Page 49 of The Sea Witch

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Unfortunately, the animals all scrabbled across the freshly-washed deck, to the annoyance of the crew charged with cleaning it. Yet no one seemed to begrudge a bit of play for the familiars.

As the crew continued on to the next verse, a new tone sounded in the harmony, far deeper than the women’s voices.

The illusion of Captain Ward faded and, one by one, the crew stopped singing. Until one voice remained.

Ben’s.

Concentrating on his work of mending sails, he continued on with the tune.

“A ship was sailing from the east

And going to the west,

Loaded with silks and satins

And velvets of the best;

But meeting there with Captain Ward,

It was a bad meeting;

He robbed them of all their wealth,

And bid them tell their king.”

His voice was a little rough, not in perfect tune. Yet it strummed along Alys’s skin and through her, both unsettling and soothing in equal measure.

She’d always heard that sirens were female.

He glanced up, and seemed suddenly aware that he was the only person singing. Even from her place on the quarterdeck, she could see the redness that filled his cheeks, and how his hands hovered over the canvas sail spread across his lap.

Yet he kept on singing. It was almost a dare, to continue, when everyone gaped at him and his was the lone voice being lifted up.

Stasia looked at her with curiosity, and that curiosity turned to astonishment when Alys sang.

“O then the King proved a ship of noble fame,

She’s call’d theRoyal Rainbow

If you would have her name;

She was as well provided for

As any ship can be,

Full thirteen hundred men on board

To bear her company.”

Ben’s gaze shot to her. The rest of the company stared, as well, but Alys didn’t stop. She went right on singing.

Slowly, members of the crew joined in. One and then another and yet more, until everyone above deck sang—even Stasia. Susannah resumed her moving illusion, showing the pirate captain’s ship in combat with theRoyal Rainbow.

They reached the rousing conclusion:

“Go home, go home, says Captain Ward

And tell your king for me,

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