The Bay of Scrutiny lay before them, wrapped in thundering storms that circled its waters without end. Dark clouds churned overhead, and beneath them, the sea itself seemed to sink inward, forming a vast depression upon the surface.
At its heart was a massive whirlpool.
The ship jolted as it entered the bay, waves battering the hull from all directions, each hit harder than the last. The wind howled through the tattered sails, forcing the masts to bend as if trying to break them in two all over again.
"Hold the ropes!" the Captain shouted.
The crew fought to keep their footing. One sailor was thrown against the rail, another dragged back just before the sea claimed him. Water flooded the deck, freezing to the touch, stealing breath from every man who dared to inhale.
Rosacer clung to the mast, his old body shaking, though whether from fear or cold, none could tell. Fea stood near the bow; her eyes fixed on the looming clouds ahead.
