Author's Note

Please be aware that some of the content in this book is adult material and may be sensitive to some readers. Enjoy, comment, vote!

"Windrock Isle is that one to the left, there, with the jagged stones pokin' through the water around the docks. Lowrock is the tiny one in between-- and then there's Sunrock. That's where we're headed," Merida said, pointing to the three scattered islands in the distance.

Myles was wringing out his vest beside her. They had passed through a rainstorm a few miles back; it was short, but it was strong. And when Myles saw that all the deckhands hadn't made a move to take cover, or even complain, he tickled himself impressed. These women had more balls than some of The Hollow Rovers. Any time they encountered rain on The Siren's Song, Minnix and Benny were the first to cry about it.

"And we're going to Sunrock, right?"

"Aye," replied Merida, her hands steady at the wheel. Wampus stood beside her, his arms crossed tightly over his bulky chest. He looked strong and powerful, but his soft gaze lingered unmoving on Merida's carefree face, and a blunt smile played on his lips.

Myles watched the waves crash over the rocks surrounding Windrock. He remembered that it was the island where his mother and father had met. He wondered idly if Chesney was trying to torture him with this. Surely Roth couldn't still be there, and if he was, all that was left of him would probably be his bones. Chesney  disclosed Roth's romantic disposition over dinner manny nights ago. IT was the first time she allowed Myles to ask of him, and he had so many questions.

First, he wanted to know about Windrock, and if his father had lived there his entire life-- at least of what she knew. He found out that each of the islands were designated for specific trades. On Sunrock, agriculture was their main source of income. They were farmers of beasts and crops alike, and they even partnered with the alchemists who lived on Lowrock. The broken off island was laden with healers and potion makers. But where Roth grew up, ironworkers and blacksmiths lined the streets and there were at least a dozen forges around the island.

Roth was a simple man, of low birth, with a great talent for smithing. Chesney admitted to meeting him upon chance, when one of her weapons was snapped in half in a swordfight. And though Roth primarily provided armor and weapons for the royal navy, he accepted her offer almost immediately, and without charge. In return they started a physical relationship that ultimately ended up with Myles.

When he asked why she left him, Chaos plainly told him it was because her love for captaining was far greater than her love for Roth and that she was never fit for motherhood. Myles also asked how he'd ended up on board The Siren's Song, but Chaos had no idea. They were interrupted by Reska then, and he was promptly dismissed.

The boy had taken up wearing a shirt, though it discomforted him greatly. As he wrung the last of the seawater from his vest, he flapped it straight and slipped into it. He looked more human than animal now, though he couldn't bring himself to wear shoes and trap his toes. And with Amuse and Annoy strapped in a cross on his back, he felt like a true pirate-- not just some ragabond cutting down men and stealing their coin.

"I'm gonna go see if Bessa needs help or wants me to fetch anythin when we make port," he said, shaking his shaggy, wet locks. They sprinkled Merida and she shoved him playfully. That made Wampus smile.

"You're doing good, boy," she said as he walked away. "Ya getting along well with most of the girls. Playin your part. The rest of them will lighten up eventually."

Myles nodded and kept on his way. He had taken some heat since he received his dual swords from Captain Chaos, but he'd done some major ass kissing to make up for it. He took over Trinity's skeleton shifts, polished one of the gunman's boots, and he also had Reska on his side, intimidating anyone who tried to give him grief.

Sometimes he liked Reska; other times she scared him. She was intense, but not the kind of intense Evie or even Luna were toward him. She was controlling and sexual and rough. One of the reasons he had taken to wearing a shirt was because of the deep claw marks she'd leave in his back. It was good to have someone on his side though, so he welcomed her bossy nature.

Below, in the kitchens, Bessa was taking inventory. She had a thin, footlong piece of parchment with scribbles of her coal pen stretching from top to bottom. It was ironic that Myles found a friend in the ship's chef, though Bessa was no Kelpie. She was erratic and bouncy, but free spirited and light hearted all the same. Her food was normal; not the cultural delicacies Kelpie had forced the crew to eat day by day.

Bessa was much younger than Merida, whom Myles also fancied the friendship of. The chef's height was just shy of his, and she had hair black as night that tumbled in braids all over her head. Her skin was a deep brown, save for some burns on her arms that turned the skin there pink. She was athletically built, though not as masculine as his pixie friend.

