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13th Day in the 4th of Ründ’s Months, Dry Season, in the 29th Year of King Bornidin the Young’s Reign, 126th Reckoned Year
1In the beginning, Yath existed in ceaseless light. Yath spake, and a measure of light inhabited Saint Wōde. 2Yath spake again and another measure of light inhabited Saint Ründ. The third child of Yath was ill-begotten, for no measure of light inhabited Saint Vésh. Yath spake once more and a measure of light inhabited Saint Delód. 3The heavens were now darkened by the creation of the Saints, and so they each sought to please Yath in return. 4Wōde, firstborn of Yath and foremost of the Saints, poured out a measure of his own light to create three great lights for Yath. 5Ründ, second of Yath’s children, poured out a portion of his own light to create forests and plants and things that grow from the ground. 6Delód, fourth of Yath’s children, poured out a portion of her own light and filled the seas with creatures that swim and breathe and live. 7But Vésh, third of Yath’s children and ill-begotten, had no light from which to create, and so unmade the gifts of the Saints in jealous rage. 8Forests and plants and things that grow from the ground wilt by her gaze, things that swim and breathe and live end by her word, 9and the three great lights are stolen every night by her hand…
From ‘First Book of Forgotten Things’ Chapter 1 verses 1-9, Order of Loss, Written by Saint Ründin the Unreckoned Years
The Painful Lady dips and bobs over the wakes created by passing ships. Ginders Mass is far busier than Thune Mass was, boasting four separate ports, each devoted to a kind of ware. The fruit and produce port is where they docked, apparently called the Garden Docks, and Petsune is amazed at the feverish activity in this place alone. He watches as tall pulley systems are worked from the dock to offload heavier cargo. There are ships that seem to be veritable floating forests with how much plant life is crowding their decks. He wonders at how spectacular the fish market must be, which is apparently called Hangdog Dock. After helping to unload the crates he and Pickett sat aside, the crew is given leave to explore Ginders. Mavis looks every one of them in the eye and says, “Be back by the Second sun's set, or I’ll leave you here.” They’re all pretty sure he’s joking.
Petsune is invited along by several crew members, but he decides to take this time to speak with Chapel. The propositions raised by the Captain are heavy on his mind. Petsune is afraid he would be far too inept as a captain. His time aboard the Lady has been his first on any ship that he can remember. Petsune grabs hold of the rigging and begins heaving himself upward, toward the furled green masts. He gets about halfway up and pauses to gaze about and catch his breath. He can see the entirety of the Garden Docks and markets now, and even some of the mingling crew members. Petsune continues upward until he reaches the crow’s nest that sways at the top of the mast, entering through the hole in the center. The nest is empty, but Petsune thought it would be. He watches the market, writhing and crawling with people about their business. He cannot make out any of the shouting or hawking, it is all just a buzzing din from up here.
Petsune sees products being inspected and money changing hands. It feels familiar as he looks on, but it doesn’t feel like home down there. The more he thinks about it, Thune Mass never much felt like home either. He has always felt like an outsider, though some made him feel more welcome than others. But it hasn’t been that way aboard The Painful Lady. In fact, he has felt so welcome and included that he thought it strange and suspicious. He searches the extent of his vision and locates the Ginders Sanctum of Souls, radiating gilded splendor that stretches into the sky. He feels no pang of longing for their strictures or separation. He cannot see the Order of Loss anywhere, but they never have a building, opting instead to live as the homeless do. Petsune does descry someone wearing ragged clothes and the signature belt however, and he watches them for a moment.
From his vantage in the crow’s nest, he cannot hear what is said, but it is as though he hears the words just the same. The Empty Hand is speaking with a disheveled blisker addict, likely offering food and fellowship. Petsune feels sympathy, but he does not long for the Order either. Finally, he gazes about and sees just the edge of the Church of the Deep. It floats alongside Ginders, attached with a fancy bridge. He pictures the Church on Thune Mass, with its Window to the Deep and beautiful stained glass. He does find himself longing to stare down into the Window, and he does miss Father Haltur, but he has no desire to return. The wonder of staring down into the depths through the Window is magnified tenfold every time he leans over the railing of the Lady out at sea. Father Haltur was kind, but even he treated Petsune as an outsider.
