After several months or more of travel, the Jolly Roger finally arrived in the Many Kingdoms. As they sailed past the Lighthouse of the Gods and made their way to Morningstar Harbor, James gasped at its beauty. Nothing could have prepared him for the massive stone lighthouse that housed the magnificent jewel in its tower, or the cyclopean castle built in the same fashion that shone behind it in the sunlight like a magic star. Skylights had shared many stories with James about the Many Kingdoms as they made their journey there, making James all the more eager to get there and see this magical place for himself.

All around the castle was a field of golden flowers that seemed to emanate a light of their own, making the castle look even more brilliant. Skylights said these flowers weren’t always in Morningstar Kingdom; when Blackbeard had visited the Many Kingdoms years before they had only seen them in a place called the Dead Woods, but that was long before the Odd Sisters claimed it as their home. In all of his reading James had never read about the Many Kingdoms, so he was happy that Skylights shared what Blackbeard had told him over their years pirating together. If Morningstar was an example of the kingdoms he would come across in this land, he was sure it would make a worthy adventure.

“Are you sure about this, Master James?” asked Smee. “The way Skylights tells it, these witches sound like foul creatures. Not the sort one should get mixed up with.” Smee seemed in James’s estimation much more at home on a pirate ship than he had been a year ago. He seemed to command some respect from the crew, especially since James had become captain, and by all accounts took on the role of James’s first mate without James officially giving him the title, but that was just fine with James. Smee was allowed to take these liberties; he had taken care of James since he was a boy—who better to be his right-hand man? And who better to share his lifelong dream?

“Don’t worry, Smee, I’ll be fine. Though I am counting on you to keep an eye on the crew. I don’t want them leaving the ship and wandering the Many Kingdoms.”

“None of them dare leave the ship, sir. They’re all too frightened. Skylights has been filling their heads with terrible stories about these lands,” said Smee, squinting his eyes to see if he could make out anyone on the turrets of Morningstar Castle.

“Skylights says the kingdom of Morningstar is peaceful, Smee. There is no need to fear this place,” said James.

“But what of the Tree Lords, sir? Or the Cyclopean Giants? There is an immortal queen here rumored to rule these beasts.” Smee looked around nervously, trying to catch a glimpse of her golden hair and fair face.