Chapter 15

  Out of the Depths, Into the Clutches

  Magnus, Dwarf Wizard

  The light breeze that kissed Magnus’ face tasted of salt and peace. For days now the wizard and his companions had been sailing south down the Tameless Shore through the Proxus Straight toward Mhistana Detritus. The waters had been calm, the wind was steady, but not oppressive and large white clouds had provided intermittent relief from the sun’s warmth. It had been over a week since they had taken control of The Chainwake, three days since they sailed past the port of Raisson and two since they last saw another ship. The party had been accosted by neither pirates or storms. The storeroom had been stuffed with enough provisions that every meal had been a small feast and there was enough wine and beer to drown a whale. Magnus stared at the horizon and thanked Kel’dhos’ and Beltayne’s patron deities, whichever was supposedly protecting their journey, for the blissful last few days.

  Magnus also thanked his own arcane knowledge. After the nauseating encounter that was his first voyage at sea, Magnus delved deep into his memory and recalled a simple cantrip that would steady his stomach, curing his seasickness. The wizard now found traveling by sea to be an extremely pleasant experience. He was enjoying the beauty of the open ocean and the tranquility of the ship’s rocking. It didn’t hurt that several of the freed slaves had sailing experience and offered up their services in exchange for safe passage and those remaining volunteered to cook and help the more experienced sailors. All of this was out of what seemed to be gratitude towards Magnus and the others.

  Traveling under these circumstances was vastly superior to being whiplashed to death in a logging cart or bruising your tailbone on horseback. A dwarf could get used to these accommodations, he thought to himself, taking a long sip of a white wine that bubbled slightly on his tongue. He had found the bottle in Greybeard’s private quarters. Magnus swallowed and let out a relaxed sigh through his nostrils as he felt the warmth of the intoxicants taking effect. He scanned the horizon as the pink fingers of sunset stretched out across the clear sky. The harmonious creaking of the ship’s hull rhythmically mixing with the lapping of the small waves was broken by the tolling of a bell on the deck.

  It was shift change for the sailors and dinner time for Magnus. The wizard finished the last of Greybeard’s fizzy wine and tossed the bottle off the bow of The Chainwake. Crossing the doorway leading to the lower decks, he noted the large harpoon tied above the threshold. Depthrender was painted, in what Magnus could only assume was browned and sunburnt blood, on the shaft. Magnus found himself astonished every time he looked at it by the sheer size of the weapon. The blade itself was as long as the dwarf was tall, and the shaft was three times that length and as thick as a man’s thigh. He figured the only practical way to use it would be as a team working in disciplined unison. Though he also believed it’s only real use was to intimidate slaves as they were brought onboard.

  He found himself smiling as he walked down the steps and towards the mess hall on the lower deck. Magnus sat next to his brother who had taken to his usual role of drinking and loudly telling stories of past conquests, both martially and romantically. Kel’dhos, Beltayne, Telerek and Val soon filtered into the mess hall and took up positions around the dwarves’ table.

  Magnus procured a bottle of a deep red wine and was prepared to split it with Kel’dhos. However, the half-elf came to the table in possession of an already half empty bottle. It was unlike the cleric to drink more than a glass or two, but he had become more reclusive the last few days and seemed to be increasingly on edge. Kel’dhos gave Magnus a half-hearted smile as he poured himself a large cup with dinner. The meal that night consisted of beans cooked in a thick, peppery gravy with large chunks of seared pork belly mixed in. As always loaves of fresh bread and salted butter were abundantly provided on the side. What it lacked in elegance, it made up for twofold in flavor and heartiness. After several hours of eating, drinking and laughing Magnus and his companions collectively decided to retire.

  The company had jointly taken up in Greybeard’s old quarters. They filled the room with overstuffed bedrolls and large hammocks for themselves. They agreed to allow Trinold, the most experienced sailor, whom they all now referred to as “Captain,” to sleep in Greybeard’s bed. Kel’dhos took a bowl of the beans and gravy, giving it to the single prisoner shackled in the corner of the room. Although Magnus and his party allowed the majority of the surviving crewmembers of The Chainwake to leave, Telerek demanded one stay behind. This man, Mellus, was promised his freedom if he safely guided them to wherever it was they were transporting the slaves to in Detritus. Telerek had laughed at the cruel irony of Mellus’ fate of being effectively enslaved on a ship he was once a master on. Kel’dhos had voiced his displeasure at the situation and pleaded with the rest to allow Mellus to go free. The practicality of having a guide outweighed the rest of the group’s moral outrage at putting a former slaver in chains. Kel’dhos routinely checked on the man: cleaning his wounds, providing him food and offering prayers.

