The Voyage of the Thyalus

Voyage of Thyalus
This short story is the tail of a voyage taken by aliens in a time of fantasy, it is not intended to be about humans and the ages, dates, and locations indicated in this story are of my own design.

Bachoris and Hiras
Along the coast of Hylacoris lay the city of Initeth where the Trader and Baron Bachoris made his home, and though he held the reputation of an unfeeling and greedy man of portly stature, he was made wealthy by his many trade concerns and had come from a family of little wealth or status to build his name and fortune he had married a respected woman and worked hard for all he had become.
In the 52nd year of the ‘Two Queens’ he and his wife brought forth a daughter they named Hiras, beautiful and fair she showed many great talents though none shone more brightly than her musical voice, so soothing it was that Bachoris could not resist to smile and shed tears as such beautiful sounds, so too did the Lord of Gyna desire this music that he sent a letter to Bachoris to demand of him that his daughter should come to Gyna to become his betrothed. And though Hiras did not desire this she protested but without support from the Lord of Gyna Bachoris would lose much of his wealth, his title, and lands as they all depended on trade and wealth from Gyna.
And so Bachoris and Hiras were forced to make plans to travel to Gyna and prepare for this unwanted union, though the wife of Bachoris was not willing to allow this to pass and so she sought to prevent it by supplications to the Spirits of the Seas, and upon the day that Bachoris and Hiras were to depart from Initeth she gave of her own life to the spirits so as to prevent the union, though unaware were Bachoris and Hiras of this loss having travelled to the docks and begun to load their possessions aboard the Thyalus so as to depart for the loathsome wedding that awaited them.

Wokir and the Thyalus
Bachoris had often called upon Wokir to engage in the shipping of valuable goods between Initeth and Gyna and so had spoken to Wokir on the matter of transporting himself and Hiras to Gyna, though Wokir had great respect for Bachoris he loathed to make such a journey as this but accepted none the less to transport them both in the hopes that Bachoris would be able to end the Lords desire and prevent this union.
And so in the 106th year of the ‘Two Queens’ on the 17th day of summer the Thyalus set sail along the coast toward Gyna, departing at the rising of the sun they began their voyage north with calm seas and bellies full of sweet fruits and meats of Initeth, but by the close of the first day at sea the sky turned black as the dark clouds took the stars from the sky and left the Watchman no choice but to seek the coast lights from which she could navigate the ship to Gyna. By dawn the clouds had become so thick as to hide the sun from their eyes and leave only a greyed sky of faint light to see by.
The second day brought rough seas and waves crashed upon the Thyalus forcing Bachoris and Hiras to hide in the bowels of the ship for protection from the violent seas, and though Hiras sought to sing to keep the crew in good spirits for their unwanted journey the sea could not be calmed and before the setting of that hidden sun two Deck Hands were swept into the sea never to be seen again.
The second night brought the waves higher and more terrible than the day and Jotar the Watchman lost sight of the coastal lights behind the relentless waves, the fear of being driven into deep waters forced her to drop the sail and weigh anchor till the waves would settle, and as the anchor sought to find the depths it was caught by the sea and the ship was dragged by its anchor in unknown directions, soon Wokir and Athanae arose from the captains quarters and fought with the anchor line till they were forced to cut it free the rope and anchor being swallowed by the sea and the Thyalus battered by waves. Water began to flood from the deck into the ship and soon Bachoris and Hiras were forced onto the furnishings of their cabin to seek dry land as the seas rose and stormed even in the cabin, lashing them both with its fury.
Wokir and Jotar fought the wheel to keep the ship steady as the waves crashed upon the deck until the dawn, as the first light of the sun rose over the world the black curtain of clouds was driven from its sight and the warmth dragged great plumes of fog from the tops of the crashing waves, Athanae stood at the prow with ropes binding him in place he saw the fog roll past the ship and the sun ahead and cried out to Wokir that land must lie ahead, as the crashing waves struck the ship from the north and south the captain was swept to the railing and his leg broken when the sun’s rays spread about the ship and the waves vanished to reveal a warm and calm sea about the ship and at last the Thyalus grew settled on the waters.

