The looming fog as thick as a blanket, swept over the deck like a wash of sea water. Chilling every man and his three legged dog to the bone. The wooden deck creaking eerily, with every sway of the illuminated mast. As the large vessel, delicately landed on the open sea.
"Keep the power on an even keel, Master Grivs" A gruff voice called over the fog, his authority unquestioned. "The rest of you, are with me!" The captain added, marching against the chilled winter winds to the side of his ship.
"Uhh, Captain... " A middle-aged man, cringing in fear interrupted.
"Yes, Jack?" The captain sighed.
"Scrapless Jack, Sir." The nervous man corrected. Wringing his hands tightly, inside his messy Apron.
"And I was just wondering what exactly, we were doing in the Shal." Jack added, cautiously. Aware now, of just how many other sailors were gathering around them.
"We're collecting a rare treasure, Jack. A rare treasure indeed, and you know how much we Sky Pirates all love treasure!" The Captain grinned devilishly, a mean glint in his eyes.
None of the other's questioned him, none of them dared. Not even as the ship finally settled on the water and they saw the myriad of rotting corpses floating in the water. Half a man lie here, his other half over there. Or perhaps that was someone else's. Every body man, woman or child was shredded. Meaty chunks lie everywhere, coating the surface of the water, the stench choking the very life out of everything still living. As they moved further, jetsam and flotsam lay interspersed, a crate or two. Then a canon still attached to part of it's vessel.
"By the stars... What happened?" The captain gasped, all bravado gone.
The fog began to clear, the night sky an inky black. No light shone here, not in the southern ocean of Shal. The only light shone from their mast, the ambient glow casting a grim view of what should have been a merchant ship and it's guardian vessel.
"Captain! Look!" Called a man from the crow's nest, perched high on top of the mast he could see what remained of the guardian vessel. It's hull and mast seemed undamaged.
"N-no!... Not the Drifter!" Another Sailor cried.
"Power up Grivs, we're getting out of here now." The captain ordered, suddenly afraid of what might be lurking over the next wave.
"Wait!!" Scrapless Jack yelled, above the mounting whispers of what might have cause the downfall of the most powerful guardian vessel in the four seas.
"What's that sound?" Jack added, now that all had gone silent.
Everyone strained to hear what Jack had already heard, Grivs powered down the engines once more so they could pick it out over the humming idle of the vessel, it's solar powered tanks nearly depleted to just get this far.
Drifting on the very edge of the Shal, they could hear the faint sound of a baby crying.
*******
Thought it was about time... Hope all you steam punk landlubbers enjoy this one!
YOU ARE READING
Icarus
Fantasy~ Sunbird Series: Book 1 - Icarus ~ Nails, an orphaned 12yr old boy has a lot to deal with. He desperately wants to be like the other teens his age, getting work and making a use for himself. His only setbacks are the fact he has one arm, a seemingl...
