Of Siren and Men

Chapter 1

We've been on the High Seas for two days now and I still don't know what the hell I should do once we reach Myra or even how to get there alive. But I can't show even a hint of uncertainty to the 7 men accompanying me on the crossing. If they found out I didn't know how we were going to get to our first stop alive, they would throw me overboard from the Marquis without hesitation. Perhaps the only two men who would take pity on me would be Edward and Otto, the most loyal man I have ever known.

Otto of Zor arrived at Beckwith Castle when he was only 15 years old. My father found him lying in the forest, his white tunic in tatters, his blond hair almost indistinguishable under the blanket of snow and his brown eyes staring up at the sky with no hint of life in them. No one knows how he survived in the woods, unconscious for more than three days, in one of the most hellish winters ever seen in Beckwith. But what is certain is that the Duke of Beckwith saw in Otto a loyal young man, with a great skill for the crossbow and an innate talent for navigating the most challenging tides. Since then he has lived in the castle and has not been separated from my father, always supporting the Duke in the most difficult times and in the most foolish decisions. That is why, when he was the first volunteer to join the search for the stone of Hades, my father did not doubt for a moment that Otto of Zor would be the best company for the heir of the Duchy of Beckwith. 

- James, we are almost into the Sea of Blood. Do you have any plans? - Erik, one of my strongest men, but also my least loyal, snapped me out of my thoughts.

- Erik. Call everyone to the bow. This is where the crossing gets interesting - I looked at him, showing confidence and mischief, for I could not lose the trust of my men without even having crossed the Sea of Blood. I had to get to Myra with 7 men on my side and that was what I intended to do. 

Otto, Edward, Erik, Gideon and Ezekiel surrounded me, ready to receive instructions. Clark and Linus watched me from afar, full of uncertainty and fear. I couldn't blame them. My father delegated the most important mission of his life and the fate of the Duchy of Beckwith to a 19-year-old man, who's closest experience to death had been at the age of 10, when on a trip to the capital of the Kingdom and in the middle of a storm, I fell into the open sea and was at the mercy of the sea and ocean creatures for a few long, insufferable minutes.

- Clark and Linus. Come closer. We must be united. Crossing the Sea of Blood without dying in the attempt is the first great challenge to reach the stone of Hades. We know that in a few hours we will be out of safe territory. Ragnar runs this part of the kingdom and we know he has an alliance with the Ocean King. Any ship not authorized by the Royal Navy will be attacked by Sirens.

- And what does the little Duke intend to do about it? You brought us on a suicide mission, James. You don't have a plan. What's the next step? Plug our ears and hope the Sirens take pity on us? - He let out a mocking laugh and fixed his piercing gray eyes on me.

- I remind you that you're talking to the Duke of Beckwith, Linus. Question my instructions again and the next "step" we will take is to throw you overboard from the Marquis. Is that clear? - I snapped at him. I wasn't about to let a thief like Linus question my authority in front of the other men. The only reason the pirate was aboard the Marquis was because he had managed to murder 3 Sirens during his years as a pirate. So far, the only man alive who could claim to have defeated 3 sea creatures without dying in the attempt. 

- Ed and I have spent months deciphering the safest way to cross the Sea of Blood without falling into the hands of Sirens. Our only hope lies in this artifact - I took out of a coffer a copper-colored flute, deteriorated by time and with the coat of arms of the Royal House visible on the handle.

- And that stick will save us from the demons? - Ezequiel looked at me incredulous and a little scared. I understood him. His life depended on a flute that had not been used in years and that probably did not work. 

- Ha! I have better uses for that thing - Clark shouted and everyone laughed. 

- The flute works. Or at least it worked until a few years ago. Ragnar ordered the Baron of Thesos to destroy the artifact as proof of his alliance and loyalty to the Ocean King. But the Baron owed my father a debt and with a few drinks, he managed to get it from him a few years ago. - Ed spoke confidently and firmly. I had never seen him like that. Of the two of us, I was always the leader and Edward was the ass who followed me on all my adventures and crazy plans. But this time I saw a glint of light in his eyes that made my muscles relax and my mind believe that crossing the Sea of Blood was going to be a piece of cake. 

- And what exactly does the magic stick do? - Linus asked with genuine curiosity. 

- The "stick," Linus, emits a melody that disorients the Sirens, preventing them from attacking ships that pass through their territory. It gives us a head start of about 45 minutes, enough time to get out of the Sea of Blood and back into safe territory.

 - The real problem will be the Royal Navy ships. They will not hear the melody emitted by the flute, which will give us an advantage because they will see that the Sirens do not attack the ship and will believe that we are authorized to cross the Sea of Blood. But nothing prevents them from deciding to make a crossing control and discover that we have not been authorized to enter the Sea of Blood.

- And then what? - snarled Linus. - If the Royal Navy decides to board the Marquis and run a crossing control we are death  James.

- That's where it gets interesting, Linus. Do you remember your days as a pirate? - I gave him a playful look. 

- We fight the Royal Navy, James? Are you aware that the men here, except for Clark and I, have never been in a real fight? They would kill us in the blink of an eye - Linus was impatient and frustrated. Although he had always been known for being a good warrior, his forte had never been logic and reasoning. To this burly man we had to explain the attempted plan step by step so he wouldn't screw it up.

- No Linus - I sighed - We are risk-takers but not idiots. Its no secret to anyone that Ragnar has been smuggling bronce through pirates since April. Nobody knows what his plans are but what we are certain of is that ships transporting bronce are authorized to cross the Sea of Blood even if they are not registered in the official list of authorized ships of the Navy.  Remember your days as thief of the sea? - I asked and he nodded- Well, little Linus, the only thing we'll need to get out of this mess alive is your old pirate jargo. Savvy?

- Aye, Aye! - Linus yelled and we all laughed.