The Land of Apples
Water weighing heavy on the keel and Wokir injured the crew worked quickly to bail the waters back to the sea and Tanith the Cook turned her hand to binding and setting Wokir’s leg, Athanae cried from the Bough that land lay to the north, the Deck Hands that were left abandoned the bailing buckets to Bachoris and Hiras and rushed to raise the sail now torn and sodden, but intact enough that the winds could be caught and the Thyalus turned her prow into the land and drew the great golden sands of shore to her.
As the land became close Bachoris and Hiras climbed to the deck and with them a hopping Wokir, unfamiliar trees and grasses spread beyond those beautiful sands and Athanae could not place this land upon his maps, Wokir ordered the crew to bind a rope from the anchor rings and take it ashore in a row boat so that it could be bound to a tree there, and within an hour the Thyalus was no longer adrift on the calm sea, Athanae, Jotar, Bachoris , and one of the Deck Hands went ashore to search for supplies or settlements, the sweet tastes of Initeth long faded from their palettes.
The shore spread quickly into untamed plains of long grass and trees heavy with strange fruits, animals unfamiliar even to the most travelled of the party scattered over the plains in great variety, Athanae resolved to hunt and kill some of the animals for meats while Bachoris examined the strange fruits of the trees. In but two hours Athanae felled four mighty birds as tall as he and secured them aboard the row boat, Bachoris gathered the fruits of red, green, and yellow from the trees about them and they set back for the Thyalus.
While on the Thyalus the remaining crew aside Wokir and Hiras worked hard to restore the sail and clear the waters from her keel, Wokir sat in his quarters and examined charts and books in the hope of finding this strange land on some chart or log of long past journeys, Hiras stood on the deck and sought to bring some cheer to the weather wearied crew as they worked, singing, dancing, and performing tricks so imaginative to have passed as magic even to the most worldly of the crew.
By afternoon Tanith began to cook the meat of these great birds and had begun to bake the fruits for a pie their sweet crisp taste though unfamiliar was pleasant to all, and the crew came together to eat the meats and fruits of the new lands, though the meat was stringy and pungent even once cooked the pies were enjoyed greatly by the crew and all gave gratitude to Bachoris for collecting them, after the meal Wokir addressed the crew and explained that this land was on no charts and it was his opinion that the storm had forced the ship over the open ocean to unexplored shores, Athanae explained that once the sun fades that the stars would point the way back home, and all were happy but Hiras who knew that home would mean Gyna and the Lord.
In the afternoon some of the crew went ashore again to gather more supplies and cut a stone anchor to replace the lost one, and the tether that bound the Thyalus to the shore was replaced by an anchor once more, as the crew busied themselves with repairs and cargo till the sun fell into the distant west and stars shone down upon Athanae and Wokir, both fell silent as the stars began to shine and no word need be spoken between them as the stars that shone down were strangers more unfamiliar than the ‘Land of Apples’ had been in the day.

Pia Spirit of the Flow
While on the deck Wokir and Athanae looked upon the strange stars Hiras lay sleeping below and in her dreams she walked upon the seas themselves striding higher than the tallest waves and from the brilliance of the stars shone down her mother’s smile Pia whispered a song to her and made her promise to remember it when she awoke, then they danced under the beautiful stars upon great waves and deep abysses till the dawn rose and Hiras was awoken.
Wokir and Athanae had decided to sail east along the coast in the hopes of finding civilisation or some reason to explain the strange stars above, and at dawn the ship turned to the east Jotar at the wheel as Wokir’s leg remained in splint and he could not work the wheel and tethering on the deck. Hiras spent the day on the deck working to write the words of a new song before her memory could not retain them, and by the close of the day she had gathered a song from her dreams and she began to sing again from the prow of the Thyalus she let her voice ring out over the waters, the crew listened to this new and beautiful harmony and as it rose to crescendo there was a brightness from the stars that all could see as the light struck the waters below it made a path of light on the sea that travelled from the south east to the north.
Without stars or charts to guide them Wokir chose to turn the ship onto this path of light in the hopes that it would lead them to familiar waters, on this second night none slept as the crew and passengers remained on deck in the hopes of seeing some new lands, the calm sea and favourable winds drove them onward down this shining path from the stars and as the horizon grew gradually bright and stars faded from the sky the path remained until the flash of dawn struck the prow of the Thyalus and a great surge of tide flowed over the prow and the sun’s rays once again spread about the ship and a beautiful blue sky lay beyond, as the ship rose over the waves the crew rushed to the railings to search for what lay beyond, and Jotar cried out that she could no longer see the land of apples behind, but Wokir and Bachoris could see land to the west, a great delta from which waters flowed into the cold sea about them, Jotar worked quickly turning the wheel to aim for land and the hope of more familiar coasts to navigate by.

