Chapter 15 (Original edit)

CHAPTER XV

Slowly a smile crept over the features of the blonde woman, she turned back to the captain and began to ask what appeared to be questions as she gesticulated over toward where Enki and her colleagues stood. The Captain nodded vigorously as she spoke, giving brief answers whenever the interrogation demanded it, and, when she had finished quizzing him, spun on his heels and began to hurry back up the gangplank. Coming back aboard his little schooner, the smuggler scurried over to Enki and the others and said, "I beg your pardon, your honors, but that lady down there, she wants to hire you!"

"What do you mean she wants to hire us? Who is she? Why does she want to hire us? What was it you told her down there?" Enki asked frowning suspiciously. "I thought you were working for Lord Springbuck and Rendor."

"SHHhhh! Not so loudly, I beseech you. Someone might overhear!" shuddered the Captain. "I am working for the good Lord of Rendor. That is why I told her exactly what he told me about the four of you: that you were mercenaries who sought employment on the ships of Barabel. She seemed pleased to hear that and said that she had `something interesting in mind for you' and that I should send you down to speak with her. And you had better go quickly! She is called Miranda, and she is one of the seven Captains of Barabel! They rule here as much as anyone can and they tolerate no one who flouts even the least of their whims!"

Glancing toward her companions, Enki surveyed them for their reactions. Wolf and Neun Ja both nodded. Ordolf shook his head. "First, I have a question. Where does she stand among these Captains of Barabel? Is she one of the most powerful or the least? Is she likely to be involved in schemes of import or is she more apt to be docile or perhaps prone to dangerous adventures?"

"Sir, I couldn't tell you exactly, not being privy to goings on between the seven captains, if you take my meaning," replied the Rendorian agent. "But by all appearances is she is one of the most powerful. In the top two or three at least. Perhaps Quarrel or Captain Pike might be her match, but I doubt that any of the others would want to test her mettle. They say she has been around here for over fifteen years and hasn't aged a day. I don't know myself, but she doesn't look a day over seventeen to me."

"Well, let's go and see what she has to say. Lead on, captain. Perhaps her offer might be of interest to us," said the mage airily.

As the smuggler moved off toward the gangway, Ordolf leaned toward Enki and whispered, "Be careful, this Miranda is a necromancer, and although I don't recognize her as she is right now, she is a powerful one, and one who has no qualms about using the darker side of the art. Ordolf shuddered with revulsion. "She is a body-snatcher, a ghoul, call it whatever you like, she steals bodies from others and then murders or enslaves their spirits." One further word of warning, though I don't recognize her, she might well recognize me. I am well known among my colleagues, good and bad. As I said, she has no trepidations about delving into the blacker mysteries of our art, and that may mean she will view me as an enemy."

The quartet of heroes disembarked in the wake of the Rendorian smuggler/spy. As they walked toward Miranda, she caught sight of Ordolf and a wicked gleam came into her eyes. As the adventurers approached, the black mage smiled knowingly and said, "How the mighty have fallen! Ordolf, don't tell me. You have fallen on hard times and now seek employment as a mercenary-for-hire. Are things really so bad for one who has been called the greatest necromancer of our day?!"

Ordolf frowned and replied, "I'd know that tone anywhere. So you are calling yourself Miranda now. When last we saw each other you went by the name of Reese and were a man. I don't believe you could pass as a male now. What are you doing here?"

Miranda chuckled, but her laugh held little mirth as she ignored Ordolf's question. "Perhaps you are here for a different reason than that which I suggested. If I know you at all, and I think I do, you are here for some purpose other than that which you profess. Possibly your arrival has to do with the lich stirring on Seremoreh? Well, no matter, I can keep a better eye on you and you friends if I hire you. Mercenaries for hire, indeed!"

Ordolf looked at his fellow necromancer levelly and replied, "So you know about Iskandar, do you Reese? As a matter of fact my departure does have to do with his revivification. Seremoreh is no longer safe. Trolls are running about, the climate has grown frigid, and it has become a generally unpleasant place to inhabit. And while a few trolls are little more than an inconvenience, I thought I would leave and establish myself in a more hospitable land ere I was forced to flee, for even I fear a demigod."

