The world spun as the melodic droning hum of an accordion swelled over the sound of waves crashing against the hull of the ship. More than a dozen people clapped and stomped their feet as a fiddle and flute joined in. Nystri leapt from her spin and landed on one foot, bringing the other into a brief arabesque. Then she bowed before one of the sailors. They danced as the rest began to sing Siren's Waves. Laughter and dance followed with verse after verse, chorus after chorus.

Fall and sink, waves above
Fish friends now, blub and glub
Your bones as soon find beach's sand
As they'd see the waves again
O! Siren's waves, be kind, be kind!

Nystri didn't really understand how such a cheery tune could have such a macabre chorus. The music drove her feet all the same, and the cheers and adulation of the small crowd drove her spirits. 

"Storm's ahead!" the captain shouted from the upper deck and the music stopped. "See to the rigging and fasten that what's in need of it."

A round of "Ayes!" rang out and boots stomped over wood and ropes creaked and stretched with the weight of climbing sailors.

Nystri looked out towards the dark clouds. They seemed so impossibly far away, but her time on the ship had taught her such clouds could be upon them within hours. As she watched the sea under the clouds seemed to swell and sink, creating hills and deep valleys. 

A cool breeze blew through her hair, which was getting longer than she was used to. It was well below her ears and she felt it brush against the back of her neck as the wind tousled it. The pink tuft that usually hung loosely to the right of her face was heavy enough that it was constantly falling over her eye, so she had taken to clipping it in place.

"The ol' hammock'll be swinging for you and your lady tonight.” 

Nystri suppressed a smile. Storm or no, I'm sure you're right.

Nystri looked up and behind her. Jules leaned back against a rail. He was an older man. Well, old for a dwarf, at least. His fierce red hair and impressive mutton chops were speckled with gray. Nystri thought they were likely around the same age.

"It looks like a big one, no doubt," Nystri said.

“How's she getting on? Your lady.” 

Nystri turned back to the sea. “Well enough. Same as yesterday. And last week. And the week before. Reading and writing letters."

Jules harrumphed. "I still say you should talk her into spending some time outside. It's not good for the health to be all cooped up on the ship."

"You leave the Countess to me, and I'll leave the ship to you," she said. 

Jules ran his hand along the rail and looked to the top of the main mast. "This ship won't be mine to look after much longer. Nor any ship like her."

"Even an old codger like you could learn to be a bosun on a whaler, Jules!" said a wiry young man as he swung down from the rigging to the deck. Nystri admired the way his blue-black scales shone and sparkled in the midday sun.

Jules waved the words away and said, "Nothing doing, Francies. It goes under the water! There's no sail! Not even a proper rudder."

Francies rolled his eyes. "Of course there's no rudder. It's literally a whale! It just swims."

"That's my point! It's more animal than ship. What's a bosun to do? Pet it and tell it what a good job it's doing? Let the animal speakers handle it."

Nystri jumped onto a barrel and sat cross-legged. "I'm sure you'd do fine on a whaler, Jules! There might not be sails or many ropes, but there are people to boss about. And there's no finer than you for such a job."

Jules chuckled, "You've a point there, miss. Speaking of which…" Jules pointed up to the top of the rigging. "Francies! You left a line dangling. Get back up there and cinch it proper."

Francies smiled and shouted, "Aye, bosun!" Then he deftly climbed up the rigging once more.

A door slammed open behind Nystri and the smell of pastry found her nose. She breathed it in and turned to see Cookie ambling across the deck.

"Miss Tully! Lunch will be ready in a couple hours. Will your mistress be taking it in her quarters?" He sat down a small tray on another barrel next to the one Nystri sat upon.

"Yes. As she has every other meal since we arrived. Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just…" Cookie looked to Jules, made an uneasy face, then looked back to Nystri. "I've made something special, and it's best shared."

"I'm sure she'll be sharing it with me, no?"

"Well, yes. That is. You see…" Cookie stammered and stopped.

"What he means is that he and the lads want to have lunch with you, Miss Tully," Jules said.

Cookie smiled and nodded, "Yes! Exactly. We'd dearly like to meet her ladyship, of course! But, truth is, the lads miss you mightily at meals. It'd mean a lot if you'd join us." Cookie rubbed his hands together nervously as he spoke.

Nystri pressed her lips together and said, "I'll speak with the Countess. But I can't promise anything. She can be quite demanding. I've probably been away too long anyway. I should check on her."

"Ah! Before you go," Cookie said. He picked up the tray and plucked one small morsel from it, then offered it to Nystri.

She accepted it and said, "You're too kind, Cookie. What is it?" She could barely hold it in one hand. A flaky, but soft, pastry that smelled of vanilla and rum.

"I finally managed it. It's an eclair! Making one so small, and getting the cream inside was… Well, let's just say I had to get Trigger to help fashion a tool just for this."

"You really didn't need to go to all the trouble, Cookie." She took a bite and savored it. She had tried his pastries before, but she could really only enjoy one part at a time. The pastry itself, the cream, or cream on top. Having the cream inside like this was better than she imagined it would be. Her smile reached her ears. "But I'm glad you did. Thank you." 

Cookie blushed and scratched his temple, "Oh, you know me! I'm always up for a challenge. Well, I won't keep you from your mistress. I hope we'll see you at lunch!" He picked up the tray and walked up the stairs to the upper deck.

Nystri carefully took another bite. She watched as the sailors finished their work on the rigging and came down one by one while Jules yelled orders to others. Some that finished went belowdecks, while others gathered in small groups to play dice or converse. Nearly all of them passed Nystri and greeted her as they went about their business.

Nystri finally finished her eclair and smiled to herself. "Cookie is always so sweet, isn't he, Jules?"

