At first, Olivia wasn't really aware of what was happening. Her chest ached, tears choked her, she could barely breathe, everything around her became a blur. She felt helpless.

  And then, suddenly, two arms wrapped around her, and all the pieces of her body that were about to fall apart came together again. A soft warmth began to invade her from the center of her chest, and spread to the rest of her limbs. She could feel Silas' heart pounding like a drum, and his sharp breath tickling her forehead.

  She closed her eyes, letting the sensation wash over her, as her heartbeat calmed down, and the air returned to her lungs. She felt like a little bee that had fallen asleep between the closed petals of a flower. She wanted to stay there forever, safe from the cold, and forget about the rest of the world.

  Silas asked her something in whispers. His voice sounded muffled, with his lips buried in her hair. She nodded, unable to speak, afraid that the sadness would return and end her peace. She could hardly reason what he was saying.

  But the last thing he said she understood instantly: “You are beautiful.”

  An explosion went off in the middle of her chest. She could have sworn she heard a cannon fire in the distance. He squeezed her tighter, as if he were protecting her in the midst of an attack.But even if a fierce, bloody war had raged around them, Olivia wouldn't have cared anymore. The fear and despair that had paralyzed her just a moment ago had vanished in the air.

  Her lips curved into a smile.

  Silas thought she was beautiful.

  Silas was hugging her.

  She let herself be carried away by the pleasure of that simple thought, like a small boat rocking in the middle of a peaceful lake.

  Until, suddenly, the boat hit a rock.

  Wait a moment...

  By the Nymph, the Dragon and the Eternals!

  Silas was hugging her! Silas was hugging her!

  She opened her eyes, turned them slowly to the side, and bumped into the timbers of the ship's deck. The murmur of the sea filled her ears again, and a cool breeze relieved the heat that had risen in her cheeks.

  No, no, no, no, that couldn't be happening, let alone in full view of everyone on the ship!

  Suddenly, she heard whistles and laughter from the sailors, children's voices and Tavia's screams.

  Silas was hugging her in broad daylight.

  Nothing like this had ever happened before. The few times they had gotten so close it was because they had no choice. But, this time, he had chosen to hug her.

  The wary, cranky chimera was hugging her.

  She didn't know whether to call that a victory, or to die on the spot just from embarrassment. Why now?

  She sank her face back into Silas' shirt, where the scent of saltpeter mingled with his sweat. A moment ago she hadn't wanted to pull away, so she wouldn't stop feeling his comforting warmth. Now she couldn't do it, because she didn't know how she would be able to look at him anymore. What was she supposed to do now? Return the compliment? Thank him? Faint? Pretend nothing was wrong? In the romance stories she used to read this kind of thing happened naturally and even a hug was accompanied by...

  No, no, no, no, no. She couldn't think about that right now with everyone watching them.Besides, he was simply trying to console her. It was nothing more than that. Perhaps for chimeras it was very common to hug, although given Silas' personality she rather doubted it.

  They were just allies, friends.

  But he had told her she was beautiful. Did friends tell each other such things?

  “Ahem...” Very close to them, someone cleared their throat rather loudly.

  Olivia felt her soul leave her body. She felt unable to move. She waited for Silas to release her, but he did nothing of the sort.

  “What?” His voice hinted at a total lack of interest towards the man who had approached them.

  The pirate cleared his throat again before speaking.. “The captain wishes to speak with you both. Right away. He's waiting for you in his cabin.”

  Olivia heard the creaking of timbers as the man walked away.

  Jasper Gloom had mentioned to her that he would send a report to her father, once the trip was over, so that he would be updated on her movements. Was he going to inform Alaric about that precise situation? Just thinking about it made her feel even more mortified. She could already imagine the Count of Shadowrock's outraged face, as soon as he found out what his daughter, who had the audacity to leave her home with the excuse of saving a chimera, was actually doing.

  She pulled away from Silas, as if he was suddenly burning her. As she did so, she felt his fingers brush against the bare skin of her forearms, which caused her to shiver. Without looking at him, she turned around and headed in the direction of the captain's cabin.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. His heavy footsteps followed closely behind her.

  “Yes, I'm fine,” she replied, staring at the floor.

  “Are you sure?”

  He was already at her side. Olivia quickened her pace, as if by keeping her distance she could leave her shame behind. They pushed their way between the sailors working among the sails, nets and barrels.

