Dorky scurried on ahead, up to the ridge of rocks that extended for most of this seemingly barren coastline.

Klem noticed that his lately sullen friend had now become more excited. Maybe sea travel did not suit him. At the ridge, Dorky looked down and mind-spoke to both Todd and Klem.

I do not like the look of this place. There is no harbour, no dwellings, not a sign of life; or food for that matter. Why would the Kalli drop us here? It worries me.

Todd was crouched down looking closely at the rock. He peered up "I guess that Captain Durkon knew of no other place to moor. The rocks here are razor sharp. Anywhere too close to these and the Kalli would have been shredded to bits. I did kinda expect a welcoming committee though."

Klem smiled. His friend did have a way of saying just what he himself was thinking. "He told me that when we land to push on North to get to Mar-Coombe. It should only be half a day in that direction." He pointed over the ridge towards Dorky. "He did say not to be too surprised by anything we find on the way. He didn't explain what he meant though." He raised his hands in confusion. "So I guess we should be prepared for anything."

The three travellers mounted the ridge and looked to the North. To the East, in the distance, the wild sea could be seen crashing on the jagged shoreline. To the North and West only barren rock. They really had no choice but to pick a ridge and follow it. It did worry them however that by going North along one ridge may mean that they would not be able to eventually go West. It was Upton Straits after all.

At some points, it was like walking a tightrope. The pointy slopes became even more pointy. The tide rose quickly and the white-water either side of them came up to a span from their feet. It seemed as if they were walking on water.

Their voices were drowned out by the crashing waves. So scared were they, that as soon as they came to a wider bit of the peaks they huddled down and clung to each other. Nowhere to go and no hope left. Seafoam was all around. They waited for the worst. Any moment a wave would wash them off their precarious perch. They wrapped themselves tightly in their precious ray skin coats.

Gradually the tide retreated. Drenched and scared out of their wits they only had one way to go.

Klem grasped his dragon gift. He should not be afraid. He should be indestructible. He had seen Solomon survive a direct attack from the Mangorians. He knew the power from the crystal, covered those around him. Or did it? He was not sure of how the power worked.

"We needn't be afraid. We are all covered by my amulets power. I think?"

"But if we had been washed off the peak, we would have been separated, me 'n Dorky would have been mincemeat. You would have been okay though." Todd replied dourly.

Feeling sorry for his friends, Klem was not sure. He shrugged. "I don't know Todd. The power of Pride comes from dragons mount and seems to affect all who live in Pride. Maybe it is time and closeness to the crystal that works the magic?"

Dorky stopped and turned to the pair.

I may have the answer. When we were in Pride I saw lots of strange yellow lights. My mind-speak was strong and my snake hunting was easy. Some of the larger snakes had this glow. I knew that these were not good to eat. In fact, I was unable to munch on them. The small snakes with no glow were easy to find; and tasty.

When the Mangorians first came to invade they had no glow. All those that were from Pride had a strong yellow glow. Sometimes I had to look away it was so bright. This glow or aura stretches quite a way. It is a circle of light. Klem's circle starts at the crystal and reaches about three arms lengths outward. The more time Todd and I spend near Klem the brighter our aura becomes.

I realise that I can see the magic! Can you not see it?

Todd looked at Klem "No. I think we should stay close."

Klem was relieved that his friends were protected by his power. It made him aware of his responsibility. He vowed to himself to protect them.

Knowing the extent of the magic lifted their spirits. The three, although cold and dripping felt safer on the stony, precarious path.

As the sun began to set, the landscape up ahead changed. Instead of ridges running South to North a formation of rock curved up to the West. As they approached this turning they could see a large crater ahead. The ridge they were on carried on North but the one on their left curved to the West.

"I think that we are on the wrong path. Durkon said to go West. He never mentioned this crater." Klem looked at the falling sunset. "I suggest we stay here and try to get some kip. The path here looks well-trodden and I have a feeling that we will be found before we find Mar-Coombe."