When she heard him enter, her braids whipped around with her gaze. She smiled after him and went back to counting the bags of flour that were lined on the floor. The kitchen was much tidier than Kelpie's.

"Myles, the golden boy," she greeted happily.

"I told ya not to call me that," he replied, leaning against the wall.

She glanced back and winked at him. "I know, just teasin is all. You know how girls talk."

"I'm well aware." He hooked his thumbs in his waistline. "I came to see if ya need anythin while we're on the isle."

Bessa slapped the parchment down and scanned over it quickly. "Actually, if ye be so kind, I think I'll take a sack of apples."

"That all?"

She tossed a stray turnip at him from the counter. "Did I say I was finished?"

"No, miss," he replied, dodging the vegetable as it thudded against the wood by his ear.

A silence passed between them.

"Well?" he pressed.

She turned on her heels toward the wash basin. "Nope, that'll be all," she laughed.

Myles rolled his eyes and left through the swinging doors, shaking his head at her jape. He made way for his cabin, passing a few women who snickered when they saw him. They'll come to like me, I know it. I won't be an outcast like I was in The Rovers.

He found his room and slipped through the door, latching it quickly behind him. He rested his forehead on the door and closed his eyes. Perhaps death would've been an easier transition. A purr from behind startled him, and he found Reska lying in his bed. She was playing with the end of her whip, clawing at some of the tattered edges. Myles swallowed hard-- she stunned him constantly. Her wild red curls were sprawled across his pillow and her tail swayed gently behind her.

When he tried to speak, his throat ran dry and he barely got a word out. He coughed and composed himself. "Have you been here all night?" he asked, remembering they had spent hours in bed together. They didn't talk much when they weren't fornicating, but they stared at each other or at the ceiling for long periods of time. It was surprisingly less awkward than he would've thought, and they both seemed to enjoy the quiet company.

"No. I just came from seeing the captain. She was giving me orders for when we reach Sunrock," she said, pushing herself from the bed. She strolled about his cabin, picking up trousers and shirts-- sniffing them and then tossing them aside. "I did wanna talk to you about last night, though."

She looked angry, and Myles busied himself with cleaning up her mess to keep from soiling himself under her stare. He grabbed his clothes from the floor and stuffed them into the chest at the foot of his bed.

"Oh, what about?" he asked, aloof.

Reska was blocking the door now, her whip hanging around her neck. It was her weapon of choice, and she weilded it well. She'd even mastered it in her thievery, which impressed Myles.

"When you fell asleep last night ye said a name..."

The boy closed his eyes in defeat. This was not starting out well already. Ilia, don't let it be her name she speaks next. Knots curled in his stomach and his pulse quickened.

"Who's Luna?" Reska asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh..." he began with obvious relief. His shoulders relaxed and he slumped a little. If she would've said Evie's name, I would've been cat food. "She's just one of Madame Bouchard's whores. You know, from Shark Anchorage Port. She used to... keep me company is all. You'd probably recognize her if--"

The feline girl sucked on her teeth. "Ah, so I scratched up poor Luna from the cannon crew for no reason, it seems. Oh well, at least she knows now for sure that what's mine is not hers." Reska warmed then, and forcefully wrapped her arms around Myles' neck.

Fuck! She's a scary wench. He returned the embrace-- mainly out of fear-- and nestled her close. But she didn't hold onto him long, and was soon slipping out of his room without so much as an explanation or a goodbye.

The boy sank into his mattress on his chest, and he could smell her there still. But he wished the scent away. All he wanted to smell was the ocean, and maybe even the fires burning in the forges at Windrock. He tried to make himself comfortable despite his healing brand in the center of his chest and he slowly drifted.

*****

A sword slid from Myles' belly, and a thick covering of red shocked him. Am I slain? he thought. He traced the sword's length until he found the culprit on the other end. A man, luminescent against the darkness that surrounded them, tried to shove the blade back into the pirate's stomach. A wicked grin reached the man's eyes. His hair was golden and his armor purely silver. He was thrice the size of Myles, and probably thrice his age.

They struggled against each other, the sword swaying back and forth between them. Finally, the man sunk into the floor, and sent Myles tripping over his own feet. He stumbled forward but was caught by a pair of delicate hands. He recognized the touch of his savior almost instantly. His eyes lingered on the small waist, the tan midsection that looked bronze next to the black vest. And he caught the tips of blonde hair falling over her shoulders.

