That night, a nosy islander reported to Arlen, "Some of the sailors wandered off with the girls."

Arlen rolled his eyes. Should've seen that coming. "Thanks. Are they causing trouble? No? All right."

He was more concerned about the general sailor population. They'd been given their fort and those who remained on the ships had a lot more space for now. Some had moved their bedding, such as it was, or gotten local goods.

In the morning, the chief called him over to the hut he'd borrowed. He presented Arlen with a scroll, saying, "What can you make of this?"

It had a very incomplete sketch of the islands' outer edge. Arlen puzzled out the writing. "Their version, not Old Builder. Something about... no, I can't read it. Let's copy it. Where'd you get it?"

The chief grinned. "The ships aren't that secure tonight."

"That's a dangerous trick, chief. That scroll needs to go back before it's noticed."

"We'll plant it in their bags."

Arlen had to trust him, but it was a cavalier move and he couldn't personally help much. He quickly copied the text onto one of the sheets of paper he'd traded for, and handed back the original.

#

High chief Voz wouldn't arrive until around contact day three. Arlen and the Opaline chief were stuck trying to manage the situation. They studied language with Singer Alfons, spoke vaguely to Captain Huygens about the islands' history, and discovered that the other captain, Joop, was missing.

"Where is he?" Arlen asked Huygens.

The senior captain blinked, then barked questions and orders to his crew. "Not here! I will find him."

"I said, ten days here!"

The captain waved him off and left to speak with his crew again. Arlen cursed and did his own investigation. How many boats did the twin ships have? Two each. How many were present now? One was missing, along with a few young and adventurous islanders. Ignorant ones who didn't know how much harm they might've just caused. And off to where? Catacomb, as of hours ago.

Arlen found the chief right away. "What should I do? This is a danger to everyone."

"This damned horde isn't following our rules. They must think they don't need to, and we can't do anything about it. I say, hurry after them and leave me to keep order if I can."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Arlen nodded. There was a chance the dam of quarantine wouldn't completely burst. He worked with the chief to grab a couple of good sailors and a boat and hurry out.

Hurrying was relative. The overzealous sea captain would have a long head start. He worried aloud all the way to the far island.

When he arrived, the chief had acted intelligently. Since the lady had heard the news of first contact and Arlen's initial warning about it, she'd had the new arrivals (Joop, two crew, two natives) strongly invited to spend the next week or so in one of the new buildings.

"Thank you!" said Arlen, standing outside her home.

"I can't rightly blame them for wanting to explore. You yourself should keep away from everyone local, including me."

He took his leave. But he went with his sailors to go see Joop and bring him food. The captain wasn't pleased to be trapped with his four crew in a twenty-foot stone room. Arlen said, "You are Opaline Island's guest for now. Why did you come here?"

The islanders said, "Arlen, let us out. We didn't mean any trouble."

"You know why you're here. You'll be allowed out soon, if you're patient and follow the rules this time. Now, why'd he get you to do this?"

Joop spoke for himself. "We are not sick. This is a... not-needed delay. This is what you give us? A box?" He gestured at his cell.

"I stop you from making others sick. Wait. If you leave, I will stop you."

The man's next word was probably "Nonsense!" or a curse. "This island has valuable old things. I want to see."

"Did you hear me when I said ten days?"

"Yes. Not needed."

"Ah. You think you are my high chief, then?"

Joop fumed, thinking. "In Mariv, the king is high chief of all."

"Are we in Mariv, Joop?"

The man pretended not to understand. Arlen pressed. Finally he said, "To give gifts is very important. We give you fine things, and knowledge of the wider world, and knowledge of the true way. You give us a home here."

The wording was sloppy and ambiguous by necessity. Arlen interpreted it as he pleased. "Yes, I gave you a very big stone home, for all of you! And a small stone home here. If you give us sickness in return, how should I repay that?"

The captain was sullen and had nothing useful to say.

"If you leave again before this island's chief says, you will be repaid." He showed off a knife, then explained in more detail to the islanders shut in with him, saying, "The safety of all your friends and families is at stake, you two. Put up with it for now."

#

The captain had created a headache for everyone. Guards had to watch the five and _they_ were ordered to limit contact with anyone for days. Arlen was tempted to wall them in by magic, but didn't want to reveal that card yet. Back on Opaline who knew what was happening? Arlen had another distant, awkward exchange with the chief, then sailed straight back there.

By the time he arrived, Voz had come. The official ruler of the isles looked grim, and had brought all his shamanic tools for healing. The two boats he'd brought were loaded too with animal pelts and other gifts.

Arlen explained the latest news but Voz had heard the basics from the first message and from Opaline's chief. He said, "I wish I could come at this as a simple scholar and not have to make the decisions."

Arlen grinned and patted him on the shoulder. "Have fun. What now?"

"I should meet with these leaders and work on the language problem. Including that copied note. I'll need to stay here anyway."

Diplomacy proceeded. That meant Voz coming along to be introduced as Arlen's superior, in front of Captain Huygens and Singer Alfons. Huygens said, "Happy to meet you. Where is Captain Joop?"

Voz explained. Huygens fumed but said, "Then he will stay there for now. When the time passes, I want to visit this island of monsters, New-Shore."

"I'll allow it," said Voz. Then he spoke quietly to Arlen about a preparation he needed to make.