  Magnus crawled onto his hammock, a cool breeze from the open latched window flowed across his face. With a stomach full of warm dinner and cool drink the dwarf closed his eyes, the gentle swaying of the hammock rocking him gently to sleep.

  Magnus awoke unexpectantly when his face made sudden and violent contact with the ship’s deck. The Chainwake felt as if it was being tossed back and forth by the gigantic hands of two gods playing sport. Magnus attempted to stand but was cast immediately back down as the ship lurched. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness, but he could hear his companions and anything that wasn’t bolted down being thrown about. A flash of lightning from outside illuminated the interior of the room for a brief second and the wizard wrapped his arms around a nearby support pole. He could now make out the furious cadence of rainfall and howling winds that had enveloped the ship. Magnus didn’t understand how that was possible, there was hardly a cloud in the sky when the sun had set.

  He pushed the confusion from his mind and sent out a spark above him. A glowing sphere now hovered near the ceiling, providing a faint, but constant, yellow light to the room. Captain Trinold was nowhere to be found, hopefully he was at the helm attempting to navigate them out of this mess.

  Magnus called to his companions. “Everyone, come as close to me as you can.” He could barely hear his own words over the ceaseless sounds of the storm. Using the arcane to amplify his voice, the wizard again called out. “Come to me!” The words boomed throughout the small cabin as Magnar and the rest began to crawl towards him. Poor Mellus, still chained to the floor, had curled himself into a ball. He placed his arms over his head as the storm bounced him continuously off the walls and floor.

  After what felt like an eternity Magnus’ friends managed to group together, interlocking arms in a misshapen circle. Magnus then drew upon the arcane and a second later a translucent purple barrier surrounded them. The arcane ward providing a pocket of stability for Magnus and his companions, as long as they stayed within its confines. Telerek assisted Magnus to his feet and the rest of the party soon joined them.

  “Fantastic show wizard, now expand it around the entire ship so that we may exit this maelstrom,” Beltayne said as he righted his simple gray night shirt.

  “I’m afraid even if I could make the ward that large, I wouldn’t be able to hold it for long,” Magnus replied. The spell wasn’t actually that difficult to conjure. In fact, he had just expanded the same spell he used to steady his stomach and cure his seasickness. The scale may have been larger, but the same principals of the arcane applied.

  “We need to do something, the ship is going to sink if we remain in this much longer,” Telerek said to a murmur of reluctant agreement from the rest.

  “I can move the ward with us, however, it will require much of my concentration. I fear I will be little help with anything else while I keep it up,” Magnus said.

  Magnar began laughing, saying, “How will Captain Trinold manage without your nautical expertise ‘Nus.” Magnus rolled his eyes and ignored his half-drunk brother’s quip.

  “What about Mellus? We cannot leave him chained to the floor,” Kel’dhos asked.

  “I care little for the man’s health, but if we make it out of this, we will still need a guide,” Telerek said.

  Magnus pushed his palm upwards towards the top of his ward, mentally making a link with the arcane energy. Once the connection was made, he nodded to his companions who began to slowly walk towards the chained Mellus in the far corner. The wizard had to keep his focus nearly entirely on maintaining his connection with the ward and commanding it to move with him. With a firm hold of his shirt, Magnar guided Magnus by tugging him in the direction the party was moving. After a few moments his brother thumped the wizard on his chest, the signal that they were no longer moving. Magnus released the link, but forced the ward to remain active.

  Beltayne knelt next to Mellus and undid the shackles and manacles from the bolt in the deck. The prisoner was badly bruised and bleeding heavily from a head wound. Kel’dhos rushed over to him, immediately invoking Sioch as radiant golden light flowed from his hands and blanketed Mellus. The wound quickly sealed and the bruising receded. Mellus began to sit up when Telerek heaved him to his feet, putting his face inches from the prisoner’s. “You are only valuable to us alive. That is the only reason we aren’t letting the walls crack your skull open,” the elf said. Telerek then produced a small dagger from seemingly nowhere and put it to Mellus’ crotch. “Try anything stupid, and the fish feed on your little worm.” Mellus stared hatefully into Telerek’s eyes and nodded while saying, “Fine.”

