The Prologue

Art by @ShadenElements

Here it is, the pièce de résistance — Pyxis Nautica.

Well, the first few pages of it, anyway.

This is the prologue of my graduate thesis, of my working novel. Literary agents all have different preferences and requirements that they're looking for when you're querying them, but for the most part, this is the chunk of my manuscript that I've been sending out to them. This is the chunk that I hope hooks a reader, and makes them want to keep reading.

Some agents even ask for a mood board or a Spotify playlist that helps set the mood of the story, too. And, well, having things like that have really helped me get into the world I'm trying to create. So, you can take a gander at those if you so desire, just click on the link:

Pyxis Nautica — Mood Board

Pyxis — The Playlist

You can also peep the art above, of Tetch (real name Theodore) and his dog Rigo. I had a friend draw a bunch of pictures for me, and I've been using them and referencing them for years. I have a few others that he drew and I'll work to post them around here eventually.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the read. I actually wrote this scene as a totally separate idea while I was in London, sitting across the street from Westminster Abbey. There was a big protest about climate change going on at the time, too. I wanted to write about everything I saw and experienced, but as it usually goes with my writing, it turned into an epic fantasy adventure. Eventually, it just made sense to make it part of Pyxis Nautica.

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Pyxis Nautica

T Pyxidis Canon Book 1

by

Andi May

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

✧

“We can’t keep running,” Chubasco said breathlessly.

“Si, I am aware,” Squall responded as he ran alongside his best friend.

Both were exhausted from running along the Thames for hours. Running from or into danger wasn’t anything new to them, but the responsibility that was freshly thrust upon the two of them, the young boy that Chubasco now carried on his back, this certainly was.

The little boy’s name was Theodore and he was Chubasco’s little brother. Though Theodore was only four years old, he had already experienced more horrors and dangers in his life than most of the pirates in the Pirate Affinity had in their entire careers. But what Theodore, Chubasco, Squall and the rest of the crew had just recently been through—well, it had terrified Theodore so much he cried himself to sleep on Chubasco’s back even as they made their escape. Theodore was a tough one, it took a lot to make him cry, so Chubasco and Squall knew how much this altercation frightened him.

Theodore had a cut across his chin now, a small line of blood had dried there. The welt on his forehead still looked red, and there were signs of dark bruises forming over his tiny body. His tunic was ripped and torn, his trousers were in shreds, his feet were bare. He had to have been freezing in the early morning fog.

Even as they ran, Squall snuck a look at the boy and felt his heart sink like a lead anchor falling into the deepest trench. He quickly took off his own leather trench coat, now that it finally felt somewhat dry, then draped it over Theodore. Chubasco was quick to catch on and pull the sleeves around himself to make sure it covered the little one.

The poor kid didn’t deserve any of this. In fact, no innocent human deserved the kind of danger that Theodore was doomed to face for the rest of his days. Captain Kampen, and so many others of the Pirate Affinity, believed Theodore’s strengths and abilities were gifts and sure weapons to win the war. But, even if Chubasco could at times be unbearably bull-headed and stubborn, Squall knew for sure the two of them agreed on one thing: Theodore’s life was his own, and how he used his power should be his own choice.

“I have an idea,” Squall said to Chubasco. “If my directions are correct, there’s somewhere we can stop nearby, and hopefully rest.”

Chubasco looked to him and nodded, but his face quickly soured when he realized he knew which place Squall was talking about. Chubasco let out a few choice curses under his breath.

“I suppose we have no choice but to go there,” he grumbled. "Por supuesto que tiene que estar allí."

“Hopefully our pursuer’s faith in that particular regard is still intact,” Squall answered.

Chubasco scoffed. “I just don’t know anymore.”

They continued swiftly on foot for another half hour, moving into Westminster. They ran through a square that was eerily quiet and the surrounding houses of parliament were still in the dense fog. Both Squall and Chubasco were relieved to see that their message to the local authorities to warn the civilians to take cover and hide had made it in time. Normally these streets were busy with people, but now not a soul was to be seen.

“There,” Squall pointed ahead of them. “Sanctuary.”

