Mythaul (working title)

In Mythaul the oceans are patrolled by pirates and privateers and traders alike and they're just as important as the groups of islands that cover the world. There are lush forests, high mountains and views that people brave the strangest dangers to see.

Taria Laurell didn't expect to be kidnapped and brought on board a pirate ship after one very long shift as a barmaid but that's exactly what happened. If she ever gets past the pirate captain and she gets her hands on the guy who knocked her out, being keelhauled by his fellow pirates for bringing a woman on board will be the least of his worries. Although, Taria has to convince the captain to keep her alive first.

Plot Outline:

The story opens with the protagonist Taria Laurell. Taria is a woodland elf who works at The Merchants Tavern in the harbour and trade town Kalistown. Taria is having a conversation with a customer and friend named Kesire. Kesire is a Djinn which is one of the most powerful races in the world Mythaul.

After her shift Taria is walking through the market which stretches across the town and a man named Delos approaches her. Taria has met him before and she thinks that he is just another sailor which is why it comes as a surprise when he knocks her out by hitting her over the head with a cantelope.

Taria wakes up in a dark room, tied to a chair, and Delos arrives to explain that he is taking her home with him so that they can be married despite her protests. Taria escapes and stumbles out onto the deck of a single-masted sloop ship and she is surprised to find herself amongst a crew of pirates.

Angry and slightly scared, Taria turns on Delos and yells until they are interrupted by the arrival of the pirate captain Joshua Steele and his first mate Emilio Mulairo. Taria's chances don't look good but she's far too angry over being hit in the head to care. Taria decides that she'd rather jump overboard than be pushed by a pirate but the captain saves her life.

Taria finds herself stuck on a ship full of pirates and under the captain's protection and although she doesn't understand why she decides to just accept the situation and it's better than serving beers every night. For pirates they're actually quite interesting, especially the captain. Taria accepts quickly that they're attracted to each other and she forms friendships with a few of the other crew members including the ships' cook Nex, a light mage who owes the captain his life.

Despite the captain and Taria's interest towards one another she doesn't want to jeopardise the captain's position with his crew and he's prepared to let her do what she wants but that doesn't mean that he is going to give her up without a fight.

After a few weeks of seizing ships and stealing treasure Taria is finally brought to a populated island and she can leave the ship. Taria decides to travel and on the way she meets Kesire who was in the beginning of the story. She travels with Kesire for a short while as he is meeting his sister Lira.

Before Taria left the ship Emilio asked her to deliver a letter from him to his fiancée and when Taria finds her she learns that there was a mutiny on board and the ship or the crew have not been seen since. In despair Taria wanders until she is tapped on the shoulder one day in a bar and it is Joshua. He takes her back to his ship, determined to keep her and he proposes. She accepts.

Excerpt (This is currently the begining as I begin my second draft of the novel):

Taria didn’t expect to see Kesire standing on the doorstep but she would rather find him than some of the other men. Taria propped open the door, “Come in Kesire. I’m just opening up now.”

Kesire nodded gratefully and he stepped inside. He sat on one of the stools at the bar, another slightly unusual habit for him, and said roughly, “I’ll have an ale, please?”

Taria slipped behind the bar, “Are you sure about that Kesire? It’s a bit early for you isn’t it?”

Kesire nodded, “I need something strong.”

While Taria pulled his drink she looked at him with concern. His silky black hair looked dull and messy. His whiskey coloured eyes weren’t as bright as they usually were. Kesire was one of the many regulars that drank at The Merchant’s Tavern in Kalistown but he never came in when the bar was just being opened early in the afternoon. Even on the rare occasion where he stayed long enough to be drunk he was always smiling. His cheerful nature was one of the reasons why they’d become such good friends.

The Merchant’s Tavern had exposed brick walls and thick warped wooden floors. There was a long bar that stretched almost the full length of one wall. The room had minimal decoration apart from an old anchor that was nailed to the back wall and an old, broken fishing net. The net was apparently part of a story to do with someone named Old Jim. Nobody had told Taria that story yet but she suspected that it was only a matter of time.