Miranda snickered maliciously, "I always knew you were a coward, though you pretended otherwise. Not so virtuous anymore are you? Well, if you fear serving a dark god, perhaps you would be willing to take service with me. I like the irony of that. Who are these three that you have brought with you? Bodyguards? Or perhaps these two lovelies are something a bit more delectable than mere bodyguards. Bedwarmers perhaps?" The evil mage licked her lips lasciviously as she leered at Enki and Neun Ja.

Enki's blade flashed out in the blink of an eye, and before anyone could move its tip was at Miranda's throat. "Hardly that," she smiled. "At least not in the way you mean it. I have always preferred impaling others to being impaled and I don't think that that is likely to change in the near future. Now if you have a offer of employment to make to us, either make it or let us find someone who will."

Miranda motioned her bodyguards back. "Well, well, what is this, Ordolf? Your doxy seems to have a bite of her own. Or perhaps I have the relationship wrong and you are her strumpet rather than she yours?"

Ordolf merely smiled as Enki continued to speak for all of them. "Still don't get it, eh, Miranda. None of us serves the other. We are as you were told, mercenaries for hire. Extraordinarily talented ones, I will admit, but that should make us all the more desirable to whoever employs us. Now either make an offer or get out of the way," sneered the young warrior as resheathed her sword.

Miranda dabbed at the drop of blood which welled from here throat where Enki's blade had caressed it. She chuckled and said, "Extraordinary, indeed. And yes, your skills do seem enticing. I think I will let you enter my service. I will pay you whatever you wish within reason," she said as she turned toward her sedan. "Come to my villa and speak with Naroda. She will give you the particulars of what I require from you."

The necromancer took a step toward her waiting conveyance, then turned back and looked Enki in the eye. "Don't ever threaten me again," Miranda said coldly. "Should you ignore my warning, I will make sure that you don't survive to do so again."

Without another word or even a backward glance, Miranda walked over to her chair and stepped inside. With a signal, she ordered her monstrous bearers into motion as her major domo once more closed the curtains. The sound of tinkling laughter could be heard as she and her party moved off.

Raising an eyebrow, Wolf pitched his voice so that no one but he and his comrades could hear, "Well, that was interesting. What shall we do for an encore? Kill the seven captains? Now, do we take her offer or do we turn to someone else?"

Ordolf shook his head and said in the same sort of undertone, "I don't know. Whatever we do, we had better keep it in mind that she knows who I am, she has some idea of what is happening in Seremoreh, she is a black necromancer of great skill, and she is a power here in Barabel. Given all of that, I think we might be wise to tread softly when we are around her. Perhaps for now though, we would be better off if we continued this conversation somewhere a little more private than a dock full of strangers. Why don't we go to an inn or a tavern and ruminate on our options a bit while we get some supper. I have grown a trifle weary of the fare that we were served on the way here. Perhaps we can find something a bit more tasty nearby."

So saying, the archmage started to walk briskly up the pier toward the town itself. The other three from Seremoreh had little choice but to follow him. Ignoring the cacophony of noise amid which they passed, the quartet hurried through the barkers who beseeched them to buy their wares. There was one fellow who was particularly insistent. Usually, the hawkers would give up after two or three rejections from each of the foursome. This particular gadfly seemed determined to get them to engage his services and refused to give up. Scurrying from one of the heroes to another, he was slim almost to the point of skinniness and had the air of a ne'er-do-well about him. Middle-aged, of average height, and with long, lank hair that was darkly-oiled and loosely curled, the huckster offered what seemed to be an endless variety of services. He was the best guide in town. He knew where to find the best girls or boys whatever madam or sir required. He could provide directions to the best hostelry in Barabel. He had trinkets and souvenirs of all descriptions. Whatever was required he could provide it, "just be so kind as to name it, good master."

Despite the fact that each of the adventurers was completely ignoring him, he continued to nip at their heels even after they left the pier and began to walk the city's streets. Apparently the rascal had decided that the quartet from Seremoreh offered him his best opportunity for profit for this day, and he was determined to realize that potential. Finally, growing weary of his incessant patter, Enki whirled on him and lifted the wretch by the collar with her right hand.

"Leave off, you simpleton. Can't you see we are not interested in you or your wares? Do I have to slit your gullet to get you to shut up?!" she said as she drew her dagger in her left hand.

Seeing no response beyond the look of abject terror which washed over the features of the scallywag who she held swaying in the air, Enki prodded him, "Well?! Have you nothing to say for yourself, you ignoramus. You had more than enough to say a moment ago!"

