[Edward]

With final instructions from Thrak and all provisions loaded, we are finally sailing towards Marney. Garfil mans the sails, I direct us through the twisted currents and reefs from inside the cabin and Raleigh steers from the tiller. Raleigh's rabok Gump sits silently on his shoulder surveying us as we fight against the mighty waves of the southern inner sea. Under me I can feel the timbers of the deck thrum and vibrate as we cut through the water, it almost feels as if the ship is alive. I wonder if the Silvester made it through the whirlpools. The closer we get to Marney the more a silent dread hangs over the crew. No longer do we laugh and whoop when going over large waves, silence rules now, all we do is keep that boat on course and stare at the looming island mountain that leers down at us. As if to say this is where you meet your end.

…

The overwhelming presence of evil clings to the island as we take our first steps wobbly ashore. Before we can see what the island truly looks like, we must first climb up onto a sandy bank that overlooks a small plane that lies before the mountain. Garfil, Raleigh and I quickly decide our course of action. Keeping in mind the advice from Thrak, we choose to go straight up the dune and then cut across the plane towards the two ancient columns that mark the entrance to Marney. We start walking immediately, all of us acutely aware that many that come to this island, never leave. As we ascend the dune from the corner of my eye a sliver of silver light catches my attention. Stopping and turning to have a look at what I spotted, I notice that the object that holds my attention is in fact a glass stone catching a rare ray of light that cuts through the stormy sky above. Inspecting the glass pebble closely I realize that not just this one pebble is glass, but instead, the entire beach is entirely composed of see through stones.

“Guys are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

“What are you seeing?” Says Garfil from further down the dune.

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“Look closely at the ground.”

“….. its glass.”

“Glass can only be crafted in extreme heat right Ed?” Chimes in Raleigh.

“That’s right.”

“Then who crafted all of this glass?” Raleigh asks.

“I’d give a 100 shiek to know the answer to that question.”

“Maybe twas a volcano.”

“This doesn’t look like any volcanic glass I’ve ever seen Garfil. Anyways, we are wasting time, we must continue onward.”

Our ascent to the top of the dune is slow and difficult, but what I see when I reach the top takes my little remaining breath away from me. The brief plain that reaches toward the mountain and grasps at its feet provides the most awesome view I have ever seen, yet also fills my heart with fear. As far as my eye can see the land lies ruined, great spires of gleaming glass reflecting beams of rainbow light stretch toward the clouds. While the ground looks like a shimmering stained-glass window smashed upon the floor. The mountain that we seek to pass under looks like it has been slashed many times by a sword, long dark ravines ruin what was once the beautiful face of the mountain.

Behind me I hear the crunch of Raleigh and Garfil’s boots on the pebbles and then two sharp intakes of breath as they too also reach the summit of the dune.

“By the ancient,” Mutters Garfil.

Raleigh falls to his knees, his mouth open. Upon face is the look of a boy that Is only just beginning to truly understand how small he really is compared to the size of the world. I too came to the same realization when I traveled to the sprawling city of Port Dinas as a child.

“Quickly, we need to find the river that enters Marney,” I say.

“It’s so beautiful,” Mumbles Raleigh, not hearing a word I've said.

“Snap out of it,” Grumbles Garfil before putting his arms under Raleigh’s armpits and heaving him to his feet.

“Thrak said it would be almost in line with the top of the mountain.”

“I think… I think I see it.”