A Siren’s Call

It wasn’t common to find women at work on a trading vessel in this part of the world, though she heard
that in the East it was quite common. Her life had been difficult and unfair, and otherwise, she may have
never ended up on this ship. She thought about the way her life had unfolded often, especially on long
watch shifts in the middle of the night.

All said and done, Cassia was glad to be on the ship. It was grand, with its billowing sails and carved and
polished wood; The Numenor was something to be proud of. She also enjoyed the ocean and she
enjoyed the remote destinations they docked in even more. She had no love for her home country and
she was happy to be gone from it most of the time.

Most importantly, had her life turned out as it should have, she would never have had more purpose
than running a household, and her money would have never been her own. Every Drachma that was
dropped into her palm aboard The Numenor was hers and earned by her own work. As the sailors were
released for shore leave, she was excited to spend her earnings exactly how she saw fit.

Cassia wandered up to the evening navigator at his spot on the helm. There had been a slow ringing in
her ears all evening, and though she may have been imagining it, it felt like it was getting worse. She
thought talking to the coxswain might distract her from her growing headache. She always enjoyed
talking to him, partially for his company and partially because she loved learning how to plot their route
and steer the ship.

“Nice and clear tonight, isn’t it?” Linus greeted Cassia as she stepped onto the small deck of the helm.
He minded the wheel absently while studying his charts.

“I always enjoy nights like these Linus. I feel as though I can see every star.” Cassia sidled up to the bench
that the charts and maps were collected on and began tracing their route. She was certain that in
another trip or two, she would be able to apply for an apprentice coxswain position on another ship.
Unfortunately, The Numenor was not large enough for Linus to take an apprentice.

The maps caught her attention deeply, and when she managed to look up again, she realized that Linus
was acting rather strangely. His eyes had become unfocused, and his face was slack. Worst of all, his
hands no longer remained at the wheel but hung limply at his sides.

“Linus, are you ill?” There was no response from Linus, and Cassia felt her concern grow. Suddenly, Linus
jerked the wheel, and The Numenor swung wildly from its original course. Cassia steadied herself on the
navigation bench and grabbed the valuable papers to keep them from blowing out into the sea.
“Linus! What are you..??” Cassia was cut off from screaming at the aging coxswain by the appearance of
several more sailors on the deck. There was no reason for them to be up at this hour, but they were
clearly not entirely themselves. They stumbled towards the railing with the same glazed look in their
eyes.

The ringing in Cassia’s ears grew to a wailing screech, and she doubled over the maps in charts in her
arms. Through the deafening clamor in her mind, she could make out dozens of The Numenor’s sailors
throwing themselves at one of the railings and then completely off the ship. There were only thirty
sailors on the whole crew, and by her rough estimation, the majority of them were overboard in a matter
of minutes.

As quickly as the wailing in her brain had escalated, it subsided, leaving the dull ringing that had plagued
her for the evening. She felt the ship bump into something hard and stood up to look around. The deck
was completely empty. Without knowing what else to do and still clutching the maps and charts from
the helm, she crept slowly toward the rail the men had flung themselves over.
Maybe the sailors would be there, treading water and laughing at whatever joke they were all playing.
She knew while she thought it that her brain was just trying to protect her. She was clearly in shock.
What had happened really? What was she going to do?

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