââ
It all clicked together then. It was hardly unheard of for assassin guilds to recruit by kidnapping, but using a mind control spell was a surprise. It took so much extra effort. Bladeâor whatever his real name wasâmust have resisted them greatly for them to resort to such measures.
âWhatâs your name? Your real name?â
He sniffled, wiping his face, âLukas.â
I nodded, handing him my handkerchief. âWell, Lukas, Iâm very sorry you went through that. Do you know why the guild sent you after me?â He blew his nose and shook his head. âIâm trying to stop them from abducting orphans to expand their numbers. To stop what happened to you, apparently.â I snorted, âThey donât like that.â I looked him over thoughtfully. âWould you like to help me?â
He wiped his tears, but his eyes hardened. âJust tell me where to point my blade.â
Vasco stands beside Sylvie when she isnât feeling strong.
Authorâs Note: Hey everyone! Iâm so sorry this took so long to come out. This story coming out right after my dog passed away was a bitâŚunfortunate. Also, life got crazy for a minute, as it does. But Iâm feeling better today, so here it is! Iâll try not to make it a habit to wait this long between stories again. Thanks for your patience and support!
Vasco had been pacing back and forth in Sylvieâs front hall long enough that he feared he would wear a hole through her carpet. But he was too anxious to do anything else. He kept debating with himself whether he should go find her or give her space. She definitely needed it, especially after that cursed letter she had received that morning.
It was both a shock and expected that Sylvie would get news that her mother had passed away. She had told Vasco once, on a quiet night when the whiskey had been flowing after a long, hard day, that she knew when she left Serene that sheâd never see her mother again. Though it truly couldnât have come at a worse time. Sylvie had barely been holding it together the last few weeks, trying to comprehend the truth of her origins and dealing with Constantinâs declining health due to the Malichor. Sheâd been quiet, rarely smiled. But Vasco had watched something in her eyes just flicker off when she read that blasted letter. She just dropped the paper on the floor and walked out of the Governorâs house without a word.
And she hadnât come back all day.
The front doorknob jiggled, and Vasco halted mid-step, his heart leaping into his throat. It quickly dropped back down when Constantin walked through the door and not Sylvie. He noticed Vasco immediately and sighed, âI had hoped Sylvie would have returned home by now. Though by the look on your face, I can see she has not.â He ran his hand over his gaunt face. âI can only imagine what my fair cousin is going through right now.â He paused, pulling his hand away enough to lock eyes with Vasco, âAnd she is my fair cousin. I do not care what her blood says.â Constantin swayed a little on his feet, no doubt exhausted from the walk over, and Vasco caught his arm before he fell, leading him to a nearby chair.
Vasco remembered when they had first met in Serene, how the man had practically radiated exuberance and energy. Seeing him like that then, sickly and frail, he could understand why Sylvie was so worried.
Constantin settled into the chair and nodded gratefully at him. His eyes turned to the door, getting a similar look on his face that Vasco no doubt had. âShe always bleeds for others, always cares for them. She would not hesitate to give the shirt off her back to anyone. But when it comes to her own pain, she would not breathe a word of it.â Constantin gritted his teeth and brought his fist down as hard as he could on the armrest, âCurse those blasted court nobles! Making her feel like she had to be made of bloody stone to be taken seriously. I swear, if I had my fatherâs powerâŚâ
Vasco nodded solemnly, âSylvie has told me a little of what she went through as a child. Whatever you came up with, I am certain it would have been well deserved.â
Constantin didnât say anything, and Vasco looked up to find him studying him. After a minute, he said, âYou should go to her. She should not be alone anymore.â
âMe?â Vasco blinked. âAre you sure you would not prefer to go yourself, Your Highness?â
Constantin shook his head, âThat would only cause her more pain, I fear. I am far too close to the source of her torment to provide her any real comfort. But youâŚâ He studied Vasco again, âI have watched you and my cousin these past few months. She trusts you, Captain. And cares for you. Deeply. It has to be you.â
Any other time, Vasco would have been flustered by that, but at that moment, he simply nodded and flew out the front door. When his feet hit the cobblestones, he paused, wondering where he should even begin to look. But then he realized there was really only one place she would go and took off for the docks.
Sylvie was exactly where Vasco had imagined she would be, sitting at the end of an unused dock far from the hustle and bustle of the main area, her boots off and her feet dangling in the water, just watching the sun as it began to set with a blank, far-off look on her face. He hesitated a moment before quietly walking up to her and lowering himself down on the dock beside her, removing his own boots and his feet joining hers in the cool water.