  “Can we go outside now? All you boys could use a bath and the rain keeps telling me silly jokes, I want to go see them!” Val said drawing exasperated sighs from the rest.

  Magnus let the party know he was ready and reforged his mental contact with the ward. A short time later, they emerged from Greybeard’s cabin and into the tempest. Magnus could only shift a small amount of his concentration away, lest he risk severing the link and dooming them all. What he could see made his stomach plunge into the depths of the Sea of Morimar.

  It was pure darkness, with only infrequent flashes of lightening providing any illumination. The sky above appeared to not be occupied by clouds, but by a pitch-black, motionless void. Water crashed over the railings and spilled onto the deck as the sailors grabbed onto anything tied down to avoid being drug overboard. Magnus felt his brother’s fist slam into his chest and Magnus turned his full attention to the chaos that engulfed them. Orbs of radiant light burst from Kel’dhos hands and lit the main deck. The robes that tied the sail whipped violently in the wind around the main deck. The sail was loose and clutching for its life to the boom. Captain Trinold was nowhere to be seen and the wheel spun uncontrollably in the storm. Rain, debris and bodies flew past the party in their pocket of arcane protection.

  “Well, shit,” Magnar said. The party all looked at each other, completely helpless in what to do. Magnus looked up, staring at the black clouds above which remained unmoving and low in the sky. This storm seemingly appeared out of nowhere and from the looks of the clouds, wasn’t going to find any other victims to torment. It is like this storm was placed on us, Magnus thought to himself. His eyes went wide with the realization and he turned to Val, who was pointing at the large waves quickly crashing towards them and cheering.

  “Val!” Magnus yelled running up to her. The she elf jumped back as if startled and looked at him.

  “Um, what?”

  “This storm, it is not a natural. It has been summoned and corrupted, twisted and made to sink us. Look at the clouds, they do not move and they nearly touch the top of the mast.”

  Magnus’ knowledge of wylde magik was limited and mostly scholarly. What he did know was that wylde magik worked entirely differently than the arcane. Anyone could train and eventually learn to make contact with, and summon the power of, the Arcanite Realm to become a wizard. Wylde magik was something innate to the wielder and native to this world. Wylde magik was the magic of the natural and elemental forces of Eridan. A wizard like himself would bring forth fire by connecting with the arcane and speaking a command. This command would then draw flames from the Arcanite Realm and bring it into this one. While a druid of Wylde Magik would create fire by drawing on the elements that inhabited and gave life to Eridan, manipulating them to the user’s will. To the untrained these manifestations of magic looked identical. However, the differences between the two were as vast as Mortas Bay. No spell of the arcane was going to dissipate this storm, only one who was a master of the elements could banish it.

  Magnus knew Val was a druid the first time he saw her scorch a blighted sapling in the Tiuv Forest. However, when he saw her summon a phoenix that incinerated a small army of goblins, he knew she was a particularly powerful druid.

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  Val’s mouth opened in shock as she looked up to the black sky. “Those poor raindrops, being forced to kill us.” She turned her eyes to Magnus and said, “I thought their jokes seemed a little dark today.” Her brow furrowed and a look of stern determination he had never seen from her set in. Without another word, the druid walked out of the ward and into the storm. Magnus thought she would immediately be swept off the deck and into the ocean. However, it was as if the storm no longer had any effect on her. She walked calmly and steadily to the bow, her hair not even blowing as deck planks whirled around her and waves crashed at her feet.

  When she reached the bow of the ship, she put her arms out at her side and stared directly up. To the entire party’s complete disbelief Val began rising off the ground. She rose straight towards the clouds until she could have touched them with the tip of her nose and hovered there. Slowly the black mass above them began to swirl as the waves ceased and the boat began to settle. Rain slowed to a drizzle then stopped entirely as the wind died to a light gust. The swirling black clouds faded to a light gray before expanding outward and dissipating entirely.

  Val slowly descended and her feet silently came to rest on the ravaged deck. The yellow glow of an early morning sun spread out across a clear blue sky. The Chainwake drifted peacefully in the calm open waters and a gentle, warm breeze blew across the stern. Crewmembers slowly began emerging from the lower decks as others hesitantly released their grips from the railings and mast.

