Back on the ship, Prince Sean was hunched over the deck in his guest cabin. Pulling the oil lamp closer, he leaned on the desk as he read the pile of books that Anslo had brought with them. The books were on his family history. He'd been told repeatedly that these would help him prepare for his throne. Now that his parents were gone. That day was coming faster than he wanted. He was still a 'prince' until his coronation ceremony when he'd be official titled the king. However, this ceremony came with a heavy price for him. He could easily take the throne himself, but if he didn't want his kingdom to look weak... He'd have to find a queen. Marrying would unite two kingdoms against any attacking forces. While ruling alone left his kingdom vulnerable to those with strong marital alliances. The way his advisors talked about it made him paranoid. He would be the youngest king in his realm. Which made his people nervous because he had very little experience in leading others. Or so his advisors told him.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Anslo passed out in a hammock in the corner of the cabin. Carefully taking his stuffy royal jacket and sash off, he set them on the desk and dimmed the lamp light. Quietly, Sean crept across the creaking wood to the cabin door and slipped out. It was dark out, but according to his pocket watch it was the start of his twenty-first birthday. The last place he wanted to be was trapped in a cabin on his birthday. Walking along the deck of the dimly lit ship, Sean ran his hand along the rail as he walked toward the bow. When he was younger, he had wanted to be a sailor. To sail from place to place. To be free to make his own choices. There was such a vast world out there, but he hadn't seen as much of it as he wanted too. All he had were his stories from his books. Great people. Doing great deeds. Terrible people. Doing terrible deeds. It was all so enchanting and far from what he knew. Leaning on the rail, Sean inhaled the cold salty sea air and listened to the crashing of waves as they sloshed against the ships bow.

He was in love with the sea. The sound of soft footsteps made him turn, catching the Captain's face in the warm light of a hanging nearby lantern. The Captain opened the little iron lantern, then licked his fingers before sniffing the candle wick inside. With the lantern extinguished, the stars above shined more brightly. It was amazing how the stars and moon were their own kind of light in the dark. Chuckling softly, the Captain told him coolly. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Sean nodded, making room for the Captain to lean on the rail with him. The Captain removed a bone pipe from his pocket, filling the end with tobacco as he said sweetly to him. "You remind me of myself once. That same love of the sea." Sean smirked, glancing back at the Captain as the ship gently rocked over the waves. "You don't love it now?" The Captain put the pipe in his mouth, striking a match against the railing to light the tobacco, upon uttering out around the pipe's mouthpiece. "Don't get me wrong, lad. I still love the sea... but I respect it a lot more than I once did."

Sean turned slightly, leaning his side more comfortably against the rail, when he asked curiously. "Because of the mermaids?" The Captain nodded without hesitation and without looking at him. Puffing out a stream of smoke, he told him as he stared out at the horizon. "You don't see them anymore. But they are out there. Watching us. Watching us abuse what they taught us." Sean raised an eyebrow, prompting the Captain to tell him with a smirk. "Oh? You didn't know? Sailors learned all about navigating by the stares from them. Showed us how to hunt fish. How to read the tides and weather the storms at sea." Sean hopped up to sit on the railing, completely fascinated by the tale. Whether it was truth or not, didn't matter to him. He just wanted a good sailor story. Shrugging, Sean asked him lightly. "So? What happened? Why did they stop?" The Captain laughed without humor, before telling him. "They didn't stop. WE stopped listening. Once we learned enough from them... you could say we set out to master the seas. Claim it for ourselves. I'm really surprised you don't know this..."

Sean rolled his eyes, informing him nicely. "It's not important to my studies. They just want me to learn about my family and not make their mistakes." The Captain slowly pulled the pipe from his mouth, licking his dry lips with eyes that looked right through him. Sean was going to ask why he stared like that, when the Captain pointed to him and said softly. "Is that a fact...? Well then, I hope you turn out to be a better man than he was." Sean stiffened, asking a bit offended. "What is that supposed to mean? My father was a great king." The Captain put his pipe back in his mouth, uttering out firmly. "To the people on land, sure. But it was your father that built his empire on the hunting of mermaids. Your father killed the Sea King's wife and started all this bad blood between our kinds. Merfolk live a long time. And they don't forget, lad. You can bet your arse on that." The Captain backed up from the rail, starting to leave, but Sean blurted out after him. "That's not true. And even if it was... Why would he do that?"

