Maska was in high spirits. Not only was the Sea Queen nearing Lillthrealana, but she also had a good cargo to bring back. The ‘prisoners’ leaned over the rail next to her. Samilcar watched Lillthrealana grow bigger, thinking to himself, I wonder what this Goldorran is really like. Arill didn’t think much of him, but evidently this Maska does, saying that he’s the best king in the world. Ah well, I’ll get to find out soon enough. Salvarad asked Samilcar, “Wha’d’ yer think’s gonna happen to us?” “I dunno,” answered Samilcar, “but let’s just wait.”

Arill was in a great rage. Samilcar and Salvarad having left, he was short of a captain and a first mate. Angrily pacing the deck, he bared his teeth. “When I catch up with the filthy deserters…!” “Laand hooo!” came the shout from the crow’s nest. “What, where?” asked Arill. “T’ starboard!” Arill gave a triumphant smirk. Finally. Jayedion. He sighed. An excellent place for a stronghold. He would call it Triumfial. For it was a symbol of his work, and a monument to his triumph. He had long been seeking it. Soon he would be King of all Alcitiumon and Milmarad Isles. He was elated. The deserters had been driven from his mind. Then the ship lurched to one side. “What was that!?”Arill called out irratably. “Sire! Sire! A big shark!” Arill scoffed at the idea. “What, sharks in these waters? Never! Ne- ver!” But it was true. The thing scraped itself along the side again. Arill cautiously looked over the rail. It was indeed a shark, a huge leviathon of the deep. Yet so far south? Then the ship keeled over on its side.

Goldorran watched as the Sea Queen nosed into her berth. Though he hated stoats, there were two exceptions: Maska and her first mate, Scriptail. Then he walked off, for he had some more important buisness than watching the Sea Queen get into the harbour.