Seagulls dived and swirled about the masts and rigging of the galley [i]Didela[/i]. The sails reflected the sunlight in a warm, creamy glow as the updrafts caught in the billowing slack. A foamy wake trailed behind the ship as she cruised across the open sea on her own power now, leaving a crew of swarthy, musclebound rowers free to move about the deck of the galley. They could be found in a congregation at the bow of the ship along with all but two of the passengers.

"Tell me, shipmaster." A voice from behind the gathered crowd called out, accompanied by a rhythmic tapping of wood against wood. The congregation parted as the grizzled Septilios hobbled across the deck to the bow, where the captain stood. "What in the name of the Creator is going on here?"

"It has been a full day of sail since we departed Comadua, Captain Septilios." The shipmaster reminded. "We have passed beyond the coastal waters into the open sea. These waters do not belong to us..."

"Surely you jest." Septilios snorted, expressing equal quantities of amusement and annoyance.

"I do not." The shipmaster reported solemnly. "The sirens are not to be trifled with, Captain. The sea is their domain. We will give them their tribute, and they shall leave us in peace."

Septilios rolled his eyes. "Superstitious nonsense; sirens were but an invention by the Elephese merchants to scare competitors off the seas."

"Perhaps you are right, Captain." The shipmaster admitted. "But I am charged with the safety of this ship, and all those aboard it - including our Queen. I will not put any of us at risk on the account of your peevishness."

"Do as you wish" Septilios sighed, throwing his hand dismissively into the air. "Drop some jewels into the sea and be done with it already. Get these men back to the oars, we have plenty of sea to cover yet."

The shipmaster nodded and gestured for a pair of rowers to come forward. Both carried a small chest by the handles on either side and deposited the box at his feet before opening it and retiring into the gathered onlookers. The ship captain drew a small brick of silver from within the lockbox and held it high above his head. Septilios' stomach turned upon seeing the offering - what a waste of such fine silver.

"Denizens of the sea and the deep places! I am Gorgios Veleto of the House Magesanitus, shipmaster of this ship [i]Didela[/i]! I offer up this token unto thee that you might forgive our intrusion into your realm." The only response was the sound of waves being crushed into bubbles and froth against the snub-nosed bow of the galley. With a loud plunk, the ingot splashed into the waves and sank down to the bottom of the sea. By then, Septilios had already taken his leave and left for more pressing matters.

Septilios found Queen Lyca sitting upon a pillowed lounge on the upper decks beneath a canopy of purple silk - exactly where he had left her. Lyca had scarcely moved since boarding the [i]Didela[/i] and had spent nearly all of her time aboard the ship staring torpidly beyond the bow of the ship into the empty horizon. At the foot of the lounge, carafes of wine and plates of neatly-arranged pastries had been left exactly as the servant had placed them - save for a few pastries that brave seagulls had absconded with.

"Milady." Addressed the Captain of the Guard as he approached the Queen. Gulls waiting on the side rail to steal pastries from the undefended plates gave startled caws and took off as the veteran bodyguard hobbled over. "Have you eaten anything today?"

Lyca stared off into the line dividing the sky and the deep sea, failing to acknowledge Septilios in any regard. Even when directly addressed, her eyes did not so much as flicker toward her guard.Trails of tear-washed eyeshadow ran down her face from the eyes to her cheek and chin. In spite of the dark smears across her cheeks and frazzled auburn hair, Lyca was quite a handsome woman - especially considering her advanced age. Age had come gracefully to the Queen; her face was devoid of the crisscrossing lines that marred the faces of most women her age. Though a lifetime of fearing for the safety of her husband and son had resulted in pointed cheekbones and small bags underneath her eyes, they did not detract from the pointed beauty of her visage. Syros had chosen well for his wife.

"My Queen, you must eat something. This past week has exhausted you. and you will need your strength when we reach the Copsid Dominion - we will all need your strength then."

"I am your Queen? Is that so?" Lyca said - the first words to leave her mouth in days. Even so, she failed to return eye contact and continued staring beyond the sea.

"Of course you are, my Queen." Septilios affirmed. "I do not understand, though, why you would ask such a question."

"At times you make me doubt that, Septilios. You tell me what I must do quite often for a subject of mine."

"Only because I have your well-being in mind, milady."

"And that is why you lead me to an uninhabitable wasteland on the frontier to meet with a dozen traitor generals?"

"Milady, my intent is no-..."

"Leave me, Septilios." The Queen asked demurely. 

"I am only trying to help you keep the Empire that your husband - my King - worked so hard to build!" Septilios declared exasperately. "I do not wish to see what your husband accomplished fall into-..."

"I told you to leave me, Septilios." Lyca reminded. "As your Queen, I dismiss you. Now go." A grimace of frustration wrinkled the guard captain's face. Even so, he bowed before Lyca and hobbled off down to the lower decks.

"As you wish, my Queen."