[Raleigh]

  After a short walk through many meandering tunnels we emerge from the wan light into the bright light of the day. Initially blinded, I recoil in pain. After letting my eyes adjust to the bright light, I can see that we are now at the seashore. Ahead of us, down a gentle slope lies the still corpse of the gigantic mogi-mogi. lying on its side it is the same height as Edward and easily nine meters long, a true giant. Surrounding the dead fish is what looks to be a team of busy dwarves all wearing bright white aprons stained with red. As we get closer to the beast we are hit with the stench of death, the warming day only serving to make it the smell even for foul. Holding our noses we finally makes it to the fish itself, its huge pale eyes staring out at us blankly as we pass by.

  “Here we are, up the ladder.”

  Together, Ed and I ascended the rungs. At the top of the ladder is a small platform that is level with the top of the fish. After wearily pulling myself to the top, I offer a hand to Edward.

  “I'm fine, thank you, I'm not the one that needs help.” He says smiling.

  Once we are both standing at the top, I turn away from the ladder to have a look.

  “Wow… I…I did that?”

  Below us is a circular hole in the fish so big that Edward and I could stand next to each other, arms outstretched and not touch anything. With a “thump” I fall to my knees. I..did this, and yet..I can’t remember a single thing. How. I don't understand.

  “Raleigh? Are you okay?”

  The acidic taste of bile burns my throat.

  “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  “Raleigh?”

  “I’m just shocked. Let’s go back down, I've seen enough.”

  “Fine with me.”

  The quiet journey back into the mountain is a fuzzy blur in my mind. After having returned to the banquet hall, I politely excuse myself and head past the guest suites that we are staying in and out into a small garden that Is shared with the neighboring suite. The fresh air is exhilarating especially after what felt like days in the confines of the tunnels. I lean on an ornate grey marble guardrail and look out across the lake. The world is so big and I am so small. Tears start to slowly trickle down my cheeks and nose, dripping slowly onto the marble. I can taste the salt on my lips, angry at my own sadness and confusion I wipe the tears away with my sleeve. Why am I so upset? I’ve taken a fish’s life before and I've never felt like this. Around me dead leaves are blown about by the wind and on the distant horizon dark storm clouds gather. It looks like the weather will pick up this evening. As I turn to leave I stop dead in my tracks. There is someone leaning on a wooden garden post upholding vines laden exotic looking fruit. Curious I approach.

  “Hello, my name is Raleigh, I don't reco…"

  The person who I can now clearly see is a girl turns towards me. She has fair skin with a sprinkling of freckles and long silky black hair. But what catches my eyes the most is her eyes, sharp blue like the sky after it has rained. The sudden stop in the middle of my sentence makes her giggle.

  “My name is Eden."

  “Ah.. Nice to meet you Eden.”

  “Nice to meet you Raleigh.. you look like you’ve been crying."

  Taken aback I don’t know what to say. Its hard to focus when I can't take my eyes off her.

  She reaches out and takes my hand and I let her lead me to a small pond where we sit down.

  “Tell me everything Raleigh.”

  ~~~

  After what only feels like a few minutes to me the thunderous sound of the storm announcing itself arrives and we are forced to finish conversing. I feel much better for getting some of my thoughts out. Before she leaves I thank her for talking to me and then I say my farewells. It feels wrong watching her go. Just before ducking into a dimly lit tunnel she turns and looks back at me, standing alone in the pelting rain. It Is far too windy to try to shout so instead she mouths it. “Raleigh, we will meet again, I promise. Goodbye.”

  And then with a sad smile she disappears from my view.

  ~~~

  I have never been a part of a feast the likes of which the dwarves of Caladhburn are throwing, much less the center of attention. All around me drunken dwarves celebrate the death of the apex Mogi-Mogi, drinking fine mead and loading their plates with hunks of Mogi-Mogi meat. I myself find myself enjoying the festivities, poorly singing dwarven songs with Edward drunkenly singing along beside me. I have had Mogi-Mogi a few times in my life at several Manolla festivals and for a long time I didn't think I would taste anything better, until today. It turns out nothing can quite compare to spit roasted hunks of Mogi-Mogi dressed with many herbs such as yale and huiy, with citric juice drizzled on top. Beside the hunks of Ugimah and Mogi-Mogi, slices of the citric fruit and other strange exotic fruits pile up on platters. Truly a delicious feast.

