The once-proud galleon stopped all of a sudden as she hit the reef with a sickening crunch. Her momentum was so great the Delphin immediately began to break up. In the light of a sky full of stars Miro saw scores of sailors struggling in the water, men who had jumped at the last instant, and the water frothed as the struggles of the sailors brought more sharks in to feed.
Miro stood up to watch one last man actually make some distance, swimming in their direction. He caught sight of them and waved his arm. The swimmer called out in a voice that carried across the water.
It was Carver.
When he saw the longboat wasn't coming for him he shouted and bellowed. Carver thrashed in the water and looked desperately at the distant shore.
Carver screamed as something took hold of his legs. The scream became a gurgle as a shark took him, pulling him down under the water.
Miro sat back down.
"What about the plan with the helmsman?" Amber asked.
"He was a mutineer," Miro said, "and you were almost killed. I don't respect people who can't choose sides."
He began to once more pull at the oars. "It's life." He repeated the words of the helmsman. "And I'm a practical man."
12
ELLA'S voyage from Castlemere to Seranthia was long but uneventful. She'd found herself in good company: the captain was a congenial man with a host of stories from his adventures at sea; the officers were simple men yet took evident pleasure in their work; while the presence of Rogan and his family ensured she felt she was among friends.
As the ship slid into Seranthia's great harbour Ella couldn't help but stare up at the eerie statue of the Sentinel. Now that she knew the secrets the Sentinel guarded, Ella felt fear where before there was only awe.
Someone had crossed over. Where were they now?
The massive statue stood astride a wide pedestal, almost entirely occupying the rocky island barring Seranthia's harbour. There was now a small pier on the island, from which men were hurrying back and forth carrying heavy stones from a barge.
They took the stones to where a wall was under construction, a wall around the perimeter of the island. Even from her distance Ella could see runes on several of the stones — this wall was being constructed by the builders of Torakon. Since his recent discovery, Evrin was taking no chances. He couldn't destroy the portal, but he could wall it up.
Progress was slow and the wall was low. Ella could see it would take a long time to complete, particularly if Evrin intended to enclose the entire statue.
Even then, would it be enough?
Soon the ship was a scene of organised chaos as the crew readied for docking, clearing the decks and reefing the sails. Ella descended to her cabin to get her things, and by the time she'd returned above decks they were tied up at the quayside.
"Enchantress, we've lowered the gangway. You may now disembark," the captain said, giving Ella a small bow.
"Thank you for getting us here safely, Captain," Ella said.
A sailor helped her descend the gangway, and soon she stood on the firm wooden planks of the dock, feeling them sturdy under her feet. Ella felt a strange sense of rolling motion, even though her head told her there was none: a legacy of the voyage. She hoped it would go away soon.
Ella looked around for Rogan, finally spotting him descending the gangway, Tapel and Amelia in tow. He thanked the captain and the two men shook hands.
With the return to Seranthia, Ella could see the lines of stress had returned to Rogan's forehead. He waved to the men on the ship and came over to where Ella stood waiting.
"There's one carriage," Ella said. "Why don't you take it?"
"Are you going to be all right?" Rogan said.
"Evrin can't be hard to find," Ella said.
"This city can be a dangerous place." Rogan frowned. "Why don't you come with us to the palace?"
"I'll stay at an inn," Ella said. "I doubt I'll be long in Seranthia in any case."
"Let the girl be," Amelia said. "She's a grown woman."
Ella grinned, wondering if Amelia realised she'd called her a girl and a woman in the same moment. "I'll be fine," Ella said. "You're needed more than I am. Take the carriage. I'm sure I'll see you soon."
"Just be careful," Rogan grumbled.
Ella bid farewell to Rogan, Amelia and Tapel, and then looked around the harbour. If there had been any messengers for her, they would have arrived by now.
Evrin had once mentioned to Ella that he usually stayed at the Cedar Palace, one of the finest inns in Seranthia. It was in Fortune, the area closest to the market houses, where the richest merchants had manses.
Ella started to walk.
~
FORTUNE was a reasonable distance from the docks, and Ella's journey took her through several unsavoury neighbourhoods before the scene improved.
Near the harbour, there was at least enough activity to keep the streets busy and taverns maintained. Ships always came to Seranthia, disembarking passengers, fish, cargo and news.
Further from the docks the winding lanes were quiet, and houses had been boarded up. The people who walked the streets were thin and poorly dressed, and stared at Ella in a way that made her uncomfortable.