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

Kingfisher’s course
straight and true, though the darkness seemed to swallow the islands whole.
Distinguishing the isles’ shapes from clouds and shadows proved difficult in
the gloom, and they saw no lights upon the distant shores.
     
                 *
* * * *
     
                “What’s wrong?” Karista Meinor
asked, as the sun rose the next morning. She pulled her silk dressing gown
around her ample curves as she came up from her cabin. “Why haven’t we made
anchor?”
                 “We
haven’t made anchor because we haven’t reached the islands yet,” Mik replied.
He sheltered his eyes from the morning glare and stared to the east. The
sunrise obscured the isles’ rocky forms, making them flicker and dance among
the waves.
                 Trip,
perched on the rail at the front of the bridge, crinkled his nose. “How can
they be to starboard? We steered
straight at them all night.”
                 Meinor
frowned. “Well?” she demanded of Mik.
                 “I
steered true all night,” Mik replied. “And the helmsman did the same on his
watch. Maybe there’s some kind of current or strange tide here that’s pushing
us off our mark.”
                 Ula
mounted the bridge and stood beside the captain. “Having trouble?” she asked
coyly.
                 Mik
frowned at her. “I’ll re-set our course,” he said to Karista. “We should still
make landfall in early afternoon.”
                 Karista
glanced from the captain to Ula, and then to the isles. “Very well,” she said.
“Keep me appraised of the situation.” She turned and went
below.
                 “Mik
...” Trip said from his forward perch.
                 “Yes,
Trip?”
                 “The
sky was red this morning. And that storm in the west is blowing in very fast.
If we don’t reach harbor by sunset...”
                 “I
know,” Mik said, “the sea elf will be the only comfortable person aboard.”
                 Ula,
leaning against the stem rail, laughed.
                 The
captain and the kender both cast a wary glance aft. Storm clouds stretched
long, dark fingers toward them and lightning licked the sky.
                 “We’re
close enough to the isles now,” Mik replied. “The storm shouldn’t be a problem.
Get aloft and help keep us on course.”
                 Trip
nodded. “Aye.”
                 By
late afternoon, though, they’d drawn no nearer than they had the previous
night.
                 Mik
pounded his fist on the rail and cursed. “They never get any closer! How can
that be? First they were north of us, then they were
east, now they’re north again.”
                 Ula,
perched on the stem rail, smiled but said nothing. She looked westward, toward
the approaching storm. Distant echoes of thunder rolled across Kingfisher’s deck.
                 “The
depth readings are the same as last night, captain,” Pamak reported.
                 Karista
Meinor, who had been watching from the bridge for the past two hours, scowled.
“Perhaps, another tack is warranted, captain,” she said.
                The aristocrat cast a glance toward
the sea elf. “I did not believe her story the other night, but perhaps she does
know the secret to reaching the isles.”
                “Don’t trust her!” interjected Bok.
“She’s a sea-witch, that one.”
                 “I don't trust her,” Mik replied. “But it
seems we need her. Ula
. .. ?”
                 Ula
lowered herself to the deck and walked to the tiller, her jewel-bedecked body
shimmering in the waning light. “My price?” she asked.
                 “I
won’t give up my trade concession,” Karista hissed.
                 “I’m
not interested in