The masts of the taller ships sway in and out of Petsune’s view as he takes in the sight of Ginders Mass. On the edge of the Garden markets, he sees a series of overgrown ships that have been permanently docked and now function as shop fronts. A fruit bearing tree seems to grow from every porthole and opening, giving the dock its name. As he gazes about he sees a few patrolling guards, their bright blue colors making them stand out. Petsune is unsurprised to hear a soft knock on the bottom of the crow’s nest. He turns and finds the Captain climbing into the nest, a weathered smile on his face. Chapel speaks first,
“Well, I see you’ve been doing that considering I told you to do. Not a bad spot for it either.”
“I have been thinking about it. A lot, actually. I think I have an answer, of a sort.”
“Okay. Well, let’s hear it.”
“I will stay aboard the Painful Lady, on three conditions.”
Chapel tilts his head, curious, before he prods, “Okay…”
Petsune looks out at the markets again and catches sight of Shushilah and The General ogling some colorful fruits. He continues watching them as he says,
“Promise you will never lie to me.”
Chapel considers very briefly then says, “Done.”
Petsune turns to face Chapel and looks deep into his soul,
“Now tell me you are a good man.”
At this, Chapel’s smile fades down to the barest ghost of a smirk and he says, “I hope I am. I try to be.”
Petsune stares for a few moments longer and then nods in acceptance. Chapel raises an eyebrow and asks, “And the third condition?”
“That you remain Captain of the Painful Lady.”
“What?”
“I don’t know anything about ships or leading or anything. This crew - your crew - they respect you, even if you don’t see it. They trust you, and I trust you, even if you don’t trust yourself. I want to be a part of the crew, but only if you are it’s Captain.”
Chapel stares at Petsune for a long time, then down at his own hands. Eventually, he speaks carefully,
“If that’s what you want, I will do my best.”
“It is.”
The two of them sit silently for a while, watching the strange patterns of the people below as they coalesce and separate. Petsune speaks vaguely while watching the patrons,
“So, what is the purpose of this ship? What do we do?”
Chapel answers absentmindedly, “Do you have a purpose, Pet?”
“Uh, I don’t know…”
“Good. Fear the man with a purpose. We just go where the wind blows and the Saints Will.”
“So, we just… drift?”
“Basically. I like to think of it more as roaming than drifting.”
“And righting wrongs? Is that a part of your roaming?”
Chapel looks at Petsune and smirks, “On a good day.”
“Speaking of: you never said how you met Harlan?”
“Oh him? We were at a public event when a platform gave out, and I caught him - saved him, I guess. Been with me ever since.”
“Mhm. Sprig said that you saved him from being hanged.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.”
“Perhaps I should’ve been more specific when I said don’t lie to me.”
Chapel stands and says, “I don’t think it’s a lie to say something nicely. Besides, he didn’t deserve it.” Then he winks and climbs from the nest into branches surrounding it, disappearing in his descent. Petsune looks back out into the Garden Markets and sees Shushilah deftly steering an oblivious Tarlatan away from the millie juice and rum stand. He searches the hustle and bustle below, seeing Cheese and The Big Man watch a Finger Weaver perform. Despite carefully scanning the crowd, he never sees a sign of Sprig, though he suspects a few empty pockets and purses are bound to be discovered later. He makes a mental note to bring this habit up to Chapel. Petsune can’t see, but he’s sure that Bor is in the nearby Hangdog markets, haggling for some fresh gipps or tagfin. Petsune thinks of the crew and finds himself longing for the open sea and life with them, and he knows he made the right choice. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, Petsune climbs down from the crow’s nest and wanders out into the busy market toward where he saw the Empty Hand. He finds them, finishing speaking with a bell beetle addict. Petsune approaches and sees the man is somehow old and young looking, in a strange ageless sort of way. Petsune is about to speak but the man silences him with a single hand, smiling a crafty smile as he does so. “I know… Now, why don’t you come with me. I need some help handing out bread to the poor.”
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(PS. the hardcover has three extra stories, and an exclusive cover art designed by ~ me.)