"Y-Y-You t-t-t-told me t-too sh-sh-shut up, mistress! I wouldn't w-want to up-up-upset you!" stammered the erstwhile city guide ignoring the incongruity of his own statement. "I just thought that you might want someone to help you find whatever it is you need here in Barabel. It's a big city and no one knows it like I do. There is no task or service which I can not provide or at least find someone who can. Whatever you need to know I can tell you from where to find the best tavern to how to get to the villa of Miranda!"

Seeing a fleeting glimpse of interest at that last pass over Enki's face, the huckster seized the opportunity with vigor. "Ahhh, I see that that last interests you. Yes, I saw you talking to her. Be careful for she is as hard as granite and meaner than a rabid dog. Don't cross her or she will never rest until she has her revenge. And with as much power as she has, never fear, she will get it. But I can tell you what you need to survive the intrigues of her as well as the rest of the Seven Captains. For the modest price of only one gold piece a day I will be your right hand man for as long as you need my services."

"What!?! A gold piece! Are you mad! I wouldn't pay you more than a silver penny!"

Knowing that he had trapped his quarry, the fellow continued, "Ahhh, but mistress, should you pay someone only silver penny for what they know, why you would get knowledge that was worth exactly what you paid for it. But I am not an unreasonable man, and besides, I like you. So if you would put my feet back on the ground and loosen your grip on my throat so I can start breathing again, I am sure we can come to some sort of mutually satisfactory arrangement."

As Enki lowered the barker back to the ground, Wolf called out from dozens of strides ahead, "If you are through playing with your new-found playmate, Enki, we had better find a tavern before Ordolf explodes."

"There I can be of service, mistress." Enki's newly found hireling interjected. "I know a fine, quiet place where you and your friends can plot to your heart's content it is something of a national pastime here. The food is good, the rates are reasonable, and, although nowhere on the island is completely secure, the booths are as private as anywhere in Barabel. If you would like, I will take you and your colleagues there with no charge attached as a sample of the quality of the services which I can provide for you. It is no more than a five minute walk."

Enki grudgingly nodded her agreement and called to the others, "Alright, this fellow seems to think he has the perfect place in mind. If none of you objects we'll follow.....er, what's your name?"

"Matthias," replied the huckster.

"We'll follow Matthias to the tavern that he recommends. If it turns out to be someplace where we all feel comfortable, perhaps we'll engage his services," the warrior finished.

With a smile that could almost have been mistaken for a smirk, Matthias bowed and said "If you will follow me...," then turned and began striding in the direction which Ordolf had been leading the group before Enki's impromptu hiring interview for the a slim hawker began. Matthias continued to chatter at the quartet of visitors to Barabel. It seemed that he just couldn't keep himself from delivering his sales spiel even when he had already made a bargain. An unending torrent of the possibilities which his services offered spewed forth from Matthias' mouth like flame from the maw of a drake. Most of what their newly found servant offered was outlandish if not impossible, but as Enki listened, she realized that Matthias really was a wealth of information about Barabel and its environs, and if she and her companions could just keep the rascal from robbing them blind, he might prove to be invaluable in their quest.

As it turned out, the inn that had commissioned Matthias to hustle up customers for it was both nearby and surprisingly good. Called Woody's, the place was spacious and served an eclectic mix of food which, through strange, was quite tasty. Matthias made some suggestions to the quartet of heroes as to what to order from the menu, and then, at a glare from Enki, moved off and left the adventurers in private. Sliding into a booth in a dark corner of the inn's common room, they began to discuss their situation.

Enki softly began the conversation. "Its seems that we have a few choices to make, my friends. We have an offer of employment from this Miranda. She is a necromancer who does not seem particularly scrupulous about the magic she employs and is a power here in Barabel. You and she don't seem too fond of one another, Ordolf, but despite that, or perhaps because of it, she hasn't yet determined to slay us. Can you tell us anything more about her or him that might help in our decision? You said that she is a bodystealer and was a man that last time the two of you met. Is there anything else which we should know about this Miranda or Reese or whatever she is called?"

Ordolf nodded. "Reese is an old adversary. He has always had animosity for me, believing I am falsely acknowledged as the greatest of the world's necromancers when in reality it is he who deserves that appellation. We've crossed paths and spells before and as you can see both of us are still alive. He is skilled in magecraft. While I believe that I am his better, we would do well, I deem, to tread carefully around him. I do not doubt that he will kill us should we offer him the opportunity and if he sees it as in his best interest."

