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"Naturally it cos," the professor said "As you pointed out, they were long gone fro historical mysteries is why they left, and why so suddenly A ure out the answers, and I eventually discovered so clues"

Cade joined them while he waited for the tea water to boil "Perhaps, you should have asked why they came in the first place"

The professor waved his hand dish the air "Oh, the usual Land, resources, the fishing A people to dominate Why they left is offros? Or did the sea kings leave of their own volition?"

The professor gazed intently at Karigan like a storyteller relishing the build up to a dramatic point "On the far east coast of what you knew as Coutre Province, I found a possible answer chipped into a rock ledge, subh tide It was almost worn away by the constant surf, and it was miraculous I found it I would not have but for a local fisherman who knew the shore well One of my finest discoveries!"

"If the fisherman knew of it, it wasn’t precisely a discovery noas it, Professor?" Cade asked Karigan espied a lint in his eye

The professor harru To those of us searching for the stories of the past, it was a breakthrough Now make yourself useful, student, and fetch my journal"

"Yes, Professor I am your obedient servant" Cade boith an affectionate smile for his teacher and headed for the desk

"Cheeky lad," the professor said good-naturedly

Cade ru a worn leather book tied with a string The professor said nothing until Cade placed the journal in his hands, leaving Karigan to wait in suspense The whistle of the tea kettle pierced the silence, and Cade sauntered off to attend to it

The professor untied the journal and rested it on his knees As he flipped through the pages Karigan caught iht toin his own journal as they sat in cahts in Blackveil His duty had been to map and document their journey, and she’d seen sos of other members of the company, as well as that of the flora and fauna there She closed her eyes trying to push the ies away, for they were suffused with sorrow and loss

By the time Cade returned with a tea tray and poured, the professor had found the page he was looking for He turned the journal so Karigan could see it right side up His drawing showed the figure of a man with so object like a sword or rod Three ships with triangular sails and curled bows and sterns, with lines dashed through the hulls thatwaves froure Beneath the picture the professor had written in a strange script

"This is what I found chipped into that rock ledge," he said "The script is a primitive form of Old Sacoridian and it says, Anschilde, son of Ansofil, chief of hly translates to ‘dragonfly’ The rest of the inscription has weathered away"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>