The Cloud Cutter

Captain Corsoe

I was awoken by the far-off sound of the ship's bell. I came to slowly, my eyelids heavy. I was laying down, rocking gently in the air. I felt the mesh fabric of the bed with my hands. It wasn't a bed at all, but a hammock, strung between a dozen others in the darkness of the upper deck. It was day still, the seams of light between the floorboards told me as much, but the room was still cast in darkness, save a single oil lamp hung near the hammock.

My muscles ached, but not as much as one might expect. I knew not to trust the sensation. In a day's time, the needling pain would find me again, rendering my limbs nigh unusable.

I tried to sit up but found it awkward to do in the cradle of the netting. A voice came from the darkness, stifling my attempt to rise.

"Do not overlook where this story leads, beyond Vertan stories lost."

From the shadow, a figure emerged. It was the captain. His light blue eyes seemed to glow, reflecting the lamp light. He was wearing the same blue coat as before, but his hat had been removed, revealing long black and silver hair pulled back into a bun. I judged him to be middle-aged, though his weather-worn skin made him appear older.

As he moved further into the light, I saw what was in his hands. My atlas. He handed it to me, and I took it gently, unsure of what to say. I turned it over, and saw the inscription for myself.

Aelyn,

do not overlook where this

story leads, beyond Vertan stories lost.

Beneath shadowed crown secrets lie

upon stone, reeds, and moss.

Seek a basilica so often sought,

beside tumultuous fall. And if you find the

nave forgot, then read only the one,

and never read all.

I looked to the captain, who stared back, watching my reaction closely. My mind raced, I had a thousand thoughts, but none manifested as a question.

The captain stroked his beard slowly. "What do you make of that?"

I felt a headache begin to grow behind my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose, squinting hard. "I... I don't know. Why did you do this? Why did you take this from me?" I didn't bother to hide the ire in my voice. This man's crew had nearly killed me, and would have, if not for my years of climbing experience.

The captain's voice remained calm. "That book is a piece of a mystery, many years made."

"A— A mystery? Who are you?"

"Corsoe. Captain of the Cloud Cutter, and its crew."

"And are mysteries the trade of your ship?" I said angrily.

Captain Corsoe took the book off my lap. "We are rain collectors, at least, we were. The storyteller has guided us to a new path. 'Twas a course correction that has cleared our skies and solidified our footing. Our seer foresaw what had been lain before us, and who are we to question what is written? That is how we came upon your atlas."

I felt rage building in me. "Came upon? You mean stole."

The captain narrowed his eyes. "We are good, hardworking souls aboard this ship. Not thieves."

"I almost died at the end of that rope!" I was almost yelling now.

The captain spoke low, his words sharpening. "That is how things are done in the expanse. If a stowaway wishes to be a part of this crew, he must make the climb."