  Magnus dismissed the ward and ran to Val. “What did you do to the storm?” he asked, intrigued more than ever by the daft elf.

  “That storm has a name, and her name is Lilly” Val said, a small amount of anger in her voice. “Lilly said a big meanie told her she had to hide herself here and sink any ship that came this way. I told her she didn’t need to do that anymore and that she was free! She was so happy she decided to take a holiday to the north of Eridan.” Val then skipped off towards Greybeard’s quarters as Magnus stood astonished.

  Magnus began scanning the deck, noting the carnage the storm had wreaked on both ship and crew. Debris and splintered wood littered everything in sight, as the entirety of The Chainwake had taken varying degrees of damage. To the wizard’s surprise, Depthrender remained steadfastly affixed in the same place. Kel’dhos was already running between several small groups of huddled sailors, triaging and healing the worst of the bunch. Telerek and Beltayne were leading Mellus back into their quarters, prodding him forward with a dagger to the lower back.

  The rest of the day was filled with repairs, clean up and mourning those lost to the storm. The crewmembers had not known each other long, but Magnus guessed that their shared captivity had bonded them quickly. All said, it was determined that six of the crew had been thrown overboard, while another three had died from injuries. Captain Trinold had escaped with only a laceration to the top of the head and announced to all that he would be chaining himself to the wheel and not leaving his post until they reached their destination. A feeble attempt to raise the decimated morale of the sailors. A melancholic tension gripped everyone and dinner that night consisted purely of day-old bread and cold, salted fish. Even Magnar dared not break the mournful silence that was pervading The Chainwake.

  Magnus found himself unable to sleep that night as the swaying of his hammock now felt more like a hinderance to rest than a catalyst. The wizard’s mind continued to return to the storm. Not the destructiveness or the suddenness of it, but rather the nature of it. Val, through her vague description, indicated that another druid had placed the storm. Were they being followed? Had the slavers they let escape somehow gotten word of Magnus and his companion’s coming? Magnus turned the different possibilities over in his head as he tossed and turned before finally succumbing to sleep.

  Sunlight peeking through broken slats in the walls of Graybeard’s quarters woke Magnus from his fitful night’s sleep. The wizard pushed himself up and looked around. Kel’dhos sat with Mellus, feeding him bites of what looked like thick porridge. He understood that the half-elf was prone to mercy, it was a virtue of his. However, the insistence to shower the former slaver in kindness was becoming strange. None of the others remained in the cabin and Magnus quickly got himself dressed and left Kel’dhos to his altruistic coddling.

  The air had become humid and suffocating. There was no reprieving light breeze to wipe away the sweat that formed instantaneously on the dwarf’s brow as he stepped outside. Magnar was shirtless and pulling on ropes, taking orders from the experienced sailors. Telerek was at the wheel speaking to Captain Trinold while Val sat cross legged on the ground at his feet. Beltayne was at the ship’s elevated bow, swinging Winter’s Bite in wide arcs repeatedly. The snow elf paused his katas only to whisper to the sword and chuckle a few moments later. Magnus joined Telerek and Val with the captain.

  “The prisoner thinks we should come upon the slavers docks before nightfall,” Telerek said to Magnus as he arrived. “Though he continues to hold to the story that he was no navigator and that he always approached the docks from the east, not north. I thought him a liar, but Val tells me that a druid had placed that storm.”

  “Lilly” Val interrupted.

  Telerek gave a faint smile before continuing, “My apologies, Val tells me a druid placed Lilly at that spot a year ago.”

  “A safeguard then?” Magnus asked.

  “It appears so.”

  That calmed the wizard’s mind significantly. They might still catch the slavers by surprise. Kel’dhos emerged from the cabin a short time later, a chained Mellus following behind him, eyes fixed on the floor. The cleric led Mellus up to the wheel and handed the chains to Telerek. He then turned to their prisoner and placed one hand on Mellus’ forehead and the other on the pendant around his neck. Kel’dhos closed his eyes and mouthed what Magnus could only guess was a prayer. Removing his hand from Mellus’ forehead the two looked at each other and smiled. “Sioch guide and bless you,” Kel’dhos said before walking back down the stairs.

  The smile that was painted on Mellus’ face evaporated as Telerek backhanded him. “Fool Small-Ears with feigned piety all you want. But I know your kind,” Telerek said. Mellus and Telerek resumed their hateful looks at each other from the night before.

