Chapter 1

The first arrow struck King Arik in the chest. As the Warrior King fell from his mount, Queen Tanya swiftly erected a physical shield around the royal couple and their mounts. She did so by instinct rather than thought, and that instinct saved her life. Only seconds behind the first assassin's arrow, dozens of other arrows flew towards the royal couple. The arrows came from every direction, and Tanya was vaguely aware of the screams of the citizens of Tagaret as they scrambled to find safety in doorways and alleys.

Chaco defiantly showed his horn. The unicorn reared on his hind legs and hovered over the fallen king protectively, trying to shield Arik from the arrows with his own body. When the arrows bounced off Tanya's protective shield, the unicorn settled on all four legs, but he still placed his body between the king and a tall building on the east side of the street. It was from the roof of that building that most of the arrows were coming from.

With shouted war cries, hundreds of Red Swords raced along the street towards the fallen king. Officers shouted orders and pointed towards the various nests of assassins, and the Red Swords split up to attack the hidden killers. A dozen other warriors also responded to the cries of alarm, but they did not race along the street, nor did they shout their arrival. The Knights of Alcea moved swiftly, but silently. Instead of using the broad avenues of Tagaret, the Knights of Alcea split up and flowed through the narrow alleyways to get behind the assassins.

Jenneva cast a spell and transformed into an eagle. She leaped into the air and soared high over the city of Tagaret. Her first task was to search for any magical component of the attack on the king, but there did not appear to be any active mages among the assassins. She chirped a sigh of relief and set her eagle eyes to scanning the rooftops and windows. She used her telepathic abilities to direct her husband towards the largest concentration of enemy archers.

Alexander Tork nodded to himself as he received Jenneva's instructions. He turned abruptly and dashed into a large building. His legs pumped mechanically as he raced up the steps of the tall building and burst through the door to the roof, a Lanoirian star clutched in each hand. A dozen archers were on the roof, sending arrows of death towards the king and queen. Several of them turned when the door smashed open, and Alex tossed the two stars reflexively. He swiftly grabbed two more stars and threw them as he raced across the roof. Four archers died when the sharp metal discs struck their bodies, but the rest of the group turned their bows towards the threat.

Alex dove towards the archers and rolled into a ball, hoping to close distance with the enemy before they could aim at him. As the Knight of Alcea came out of his roll and leaped to his feet, he spread his arms wide and pushed forward. Two archers screamed as their bodies were pushed over the edge of the roof. Alex drew his two-handed sword as he whirled to his right. He lashed out swiftly and was rewarded with a scream of death as the sword sliced into one of the assassins. There were two more assassins before him, and they were backing away as fast as they could. Mindful of the three archers behind him, Alex moved swiftly and erratically as he pursued the two men in front of him.

An arrow flew by the Knight of Alcea as he caught up to one of the fleeing archers. He ignored the archery threat and swung his sword into the man before him. Another arrow grazed his arm as he struck the man down and pulled his sword free. The screech of an eagle rent the air as Jenneva soared over Alex's head towards the three bowmen shooting at him. He smiled tautly and chased after the last of the fleeing men. The man halted at the edge of the roof with nowhere to go. He dropped his bow and pulled a short sword from its sheath, but it was too little and too late. Alexander's long sword reached out and sliced open the man's stomach. As the assassin gazed down in shock at his wound, Alex thrust his sword at the man's chest. The assassin screamed as he tumbled over the edge of the roof.

Alexander turned swiftly to face his remaining foes. He smiled broadly as he turned and saw what Jenneva was doing. The three assassins had dropped their bows and had their arms raised over their heads to halt the attacks of the eagle. Alex raced across the roof to end their anguish.

Prince Darok raised his mighty dwarven battleaxe and splintered the door to the room. The three archers at the window turned and stared in disbelief as the broad dwarf rumbled through the wreckage towards them. One of the archers had an arrow already nocked, and he tried to bring his bow around to aim at the dwarf. With unbelievable deftness, the Knight of Alcea dropped one hand off his battleaxe and grasped a smaller throwing axe from his belt. With a practiced flip of his wrist, the small throwing axe sailed across the room and imbedded in the man's chest. As the assassin's body crumpled to the floor, Prince Darok grabbed his battleaxe with both hands and raced across the room, his loud, low voice issuing a dwarven battle cry. The two remaining assassins grabbed for their swords, but their cause was hopeless. The large battleaxe cleaved through both bodies before either man could pose a threat.

The sign on the door said closed, but the Knights of Alcea entered the inn anyway. They knew that there were assassins shooting from the upper floors. When Wylan and Sheri entered the common room, they saw the body of the innkeeper stretched out on the floor. The windows were all shuttered, but torches illuminated the room. Unexpectedly, shouts rang out from upstairs and feet pounded across the ceiling.

"Extinguish the torches," ordered Wylan softly.

Sheri nodded knowingly and ran around the room extinguishing the torches. Most people thought Wylan was blind, and in fact, he was at one time, but Zalaharic, the elven healer, had restored the Knight of Alcea's eyesight. Wylan's eyesight was now so keen that he continued to wear the patches of a blind man, but the patches had minute holes in them to lessen the amount of light reaching his sensitive eyes. As Sheri extinguished the last torch, Wylan slid the eye patches away from his eyes.

"They are coming down," Sheri whispered softly. "Where do you want me?"

"Stand at the rear door," instructed Wylan. "Slay anyone who comes near you, for it will not be me."

Sheri nodded silently and made her way carefully across the dark room as footsteps pounded on the stairs.

"It's dark down there!" shouted one of the assassins.

"Are you afraid of the dark?" retorted another unseen voice. "The Red Swords have spotted our location. They will be here any minute. Get a move on."

The frantic rush to flee before the Red Swords arrived caused confusion in the darkness. As the men spilled off the stairway and raced for the front door, Wylan sprang into action. The Knight of Alcea swung his staff with deadly perfection and the confusion turned into chaos. Cries ripped through the dark room as Wylan advanced into the mob of assassins.

"What is going on?" shouted a fearful voice.

The only replies were grunts of pain and surprise as Wylan's staff slashed and poked through the column of flesh. In just moments it was over.

"Are you alright?" Wylan asked softly.

"I am fine," answered Sheri. "You got the bulk of them. Only four tried for the rear door. Go check upstairs while I light a torch and check the bodies down here."

Tedi and Natia paused outside the door on the fourth floor of the guildhall. Natia had four throwing knives in her left hand and one in her right. Tedi held his magical staff and looked questioningly at his wife.

"You sure this is it?" he whispered.

Natia smiled and nodded silently as she positioned herself across the hall from the door. Tedi stepped to one side of the door, and with a last look at Natia, swung his staff at the door. The wooden door shattered in a spray of splinters as the magical staff disintegrated it. The assassins in the room turned in shock and confusion as they saw the gypsy princess standing in the hallway. Their confusion turned quickly to fear as the Knight of Alcea's knives began flying through the air. Five knives scored hits on five assassins, and Natia dashed to her right, away from the opening where the door used to be.