Through some overgrown and willowing trees sat the Abbey. The spires of the old church rose far higher than the trees, its broad rose window filled with beautifully colored stained glass contrasted against the dreary gray of everything else around it. The intricacies in the stone of the Abbey were as prominent as ever. The walls were mottled with white marble, stone, and even small flecks of gold. At the church’s far end, its two towers rose prominently—Squall led the way towards them, which was the way towards safety.

As they moved closer, Chubasco let out a sharp gasp.

“What is it?” Squall wondered.

“She’s close,” Chubasco whispered tensely. “I can hear her Siren.” Without another word, the two burst into a sprint for the entrance to the Abbey. Almost immediately, instead of the sky lighting up as the sun rose, the world began to dim. The fog swirled into black and billowing clouds.

“Get inside, ahora,” Squall told Chubasco as they got to the door. He drew his rapier.

Chubasco’s hand twitched to his twin katanas strapped to his belt. “Squall, you take Theodore inside, I’ll take care of them.”

“Chubasco, this isn’t a competition of who’s the better swordsman!” Squall found himself shouting.

“I know that, it’s—”

Squall didn’t let him finish. He put a hand to the church door and thrust it open. Nobody seemed to be at the immediate entrance, and he moved to shove Chubasco inside.

“Ferdy, stop!” Chubasco shouted out Squall’s real name. But before he could protest further, he felt an agonizing pain at the base of his skull. It felt like a red-hot rod of steel was twisting into his brain. He almost dropped Theodore as he bellowed in pain, but the shout abruptly woke his little brother up. The little boy looked dazed for a moment, but then realized his big brother was in trouble.

“Johnny?” Theodore whispered Chubasco’s real name. “¿Estás bien?” Theodore wondered in his small voice. His tiny hands clutched his brother’s shoulders.

Chubasco took in a few heavy breaths. It was clear he was still in severe pain, but he did his best to hide it from Theodore.

“I’m sorry I woke you, Sunspot. I’ll be okay,” he said between clenched teeth. But his knees buckled. Squall managed to catch him and Theodore before they fell to the church floor.

“Get all the way inside,” Squall ordered them. He knew why Chubasco was in pain. Their pursuer was extremely close, the weapon she carried was cursed and could cause Chubasco pain even from a mile or two away.

Theodore wanted to get down from Chubasco’s back to help, but he wasn’t doing much better than his brother. He was just so tired. Squall managed to lug the both of them to the nearest pew.

Chubasco grimaced at another slice of pain to his head as he collapsed into the seat. Theodore leaned up against him on the pew and tried to give him a hug.

“Thank you, Sunspot,” Chubasco whispered to him and tried to wrap an arm around him. He looked to Squall, who was eyeing the open door to the church. The sky outside was completely pitch-black now.

“Don’t go out there alone,” Chubasco said to him. “That’s an order from your Captain.”

Squall smirked. “An order? I appreciate your effort to try that with me.”

They started to hear the usual groans and squeals of the monsters that plagued the world. Not only has their pursuer caught up to them, but her Followers seem to have, too.

Theodore burrowed even deeper into Chubasco’s side, too scared to part from him.

“He needs you, Johnny,” Squall whispered to Chubasco as he watched Theodore quiver with fear.

“He needs you, too,” Chubasco answered.

“Well, you make it seem like I won’t be back,” said Squall, standing. “I think I deserve more faith than you are giving me.”

“The rest of the crew is too far away to help, Squall,” Chubasco warned him. “And from what I can tell, there are no other pirates nearby, and I’m sure even the local authorities have taken cover.”

Squall already knew all this, but he didn’t see any other options. The two shared one more glance, then Squall bolted for outside. He slammed the church door behind him. Almost immediately, the sounds of monsters from outside intensified.

“NO!” Chubasco shouted. He tried to get up from the pew, but the next spike of pain was so horrible and intense his world spun into darkness and his body crumpled to the cold stone floor of the church.

“Johnny!” Theodore cried. He sobbed as he stumbled down from the pew and to his brother. He cried hysterically as he tried to shake him awake. “Johnny! ¡Despierto!”