Wolf growled, "Anyone who would keep those things in her service is without compunction of any sort. I would be very skeptical about entering any sort of bargain with such, for I do not doubt that a lie comes as easily to the lips of this Miranda/Reese as easily as swimming does to a fish and he/she will attempt to deceive us in whatever pact we may make with her/him. Faagh! I am just going to call it a her, this he/she nonsense is too cumbersome and we all know of whom we speak."

Neun Ja nodded, "Indeed we do, most honorable ranger. We speak of someone whom we know is dangerous, yet who seems to offer us opportunity. The question is: do we need this opportunity? Must we traffic with Miranda to accomplish our task? Or can, perhaps, our newly-met guide over there provide us with the sort of information that we need? And even if that is true, if we scorn this malefactor's offer of employment, what will be the consequences? Will she attempt to do us harm or force us into her service? Should she leave us alone, will our refusal of her proposition cause the other denizens of Barabel to spurn us or worse out of fear of her wrath? Or will it cause her rivals among the seven captains to seek our services for themselves? In any of these situations, will we be able to accomplish our task of at least finding out more about the weapon that lies hidden in this region and if possible locating and acquiring it? The dilemmas which we face are thorny indeed, and will require all of our wisdom to solve, if you will pardon my presumption for speaking so in such illustrious company."

Enki grinned lopsidedly. "You are every bit as illustrious as the rest of us, oh great shadow mage, else you would not be here with us. Seriously though, you do well to caution us and you equally well set out the problems with which we are faced. I doubt that this Miranda person would look with favor on our quest. While she might be interested in the Sword of Might, I rather doubt that she would view our plans for it as the ideal use to which to put so powerful an artifact. She might want it as a weapon or, worse, as a bargaining chip with which she can treat with Iskandar."

"That we can not allow to happen," rumbled Wolf. "Should such a turn of events befall it would be a catastrophe for Seremoreh and, indeed, the rest of Zemelia. Each of us knows why we are here and allowing the Sword or any of the other artifacts fall into the hands of someone like this Miranda would mean complete and utter failure in our mission. Before we accept her offer of employ or any other, I think we should call that Matthias fellow over and see if he knows anything about the weapon which we seek. If he does, his information can guide us further through this thorny maze of choices with which we are faced. If he does not, then we would have little choice other than to serve this foul ghoul or seek out another source of information in Barabel."

Ordolf nodded, "Aye, I think that Wolf has the right of it. Let us exhaust all the resources that we have at hand at present. If Matthias can provide us with further insight as to the location of the weapon we are seeking, let us by all means get him to do so. If he can not, I would not see any wisdom in serving Reese. Should his ire at our refusal of his employ cause him to seek vengeance, why, the other captains of Barabel can be no worse than he and might well be somewhat less noxious. So I say let us spurn his offer and let the chips fall where they may, we can only do better by refusing him than we could succumbing to his temptation."

"Hmmm, well, it certainly will do little harm to see what we can discern from Matthias. Should he prove to know naught of the Sword, we can discuss this further. I am not convinced that we can not outfox this Miranda/Reese should we accept her offer of employ. She might well be the best source of the information that we seek. She does know about Iskandar's awakening and so might know more about the whereabouts of the Sword and perhaps other of the items we seek. If so, we would do well to ferret out that information, and perhaps the only way to do that is to work with Miranda, however odious that prospect might be. First, though, before we walk down a path none of us really wishes to, let us see if it can be avoided. Matthias! Come over here!"

Their new retainer was at their table in an instant as if he had been listening to their conversation. "Yes, ma'am, how may I be of service?" he asked.

"Sit down. We have some questions we would like to ask you," Enki replied.

"Gladly, your worships. But first I really must insist that we come to a mutually agreeable fee for my services. While I think the world of each of you, and that in itself is remarkable on so short an acquaintance, even so enormous an affection my fondness for you can not pay my bills or those of my dependents. Before I go any further in your company, I must press you to commit to a fee for my aid."

Enki sighed. "Alright," she said as she withdrew a something from her purse that shone ruddily in the dim light. "You requested a gold piece for your services when we first met, I will pay you double that."

Matthias sat back as if stunned and wiped his brow. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect such beneficence. A gold piece was his most exorbitant bargaining position. He never, ever received even half so much. He had even worked for the silver penny which this mercenary had first offered him for his assistance. Slowly it began to dawn on him that for such munificent remuneration more might be expected of him than he was prepared to give.

