Kailani,
You know as well as I, that journey is fraught with dangers. The treasure, while a great boon has always been cursed. It is not worth your life or the boys. See to it that you keep your vow. The second piece of paper is a letter to Zathrian from Asteria. She was very worried, but I for one have all the faith in my mage and I know you will return soon. ----Yours Aderas
-----
Z,
I cannot believe you are on a treasure hunt. While I know you are a gifted mapmaker, a sister can't help but worry. As you probably have when you heard that the King sent Kailani at my behest. I can promise you that there is nothing untoward happening. He has me in his employ, to stock the Royal Library. Come back to me Brother, as well as you can. In one piece, hopefully. ---Asteria.
XXX
Zathrian couldn't help but smile at the short missive. It was definitely his sister. He was glad she was in enough spirits to joke. He folded back the note and turned back to the pieces of the map he had tacked on the walls of the outside of the Captain's Quarters. He regarded his compass and made some more sketches. The reconstruction of the map wasn't going as fast as he would've liked, but it was going fast enough for Lorcan and that was what mattered.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Zathrian looked up surprised that Kailani was perched not far from him regarding him closely. "Of course you can," he answered.
"Why Asteria?" She asked. At Zathrian's frown, she added. "Her name. It's unusual. A name a noble may not have chosen. " Zathrian smiled.
"My mother was from the Kingdom of Orion, She chose my sister's name to reflect the stars she was born under. My father did not care." Zathrian said, his face darkening. "As far as he was concerned he'd already had his son."
"And yet, your a mapmaker." Kailani pointed out. "My father made some bad decisions. Thankfully too early for him to sell my sister as payment." Zathrian said. "When he and my mother died, we found out that we were destitute. Less nobles and more or less than farmers. The estate was all we had. And it still wasn't enough." Zathrian murmured.
"Sometimes you just have to let go. In order to move forward."
Zathrian looked up surprised to see that Lorcan had joined them.
Lorcan smiled ruefully. "You are enough." He told Zathrian. "You helped me with not much effort on your part."
"I was stranded on your pirate ship." Zathrian pointed out.
"And yet you helped. Not everyone is as accommodating." Lorcan reminded him. "You aren't leaving here with nothing. Skills like yours will go far in this troublesome world."
"Are you going to leave me with a letter of recommendation?" Zathrian joked.
"And a share of the treasure," Lorcan added seriously, as he chuckled at the face Zathrian made at his words.
"Well, that is a gift indeed," Kailani murmured.
"He earned it," Lorcan said studying the map and giving Zathrian a pat on the back. "You are a hard worker. It does not go unnoticed." Lorcan said as he moved on, speaking to other Pirates as he went on his way.
Kailani rolled her eyes. "Regardless of what that Pirate is willing to give you," Kailani said, moving closer to Zathrian until they were much too close to overhear. "You are my only mission. Say the word and I'll get you out of here, even if we have to swim all the way back to Garren," she murmured.
Zathrian smirked. "As tempting as that sounds...I've never been the greatest swimmer and knowing that my sister is alright is enough for me," Zathrian responded.
Kailani scowled returning to lean against the barrel she had perched on once more. Zathrian regarded her for a moment before he joined her, surprising her with his closeness. "What is with you and Lorcan anyways," he whispered, not wanting the pirate captain to overhear. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her sun-bronzed skin darken.
"Are you blushing," he said with amusement.
Kailani scowled. "Everyone has a past. Even mages. Things that we regret. Once. A long time before I was the King's mage, I was just a sorceress trying to find her way in the world." Kalani began pushing herself up to sit cross-legged on the barrel.
"After so many years of studying, I craved adventure. So I found myself on a ship. Not this one." she spoke, giving a side glance to Zathrian. "I was on a merchant's ship, meant to protect that merchant's valuables. We were attacked by several pirate ships. There was a fight. I found myself side by side with a pirate fighting off other pirates." She remarked with a smile.