Theodore sobbed and sobbed, but stopped abruptly when he heard someone approach him and his brother from down the church’s aisle. Theodore turned to see a stranger, and recoiled to hide under a pew. He tried to drag Chubasco with him.

“What is the meaning of this?” the stranger asked. He was an old man Theodore had never seen before.

By now he was nearly hyperventilating. He sat in debilitating fear while clutching Chubasco’s hand.

The man slowly walked closer, and he looked to Chubasco. “Why, if it isn’t Captain Harline of The Gaviota,” he mused. “I never thought I’d see him here again.”

The stranger eyed Theodore. He was so young, but a spitting image of this Captain Johnson Harline. Wild blonde hair, light but suntanned skin. The only noticeable difference between the two of them was that Johnny was known to have a look upon his bright blue eyes that reflected his recklessness and mischief, and this boy here had pale gray eyes that seemed to only be swirling with raw, otherworldly, and unfathomably dangerous power.

“The Fallen Star,” the stranger gasped in shock when he realized who the boy was.

Theodore didn’t know what that meant, and he felt tears rolling down his cheeks. The stranger stared at him for a long while.

The man eventually seemed to remember what his duty was. He let his shock subside.

“You will find sanctuary, here,” the man assured Theodore.

✧

LETTER OF MARQUE

I, Captain Dame Azul Goode, Knight and former Scribe of Her Majesty’s English Island court, Captain of the Kýrios, Head Keeper of Kaizoku Stone and all its Antarctican counterparts, and newly appointed Head Captain of the Pirate Affinity, on this day of Infamy, with accordance and permission of all standing island monarchies — be it European, South American, Asian — , Saudi Arabian Island oligarchy and related Middle-Eastern Island collections, United Trust of African Island Tribes and Empires and all its associated nations, democracy of the American and Canadian Archipelagos as well as the Native Nations of such Islands, Brazilian Island Republic, Leaders of all Caribbean Island Indigineous peoples, and thereafter any rulers and peoples in relation or association with United Island Nations, do hereby grant and give permission to all fitly qualified Captains anointed such a title within the Affinity, or therein association, all power and authority to lead their appointed crews as well as any pirates, freebooters, searovers, privateers, etc. and trained subject in relation to any aforementioned nation or world authority, to apprehend, seize, dismantle, and/or destruct any and all ships, vessels, or goods of Lady Aether and Her Dark Matter Followers. Furthermore, I do hereby grant permission of Captains and said assailants the authority to take extreme action at their own discretion — from diplomatic trial to war-like — in the prevention of further Followers joining Lady Aether’s cause. Additionally, I issue a request to all aforementioned Captains and their assailants to hinder Lady Aether’s efforts in the attainment and acquisition of Siren Weaponry by any means possible, but with a heavy reminder and warning of the dangers such damned items present. Though some may present extraordinary capabilities and are therefore artifacts of temptation, they are cursed items that will shackle any man, woman, or child. There are documented accounts describing variances of dark and torturous connections that can be made between a Siren Weapon and its Wielder, but it is with utmost certainty that the Wielder will experience misfortunes from this connection for the rest of their days. There are no accounts of a child surviving more than a few hours after the shackling to a Siren Weapon.

All aforementioned permissions are granted to those Captains and said peoples whom are in association or under lead of such Captains, but exceptions may be fitting for privateers, militia, mercenaries, or individuals therein with no association to the Affinity or foregoing world nations, in the interest of welfare and safety of the world’s island nations and its peoples.

In finality, all Captains of the Affinity are hereby required to report any and all findings, intelligence, and/or discoveries of Lady Aether’s plans, conspiracies, machinations, or schemes to the Pirate Affinity Council. Alike, I issue a plea to any and all peoples of any island, of any nation, to report any stirrings of Lady Aether and her Followers to authorities or members of the Pirate Affinity.

In witness whereof I write and declare on these documents, is the affixed Pirate Affinity seal that carries permission and compliance of world leaders. Given at the Pirate Affinity Court of Kaizoku Stone, on this day, the 1st of October on the 139th year since Anián’s Crossing, known as the Day of Dark Matter Infamy.

Captain Azul Goode

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May no seas fare smooth.

—Andi May