A few hours later, the three of them were led through the narrow halls to a door with banners on either side. The banners each depicted a black shark on a violet background. The light sources here came from spheres that channeled energies of the Sun Spirit. Though, how Asrif had gotten so many of them was a mystery to Sahshir.

"Here is the war room." said the guard. "Don't raise your voice; it tends to echo.

The door was opened, and they entered a room with a high ceiling. It was lit by a window above that let light in through a grating. It must have gotten wet when it rained, and Sahshir saw a cistern below it. Asrif was standing on the far side of a large, circular table. With him were his officers, sitting in silence. Before him, on the table, was a sword in a sheathe of red leather.

"So you're here then, Nagos," said Asrif. "We've discussed the matter; I'll agree to your plan. No sense in letting the Sorn get too strong. But I want to have an understanding that I get the first pick of all the loot."

"That may be kind of difficult to promise," said Nagos. "See, I have to get Alcaides on board too. And he'll want the first pick of the loot as well. And if I tell him that you're getting the first pick of the loot-"

"I don't see that we even need Alcaides," said Asrif.

"Do you really want to go to war and leave yourself open to him?" asked Nagos. "He might side with Sorn."

"As appealing as it sounds, killing him in battle," said Asrif, "it would be bad for business. Alright, so what can you offer me?"

"Well, I'm sure we can arrange for the Emperor to compensate you," said Nagos. "I mean, with all the gilded armor his men wear, I'm sure you can arrange a proper reward."

"And if he doesn't reward us?" asked Asrif, voice hard.

Nagos looked nervous. "Well, then, I guess I could use the treasury to compensate you. I mean, it probably won't be enough on its own, but with the loot from any Sorn ships we seize, it could be-"

"Nevermind, forget it," said Asrif.

Nagos blinked. "You don't want payment?"

"I want payment from the Emperor," said Asrif. "You're doing this on his orders, so I'll iron things out with his men once we talk. There will plunder enough from the war, and checking Sorn is in all our interest.

"Now, take this." He drew up the sheathed sword and tossed it to Nagos, who narrowly dropped it. "Get your dragon ready for departure. Now leave us; I will speak with King Sahshir."

Nagos nodded. Quickly he departed. Sahshir nodded to Narcissa, who also left. Finally, Asrif looked at him. "I've heard about you, King Sahshir. They say you dueled Garacel himself in single combat and nearly won."

"I fought him twice," said Sahshir. "And I won the first."

Asrif looked at him hard. "Why are you here? You can't be fond of Dinis as a nation. They are Calisha's eastern rivals."

Sahshir looked at one gloved hand. Two fingers were gone, lost in Zigilus. "Dinis is failing. Sorn is not. And the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Not in my experience," said Asrif. "That boy, Nagos, is far too good-natured for his own good. His prospering is one of the few things that maintain my faith in the universe. If he dies, I will seek someone to blame."

Sahshir nodded. "I assure you, Nagos will face no harm from me."

"Good," said Asrif. "Now, you'd better meet him before he barges back in here."

Sahshir nodded respectfully. Then he turned and returned, finding Narcissa helping Nagos gird his sword. Nagos glanced up. "So what was all that about?"

"The King wished to discuss something with me," said Sahshir. "I won't speak of it here."

"Oh," said Nagos. "Well, anyway, that's one island out of the way. And if I know Asrif, he'll want to get all his friends involved. Now we just need to get Alcaides in on it as well."

"And how are you going to do that?" asked Narcissa.

"I have no idea," admitted Nagos. "Let's head for the harbor."

The trip down was actually worse than the trip up. There was something inherently unpleasant about scaling down a slope. When climbing up, if you fell, you'd fall onto the rock and slide a bit. On the other hand, if one fell here, they'd just keep falling.

It made it nerve-wracking, even on the road.

"How do you always wear a sword like this?" asked Nagos. "This thing is heavy."

"I have been training to use and wear weapons since I was seven," said Sahshir. "Have you never fought?"

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"No," said Nagos, "Asrif always had me do things other than fighting when I was on his ship. Generally, when I ran into a swordmaster, my job was to duck for cover and let someone else fight.

"Never had to fight anyone, just watch and help with things."

They came to the pier after a long period. Here they found Sheltath resting his head on the pier. Nagos walked forward. "Hey, Sheltath! Sheltath! Wake up, lazybones!" And he tapped the dragon on the head.