The Wolves of Boreas
Before the sun reached its zenith the Thyalus was anchored of the shore of this new land at the mouth of the river where small islands broke the flow into the sea, to the south lay thick forest and to the north grasslands spread far to hills in the distance, but still no civilisation or familiarity lay on this new land that the path had lead them too, unmoved by this new and strange land Wokir sought to send some crew ashore to search, this time he resolved to make the search more thorough than before, sending Athanae to lead a party composed of Bachoris, one Deck Hand, and both Cargo Clerks, they sailed to the north shore of the river delta in the hopes that the distant hills would grant sight of some civilisation that they may find their way.
Wokir gave them ten days to search and return, sending them with supplies of meat and fruits of the land of apples to feed them on their journey, Tanith would stay to tend to his leg and Hiras would remain to keep her safe, Bachoris took the time to speak to her in private and gave her his title ring to keep safe in the event that he could not return. Once on the north shore they began their long walk over the grassy fields of this land in the hope of finding their way, they carried plenty of supplies, spears, tools, canvas for shelter and blankets for warmth, and as much water as they could carry.
Athanae lead the party in their walk for much of the afternoon until the sun lay low on the distant west when he ordered the team to make camp, setting canvas for tents and laying blankets, Bachoris cooked up some meat and prepared fruit for salad, while Athanae laid his charts ready to examine the stars for signs of familiarity. On the Thyalus Wokir lay in bed attended by Tanith as he fevered and grew pale his leg growing swollen and black, and by the late hours of night she was reduced to tears as she worked with Hatom the Deck Hand to amputate the now sickly leg from Wokir.
The stars shone dimly in the sky as thin clouds gathered in the dark to obscure some of the sky, Athanae examined them and though they remained unfamiliar he worked to draw a chart quickly so as to compare it with the stars of the Land of Apples and those of his homelands, soon his eye caught a belt of stars numbering three that appeared in all three of the charts and he began labouring to fit these charts together when he saw in those faint stars the eyes of Wokir rising up and could not contain his tears for that beautiful sight.
As the morning light struck out upon the land the scout party rose to eat and gather themselves up for their next day of walking toward those hills still seeming as distant as they had on the first day. The same morning light woke Tanith still at the bedside of Wokir where she had remained to monitor him after the amputation, but Wokir had slipped into the eternal during the night and she wept for his loss before leaving his quarters to the deck of the ship, Jotar and Hiras gave assistance in laying Wokir to rest in the strange seas that he had sailed long through his life.
Athanae lead his team for two more days before they at last reached the hills in the north and began their ascent to the highest place there, by the evening of the third day they reached the ascent of the hills and surveyed the land about them, grass, trees, and hills rolled off to the edges of the world, the Thyalus lay tiny in the distance to the south with three flames on her stern to indicate the death of her captain and Athanae fell into tears and sadness on this strange and grassy hillside.
Despite the distance that Bachoris could see from this place there were no settlements, roads, lights, farms, or people that could be seen but five black dots swiftly moved among the trees and hills that Bachoris fancied where approaching the party, though the failing light and swift motion of them made identification impossible. Taking spears in hand the Deck Hand and Cargo Clerks prepared for the worst to come as Bachoris attempted to console Athanae.
The black and swift creatures covered ground more quickly than any in the party could hope to do and soon their shapes could be seen as the sun faded over the distant west, their large bodies standing four feet high and supported by slender black legs numbering four and thick black tails sprouting from their behind, but it was their heads that made Kars scream, he was the youngest among the crew and a Cargo Clerk not a warrior, their long slender faces shone as their curved and sharp fangs caught the moon-light and their eyes flashed red against the night.
Kars fled the group dropping his spear and turning for the Thyalus to the south he fled, Taynor the Deck Hand yelled to Bachoris to get Athanae and follow Kars and he did so without protest, though unresponsive to direction Athanae seemed to run when pulled by Bachoris as they ran after Kars and toward the safety of the Thyalus, behind him Bachoris could hear the snarls and howls of these beasts as they leapt upon Taynor and Litus, sounds of  the fight rolling down the hill in waves as they ran until all at once the sounds ceased and the howls of the monsters rang through the hills, fearing that they would then turn to the remainder of the team Bachoris picked up the pace dragging the numb Athanae with him, the camp and supplies abandoned on the hill they ran until their legs could carry them no further, Kars fell first and upon reaching him Bachoris dropped Athanae and grabbed a branch from a lone tree nearby before turning to the hills expecting the monsters to be on their heels, but the hills now seemed quiet and the black furred beasts were nowhere to be seen and the distant hill top was silent.
Three more days passed before Jotar caught sight of the three wearied travellers on the north shore, and immediately she began to row out to meet them, Kars walked in front and his face was low and his shoulders hunched, while Bachoris guided Athanae who walked amidst a miasma of sadness, all seemed weak and they carried only their clothes and a few flasks of water between them, when at last they reached the row boat Jotar asked of them what had transpired but they remained silent on the return to the Thyalus and once aboard the dark mood of the three seemed to bring fear to the crew, Athanae cloistered himself in the captains quarters and did not emerge for dinner.
Kars and Bachoris attended dinner and spoke only briefly of the events that had transpired on the hill, leaving the worst of the details to the fitful imagination of their compatriots, Hiras was glad to have her father back though his ordeal had clearly weakened his already aged frame and he could walk only with a limp now as the flight had injured his leg. Jotar now the captain decided that no more time should be spent in this place and had Kars recover the anchor as she turned the ship back to the sea and on to new lands that Hiras could sing of.

