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

that,” Ula said. “You’ll find it’s harder to establish trade
with the isles than you’d like. I want something more ... substantial.”
                 “A
share in the treasure of the Prophecy ” Mik said.
                 “Aye. A share equal to the highest share—which I’d warrant
is the captain’s.”
                 “If
there is a treasure,” he added.
                 “I’ll
take that chance,” she replied.
                 “I
don’t seem to have much choice. Okay. Done.”
                 Ula
smiled. “See? That wasn’t so hard. Here’s the secret: only a metallic dragon
may enter the isles unbidden,” she said. “Everyone else needs permission—or
there is one other way.”
                 Karista
cursed. “Riddles!” she said.
                 The
sea elf smiled. “You have an artifact. . . but I know how to use it.”
                 “Well,
don’t be coy about it. Teh us.” Mik’s eyes narrowed.
                 Ula
nodded. “Dragon Isles privateers use crystals—in many ways similar to your
black diamond—to find their way back to the isles. I believe your artifact
serves the same purpose.”
                 “I’ll
fetch it from my cabin,” Mik said, handing the tiller to Bok.
                 He
went below and retrieved the golden artifact from his sea chest. As the black
diamond brushed his hand, a vision of a temple filled with glittering diamonds
flashed through his mind. He pushed aside the images and raced back to the
bridge.
                 Karista’s
steely eyes focused on the golden looping key as Mik held the artifact out
toward Ula. The wind lashed at his hair, and large drops of rain began to
spatter the deck. An odd feeling made the hairs on the back of Mik’s neck stand
up.
                 “So,
how do I use it?” he asked.
                 “Hold
the diamond out before you,” Ula said. “Turn until it glows. When it glows
brightest, that’s the true direction of the isles. Follow the glow.”
                 Mik
did as she said, turning slowly, starting with the heading they were following.
The black diamond began to glow—dimly at first, but with increasing brightness
as he revolved. Mik frowned.
                 “It’s
nearly fifteen degrees starboard of our present heading,” he said.
                 “A
Veil of deceptive magic surrounds the isles,” Ula said. “It’s like steering
toward a mirage—when you get there, you find the mirage is gone. You can chase
a mirage forever and never find it The isles are the
same way. Some mariners call the effect The
Maze. Only the blessed or the very lucky can find their way through the
enchantment without a key.”
                 Karista’s
eyes glittered with reflected lightning. “Set the course! The storm is
approaching!”
                 “I
don’t trust the sea-witch’s magic,” Bok grumbled. “There’s something unnatural
about it.”
                 “It’s
either follow the magic,” Mik noted, “or sail around in circles until the storm
catches up with us.”
                 Mik
altered Kingfisher's course, swinging
the bow around until it matched where the light from the diamond key shone most
brightly.
                 The
air before them wavered, like heat above a rock on a blazing summer day. The
captain felt suddenly hot. Looking around, he saw that the others were sweating
as well—all save Ula, who looked as cool as ever. She stood with her arms
folded across her chest, leaning calmly against the rail, the wind pulling at
her long, platinum hair.
                 The
crew working the decks below moved about agitatedly. The sailors grumbled, and
some of them trembled.
                 Mik
ordered a ration of rum for everyone, and that seemed to calm things