If she were aware of his presence, she didnât give any indication. She just kept turning an amulet in her fingers over and over again absentmindedly, her eyes locked on the line where the sky and sea met.
After a while, her voice finally broke the silence, âBefore I left for the island, myâŚmother gave me this amulet. She said it was a family heirloom. It wasâŚthe last thing she ever gave me.â She took a deep breath, and Vasco couldnât tell if she was holding back tears or rage. âI have worn it under my clothes ever since, close to my heart. It gave me some comfort, like she was always close.â She scoffed, âWhat a joke.â She held up the amulet, turning it so the waning sunlight gleamed off it. Sylvie moved as if she were about to throw it into the water, and Vascoâs body twitched to stop her, but he neednât have bothered, as she stopped herself, clenching her fingers tightly around it instead.
âWhat am I supposed to do, Vasco?â she asked quietly, tears starting to fall silently down her face. âMy mother is dead, and it hurts so much, even though I knew it would happen. But she was not really my mother, was she? My family is a lie. My whole life is a lie. How I am the spitting image of my father, lost at sea, how this blasted mark is just a birthmark. But itâs not. Just truth given form. And I should be angry; I should hate the people who practically kidnapped me and lied to me all my life, but IâŚI canât.â She tucked the amulet into her coat pocket and wrapped her arms around herself, as if she were trying to make herself smaller. âAnd I feel like I am betraying myâŚreal family, whoeverâwhereverâthey are.â
Sylvie shut her eyes tightly, trying to hold back her tears, and Vascoâs heart clenched tightly. Before he could talk himself out of it, he wrapped an arm around her, and she just collapsed into his side. He used his free hand to hold her head to his shoulder, brushing away the tears that he could; while also praying she couldnât feel his heart beating out of his chest. âI cannot tell you why your family lied to you,â Vasco said gently, âor why they took you to begin with. And I am so sorry you had to find out the way you did. And that you probably will never get the answers you deserve. But I do know this: no matter the reasons, the princess was your mother in all the ways that mattered. She raised you and loved you and protected you. She was your mother. And your loving your mother is not wrong or a betrayal. It does not make you a terrible person. It makes you a daughter.â
Sylvie didnât say anything and just buried her face farther into his shoulder. After a long moment of just listening to the rolling waves, Sylvie asked so softly Vasco could barely even hear her, âVasco, whenâŚwhen the admiral has forgiven you, when all this is doneâŚdo you intend to set sail again?â
Even without her saying the words, Vasco could hear the unasked question in her voice, âWill you leave me too?â His heart ached for her, and he debated with himself on answering truthfully or not. Then, he held her a little tighter, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and replied, âWithout a doubt. But do not worry. I will not leave you before I find out where our story leads...â
Sylvie nodded after a minute, and a little of the tension in her body melted away.
You are the highest paid member of your Adventuring Party. Not because you can fight, or have magic. You'd die to a cat, let's be honest. But because you can cook, clean, set up camp, also have a fierce sense of business. All things they more or less completely lack.
I noticed Ginny hesitantly approaching me from the corner of my eye and sighed heavily, âWhat, Ginny?â She didnât even say anything, just cautiously raised her handâand a torn shirt in it. I very nearly threw the pair of pants I was mendingâwhich also happened to belong to the clumsy rangerâinto the campfire in front of me. âGinnyââ
âI know!â she all but wailed, âIâm sorry! My arrow got caught on my sleeve!â
âSheâs going to kill you if you rip one more shirt,â Harril called over from the other side of camp, whittling away at the stick he found earlier.
Tears streamed down Ginnyâs face, and I sighed heavily again, âJust throw it onto the pile. Iâll try to get to it tonight, but no promises.â
She squealed and hugged me tight enough to squeeze the air from my lungs, âOh, thank you, Ilsa! Thank you, thank you, thank youââ
âOkay, okay.â I wiggled out of her grip and shooed her away after tossing my new project on top of my hip-high pile of repairs. I huffed, âSeriously. Five grown adults and none of you know how to fix your own clothes. What would you do if I hadnât joined?â
Harril chuckled, âBy now? Probably run around in our birthday suits.â
I shook my head, âYou all would be lost without me.â
âThatâs why you get paid the big bucks,â Ginny answered, getting a little too close to the stew cooking over the fire for my liking.
I grabbed the ladle beside me, reached over, and smacked her, âDonât even think about it. I have no interest in tasting burnt water again.â
Ginny sulked away and Harril chuckled again. Both of them then froze, as if they were listening to something, and grabbed their weapons.
