The Paso Fino’s departure went smoothly. The sailors knew their part and, though the ship was new to them, were very experienced at casting off under Akula’s command. Lotti and the tide sage, Nessa, quietly surged the Paso Fino out of Eel Cay’s harbor and into the open Myriad sea and then it wasn’t more than an hour until the officers gathered in the great cabin for Akula’s meeting.

  The venture started as they all did, with the more obnoxious officers posturing for face time with the captain, Lotti and Nessa lounging, bored, and Grey making side bets on events with the ship’s ebbjack, Finnian. Grey should have generally won the wagers with Finnian because of her relationship with Akula, but the squirrely thief had ears where Grey didn’t and an inherent knack for predicting a wager.

  When Akula asked for everyone to settle, Grey tried to make her way to the back of the room. Instead, the Captain motioned her to stand at his left, a spot usually reserved for a Second Mate. She shrugged and filled in. There were a few raised eyebrows from those in the crew who cared, but they were the ones she didn’t much care about herself.

  Akula started by clearing a few departure items off his list. After he was satisfied with his improvements, he moved on to check-ins with each leader of their divisions.

  There was Gideon, the Navigator, who was in charge of the bulk of the sailors. A gifted carpenter, Rory, led the skilled labor force on the ship. Grey, of course, was the ranking Riptide in charge of the grounders. Nessa was the senior of the two sages, but as it was a small division, Lotti shared much of the responsibility. The purser, Trevor, was temporarily in charge of provisions and its crew.

  He always talked too much, and Grey was happy to hear Akula speed him along. It wasn’t the first time she wished they had a better Quartermaster to take his spot and represent the division. This Quartermaster seemed content to take second seat.

  The reports wound down, and silence filled the great cabin.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Grey knew what was coming next, and she felt an ache in her heart for Akula. She knew she shouldn’t. He would make this happen for himself, no matter how this room reacted, but it was hard not to feel for him during this initial conversation. She looked around and a smoldering anger sparked towards the officers she knew would not act respectfully. She kept her face neutral.

  She saw Lotti glance at her from her favorite spot near the door, but she did nothing to give away that she knew what was coming. They hadn’t discussed the plan since their morning at Lotti’s Inn, and Grey wondered if she was still leaning towards staying on. Grey herself wasn’t sure where she stood.

  Akula’s blue eyes were sharp when he looked up. He looked calm, like a shark gliding out of the dark of the Umbra. The silence deepened.

  “It’s time we talked about our next venture.” He paused and looked around the room, making sure he had everyone’s attention.

  “I’ll tell you now, the job I’m proposing is not like our usual runs, and it comes with its own risks. I want you to take the time on our way to Saphir to imagine what we could accomplish if we aimed higher. Let your mind wander; dream beyond the boundaries of what we’ve done before.” A few feet scuffled against the floorboards, but everyone remained silent.

  Akula visibly hardened his resolve. “Try not to let others influence you here. Doubt is the weapon of the fearful. They cling to it, let it drag them down, and then they turn it on those with vision. They’ll remind you of what could go wrong, hoping to shield themselves from their own failures. Do not let their opinions shape your journey. They are bound by limits we don’t have. Everyone here is made of different mettle, steel sharpened against the quality of our peers and adversaries.” Grey knew there were a couple of exclusions here, but there was no reason for the Captain to point them out.

  “This venture requires a crew that believes wholeheartedly. If you’re not fully on board, then I don’t want you on board at all. I’m only embarking with those who believe in this to its core and will happily leave anyone in Saphir who harbors doubts. One small seed of hesitation can grow into a vine that will strangle us from the inside.

  “So, make the call you know is right. Have the courage to both accept or decline and, above all else, be sure it’s a decision you can live with after the Paso Fino departs.

  “For this crew’s next venture, I have charted a course for Mayacar.”

  If ya here, ya family.