"I never was a praying man... but for her, let my knees touch the ground a thousand times in worship."
Born with the blood and darkness of the ocean god Cin, the Queen of the Black Seas must finish what her father started: Find Cin's Obelisk in the...
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The stars are hidden this night, tucked away behind thick, black clouds that threaten to spill Ili's tears. The goddess is unhappy, that much can be known by the storm brewing above and the fresh smell of salt in the air. Captain Lieth cannot think about the danger to his ship, nor his men, in regards to the skies. There is a greater danger below.
Red sails in the near distance.
Even worse, he is oblivious to the danger within the cargo bay of the ship. A sleeping child, no older than 12, hidden amongst rope and barrels of ale and weapons. A hideaway, one that snuck in despite her father's wishes, and will now awake to only to be forever changed by blood and ash. Her dreams will morph into wicked nightmares that will haunt her for the rest of her life. As soon as she opens her eyes, her world as she knows it will be changed forever.
"Oy! One league away!" Baron calls from the crow's nest.
The captain clicks his tongue, rubbing his thick, dark beard with a dirty hand. They need to pick up speed, once they cross Cin's Ribs the Royal Guard will not follow. "Empty the cargo bay, throw it all out. Black will have te deal with his lost haul."
The captain ignores the gasps and disgruntled groans from his crew. He feels the same, of course, their biggest haul yet means they could dock at Briar for at least a full moon. Women. Ale. Beds. Now, they will be lucky to make it back to Briar alive.
Bodies dash around him, racing into the cargo bay and withdrawing barrel after barrel to throw overboard. The sea rocks against the ship angrily, and silently Captain Lieth prays to Eyr to forgive them for polluting the god's waters with their stolen goods.
"Captain!" Till's voice just barely makes it over the roar of the seas. Unsheathing his cutlass and making his way down the steps to the hull of the boat, Captain Lieth meets Till at the top of the stairs to the cargo hold.
But Till is not alone.
The captain snarls, sheathing his cutlass with a frown at the wild haired girl staring up at him. "I should have yer head, child."
She juts out her chin, ocean eyes startling in contrast to her aureate skin. "I wanted to see Cin's Obelisk."
"And now ye'll see him in person because none of us are making it out alive." He growls, grabbing his daughter by the neck of her blouse and dragging her into the Captain's quarters. He ignores her whimpers of protest, tossing her towards the tall wardrobe in the corner. "Walekia's troops are after us, and it won't take long for them te reach us."
