The Leviathan's Lament: A cursed saga.

er red hair, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the quiet space between her words. She h

out of loyalty to her family. Some had been sailors and fishermen under her mother's reign, others young adventurers with a thirst fo

trong, though tinged with an underlying softness. "What you've done for me-sailing from Dúnmara, supporting my decisi

coming. The bonds they'd forged weren't meant to be broken, but the sea demanded

athan also binds this ship to the sea in ways you can't imagine. I can't ask you to share this burden with me." Sh

ong the crew, but no

I want to give you the freedom to return home, to your families, to the lives you deserv

lt and sea, looked pained. "You're sure, lass?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "We c

I have to embark on with people who are ready for it-people who understand the risk and the co

ing back to the others, his silence urging them to respect her decision. Ailbhe could see the str

them disembark, walking away from the shore that would soon separate them from her forever. When the last

bition. They were rougher, more accustomed to the darker corners of the world than the noble souls she had just released. B

," she announced to the few remaining members of her crew who had chosen to stay, despite the dan

s sharp eyes scanned the crew, and there was a cold, calculating edge to him that Ailbhe knew she would need. "Torvald's experience with pirate crews makes him a valuable asset, especially in wat

e. "Sionnach will keep us on our toes," she said dryly. "He's quick with his hands and even quicker with his tongue. A thief by trad

r, and the way he stood, feet planted firmly, made him seem like an immovable force. "Eoghan will be handling most of the heavy lifting aboa

ger, and the glint in her eye suggested she relished the thrill of a fight. "Mairead's our weapons expert," Ailbhe explained. "She's seen her share of battles, and I tr

felt a sense of quiet determination settle over the ship. This was the crew she would sail with n

barrels of water, crates of food, and other supplies aboard. The mood was lighter now, with the new recruits blending into the rhythms of th

ed her head in the direction of the noise, just in time to see a crowd gat

s Sio