He stood up straight, his hands grabbing hold of her hips. She looked the most beautiful he'd ever seen her, with wind chapped cheeks and sea-swollen lips. He meant to lean in and kiss her, feeling the urge like he never had before. But when his lips were on hers, she bit him, and he withdrew to find a fiery Reska staring back at him with her claws pinned in his back.

He shouted and shoved her away, and she dissipated into the floor as well. Evie, where'd she go? A tap on his shoulder scared him, and he twisted around. There she was, but somehow twenty feet away. Behind her, a cloaked figure approached, wrapping his-- or her-- arms around her. Evie seemed to be enjoying the stranger's company, and her head lolled back to rest on the figure's shoulder.

"Evie, wait!" Myles called.

The cloaked man pulled out a shiny, thin dagger from one of his sleeves as he caressed Evie's throat with the flat of the blade.

"No! Evie he means to hurt you!" the pirate yelled, feeling his heart break.

The figure jabbed the knife into Evie's neck, and blood spurted. But she laughed instead of crying, and blood oozed from her throat and her skin faded from tan to a sickening pale. Myles could feel the heartache building, but his confusion overpowered it as she continued to laugh and opened her eyes.

"Myles..."

He ran towards her, but she got further away.

"Myles..."

I know that voice. It's not hers--

*****

"Myles, damn you! Get up, we're making port!" a voice called from outside his cabin. He jolted, the quick banging on the door bringing him to life. He was soaked in his own sweat, as if he truly was running in his sleep.

"Aye, I'm comin!" he hollered back, pinching the bridge of his nose. A few hours must have passed if they were docking already, though he felt like he'd only been asleep for a few moments. He wiped the drool from his mouth and stood from his bed.

The dream was daunting, and he worried what it might mean. Was Evie going to be killed? Was she dead already? And that man, the one who stabbed him, he looked so regal. Perhaps it was Wyliamme Carac and his dream was trying to warn them of his coming. But, if that were true, then that meant Myles would be killed by him. And if that bit was true, then Evie was going to be in danger as well.

It was not his place to worry about her anymore, though he couldn't help it. They grew up beside each other, and it caused him grief to imagine her being cut down. Maybe he would ask Captain Chaos about it later, though he'd have to catch her in a good mood to talk about Evie. Myles had gathered that Chesney Chaos and Evie's parents had a history, and discussing their child might bring up a sore memory. I'll just leave out that part, he decided. The boy opened his door and Trinity was standing with her hip popped, tapping her foot at him.

"What, did ya roll over on your sword or something?" she asked, starting to lead him down the hall.

"Wha--?"

"You were screamin in there. A'first I was afraid Reska was in there with ya but then I remembered she already started preparing to go ashore," Trinity said, shooting him an awry glare.

"No, nothin like that. Just havin a dream is all," he replied, climbing the stairs behind her. He hated when the others teased him about his 'relationship' with Reska. It was none of their business to begin with, and he disliked that they used it as another reason to keep him as an outcast.

They trudged up the stairs and it surprised Myles to see that it was nightfall. Merida and Warren were out of sight-- probably frollicing on the island somewhere or taking advantage of a nearly empty ship-- and Bessa took watch on the main deck. When they passed her by, she reminded him to retrieve her apples with a wink and a crude comment.

Myles and Trinity stepped foot onto the docks of Sunrock and were already being sucked into the bustle of the town. Even at sundown the stalls were open, criers cried their news, and fishermen stood waist-deep in the shallows. It was almost magical to see a town so lost in their frivolous work day, though the hour of land labor had passed on.

The two made their way through the market. Fish and meats were to the left, and vegetables and fruits on the right. There was nothing estranged about the food here; no wonder, since they grew and farmed everything on the island themselves. Someone in an apartment above one of the shops was cooking something sweet-- a pie maybe-- and the aroma mixed in with the fresh leg of lamb that the vendor sold below. The whole town smelled like a feast of spices and meats and wine.