Shouted commands rippled through the room and the remaining assassins gave chase to the young woman. What they had not counted on was her husband and partner. As the first assassin tried to leave the room, Tedi swung his staff hard at the man. The staff smashed right through the man's body, severing it in two. The Knight of Alcea charged through the misty gore with his staff extended before him. The remaining assassins were frozen in the grip of fear, as the Knight of Alcea suddenly appeared where their comrade had been. Tedi rushed into the room and began a dance of death as he held his staff outstretched and pivoted in a circle. Within a few seconds, only body parts remained of the assassins.

Bin-lu and Rut-ki split up as they approached the cobbler's shop. Bin-lu entered the alley behind the shop, while Rut-ki went around to the front. When Rut-ki tried to open the front door, she heard shouts within the shop and then a stampede of footsteps running away. She backed up a pace and kicked the door open just in time to see the last of the assassins run out the back door. She gave chase.

Bin-lu saw the men exit the cobbler shop. They started towards him then changed their minds. They turned around and ran the other way. Bin-lu grabbed two Lanoirian stars from a pouch and ran after them. Throwing on the run, Bin-lu picked off two of the assassins before he caught up to the rear of the pack. He grabbed one of the assassins from behind and twisted his neck, tossing the corpse aside.

"Take your time," Rut-ki said from behind Bin-lu. "This alley is a dead end."

The remaining assassins had disappeared around a bend in the alley and Bin-lu turned to look at his partner.

"How do you know that?" he asked.

"I got lost here one day," shrugged Rut-ki. "We may be facing arrows when we round that bend, though. Do you have any ideas?"

Two Lanoirian stars filled Bin-lu's hands and he shrugged. "We could wait for the Red Swords to catch up," he said with a smile.

"I don't think so," grinned Rut-ki as Lanoirian stars suddenly filled her hands as well. "I choose the left wall."

"Then the right wall is mine," grinned Bin-lu. "Let's do it."

The two Knights of Alcea ran along the alleyway in single file, keeping to the center. When they rounded the bend, the assassins were waiting for them. Bin-lu let fly his stars and veered sharply to the right. Rut-ki duplicated his maneuvers, but veered left. The twang of bowstrings reverberated off the alley walls, but the arrows failed to strike a target as they sailed along the center of the alleyway. The Lanoirian martial artists ran part way up the sidewalls of the alleyway and then flipped back towards the opposite sides. Before the assassins could nock another arrow, the Knights of Alcea were upon them.

The Knights of Alcea's bodies were blurs in motion as they struck out at the assassins with feet and hands. Two assassins pushed away from the melee and tried to run, but Lanoirian stars struck before they could reach the bend in the alleyway.

Two other Knights of Alcea stepped out on a roof a few blocks east of the king. Both Knights immediately strung their bows and nocked arrows.

"What makes you think they will flee this way?" asked Karl Gree.

"There is no other way for them to go," answered Prince Garong. "The gates of the city will be closed, and any armed person going near the Royal Palace will be killed. To the south is the park and the river, and if you look that way, you will see units of the Targa Army already set up there. If they survive long enough to flee, they will have to pass below us."

Karl looked thoughtfully at the elven prince and nodded in agreement. "I will take the south side of the roof," he volunteered.

"Then I shall take the north," agreed Prince Garong. "Try to leave one of them alive if possible, but do not let any of them escape."

Karl nodded and walked to the edge of the roof and waited. He worried a bit about identifying the assassins from regular citizens, but he needn't have. When they came, it was obvious. The assassins raced along the middle of the street with bows in hand, and they constantly looked over their shoulders. Nothing they did could have prepared them for the aerial assault that followed.

Karl Gree was a hunter by trade and an excellent shot with a bow, but even he was amazed at his improvement after spending time with the elves of Elderal. Prince Garong had taught him to fire accurately with a speed he had not believed possible before. When the Knight of Alcea started firing at the fleeing assassins, five of them went down before the others even realized that they were under attack. Shouts of fear and curses split the air as the hunter continued to wreak havoc from above. The assassins tried to separate and go in different directions, but that only increased Karl's challenge slightly. In a matter of seconds, twelve bodies littered the street below Karl Gree. Two of them were alive, and Karl kept a close watch until the Red Swords appeared.

"How did you do?" asked Prince Garong as he joined Karl at the edge of the roof.

"Twelve," answered Karl. "A year ago I would not have believed that possible. I have much to thank you for, Prince Garong."

"You have a natural talent," smiled the elven prince, "but don't get a big head about it. I got fifteen."

Karl laughed and shook his head at the friendly competition he enjoyed with the elf. "Then the drinks are on me," grinned the hunter, "but next time I get the north side."

The atmosphere in the library of the Royal Palace was tense. The Knights of Alcea stood slightly apart from the rest of the people as the king's advisors spoke their minds about the latest assassination attempt.

"I do not see it as something quite so awful," King Arik said with frustration. "The Breastplate of Alcea saved me from the only arrow to get through. I am only a little sore from my fall off Chaco, but that is not a serious price to pay for flushing out over a hundred assassins."

"And what if Tanya's shields had failed?" asked Fredrik. The shock-white-haired Royal Sorcerer was as young as the king, but he was struck by magical lightning in the Battle of Tagaret. While he was not as powerful a mage as the queen, King Arik respected his advice a great deal, and Fredrik used that confidence in him to drive home his point. "Do you have any idea how much energy it took for her to maintain a physical shield over all of you while hundreds of arrows were slamming into it? I doubt that I could have maintained it at all. You really are playing a fool's game if you continue to draw out the assassins."

"He has a point, Arik," admitted the queen. "Each assassination attempt gets stronger and stronger. If they had used mages today in addition to the archers, I would not have been capable of shielding us."

"Non-mages have no concept of the energy it requires for shields," interjected Niki, Fredrik's wife and assistant. "Perhaps Fredrik and I should always accompany you when you go out."

"Even that is not acceptable," scowled Prince Oscar, the king's biological father. "These assassins appear to have a limitless supply of fools who are more than willing to throw their lives away in an attempt to harm you. Today you had all of the Knights of Alcea available to you, but you cannot afford to keep them in Tagaret. They are needed elsewhere if we are to prepare this nation for war."

"He is right," offered General Gregor. "While the Red Swords are the finest soldiers in the world, it was the Knights of Alcea who took the brunt of the battle today. It is too dangerous for you to be out and about in Tagaret without a military escort."

"So I am to remain in hiding in my palace?" growled the king. "That is not acceptable to me. I will not be jailed by fear. Surely, they must be running out of assassins by now."

"Prince Oscar has the right of it," Lord Clava said softly. The soft-spoken lord had raised King Arik as his son after finding him abandoned at sea. He seldom spoke at meetings, but when he did, it was always worth listening to him, and Arik listened intently. "The Zarans have had years to infiltrate our society, and they have used those years wisely. I suspect that their organization is huge, and we will need a lot of resources to rout them all out before the Zaran armies arrive. To do that, you will need the Knights of Alcea out among the people. You know the truth of that as well as I do. Why do you deny it?"

King Arik sighed heavily and gazed at the man he had called father for most of his life. "So you want me held captive as well?" he asked. "I never thought I would hear you say that."