"And for this generous commission, I will be expected to do....what exactly?" the erstwhile guide asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, but what you have already promised," Enki responded as she placed two gold sovereigns on the table top. "Ahh, ahh, ahh," the warrior said as Matthias reached for them. "you will be expected to serve us exclusively for as long as we require your services and you will need to take an oath to reveal nothing that you hear or see or learn in any other manner while you are in our presence to anyone but one of the four of us."

"I promise," the hawker said quickly as he reached for the two gold coins. Before his hand had even come near the money, Enki's dagger was out and between Matthias' palm and the coin.

"So eager! Not just yet. While we do not doubt that you are man of your word," Enki said sardonically, "we would like a little more binding of a pledge than that. My friend Ordolf here is a powerful mage and I think that he might have a more unequivocal means of assuring your loyalty -- say an oath which binds you life as its forfeit should you fail to provide the loyalty which we require of you. Now, if you do not object to that I think you can pick up the coins," Enki finished as she looked over toward Ordolf quizzically.

"Yes, indeed," said the necromancer as he made an arcane gesture with his left hand. Continuing in a stentorian tone that seemed somehow distant and yet filled with power, "Know though that by accepting our coin you pledge your troth to us and should you ever forswear that loyalty your life is forfeit, mine to do with as I choose."

Matthias shuddered realizing that his quarry for a few fast coins of profit had turned out to be something more than he had anticipated. Still, two gold pieces were more than he usually earned in a month and he was to be paid that much every day for as long as these four strangers stayed in Barabel. His greed overcoming his circumspection, the rogue grabbed the lucre and quickly pocketed it.

"I am at your service," he said with a bow as a jolt of electric energy arced through him. "How may I serve your honors?"

Enki looked at him levelly, "Tell us more about Miranda. Where does she stand here in Barabel? Would we do well to serve her or would we be better off to seek employment elsewhere?"

Matthias quailed a bit at the mention of the dark necromancer's name. "As I said before, I suspected you would want to know more about that one. I saw your byplay with her at the pier. That is part of why I sought your employ. Anyone connected with her for good or for ill must be rich or powerful. If they are not now, they soon will be. So, it is not a bad idea to grab on to their wagon and let them take you to riches and power as well."

"Yet, I fear direct involvement with her, for wealth and might don't come without price, and there is potentially great cost when one gets involved with Miranda. She has risen rapidly since her arrival here in Seremoreh. It has been fifteen years and she hasn't aged a day on her face, yet she has risen from refugee to Lord of Barabel. They say her enemies don't live long and when they die, they die strange and terrible deaths. Those who work for behave like lords, but there is none that is well known. They have a strange uniformity, even though they do not look alike, almost like they have no personality of their own. I think you would be wise to choose to avoid that one if you are not her ally and are able, your ladyship, although crossing her would be the worst mistake of your young life. While she is a danger to be involved with, she is a far worse one to anger. If you can avoid her offer do so, if she persists in her attentions, be coy when faced with her suit."

Enki nodded. "What about the others among the seven Captains of Barabel? How do they stand vis-a-vis Miranda. What about captains Pike and Quarrel? I have heard that they are Miranda's match. Is that not the case?"

Matthias shook his head, "Perhaps a month ago that would have been true, but now things are different here in Barabel. Miranda has been rapidly accreting power and wealth to herself. She has recently outfitted six new ships which sailed off on a mission of great import two fivedays ago. Now, none are so puissant as Miranda, not even the two whom you named. Oh, Quarrel might be able to match her ship for ship, and Pike might be have more wealth. But neither of them can match her gold piece for gold piece, ship for ship, and there may be no one in all of Zemelia who can match her spell for spell."

Enki, frowning as she listened to Matthias recount the potency of Miranda, smiled when she heard his appraisal her magical abilities, "Oh, I think there might be a mage or two who can match her spellcasting abilities. You would be surprised at the people such expertise shows up in. Tell me more about this mission Miranda sent her new squadron on: what was its goal? Do you know? If not, can you find out? We have a great deal of interest in anything unusual that has gone on in Barabel in recent fivedays."

Enki continued, "Since you are now in our service, we can, I think, tell you that we are not simple mercenaries. We have come to Barabel for a special reason of our own. While we would like to know what this Miranda is engaged in, more importantly, we seek information about a legendary weapon which is rumored to be somewhere in these isles. Do you know anything about such a thing?"

