And immediately, the town unfolded.
The narrow cobblestone landing led to a web of tree-shadowed streets, their paths following the natural rise of the land rather than cutting through it. Set back from the steep drop-off, the buildings were half-hidden by tall pines whose branches knitted overhead, breaking sightlines and softening any sound. Their architecture appeared sturdy yet restrained—stone bases with timber upper stories, weathered and aged. The roofs were steep and heavy, designed to shed rain and snow quickly. Each window was narrow, most shuttered to keep out curious eyes like mine.
Nothing was ornamental without a purpose.
The balconies doubled as lookout points, doorways recessed and easy to defend, bridges connecting buildings across narrow lanes to create overhead passages that cast constant shadow.
And the streets themselves?
They were quiet, but not empty.
Townsfolk moved with purpose; shipwrights carried rolled plans, messengers slipped between alleyways, and cloaked figures were escorted by locals who didn’t ask questions. The small market that welcomed us seemed like a near-silent exchange. Unlike Darswyth, there were no raised voices, no bargaining, and no bright banners or colors. Instead, every sound seemed to be absorbed by the massive sentinels. The towering trees devoured the square, footsteps fading just as the street performers’ songs did.
And while there were no visible guards or individuals clad in attire that would suggest their watchful stare, I wasn’t stupid. The man leaning against the railing, paying no mind to our passing? The woman who tended to the pine boughs but never looked away? The child who stopped playing the moment we climbed the stairs to the tavern?
They were all observers, posing no threat, because their counterparts would undoubtedly ensure they remained protected.
Nudging the door open, I gestured both Leilani and Rohen inside first, following them as Kael and Percival took up the rear. Without missing a beat, a blonde waltzed toward us with the same calmness the town carried.
Breasts spilled from her low-cut blouse, the denim straps keeping them in place, running down to her matching corset. With each stride, her long legs peeked out from beneath her short black skirt. The thin red scarf tied around her waist added a pop of color, as if urging wandering eyes to fixate on her other assets.
“Welcome in. How many?”
Based on the twist in Rohen’s features, I cut in before the demeaning words could tumble from her. “Just the five of us.”
“Perfect. Follow me.”
Without a word, she led us to an alcove against the back wall. Listing off the daily specials with a near-monotonous rhythm, she asked for our desired beverages before wandering off to attend to those she’d been catering to before our arrival. With myself happily nestled between Leilani and Rohen, I glanced across the expansive wood slab separating us from Kael and Percival.
“Welcome to Thornebay.”
“Is it always this… quiet?” Kael asked as he ran his fingers over a groove in the table.
“We’ve done most of our pillage and bartering in Darswyth whenever we’ve made landfall, so our only thing to go off is the tales we’ve heard during our sails.” Leaning into me, Leilani rested her head on my shoulder. “And based on the stories told, yes, this town is known for its silent eeriness.”
“Is there a reason we’re here then?” Rohen piped up from my other side, tucking herself as close to the wall as she could. “I mean, if you’ve never explored these lands as tourists all the years you’ve sailed the seas, why start now?”
“What she said,” Percival mumbled, his emerald stare locking with mine. “Isn’t that just tossing us into uncharted territory where there is a heightened potential for conflict?”
A smile bloomed on my lips as I lifted a brow. “Welcome to being a pirate, my friend. If you had an issue with it, you should’ve stayed inland while your boyfriend escaped his father’s clutches.”
Swatting at my chest, Leilani sighed. “What hemeantto say was that we are taking a chance. If other sailors have found haven here, there is a possibility we can as well. After the recent rough sail, a stop was necessary, especially considering the direction we are headed.”
It was Kael’s turn to speak up. “Headed?”
“Veilmar.” My gaze shifted to monitor the other patrons to ensure we were secluded enough for me to indulge the others in my plan. “Based on recent excursions, we strongly suspect that the second Eye is hidden on the small island.”
“So we are going off mere gut feeling?” Rohen’s audible annoyance billowed as she slouched against the bench. “Based on the mere chance thatmaybewe will find it there?”
“Again,” I cleared my throat, glancing between her and Percival. “Welcome to being a pirate. Taking chances and diving into potential risks shape our lives. If you are too terrified of the concept of the unknown, then you are more than welcome to stay in Thornebay until you hitch a ride back to Darswyth or Serevalen. Ultimately, I don’t give a fuck. If you’re dead weight, I’m not interested in housing you anyway.”
“Ace,” Leilani hissed, the disapproval coiling around each letter of my nickname.
“What?” My tone sharpened. “I will not sit here and pretend our lifestyles are full of glamor and just a way to skate by in this fucked up world. By the gods, we sail treacherous waters that can overturn ships,we wander territories that those occupying the continent of Wraelira are forbidden from, and we stare death in the eyes for fun. It’s howweare, and I am not going to live in some optimistic haze.”
Silence followed, the four of them looking at one another with expressions I couldn’t read. No, not couldn’t, didn’tdesireto. If they wanted to continue hiding behind some false sense of surety and security, then they were just as brainwashed as the rest of the population.
Freedom wasn’t a gift in our society; it was something you had to face risks for, something you had tofightfor.
