The Dragon Isles

Chapter Twenty

The boat tumbled over the side and into the ocean. It hit with a huge splash, and the companions had to grab the skiffs gunwales to avoid being spilled over the side.

Mik and Ula both cursed.

Kingfisher’s former captain stared up at the rail and saw Karista Meinor gazing down on them.

“I’m sorry, captain,” she said, “but this is where we part company.”

“What in the names of the lost gods are you doing?” Mik asked angrily.

“You know that my goals differ from yours,” Karista said. “Lord Kell’s justice will serve my needs better to that end than the court of any sea elf.”

Ula stood up in the bow of the skiff and addressed the master of the brass ship directly. “Lord Kell,” she said. “I won the right to have this woman accompany me.”

“That was when I believed you spoke on behalf of all involved,” Kell replied. “It seems, perhaps, that you do not speak for this particular shipwrecked soul.”

“That wasn’t our agreement,” Ula said.

“If you wish to protest my interpretation of the law, come with me to a neutral port and we will put the whole thing before a magistrate,” Lord Kell replied. His gray eyes flashed. “Of course, if you care to make it a matter of honor…” He raised the point of his coral lance.

“Let her go,” Mik whispered to Ula. “We don’t need her.”

“But she knows about the treasure,” Ula whispered back. “If she should tell him…”

“It won’t do him any good without the Prophecy and the diamond key.”

“It’s not worth fighting Benthor Kell for,” Shimmer whispered. “Not now.”

Ula glanced from Mik to the bronze knight and back again. “You’re right,” she finally said. She remained standing as the skiff drifted away from the galley.

“Treat Lady Meinor well, Lord Kell, or I shall hear of it,” she called back to the galley.

“I’m sure you will,” Kell replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, “but have no concern on that account.”

“And Trip, too,” Mik added, as the kender waved at him. He tried to keep a straight face as a soldier’s purse found its way into one of Trip’s pockets.

“The kender will be treated with the respect he merits,” Kell said stiffly.

Mik held the lord’s eye and nodded slowly. “We’ll meet again one day,” he said.

“I look forward to it,” Kell replied. “As I look forward to seeing Ula Landwalker again as well.”

Ula spat into the ocean.

Kell laughed and turned to his helmsmen and his drum-chanter. “Set oars, course south by southwest.” The crew of the galley responded immediately, and the trireme quickly pulled away from the skiff.

Trip stood at the rail, cheerfully waving goodbye.

Ula sat down in the skiff. “I need a rest.”

Mik unshipped his oars and turned to Shimmer. “Well,” he said, “where are we headed?”

Shimmer unshipped his oars. “Darthalla may not be the best place to start…”

“For a number of reasons,” Ula put in. She leaned back against the skiff’s small gunwale, dipped a hand into the water and dribbled some over her face, then closed her eyes. “Recite the parts of the Prophecy after reaching the isles.”

“I assume we’re sharing the treasure with your friend,” Mik said, looking over at Shimmer.

“Equal shares,” Ula said, “to all those participating in the recovery.”

“Trip as well, then,” Mik said.

Ula nodded slowly. “If you insist. But remind me of the Prophecy, sailor.”

Mik shipped his oars, closed his eyes, and let the rhythm of the waves bring the verses of the Prophecy back to him. Soon, he began to speak:

Mik took a deep breath and opened his eyes once more. “I think the first two stanzas are just singing the praises of the isles,” Mik said. “And the next refer to the power of the Veil.”

“Amply demonstrated,” said Shimmer.

“They also mention the treasure and the four keys needed to find it,” Mik continued. “Beyond that, though, I think you need to be a native or a scholar to make sense of it. I profess to be neither-but I’d hoped to solve it once we reached the isles.”

“Lucky you fell in with some natives,” Ula said. “I think you’re right about the first four stanzas; island fish oil and building up the treasure. Kell, or his master, would be the ‘lord of brazen keep.’ The Order’s base on Berann is the home of brass dragons.”

“I think that’s the key we already have,” Mik said, “the black diamond artifact.”

Ula nodded.

“ ‘Wisdom’s highest throne’ could be Aurialastican, on the Misty Isle,” Shimmer said. “Golden dragons dwell there.”

“And the ‘hoary fates’ stanza probably means Darthalla-the undersea home of… my people,” Ula added.

“Is there more to the Prophecy?” Shimmer asked. “You mentioned four keys. The one you have, the Dargonesti one, and the one on the Misty Isle makes three. That leaves one missing.”

