Crossroads 04 - The Dragon Isles Read Online Free Page B

Possessing
the parchment and finding the isles seemed goal enough for her. Perhaps gaining
a treasure cache and a huge diamond seemed insignificant to her, at least
compared with a trade route to one of the most wealthy lands on Krynn. To Mik, though, the treasure and jewel beckoned
. .. the stuff of dreams.
                 Karista
Meinor rolled up the prophecy scroll and returned it to its watertight case.
Then she unfurled a map of the northern ocean, overlaid with a star chart.
                 “The
meaning of the rhymes is clear,” she said. “Following the course outline,
steering by the constellations mentioned—Paladine, the Heavenly Palace , The Seven Cities, The Great Silver River—will lead to the Dragon Isles. Do any of you doubt this?”
                 “Not
so long as you’re paying us!” someone called from the back of the crowd
assembled below the bridge.
                 Marlian
crossed her slender arms over her chest “I don’t doubt it, Lady Meinor, but I
don’t understand this so-called prophecy, either.”
                 The
noblewoman-witch sighed and handed her map to Bok. The big bodyguard nodded
deferentially as he took it and held it out before the crowd. Karista pointed
at the route with a long fingernail as she spoke.
                 “The
first stanza instructs the reader to sail north beyond known waters to find the
isles,” she explained. “The second says to follow the gaze of the constellation Palatine in midsummer to discover the ‘divine’
chart—the map laid out in the stars. The third and
fourth indicate the isles he beyond the constellation of the Heavenly Palace,
and that you can find them by following the great Silver River in the sky
toward the Seven Cities. This evening, the stars of the Seven Cities will be
clearly visible in the northeastern sky. When we make the right conjunction, we
will be less than two days sail from the isles themselves!”
                 The
crew, even Marlian and Pamak, muttered appreciatively. Mik chuckled. Karista
was a good saleswoman; he supposed the talent ran in her wealthy family.
                 He
advanced to the rail beside Lady Meinor and said, “Everyone back to work. Now
that you understand our goals, I trust we’ll hear no more mutinous grumbling
while we seek our fortunes.”
                 “We’re
with you, captain!” old Poul called out. “Aye!” others added. Marlian and Pamak
went back to their business with the rest.
                 Trip
pushed close to study Karista’s star chart, but Bok rolled it up before the
kender could get a good look. Trip frowned fiercely; Bok frowned back, fiercer.
                 “Don’t
worry,” Mik said to his small friend, “you’ll have a chance to study it, soon
enough.” Then to Karista and Bok he added, “Bring the chart to the map room. I
want to check our bearings before the sun sets. C’mon, Trip.” He turned and
went down the short stairway from the bridge to the quarterdeck. Trip went with
him. Karista and Bok followed.
                 “I
see no reason the kender should be included in this,” Bok said, as they entered
the map room below the bridge.
                 “No
matter how he came aboard,” Mik replied, “Trip is part of our crew now. I know
him well and can vouch for him, but Pm sure he’ll more than prove his worth to
you before the voyage ends.”
                 The
big bodyguard frowned. “I’ll have to keep a careful watch on my pockets,” he
said.
                 Trip’s
hazel eyes brightened. “Why? Is there something in them that I should know
about?”
                 Bok
reddened and looked as though he might strike the kender. “Shut your hole, you
little—”
                 Mik
stepped between them. “Karista,” he said smoothly, “if your man can’t control
his temper, then