"And you have not heard me say it," smiled Lord Clava. "My suggestion may not be taken well by the rest of your advisors, but I think you and Tanya ought to disappear for a while."

"Disappear?" asked Queen Tanya.

"I like it," smiled Prince Oscar as he slapped Lord Clava on the back. "We too often forget that the king and queen are Knights of Alcea in their own right."

"You mean we should go on the road?" questioned Queen Tanya with a glint of hope in her voice. The queen was not one to enjoy the trappings of royalty, but she agreed with Arik that it was a duty they could not ignore. "Am I hearing you correctly?"

"What of their safety?" asked General Gregor. "We cannot follow a couple of travelers with a battalion of Red Swords."

"Their safety would rest in their anonymity," offered Zack Nolan, Alcea's spymaster. "Each of them is quite adept at defending themselves. If no one knows who they are, they should be able to travel freely."

"But enough people know what they look like," protested the general.

"That can be changed," offered Fredrik. "It would only require a fairly minor spell to maintain a facial illusion. The changes do not need to be drastic at all."

"I concur," agreed the spymaster. "Another illusion will be required for the Sword of Heavens, but you will be able to portray yourself as anyone you want to."

"And I am sure that Lord Clava and Lord Markel will aid me in running the kingdom in your absence," smiled Prince Oscar. "That is, of course, if you trust us to do so."

"Trust you?" chuckled King Arik. "I could not think of anyone as competent as the three of you. I must say that I am warming to the idea. Now only if I could convince my queen to give up the trapping of royalty for a while."

Everyone in the room laughed, as it was no secret that Queen Tanya yearned to be out and traveling the countryside once more.

"Then it is settled," declared Prince Oscar. "I see no reason to continue this meeting. Shall we adjourn?"

The king nodded his agreement, but he caught the eyes of those he wished to stay behind. The rest of the people filed out of the library, and the festive atmosphere died quickly. Five Knights of Alcea remained in the room with the king, queen, and Prince Oscar.

"Does anyone else know about this journey of yours?" the king asked Alexander Tork.

"As of now," answered the Knight of Alcea, "only those present have any idea of what we will attempt, although there was talk of such a journey some time ago."

"I have gone to pains to see that the idea was ridiculed," offered Prince Oscar. "It is not that I distrust the other advisors or Knights of Alcea, but with the Zarans uncanny ability to hear things best kept unheard, I felt it best if no one was aware of the voyage."

"I agree," stated Queen Tanya as she looked at her parents with concern. "Are you sure that you two must be the ones to go?"

"I am positive," answered Alex.

"Your gut sense?" asked Tanya.

"It is more than that," admitted Alex. "For the longest time, I have been having dreams about going to Zara."

Jenneva looked queerly at her husband and it was obvious to all that he had never mentioned the dreams to her. He looked at her shyly and shrugged his shoulders. The queen was quite surprised by the unspoken admission.

"What kind of dreams?" asked Tanya.

"An urging," answered Alex. "It is hard to explain, but I do not think the idea of capturing one of the Zaran ships was my own thought. It feels as if I am being ordered to go."

"Egam?" gasped Jenneva. "Could he in some way still be influencing our lives?"

Jenneva used the name of the Mage that she was most familiar with, as she tutored under him when he was called Egam, but he was also known to other Knights of Alcea as Master Boris Khatama, a traveling merchant. The gods referred to him as Razil, or the Creator, but what he truly was, no one knew. Yet it was accepted by all of the Knights of Alcea that the Mage stood for Light over Darkness, and Good over Evil. He was the opposite and foe of Alutar, the Great Demon, which the Knights were now convinced was also known as Balmak.

"Who knows what an eternal being is capable of," the queen pondered out loud. "The Mage has not been heard of since he was sucked into the planet's core via the Ocean's Sewer, but surely he must exist on some plane."

"Your motivations are secondary to me," interrupted the king. "Even if it was just your gut feel, I understand your need to follow it. Have the rest of you freely agreed to this journey?"

"I am most anxious for the journey to begin," nodded Karl Gree.

"We have," Tedi answered for Natia and himself. "We realize that my staff will be required if we run across any more K'sans. Only it and the Sword of Heavens are capable of killing such creatures."

"Directly," interjected Jenneva. "K'san can be killed without a magical weapon, but it sure would be useful to have one along."

"I agree," stated Queen Tanya. "What else do you need from us?"

"I need three Rangers," answer Alex. "They have particular skills that I think will help us survive the journey."

"Ask and they will be yours," offered the king.

"There is a Ranger by the name of Clint McFarren," Alex said. "He is an expert in charting. The map we have of Zara is a crude thing, and it only shows the waters off the coast. I think we need to map the entire continent."

"Done," nodded Prince Oscar. "I will have him summoned to the king's office as soon as we are done here."

"Another is Shawn Cowen," Alex continued. "I have never met anyone who is more skilled in survival techniques. He can look at a plant or animal and tell you whether it is editable or not, and that may come in handy in a land where we are not welcome."

"And the third?" asked the king.

"I don't know," sighed Alex. "I need an expert in naval warfare. I want the Remora equipped to do battle at sea, and yet not appear to be a warship. A Ranger may not be the best choice."

"I know whom you want," offered Prince Oscar after a moment of thought. "There is a Red Sword by the name of Max Caber. He could make a raft into a warship."

"Have him see me," stated the king. "If he is willing to take on the journey, I will make him a Ranger. What else do you need, Alex?"

"Fairies," answered Alex. "I think six of them should suffice. And I will need to use some unicorns to get everyone to the ship, but I will not be taking any with us."

"That is it?" asked the king. "What about a crew?"

"That is all that I require of you," smiled Alex. "I intend to add others to the voyage, but I will not bother you with the details, nor will you be bothered by their absence from Alcea."

"Fair enough," the king said with finality. "Prince Oscar will also see that you are given ample provisions and a hefty amount of gold to allow for provisioning once you are there. Go swiftly and come back safely."

The meeting broke up and people filed out of the room, but Queen Tanya dallied so that she would have a few private words with her parents before they left. She embraced Alex and Jenneva silently for several long moments before speaking.

"You both had better return from this voyage," she said with a glint of tears in her eyes. "If you don't, I will never forgive you."

Alex and Jenneva smiled tightly and hugged their daughter once more, but neither of them uttered any false promises.

Chapter 2

Three unicorns circled over a hidden valley in the heart of the Boulder Mountains. They spiraled lower, almost lazily, as they waited for the elves below to invite them into the valley.

"There is the welcome," Alexander Tork announced to Jenneva and Karl Gree. "We're going down."

The unicorns descended to a small clearing where two elves stood alongside a dwarf. Smokey immediately jumped to the ground and began wagging his tail.

"Welcome to Glendor," greeted Prince Elgorn as the trio dismounted. "It has been a long time since you have graced us with a visit."

"Too long," grinned Alex as he embraced the fair elven prince, "but Glendor is not known for it fine fishing."

"I never believed those stories about you retiring to a life of fishing," laughed Prince Elgorn as he broke the embrace and hugged Jenneva.

"The stories are true," smiled Jenneva as she returned the elf's hug. "He really is a fine fisherman. May I introduce..."