  “I told you I'm fine, Silas, stop asking that.” As she said this, she almost tripped over a thick rope lying on the ground, but avoided falling flat on her face and kept going as if nothing had happened.

  “But you sound angry!”

  “I'm not angry!”

  “Then why are you yelling?”

  Olivia bit her lips. It was true. She had started yelling for no apparent reason. Several pirates who passed by them looked at her in confusion.

  “Do you need me to–?” Silas began to ask.

  Olivia's heart stopped. Was he offering her another hug? What had suddenly bitten him? Did he think she was nothing more than a little girl who needed to be comforted? “No! I don't need anything else!”

  “I'm trying to help!”

  “You've helped enough, Silas! Thank you!”

  “You don't really look grateful!”

  That was better. That argument brought back memories of their early days in the Whispering Forest, when he was just a grumpy fox, and things were much simpler.

  They climbed the short flight of steps leading to the quarterdeck just behind the mainmast, and said nothing more to each other until they reached the threshold of the cabin. Olivia's thoughts were bubbling with such intensity that she didn't measure the force as she knocked on the door. Jasper Gloom's pointed mask suddenly emerged like an arrow about to stick in her head.

  Olivia jerked back in embarrassment. She couldn't see the expression on his face, but from the tension in his movements he looked quite annoyed.

  “Do you want to knock down the door?”

  “Ah, sorry, I didn't realize...”

  Jasper stepped back into the cabin to let them pass.

  “What's the problem with young people these days?” His tone of voice indicated that he couldn't wait to get rid of the children as well as them. “I should be thankful that Nemertyss has not blessed me with children.”

  Despite her anger, Olivia couldn't help but stare closely at the cabin. She still couldn't believe she was inside the renowned Wandering Herald. Even her father hadn't had a chance to do so, since the ship was forbidden to touch land.

  Now, with the guide of Warwick and the other sailors, she knew every nook and cranny of the ship from bow to stern and all its levels. The only place she had not been able to visit was precisely Jasper's cabin, which at that time of day was quite brightly lit by the sunlight streaming through the windows, which also offered a partial view of the horizon.

  She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The captain treated that place as his sanctuary, but, in reality, it was a simpler room than she had thought. A solid wood desk sat in the center. It was covered with rolled parchment, crumpled maps, books, an old compass, unwashed cups and plates and some other junk. To one side was a bunk bed next to a couple of locked chests. In one corner, a coat rack held a coat and a wide-brimmed hat. There were no decorations of any kind. In fact, the most ostentatious thing Jasper had was apparently the golden mask, which rumor had it he never took off.

  Although from what Olivia had observed, and thanks to Penn's reckless stunt, they had confirmed that he did take it off quite often. At least to eat and sleep alone in his cabin, where he spent a fair amount of time, and only came out of it when strictly necessary. He must have had a very important reason for doing so if he was forced to wear it. She had not noticed anything unusual about the rest of his body. Perhaps it was true that he had a disfigured face, and his modesty did not allow him to show it.

  “Is your curiosity satisfied?” Jasper asked, looking at her from one end of the room with his hands behind his back.

  The question startled her. She hadn't noticed the awkward silence that had ensued as she kept studying the cabin.

  Jasper pointed to a chair in front of the desk, and she quickly took a seat as she apologized for the second time. There was another chair next to her, but Silas remained behind her.She didn't want to look at him, but forced herself to. To her relief all his attention was fixed on Jasper, to whom he was staring with a defiant expression.

  “Are you afraid I'll peck you?” Jasper scoffed, which made Silas take two strides and sit with his arms crossed.

  For some reason Olivia still didn't quite get, Silas disliked the captain. In other times, she wouldn't have found it odd, but if she took into account that he had acted normally with the rest of the crew so far, that distrust was striking. After all, the man was leading them to their final destination without expecting anything in return and even putting the League at risk.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Jasper seemed to release an exhalation, whose sound under the mask resembled that of an old bellows. He sat down behind the desk and rested both hands on the furniture. “Well...” He paused for a long moment, keeping his beak down. He looked focused as if he were gathering courage. “Since you joined us, I've been thinking a lot... It hasn't been easy for me to make this decision.”

  Olivia moved uncomfortably on the seat. Had he changed his mind and was no longer willing to take them to the island?