Matthias replied, "Let me answer your first question first. Miranda's ships did not go on a simple raiding mission. They went neither toward the Spice Coast nor toward the Rendorian Hegemony. They are supposed to have sailed southeast, a direction in which nothing lies for hundreds and hundreds of leagues except desert islands. Rumor has it that Miranda's flotilla sought an artifact of great potency which lay somewhere off in that direction. One thing I am certain of, though, is that there was a troll on board the flagship of Miranda's fleet. I know it was a troll because it had green skin and was even bigger than the mules which Miranda uses to haul her sedan chair around. It looked very uncomfortable in the heat when I first saw it and the monster grew even more agitated when it was around the water. Why such a being was aboard her ship, I do not know. I have never heard of a troll that willingly traversed water, nor do I have any idea why someone would wish to house one among humans. But it was aboard, that much I can tell you."

Matthias looked around at the grim faces of the adventurers who had employed him. "I do not tell you this to upset you. I just seek to give the information you require. As to whether or not I know of a weapon that is secreted hereabouts, well, there is whatever Miranda is seeking and there is an old tale that I have heard since I was a mere child. It tells of a powerful weapon which is guarded by a singular beast known as the Child of Night, which is neither man nor mortal. It is said the Child of Night is immune to magic and that its ferocity is so great that no man can ever slay it. I never heard any version of the tale of the black man in which the nature of the weapon was mentioned, but one variant had the location of the lair on an island known as Dead Key, an isle which is not too far to the northwest of here, certainly no more than a day or two by ship."

The quartet of heroes looked at one another. Wolf spoke, "It would seem that Miranda has heard the same legends that we have. This doesn't bode well for your brother, my wife and the others who sailed for the Isle of Mists. Six ships! Gods, three would be hard enough for them to overcome, but double that number? I fear we may see none of them again. I should never have let her go without me!" the ranger roared as he struck the table top a blow so resounding that the thick plank snapped like a twig.

Subsiding nearly as quickly as it had arisen, Wolf's tempered drained from his face, "Still, there is naught that we can do about it. So now this Miranda is a player in the search for the keys to Iskandar's chains. Faagh! An evil wight that one, should she succeed in acquiring any of the artifacts it will be bad for Zemelia! May the gods forfend, but there is the possibility that she may acquire all, should they defeat our comrades on the Isle of Mists. If her minions are going to the Isle of Mists, and there they slay Jerrod and take the Wand of Torvil, and finally if the blade on the Isle be the true Sword of Might, this Miranda will have two of the keys and we would have none. Should such be the case, we shall have to stay and slay this necromancer and seize the artifacts."

"There is a great deal of time ere we need to borrow that sorrow, my friend," Enki responded. "Though, like you, I fear greatly for the well-being of our loved ones, as you said, there is nothing that we can do about that at present. There may be something which we can do about the other artifact, however. Matthias, you said that one rumor had this weapon and its guardian on Dead Key. Is there any way to get there from here? I'm sure that there is no ferry service, but are their boats for hire, or is their another outpost of humanity between here and there where such are available?"

"As a matter of fact, milady," Matthias said with a smile, "my own brother has a fine little ship which, for a very reasonable price, I'm sure we can charter for such a trip. In fact, he will be back in port tomorrow and we can arrange for his services as soon as he arrives."

"I don't know. Can we trust him? After all there must be others who can do the job and do it now, not tomorrow?" Enki winked surreptitiously at the others from Seremoreh.

"I assure you, your eminence, there is no one else who could do the job so well. Quiet, confidential, my brother is the perfect man for the job," said Matthias quickly. "Perhaps we might find someone this afternoon. But I could not guarantee that they would breath no word about Barabel as to the nature of their commission. We still couldn't leave till tomorrow, even if found another ship at this very moment. Neither the tide nor the wind is right, nor will it be until tomorrow morn and again near tomorrow noon."

"I suppose we'll have to wait until tomorrow then, won't we my friends," Enki said as their food arrived. "for now though I think it is time to eat something a little more interesting than the ship's fare we have just finished living on for the past few days and which we will be forced to ingest over the next few. I hope Matthias' advice about this place -- and all else -- is sound. Else I'd say we'd wasted a lot of time and a lot of effort for very little gain."