And that day had been full of goodness and joy.

But Mars had a feeling in all they had experienced…

The worst was yet to come.

112

The Exodus

King Aramus

Throne Room, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

It was safe to say Aramus was sitting on his ostentatious throne in his castle watching a slew of pirates sulk out of the room in an actual snit.

He was the Sea King.

He was also the pirate king.

Pirates did not have snits.

However, the ones leaving did.

“They will go to the Mystics.”

He looked down at the lone man who stood before him.

He was a pirate named Magnus. An exceptional sailor, a fearsome buccaneer, and although he had not spent a great deal of time with him, Aramus could call him a friend.

“They will not be told what to do, or what not to do,” Magnus carried on, sharing information Aramus knew at the start, but had been reminded repeatedly of very recently.

“Considering weeks of discussion just broke down irretrievably, I have realized that,” Aramus replied on a sigh.

“I know it is not lost on you, my king, that your decisions are rocking the very foundation of who we are,” Magnus declared. “No whaling? No pirating?”

“We have vast fleets of ships we’ve seized over decades, Magnus. And I have arranged to sell some of these…with crews…to Airen, Wodell, Firenze. I have further offered our pirates opportunities only a fool would turn his back on. Our wares will more freely be sold there, their wares sold here. There is work to be had. There is money to be made. For the men who just left this room, there are opportunities to make enormous amounts of it. There is even employment on offer my citizens know how to do. It is not as vast a change as people wish to think. It is only change. I understand people do not like change. And yet, it is the only constant throughout the millennia. You simply have to come to understand that and navigate it.”

“Yes, but in an attempt to avoid it, they will go to the Mystics,” Magnus repeated.

“As you heard me remind them repeatedly, Magnus, telling them something they very much know, Mar-el pirates are not welcome in the Mystics. They also do not have the might of the Mar-el kingdom behind them there. Thus, they will not find the freedom to do as they will. The journey will be long, and in the end, fruitless at best, disastrous at worst. They would be better to shift their pursuits at home. But that is not my choice. My choices have been made and My Will be done. Now, they make theirs.”

Magnus nodded before twisting at the waist and looking over his shoulder at the long doors.

He studied them for some time while Aramus waited.

He then turned back and took the offer that Aramus had given them all.