The rest of the crew arrived in the galley at nearly the same time. Many joked with one another as they stood in a line, eager but orderly. Men of all sizes and shapes walked up for a bowl. Two thirds of the way through the line a woman walked up to Fen with a smile on her face as she took her bowl.

  “So, you’re the new kid,” she said nodding. “He tell you how he lost those fingers yet?”

  “Sky sharks,” Nubs answered before Fen had a chance.

  “Sky sharks?” The woman laughed.

  “He told me it was from saving a lady from three thugs in Sorol,” a man further back in line chimed in.

  “Told me it was to fake his death, saving him from a bounty put on his head. All they found was a bloody shoe and two fingers,” another one said.

  Nubs huffed as he handed out bowls. He looked down to Fen and winked.

  “Gah, it was sky sharks. Too much of that thin air has made you all a bit mad,” he said.

  Drigs and Ferrul were last to get their meals. They took their bowls greedily, and Ferrul stayed behind a moment longer to give Nubs a harsh stare. Nubs didn’t seem to care as he continued to fill three more bowls.

  “Take this one to the captain,” Nubs said, handing Fen a bowl. “I’ll keep yours warm until you get back.”

  Fen took the bowl and carefully walked up the stairs. On the deck, a few men wandered about checking on various ropes and sails. Towards the rear of the ship was a heavy wooden door. Fen knocked as she opened it, peaking her head in.

  “Captain? I have your meal.”

  The door opened to a short hallway with three doors, each was open. Fen stood not sure what to do. The door ahead of her opened into a room filled with books and maps. Several were scattered across a large desk. Fen took a step forward and peered into the door on her left. Inside the captain’s coat hung on a rack beside a tidy bed.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  Fen nearly jumped, spilling the bowl, as she heard a voice from the room behind her. As she turned, Fen saw the captain walking into the small hallway. She was carrying a long piece of parchment and muttering to herself as she read. Fen was about to speak, but the captain didn’t even look up as she turned and walked into the other room, sitting down at the desk and flipping through a large book.

  The after a moment the captain sat back from the papers and sighed. Rubbing her face, she looked up and noticed Fen.

  “Oh, I must not have heard you come in,” she said waving Fen into the room.

  Fen entered the room quickly as the captain cleared an area for the bowl. As she approached the desk, Fen noticed the largest book. It had a dark cover and worn lettering on the front. Fen made out the word Maeros before the captain covered it with ledgers and other documents.

  “Best not to pry,” Maolen said she took the bowl from Fen.

  “You’re right. Sorry,” Fen said ducking down.

  “It’s alright. Just watch that your eye doesn’t wander too far.”

  Fen nodded as Moalen ate a spoonful.

  “We’re lucky to have him,” Maolen said looking at her spoon. “Murry, I mean. Did he tell you about his fingers yet?”

  “He told me something about them,” Fen said with a smile.

  Maolen laughed. “Well, stick around long enough and maybe I’ll tell you the real story. The sky knows he’ll never tell you the truth.”

  Fen stood in silence as the captain finished her meal, thinking about the large book. Maeros. Something about that word was familiar, but she couldn’t place the memory.

  “Lost in thought too, I see,” Captain Maolen said watching Fen. She held the bowl out to her.

  “Yes, sorry,” Fen said taking the bowl.

  “Stop apologizing and get back to Murry. He’ll throw a tantrum if you make him do all the cleaning.”

  “Yes captain.”

  Fen turned and hastily made her way through the door to the deck. She nearly collided headfirst into Boran who was in the process of knocking.

  “Keep your head about you,” his voice rumbled like thunder from deep in his chest. He watched her run by, muttering another apology as she went.

  Nubs was sitting in the back room when Fen walked in.

  “Have enough fun dancing on the deck? There are dishes to clean,” he said tossing Fen a brush. “Luckily this lot will lick just about every pot clean, so it shouldn’t take you the entire day. There’s a bucket of water over there, and you know where everything goes.”

  Fen turned to look at the pile of bowls stacked on the counter as Nubs walked out. Nubs had cleaned half of them but left the large pots along with various knives and spoons.