Child of a Pirate, Raised at Sea

Chapter 6

I soon found myself walking the length of the beach I had seen through the porthole. Everything here seemed so bright and colorful. The sand was a blinding white and the trees that lined the beach were full of different fruits and berries that seemed to beg me to eat them. I shielded my eyes and walked along in silence wondering who this mysterious person was that was going to help us rescue my mom. Eventually, we reached an opening in the trees that led farther inland. Once Hesiod, my father, and I got closer I saw there was a small altar of a goddess made from marble nestled into a cove of trees. Water poured from her hand, and spilled into a small bowl below here where exotic flowers floated. I turned to Hesiod with questioning eyes. I tried to speak but discovered I couldn’t! My hands flew to my throat in a panic but no sound escaped my lips. Eyes wide and heart beating, I spun towards my Father. He motioned for me to calm down and I realized he couldnt speak either. He pointed behind me and I saw Hesiod kneeling at the foot of the alter. After a moment he stood up and turned to smile at me. “It’s okay. This is the home of the Seven Muses. They are the goddesses of Knowledge and Arts. They require an intellectual sacrifice from whoever wishes to go forward. Until then you cannot speak because that’s an art that was created by them for us. You must inspire them to regain your voice.” While he explained this my Father gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before also kneeling at the altar. A moment later my father rose and turned to me, saying, “It doesn’t hurt. Just let your mind go and think of a  literature song that means something to you.” I too knelt and recited one of my favorite poems. Soon, I found my voice. I turned to my Father and Hesiod but they were looking past me. I turned back to see something amazing. The trees had somehow shifted out of the way and the most dazzling woman I had ever seen stood before us. Her skin sparkled midnight blue and her dark hair was done up in a complicated braid pattern. A beautiful flute song seemed to be emanating from somewhere beyond her, deeper in the forest. She motioned for me to stand, which I did. When I got to my feet she gave us all a radiant smile. Her teeth were bone white against her skin and when she moved, I swore I could see constellations glittering across her skin. “Welcome." she spoke softly to us "Come.” Then she floated away, deeper into the trees. I looked to Hesiod but he seemed like this was all to be expected, and gestured for me to follow the woman first. As she glided before us, we all followed her. The forest seemed to have no natural path but parted easily for her. Soon, she led us into a clearing surrounded by trees and bushes. A few deer grazed and a fox drank from a river that flowed through the clearing. There were several comfortable looking chairs and lounges spread throughout with colorful little pillows on each one. Several woman were seated on them; One of them was the source of the music that had led us here and her flute playing seemed to be mimicking the sound of the river, but she stopped when she spotted us. While the others regarded us curiously, our guide floated away and sat on a sleek looking couch. I noticed when the eyes of one of the women rested on Hesiod she leaped from her seat and bounded gracefully towards us. She was tall and slim and her hair was hidden from view by a decorative scarf and her skin glowed and shimmered midnight blue like all the others. She embraced Hesiod and then startled me by doing the same to my Father and me. “Hesiod, my old friend. What’s kept you from home for so long?” She asked seemingly innocently but I didn’t miss the glance she threw my way. “Clio, you know I can’t stand one place for too long. I like travel.” Hesiod said, smiling “But it’s good to be home.” Clio smiled back and asked “What has brought you back to us?” Her voice sounded like a song. Hesiod brought me forward and introduced me and then my Father. Finally, Hesiod said, “Her mother is Amphitrite,” I saw several eyes appraising me with this new information in mind. I looked back at each of them and found it hard not to be bashful in the presence of their beauty and grace. “She needs our help to rescue her mother from Poseidon. He’s taken her and hid her away and nothing in my power has been able to help. He’s too cunning.” The women murmured among themselves, their voices rising with concern. The river rushed by more quickly. The fox darted off into the dense forrest surrounding the clearing. I saw Clio's doubtful expression and chose that moment to speak up “He captured her almost a year and a half ago. Hesiod has been kind enough to try and help us get her back but nothings worked so far. I fear you all might be our last hope.” I took a deep breath after my little speech. Clio looked me up and down while my heart beat quickly in my chest. “Well, yes of course we’ll help. The gods are not easy, you see. And none is more cunning than our uncle Poseidon. It will be fun to help you outsmart him.” I was at a loss for words with this information. She turned from me to her sisters and clapped her hands. “Right, who has an idea of how to find Poseidon and rescue Amphitrite?” Many voices rose up all suggesting different tools and strategies to do it. Lots of the conversation I couldn’t understand or had never heard of any of the words they used or things they described. I gave up trying to understand it all. Their conversation seemed to run on for hours. Soon I found myself dozing on a comfortable couch between my Father and Hesiod with my head on Hesiod’s shoulder. Suddenly, Clio clapped her hands and turned towards us. She looked triumphant. “We know how to help.”

This was the hardest chapter to write haha I kept editing it soooo much. I almost feel like it will never be perfect so I just decided to publish it and see what everyone thought 😊