Book 1 Chapter 1

This is the first chapter of a book I'm writing on Google Docs, which I've decided to transfer here. I hope to upload the rest of the chapters, but It's reliant on me getting enough GP to temporarily afford a paid membership. (Because of the 10-item limit on free accounts) And of course, my own personal interest in the project. The book also needs a title, so in addition to feedback on my writing quality, I would also appreciate title ideas. For the sake of ever making progress, I will not be changing, updating, or in any way editing the content of any chapter I post until the book concludes, but any feedback will be incorporated into future chapters.



On the coast of Sira, ten miles south of the nearest fishing village, sits an old stone lighthouse. It stands watch over the Crackern, a complex of cliffs and beaches whose layout changes with every storm. Even Elias, the lighthouse keeper, regularly found new caves, rocks, and cliffs, and he’d been living there for over thirteen years. And as he stared out at the storm that night, he had no doubt that come morning, the Crackern would be unrecognizable for the first time in years.

Because that storm was the strangest thing he’d yet laid eyes on. Winds would strip all the leaves off a single branch and do nothing to the rest of the tree. Clouds of fog wandered above the waves, traveling wherever they pleased without even bothering to follow the wind. And the storm had appeared in seconds - a single cloud becoming hundreds before you could remark how sunny it was. It had appeared so suddenly that there hadn’t been time to gather supplies. He didn’t have enough food, water, or oil to last until morning.

The storm showed no signs of stopping, although considering how it arrived, he wasn’t sure that counted for much. But the lantern was low on oil, and there wasn’t any left up here. If a ship came by and saw the lantern while he wasn’t there, they might assume the coast was impassable. Or worse, that it was safe. Either could be disastrous. But if the oil ran out, he wouldn't be able to see the ships as he guided them to safety. By the waning light of the lantern, he peered out to make sure there weren’t any ships in view. Nothing moved but the waves and the fog.

“Food, water, and oil, and then I’m back upstairs.” Elias whispered to himself as he hurried down the steps. “Just food, water, and oil.” He repeated as he reached the bottom of the staircase and stepped out onto the first floor.

The first thing he grabbed was two tins of oil from a shelf next to the stairs. He considered turning around then to get back to the lantern as soon as possible, but if he didn’t get food now, he’d have to do it later. Grabbing a loaf of bread from on top of a barrel, he spotted a half-empty pitcher of water and picked that up, too.

Hands now thoroughly full, he started to head back towards the stairs when he heard someone knocking on the door. Sighing, he shifted everything over to his left arm, leaving his right hand free to unlock the door. It was probably those two fishermen with the sailboat. Their boat was too small for this large of a storm, so he had guided them into the Crackern and warned them not to try for the lighthouse. Evidently, they hadn’t followed his advice.

As he undid the deadbolt, a sudden blast of wind pushed the door inward, throwing it wide open. Stumbling through it came a young woman in soaked, tattered clothes.

“Hey there! It’s rude to come in without being invited!” He exclaimed.

“S-sorry.” She said, breathing hard. “The wind pushed me in. I just need shelter for one night, and then I’ll be off your hands.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not the kind of person who would leave someone out in a storm like this because they forgot their manners.” He said, pushing the door closed. “What's your name?”

She hesitated before saying, “Anna. just Anna.”

“Well, Anna, I’m Elias. What brings you here?”

“A shipwreck.”

He doubted that. The Crackern was the only dangerous bit of coast for miles, and he hadn’t seen any boats for hours. But he didn’t have time to argue about it. He should have already been back and refiled the oil. “I have to tend the lantern, but if you make your way to the third floor, the bedroom on the left is for apprentices, which I have none of. Just don’t make any trouble.” With that, he made his way up to the lantern room. As he peered out at the sea by the light of the refilled lantern, he wondered what the morning would bring.