Such was our laughter that my two companions did not notice when I cut my own mirth short. The mage Sutek had found his way to the bow, and for once, his vision lay not on the stars, but on the three of us. Briefly, our gazes locked, and instead of shying his eyes away from mine, as I might expect from someone who had been caught eavesdropping, he offered me only a somber, solemn frown before he returned to his scrutiny of the skies.

* * *

6/20/137

Again the winds have failed us. It was only during the late afternoon that we sailed past the walls of Trinsic. Evening has now settled, along with a storm that threatens us from the west. I have ordered my crew to steer clear of the storm, for the Fens of the Dead lie beneath that dreary canopy, and pity the Captain and crew who beach on those haunted isles.

The passengers, too, are wary of the archipelago and its legends. Oddly enough, Astarol has managed to keep their cheer by telling chilling tales of the Bloody Plains and the ruined city of Magincia.

If all goes well, we should reach Britain by tomorrow afternoon, in plenty of time to join the celebration of the solstice.

* * *

'Twas not the storm that awoke me, but the lurch of my ship, and the screams that followed.

I was thrown to the floor. I heard Faulina's cry of surprise as she was tossed, followed by the shatter of our oil lamp when it crashed beside me. Thunder deafened me and lightning flashed.

The bed, like the other furniture of the room, was bolted to the floor, and I used its leg to pull myself to my feet. I had but a moment to orient myself when the door flung open. Streams of rain and a flicker of lightning silhouetted the hulking figure who braced himself against the door frame. "Johne!" Nosfentre called. "'Tis a maelstrom, and we are caught in its maw!"

Again the ship lurched. My shoulder cracked as I hit the wall. The latch on the wood stove split in two, and crimson coals danced over the floor. Beyond Nosfentre, the ocean swelled and broke over the deck. A dark wave drenched the fighter and flooded the cabin. The coals guttered and hissed as they died along with what little light was left.

"In Lor!"cried Faulina, and the tip of her staff flared blue. A cold, pale light basked the cabin.

"The passengers," I shouted to Nosfentre. "If any are still on deck, throw them in the hold!" I staggered to him, water surging around my bare feet. I turned to Faulina who was ready to follow me. "No," I said to her. "Stay here and conserve thy strength. We may need thee for thy healing skills." She nodded, and stepped back, pulling her nightclothes tighter as if that would somehow ward off the danger. Nosfentre grabbed my arm and together we stumbled onto the deck.

Rain stung my flesh while lightning gutted the sky. "How did this happen?" I cried over the wind. "I ordered us away from it."

"I don't know," he answered, "but the bard, he claims that the storm stalked us, hunted us. Your men could not steer away."