  Jasper raised his head and his beak shifted between her and Silas, though he seemed to be paying the most attention to the chimera. Silas meanwhile stood stiffly with his arms folded and his brow furrowed.

  “What I am about to confess is a secret known only to my family and a few allies,” Jasper continued and fell silent again, waiting for a response from them. He turned to Silas, “ You're not going to say anything?

  “What do you want me to say?” Silas asked sharply.

  “I thought... that you had felt it...” Jasper sounded a little disappointed.

  “Felt what?” Silas' tone was becoming increasingly surly.

  “Silas, what's wrong?” Olivia asked.

  Jasper shook his head. “I don't understand your reaction... I thought it would be the opposite–”

  “I don't know what you're talking about,” the chimera denied.

  There was something about Silas' attitude that made Olivia wary. She had a feeling that he did know what Jasper was about to tell them, while she was the only one being left out. What had happened between those two who barely knew each other?

  “Well,” Jasper's calm voice took on a stern tone. “Let me be more direct then, so that you understand.”

  Having said this, he proceeded to bring his hands to the back of his neck. A metallic click echoed through the quiet cabin, as Jasper's mask split open in two halves. Olivia leaned forward unable to believe what she was witnessing.

  Totally mesmerized she watched the slow movements of Jasper's hands. The first thing she saw was his hair which was short and light brown in color. His skin was a tanned but dull tone, perhaps from the effect of the mask. His cheekbones were prominent. His nose was thick while his lips were thin.

  There was nothing unusual about his face. Not a single scar or mark. There was absolutely nothing missing. It was an ordinary human face. But then why the mask?

  The answer to her question began to emerge, when she noticed that all that time Jasper had kept his eyes closed. He rested the mask on the table. He seemed to be hesitating, as if afraid to reveal something that might change the course of his existence. Then, finally, his eyelids opened.

  Olivia held her breath.

  His eyes were a deep gold, vivid and luminous like liquid amber.

  Her first impulse was to turn her gaze to Silas, even though she really didn't need to. She already knew those eyes very well. She had seen them so many times flare with fury, soften with worry and glow with tenderness in the moonlight.

  There was no way she could be wrong.

  Chimera eyes.

  “What's the meaning of this?” Silas asked in a hoarse, choked voice.

  Jasper's lips quirked up. “You still need me to clarify?” The pirate leaned back in his seat. “When we shook hands at the port, you felt something, I know,” he sounded proud. “I felt it too.”

  “You can't be a chimera.”

  “I'd transform right here, but I'm afraid Bronto might sense my presence. No one in my crew knows, and I want to keep it that way. I don't want to force them to keep this secret.”

  “But...” Olivia's throat felt dry. “Why us?”

  “Because I want to give you a choice–”

  “No!” furious Silas slammed a fist on the desk and caused some objects to fall to the floor. “All chimeras went back to the mountains!”

  At Silas' reaction, Jasper showed no emotion at all.

  “The world is vast and deep, boy,” he said in a calm voice. “You've barely stepped over the shore.”

  “There's no way you're a chimera!”

  “And what are you doing here, huh? You think you're the only one brave enough to leave home behind? Are you really that arrogant?”

  “The elders of the pack–”

  “I can imagine what they told you. But my mere existence proves that they were wrong... Maybe they just lied to prevent you from leaving the mountains. If they were capable of expelling you, they–”

  “No, no, you're not a chimera.” Silas shook his head, and stopped abruptly, as if he had just remembered something. He looked at Jasper with a smug look. “Otherwise... you'd be as sick as the sirenian.”

  Jasper stared at him thoughtfully. Suddenly, his expression changed to surprise.

  “I did feel something... So it was the same thing?”

  “What did you feel?” Olivia asked, as she noticed that Silas had stiffened and the satisfaction was wiped from his face.

  Jasper went on to tell them about the unspeakable pain he had felt a some days before while completing an assignment for Royden “ Sneaky” Branson at Sword Castle. But the mission failed from the start, because as he infiltrated the fortress an inexplicable burning gripped his entire body and forced him to hide for a couple of days, surviving in a cave thanks to a flask of water. Luckily, he had some medicine with him that he used when the mask bothered him too much, and that seemed to relieve him enough to return to the ship safely. That's when he learned that something similar had happened to Bronto, but, in order not to unsettle the crew, he decided not to say anything. Still it wasn't easy, because all that time he had been trying to hide his discomfort, and the dose of medicine he had left was enough to keep him on his feet.