  Tomorrow Edward and I set off toward the Island of Marney in a new dwarvish two masted schooner, generously gifted to us by Thrak for killing the Mogi-Mogi. After two days being away from home I still feel homesick, yet I have hope that it will lessen the longer I am away but I fear it will only grow stronger the further away from home I travel. A tap on my shoulder brings me back from my reverie. It's Edward smiling drunkenly with a tankard of mead in one hand and his other arm wrapped around a nervous looking dwarf.

  “This dwaerf wansh to have a talk with you about conjoining a stew? No, that can't be right.” says Ed slurring his words.

  “Ah, actually I was wondering If I could join your crew sir?” says the portly dwarf.

  “It’s not my crew haha, its his.” I say and motion at Edward.

  “Oh right yes it is.” Giggles Ed.

  “Sooo, can I join?”

  “Ahhh Hmmmmmm, what can you do?” asks Ed.

  “I am a cook, I can cook whatever you fellas would like and like most dwarves I can take care of myself.”

  “You're a cook?! Did you cook this?”

  “Well um I helpe….”

  “Did you cook this or not?”

  “Ahm, well yes I gue..”

  “You’re hired!”

  “Why do you wish to come with us? And what is your name?” I ask.

  “Oh yea, what he said and once we’ve decided you're coming for sure, move your stuff into the cabin of the schooner.”

  “My name is Garfil and I wish to travel with your company across the world or as far as you go, to learn new recipes and to expand my knowledge of the history of this world. I am a member of the dwarvish guild of historians, our goal is to record all of what takes place on Vanya, the leader of my guild has requested that I record what is happening in the north. Since you two happen to be travelling north, I figured I’d try tag along.”

  “I think Raleigh and I would be happy to have you onboard Garfil.”

  Garfil's shoulders slump and he smiles.

  “Thank you.”

  “Don't stress it. My name's Raleigh, and that's Edward, our captain.” I say and shake Garfil’s hand.

  “Nice to meet the both of you.”

  After shaking hands with Garfil, Edward proclaims:

  “A toast to our new member, to Garfil.”

  “GARFIL!!” we shout and smash our tankards together, sloshing mead and juice onto the floor.

  Garfil and Edward walk away, arms around each other's shoulders singing happily. I smile and let myself forget the future and enjoy the present.

  [Edward]

  Before we leave this morning Thrak has asked Raleigh and I to attend a meeting in his office, thankfully the dwarvish mead left me with almost no hangover symptoms. As we grow closer to midday and our approaching departure I grow more and more excited to set off on the next part of our adventure. I do notice however that the closer we get to leaving the more somber Raleigh becomes. He must like Caladhburn a lot.

  A dwarf water clock drips slowly as we wait to be shown into Thraks office, finally the door opens and two dwarven warriors exit and lift their chins to us in a typical dwarf show of friendship or greeting.

  “Come In.”

  Quickly Raleigh and I seat ourselves and wait to hear what he has to say.

  “I know you two don't have much time so I will be brief. The two dwarves that just left my office are scouts, they man the sea outpost on the opposite side of the river mouth. They tell me your ship was spotted sailing past Marney. Let that sink in.”

  “But sailing around Marney is impossible!” I exclaim, doubting the truth in his words.

  “The riptides and whirlpools would drown even the best sailor and if you managed to survive that, the sirens would send you diving to your own demise.”

  Thrak laughs with a glint of mischief in his eye.

  “So we thought. But it seems that it is possible if you are a good enough sailor and if you know the waters well enough, you can make it through. Even then it would take an extra few days and would subject you to many dangers least of all the merpeople.”

  “So we must go through Marney.”

