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seats, clearly thinking of doing the same thing. “Who are you calling a—”
    “ Enough!” came a booming voice from the top of the steps. “ These are the finest seamen Candrin was able to find me? We’ve been at sea for less than ten minutes and you dogs begin bickering like women?”
    “ This adolescent ,” cried the grizzled man, pointing to Eric, “has no respect for the dangers of the sea. His blind innocence is bound to get us all killed. If ye thinks I’m going to stand by—”
    “ And what of him!?” boomed Najus in a voice more fit for a general in the Queen’s army. Everyone flinched as shoulders slumped and heads lowered. “The bloody hell does he matter? He, as well as the rest of them, are simply cargo and nothing more—cargo you all have been handsomely paid to transport. And transport you will! Now, everyone, top deck now!”
    The grizzled man’s eyes narrowed as he exposed a set of yellowed teeth. If not for hearing the conversation, it would have been hard to tell if that was a snarl or a smile. In sharp contrast, Eric’s expression was calm and respectful. He patiently watched the man turn and clop heavily up the stairs. The other seamen followed after him, each giving at least one glance over his shoulder—a man here with a puckered scar running down his cheek; another there with a thick greasy beard and blue bandana strapped tightly across his head. They all looked different yet the same, cut from the same rugged cloth.
    Eric took Jade by the hand and gently lifted her up from the bench. She looked worried given the brief unfriendly exchange. “Everything is fine,” he said. “Those men are just frightened, but they don’t dare show it. That display was nothing more than a scared man who needed to channel his emotion without showing weakness. I don’t hold it against him.” She mirrored his reassuring smile, comforted by his wise words. They marched up the steps, followed closely by Jacob and Athel.
    As they reached the top step, a blast of frigid salt air whipped across their faces. Although cold and biting, it also smelled crisp and clean. The beaming moon was shockingly bright, proving to be more than an adequate source of light. Despite the darkness of the night, sharp faces could be seen in full detail under its luminescent glow. Even the stars appeared sharper and clearer than they did from land.
    Najus stood before them with his hands on his hips. “All right, you sea dogs. Let me make something clear to all of you. I’m fully aware of the hours you’ve all have spent at sea. Your experience is the reason you stand before me now. But as far as your former rank or title is concerned, you no longer have one! I give the orders and you take them. I need your full cooperation and loyalty if we are to have any chance of success.” He paused a moment to let the seriousness of his words sink in. “Oh, yes. I suppose it’s only fair to point out my only two rules. Rule number one: if any of you disobeys a direct order from me, you will be given a permanent home with the fish within minutes of the violation.” The men began to stir while a soft mumbling rose. “Rule number two: any man who speaks in defense of the violator or questions rule number one in any way will be tied to the mast and whipped for three hours straight.” The mumbling suddenly grew a little louder as the men stirred. “And after that, he too will sleep at the bottom of the sea. Have I made myself clear?”
    Heads bobbed up and down nervously, as if shaking harder would help to get on the captain’s good side, but even through all the head shaking, stray eyes kept wandering back to the four adventurers as if wondering why they were somehow not included in these malicious threats. Najus also noticed the wandering eyes and decided to answer their unasked question. “Don’t worry about the cargo. It is the least of your concerns. The sooner they are delivered, the sooner you all can return home and live