  “So, yes, I felt it. And it was quite painful and debilitating. Happy? UnfortunatelyI could do nothing for Bronto, but I thought his healing power would be enough... I had no idea–”

  “What kind of medicine was that?” Silas asked with suspicion.

  “One created by the same person who created this mask to help me hide my identity,” Jasper sighed. “I will tell you everything you need to know, and maybe you can explain to me what you know about the disease. You even can shake my hand againif you want to and then–”

  Jasper reached out his hand to Silas, who stood up abruptly overturning his chair. He began topacing back and forth like a caged animal.

  Olivia didn't know what to do to make him calm down. She reached out to touch Silas' hand, but he pulled away as if she had burned him.

  “My great-grandmother was a chimera,” Jasper continued, following Silas' movements with his eyes. “During the war, she was a prisoner in Nemertya. She was one of the lucky ones.” The twinkle in his eye faded. “One of the Archmages had decided to adopt her as a pet. My great-grandfather, one of the first pirates, took part in an unprecedented raid on the capital along with the sirenians, and managed to rescue the slaves.”

  “And then he kept her for himself,” Silas spat.

  Jasper shook his head. “She was given a choice, like everyone else. She chose to stay with him, in a place where wizards could not follow her.”

  “No chimera would have given up her family.”

  “Her family was slaughtered.” Jasper's voice trembled as he said that. “He belonged to the pack known as Twilight Song.”

  Hearing that name, Silas stopped.

  “You know what I'm talking about,” Jasper said.

  “There were several packs that disappeared...” Silas argued. “Many of the survivors joined others.”

  “She didn't want to go back. It was too painful for her, as it was for other chimeras who also chose to stay with the pirates.”

  Silas burst out again. “No chimera would ever have mixed with humans!”

  No chimera. Those two words echoed in Olivia's mind. What exactly did she mean to him then?

  “You look pretty comfortable to me now,” Jasper replied, crossing his legs and clasping his hands together. “I've been studying you ever since you set foot on my ship. You're no prisoner. Maybe you were on Shadowrock, but, since Olivia set you free, you've had options. The children even seem to be fond of you. Do you know how hard it is for a Child of the Port to trust a stranger?”

  Silas didn't answer. He seemed to be having difficulty breathing.

  “Are there others like you?” Olivia asked.

  “Not everyone has the gift. It's similar to what happens with the sirenians. My father didn't inherit it, but one of my uncles did. I guess it's just random.”

  “And your great-grandmother was–?”

  “Happy? I guess as happy as a someone who has lived through as much as she did can be. On the island she was free as she wanted, adopting all the forms she could think of. It was beautiful to see her.” A mixture of sadness and tenderness covered Jasper's face. “As a child I could not stop watching her. One day she wanted to be a dolphin, another day a seagull, a sea turtle, a manta ray, gliding across the bay with such grace that left us speechless. Her pack actually mastered the ways of the birds, but she fell in love with the sea. I used to play hide and seek with her to learn to feel her presence...” He paused for a moment before continuing. “She passed away a couple of years ago actually... She was one hundred and thirteen. She told me that chimeras can live much longer, but she was tired, and my grandfather was long gone. She was ready to go back to the Origin, and join him.”

  A heavy silence fell like a blanket over the three of them. Olivia didn't feel able to move. Silas had remained standing leaning against the cabin door as if preparing to flee.

  She decided to make the effort to continue the conversation. “Where is your family now?”

  “Kraken Bay,” he smiled. ”You'd like it very much. My family lives very nicely there in a small, sheltered community. To the vast majority of pirates we are a well-kept secret, but since there are no wizards there to sense our presence we never have problems.”

  Olivia was stunned. All that time there were chimeras hiding on the island. “What about the hybrids?”

  “They never go into that area. Only a few know of our existence. As for the sirenians, they never go there.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, maybe some. But they must ask permission first... and hybrids are not always willing. The whole island is surrounded by a magical barrier. No one gets in or out without them knowing about it... When we get there, you'll be able to understand it better. I don't want to ruin the surprise.” He gave her a wink.