  Captain Trinold broke in, “There are some landmarks on the horizon, what should we be looking for?”

  Mellus slowly removed his gaze from Telerek and looked at the captain. “You won’t be able to see the docks until we are nearly upon them. All you will see is rocky cliffs, unoccupied beaches and trees. Apparently, some wizard created the illusion years ago.”

  “Will you be able to find it?” Captain Tullis asked.

  “Possibly. Like I told you already, we never came in from the north and when leaving we always sailed east for a full day before turning north.”

  “To not risk that storm I take it?” Captain Trinold asked.

  Mellus shrugged. “Take it however you want. I am just telling you what I know.”

  Telerek stepped up close to Mellus and said, “This all sounds convenient for you and your employers. A compound that must be approached from the east, that is hidden by magic. Keep us circling the area for weeks until some of your friends can show up?”

  Mellus looked at Telerek and began to say something, but Telerek punched him in the stomach, abruptly ending the conversation.

  Telerek raised his fist to strike the prisoner again, but Magnus interjected saying “If there is a spell, I will find it.”

  Telerek smiled, and lifted Mellus’ head by his thin wisps of greasy hair. “You hear that? We have a wizard of our own. If you’re lying, I’ll have him turn you into nothing but a worthless pile of ash.”

  Magnus left the wheel and walked back to Graybeard’s quarters, where he found Kel’dhos donning his armor. “It’s going to get hot fast in all that Kel,” Magnus said with a laugh as he walked over to his hammock.

  “We don’t all have the ability to ward ourselves with magic,” Kel’dhos said coldly. Magnus was taken aback by the cleric’s tone and thought about just walking out.

  “Everything alright, friend?” Magnus asked, staring at the back of the cleric.

  The wizard heard Kel’dhos sigh and saw his shoulders slump forward. “I…I’m sorry. This journey has been hard on me. I fear what may have happened to my father. I have prayed for Sioch to calm my nerves, but it appears he is using this ordeal as a test of faith.”

  Magnus suddenly felt guilty for not approaching Kel’dhos sooner. He had been able to tell the cleric was acting differently for days. But, between the party’s obsession of finding the slaver’s compound and Magnus’ preoccupation of enjoying himself, he had forgotten Kel’dhos’ entire purpose of leaving home was to find his father.

  “Is that why you’ve been tending to the prisoner this entire time? Take your mind off everything else?” Magnus asked.

  Kel’dhos turned to him and smiled faintly. “No, while it has been a welcome distraction, my attention to Mellus has been one of duty.”

  “Duty?” Magnus asked.

  “My duty to lead his lost soul into the merciful arms of Sioch. The man has spent his life wickedly, but he still has time to seek forgiveness and redemption.”

  Magnus felt his face slump, as the guilt washed over him. “I’m sorry Kel, I should’ve…” he started but stopped when Kel’dhos held up a hand in protest.

  “You have nothing to apologize for friend. I have made myself a recluse and sought comfort in isolation.”

  “And wine,” Magnus added.

  Kel’dhos let out a laugh and said, “Yes, I suppose I did have a few bottles to keep me company.”

  Magnus approached Kel’dhos and extended his arm towards the cleric. Kel’dhos looked at the arm and pushed it away, instead embracing the dwarf in a hug. “Thank you, Magnus.”

  The next moment Magnus felt himself be jerked to the floor. He looked up at Kel’dhos who was bracing himself against a support beam. “What the spells happened?” Magnus asked as he pushed himself back to his feet.

  “It felt as if we have struck something and we don’t appear to be moving.” Kel’dhos responded. Shouting could be heard from outside the cabin as the pair looked at each other.

  “Sorcery, what now?”

  Magnus and Kel’dhos emerged from the cabin just as three large purple and black tentacles slammed onto the deck. The tentacles gripped the wood and seconds later the body of a giant squid emerged from the starboard side.

  “Kraken!!!!” Captain Trinold shouted as the crew scrambled away from the beast.

  Without thinking Magnus formed a fireball into his hands. However, Telerek’s earlier admonishments rang in his ears and he immediately dismissed the spell. More tentacles had appeared as the kraken was wrapping itself around the entire ship. Magnar appeared, bare chested and armed with his giant hammer. The dwarf rushed to the kraken’s body and swung hard, the hammer striking true. The blow, however, seemed to bounce harmlessly off the giant squid’s translucent black skin. A tentacle wrapped around Magnar in an instant, lifting him several feet into the air and squeezing tightly around the dwarf’s neck and body.