"He's sweet on you, no doubt. The whole crew is, if you haven't noticed. You've made the voyage a pleasant one."

Nystri felt a small knot in her stomach, but she couldn't place why. "I'm just a passenger, but I'm glad I could contribute even a small something." She hopped down from the barrel, waved to Jules, and went back to their quarters.

She pressed on the closed door, whispering a few words. The door warped and swung inwards, then restored itself as she slipped into the room. The door swung shut, and the only sound that remained was the inescapable creaking of a wooden ship at sea. 

Amorastra lay dozing in bed uncovered in the summer heat. A ray of sun from the window moved up and down her body with the rolling of the waves, as if massaging her stomach and chest. Nystri smiled to herself and padded to the edge of the bed. With a jump and light flutter of her wings she landed as gently as a feather.

Her heart swelled as she watched her beloved slumber. The way her lips were slightly parted, the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath, and the shine of her filigree in the sun. She tiptoed closer until she could crawl over Amorastra's shoulder and curl up along her neck.

The filigree was especially tight and detailed along her neck. With one finger she traced a line of gold that weaved its way along Amorastra's pulse point. She could feel the steady thump of heart beats both through her finger and her feet, which rested on Amorastra's chest.

Nystri closed her eyes and placed her hand on Amorastra's collar bone. Yet, sleep did not come. The knot of worry in her stomach has remained, and now, in the quiet, she could ignore it no longer. She twisted and turned the knot in her mind, pulling at its edges, but the cord did not budge. It felt rough and prickly. And heavy. Like it contained a lead ball.

Amorastra stirred and inhaled deeply, then brought a hand up and laid it gently over Nystri. Nystri smiled and pulled the thumb up to use as a pillow. At last, the knot receded.

"How are your friends?" Amorastra murmured. 

Nystri hesitated half a beat, cleared her throat, and said, "As lively as ever. They sang and danced all morning, until called to work."

Amorastra yawned and stretched her free arm out wide. "I do hope you finally deigned dance with them, my Queen."

Nystri pushed her face flat against the pad of the thumb. She could just barely see around its edges. She took a breath and pulled back slightly. "I did."

Every remnant of sleep left Amorastra's face as she smiled. "Nys! That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you." She brought her other hand up and brought Nystri into a proper hug. "Tell me. How was it?"

"It was," Nystri considered her words, "Fun. It was fun. Just as you said it would be."

"I'd never lead you astray, my Queen." Amorastra turned onto her side and brought Nystri up to her face. Nystri's hands pressed into Amorastra's cheeks as she hugged her once more. Amorastra's lips were pressed over Nystri's stomach as she said, "Though, I do hear something. The dreaded, 'and yet' lingers close behind your lips."

Nystri brought one hand up and smoothed Amorastra's eyebrow. "And yet, I still feel as if I've betrayed you somehow."

"By dancing with some sailors at sea?" Amorastra said.

Nystri furrowed her brow and frowned. "More by dancing without you. You don't feel that? The ache that you weren't there?"

Amorastra smiled and shook her head slowly. "Not in the least. How could I ever feel such? I'm overjoyed you've made friends, Nys. The only ache I feel is hunger." 

Nystri chuckled and pulled out from the embrace, then sat on the bed. She searched Amorastra's eyes for … something. She said, "Well, Cookie said food shall be ready in another hour or so. He invited you to eat with them."

"Did he?" Amorastra smirked. " Or did he invite you, and then me as an afterthought? You should go eat with them, Nys."

Nystri looked away and shook her head. "I'd prefer to have lunch with you, Am'ai." She looked back at Amorastra.

"I simply cannot insist with such a gaze as that, Nys. Very well, we shall eat." She lifted Nystri up as she rolled off of the hanging bed. She placed Nystri on the desk and sat. The desk had been completely taken over with a collection of bottles, pouches, jars, and a large basin. All of which Nystri had secured with twisted wood. Amorastra filled the basin with water and they began their morning routine, even though it was nearly noon. 

Nystri sat on the desk and glanced out the window. The clouds were getting closer, just as Jules had predicted. Lightning flashed in and between them, then a sharp bolt pierced the air, connecting cloud and sea. Nystri managed a ten count before a quiet rumble reached her. 

She turned her attention back to Amorastra, who was working a stiff but malleable bit of clay between her hands. She wedged it on the desk for a long while. Rolling it under her hands, turning it, and repeating. Nystri busied herself with the bottles, mixing a few together, then soaking a small stiff bristled brush in it.

Amorastra took the brush and scrubbed it in a small circular motion on the clay. A light foam formed among the bristles and the smell of lavender filled the cabin. Nystri took the brush from Amorastra who raised her chin high, revealing the dense patterns of filigree that encompassed her neck. Nystri began to lightly scrub along each line of gold. They spoke of little things. Things far away and long ago. 

The rest of the world receded as they cared for themselves and each other. Each stroke of the brush, swipe of a cloth, and pat of a towel pushed the creaking of the ship further away. Until only they remained. 

Stomping boots on the deck above pierced their reverie. 

Amorastra huffed, "What is going on up there?"

Nystri looked outside the window. Darkness had surrounded the ship. At once, blinding light filled her vision and an explosion of thunder deafened her. She stumbled and fell onto the desk and Amorastra gripped its edge tightly to stay in her chair.

Nystri sat up and blinked quickly, her vision returning. She saw Amorastra had stood and steadied herself against the wall. Her usual placid face was now one of chiseled concentration she she watched and listened. 

The ship lurched and tilted, sending the chair tumbling along the floor. Nystri began to fall, but managed to grab the edge of the desk, then easily pulled herself up. She was looking directly out the window as another, more distant, flash of light illuminated Jules' terror stricken face as he plummeted to the sea below.