âOh, will you two relax?â
I jumped about three feet in the air and looked over my shoulder, âFarren, you are an asshole.â
He laughed, dropping his massive greatsword that only I seemed to know how to sharped on the ground beside me. âSorry, Ilsa. Forgot you have no survival sense.â
I pouted, âIâm sharpening your sword last.â
Farren looked shocked, and Rin and Ren appeared on either side of him, giggling.
âYou messed up.â
âDonât mess with the queen.â
âPretty stupid thing to do.â
âLike, really stupid.â
âOkay, look here, you two little gremlinsââ
âAlright, all of you, enough,â Harril barked, finally putting away his witling and walking over, âWe have more important things to focus on.â
âYeah, what did you guys find in that dungeon?â Ginny skipped over.
Rin and Ren grinned, dropping a massive bag onto the ground in front of them, âLots of trinkets.â
âAnd the most important thing,â Farren added, holding up a large bag. He shook it, making the gold coins inside rattle, and Harril let out a low whistle. âAnd donât worry, Ilsa, I pre-sorted your share,â he added, producing another large bag and tossing it to me.
I barely managed to catch it but smiled, skimming through the contents while the others divvied up the other bag equally amongst themselves.
Ginny glanced up from her coin counting. âWhat about the other stuff?â
Farren shrugged, giving the big bag a kick, âDonât know. Probably sell them to a silversmith or something.â
The bag fell over, some of the trinkets falling out onto the ground. I glanced at some of them and nearly choked on my saliva, âAre you kidding me?!â Everyone jumped, and I reached over, picking up a gold plate and inspecting it, âDo you have any idea what this is?â They all looked at me blankly and I sighed, âThis is from the Ilvian Empire. Itâs easily over five hundred years old. Sold to the right buyer, a single artefact like this could easily set all of us up for life. And youâve got a bag full.â They all looked dumbfoundedly at the bag and I sighed, shaking my head, âA silversmith. Good gods. Give me the bag and letâs see what you actually have.â
Harril pulled the bag over to me and grinned, âLike Ginny said, the big bucks.â
I smiled at him then noticed movement out of the corner of my eye again, âGinny, get away from the food!â
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You and three friends break into a highly classified government facility at 3:17 AM on Thursday and leave with two anti-gravity prototypes, a weather control drone, and a suspiciously polite alien named Greg.
I couldnât help but stare dumbfoundedly at my friends as they acted like kids on Christmas morning. Youâd think that it would be common sense that after breaking into a government facility and committing a few felonies, one would want to get as far away from said government facility as humanly possible. Ideally, to a new country under fake names.
But apparently, none of my friends had common sense.
The second the facility was out of sight, all three of my best idiots had insisted on inspecting our newly acquired goods and pulled over to the side of the road at the earliest opportunity. Matt and Dana wasted no time strapping on the anti-gravity devices and started floating around the clearing. And Ollie practically dove headfirst into the weather drone, trying to figure out how it worked. He was clearly succeeding, since a few storm clouds had formed on what had been a clear night.
I shook my head at them from my perch on the grass and glanced over my shoulder down the road. No cars. Yet.
Greg sat down beside me and I turned to him. He looked surprisingly human for an alien, but there was something about him that was just tooâŚflawless to be truly human. That and the amused look he had on his face as he watched my friends, like someone watching dogs play in the dog park, was definitely not human.
He turned to me then, smiling politely, âYou are not joining your friends, Miss Julia? It seems only fair that you should enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Also, I feel like I must thank you again for saving me from that horrid prison. I am truly in debt of you and your friends.â
I studied him for a moment then looked back at my friends as Matt and Dana collided and started giggling like teenagers, âYou donât have to thank us. We couldnât just leave you in thatâŚI canât even begin to guess at what that thing you were in was. Some kind ofâŚfuturistic Iron Maiden?â I shuddered, âAnyway, someone has to take all of this seriously and not like itâs some fun, frolicking adventure. If anyone finds out what we didâŚI just donât want my friends to get hurt.â
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Greg looking at me with an unreadable expression on his stupidly perfect face, like he was calculatingâŚsomething. I turned back to him, meeting his gaze head-on, and after a minute, he smiled a perfectly stupid smile. He stood, dusting off his hospital scrub-looking pants, and held his hand out to me, âWhile that is an admirable goal, even the protector must relax. Come, allow me to show you what I mean.â
Hey, all, just a quick update. Unfortunately, the next Vasco oneshot will be a little delayed, probably by a week or two. Iâm sorry about this but I sadly had to put down my dog yesterday, who Iâve had for just over 16 years, so Iâm not really in the writing mood right now. I will get back on track, I just need a little time to mourn my sweet girl. I have a few pre-written story prompts Iâll try to post in the meantime. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