The Black Sea
As Hiras sang to the sea and sky the light of a new star grew bright and cast its light on the sea so that Jotar could navigate the ship to this new place and through the night she stood at the wheel her eyes fixed on the path of light on those faintly choppy and cold waters until the sky grew light and the sun flashed above the distant edges of the world the rays once again wrapping round the Thyalus and allowing her to sail onward to their next destination.
The sea grew smooth and dark becoming black even under the fire of the red sun and Jotar feared that the sea had grown deep enough that the Thyalus could be felled by the waves if they came, ordering Hatom to drop the anchor to determine the depth she proceeded to lower the sail herself and as the last of the Anchor rope ran out into the water it was clear that the sea was so deep as to ensure the Thyalus would be destroyed should a storm descend on this place.
Kars had calmed since the lands of Boreas and those beasts were now so far off and decided to engage in some fishing to replenish the food supplies that now ran thin, the anchor returned and the sail stowed Jotar cast her eyes over the horizon hoping to catch sight of land but to no avail, the black waters spreading to the edges of the world for all she could see, though the song of Hiras had only been used at night when the stars shone Jotar asked of her to sing again so that they might find more favourable waters and land to search for food, but she could not make the crescendo come out right with the sun shining upon the sea.
Hatom and Bachoris joined Kars in fishing while Jotar examined Athanae’s charts in the hope of learning what she could, Athanae himself remained in the captains quarters and only came out when his needs exceeded his desire for solitude, Hiras at a loose end wandered the deck for a few hours before heading for sleep as she had been waking at night to sing to the sea and stars, so she retired to her cabin and began to slumber once more.
In swirling fog on the sea and under brilliant motes of stars she strode once more titanic over the waves of the blackened seas, and as she rose over a great crest of water she beheld her mother Pia smiling at her once more, Hiras asked why so many had died in this voyage and if more would follow, but Pia said only that the realms of death are not hers to command only the Flow of the seas from one to another could she command and that the song that she had taught Hiras would open the way to where she desired to be, and that only Hiras can choose where they will arrive.
After their conversation Pia began to cavort beneath the sea with great cold beasts of the deep but Hiras could not follow her as she felt the burden of the dead upon her and she wept into the sea creating a great surge of waters that spread from her feet growing greater as it travelled further and further until the tsunami struck the edge of the world and washed the stars from the sky waking her in tears and cries.
Hiras would not say why she was sad to the others as she did not desire to make them blame her for the deaths of so many of the crew, though all knew that she would shed tears over the side of the Thyalus so that her tears could hide in the sea, Bachoris felt that perhaps she was fearful of the marriage that awaited her should they ever return and promised to her that she need not marry the Lord of Gyna if they ever return.