  Magnus froze feeling helpless to do anything to save his brother. Fire would burn the ship and lightening could potentially harm Magnar. The wizard thought of his orb, but he had locked it away in a chest at the outset of their voyage. Magnus looked around the deck hoping someone could aid his brother. Most of the crew had disappeared to the lower decks. Trinold, still chained to the wheel, had drawn his short sword and was slashing furiously and inaccurately at a nearby tentacle. An arrow flew past the wizard and stuck into the side of the kraken’s body. It let out a brief cry but appeared otherwise unaffected. Magnus looked and saw Telerek standing on the railing of the quarterdeck, another arrow nocked. Beltayne was slashing at a tentacle and dancing out of the beast’s clutches.

  Magnus looked up and saw his brother’s face turning purple as tentacles strangled the life from Magnar. Magnus wished he could just reach out and rip his brother free. The idea slammed into the wizard’s brain as he pulled arcane energy into this realm in the form of two large purple hands. Magnus sent the hands upward and they grasped the tentacle wrapped around Magnar. Mirroring the wizard’s own movements the arcane hands pulled in opposite directions, tearing the tentacle in half and releasing his brother.

  Magnar fell several feet and crashed onto the main deck as black blood and flesh fell around him. The kraken raised another tentacle high into the air and slammed it towards the fallen dwarf. Magnus dissipated his hands and quickly encased Magnar in a ward. The appendage bounced off the ward and Magnus strained to keep the spell active from the force of the blow.

  Telerek, now suspended by the ankles high above the ship, had an arrow nocked and was attempting to aim at the body of the beast, however, the kraken swung him violently as he shot. The arrow arced wide to the beast’s right and plunged into the water. Several tentacles wrapped around the ship’s mast and Magnus heard it creaking and straining from the pressure.

  The chaos of the fight was penetrated by a bird’s screech as a shadow flew over Magnus’ head. An impossibly large black and red falcon bolted towards Telerek. The bird’s talons sliced the tentacle holding the elf and he plummeted towards the ship. Swooping downward, the falcon caught the falling elf before safely landing next to Magnus and Kel’dhos. Telerek wrapped his arms around the giant bird’s head and whispered something the wizard couldn’t hear. The falcon began hopping in circles and throwing its head back like it was dancing.

  “Is, is that Val?” Kel’dhos asked Telerek as he ran past Magnus and the half-elf.

  “Who else?” Telerek said, diving to avoid a swiping tentacle. The elf reached the doorway leading to the lower decks, pulled out his sword and cut the restraints holding Depthrender to the wall. The elf barely seemed able to hold the massive weapon. Val flew off the deck as Telerek, Depthrender in hand, dove off the port side of the ship. Val dove downward out of Magnus’ sight and emerged a moment later holding her cousin beneath the arms. She flew high above the ship, cresting when they were no more than a blot in the blue sky. She then turned downwards and streaked directly towards them. When she was just a few feet away, she released her grip. Telerek shot directly at the body of the kraken, which was hanging halfway on the ship’s starboard side. The tip of the massive harpoon tore right through the beast’s soft flesh, followed by the enormous shaft of the weapon. Telerek completely disappeared inside the beast, remerging immediately from its underside and dropping into the ocean below.

  A deafening shriek pierced the air, as all the tentacles instantly slackened. Oily black blood sprayed from the elf sized hole in the beast’s body and the kraken slumped into the water. Its lifeless body sank slowly and after a few moments the only sign of it that remained was the dark blood floating on the water’s surface.

  Telerek’s head emerged a second later and he was hauled onboard soon after, Depthrender still gripped tightly to his body. Falcon-formed Val landed on the deck and quickly shifted back to her elven form.

  “Now that was one hell of a move,” Magnar bellowed, slapping the soaking wet Telerek on the back.

  The party all gathered around Telerek as he smiled and said “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time we had to do that.”

  Magnus looked at Val and said, “If you are able to carry me Val, I think I can find where these hidden docks are.”

  Val’s eyes lighted and she began clapping before saying “Of course, I love flying.”

  End of Chapter