The Sea Devil's Eye - Mel Odom [97]
"We have every reason to believe that when the time comes," Reefglamor said, "the Taker will find the means to raise the army he needs to invade Eadraal."
The thought sobered all of the High Mages, Pacys noticed with satisfaction. The hardships of the journey, the turning away they'd experienced at the hands of the mermen, had tempered all of them.
A group of sea elf warriors approached from the north. Morgan Ildacer, young cousin to Pharom Ildacer and captain of the High Mages' guard from Sylkiir, came to a stop in the water. He bowed his head, his arms crossed at the wrist, and waited to be recognized.
"Captain," Reefglamor said, "your report."
"Our scouts have returned with good news, Senior High Mage Reefglamor. The way to Myth Xantar is clear."
"What of the merman guards?"
"If we move quickly enough, Senior," Morgan Ildacer said, "we'll be able to gain the city within the hour. Vhaemas's warriors seem to be concentrated to the south, prepared to defend their borders against the morkoth and koalinth. They're searching for groups much larger than ours."
"Very well," Reefglamor said. "Give the order, and let's get moving. Better this were done sooner than later."
"There are others of my kind in the area," the locathah ranger stated. "We can cover your backs in the event you are discovered. There are hiding places around here that not even the mermen know of."
"That won't be-" Morgan Ildacer started before Reef-glamor cut him off with a raised hand.
"That would be very kind of you," the Senior High Mage said.
Tyhlly stretched to her full height and bowed, then turned her attention to Pacys. "Your gods be with you, Lorekeeper. for you shall soon be sorely tried."
"My thanks to you," the old bard said. He spread his hand and touched palm to palm with the locathah ranger. "May Eadro give you only pleasant and free currents."
She leaped up and was gone in seconds, disappearing into the darkness of the sea.
Turning to face Mount Halaath, Pacys strained to pierce the gloom that lay ahead. He made out the glimmering blue glow of the Great Barrier that sealed Myth Nantar off from the rest of the world.
He'd come so close to one of his goals. Now it only remained to be seen how things would play out.
* * * * *
Laaqueel stood on the sandy, rocky western shore of Graubunden, the largest of the Whamite Isles, and peered out at Maelstrom at anchor in the shallow waters. The pirate ship's sails were furled around the masts, and crew filled her decks.
Iakhovas stood beside the malenti, an imposing figure amid the sahuagin warriors he'd brought with him. The sahuagin lay in the shallow waters to prevent their scales from drying out. Though he had barely talked to her in fully two months, concerned with all the battles and alliances he'd made, Iakhovas had commanded her presence for the day.
Attention, little malenti, Iakhovas spoke into her mind. You arc about to see the first culmination of my labors here in the Inner Sea.
Laaqueel turned her gaze to him.
Iakhovas smiled. He looked human at the moment, though she knew the sahuagin perceived him as one of their own.
Your astonishment astounds me, little malenti. Surely you didn't think I came here to conquer this place and never return to the outer seas.
The crew in Maelstrom's longboat rowed into the beach with consternation showing on their faces. They'd been waiting since early morning, the malenti priestess gathered from Iakhovas's comments, after arriving in the night. When they gained the beach, the crew bailed out and pulled the longboat up onto the sand.
Vurgrom stepped from the boat and approached Iakhovas. The pirate tried to act courageous, as if he wasn't standing in the midst of a hundred sahuagin warriors, but his nervous gaze and white-knuckled hand on the haft of his battle-axe gave his uneasiness away.
"Lord Iakhovas," the burly pirate rumbled in greeting.
"Captain Vurgrom," Iakhovas acknowledged. "Are you prepared to finish your part in this bit of business?"
"More than ready,"