The Seas Flow together
Fishing of this ink black sea had yielded nought but frustration and was abandoned as the sun faded in the distant seas and the sky grew dark and pitted with brilliant stars over the world, all turned their gaze to Hiras who stood at the prow but remained silent looking upon the stars intently as though searching them for something, finally after more than an hour of silent observation her eyes fixed on a distant and faint star and she began to sing and as the path of light began to shine she examined it critically while Jotar raised the sail and began to journey along this new road hoping to see familiar shores at its end.
Steady the ship sailed on those black waters through the night with bright stars reflected on the sea and merging them into one great and unending infinity of stars, and as Athanae stepped from the captains quarters onto the deck all were silent and looking upon the stars, Bachoris looked upon the eyes of his beloved Pia rising high into the heavens and though he smiled there were tears in his eyes, Tanith looked upon those black waters with stars reflected in them and saw the eyes of Wokir soft and forgiving they looked back and rose from the sea into the great and infinite beyond, and as the others looked they each smiled, laughed, cried, and mourned those that had gone before them into the infinite stars above.
Athanae looked out upon the stars with the others and saw the smiling form of Wokir striking high over the seas and clouds he held out his had to Athanae with glimmering eyes and whispered to him that all is still and beautiful, so Athanae reached out to Wokir and stepped into the wondrous beyond with him and they danced, played, cavorted, and loved in the stars and seas that flow together in eternal beauty and wonder.
The collapse of Athanae has struck the others and they rushed to him now limply laying on the deck, only Jotar did not sway and followed the silver path that song had laid, Tanith touched the skin of Athanae and lowered her head before saying that Athanae had died, but none listened instead their eyes rested upon his face that showed those soft and happy eyes and a gentle smile that had long accompanied his face when love touched his heart.
As they began to lay his body gently on the sea the prow rose over the swell and mists of water meeting and a splash of sunlight raced over the ship as the brilliance of the morning washed away that endless sky, the prow lowered and the lands of Initeth lay in the east for all to see, the glittering sun shining down over the mountains onto the city of Gyna.

Lord of Gyna
All looked over the prow of the ship at the city in the distance and even Hiras was glad to see the lands of her home again, at last she would see her people again and they would eat the sweet meats and fruits of Initeth once more, as Jotar guided the ship to the docks Hatom and Kars rushed about the ship securing lines and preparing to tie the ship to the docks, even though it was so close the last waters seemed to stretch on forever until at last the jetty drifted alongside the Thyalus and Hatom leapt from the deck to the jetty with rope in hand and quickly secured the ship, while Kars and Jotar dropped the sail and secured the ship.
Finally Kars lowered the plank and everyone walked its weathered surface to the docks and rejoiced to be home once more, Tanith and Hatom walked hand in hand into the city and never returned to the Thyalus, while Jotar became the captain and Kars remained with her though ever they did remain apart.
Hiras and her father walked the mile or so to the house of the Lord and were greeted at the door by his young son Odar who spoke softly with an air of sadness and kindness to them, and told them of the death of his father not three days after they had left port from their home to sail here, but he offered them comfortable accommodation and hospitality in his lordly manor until such time as they wished to return home to Hylacoris. Knowing that Pia was also no more they chose to stay in the city and in time Hiras and Odar stood side by side as the wed lords of Gyna.