Darkness clung to the rough waters of the Arcoldian sea, split solely by a drifting ship. Its sleek wood glistened beneath a sheet of ice, while the fierce winter winds tore at its ivory sails. 

Across the main deck, a small crew scurried to lower the lines, and tighten the rigging. A bolt of lightning outlined their woolen jackets, coated in frost, and flushed faces, accompanied by cracked lips. Despite their sluggish movements, they followed the orders barked down from a portly man on the quarterdeck, whose keen eyes flickered beneath a set of bushy brows.

Then, for a brief moment, the ship quieted as the man raised his cast-iron lantern, and gazed out across the raging sea. The wavering flame etched out his wrinkles, which rippled as his eyes widened.

With a start, he spun away, and hurried towards the battened hatch leading to the cargo hold. As his hefty form disappeared, the crew glanced between themselves with furrowed brows. However, their break only lasted a second before another man took over the orders, spurring them back into action. 

…

In the bowels of the cargo hold, Arven worked through the spice crates and wine barrels, checking each one's ropes and fasteners. With a practiced eye, he searched for any frays or loose knots, while also tugging the bristled strands to make certain they wouldn't snap with the slightest tug. 

As he neared the front, the patter of footsteps echoed down the stairwell, followed by the shadow of his first mate filling the doorway. Water dripped from the portly man's coat as he gripped his knees, gasping for breath.

Arven frowned, and set aside a split rope. "Elwen? What are you doing down here? Did something happen?"

"Apologies, Captain," Elwen said. He straightened his back. "I think you need to come see this. There's a ship, set adrift no more than three leagues from our starboard side."

"What? Whose flags are they flying?" Arven asked. He blew out the flame of his lantern, and followed Elwen up the narrow stairwell. The walls bowed as the waves crashed against the sides, and the ship groaned in protest. 

"I looked, but it was too far for me to see," Elwen said. He braced against the handrail as he climbed the crooked stairs, his large body teetering with each step. "Their sails appear to be in tatters, and there's a gaping hole along their starboard side. It appears as though they ran against the rocks."

"What about their figurehead? Does it belong to any fleet we know of?" Arven asked. Rain trickled past his boots as he neared the top, and he tightened his coat over the hilt of his sword.

"That's the part you'll have to see for yourself, Captain," Elwen said. He squeezed through the hatch, and staggered onto the deck. "Look, there. Just shy of the north-east."

Arven stepped out of the stairwell, and strode to the railing. His dark brown eyes flickered as he scanned the vast sea, before settling on a once proud ship, now with a broken hull, and half submerged in the ocean. 

Both of the ship's masts laid snapped in two, with a spider web of ropes, pulleys, and sails cluttering the deck. The flag itself floated in the water, tattered, and unrecognizable, while a strange beast, resembling a bear with scales instead of fur, rose as the figurehead. 

"Do you see what I mean?" Elwen asked. His shoulders tensed. "Have you ever seen such a foul beast? It's unnatural. Not to mention the direction they're pointing. It's almost as if they've come from beyond the edge."

Arven shifted his gaze past the ship, to the wall of thick fog, looming over the Arcoldian sea. Its twisted tendrils wrapped around the land of Delahost, hiding a graveyard of lost ships, and jagged stones. Beyond, the sea fell away, dropping off the edge of the world. 

"You're allowing your worries to cloud your judgment. You know, as well as I, or any other experienced seaman, that nothing lies beyond the edge," Arven said. He scratched the grey stubble growing along his chin. "Elwen, we're changing course. There might still be survivors. If there are, I want to know who they are, and what they're doing out here."

Elwen winced. "Captain? Are you certain that's wise? What if there's a-"

Arven arched his brow, and Elwen lowered his head. 

"Aye, Captain. I'll get the men set on course."

Arven stood back as Elwen called out the new orders to the crew, and the ship tilted, carving its way through the water. Overhead, the dark canopy of clouds swirled and rippled, outlined by flashes of light. 

As they neared the wreckage, splinters of wood, and loose debris knocked against the ship. A few of the crew members held their lanterns out over the dark murky waters, while others readied their nets and ladders. 

Several of the more experienced men took it upon themselves to grab hooks, and bring out the gangplank, each one awaiting the signal to board. Elwen held up his hand, and glanced at Arven. When he gave a slight nod, the first mate waved his hand, and the hooks were cast, arcing over the water. 

An eerie silence hung over the crew as the first few lines splashed into the water, falling just short. Then, a series of thumps resounded, as the remaining hooks clattered onto the opposing ships deck, and caught on its sails and railings.

Arven descended the stairs as his men worked to pull the two ships together. Elwen followed behind, fidgeting with the buttons on his sleeves. He jumped as the gangplank fell with a clap, bridging the two ships, and bit his lip.

"Captain. Are you certain we should do this? Surely, if there had been survivors, we would know by now."

Arven squeezed Elwen's shoulder. "There's only one way to be certain. I'll go, and check with a few of the men. If you'd prefer, you can remain here, and keep an eye out for anyone we might have missed in the waters."

Elwen shifted from foot to foot while furrowing his brow. In the end, he glanced at Arven's sword, before shaking his head. "No… No, I think I'll go with you."

"Very well. Gather a few of the men, then, and follow me," Arven said. He stepped onto the gangplank. "And bring the bandages. We don't know what condition their survivors might be in."