They stopped and sat down. Sleeping was impossible. The magnificence of the landscape here did, however, calm them from their stressful introduction to Mar-Coombe.

Sat together on the sea-dashed formations the three made the most of the barren landscape. Watching for any signs of life. It was some time before they realised that the tide was turning again and the foam began to rise. The crater they had noticed earlier began to fill. The sea roared down the straits and crashed with a tremendous roar against the curve of the rocks, sending the sea into a whirlpool that grew into a crescendo. The foam flew high and the terrifying magnificence enraptured the three. With the knowledge that the sea would not reach their resting place and the protection of Cascadias magic, they looked on in awe rather than fright. The majestic, wild beauty of the sea was all around.

Eventually, the tide retreated. As the level dropped the furtive inhabitants of Mar Coombe finally appeared.

Klem noticed a rock move on the side of the crater. It sat like a lid covering a hole in the ground. A chain was attached to its middle and was being let out from within. The being that emerged was one of the strangest things Klem had ever seen. It had two legs and two arms but a head made of iridescent blue jelly. Its feet looked like shovels and its body reflected in the dawn light like green glass.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

It followed the retreating water level. Stopping to check uncovered baskets or cages attached to the side. He noticed a fish being quickly dispatched and slung into a previously unnoticed backpack on the creatures shoulder. Then a squid-like thing and a sponge were also collected. As the tide went further down the being could be seen checking a large array of spinning paddles in the rock. Others were now emerging from holes all around the crater. They too were collecting things from traps and some dived into the middle of the whirlpool and looked to be going deeper into the vortex.

As the beachcombers collected their harvest, razor gulls began to amass. Klem had never seen so many of the dangerous animals together in one place before. Their sharp wing tips and beaks made them the scourge of smugglers cove. To see one was to run. A flock like this was alarming and there was nowhere to shelter.

One Coomber (as Coombers they were) looked in Klem's direction and the three could clearly hear him shout "Sound the alarm. We have visitors. The gulls are circling!"

Dorky hid under Todd's coat. Todd had no protection other than the ray skin so he tried to cover his head with his coat. Working in teams of three, the razor gulls attacked. One from the front, one from the back and the other one dive bombing erratically. Klem could see Todd's exposed hands holding the coat above his head, the gulls were swooping at this flesh and trying to cut his hands with their razors. Fingers were tasty to them. They only succeeded in shredding the coat around his hands. This was not what they expected. With some fearsomely loud screeches, they called for back-up. Many more circled towards Todd. Klem was being targeted too by now.

Three holes opened up on the ridge in front of Klem. A Coomber with a large sack on its back came out of each. Each was holding a tube and pointing them skyward. Using their fingers on the tube a woosh could be heard and a projectile exploded out of the tube bringing down gulls in an instant. The rest of the gulls squawked in defeat and flew off for easier pickings. They ignored the Coombers. They knew not to mess with them.

"Ah, sorry about that. We usually have a night watch on here but as it's been the double moon celebrations, and so quiet. I am afraid we have been rather lax. I do hope you haven't been here all night? Oh sorry forgot to.." He removed his jelly-like face revealing a friendly round countenance. "Don't let this fool you," he said looking at his mask, which now looked more like a large jellyfish in his hands. "We are all good people here. Don't want you to think we are Fibbians or anything. Can I bandage your fingers, young sir? I have a bandage or two on me."

Todd looked at his hands turning them over in surprise. "I seem to be unharmed." He nodded to Klem in understanding. Klem smiled thankfully back. "Your crystal does work! We needn't have worried."

Klem realised his friends mistake. He kept it to himself. He would have to make sure these Coombers were to be trusted with this knowledge. He self consciously stopped himself from clasping his amulet.