"Karl Gree?" asked Prince Elgorn as he broke the embrace and faced the Cordonian hunter.

Karl stared at the elf, his face a display of genuine surprise. "How could you possibly know who I am?" he asked.

Prince Elgorn grinned broadly and grasped the hunter's forearms in welcome. "There are precious few humans who are granted the privilege of training with elves," he stated. "Prince Garong of Elderal has told us all about you. Welcome to Glendor."

"I am deeply honored," smiled Karl Gree.

The darker elf and the dwarf approached the new arrivals, and Prince Elgorn turned and introduced them to Karl.

"This is my brother, Prince Rigal," Prince Elgorn declared, "and Prince Tergota of Lanto."

"I am pleased to meet both of you," Karl said solemnly as bowed to the princes.

"It is wonderful to see you here, Prince Tergota," interjected Jenneva. "I take it that all past hostilities are forgotten?"

"Very much so," grinned the dwarf as he embraced Jenneva and Alex. "It only took a trip to another Universe to knock some sense into Rigal and me."

"All of Glendor and Lanto have much to thank you and Alex for," added Prince Rigal as he also welcomed his old friends. "We work very closely with the dwarves now, and it benefits both of our peoples."

"I am so very pleased," smiled Jenneva as she thought back to the daring journey to another Universe taken with the two princes over twenty years earlier. The elves and dwarves had hated each other at the time, but their hatred had been based on false premises and a history that had become distorted.

"What brings you to Glendor?" asked Prince Elgorn.

"I actually came to ask a favor of Prince Rigal," Alexander answered seriously. "I need an elf to join me on a perilous journey."

"There is no shortage of elves in the world who would do whatever you ask," offered Prince Rigal. "Why me?"

Alexander Tork gazed at the three princes before him for several moments before answering. Those who knew Alex understood that he was concerned about what he was going to say.

"I must ask that what I am about to say will not be repeated to anyone not present," Alex said softly.

There was no hesitation from the three princes. Each of them nodded their agreement.

"We are embarking on a journey to a land far away," explained Alex. "It is a land from which armies will flow in an effort to destroy Alcea. I want to learn more about our enemy and do whatever we can to halt the invasion. In this unknown land are humans and elves. I think it is important to have an elf in our party so that we are not seen as just another group of humans trying to manipulate the elves."

"That makes sense," frowned Prince Rigal, "but why Glendor, and why me? You have the allegiance of thousands of elves from Elderal and Sorelderal."

"Both Elderal and Sorelderal were heavily involved in the quest to restore the Sword of Heavens," answered Alex. "The enemy has had spies in Alcea for a fair number of years, and I cannot take the chance that either group might have been infiltrated. Glendor has remained well hidden and is small enough to know every member of the community."

"But why Rigal instead of me?" asked Prince Elgorn. "I am the heir to the throne of Glendor. Did you think that I would not grant your request?"

"Certainly not," replied Alex. "Prince Rigal has journeyed with Jenneva and I before. He will well understand the qualities that we are looking for in an elf, and those qualities are more than mere skill. They also require a certain temperament."

"We also require a darker-skinned elf," interjected Jenneva.

"I can think of several good candidates," offered Prince Rigal. "Certainly Lyron and Gerant would fill your need perfectly. Why do you need a darker-skinned elf?"

"The elves in this far away land are the Dielderal," answered Alex.

"The Dielderal?" snarled Prince Rigal. "Those same creatures that waged war against their brothers and slaughtered unicorns? You really expect to talk with them?"

"I think we must try," Alexander nodded. "While I do not hold much hope for making allies out of the Dielderal, it would be nice to make their alliance with the Zarans more tenuous. If we can succeed at that, we may be able to find a way to drive a wedge between them."

Prince Rigal's face was a dark mask of hatred and his hands curled into fists at his side. During the journey to the other Universe, he had seen what the Dielderal were capable of, and it sickened him to think that elves could be so heartless and cruel. He had been ashamed to share a race with such a despicable people.

"I see why your requirements include a certain temperament," Prince Elgorn said softly. "It will be hard to find an elf in Glendor who does not feel as Prince Rigal does about the Dielderal."

"Yet Prince Rigal once felt the same fury towards dwarves," Jenneva stated. "Hatred by itself is a weakening influence. Do not allow it to cripple you."

Prince Rigal glowered at Jenneva, but his fury subsided as she returned his glare with a comforting smile.

"Perhaps I was wrong to bring my troubles into your home," Alexander sighed. "I apologize."

"No," Prince Elgorn shook his head. "Your reasoning is sound. It is we who are unappreciative of what you are trying to do. We will select an elf to accompany you on the journey."

"Not exactly," Prince Rigal said abruptly.

Everyone looked at the dark prince and waited for the biting words that were sure to follow.

"We will send three dark elves with you on this journey, Alexander Tork," the dark prince declared.

"Three?" frowned Alex. "Why three?"

"Because only one elf will do nothing to make the Dielderal believe that they are truly speaking for elves," explained Prince Rigal. "They will assume that you have groomed a misfit as a puppet to speak words you want heard. It must be at least three, or they will not be heard."

"I had not thought of that," nodded Alex, "but your reasoning makes sense."

"Then who besides Lyron and Gerant?" asked Prince Elgorn.

"Me," declared Prince Rigal. "If someone from Glendor must confront our evil brothers, then it should be someone who speaks with authority. I will be one of the three elves to go to this far away land."

Alex's mouth opened to argue, but the dwarf's laughter caused him to stop.

"I don't suppose there is room in your party for a wee dwarf, is there?" asked Prince Tergota. "I so much enjoyed my last journey with Prince Rigal."

"We do not know of any dwarves in Zara," Jenneva shook her head. "If there are no dwarves in that land, you would immediately be attacked as a spy. I do not think it would be wise."

"I agree," stated Alex. "That is the very reason we seek dark elves for the trip. We are going to have to blend in to survive."

"If we are to join you now," Prince Rigal said, "I will need to get the others ready for the trip."

Alexander stared at the dark elf for several long moments before speaking. "You will have time to prepare," he said, finally accepting the dark prince and his companions as members of the team. "I will send unicorns in a few days to pick you up. Plan on a journey of at least a year."

"And do not feel obligated to join us, Prince Rigal," Jenneva added. "This journey is fraught with danger. There is more than a fair chance that none of us will ever return. We did not plan on taking an elven prince with us. Your king and queen might object strongly to your participation."

"That is a matter for King Gondoral to decide," stated Prince Elgorn. "Send three unicorns, and they will be mounted with dark elves."

Kalamaar was the second largest city in the province of Cordonia and one of the largest seaports in the known world. By the time the three riders passed through the city gates, the sun had set and the stars had come out to shine. Dark as it was, the fairy found the riders without a problem.

"I have located him," chirped Bitsy, "but he is not alone. His mate is with him."

"I did not know that Captain Gomery was married," commented Jenneva.

"Not that kind of mate," frowned the little blue woman. "I mean his second in command."

"Chanz?" asked Alexander Tork.

"That is the one," nodded the fairy. "They are in the common room of an inn."

Alex frowned heavily. The message that he had passed through Prince Oscar had requested a private meeting with the captain.