  “I am afraid that is the only choice you have if you wish to get your ship back. But there are some things you need to know about the cursed island…"

  ~~~

  "Other than that dire information, I have a couple pieces of good news thankfully. We know that the only people that have better navigation skills in the inner sea than us are the bārū. This knowledge means you now know exactly where to head to once you come out the other side of Marney. The second piece of good news is that if you survive Marney, you will only be half a day behind the Silvester.”

  “Woah, only half a day?” askes Raleigh.

  "Yes and on top of that, the people of Caladhburn have decided to gift you a special ship. Usually such a gift is paid for not given, but through a combination of goodluck, and the guild of historians funding, we are able to give this gift to you two. Our ship is fast and as it is only freshly commissioned, it hasn't even been given a name. Three cannons on each side and one on the bow."

  “That should be more than enough.” I say laughing. "Single mast?"

  “Hopefully and yes, single mast of course.” Thrak says with a small sigh.

  “One last thing friends, take this”… I look down at my hand as he gently wraps my fingers around a small letter with a heavy metal seal on it.

  “If you ever need help from any dwarves, give them this, it’s a signed warrant for your protection.”

  "I don't know how we will ever repay you Thrak."

  “Bring Garfil back one day, and take good care of him." Says Thrak, standing up from his chair.

  I can't say no to that.

  “It would be my pleasure. We might not have been able to stay for long but we are ever thankful of your hospitality and stunned by your generosity. We are deeply indebted to you. Though we have not known you for long I hope you will forever remember us as friends like we will remember you.” I say, while Raleigh and I also stand.

  "Gu bràth an-còmhnaidh, Goodbye boys, may you have the speed of the ancient.”