  “Wait...” Olivia's eyes widened. “You were born in the Fellowship of the Island!”

  Behind her, she heard the crunch of Silas' footsteps.

  “You said you didn't know if the Archmage would see me and now...!” he exclaimed.

  “Fine, fine,” Jasper clicked his tongue. “I couldn't tell you all this in front of Dhabeos, right?”

  “So you will take us to the Archmage?”

  “It's not that simple... there are rules... and the hybrids... like to follow them... by the book... Bhoriax, the one you call Archmage, is not the one who rules the island, but the Senate, and those guys like to regulate everything... Different from pirates, who usually make very impulsive decisions.” Jasper started scratching his head. “It's true that before I became a pirate I lived on the island, but I never met many hybrids, only some officers when they had to inspect the place. I never even got to visit a single town, let alone Alliance city. Actually... I never went beyond the boundaries of Kraken Bay.” He let out a slight laugh. “And you, a couple of total strangers, expect to be welcomed just like that?”

  “Where do you plan to take us then?” Olivia asked as she saw Silas shuffling back to his feet, totally demoralized.

  “Well, I will keep my word with Dhabeos, and try to convince them to accept you. There is no harm in asking. But don't expect any positive response. At least you have alternatives. You can stay at Kraken Bay, and request an audience with the Archmage... and then... well... just wait...”

  “Wait how long?” Silas growled.

  Jasper wrinkled his lips.

  “I actually had to wait about three years.”

  “Three years?” exclaimed both Silas and Olivia at the same time.

  “You see–”

  “We don't have that much time!” Silas protested.

  “What's your hurry?” Jasper scoffed. “Are you going to save the world?”

  “But you're the League's envoy,” Olivia pointed out. “Took all that time to grant you an audience?”

  The captain shook his head.

  “That was more than twenty years ago. I was barely seventeen... the same age as you are now. I wanted to become a pirate, and fight for the League, but I had a problem... If I ever crossed paths with a wizard I would be found out right away... So I asked Bhoriax to help me.” He grabbed his mask again. “And my patience was rewarded. This mask hides not only my eyes, but also my magical power. Not a single wizard has managed to discover me.”

  “Then the Archmage–” Olivia began to say.

  “He is an Architect, just as the rumors say.”

  “And he decided to help you.”

  “Well, first I had to go through several tests to prove my resolve and commitment to the cause. And, of course, every now and then I have to do him some favor in payment for the mask... No complaints, this thing is priceless... very uncomfortable... but it has given me freedom.”

  Silas snorted, and Jasper ignored him.

  “Thanks to him the chimeras were also granted a refuge on the island.”

  “He's that old?” Olivia asked.

  “If I tell you that he's something like four hundred years old, I think I'd get pretty close. Not just any creature can become an Architect... the life of a human is not enough to reach that level... So... “Jasper pursed his lips and put the mask back on the desk. “I don't know what your plans are with Bhoriax, but... if you ask me... Kraken Bay is the safest place for you at the moment... Our community enjoys unrivaled peace... better than the islands belonging to the League, that are constantly stalked by the Royal Navy.”

  “But you abandoned that place,” Silas said.

  “I didn't abandon it. I chose this life for myself, because I wanted to make a difference.”

  “And have you succeeded?”

  “With time... and after I grew older a bit... I realized that change can take time. The same thing will happen to you when you get to my age.”

  “Is your family as powerful as the Archmage?”

  “No.”

  “Then I don't need them.”

  Olivia watched as Jasper took a deep breath, trying to remain patient.

  “You will have a home where you can grow up in peace. I-I was thinking...my great-grandmother taught me everything I know... I could help you–”

  “A chimera with such low power couldn't help me!”

  “Silas!” Olivia shouted.

  Jasper slammed the desk down hard.

  “What's so important that you need Bhoriax's help?”

  “It's not your problem!”

  “We have a war knocking at our door! You can't do anything! You're young, enjoy yourselves while you can. Live! Your time will come as it did for me!”

  “I don't care about your stupid war!”

  Jasper stood up and looked at him angrily.

  “You should care! For it will be the chimeras who will pay the consequences of whatever you have done in Stormbrace!”

  “I'm so sick of listening to you!”

  Before Olivia could stop him, Silas left the cabin, the door slamming behind him.

  Thank you for reading!

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