Dug the Coomber appeared not to notice the reference. He led the three down the hole he had come out of. He introduced himself, Rodge and Biggs, as he delicately descended the rope ladder on his flipper-like boots. Dorky did not want to go down. Klem had to calm then coax him. Finally, by carrying him, they reached the bottom of the short ladder the space extended into a large cavern. It appeared surprisingly homely and was lit by a strange unflickering light trapped inside some pearlescent conch shells. Many coombers could be seen in the furthest cavern. They hustled and bustled around a large table that had glowing hot metal on it. Klem could only think it was a kind of cooker as mainly fish were being fried in pans on its top.

"You are just in time for breakfast. Take a seat. We have some other duties for now but will catch up with you later. We are all very friendly here and we know how to welcome guests. Your service will be prompt and polite." Dug and the others went back up the ladder and left Klem, Todd and Dorky to adjust to their surroundings.

The Coombers were not as strange as Klem first thought. Their blue heads were obviously some sort of water breathing helmets. Their shiny clothes were worn to protect from the vortex and their shovel feet just flipper boots. Underneath these clothes, the people were just the same as Todd and himself. They did all appear to be a jolly lot.

It appeared to Klem that most of the rocks around the vortex would have caverns like this as when the Coombers came out they came out of many different openings. There also seemed to be many tunnels off from the cavern they were in, presumably interlinking the whole of Mar-Coombe.

Food was served by Etty. She was clearly in charge here. Dressed in woven, seaweed overalls and a fish skin apron she had the look of homeliness about her. Her hair was tied back loosely with shell clasps and green ribbons. Her white-blonde hair atop of a milky white complexion. She sat down with Todd and Klem. Dorky had become quite an attraction in the cavern and some of the children had taken him away to find him some eels. His mind speak was a shock at first but just added to his strangeness. They had never seen a marsh-dribbler before.

"Coombers are just normal folk who happens to live in rocks and scavenge the vortex. We have got a bad name for us selves as we wear the jelly masks. People who don't know us think we is Fibbians. Wot a load of nonsense! We have used what the vortex washes up to make new things and the vortex provides us with nearly everything. The jelly masks help us to dive the vortex and breathe underwater. The vortex runs our light paddles and creates heat for cooking and warmin' and light for seein'. We are proud of us selves and are always lookin' for new inventions. The proffs are lookin at mekkin' underwater boats at the moment. We need better ways of travelling 'The Shutes' sos we can get inland and back within a day. At the moment it teks' no time to get down em but days to get back. Would be nice to have a regular supply of fresh vegetables." Etty seemed pleased with the thought. She had done most of the talking and that had given Klem and Todd time to digest their delicious selection of fish. "Now, what's your story and can we help you? Don't get many visitors here so I guess yous' just passin' through?"

"This fish is..was delightful," Klem spoke around his last slice of mackerel. "We are headed to Missing Mountain. We have to find a dragon egg!"

Etty choked on a kipper. "You mean Viridianas egg?"

"Yes," replied Klem simply.

Etty's mood changed abruptly. "You will not be messin with her I hope. She is a good friend to us coombers. She won't play nice if you mess with her egg. We won't help you to mess with her."

"Oh no. We mean her no harm we just need her help. The town of Kingsport is under siege and we need her help to save the people and our families. It's not her egg we need but a magic crystal that lies beneath it. It will help the fenlanders in their struggle against the Mangorians. We are friends of dragons." Klem hoped he had dug himself out of a hole.

"I see. Why would two boys and a badger be on such a task? I think I believe you although it is a very strange story. We may be able to help you if what you say is true. We do have some clever minds here. I am concerned though. I wouldn't want any harm to come to that dragon. Come to think of it she has not been seen for many, many days. Some are worrid' bout her. I will have to have a word with Lord Potts and see what he thinks. I will try to help you."

"Thank you, Etty." Klem didn't know if he was relieved or worried. Lord Potts sounded very high and mighty for coombers. Maybe he wouldn't believe them. Klem had an idea though and it might just get the coombers on his side. "We would be very grateful for your help." He looked at Todd who nodded affirmatively.

"Dorky is not a badger. He's a marsh-dribbler." Added Todd.