  ~~~

  With final instructions from Thrak and all provisions loaded, we are finally sailing towards Marney. Garfil mans the sails, I direct us through the twisted currents from inside the cabin and Raleigh steers from the tiller. If we had not all spent time on ships and boats together at some points of our lives, this would be a very very stupid thing to do. Its hard enough with some sailing experience, I can't imagine trying to attempt this with a inexperienced crew. I can thank the ancient that we all grew up next to water.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Raleigh's rabok Gump sits silently on his shoulder surveying us as we fight against the mighty waves of the southern inner sea. Under me I can feel the timbers of the deck thrum and vibrate as we cut through the water, it almost feels as if the ship is alive. I wonder if the Silvester made it through the whirlpools. The closer we get to Marney the more a silent dread hangs over the crew. No longer do we laugh and whoop when going over large waves, silence rules now, all we do is keep that boat on course and stare at the looming island mountain that leers down at us. As if to say this is where you meet your end.

  ~~~

  The overwhelming presence of evil clings to the island as we take our first steps wobbly ashore. Before we can see what the island truly looks like, we must first climb up onto a sandy bank that overlooks a small plane that lies before the mountain. Garfil, Raleigh and I quickly decide our course of action. Keeping in mind the advice from Thrak, we choose to go straight up the dune and then cut across the plane towards the two ancient columns that mark the entrance to Marney. We start walking immediately, all of us acutely aware that the few that come to this island, never leave. As we ascend the dune a sliver of silver light catches my attention. Stopping and turning to have a look at what I spotted, I notice that the object that holds my attention is in fact a glass stone glinting from a lone beam of lighting cutting down from the stormy sky above. Inspecting the glass pebble closely I realize that not just this one pebble is glass, but instead, the entire beach is composed of glass stones.

  “Guys are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

  “What are you seeing?” Says Garfil from further down the dune.

  “Look closely at the ground.”

  “….. its glass.”

  “Glass can only be crafted in extreme heat right Ed?” Chimes in Raleigh.

  “That’s right.”

  “Then who crafted all of this glass?” Raleigh asks.

  “I’d give a 100 shiek to know the answer to that question.”

  “Maybe twas a volcano.”

  “This doesn’t look like any volcanic glass I’ve ever seen Garfil. Anyways, we are wasting time, we must continue onward.”

  Our ascent to the top of the dune is slow and difficult, but what I see when I reach the top takes my little remaining breath away from me. The plain that reaches toward the mountain and grasps at its feet provides the most awesome view I have ever seen, yet also fills my heart with fear. As far as my eye can see the land lies ruined, great spires of gleaming glass reflecting beams of rainbow light stretch toward the clouds. While the ground looks like a shimmering stained-glass window smashed upon the floor. The mountain that we seek to pass under looks like it has been slashed many times by a sword, long dark ravines ruin what was once the beautiful face of the mountain.

  Behind me I hear the crunch of Raleigh and Garfil’s boots on the pebbles and then two sharp intakes of breath as they too also reach the summit of the dune.

  “By the ancient,” Mutters Garfil.

  Raleigh falls to his knees, his mouth open. Upon face is the look of a boy that Is only just beginning to truly understand how small he really is compared to the size of the world. I too came to the same realization when I traveled to the sprawling city of Port Dinas as a child.

  “Quickly, we need to find the river that enters Marney,” I say.

  “It’s so beautiful,” Mumbles Raleigh, not hearing a word I've said.

  “Snap out of it,” Grumbles Garfil before putting his arms under Raleigh’s armpits and heaving him to his feet.

  “Thrak said it would be almost in line with the top of the mountain.”

  “I think… I think I see it.”

  “Raleigh, I need to know right now, where does the river meet the sea.?” My heart thumps loudly in my chest. If Raleigh can spot the river mouth in the next half an hour, we will be able to sail through the mountain before the tide reverses and leaves us stranded in the glass wasteland.

  … “Just down the beach a way.”

  “How far?”

  “We will make it… maybe.”

  “RUN.”

  Back down the glassy dune we scramble, as fast as we can go. Occasionally one of us slips and slides down before picking ourselves up and continuing. The trip up the dune lasted almost a quarter hour. The trip down the hill lasts less than five minutes. When we finally reach our ship, it takes another ten minutes to dislodge it from the beach and turn it around. Raleigh and I push the ship out into deeper water while Garfil unfurls a ladder. Quickly Raleigh and I swim around to the ladder on the port side of the ship. In under a minute, we are both standing soaked on the deck of the ship.

  “Quickly, Garfil you unfurl and trim the sails, Raleigh, In the crows nest, keep an eye out for the river mouth. When you see it, make some noise.”

  “Aye aye captain,” Says Raleigh unenthusiastically.

  Our ship makes slow progress as it travels across the wind, the square sails do not help with this dilemma. Time ticks by painfully slowly as we search for the mouth of the creek. As each second piles upon the last I feel our chances of catching the thief slip away.

  “Raleigh?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I wish this ship would go just a bit damn fa-”

  “THERE IT IS, Hard to port!” Shouts Raleigh, unable to keep the excitement from his voice.

  I throw the wheel hard and the ship begins to slow down as it turns into the waves. As the waves line up with our ship and the wind fills our sails we speed up, it looks like we will make it into the creek.

  “Trim harder, Garfil!”

  “I'm trying!”

  “BRACE” yells Raleigh from the crows nest.

  Suddenly all of us are thrown forward, My chest smashes into the wheel but I manage to maintain my grip. Upon looking up in search of my crew, Garfil and Raleigh both hunkered down in time to be spared from the violent crash that I endured. Lucky them.

  Casting my eyes behind us, I search in confusion for the cause of our trouble. Almost hidden from view is a sand bank that is starting to break the surface of the water where the creek meets the sea. This means that the tide is going out and that we barely made it into the creek on time.

  “That's the easy part.”

  “We barely made it!” Says Raleigh with a smile.

  I might be imagining it but through his thick beard I think I see Garfil smiling.

  “Edward! Port!”

  Without thinking I pivot, grab the wheel and spin it as hard as I can to port (left).

  “Raleigh the current is picking up,” Grumbles Garfil.

  I am tempted to look over my shoulder at whatever obstacle we just avoided but I have learnt my lesson.

  “What manner of obstacle did we just avoid back there?”

  “A boulder just under the water. It was good spotting by Raleigh. If you hadn’t turned we would've had a nasty gash along the hull for sure.”

  “Thanks Ray,”

  “Ray?” That's new.

  While the crew focus on their tasks I realize how thankful I am to both of them, for helping me. For being my friends.

  “Are you ready? It's a whole new world on the other side of the inner sea. Some say that Marney marks the edge of civilization.”

  “I am ready as I’ll ever be,” grins Raleigh.

  “Aye, I'm eager to experience the fullness of the world.” says Garfil.

  As we talk I survey the river ahead of us, we are almost halfway to the entrance into Marney. All around us iridescent glass sparkles with light that pierces from the thinning grey clouds. Now and then I must steer the ship around rocks and small reefs or to avoid colliding with the river banks that almost hug the sides of the ship.

  “Ed, what happens when we get Silvester back?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that too.” I lie. In fact I had been so enthralled about finally leaving Rynwhere that I hadn't really been thinking about anything other than the next step of catching up to my boat.

  “If we get the Silvester back, I suppose I will return home with him and see that the family business survives."

  "And after that?" Asks Raleigh.

  "I hope that I can leave the business running to Gustav, gather a crew and explore the world for myself."

  “Something doesn't feel right,” mutters Garfil.

  Both Raleigh and I turn to look at him, concerned by his tone. All of a sudden the hairs on the back of my neck and forearms shiver and stand on end.

  “Edward, Thrak was right, we aren't alone on this island.”

  Slowly I turn my neck feeling dread well in the pit of my stomach.

  All along the banks of the river crystalline horrors bound across the landscape after us. There are so many that they fill my entire vision. Yet most eerily of all, the world is silent but for the whistling wind.

  “OARS!”

  [Threyir]

  It's the fourth day since I left Rynnwhere. So far, my speed has stayed consistent. I hope that I will make it home in time. I hope that I'm not too late. So far, my biggest struggle has been sleep. I can't forget what I saw. Today I will arrive at Shehuk where an escort of soldiers will be ready for a hard ride to the capital. What will I see when I reach the land of my people? What will remain? I don't know. For now I might as well enjoy the wind in my hair and the warmth of the sun on my back. The further I sail from Marney the better, something is not right with that place.

