Read Online Crossroads 04 - The Dragon Isles by Stephen D (v1.1) Sullivan - Free Book Online

stood and peered over the forward
rails. Karista, Bok, and Ula went to the bow as well.
                 Mik
shouted up to Trip. “Where away?”
                 “Five degrees to port!”
                 “But
that’s not the course you’ve charted, captain,” Karista called.
                 “We’re
on the course laid out by the stars,” Mik replied, testily.
                 “Will
you believe an ancient prophecy, or the eyes of your lookout?” Ula asked. Mik
shot her an angry glance, and she chuckled.
                 “The
elf is right, captain,” Karista said. “If we can see the isles, we should steer
straight for them.”
                 “You’re
sure about the heading, Trip?”
                 “Positive, captain!”
                 “All
right,” Mik said. “I trust Trip’s eyes more than I do writing on an old piece
of paper. I’ll set our course by his sighting.”
                 He
brought the helm around, and soon those on deck saw the tips of blue-green
islands jutting out of the pale mist on the horizon. The Dragon Isles glittered
like gems amid a turquoise sea.
                 The
crew laughed and congratulated themselves. Trip continued to jump up and down
excitedly atop the mast. Karista even kissed Bok on the lips. Only Ula stood
quietly against the stem rail. A knowing smile played across the sea elf s
beautiful face. Her odd demeanor worried Mik.
                 Tales
of vast wealth, nearly within their reach, ran through the ship like wildfire.
Soon, every hand not otherwise occupied had assembled on deck for a glimpse.
                 “The
isles are exactly the way I remember them,” old Poul said. He wiped a tear from
the comer of his eye with one wizened hand.
                 An
occasional flash of brilliance high in the distant air caused the onlookers to
gasp and point. Trip gave a whoop and nearly toppled out of the rigging.
                 “Dragons!”
the crew whispered with a mixture of awe and fear.
                 “I
thought the metallic dragons had left Krynn,” Bok said a bit nervously.
                 “Only
the good dragons left,” Ula replied.
“None of the dragons remaining in the isles are truly evil—but even metallic
dragons have their share of rogues and renegades.”
                 Mik
folded his arms over his chest. “Whether ‘good’ or evil,” he said, “I doubt
that any of them have much regard for the affairs of men. We’ll steer clear of
all dragons if we can.”
                 Karista
leaned over the bow rail and grinned. “Look at them!” she beamed. “The isles
are within our reach! Imagine the wonders when we get there. Imagine the wealth!”
                 All
evening they sailed directly for the distant peaks. By nightfall they could
make out the shapes of forests on the islands’ rocky shores and trace the
silhouettes of the towering mountains.
                 “We’ll
make landfall by morning!” Karista said.
                 Pamak
finished pulling in Kingfisher’s depth cable, and frowned. He cast a puzzled look at Mik. “Shouldn’t the ocean
be getting more shallow as we approach the isles?” he
asked.
                 “It
should,” Mik replied, “but maybe there’s a steep dropoff on this side of the
archipelago,” Mik said.
                 “Aye,”
Pamak said. “That could be.”
                 Secredy
Mik doubted what he’d told the big deck hand. Kingfisher’s captain glanced at Ula, who was still leaning against
the stern rail, smiling. Mik cursed silendy and took the tiller once more.
                 All
night, the storm brewing on the western horizon crept closer. It seemed of
litde import, though, since they were so close to shelter of land. Mik and his
helmsmen kept