"You know that his armor is thick enough to block ballista bolts, don't you?" asked Sahshir. "A few stones aren't going to do anything."

"Shows what you know," said Nagos. "Sheltath is a special kind of gold dragon that lives in the ocean. He is descended from one of the Sons of the Rebirther who went to the oceans to lay his eggs instead of into Calisha. Throughout a few generations, they were able to live completely underwater."

"I am," said Sheltath, opening his eyes. "And lighter than my armor is, it is not so thin that mere bolts can break it." Then he drew back and bared his back. They quickly gathered onto it, and Sheltath swam out into the sea. As he moved, he sent a saltwater splash around him, even as he glanced back. One eye peered at Nagos. "Where to now?"

"To the island of King Alcaides, the Satyr!" said Nagos.

Sahshir flinched at that despite himself. "Satyrs? Alcaides is a satyr?"

Nagos glanced up. "Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"Satyrs are wild and vicious brutes who eat the flesh of sentients and bathe in blood," said Sahshir. "Are we certain we want them on our side?"

"Would you rather they be on Sorn's side?" asked Nagos.

"Yes," said Sahshir flatly, remembering stories of the way they treated captives. "They eat those they capture on the battlefield."

"I read that satyrs were loyal servants of Zigildrazia in many worlds," said Narcissa.

"Was that supposed to help your argument?" asked Sahshir.

"Yes," said Narcissa. "Although, maybe it doesn't."

How pleasing that she had some capacity to question the wicked god that had enslaved the will of her people.

"Then it is decided," said Nagos.

Sahshir would have grumbled. But Nagos seemed to have a remarkable ability to make these things work. So he held his tongue.

They shot through the water for half a day, and the constant wind was a relief from the beating sun. Soon an island came within sight. Several lights, actually, and as they drew near, Sahshir saw a storm.

"There is a storm waiting for us," said Sheltath.

"What storm?" asked Narcissa. "How do you know?"

"The clouds, obviously," said Nagos. "And with this wind, we'll be caught in it. Sheltath, are there any islands or shelters you can see?"

"Why isn't the storm moving?" asked Sahshir, eyeing the black clouds in the distance. "They ought to be coming toward us."

"There are ships beneath that storm," said Sheltath.

"Ships?" asked Nagos as they drew near. "What kind of ship would ride such a storm?"

Sahshir closed his eye and drew his sword. Sensing outward, he felt a presence. It was cold and powerful. The sorcerer who had summoned the winds before. "One with a man of power upon it," said Sahshir, eyes opening. There, he beheld a ship within the waters. "Bring us closer; we'll have the chance to win this war yet."

"Why?" asked Nagos.

"So I can kill those on board," said Sahshir, noting only one vessel. "Garrick is there, and he's already sunk several of my ships."

"Sheltath, take us toward the island," said Nagos.

"Why?" asked Narcissa.

"Do you really want to start a fight with an entire ship and a guy who commands the winds at sea?" asked Nagos.

On they went, surging toward the island. It was a small place, and the winds were howling around them. As Sheltath halted in the shallows. Sahshir leaped off and plunged into the cold water while striding ashore. With him were Nagos and Narcissa, Nagos drew his sword. Reaching into his pocket, Nagos drew out a strange tube and extended it. From there, he put it to his eye.

"What is that?" asked Sahshir, glancing at the barren island and seeing some rocks. They had barnacles growing on them, and there were many shells on the beaches.

"A spyglass," said Nagos. "Look through this."

Sahshir came and took it, before gazing through. Through it, he saw the ship. On the top deck was a smaller, gray-skinned elf with black hair. In his hands was a massive sword as tall as he was. The winds were howling around it and then spreading out to create clouds around them.

"Those clouds aren't breaking," said Nagos, eyes narrowing. "There is no rain coming from there. And other clouds are coming toward us now.

"What is going on here?"

"My guess is that Garrick is using the winds to create a powerful storm," said Sahshir. "Maybe to destroy our ships while they are in the harbor. If he could send it into the harbor, it could wreck our fleets before the war begins."

"How could he summon so many winds?" asked Narcissa.

"I don't know," said Sahshir. "Something must be done."

