Here’s yet another fractured fairy tale. I hope to include this one in my Watchmage Chronicles collection, as it’s a variation of an old folk tale of New Amsterdam (the name of New York when it was first colonized by the Dutch).

Note: My Captain Antony Van Corlear is not-so-loosely based off of the real Anthony Van Corlaer…or likely real, anyway.

The Captain and the Storm King of Dunderberg Mountain
by C.A. Sanders

The good ship Zephyrus was captained by the brave and proud Antony Van Corlear, who bowed to no man.

As he sailed up the North River, they passed under the shadow of Dunderberg Mountain. Legend told that there lived the Storm King, a giant that commanded the winds and the waves, the lightning and the thunder.

He was a good king, and his only request was that you bow to him when passing under the shadow of Dunderberg Mountain. But Captain Van Corlear bowed to no man.

A painting of the “real” Captain Van Corlaer

The first mate told the captain, “we must bow to the Storm King. He rules the winds and waves, the lightning and the thunder, and he surely tear, our good ship asunder.”

Captain Van Corlear said, “I may bow to all the lasses, and I may bow when in my glasses, but I will never bow to the Storm King of Dunderberg Mountain.”

And the waves began to splash. And the winds began to blow. But Van Corlear held fast, and still he said “no.”

They sailed further under the shadow, and the waves splashed over the Zephyrus’s bow. The quartermaster said to the captain, “we must bow to the Storm King. He rules the winds and waves, the lightning and the thunder, and he surely tear, our good ship asunder.”

Captain Van Corlear laughed and said, “I may bow to all the lasses, and I may bow when in my glasses, but I will never bow to the Storm King of Dunderberg Mountain.”

And the waves began to crash. And a mighty storm did blow. But Van Corlear held fast, and still he said “no.”

They sailed even further, deep under the shadow of Dunderberg Mountain. The sun had gone to bed, and black clouds filled the sky, for the Storm King asks so little of visitors, merely a bow.

But Captain Van Corlear bowed to no man. Or giant.

The wind howled and tore the sail apart. The Zephyrus rocked so violently that the crew tumbled to the desk. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed, and the crew knew what they must do.

The crew begged the captain, “we must bow to the Storm King. He rules the winds and waves, the lightning and the thunder, and he surely tear, our good ship asunder.”

Captain Van Corlear spat over the Zephyrus’s side and said, “I may bow to all the lasses, and I may bow when in my glasses, but I will never bow to the Storm King of Dunderberg Mountain.” And he pointed right at the mountain.

And a great bolt of lightning, and a great crash of thunder, tore that good ship, Zephyrus, asunder.

The storm passed, and when the sun rose the next morning, no sign of the Zephyrus remained. And the crew was never seen again.

Except for one brave and proud man.

Chained on the shore, bent on all fours, was Captain Antony Van Corlear.

He once bowed to all the lasses, and bowed when in his glasses. Now he forever bowed to the Storm King of Dunderberg Mountain.

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