  ~~~

  [Raleigh]

  “THEY’RE GAINING!

  Come on, we’re nearly there.

  “Raleigh! The water is receding, we don't have much time left, we are going to have to fight, take the wheel!”

  Ahead of us the mountain looms, casting its dark shadow over us as we sail forth into it. Behind me I can hear the fearsome sounds of battle. The screech of steel. Splashes as bodies hit the water.

  “You boys alright?!”

  “There's too many of them!”

  I can feel the boat vibrate as more and more of the demonic creatures jump from the creek shore onto the boat.

  “Just hold on a little longer!”

  The timbers of the boat groan as more crystal horrors clamber aboard. Ahead of us a great mouth of darkness opens to swallow us whole, pillars of filthy black marble support the entrance into the mountain. I leave the tiller and start bashing at the horrific creatures with a canon ram as they try to climb up the side of the ship. Crystal chunks shatter off and some are knocked off, but more keep coming. Suddenly a high pitch whining pierces my ears. The pain drives me to my knees.

  Slowly the noise fades but my ears are left ringing. The only other sound is the soft lapping of the boat as it rocks side to side. I slowly stand by holding onto the wheel and hauling myself to my feet. I feel unsteady. Suddenly there's a hand on my shoulder and I almost hit Edward before I realize that he is not a crystal demon. He eyes me wearily.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  “No.”

  “Where's Garfil? And what the hell was that noise?”

  “I’m right here.” Says Garfil with a slap on my back.

  “And I have no idea what in Gori’s name that was.”

  “Where were you?” Says Ed.

  “On the ground covering my bloody ears?!”