"Don't worry. Chaminus has enchantments that prevent that kind of storm from flowing over it," said Nagos. "We didn't want a repeat of Namina.

"It keeps the winds in order."

"Nagos, we're fighting at Macshore." said Narcissa, "Our fleets could be wiped out en route. And this storm could break even the strongest wards."

"Order," said Sahshir, kneeling and planting his sword in the sand. "One moment."

"What are you doing?" asked Nagos.

"I'm attempting to restore the natural order to those clouds to make them rain. It isn't nearly as easy as you would think," said Sahshir. Then he closed his eyes and began to focus, sending forth his will into the storm. He found the spirits of the wind howling and sent forth order.

His will was forced against theirs, and he had trouble moving forward. Power crushed against his mind, and he shuddered, focusing his energy. Driving down the spirits, he felt a mental blow to his mind. Pushing through, he struck at the center of the storm. The nexus of power at the center broke and shuddered.

For a moment, there was an ungodly howling of rage.

Then he opened his eyes, and the storm was parting. The sky lightened at an unnatural pace as the chaos was driven out. Nature resumed its ordinary course. Sahshir rose and sheathed his sword. As he did, he fell to one knee, feeling very tired. "That should delay things for a time. But we should go. Our enemy will come after us, so..."

"They already are," said Nagos. "Sheltath, let's go!"

Leaping onto the serpent, they quickly shot off. Yet the ship closed on them as winds fought to keep them back. Soon men with bows were launching arrows at them, some landing in the water. One of them bounced off Narcissa's helm as Sahshir caught another.

"They're gaining on us," said Nagos, ducking low under an arrow. It shattered on Sheltath's scales behind him.

"Sheltath," said Sahshir, "turn around and sink the damned ship."

"I cannot," said Sheltath. "I am forbidden to slay, save in defense of Chaminus.

The ship was drawing ever nearer. Nagos looked back. "Sheltath, prepare to dive and swim out under the enemy ship." He drew a rope and looped it around the dragon's neck before tying it tightly. From there, he tied the rope around himself, then threw it to Sahshir and Narcissa. "Tie yourselves up quickly."

He ducked under an arrow that sparked off the armor. Sahshir sheathed his sword and quickly tied it around himself. He then did the same to Narcissa.

"Are you tied down?" asked Nagos.

"Yes!" said Narcissa.

"I am," said Sahshir. "Now, do it!"

"Now, Sheltath!" said Nagos. "Take a breath!"

Sheltath dove as they breathed in. Then they were pulled under the water as Sheltath surged through the water. The pressure was incredible, and Sahshir nearly knocked the wind out of him as he hung on to the rope. Finally, the dragon shot beneath the ship, and Sahshir saw several arrows delving into the depths.

"Why? Just do it.

On and on, it went as they shot under the ship, then on and on. Air was running out, Sahshir's lungs were burning. Glancing back, he saw the rope behind him straining under Narcissa's armor. Afraid it would break, he snatched her hand to decrease the weight.

Then Sheltath surged upwards and plunged out of the water. They were in the air for a moment, and Sahshir gasped for air. Then they landed and nearly fell into the water. Another island was before them. They lay on Sheltath's back for a moment, gasping for air.

Then Nagos looked up and smiled. "We made it! We made it to Alcaides!"

"No, we made it to the island," said Narcissa.

"The island is also called Alcaides," said Nagos. "He renamed it after himself once he conquered it from Sorn."

The island was different from the one they've been before. It was lower and covered in many trees. Strange, colorful birds could be seen flying above the trees. Soon they entered the harbor, and Sahshir stepped onto the beach, feeling wet and miserable.

"What manner of narcissist names an island after himself?" said Sahshir.

"I don't know," said Narcissa, planting her axe and emptying her helmet of water. "Maybe he's really just a misunderstood guy who-"

A huge satyr bounded out of the trees wielding a giant halberd, leaping dramatically onto a rock. Around him came hundreds of other satyrs with bows and spears. "Who dares to trespass upon the domain of King Alcaides the Immortal and Undying! Speak quickly, or you shall be cast forever into fire and death as all who oppose Alcaides are!" And he summoned a huge sphere of flame into one hand and hurled it to set fire to some trees.

"...Well, he might be joking," said Narcissa.

Sahshir wondered if they might go back to fight the Sornian vessel.