Shimmer rubbed the chin of his faceplate. “Kender have an odd sense of fun.”
“Do you think one would give me a ride?” Trip asked, jumping up and down with glee.
“In its stomach, perhaps,” Ula replied.
Mik looked at Shimmer. “You said it was patrolling. Patrolling for what?”
“Intruders. Outsiders,” Shimmer replied. “People like you.”
“And now that it’s seen us,” Karista asked nervously, “what will it do?”
“Consult its superiors,” the bronze knight said. “Find out if it should kill you, capture you, or leave you he.”
“We should,” Ula said, “hide out under the nearest key until nightfall.”
“The water’s not an option,” Mik said. “The magic of the seaweed is exhausted. Trip and Karista were lucky to make it out of the tunnels. We can’t go back. There must be some other way off this reef.”
“We could swim,” Ula said.
“What about sharks?” Karista asked.
Ula turned to the bronze knight and said, “Shimmer, can you carry us to that atoll?” She pointed to a tiny island nearby.
Shimanloreth glanced from the beautiful sea elf to the others. He rubbed his left shoulder self-consciously. “Not all of you,” he said. “Not all at once.”
“How could he carry us across the water?” Trip asked.
Ula ignored him. “Then start with the aristocrat,” she said. “I’ll swim.”
“I can swim, as well,” Mik said. He ran his fingers over the surface of his fish necklace and was disturbed by the number of gemstones missing. He took a deep breath and put his doubts aside.
“Boy, that’s something!” Trip blurted. “A moment ago, the sea was clear. Now there’s a mist rolling in faster than any I’ve ever seen. The Dragon Isles are full of amazing tilings!”
Mik and the rest turned and saw a low bank of white fog scudding over the water toward them. It rounded the closest island and came with the speed of a gale-driven stormcloud, heading straight for the narrow reef.
Ula cursed. “Too late, now.” She set her spear and gazed at the approaching cloud. “Brace yourselves. This could be bad.”
Mik and the others-save Shimanloreth-drew their weapons. The bronze knight merely folded his arms and stood waiting.
As the fog drew closer, strange sounds echoed across the waves. First came a vague, rhythmic thrum-chanting or singing perhaps. A pulsing splashing sound followed, mingling with the thrum. Finally, a metallic creaking, like huge door hinges swinging back and forth, completed the weird chorus.
A bright yellowish shape took form in the center of the cloud. It was long and sinuous, raised up in the front like the head of a huge serpent.
“Another dragon!” piped Trip.
Shimmer put his armored hand over his eyes to block out the glare from the rising sun. “No,” he said. “It’s Lord and Lady Kell. You really might want to leave, Ula.”
“I’d never give them the satisfaction,” the beautiful sea elf replied. She tightened her grip on her spear.
“Back oars!” a woman’s voice called over the chorus of strange noises.
The cloud of mist parted, and a huge dragon-headed trireme surged toward the reef. The ship was nearly twice as long as Kingfisher. Bright brass scales adorned its sides. Its three banks of oars moved in perfect unison, sculling the huge craft effortlessly through the water. Below the carved dragon head on its bow lay a wicked-looking brass ram.
The great ship turned gently and came to a stop thirty yards away from the coral reef. A muscular, auburn-haired woman sauntered from the deck to the ship’s stem. Her stylish brass armor revealed nearly as much of her impressive anatomy as it covered. She leaned on the rail and regarded the castaways.
“Stand to and prepare to come aboard,” the woman called. “We’re taking you into the custody of the Order of Brass.”
“We don’t recognize your authority,” Ula called back. “We’re free people, and we’ll do as we please. Perhaps if you ask nicely, we’ll accept a ride. Which way are you headed?”
“I recognize you, Ula Landwalker,” the woman said. “You’re a well-known malcontent.”
“Ula Drakenvaal,” the sea elf corrected. “My family never formally disowned me. I still maintain my rights as a citizen of the Isles, Misa Kell.”
“The Order will determine that,” Lady Kell replied.
A tall, similarly dressed, auburn-haired man joined Lady Kell at the rail. In his left hand, he held a long lance the color of pale orange coral. “We don’t want to use force,” he said, “but we will, if necessary. All intruders must be taken to Berann to judge their worthiness.”
Shimmer stepped forward. “Will you judge me also, Benthor Kell?” he said, his deep voice echoing over the water.
Benthor and Misa Kell exchanged a wary glance.
“Forgive us, Shimanloreth,” Lady Kell said, bowing slightly. “We did not recognize you at first. The report of our scout was… incomplete.”
“Of course we don’t presume to judge you,” Lord Kell continued. “You are free to go your own way. However-by the rules of the Order of Brass-your companions must come with us.”
“And if I refuse to let you take them?” Shimmer asked.
“Our escort, Tanalish, is not far off,” Lady Kell replied. “She will help us enforce the law if need be.”
“Surely that will not be necessary, Shimanloreth,” Lord Kell added. “You know that these laws are vital for the safety of the Isles. You may come or go as you please. The rest, however, must accompany us.”
As he said it, two dozen brass-armored warriors appeared at the gunwale. They stood with their swords at the ready, though none threatened Shimmer or the others directly.
Mik glanced at Trip and Karista. “It seems we have no choice,” he whispered.
“They appear genteel enough,” Karista said. “The elf and her friend may have been lying to us. We should go with this Order of Brass.”
“My goals and yours,” Mik replied, “are not entirely the same here. Nevertheless…”
He turned to lord and lady Kell and bowed slightly. “My companions and I,” he said, indicating Trip and Karista, “will do as you request.”
“No!” Ula hissed at him.
Shimmer put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “There is no other way,” he whispered.
“We are shipwrecked travelers, of no threat to anyone,” Mik continued, “and look forward to your hospitality.”
“Our recent fortunes have been grave,” Karista added. “We hope that meeting you may reverse our bad luck.”
“Flattery will gain you nothing,” Lord Kell replied. “The law sees through such shams. However, I welcome you aboard and will treat you fairly during our journey to Berann.”
“Come alongside the reef!” Lady Kell called to her helmswoman. A drumchanter beside the tiller began to chant and the banks of oars dipped into the water once more. The galley executed a graceful turn and stopped only a few yards from the reef.
The warriors put a long boarding plank into the water and Mik, Trip, and Karista walked up it onto the deck of the brass boat.
“Well, Landwalker?” Lady Kell called. “Will you board as well, or shall we summon Tanalish?”
Ula glanced from Lady Kell to Shimmer, and then to Mik standing near the dragonship’s rail. Fire burned in the sea elf s green eyes.
“We’ll come aboard,” Ula said.
She and Shimmer walked up the plank onto the galley’s deck.
As Lady Kell escorted the prisoners to the bow and set guards around them-all save Shimanloreth. Lord Kell gave orders to the helm and oarsmen. A fine mist sprang up around them as the sleek dragonship cut through the water once more.
They sped quickly over the placid ocean, passing the small nearby keys and heading northwest toward a large wooded island crowned with snowcapped peaks.
“You should hide the artifact and the parchment with the Prophecy, or they may confiscate them,” Ula hissed at Mik.
“I’ll do what I can with the diamond,” he said. “As to the Prophecy, it’s already hidden in the best place of all.”