The Captain looked over his shoulder at him with calm eyes upon telling him gently. "I know it is true because I was there. All I know is that he did it over love. A siren's song is a powerful thing. Don't linger out here by yourself for too long. It's a New Moon tonight. They'll be surfacing." Sean stared after the Captain, feeling a bit heated by his words. Forcing himself to look out at the dark sea, he uttered out loud to himself. "It's not true. It can't be... There is no proof." His thoughts drifted back to the books in the cabin. Hopping down, he rushed back in to search for the proof. If there was any. He'd only been able to search for a short time, when Anslo stretched in his hammock. Rolling from his hammock, he asked Sean curiously. "What time is it? Have you slept at all?" Sean shook his head, flipping through his father's history, upon asking Anslo a bit frustrated. "Anslo? Did my father ever mention Mermaids? Or the hunting of them?" Anslo got up with a groan, muttering out. "You've been talking to the Captain, haven't you? Highness, the last person you should believe is that crazy shipwreck of a man. I told you. Too much saltwater makes you crazy."

Sean got up from his chair, trying to balance himself on the rocking ship that creaked and groaned. Picking up the book, he showed Anslo a paragraph and told him firmly. "Then clear this up for me. It says my father owns the largest naval fleet and the best fishing vessels among the entire Sea Coast. It says my father was a skilled sailor... naming his most treasured Galleon ship; The Hellborn Mermaid!" Sean put the book down to pick up another, adding in flatly. "According to my father's own ship charter, that ship ran aground on a reef after being attacked... but doesn't say by who. And why did a man known for his naval fleet... a king... sail out without accompanying ships to protect him?" Anslo walked over, taking the book from him. Closing the book and setting it aside, Anslo chuckled out lightly. "Alright... That's enough studying for now. You're going to hurt yourself." Sean crossed his arms with a sour look that coaxed Anslo into sighing out. "Look. Your father liked to fish. It calmed him. He ran aground because of a small group of pirates. He returned just fine. Nothing worth mentioning. You're making something out of nothing. The Captain is teasing you."

Sean shrugged, not satisfied as he asked him. "Then why didn't he log it as a pirate attack?" Anslo put his hands on Sean's shoulders, squeezing them as he told him with a chuckle. "Because he didn't want your mother to worry about him. Now, let's put whatever this is out of your mind. Come. I wanna show you something." Sean reluctantly followed him out but stopped at the door to whistle for his friend to join him. From the bed, a large grey Irish Wolfhound leapt off after him. Anslo groaned, jumping aside as a dog the size of a small horse came barreling out excitedly. Anslo hated dogs. Yet, the Irish Wolfhound was Sean's family pet. Irish Wolfhounds had protected their family for generations. Sean pet Sam's head, telling Anslo sweetly. "What? He's been locked up in the cabin forever. He needs to stretch his legs." Anslo scowled at him but led him out across the deck. Sam ran around the deck excitedly, sniffing the sea air. Once they were out far enough, Anslo told him aloud. "I was hoping to celebrate your birthday later... but you're young and I'm sure the crew would be in a much better mood if... you took the day to celebrate."

Sean gawked at Anslo. He never got a single day to have fun. There was always something that he had to do. Anslo snapped his fingers, calling up to the Captain that was looking down on them from beside the helm. "Captain?! That special gunpowder that we traded for. Set some off. Let's celebrate the prince's birthday! Awaken the crew! Start some music!" The Captain looked out at the horizon, pulling his pipe out to say. "I think we should wait. There is a weird static in the air... Could be a storm. I'll need my crew in-" Anslo clapped his hands to cut him off, stating a bit smugly. "Now, now, Captain. What are we paying you for? Besides, I thought you sailors loved an excuse to drink and party?" The Captain frowned, snapping back. "I'm paid to get you safely across the sea. That's what I'm doing." Sean tried to stop Anslo, but Anslo moved away to yell up sternly. "Captain, can you not do them both? Should I cut your pay to match the half that you can do?" Sean shot a glare at Anslo for that comment. The Captain straightened up, giving them a bow as he stated back sourly. "Very well."

The Captain talked to a man, who went to ring the ship's bell. Allowing Sean to snap discreetly at Anslo. "Why would you say that to him?!" Anslo waved a dismissive hand, answering smugly. "Your highness, trust me. These men will walk all over you if you don't twist their arms a bit every now and again." Sean didn't agree with that. As the crew rushed up to the deck to stand before the Captain at attention, the Captain called out a few names for the new shifts and then dismissed the rest to enjoy the day of partying. The crew cheered loudly and began to dash around the deck to brighten up the deck in brighter lamp light. From the cannons, they fired something called 'Fireworks' up into the sky that exploded and rained stars of all colors. Sailors began to dance around the deck to the music that a few men started to play. Others began to sing Sea Shanties. At first, Sean was against having fun when the Captain looked so tense... but the sweeping rush of music and laughter was hard to resist.

