Stathis kept her blade close against the throat of the caster, tense in case they tried to start casting a spell. The archer had tossed her bow aside and drawn her sword and had taken Pajaran hostage. They stared each other down as Semari hovered off the ground, suspended in a column of water, some internal current too strong to let her escape. She managed to stick her head out for long enough to yell something, before being drawn back inside, spluttering for breath whenever she emerged.

The frothing water slowed, turning thick and gelid and Semari’s face was pushed against the edge, breaking the surface. The one from the pool stepped forward, her every motion smooth and flowing as water pulled itself from her hair, robes of oceanic blues and greens appearing on her body. More water moved around her, shaping itself into a throne, the stuff glinting and gleaming as it shifted, water still flowing, brightly-coloured fish darting around as she sat down. She clapped her hands, the sound ear-splittingly loud and making Stathis wince.

She said something, her tones harsh, like a tsunami-cascade of water slamming into the coast. Stathis had no idea what the hell she was saying, looking at Semari for help on what to do. Semari responded in the same language, her tone more considering.

This exchange continued for a while, before the pillar of water started to vanish, freeing Semari from inside it. She shook herself, water splattering around, before pointing at Stathis, then herself. The throned woman, clearly in charge, tilted her head, jewellery slithering as it moved. She raised a hand, slowly enough not to be an obvious threat, although Stathis’ hand tightened on her hilt.

‘It hath been many an age since I have spoken thou lowly and debased tongue, but I trust thou mayst understand me?’

Stathis nodded. ‘Yes, I can understand you.’ She glanced over at Pajaran, who started to bend her fingers, ready to cast some spell. Stathis shook her head. ‘What is this place?’

‘Know ye not of the Palace of the Crystal Waves? We have slumbered long, it seems, and the world has moved on without us. A Hauleni such as yourself must surely have been educated in the ancient mysteries of the world?’

‘I’ve heard some old legends of sirens and palaces beneath the sea and the like, but nothing about you. What are you doing here? And why have you enchanted everyone?’

‘Thou of the human race can often be… truculent, I find. This way avoids unpleasantness. The Palace is rather incomplete without staff, after all. And they are so very willing to serve, are they not?’ She gestured at them, and they all smiled back, looking slack-jawed and dazed.

‘No.’ Stathis started walking forward trying to angle herself so that she could still see the queen or whatever she was. As soon as she approached the sailors, their eyes started to clear, a few of them looking about uncertainly, clearly not remembering how they got here. ‘Would you please hold this one? Don’t harm her unless you have to!’ She managed to pass the archer over to one of the sailors. ‘How many of you would like to stay here and work?’

There was rather less dissent than she’d expected, quite a few of the sailors eying up the place, taking in the once-fine carvings and statues, and the woman on her watery throne. One of them nodded. ‘Well, what’s the pay? Seems a decent enough berth.’

He looked at Stathis, clearly expecting her to negotiate on his behalf. She looked at him in disbelief. ‘Really?’

‘What? The captain’s a dick, and this place doesn’t look too bad. What’s the food and drink like?’

Stathis turned back to the queen. ‘He wants to know what the pays going to be like. And what guarantee is there that you will let them go? And what do you feed them? There’s not much here.’

‘Food? That is simple to provide for.’ She waved her hand again, water forming into a table, before plates and goblets appeared there. The goblets were filled with crystal-clear water, a sweet-smelling fish broth appearing on the plates. Stathis heard Semari’s stomach rumble – it certainly smelled better than the ship’s own food, which was often hard tack or carefully rationed water. ‘Dost thou still treasure gold? It doth seem to be an eternal desire. Perhaps some servants with wills of their own may be of more use.’ Gold started to flow through the water of her throne, old coins getting dragged up from somewhere and glinting as it moved through the seat. The way it gleamed and shimmered in the light from the coral was eye-catching, to say the least! ‘Many treasures have fallen into my domain over the long years since I surfaced. Some measure of this would suffice, I trust?’

From the gasps of the crew, it was a lot more than they were currently getting paid, and Stathis hoped enough would stay with the ship to crew it, otherwise they’d be stranded here. The woman rose from her throne, the water swirling itself into a column and moving behind her, the gold still shifting around within it. She moved towards Stathis, smiling slightly, the backing song suddenly snapping silent.

The rest of the crew snapped out of the trance, looking about them with varying degrees of confusion. Vrintar’s hands flashed to her axes, before she saw Stathis and gave her a questioning look. Stathis shook her head, wishing she had Janaxia’s ability to project mind-speech. It would have been helpful to try and explain matters! A pale shape in the corner Stathis jump, before she realised it must be Kivata – she certainly looked similar to Janaxia, just plainer and without any of her sister’s grace or poise. She looked terrified, her shoulders hunched in, glancing fearfully around.

‘So, Hauleni, wilt thou part with some of thine plentiful crew? Release mine own servants so that we may discuss matters more freely, and I shall release thine squire.’ From the look on Pajaran’s face, Stathis was going to get in trouble for that later.