"Should I whisper in the captain's ear?" asked Bitsy.

Alex thought for a few moments and then shook his head. "No," he replied, "but we will change our plans a mite. Jenneva, I will want a magical warding around the captain and me so that others cannot overhear our conversation. Karl, you will enter a few moments after Jenneva and me. Find a place in the common room where you can observe both the doorways and us. If you see anyone paying too much attention to our conversation, signal either Jenneva or me."

"Do I include Chanz inside the warding?" asked Jenneva.

"You might as well," replied Alex. "I suspect our captain knows why we requested the meeting, and I think he has invited Chanz to join us. We will know soon enough."

Bitsy led the way to the inn and the three travelers dismounted. Alex and Jenneva entered the common room and sat across from Gomery and Chanz. A few minutes later, Karl Gree entered and sat inconspicuously where he could watch the entire room. Before either of the Cordonians could speak a greeting, Alex held up his hand for silence and waited for a nod from Jenneva.

"I had requested a private meeting," Alex said softly.

"Chanz is no talker," replied Captain Gomery. "He's sailed with me for years, and his trap has never spilled the beans. Besides, I will need someone I can trust to watch the men."

"Watch the men?" frowned Alex. "If you are talking about the brothers, I have complete confidence in them."

"I wasn't talking about them," Gomery replied. "I was talking about the others that we will need to recruit."

"I am doing the recruiting," Alex replied sternly, "and I have faith in every one of them."

"You have more crew than the brothers?" asked the captain.

"Not crew," Alex shook his head. "They are team members, but they can share the labors of the voyage as well."

"I'm begging your pardon," Captain Gomery shook his head, "but your black-clad friends or whatnot are not sailors. They may be fine chaps and willing to lend a hand, but that is not going to get you to where we are going."

Alexander appreciated the way that Captain Gomery was not mentioning names or places. He already had a fairly high opinion of the man from the previous journey they had shared, and that feeling was rising steadily.

"My men managed just fine getting the ship to where it is now," Alex retorted.

"I can easily believe that," smiled the captain, "but where you are going is not exactly the same type of voyage. You will need men accustomed to sailing in horrendous weather, and they will have to do so night and day for months. There will be no time for any of them to ask me what I mean when I issue an order. Even such a small delay at the wrong time can end our voyage in disaster."

Alex fell silent for a few moments as he considered the words of the captain. It was true that most of the warriors chosen for the journey had very little knowledge of the sea or sailing ships. Certainly the elves did not, and he was taking only three Rangers, not the dozen he had the last time. It was also true that the short voyage to Atar's Cove had been across a placid sea.

"I am not trying to demean your men," Captain Gomery continued. "They have far more skill in many areas than I could ever hope to have, but sailing has not been their life for the last twenty years. If you want to be assured of reaching your destination, you need sailors."

"How many sailors do I need?" asked Alex.

"Counting the brothers, Chanz, and myself," answered the captain, "you need six more."

"Six?" echoed Alex. "I am already two above what I had planned, and that does not include Chanz. That will cause me significant problems with space."

"Be that as it may," shrugged the captain, "I am being honest with you. This is not a short pleasure cruise that you have planned. It is a major undertaking into new and dangerous waters. Your crew will be taxed beyond belief."

"Plus there is a strong possibility of hostile action," added Chanz. "Your warriors may be needed to fight while we are sailing the ship. I had hoped to talk to you about possibly making some renovations to the ship before we set sail."

Alex turned his gaze to the first mate and suddenly he smiled.

"I was in error about not inviting you to this meeting," he said to Chanz, "but I thought you would be gainfully employed."

"I was," grinned Chanz, "but when Captain Gomery retired, I knew something was up. I told the new captain that I needed time in my private life. I quit the job, and the new captain said I would be welcomed back when I wanted."

"I am glad to have you," smiled Alex, "and I will make the journey worth your while."

"You know that it isn't gold that we are after," Chanz smiled in return. "Alcea is our home and the home of all of our friends and relatives. The captain and I might not have the fighting skills of your men, but we are willing to use what skills we do have and put our lives on the line the same as you."

"Spoken like a true Alcean," smiled Jenneva. "What about the other six men?"

"I have the six in mind," answered Captain Gomery. "I've not said a peep about the journey to them, but I know the lads well enough to know that they would want to come along."

"Then perhaps we should meet them," Alex said with a short sigh of resignation.

"It will take a while to set it up," replied Captain Gomery. "I have their sailing schedules and will contact them as they come into port."

"They are not in Kalamaar?" asked Alex.

"Heavens no," replied the captain. "Good sailors don't sit around waiting for a ship. Well, at least not more than a day or two."

"When will they be here?" asked Jenneva.

"The first will arrive within a week," answered the captain. "The last in about three weeks."

"That won't do," Alex shook his head. "We are leaving in three days, and that is not negotiable. The ship is already being renovated as Chanz suggested, and the supplies are being loaded. I have people from all over Alcea arriving by the day."

"Then we will have to take whatever Kalamaar has to offer," frowned Captain Gomery. "I know there are some fit sailors in port. I will choose the best that I can find."

"Then do so," Alex said. "Do not mention where they are going or how long the journey is. Engage their services for a one year period and offer as much pay as required to get the men you need."

"And try to choose men without families," interjected Jenneva. "I do not like the idea of dragging men off to their deaths without them knowing the dangers involved."

"I agree," nodded Alex. "Make sure that you emphasize the danger element of the journey."

"Once they hear who they will be sailing with," grinned Chanz, "they will know the danger is sure to come calling."

"They are not to know," Alex replied strongly. "In fact, from this point forward, you will know us as Mikal and Yolinda Obanik. No one is to know that I am not in Alcea."

"Understood," Captain Gomery replied quickly. "We can stress the danger inherent in the voyage without divulging anything that might compromise the mission. I just hope that we can find six good men in time."

"If not," replied Alexander, "we will make do with what you have. Two nights hence, gather your men on the beach about a league east of the city wall. I will send unicorns to convey you and your men to the ship."

"We'll be ready," promised the captain.

Alex and Jenneva rose and left the inn. They waited silently out back until Karl arrived and then they mounted their unicorns and rode out of town. Once clear of the city, the unicorns took flight and headed across the night sky to Atar's Cove.

The island of Atar's Cove held the home of Alex and Jenneva, but the building was magically disguised as a mountain. The island boasted a small horseshoe-shaped bay that was not visible to passing ships. Anchored in that bay was the Remora, a stolen Zaran ship that would be used for the voyage to Zara. Camped along the beach of the bay were the three Rangers, Tedi, Natia, and the three surviving brothers who were sailors on the secret voyage to the Mountain of Death.

Alex, Jenneva, and Karl landed on the far side of the mountain, unobserved by those on the beach. Smokey leaped off Kaz's back as soon as they had landed. He dashed into the bushes and returned with a well-chewed bone. He curled up near where the unicorns usually stayed and prepared for a restful night.

"I guess he is glad to be home," chuckled Alex.

"So am I," commented Jenneva as she cast a spell to reveal an entrance into their home. "I think I will put some tea on."

"Let Karl do that," suggested Alex. "I want to talk to you for a bit."

