The Clockwork Chronicles

Chapter One

Simon wandered the deck of the Maiden's Fury, the merchant ship that was to be his home for the next several weeks. Burly, sun-beaten sailors moved briskly about the deck, attending to their duties as Ilrian's port faded from view. Simon scampered to the rail, desperate to not be in the way of the rather intimidating workers. Staring out at his retreating home, he did his best to burn that final image into his mind.

As the winds pushed against the sails, the scrawny young man felt a sense of unease come over him. Though they'd left in a hurry, Simon still worried his misdeeds would catch up to him far sooner than he'd hoped. Attacking a powerful man's son (regardless of his continued abuse and beatings of Simon) had not been the best of ideas. Despite the gloom, he couldn't help but smile at the memory of the young wizard Vernon, unconscious and bloodied on the street in all his pompous finery. After years of extortion and torment, culminating in horribly wounding his cousin, the horrid thug had finally gotten exactly what he deserved, and Simon would treasure those memories forever. A brief panic struck him as he thought of his notebooks and inventions hurriedly packed in their cases. Not only had they brought low Vernon and his lackeys, their existence had attracted the attentions of a merchant, who saw an opportunity in the strange gloves that could direct lightning, and the jars of alchemical agents which powered it. In essence, they were what had bought their ticket away from Ilrian and any retribution. It wouldn't do to have them be damaged during the trip, though Simon was confident he could recreate them, among other, even more exciting things. He smiled to himself as he thought of the promise that awaited him across the sea - whatever came, Simon thought decisively, moving away from the railing and cleaning the misting water from his glasses, he would no longer worry about such petty things in the past. Though Vernon's family was strong at home, across the waters in Taleor, the Shining Port City of a Thousand Nations, they might as well not exist at all.

"Avast, matey!"

Simon jumped, surprised to see his cousin next to him. Even more surprising was the ridiculous bandanna and open-chested shirt he wore. standing as he did - chest out and chin defiantly thrust towards home - he looked absolutely ridiculous.

"We've barely lost sight of land, and you've already adapted to a life at sea?" Simon asked, as he fought to keep the smile away. "Where did you even get those things?"

"One o' the crew traded me for my old clothes," Jacob said as he leaned next to Simon.

"Apparently he's got a girl to impress back home, and he fancied my fine clothes."

"Tell me you packed spares."

"I'm not an idiot," Jacob said, kicking his skeptical cousin in the ankle. Aside from a smirk, Jacob paid it no mind, and turned to gaze out at the sea.

"If they really meant to do you harm, you never would've made it to the ship, no offense to mustache-man," Jacob said.

"Even so, the further away we get, the safer I'll feel." Simon looked about the crew - more than a few of whom glared at the lounging travelers.

"I have the strangest feeling we may not be too welcome," Simon whispered. "Maybe we should make ourselves scarce."

"Speak for yourself," Jacob said, stretching. "Me? I'm goin' to find the choicest bit o' boat, and catch up on my beauty rest."

"I'm afraid you've misunderstood the situation you're in." Lioras had finally finished speaking with the captain, and shuffled over to the cousins. "The both of you will most certainly be earning your keep, make no mistake."

"I thought the captain owed you a favor," Jacob said, growing sullen at the prospect of ship work.

"He did," the merchant agreed as his robes snapped in the wind. "Thus the hasty, less-than-profitable early departure. He lost a fair amount of coin because of our haste." Lioras's long, flowing mustache twitched slightly as he raised a solitary eyebrow. "The least I could do was offer your assistance."