‘Very well.’ The hostages were duly released, Pajaran moving away from her captor, the archer moving towards the queen. ‘So, you want some help for this place? How long will it remain on the surface for?’

‘Some short time, a few decades or thereabouts, I would think. We do not measure time as humans do. When the magic fades from this place, then it will submerge and we will return to our slumbers.’

One of the crew pulled on Stathis’ sleeve. ‘This place is right on the main shipping route! If we can get supplies, we can make a fortune! Somewhere to stop off and resupply, right in the middle of the Western current? Any captain would be willing to pay their own weight for supplies here, especially in the deadwind season!’

‘I think you’ve just volunteered to be in charge then.’ Stathis turned back to the queen. ‘This one has some knowledge of trading and what other ships may be passing by.’

The queen turned her gaze to the man, looking him up and down. ‘Hmmm, wouldst thou be willing to pledge thine allegiance?’

‘Aye, for a few seasons. For bed, broth and a cut of the take. How big is this place?’

‘Once, it was home to many of my kind. But with the turning of the ages, and the coming of the Black Triad, many left or died, and now there are but few of us left. Magic put ourselves beyond the flow of time, to await a calmer age. The passages spread deep and wide – far greater than we need. Sufficient space for thou, I believe.’

More and more of the crew were murmuring amongst themselves, seemingly interested in the offer.

‘You got any booze on hand? Something other than water?’

‘There are certain decoctions in the lower chambers, although I know not what effect such things may have on you. ‘Twill be interesting to see, no doubt.’ Even that warning seemed to do little to deter their enthusiasm. ‘Well, Hauleni? Doth thou accept? I’m sure my sisters will enjoy some sport, although I prefer those of more… elevated blood.’ The way she smiled at Stathis left little doubt as to what she meant. Dammit, this was a time Janaxia would have been useful, and it might do her some good!

‘Can you swear an oath you’re not going to get up to some bullshit? And I need enough crew to get the ship out of here so you can’t have them all.’

The archer was looking at the sailors, before gesturing with her hand, a trail of water darting into the group and cleaning a few up, looking at them with some greater appreciation. Stathis sheathed her sword but kept her hand resting on the hilt, just in case. Semari ambled up, looking entirely relaxed, even though her clothing was still drenched.

‘So, you gonna hook up with her? Not really your type is she? Although I guess Brina’s pretty different from Janaxia. This one might be, like, a bit bitey though.’ She clacked her teeth. ‘Reckon you should introduce them? Could be a mystic conjunction thingie, of, like, light, darkness and, uh… sea? Nature? Some shit like that?’ She thrust her hips forward, making it clear that the conjunction she meant was less than occult in nature.

‘I don’t think so. I prefer someone born in at least the same epoch! And she’s probably weird and magical. Plus Janaxia’s already pissed at me, and she got all weird and evil back in Cormantara. Rather not have that again!’

The queen was standing close by, giving a very friendly smile, while hopefully not being able to follow the conversation.

‘Hey, take one for the team! Says she’s got some booze somewhere, more likely to cough it up if you’re all friendly-like. Or go get Janaxia, bet she’ll do it! She’s been all moody for ages, getting seen to might do her good.’

‘She’d probably drain her life or eat her soul or something. I really don’t think letting her anywhere near anything, or anyone, powerfully magical is really a good idea.’ Stathis smiled back at the woman, hoping that she couldn’t follow the conversation. ‘There’s probably some magical thing keeping this place floating, and it would be pretty bad if that died or got drained or something. I’m hoping she’s still on the boat, to be honest. Anyway, do you know where Parth is? These are probably her cousins or something, it would be pretty useful to have an elven queen around!’

‘She was busy being elfy! She’s probably around somewhere. She’s getting pretty good at that warping-weird thing she does. Probably going to show up if she wants to.’

‘It would be really helpful if she were actually here. She could probably elven-swear them or something. I guess they’ll need some help to get this place clean and tidy again, and apparently enchanting everyone doesn’t help for their initiative? Anyway, how come you can talk to them?’

‘It all sounds the same to me! How come you can’t?’ Semari stared at her, weirdly accusatory. ‘So, we gonna get food, or what?’

Stathis turned back to the queen. ‘Do you mind if we eat? Your food isn’t cursed or anything?’ She was tempted to cast a spell on the woman to try and force her to tell the truth, but that seemed likely to cause more problems than it would solve. After weeks of ship’s rations though, even magical and suspicious food was a step up.

‘A Hauleni is a rare guest indeed – even afore I didst slumber, your numbers were scant. ‘Tis said that the blade-bearer of the age had slain most of those that didst survive the war. It is a mercy that there are such brave souls to protect us.’