"It will be my pleasure," Karl said happily. "Sit and relax and I will bring the tea out when it is ready."

Karl headed through the doorway, and Jenneva looked questioningly at her husband.

"I have planned this trip poorly," Alex said softly to Jenneva.

"Why do you say that?" asked Jenneva. "I think it is all coming together quite nicely."

"Captain Gomery was quite right about the need for professional sailors," Alex replied. "I should have foreseen that need. Prince Rigal was also right about bringing more than one elf, but all of this has added another nine bodies to an already overly laden ship. We will need to send for more supplies now."

"So we send for more supplies," frowned Jenneva. "That is hardly a problem. What is really bothering you?"

"The unicorns," Alex answered after a moment of hesitation. "We cannot possibly take them now. It was tight before with only thirteen people, but with twenty-two it is impossible."

"Leaving them might be the right decision in any event," shrugged Jenneva. "A horse is not meant to stand upon the deck of a ship for months on end. They need to run about and exercise to remain healthy. You said you had dreams about going to Zara. Were there unicorns in those dreams?"

Alex raised an eyebrow at Jenneva and then he closed his eyes in thought. After several long moments, he opened his eyes and shook his head.

"No," he answered. "I can remember vague shapes of men on deck doing what sailors do, but I cannot remember ever seeing a horse or a unicorn in the dreams, but they are just dreams, Jenneva."

"Are they?" she asked quizzically. "We've been married for a long time, Alexander Tork, and I don't ever remember you mentioning a dream before."

"I usually don't dream," Alex admitted, "but that is still not the way I make decisions. I will not let a dream dictate how I fight my battles."

"Nor should you," smiled Jenneva. "You already have enough reasons to leave the unicorns behind without the dreams. Send Kaz and Yorra to Monoceros so they can enjoy their children. Maybe they will even look after Smokey while we are gone."

"That is a good idea," nodded Alex. "Smokey will love romping with hundreds of unicorns, and it will give Kaz and Yorra time to get reacquainted with their people. I have often felt bad about tearing them away from the other unicorns."

"You did no such thing," chuckled Jenneva. "Kaz and Yorra chose to be with us, and they will return here when we do, but in the meantime it would be good for them to reestablish ties with their families."

"Then it is settled," Alexander sighed with relief. "I think I will go down to the bay and see how the renovations are getting along."

Chapter 3

The Remora was a cargo ship, not a troop transport, and its accommodations below deck were sparse. Other than three cabins and a small galley, the rest of the ship was dedicated to cargo space. Mikal and Yolinda had declined the larger Captain's Quarters, but they did occupy one of the smaller cabins. Tedi and Natia had been given the other small cabin. Other than the Captain, the rest of the people slept on deck.

Mikal had ordered a departure in the dark of night, and Captain Gomery set a course that would take them well north of the Isles of the Sea as he was not familiar with the depths that they would encounter. As the sun began to creep into the sky the following morning, Mikal sat up and stretched with a loud yawn as he got dressed.

"Why don't you wake up the whole ship?" Yolinda teased.

"Everyone was pretty worn out by the time we departed," Mikal replied seriously, "and I do not expect that sleeping on deck was very restful for them. I am going up to see where we are."

"We are at sea," laughed Yolinda, "and I expect we will be for many a day. Go on up. I will bring a cup of tea with me when I come up."

Mikal smiled at his wife and squeezed out the door. The companionway was narrow and short, and Mikal mounted the short flight of steps and stepped onto the deck to see the sun rising over the stern. Captain Gomery was at the helm, and Mikal wondered if he had gotten any sleep.

"Good morning, Mikal," the captain said cheerily as he saw the Knight of Alcea arrive on deck. "I trust the cabin was to your liking?"

"Cramped but adequate," Mikal replied. "Have you been to yours?"

"Only to stow my belongings last night," the captain answered. "I don't care much for navigating around uncharted islands at night, and I could hardly shove that duty off on Chanz. I'll catch a few winks later on."

Mikal reached the helm and turned to survey the deck. With the exception of five crewmen sleeping amidships, everyone else was awake.

"It's the excitement of the first day at sea," the captain explained as if sensing Mikal's thoughts. "The crew are used to grabbing sleep whenever they can, and your people will fall into a pattern soon enough."

"I suppose you are right," shrugged Mikal. "Where are we?"

"If you look over the stern," answered Captain Gomery, "you can just see the high points of the Isles of the Sea. That is where my charts end. Your chart shows a sailing route well to our south, and I will be turning in that direction soon. I could have turned earlier, but we have quite a favorable current right now. I wanted to get the most out of it before heading south."

"If the current is good," asked Mikal, "why not stay in it?"

"Look forward," suggested the captain. "You can barely see them, but there are nubs sticking up on the horizon. I plan to go south of those islands because the chart you have shows deep water there. I don't want to take a chance of hitting a reef on the first day out."

"You are the captain," smiled Mikal. "Set whatever course you feel comfortable with as long as it gets us to Zara." After a long pause of silence, Mikal continued, "I apologize for not having time to speak with you earlier, but we were all rushing to leave on time. Tell me about the sailors you recruited."

"They are a fair lot," shrugged the captain. "Each has at least six years of sailing experience. Warren, he's the only one awake right now, has sailed with me before. He's a capable lad, which is why I teamed him up with the three brothers. The others are Keltin, Barakis, Feldskar, Tyroma, and Loman. I will introduce you to each of them later, so they know enough to heed your instructions if need be. Tyroma and Loman are a little rough around the edges. They have reputations for drinking too much and fighting over nothing. I wouldn't have hired them if I had the choice, but they know the ropes, and they will perform well if I keep their attention."

"I have had soldiers like them under me from time to time," Mikal nodded knowingly. "I will keep an eye on them and offer them some helpful hints if I see them get out of line."

"Helpful hints is it?" laughed the captain. "I might be inclined to pay a few coins to see that show. If they had any idea who they are really sailing with, I bet they would give up drink entirely."

"I don't begrudge a man his drink," replied Mikal, "but it should never interfere with his duties."

"Aye," the captain nodded in agreement. "Barakis and Keltin sailed mostly out of Lanoirian ports, but their letters speak highly of their skills, and they will have no need of knowledge of Cordonian waters where we are going. Feldskar claims to be from Kantor, but neither Chanz nor I have ever run into him before. Still, I tested his knowledge of ropes and sails and he knows his trade."

"Is it odd that you would not have run into him?" asked Mikal.

Captain Gomery hesitated for a moment and then said, "It is a wee bit odd as you usually run into just about everybody who sails in Cordonian waters at one time or another. There are only so many taverns to hang out in when your ship's in port, but it is possible that we were never in the same port at the same time. As long as he does what he needs to do, I will have no complaint about him."

The two men fell silent and then Yolinda arrived on deck with a cup of tea for Mikal and another for herself.

"You two might want to hold onto that tea," warned the captain. "It's time for us to make our turn."

Mikal and Yolinda moved towards the rail and the captain bellowed out orders. Chanz, Cirris, Alando, Ecaro, and Warren responded immediately and the Remora heeled to starboard as the sails were adjusted, and the bow began to swing southward. As the ship heeled even further, a yelp split the air. Everyone had heard the noise, but they all looked around in confusion. Mikal handed his cup of tea to Yolinda and moved forward to the center cargo hold.