"You missed the part where you saved me." Lorcan butted in offering Kailani a bottle of ale. Kailani took the bottle taking a generous sip before passing it to Zathrian who took another sip, that burned down his throat, the taste of cinnamon and clove permeating his senses. He nodded before handing it back to Lorcan. He had been on the ship long enough to know how ale was shared during the night, and indeed the sky was darkening to indigo.
"I was young, not yet a captain." Lorcan began, leaning on the barrel that Kailani was sitting on.
"One of the other Pirates had him cornered," Kailani said. "It wasn't much of a save," she said pointedly looking at Lorcan who smiled warmly at her.
"Says, you," he smirked.
"We ended up being captured. All of us were thrown in the brig. I was the only girl there." Kailani mused.
"I'll always remember that," Lorcan said. "Any other girl would've been terrified, but not you. You were so fierce-looking, no man considered pressing his advantage. We spent days, hungry and dehydrated. Anyone would've lost hope." Lorcan said. "You never did. You sat there plotting." He mused.
"We broke out together, with a handful of men," Kailani said.
"My men," Lorcan said gesturing to the ship.
"Are we on that, same ship?" Zathrian asked curiously.
"I made some modifications," Lorcan admitted.
"I noticed." Kailani replied silkily.
"But yes. The Iris is that same ship." Lorcan said, raising up as his men gestured him over. Zathrian watched him go his gaze landing on Kailani who had a certain look on her face as she watched Lorcan go.
"The two of you have a lot of history together," Zathrian mumbled.
Kailani's gaze moved to the sky. "There were times I regret. Times that has not faded from memory. Of times when I was with people not like me, yet treated me better than my blood ever did." she said morosely. She looked back at Zathrian somberly. "We were lovers once." She said, and Zathrian knew she meant Lorcan. "It was brief. But I was forced to move on." Kailani looked seriously on Zathrian. "I hope your sister is more careful of who she puts her trust in, than I was. Love can only change a person so much."
The night wore on, the pirates drinking into the early hours. That was when Zathrian packed his supplies and entered the barracks that he and Kailani shared. After the story, Zathrian was no longer curious why Lorcan had rooms on a slightly higher level than the brig. He set his things as quietly as he could in the groove in the table so it would stay still under the movement of the ship.
He undressed leaving a light linen shirt and his pants on. He glanced over to where Kailani rested her chest bare as the coverlet had fallen while she had slept. Her chest moved up and down with her breath. With her pale hair, she looked like some fae thing out of myth. He moved quietly over raising her blanket to cover her, she shifted closer under the covers, making a soft sound in her sleep. A single curl fell over her eyes as she slumbered, Zathrian couldn't resist to move it back.
In sleep she didn't seem so angry, so sorrowful. In sleep she looked innocent someone he could care for it he gave it a chance. He moved the curl, as he did her eyes opened startling him.
"What." she muttered, her eyes fluttering.
"Sleep." Zathrian said. "I did not mean to wake you." He moved to go back to his own bed, but she tightened her grip on his arm, and Zathrian allowed her, to lead him into her bed, smiling softly down at her as she huddled closetohim her eyes drifting close once more. He bent down kissing her on the forehead. Reveling in the warmth her body gave. He allowed the ship to lull him to sleep even as he heard the whispered murmurings of drinking Pirates above.
The ship kept course with the heading the map gave, the map that Zathrian had drawn gleamed in the moonlight with a single word that he had not seen before.
Siren.
Outside of the ship the wind blew a musical sound on it's wings. A lilting crescendo of voices melodic, and sinful in nature. That made the men of the ship stir lightly.
IN A FAR OFF COVE
Do you hear that my lovelies,
those heartbeats of man coming ever closer,
Shall we sing them ever closer,
lead them into our grasp,
Shall we sink our teeth,
into their flesh,
break their bones,
shall we slurp their brains for dessert?
The Sirens brushed their hair until it shone in the moonlight adorning their necks with pearls and sat among the treasures they had stolen from so many other Pirate ships before.