His companion found her way to a liquor stall, where she paid for three crates of rum, four of whiskey, and another four of wine. She bantered with the vendor for some time, haggling over prices and complaining how the prices were raised since their last visit. Myles busied himself by the produce, and a stout man with tattoos up his arms sat guarding the apples. There were ripe green ones and supple reds, and he had smacked his forehead. Damn it, I should've asked which kind Bessa wanted. He suspected she left him hanging on purpose.

"Can I buy a sack for Captain Chaos' crew?" Myles asked, reaching for his coin purse tied to his waistline. Bessa had told him that dropping the captain's name usually got the prices of their goods lowered and kept a peace with the Rock Isles. They could easily overrun the town and take whatever they pleased, but then there would be no more for them to take in the future. That was one admirable quality his mother had. She knew not to cut off her resources.

The man cocked a brow and eyes Myles suspiciously. Rolling his eyes, the pirate pulled his shirt open, exposing his brand. Some of the lesser folks must've gotten away with using Chaos' name for their personal benefit. The salesman rolled some reds into a burlap bag and handed it over to the boy. "Take 'em, and tell Bessa she owes me a drink or three at the inn for these."

Myles half smiled and nodded. He wasn't sure if he was comfortable enough to relay that message, but he was thankful for the free produce all the same. He threw the sack over his shoulder and trudged down the dirt pathway. Trinity was missing now-- probably heading to another vendor-- so Myles decided to explore his surroundings.

The livelyness of the crowds excited him, but were also humbling. These were people who liked to work-- people who liked their jobs and were good at them. He idly wondered if he'd be the same way once he got used to The Halo. He certainly didn't like his duties aboard Enigma's ship, and made it known.

He wandered toward the market's edge, and looked onward at some simple houses. The people on this island lived well enough it seemed; their homes were in good shape, their fields were well taken care of, and he had not seen a single brothel or rowdy pub. There was a Brewing Company where he caught wind of some spirited music and laughter, but it was nothing like Cap'n Kelly's.

Some of the children were even out late, rounding up chickens in their family's pen. They giggled and waved to Myles as he passed. He couldn't help but return the gesture, and tossed them a few apples. He never spoke to many children, except some of the young thieves guild on Shark Anchorage Port-- but they were void of any innocence-- and it was refreshing to interact with such carefree kids.

He made a roundabout the village, wondering if his father had ever walked the same streets. Surely he had; he could've taken a rowboat over to the island from his own. On his way back, he noticed Reska speaking with someone at the stables, whispering and glancing all around her. Myles watched on, curious. Who's she talkin to? It by no means caused him any jealousy-- in fact, he hoped she was praying on some other poor soul-- but the hooded man was swift to depart, and something in the air gave him an eerie feeling about their exchange.

As the pirate was about to carry on with his apples and head back to the vessel, Reska spotted him and caught the man by the arm, dropping something into his hand then shooing him away. Myles made no attempt to linger, and he could feel her scorching stare at his back. This isn't going to turn out well for me, he sighed to himself.

When he got back to The Halo, Myles went straight to Bessa, and gave her the apples. She peered down into the bag an smiled in approval before smacking his head dand sending him away. Trinity made her appearance as well, directing a huddle of boys into the kitchen with crates full of alcohol. They shuffled in and shuffled out with their heads down and tails between their legs. He felt for them-- being around a gaggle of women could have that effect on a young man.

Myles made his way back toward his cabin, ready to finally turn in for the night. It was nice to be on land now and then, but after a few hours, his legs would feel funny walking on such steady ground and he wound up missing the sea. And he especially felt naked without his crew around him, even if he was still new to them. But even as he opened his cabin door, the vision of Reska with the cloaked man haunted him.  That couldn't be what my dream was about, he denied. He doubted Reska had that kind of coin to hire such a mercenary, and had little regard to send him after someone less threatening, like Evie.

He laid himself down with his hands interlocked behind his head and stared at the ceiling. I have to find out who Reska was talking to. If it was the man from my dream, I have to find a way to warn--

The boy rolled over onto his stomach and groaned. There was a chance he was simply being paranoid. Reksa and Chaos had won him-- there was no reason to further their quarrels with Enigma and The Hollow Rovers. That's all, I'm overreacting to that stupid nightmare. His eyes drifted shut and he laid listening to the swoll of the waves on the other side of his walls.

But as soon as he closed his eyes, the vision of the cloaked assassin returned, and he slowly pulled back his hood...