Clapping and stomping along with the crew to the musicians, Sean began to sing some of the songs with them. It was unlike the parties he'd had in the castle. No one was dressed fancy. They moved their bodies to the music and drunk themselves silly. Taking a tankard of rum from a sailor that offered it, Sean began to drink with them. The way the ship rocked over the water made it feel like the world was dancing and having a good time with them.

A few feet from the ship, Nate slowed to a stop to look at the glowing vessel as it floated across the water. His eyes widened and his ear fins rose to listen to the song that drifted across the water between loud 'BANGS' from the heavy cylinders at the sides. Beside him, Mark tugged on his arm and whispered frantically. "Nate? Please! Now you've seen it. Let's go!" Nate resisted being pulled away, telling Mark as he marveled at it. "Mark, just look at it. They did capture clouds. And it makes colorful stars." Mark swam around to block Nate's view, pleading out. "Nathan, please! We need to go now before we are seen! We don't know what this thing can do!" Nate was barely listening because he was starting to hum the chorus of the song. Merfolk had amazing memory for recalling music. Mark grabbed Nate's face, desperately pleading to him. "Nathan, I'm begging you! It's not worth your life!" Nate cupped Mark's face, chuckling out calmly. "Mark, would you relax? We're already here. Let's get a little closer."

Mark gripped Nate's arms tighter, snapping out firmly. "Nate, no! I can't allow this!" Nate gently pushed Mark away, telling him seriously. "Then go back to the island if you're scared. I'm getting a closer look." Mark yanked Nate's arm, straining out. "Nate... I don't want to hurt you, but I'm not going to let you get yourself killed." Nate slowly faced Mark, retorting just as sternly. "You wanna stop me? Then you're going to have to kill me, Mark. Or... you can come with me and keep an eye on me. Either way, you're not stopping me." Mark released his arm grimly. Exhaling heavily, Mark bowed his head and told Nate under his breath. "Damn you, Nate..." Nate hesitantly took Mark's wrist, then gently pulled him after the ship. Shaking his head, Mark nodded and swam with him toward the ship. They stayed as close to the water as they could, creeping up to the vessel's side where they found strange ledges that they could climb up. Hanging off the side of the large vessel was a mini vessel that Nate had never seen. Using his upper body strength, Nate climbed up to the mini vessel and swung himself inside it to sit. Below, Mark used his hand gestures to tell him how dangerous this was and to come back down to the water.

Instead, Nate signaled for him to come up. Mark refused for a bit but before long he was climbing up to him. Nate helped him climb into the gentle swinging mini vessel, then peeked around to the opening in the side by the strange ledges. The loud cylinders stopped creating the colorful stars in the sky, allowing the humans working them to join the others. They appeared to be celebrating... but what? Nate watched the humans move around and rocked his head to the songs they sang. He took it upon himself to memorize the songs that he heard. Behind him, Mark kept his hands on Nate's hips, keeping his head low. He didn't even try to look. Mark was tense and shaking with fear. Nate was distracted with the items they were using to make some of the songs, when Mark patted his side rapidly to get his attention. Rolling his eyes, Nate looked back at him and froze. Leaning over the side of the vessel above them was an animal that they didn't recognize. The animal tilted its head and whined a little as it stared at Mark. Mark squeezed Nate's side, whispering softly. "Look at its teeth. Nate... it's a meat eater." Nate moved very slowly to protect Mark from a possible attack as they leaned back toward the water.

The animal sniffed the air above them, leaning in a bit more to get closer. Nate raised his tail, getting ready to strike the animal across the face with his tail. Until a soft voice called out. "Sam! Get down from the edge before you fall overboard! Come here, boy!" The animal jerked its head up, completely disinterested in them now as it backed up and raced off. Nate moved back to peek around the side, watching a young man kneel to wrap his arms around the animal. Nate's heart skipped at the sight of him. He'd never felt a sensation like this. His heart was racing in his chest and he couldn't look away from him. The young man had eyes as blue as the ocean and his features were as bright and as flawless as the moon. Listening to him sing to the animal, Nate leaned on the vessel weakly as his body relaxed completely. Mark watched Nate's face change to a dreamy looking one, his tail relaxing and swaying blissfully as he watched something. Mark's heart sank as he realized what was happening, mumbling out to himself. "Oh, no..." It was too late. Nate was in love. To Be Continued...