Chapter 6

“A few years ago, I thought he was a foolish old man that spent too much time working in his shop,” Driada said. “After spending time on board the ship and helping in the raids, I’m starting to believe him.”

Doreius widened his eyes. “Really?”

“I don’t speak to the ships as my father does. But I feel like there is a soul there, between the planks.” She smiled and threw up her hands. “Think for a moment of all the times those ships have protected us from arrows. The gods must be watching over us.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’ve had too much to drink.”

“No, I’m serious!” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I think perhaps he knows something we do not. He used to tell me that the first ship he ever built was blessed by a dryad.”

Doreius rolled his eyes. “Ah yes, the familiar tale.”

“He said that a dryad turned herself into a tree and allowed him to cut her down so that he could build a ship from her body,” she continued.