Splendid, I love this sort of mythical story. Two Greek myth's echo in this one for me: Odysseus and the Sirens, and some well-incorporated inspiration from Icarus's story. The descriptions were also excellent once the disaster started: the popping breath bubbles, the stiffened, scaly arms.
Of course, I went and reread the song from Homer's Odyssey. Here it is for anyone else with the same thought:
"This way, oh turn your bows, Akhaias glory.
"As all the world allows— moor and be merry.
"Sweet coupled airs we sing. No lonely seafarer
"Holds clear of entering our green mirror.
"Pleased by each purling note like honey twining
"From her throat and my throat. Who lies a-pining?
"Sea rovers here take joy voyaging onward.
"As from our song of Troy, greybeard and rower-boy
"Goeth more learned.
"All feats on that great field in the long warfare.
"Dark days the bright gods willed. Wounds you bore there,
"Argos' old soldiery on Troy beach teeming.
"Charmed out of time we see. No life on earth can be
Oh, this was excellent, Brian! I loved this seafaring tale. Your fantasy stories always pull me right in.
Well done Brian. I really enjoyed it, especially the last line.
I enjoyed this story, Brian, well told and entertaining!
Splendid, I love this sort of mythical story. Two Greek myth's echo in this one for me: Odysseus and the Sirens, and some well-incorporated inspiration from Icarus's story. The descriptions were also excellent once the disaster started: the popping breath bubbles, the stiffened, scaly arms.
Of course, I went and reread the song from Homer's Odyssey. Here it is for anyone else with the same thought:
"This way, oh turn your bows, Akhaias glory.
"As all the world allows— moor and be merry.
"Sweet coupled airs we sing. No lonely seafarer
"Holds clear of entering our green mirror.
"Pleased by each purling note like honey twining
"From her throat and my throat. Who lies a-pining?
"Sea rovers here take joy voyaging onward.
"As from our song of Troy, greybeard and rower-boy
"Goeth more learned.
"All feats on that great field in the long warfare.
"Dark days the bright gods willed. Wounds you bore there,
"Argos' old soldiery on Troy beach teeming.
"Charmed out of time we see. No life on earth can be
"Hid from our dreaming."
Wow- that siren! I'll be thinking about her in fear for awhile...