The Coral Kingdom - Douglas Niles [92]
Brigit emerged from the forest behind them, and Trillhalla urged the pair to join her for a swim. The three females splashed through the water for some time, diving after schools of fish, exploring the coral formations under the pool. Finally they rested, Brigit and Alicia emerging from the water to flop onto the sand, already growing warm in the sun.
"I hope that you will all be comfortable here," said the silver-haired sea elf wistfully, relaxing in the water near the grotto's sandy beach.
Alicia and Brigit laughed. "I can't imagine anyplace more comfortable," replied the princess. Again she remembered her father, and a storm of guilt assailed her. She tried to force it aside, reminding herself that there was nothing they could do until the longship had been made seaworthy.
"Even Synnoria pales by comparison," Brigit added seriously.
For a time, in the warmth of the sun, they found it possible to forget about their quest, about the dangers that lay ahead. They had worked so hard to get this far that a few hours of leisure seemed no more than a just reward.
Trillhalla remained in the water but allowed her shoulders and arms to emerge as she looked at her visitors curiously. "It took great courage and great skill to reach our shores. It's quite a remarkable achievement, you know."
"There was no other way," replied the princess with a shrug. It was hard now for her to remember the tension and fear of their harrowing voyage.
"Your father is a great man. You must love him very much," noted the sea elf.
Alicia looked at her in surprise. Trillhalla spoke with a frankness that disconcerted the human woman. "That's true, I suppose. I-I just had to do something as long as there was any hope of success. I guess we all did."
"I wish you fortune for the remainder of your voyage."
The talk of their mission made Alicia restless again, and she sat up. "When do you think the supplies will get here?" asked the princess.
"Soon now, I should think," Trillhalla explained. "Palentor was placed in charge of their acquisition, and he's a fast and forthright worker."
"Even to aid those he despises?" asked Brigit wryly.
"He is a loyal servant of his queen," Trillhalla replied. "And besides, do not judge him too harshly. He commands the sea elves who patrol this portion of the shoreline. He was quite mortified that your craft made it so close to land."
As if to punctuate the sea elf's explanation, a long canoe came into view down the water channel that connected the grotto to the sea. A scowling Palentor sat in the bow, supervising the dark-haired elves who paddled the craft. The hull of the vessel, Alicia could see, was piled high with stacks of lumber and materials.
The male sea elf, they soon saw, rode the first of four great boats, each wider and heavier than the canoe that had carried the visitors to the Summer Palace. And each contained supplies necessary to repair the bruised longship-barrels of tar, iron for nails, even a bellows to fan Knaff's makeshift forge.
The females went to join Brandon and the others at the grotto's small dock, where the first canoe drew alongside. The boats were so big that they could only be unloaded one at a time, but eager northmen quickly formed a chain of workers, passing the crates and barrels from the elven craft to the work area, where Knaff supervised their organization and placement.
"You must be finished within five days!" barked the sea elf, standing straight before the prince of Gnarhelm and meeting him with his almond-shaped eyes.
"The queen said we could take as long as we needed!" objected Alicia, drawing the sea elf's angry eyes to herself.
He didn't withdraw from her gaze, but Palentor seemed surprised when the human woman stood up to his aggressive stare. Finally he blinked and cleared his throat. "I shall request independent confirmation of that fact. Your presence here is a disruption to our defenses. You place this entire coast in jeopardy!"
"I thought you said we were the first ship to make it this far. What do you guard against, then?" demanded Alicia, heating up to the