The silver light of the full moon shone brightly down on the Onyx
Needle, illuminating the figures of two men standing upon its balcony.
Both seemed comfortable with the silence between them, their gaze
sweeping across the rocky terrain below and towards the village of
Milena off in the east.

Clad in chain mail that rattled softly as he raised his hand to rub his
moustache, Tridfiur turned his gaze back to his master. "The
Harbourmaster says all is ready for the voyage."

"Good. The villagers have begun to talk. They suspect too much. I cannot
allow their gossip to distress the king. Bring me new subjects, and keep
it quiet."

"Of course, Lord Arsentar. I will see to it. With the enslavement
collars you enchanted and your spells to steer the ship through the
chops I am certain the task will not be difficult."

"Success will carry its reward, lieutenant. Perhaps it is time the king
appointed a new captain of the guard. One who does not let his romantic
interests interfere with what is best for his liege." With a gesture of
dismissal, Arsentar stalked past his loyal soldier, his inky black robes
swirling about him as he left the balcony, vanishing into the tower.

~ ~ ~

With speed and grace a Thalassian seastrider cut through the Riparian
Reaches, gliding effortlessly into port at Shastaan. Gripping the pommel
of his sheathed sword tightly, Tridfiur watched as the crew lowered the
gangplank, and he took his first step onto Sapience.

"You there. Sapient," he called out to a nearby rajamala woman, taking a
breath as he addressed the feline warrior he had only heard of in
childhood tales. "Where can I purchase a slave?"

Ever the shrewd business woman, Shimra D'Ischai recognized the
opportunity for profit. With a trip to Mhaldor and a smooth word to
Viceroy Sabiru, the merchant located a suitable mhun who she returned to
her client in short order.

As Tridfiur waited, a crowd began to form at the harbour. The lieutenant
had little to say, claiming only that he came from a distant island and
worked for a powerful mage. Once his newly purchased slaves were loaded
onto his ship, his departure was brief, and the seastrider sailed off to
the east, leaving more questions than answers in its wake.

~ ~ ~

Sowesas finished his tankard, cautiously watching the man seated across
from him. He had been paid a handsome sum to sail from Umbrin to this
island, and it was at the Harbourmaster's request that Sowesas had taken
Tridfiur and a few other guards to Sapience. Now Valdresim had invited
him out for a drink and to make yet another request.

"I just don't like him, Captain," Valedresim said. "Something about that
man rubs me the wrong way. He spends too much time with the mage in that
tower of his." Looking around, Valedresim leaned forward, continuing in
a soft voice, "They say he brings people to the tower for questioning,
and they are never seen again. Raelin and Osef both went missing just
this past fortnight."

Sowesas nodded his head. He liked Valedresim well enough, but a nagging
feeling had left him ill at ease since the first time he'd pulled into
the harbour. If the pay wasn't so good and his debts so bad he'd have
washed his hands of the island and Valedresim's requests, but his
finances made it difficult to say no to any job. And it was more than
suspicious, the way the lieutenant kept his crew off the deck while they
were at port, and out of the cargo hold during the return voyage. What
was it they weren't supposed to see?

One more job and he'd be done, Sowesas decided. Peering down at the
dregs left at the bottom of his tankard, he said, "So you'd like me to
collect your missus. Not a problem. She's in Jaru, you said?"

Valedresim nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he removed a silver locket.
"Give her this. Its been years since we saw each other, but she will
know it is from me. Please, see my Eilinae safely back to Minos, and to
me."

Penned by My hand on the 17th of Scarlatan, in the year 518 AF.