The Lyon’s Muse (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Prologue

Ship HMS Baccus Sinks, No Survivors

His Majesty’s ship, HMS Baccus, a sloop en route to England from France, has sunk after coming under attack from French cannon fire.

The ship managed to stay afloat until sight of the English shore but crashed upon the rocks and sank on the sandbars after being battered by a storm.

Mr. Perkins, a merchant sailor, saw the ship come in.

“We tried to row out with boats to rescue any men aboard, but there was nothing. Nothing but debris in the water, and the waves were treacherous. You couldn’t see nothing in that dark, and the lightning that flashed over the sky, it was like the hand of God.

All we could do was watch as it sank and was dashed to pieces. The poor souls.”

Aboard were soldiers taking leave from the front in France and Portugal, and a small number of civilian passengers, including artists and mapmakers. There are no presumed survivors.