“I think Captain Vardan is holding some secrets back,” Ula said.

“Just until I know you better,” Mik replied with a sly smile.

“Where to first, the sea kingdom or the island of the golden dragons? What about Jaentarth? Could we hire a ship there?” Gazing south, he could just make out the big island, hovering mirage-like on the horizon.

“Doubtful,” Shimmer said. “They have no deep water port”

“Besides, we don’t want to run into Kell again if we can avoid him,” Ula said. “Chances are he’s stopping there for medical supplies to help his sister.”

“Aurialastican is almost straight north,” Shimmer said. “But Darthalla is just a little way off course-and closer, too.”

Ula sighed. “I’d rather put off my family reunion a bit longer, if you don’t mind.”

“What’s a few more days of rowing between friends?” Mik said jovially. “North to Aurialastican it is.”

They steered due north but soon discovered that though Lord Kell might have vanished from their sight, they had not vanished from his. Tanalish, Kell’s brass dragon escort, kept an eye on them from high in the air.

Ula swore. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Kell is plotting some revenge once he’s spirited his sister to safety.” She wiped the sweat from her smooth, blue forehead and slacked off her oars for a moment. The sun was just dipping behind the clouds blanketing the western horizon, and all the placid sea looked gray and gloomy.

Shimmer, sitting and resting in the skiffs stern, rubbed his left shoulder. “All we can do is keep rowing,” he said.

“All right,” Ula said, with an edge of weariness. She glanced hack at Mik. “How’s that black diamond artifact, sailor? Keeping it safe?”

“Actually, Trip’s holding onto it for us,” Mik said, pulling steadily on his oars.

“What?” she asked angrily.

“I gave it to him before we parted.”

“Why in the deep blue seas did you do that?” Ula asked. “You know we need that key to claim the treasure.”

Mik smiled. “That’s exactly why I gave it to him.”

Ula threw up her hands in frustration, and her oars almost slipped over the side.

Shimmer chuckled. “He knows you well, Ula, for such a short acquaintance.”

Ula sighed. “You’re right. I probably would have left the minnow behind. I’m fond of him, but taking a kender on a treasure-finding voyage is crazy.”

“Actually, he’s an expert treasure finder and a superb diver,” Mik said. “I trust Trip with my life.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Ula replied.

She and Shimmer switched places at the oars. “I’ll spell you in an hour,” she said to Mik.

Kingfisher’s former captain nodded and kept rowing.

Night cast long, indigo fingers over the ocean. The wind picked up from the west, and small whitecaps lapped at the skiffs sides. The rowing became progressively more difficult. They switched rowers frequently, and took a cold supper during their breaks. Kell had not given them die choicest of provisions, but no one complained, given the circumstances.

“Another storm’s coming,” Shimmer said, gazing west.

“Maybe it will pass us by,” said Ula.

“I doubt it,” Mik replied. “Let’s keep rowing. We can always abandon the skiff if the seas get too rough.”

Ula smiled. “Most humans fear the deep,” she said, “but not you.”

“The sea’s been my life for a long time,” Mik said. “I’m comfortable above or below-with a little help.” He patted the enchanted fish amulet at his neck.

The coming storm blotted out the stars, making the night black and chilly. Dismal fog swirled over the waves, dancing before the wind like wraiths anticipating a funeral.

Ula peered into the darkness. “Which way to Aurialastican, Shimmer?” she asked.

Shimmer turned his bronze-helmeted head from stem to stem. “We’re headed in the right direction, more or less. We’ve a long way to go, though.”

Ula cursed. “I’d turn back for Jaentarth if I didn’t think we’d find Kell waiting for us.”

“With peril ahead and astern,” Mik said, “perhaps we should take the shortest route.”

“The sailor makes sense,” Shimmer said.

Ula frowned and sighed. “To me, too. Trying for Aurialastican was a mistake.” Glancing at Mik, she added. “Pull with me, and we’ll turn this boat around.”

“Aye… captain,” Mik replied.

Ula laughed and the two counter-rowed the oars a moment and turned the skiff around. Waves coming from the west rocked the boat precariously, making it difficult to stay on course. As they regained their bearings, a huge dark shape surged up out of the waves to stem. It flashed through the air overhead and disappeared into the swirling fog.

Ula cursed.

Black gloved hands suddenly appeared atop the skiff’s gunwales, and with one sudden tug, the small boat went under.