As the Remora settled back to level, Chanz appeared at Mikal's side. He slid the latches on the hold and raised the cover. Mikal leaned over the edge and lowered himself into the hold. Everyone was watching to see what was going on when a dog was tossed onto the deck. Mikal climbed out of the hold and glared at Smokey.

"Stowaway!" he said accusingly with a stern face.

The dog whimpered and lowered his snout to the deck. Mikal tried to maintain his stern composure, but everyone else started laughing. Finally, Mikal started laughing as well, and Smokey's tail started wagging.

"I should throw you back into the sea that I found you in," threatened Mikal, but Smokey knew the worst was over. He nuzzled Mikal's leg as Chanz secured the hatch.

"That's loyalty for you," commented Max Caber, the new Ranger. "He must love you very much."

"I suppose," chuckled Mikal as he roughly petted the dog's head. "Show me what you have developed for us, Max."

The Ranger's face brightened as he waved Mikal forward. Mikal proceeded to the bow with Smokey on his heels. The Ranger pulled a tarp away from the bow rail and Mikal whistled in appreciation. Fastened to the deck was a contraption that resembled a giant crossbow, but it was designed to hold three quarrels instead of one.

"We can fire one quarrel at a time or all three at once," explained Max Caber. "They are designed to get sufficient elevation to reach a thousand paces. We had to modify the deck a bit to keep the original profile of the ship, but the enemy will never know they are here until it is too late."

"If Captain Gomery can maneuver us in time to use them," Mikal commented as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"I wouldn't leave that much to chance," smiled Max. "There are six of these beauties on deck. There are three on each side of the ship, two forward, two aft, and two amidships."

"I am impressed," Mikal said with genuine appreciation.

"There is more," smiled Max. "If you check the rails, you will find that we installed holders every ten paces. The holders are meant to secure jars of fire glue that we can use in heavy seas without igniting our own deck. There is a quiver of arrows attached next to each jar holder so no archer will run out when the fighting gets tense."

"You have prepared for war," smiled Mikal.

"That was my task," replied Max. "I have always wanted to create such a weapon platform, but there has been little need for one and no funds to try it out. I am really grateful for this opportunity. We also modified the bow of the ship. There is a fine steel edge painted to match the hull. If we have to ram another ship, we will come out of the collision in much better shape than the other guy."

"Excellent," said Mikal. "You have earned your keep already. Now you can relax for a few weeks."

"Hardly," chuckled Max. "I have waited too long to have fun like this. Now I want the chance to try them out. There are also a few other things that we are still working on. I'll let you know when we have something more to show you."

Mikal patted the Ranger as he smiled and walked away.

"Quite a warship, eh?" remarked Shawn Cowen.

Mikal stopped where the other two Rangers were leaning against the rail.

"Very impressive," agreed Mikal. "Though I truly hope we never need to use them."

"The same can be said for the myric quills we brought on board," replied Shawn. "We had a devil of a time getting a sufficient quantity for a trip into the unknown, but we managed to procure several hundred of them. You wouldn't be planning on wiping out the entire island that we are going to, would you?"

"It's more than an island," commented Clint McFarren, the Ranger charting expert. "From the chart I have seen, I estimate it to be as large as Alcea."

"How sure of that are you?" asked Mikal.

"Not very," admitted Clint, "but it's a fair guess. The chart you gave me is rather crude, and it lacks features of the land, but the rivers indicate a large landmass. I doubt that the chart maker would waste his time plotting small creeks, and large rivers just don't happen to occur real close to one another without merging. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume a fair distance between rivers. If you take that for granted, the landmass is large."

Talk of Zara proved tempting for those within earshot, and Max and the elves soon joined the conversation.

"How wide would that make the entrance to the Sea of Tears?" asked Mikal.

"Ah, the Needle," nodded Clint. "I estimate that to be between twenty and thirty leagues wide. A fairly wide channel by anyone's estimate."

"Unless you wanted to enter unseen," commented Mikal. "With the Needle being between the Cliffs of Ranool and Suicide Point, I suspect it might be impossible. If you read the chart as I do, it indicates that both of those places are promontories overlooking the Needle. Do you have an estimate of how high they might be?"

"There is nothing on the chart to indicate their height," Clint shook his head. "Cliffs could be anything from a couple of paces high to a thousand paces high. We will just have to wait to see."

"Why go through the Needle at all?" asked Prince Rigal. "With a landmass as big as all of Alcea, we could disembark anywhere."

"That is true," admitted Mikal, "but we don't know if the whole continent is hostile. One of the four cities on the coast of the Sea of Tears is named Giza. At least one of the assassins sent to Alcea was from there. I figured that would be a good place to start our snooping."

"Snooping?" asked Shawn. "What exactly is out mission, Colonel?"

Mikal frowned and glowered at the Ranger. "Mikal is how I will be addressed," he said softly.

"I apologize," blushed the Ranger. "Old habits die hard, but I have been trained to know better. It will not happen again."

Mikal's face softened, and he nodded understandingly. "We have several objectives," he explained. "Prince Rigal will lead the elves in a search for the Dielderal. We need to know how strong a faction they are and whether or not there is any leverage for causing dissent, either within the elves, or between the elves and the humans."

"So you plan to do to the Zarans what they tried to do the Alceans by attacking Hega?" asked Lyron.

"That is one possibility," Mikal nodded. "I truly do not know exactly what we can accomplish just yet. Our primary goal is to gain information that will help Alcea win the upcoming war. We will have to remain flexible until we know more about our enemy."

"What about us?" asked Shawn.

"The Rangers will be tasked with mapping the continent," answered Mikal. "Clint is to draw up maps as detailed as possible of all of Zara. I think the fairies could be very helpful in this area. They have the ability to travel swiftly and remain unseen. They also have the ability to project images of what they have seen."

"That will be quite a boon in creating the detail," brightened Clint. "With six fairies I could just sit down and draw."

"Life will not be that simple," chuckled Mikal. "The fairies are also our only means of communicating with each other. I want all groups to know what the others are doing. We may seem like a large group on this ship, but once we hit land it will be quite different. Each group will need the knowledge that the other groups have obtained."

"And what will you be doing, Mikal?" asked Prince Rigal.

"My group will be entering the cities of Zara," answered Mikal. "I want to get a feel for the political climate of Zara as well as their military might. If we can find those who are driving the invasion, perhaps we can decapitate their leadership." Mikal paused as he looked at the group surrounding him. He knew that he had a wealth of talent with him, and it made him smile. "Other than that, I am open to suggestions. This is likely the only chance Alcea will have at seeing who our enemy is before they strike, so if you have any thoughts at all about how we should proceed, don't keep them to yourself."

The Remora was three nights out of Atar's Cove when the storm hit. Even though the night was as black as it could be, the sailors knew what was coming. First came a subtle shift in the winds and then high wispy clouds started to obscure the stars. The waves started increasing in height and frequency, and thicker clouds erased the moon and stars completely. Chanz was at the helm, and he sent a sailor to awaken the captain. Captain Gomery promptly appeared on deck and stood next to the mate, but did not take the helm.

