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Eventually Bracken eased away froed Seth "Time for the bosun’s whistle"

Seth re calls Two ain twotheir view of the sea Seth continued to toot the whistle every couple of e rowboat was approaching, still so had awakened Vanessa and Trask Seth stowed the whistle, and everyone gathered their gear The rowboat ran aground, and a pair of seamen splashed out into the water Seth had seen zoures appeared to be soraceful as wraiths, they ility and competence than zoh

After scanning the o or the satyrs, Seth waded into the cold water with the others, accepting help from an undead seaman to climb into the rowboat A second pair of undead sailors awaited inside, e oars Once everyone was aboard, the pair of seamen on the beach pushed the boat back into the water, then scrambled inside

The boat accommodated all of theo would certainly have been too big Seth consoled hio behind needlessly

The sailors at the oars ed the craft with efficient coerous shoals nearby, Seth saw no sign of the up and down on the swells

Seth listened carefully to the undead sailors, but, as with the Standing Dead, he detected no thoughts He tried to start conversations mentally, but sensed no response

Theacross the black, undulating water felt creepy Everything was surreal: the rollingin the air, the undeadfrom his shriveled earlobe Seth noticed that Bracken had an ar tiht ball of white light rose froht over the wooden ship loo beside them

"Whoa," Seth mouthed, i with co, but no sails Far above the water awaited decks of different heights, bordered by ornate railings The wood looked old and weathered but not rotten Seth could see the naraved inat the front, face panicked, ar no heed to the added radiance, the undead sailors side the Lady Luck Seth heard the buzz of aover the water

"They found us," Trask said

"Up the ladder," Bracken instructed

Seth waited while the others climbed, until only he and Bracken remained in the rowboat with the four undead seafarers One of the sailors motioned for the," Seth explained

Showing no evidence of coain for the his time, Seth shuffled over to the ladder Thenear He adjusted his sword belt and fiddled with the case Coriven him

"Wait," Newel called "We’re here Sorry it took so long I think we dao had to rescue us froine died, and the ainst the rowboat, jostling the occupants Newel and Doren sprang into the rowboat

"These are our friends," Bracken said "They travel with us"

The undead sailors made no move to stop the down, Seth saw Hugo transfer gingerly into the rowboat, the vessel wobbling beneath his weight ADoren up the side of the ship

When Seth reached the top, he found the others huddled together, confronted by a crowd of twenty undead deckhands Although the raggedly dressed sailors rouping and their posture Bracken, Newel, Doren, and Hugo joined Seth and the others

"The captain’s cabin will be at the stern," Bracken said, pointing "I iine they’ll want us to wait here while you secure our passage We need this to work Whether or not we could stand against these cursed seamen, we can’t make the ship ferry us to our destination"

"No proble his teeth He walked away fro the undead sailors He kept one hand on the hilt of Vasilis and tried to betray no fear None of the sailors impeded his way, and, as he left them behind, some of his concerns faded

He walked to the door of the captain’s cabin, considered knocking, then just opened it The shadowy roo coveredon the walls The desk was senerous bunk had silky sheets

The roo, Seth opened the case, removed thehappened He opened the lid to the an to chime

Ied The door banged shut, and the shadows suddenly became much deeper Maps and charts fluttered on the walls, and papers took flight froe, but Seth knew that he was no longer alone An inexplicable Presence had joined hiirlish voice in his h she sounded childlike, Seth intuited that the speaker was ancient

"I have to reach Shoreless Isle," Seth said "This is the only way I know to get there"

You did not coirl was clearly displeased

"I a with friends to prevent a catastrophe," Seth said "Will you take us?"

Will I take you? The words stung his mind, and he flinched I will not I hate that island You and your cooleo into the deep

"That’s not acceptable," Seth said, worried, hand straying to the pommel of his sword

Not acceptable! Have you any idea who you are dealing with? I heeded the summons, as promised After you co here I will not bargain with you Away! Deliver my verdict to your coe awakened inside of him Confidence crowded out his doubts and fears, and he felt sha on hi a faint form in the corner It looked like a sparse cloud of dust ed hih nonsense," Seth coer pull of his sword "I’ve been through too ue with a thousand-year-old child My friends and I go to our deaths You are merely the ride I sue, or your existence will end as I carve your ship into matchsticks and your crew into fish bait" Silence

My apologies, caone You carried yourself like a fraud at first You are cruel to tease us so Cause us no hare to Shoreless Isle

"You have three days," Seth said "We need to be ashore well before sunrise"

As you say, Great One

Seth turned to go "I’d prefer if this were the last time we have to speak"

With no disrespect intended, I would prefer the saainst the railing near the front of the Lady Luck, gazing out over the glooh clouds currently obscured the full ood distance The ship advanced s the storm the day before, the Lady Luck had re water with unnatural haste

During their three days at sea, the undead sailors had never raised a single sail In fact, once the sailors had dispersed after Seth returned from the captain’s cabin, Kendra had not seen much of her undead ship into the forecastle where she and her friends were sleeping

Bracken had wakened her a few e al their equipment Kendra had coli her

"Not yet"

"How far can you see?" he asked