Nightchild

The ship shuddered suddenly, slowing dramatically. A grinding sound travelled all the way down the keel beneath their feet, agonisingly slow, its volume amplified as it reverberated through

the ship's timbers. Eyes sca

'Hold her steady,' said Jevin, his voice taut, his hands gripping the rail in front of him, his knuckles whitening.

Beside him, Ren waited for the sound to become the ripping, splintering one she knew he would be dreading. For an age, they dragged across the sea bed, sometimes heavily, sometimes almost lifting away on the slight swell. But there was no splitting of timbers and no rushing of water into a breach and the grinding sound ultimately faded and stopped altogether.

Jevin turned to Ren'erei, his face pale, breathing hard.

'Sand,' he said, his voice low. 'But maybe not next time. How much further?'

'Not far,' said Ren, though she didn't know and could feel herself shaking. 'We'll be all right, they won't let us down.'

'Assuming the skipper's still alive,' said Jevin. 'I'm not putting my crew through this much longer. Nor my ship. What sort of sign are you looking for, exactly?'

Ren was about to shrug but glanced back at the Elm and a smile lifted her features.

'That one,' she said pointing. 'That's it.'

Selik stormed up to the wheel deck, two henchman right behind him.

'You had better have sound reason to change the direction of this ship,' he grated, pushing the skipper away from his helmsman.

'You've seen the cha

'You're lying,' said Selik. T can see it in your slanted elven eyes. Get this ship back on course. Do you think I am blind?'

'No, but unless you have better information on the depth of the cha

Selik leant away, considering. 'You must think me stupid,' he said quietly. 'How long before we turn again.'

'Half a day,' said the skipper. 'It depends on the wind. If you don't believe me, then kill me and take the ship yourself.' Selik's eyes glinted coldly.

'That's a sign?' asked Jevin.

'Yes,' said Ren. 'Because the route is straight ahead. There's no turn to the landing point until we clear the next island.'

Jevin nodded. T bow to your knowledge. Now, what do you want me to do?'

'If you can, sail up to the point where they've turned. Then bring the ship around and we'll launch the boats we need and go. You can either follow the Elm and find calm water to hide in or go back. There's no other way out to the ocean that I know of. You'll have to decide for yourself.'

'And what is to port up ahead?'

'Island upon island. You can't reach Herendeneth that way but you can make safe harbour in a lagoon a day's sailing away. You'll know it when you see it. You'll be hidden and you can rest. But keep hard to the starboard shore. The land shelf is very steep right off the coast of the islands there. The port side is littered with reefs just under the surface.'

Another nod from Jevin. 'And what of the Elm?'

T don't know,' said Ren, worry gnawing at her. 'I guess he'll try and lead the Black Wings as far away as he can. He's a very brave elf.'

'I'll do what I can.'

'Thank you.'

Sweat was mingling with the rain and salt spray by the time the Calaian Sun had crept along the cha

The deck was filled with men and elves, weapons, small sails and crates of foodstuffs. Protectors clustered round davits that were brought up from the hold and locked into place. They hefted the long boats up and on to the pulleys and lowered them away into the sheltered seas on the lee of the ship, scrambling quickly down the nets and taking up oars, their gear stowed forward and aft under sheeting.

There were two long boats Jevin had been prepared to let go and

the Protectors shared themselves out between them. Darrick and Ren would also travel, one to a boat. Thraun too, though still kept asleep, was leaving the ship on a long boat. Hirad would hear no dissension.

'If we're all to die, it will be together and Thraun must be where the Al-Drechar can work on him,' he had said.

The Raven would sail in a masted skiff. These three craft were the most Jevin could allow them. He would not leave himself and his crew with no means of escape should they founder.

Elves swarmed down to the skiff and raised the mast, leaving the sail furled but ready, and helped down The Unknown, who was struggling to climb the scrambling nets, tears forced from his eyes by the pain of his hip. He refused to sit, determining to hang on to the mast for support while they sailed. Hirad exchanged an anxious glance with Ilkar as they watched him before climbing down themselves. The two of them sat forward, Ilkar's face pale at the very thought of a trip in a small boat, while Denser held the tiller, unable to keep a brief smile from his face. Erie

'That old familiar feeling,' he said.

'If you'll recall, the Triverne Inlet was like a pond compared to this,' said Ilkar. 'And your steering still made it feel like rough seas. I can't believe we're letting you helm again.'

T didn't see any other volunteers,' said Denser. He looked across at Erie

'We'll be there soon, love,' said Denser.

T know,' said Erie

'There's always hope,' said Denser, though he felt none.

'No there isn't,' said Erie

Hirad pushed them from the side of the ship and, with a wave and shouts of thanks for the watching crew, they steered away, The Unknown hauling up the sail which filled and drove them after the Protectors.

The skipper of the Ocean Elm had seen them well before the shout went up. He walked aft across the wheel deck and leaned over to see

a Dordovan mage peering into the gloom of late morning. Selik was hurrying along the walkway.

'Damn,' muttered the skipper. He walked back to the helmsman and stood by him. 'Leave the deck. If Selik's mage has seen them, he'll be up here to kill me. You know what to do.'

'Aye, Captain.'

'Remember, the One must survive and the Al-Drechar are important above all other feelings. We've done everything we can.'

The skipper hurried him to the ladder, took the wheel himself and looked determinedly forward. Below him, the helmsman scurried across the deck to talk to the bo'sun and first mate. The pair looked up at him, nodded slightly and set about their tasks.

The skipper heard the sound of ru

'Tell me now,' he said. He looked over his shoulder. 'You, take the wheel, just keep it where it is. For now.' Selik brought his dagger up, its point scant inches from the skipper's right eye. 'Talk.'

'You didn't even bother to really question me, did you?' said the skipper. 'In your arrogance, you thought I'd simply roll over and let you plunder the most sacred things in my life. Well, my work is done now. You have lost Erie