"It's going to be a wild one for sure," Captain Gomery said under his breath.

"Badder than some," commented Chanz, "but we've been through worse. The waves are changing quickly now. I figure we have less than hour before it starts."

"Aye," Captain Gomery agreed thoughtfully. "You've learned your lessons well, Chanz. I'll take the helm for a spell while you get us to full crew, but then come back and relieve me. I want to be fresh when it starts."

"Aye, Captain," the mate responded as he turned over the helm to the captain.

Captain Gomery held the wheel lightly, getting a feel for the wave action rocking the ship. He turned his face into the wind and inhaled deeply, feeling the rising moisture in the air. He heard Chanz near the bow shouting commands and waking up the crewmembers that had been sleeping. Chanz also woke those sleeping on the deck and sent them aft so that the sailors had room to work.

"I think we were in the way up there," commented Gerant as the passengers gathered at the stern. "Do you think it will be a bad storm?"

"Bad enough," remarked Max Caber. "There will be waves washing over the deck before too long."

Captain Gomery cracked a tight smile as he listened. As Chanz returned and took the helm, the captain joined the passengers.

"There will be no sleeping on deck tonight," he announced. "My cabin is open to all of you who can fit, and the rest can grab a spot on the floor of the companionway. It's going to be a rough ride for a bit, so you might want to cushion yourselves with whatever you can find."

"If it's all the same to you, Captain," Max replied, "I'd just as soon remain on deck. I know enough to help out if things start going poorly."

Max was a solid, crusty-looking man with a full brown beard sporting just a touch of gray. The captain looked at him in silence for a moment, as if measuring his worth, and eventually nodded.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Captain Gomery said, "but if it does, your hands will be welcome indeed."

"I have sailed a bit myself," offered Clint McFarren. "I am no professional sailor, but I know the terms, and I understand how to take orders."

Clint was quite the opposite of Max. He was blond, lean, and orderly, but there was strength and discipline evident in the way he held himself. The captain nodded his agreement in silence.

The third Ranger was short, dark, and black-haired. While he was a more-than-capable fighter, his expertise was in wilderness survival, and he knew little of ships and sailing.

"I think all of us are available should you need us, Captain," declared Shawn, "but I would probably be in the way unless you have something specific for me to do."

"I am sure the captain knows that," interjected Karl Gree. "It is probably best if you and I joined the elves below and leave what is coming to those who know how to handle it. Captain Gomery will certainly shout if he needs more help."

"Well said," agreed the captain. "Not every man is a sailor, and there is no shame in keeping dry. If we need more hands, rest assured you will be dragged out into the rain."

As if on command, a downpour started pelting the deck. Prince Rigal led the elves in a dash for the hatchway, and Karl and Shawn closely followed them. The captain turned out of the rain and looked at the two Rangers.

"Have either of you ever manned the helm?" he asked.

"I have," answered Max, "but I am not a seaman. I can hold a steady course, and I can bow into the waves, but I wouldn't think of matching my skills with your mate."

"An honest answer," smiled the captain. "I might take you up on your help if the storm lasts for a long time. There is a certain strain to manning the helm in a storm, and Chanz has been at it for hours already. Mind you, I will avoid calling on you unless I have to. Do not take it as a slight."

"No offense will be taken, Captain," Max replied. "This is your ship and you are best equipped to get us through whatever perils come."

"Good," the captain nodded in satisfaction. "With that said, why don't the two of you get out of the rain. If you are needed up here, I would prefer for you to be fresh and dry."

"We'll stay close to the hatchway," nodded Max. "Shout and we will be here."

Max and Clint retreated to the hatchway and settled on the stairs where they could watch the helm. Captain Gomery walked the length of the ship giving instructions and words of encouragement to the sailors before returning and taking the helm from Chanz. By that time, the rain had become steady and the winds had increased significantly. Sheets of rain raced over the ship, and it became impossible to see the bow at times. The waves had increased to the point where the ship was doing almost as much vertical travel as horizontal, and the storm had yet to hit with its full fury.

"It might get a wee bit worse than we anticipated," Captain Gomery said to Chanz. "Have each of the men secure lifelines and then shorten the sails.

Captain Gomery had been in a fair number of storms on the Targa Sea, and he was familiar with the rotation of winds around a major storm. He checked his course as Chanz disappeared into the gloom and then tried to visualize how the winds would affect his course as the storm passed by. The last thing he needed was to become lost in an unknown sea, but he knew that the storm would have its way with the ship to some degree.

"Short sails," Chanz announced as he appeared out of the gloom of the wind-driven rain. "I ordered the forward sails lowered completely if the wind gets strong enough to endanger them."

"Well done," nodded the captain. "It looks as if we are heading directly into the eye, and this chart is not accurate enough to chance a change in course. We are in for a rougher ride than I would have cared for."

Chanz nodded with resignation. He knew that the captain's decision was a rough one to make, but they had already passed small islands that had not appeared on the simplistic Zaran chart. He made his way into the wind to the port rail and untied two lifelines. He tied one around his waist and dragged the other to the helm. Without comment, he tied the second lifeline around the captain's waist.

The wind whipped across the ship with a fierce intensity, and waves started crashing over the bow. The Remora crashed into towering waves and then felt almost motionless before crashing downward, only to smash into the next wave and begin the cycle anew. The ship creaked loudly, the timbers protesting the savage fury of the storm. As the hours dragged by, the waves grew higher and higher and the wind screamed to an ear-numbing roar.

"Strike the sails," ordered the captain. "Bring the mizzen to a quarter."

"We'll flounder," warned the mate.

"Aye," nodded the captain, "but we'll have masts intact if we get through this. The winds will be astern shortly. She's sucking us into the eye."

Chanz let go of the helm and was instantly tossed forward by the wind. He managed to grab onto the starboard rail and steady himself before inching forward to give the order to lower the sails. The captain watched his mate being blown forward and shook his head, sending sprays of salty water flying from his hair. It was doubtful that Chanz would be able to fight the winds to make it back to adjust the mizzen.

"Max!" shouted Captain Gomery. "Secure a lifeline and shorten the mizzen."

The Ranger had been watching the growing fury of the storm, and he was prepared to move when the captain called. He leaped out of the hatchway and dashed to the rail. The wind-driven rain pelted his skin like bee stings, and the force of the wind drew his skin taut and tore at his clothing. Wrapping his legs around a stanchion, Max tied the free end of a lifeline around his waist. Pulling hand-over-hand along the rail, the Ranger made his way to the stern of the ship. Hanging onto the rail with one hand, Max Caber inhaled deeply as he concentrated on the mizzenmast. When he felt confidant that the wind would take him where he wanted to go, Max let go of the rail.

The wind threw the Ranger forward, and Max reached out and snared the mast as his body threatened to continue onward. With considerable effort, Max wrapped his arms around the mast and pulled his body in close to it. He sighed with relief as he felt his feet hit the deck of the ship. Wrapping his legs around the mast, the Ranger quickly shortened the sheet as the captain had ordered. That was when the shouts ripped through the air.

"Man Overboard!" came the cry from multiple voices.