  “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

  Garfil mutters and grumbles and I almost laugh, before I realize we are still drifting deeper into Marney and I'm not minding the helm.

  ~~~

  We are now so deep in the bowels of this cursed mountain that no light reaches us. No one talks and the only noises are that of the flowing water and the creaking planks. Without Thrak’s warning we would be dead twice times already, once to the demons once to the silence. In the silence, thoughts grow to life inside my head, the crystal pillars, the dead Mogi-Mogi, Thrak, Eden and my aunty. Everything's moving so fast I don’t even have time to stop and think, it's overwhelming, but at the same time, thrilling. There is one thing that my mind always returns to, it gnaws at me until I am so curious the question almost bubbles out of me.

  “Ed, how did I kill the Mogi-Mogi?” I whisper as quietly as I can.

  Ed mouths “Not Now” and gives me a stare that warns me from speaking again.

  Almost deceptively, our boat is starting to slow down. My knuckles must be white, no one on board moves as we drift out of the tunnel and into the huge inner chamber of the mountain. Even in the dim light, I can see the ruined remains of what used to be a huge stone hall. In Caladhburn, Thrak had warned us that no matter what we must remain silent within the cursed mountain. Through the timbers beneath my feet I can feel the gradual deceleration of our boat, according to Thrak, this is the breathing of the mountain, whatever that means. The smell of rot and decay permeates the air, even breathing through the fabric of my tunic I cannot rid my nose of the foul stench. Our forward momentum has slowed to a halt, but we are starting to get dragged sideways. I cast my glance to Edward, unsure whether I should be afraid. He looks at me with eyes just as confused as mine must look. As we approach the centre of the cavern, the world becomes brighter and suddenly we can see the water around the boat, black and whirling fast, We. Are. Being. Sucked. Into. A. Gigantic. Whirlpool. Instead of looking downward, I look up. Our boat is directly below a hole in the mountain, rimmed by gigantic glass crystals that stretch down toward the water, each reflecting beams of the sun that now glares down through the cracked mountain. Immediately after a ray of light touches the centre of the whirlpool, a hideous screech like the sound of boiling water, but many times louder, erupts from the water and reverberates around the room. Due to our proximity to hellish noise, I can’t do anything but scream from the pain. My ears feel like they will explode. Even as the noise slowly dies, they continue to ring painfully. I struggle to the side of the boat to throw up. As I lean against the rail and heave over the side I look down into the black void. No light pierces the water. Yet somehow I get the distinct feeling that something moves just below the surface. I want to tear myself away from the water, but I can’t bring myself to. Without warning a huge yellow eye snaps open. Black in the centre. Larger in diameter than the mayor's feast table. So ancient and terrifying my voice falters completely. I can't move, I can’t scream, I can only stare into the dark pupil of the horrifying creature.

  “The water is reversing! We are getting pushed towards the mountain. We HAVE to find the exit or we are going to get smashed on the rocks!” Yells Edward from the helm.

  "There should be a hole in the cavern on the opposite side to where we entered."

  Like an angel from the heavens a beam of light shines one of the many hanging crystals and then shines through into another, magnifying the afternoon sunlight twice into a concentrated glowing path of light across the black water. The light's hue is so vibrant and stunning that it puts even the iridescent glass from earlier to shame. The bow of our craft cutting through the water causes many droplets to be shot into the air around us, which each sparkle with magnificent color and luster, like tiny gemstones. I would be completely blown away if not for the lingering image of the terrifying yellow eye, still branded into my mind.

  “Look! Edward, to starboard! (right) There's our way out!” Shouts Garfil.“The light shines a way!” says Garfil, chuckling in surprise.

  “The light shines a way!” Laughs Ed. “Just like Thrak said.”

  “Indeed.”

  As we speed away from the center of the pool, I look back. Oily black tentacles, like giant snakes, race silently after us. Emerging from the water, is the huge yellow eye which crowns the head of a monstrous black squid. Its so terrifying and inexplainable. I want to warn the others, even if it seems pointless, even if warning them will do nothing.

  I can’t help but feel like it is looking into me still.

  They still haven’t seen it.

  “E-ed”

  …

  “Ed … Ed!”

  “Im busy right now!”

  “EDWARD!”

  “What is it?!” He yells, over the roar of the wave we are riding.

  “Look behind us!”

  I look back and point at.. “It's gone.”

  “What? I have to focus!”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Exiting the mountain through a tunnel entrance like the one we came through, while loath to do so, I feel inclined to look back. Unsurprisingly, I don’t see anything but black water. With the speed from the wave slowly dying off, we are left floating gently along another small river, slowly drifting towards the sea and freedom.

  “By the time we get to sea it will be dark.” States Garfil. “I don’t like the idea of sailing this side of the inner-sea for the first time in the dark.

  “Neither, and we will be in grave danger long before then if the creatures return and we can barely even see them.” Replies Edward.

  “Should we stay overnight here then?” I ask.

  "I don’t think we can, the Silvester will be too far gone.”

  “There's no question about it then, we must push onward.”

  “Onwards it is.”

  “Let me go make us something to eat, I’m starving.” Grumbles Garfil.

  "Me to." I say, my stomach gurgling like a payed actor.

  Me are all silent for a moment, then burst out laughing, much of the days tension draining out of us.

  “Raleigh, let's set the lamps up and prepare for another attack. We aren't out of this lovely paradise yet.” Says Edward.