She approached Stathis again, who was too slow to move away, the queen taking her by the arm. She smelled like ocean waves, clean and fresh, as she guided Stathis towards the table. ‘Rough fare indeed, for one such as yourself. Perhaps some Surathanir?’ She reached her hand out, a portal opening in mid-air to reveal a coral treasure-vault somewhere. Movement caught Stathis’ eye, as she saw Parth there, a horn in her hand before she raised a finger to her lips and suddenly blinked out of sight. The queen, mercifully, wasn’t looking, pulling out an ornate glass bottle, bound with metal strips.

When she opened it up, the smell of strong spirits was overpowering, the queen turning her head away with a cough. ‘Wouldst thou join me in a drink? Something to break my long fast?’ Her hand tightened against Stathis’ arm, before her sea-blue eyes narrowed, magical power flickering there. ‘I see darkness in your aura, Hauleni. Thou art travelling with a prisoner, escorting them to their final fate? If it would ease thine burden, then the cells here are deep and dark, such that a poor soul may simply be… forgotten.’ She looked at Stathis, her expression expectant, nails lightly tracing up Stathis’ arm. Stathis quickly glanced backwards, to see Pajaran moving between the sailors, checking that they were all OK.

‘It’s… complicated. But yes, we’re travelling across the ocean on an important quest.’ If getting her own damn body back wasn’t “important”, then nothing was! She moved to the table, the queen moving with her, mercifully detaching herself as Stathis went to sit down. ‘We weren’t expecting to run into any, well… remains of the elven empire, not this far into the ocean.’ She looked as Semari wolfed down food, waiting a few moments in case it was poisoned, before eating some herself – it was hot and fresh, some spicey flavour lightly permeating the fish, and she could feel her face reddening from the spices.

The queen noticed and smiled at her. ‘We didst isolate ourselves during the time of the Black Triad. My sisters and I, last remnants of the sea-hold of the clach-chuain, didst bind ourselves to the very sea and stone of our ancient home. Within its halls, we are ageless and deathless. ‘Tis just a shame that there are so few travellers upon the seas. But thou, Hauleni, hast provided us with some eager servitors.’ She turned her head, hair flicking out and tickling against Stathis’ arms before she smiled at one of the sailors. He smiled back, albeit somewhat uncertainly.

‘Well, it seemed better than fighting. Don’t use mind-spells or anything on them though!’ She took another bite of the food, the spices now tasting mellow and subtle rather than spiky and hot. ‘Can I get some of this to go? There’s a friend of mine that’s not been eating much recently, something like this would perk her up.’

The queen poured some of the drink into a goblet, lifting it and taking a sip before turning it around and passing it to Stathis. ‘Of course. Our stocks are ample, and ‘twould make a fine gift. But will thou not stay?’ She smiled, trying to appear “winsome”, but her teeth were a little too sharp, her eyes too predatory, for the effect to really work.

Semari elbowed her from the other side, still stuffing her face, having grabbed another bowl of the broth. ‘Yeah, why don’t we stay? Take a break, make some friends, have a drink.’ She reached out and grabbed the goblet, ignoring the queen’s look of displeasure as she quaffed back a measure. ‘Phew, that’s the good stuff! Seems pretty decent here. Or you worried they might do something about Janaxia?’

‘That’s part of it! I’d also quite like to get my damn body back. So I don’t think staying is a good idea.’ She took the goblet from Semari and took a drink herself, swallowing back the strong spirit. It stung the back of her throat and down into her stomach, the flavour piercing through her, something she didn’t recognise. ‘And we’ll need to try and convince some of the crew to actually come with us, it looks like most of them think this is better! How bad is the captain!?’

‘Yeah, don’t think he’s popular.’ Semari reached out for the goblet again, but Stathis moved it away, not wanting to let Semari get drunk. The glowing coral gave a sudden rippling pulse of light, and Parth’s silhouette appeared in the air for a moment before she blinked into full existence, dropping agilely to the ground. She declined her head towards the queen, before speaking something in elven, a lengthy sentence with some rather grand hand gestures. The queen listened with stiff decorum, as Stathis looked between them and Semari, trying to judge the content of the conversation.

Semari was obviously keeping her face straight so as not to give anything away, until Stathis reached out poked her under the table, making her smirk. ‘What the hell’s going on? What’s Parth saying?’

‘Oh, she’s introducing herself. The whole tri-queen thing, apparently that’s impressive. And you’re a mighty hero. Hey, that’s cool, I’m a “Beloved of the Heavens”. Next time we get to a temple, have to see if I can blag any more shit off Ronteah. She’s requesting aid and says that the guys are under her protection.’

Stathis turned back to look at Parth, now stood opposite the queen, both in identical positions of stiff-backed pride and hauteur that would do Janaxia proud, clearly going through some of some etiquette-based stand-off, probably trying to out-do each other in faux-humility. As the queen started to recite something, her tones long and sonorous, Parth looked at Stathis and gave her a slow and deliberate wink before her expression returned its usual impassivity.

Stathis took another drink. Whatever the hell was going on here, she had no idea, but at least the food and drink were good. She nudged Semari again. ‘Let me know if she says anything about Janaxia.’