Legends of Luternia by Thomas Sabel Page B

me the shivers to think about it. Eyes like slits and teeth sharpened to a point, skin as pale as dead fish on the shore. He’s evil on two legs. Too close a friend of death,” said Jirair.
    “He may be all that, but he guaranteed five years of fair weather if we got what he wanted,” Karayan said.
    “Five years of easy sailin’?” Eznik asked.
    “Aye, even when others are fightin’ storms.”
    “Impossible.”
    “So you say, but that slit-eyed, pointy-toothed devil’s son can deliver. I’ve seen what he can do,” continued Jirair.
    “Stop talkin’ about him. Speak of the devil and he’ll appear. Let’s get to looking around,” ordered Karayan.
    Ulrik tried to squeeze into the cracks in the rock trying to disappear from sight. He looked at Edgar and Barty. They had also heard the pirate’s discussion and even though Edgar didn’t catch all of its meaning, he realized a new danger was on them. They huddled their heads together trying to whisper through the storm.
    “Now what’ll we do?” Barty asked. “Sit tight until it’s safe?”
    “Uley, are they bad?” said Edgar.
    “Yes, they’re very bad men,” Ulrik answered.
    “Then we should go away,” solemnly replied Edgar.
    “Hey,” shouted one of the pirates, his voice coming from atop of their heads. “What’s that over there?”
    Slowly, they raised their heads and looked up to see one of them no more than three feet away, straddling the rocks giving them shelter. He was looking far off inland. They saw other pirates on other rocks, a total of five, all scanning the distance.
    “Can’t see a thing in this weather, what about you?” called one of them.
    “No. And I can usually spot anything biggern’ a rabbit in a squall.”
    “Give it up,” said Karayan, a short, wiry man who seemed to be the leader, “we’ll try further down the coast.”
    Ulrik, Edgar, and Barty waited for the men to move on while the storm continued soaking them, leaving no patch of clothing dry. For what felt to be half the day they waited before moving. Then, they picked their way from rock to rock trying to stay hidden, not sure if the pirates had withdrawn.
    After the storm lifted, they continued their journey in silence. Barty broke the quiet by asking what the pirate’s visit was all about.
    “I don’t know,” Ulrik answered. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would the Mage send me out to get the ioni flower’s juice and send pirates after me? Did you hear what he promised them? The Mage doesn’t give up his treasures lightly. Somehow, he knew we made it this far and I don’t think he’s happy about it. This is so confusing.” With that he sat on the rain-soaked beach. Cold, wet, confused, and not sure of what to do he cried out, “Dear God, what is going on? Nothing’s right.” He remained sitting on the beach with his legs crossed and his head in his hands, staring off at the distant horizon. Edgar edged towards him.
    “Uley?” Edgar said. The prince ignored him. Again he whispered, “Uley?” Still no response. Edgar knelt down in the sand beside him and clamped his hands together.
    “What are you doing?” Barty asked.
    “Edgar pray for help. God will hear me. God will help.”
    “This is ridiculous. We’re out here in the cold, soaked to the bone, scared half to death, not knowing where we are, chased by pirates, and you’re praying? Ulrik, let’s go home.”
    Ulrik said nothing, but shifted to his knees to kneel next to Edgar.
    “You’re both crazy.” Barty walked off, shaking his head.
    No prayer came to Ulrik’s mind, only tears of confusion. “Dear Father in heaven . . .” His mind wanted off “why am I here? What is going on? What am I supposed to do?” Then he realized he had to go on. Hope against hope he needed to see this through. The image of his father’s eyes, the sound of his pleading voice rose again, resurrected in his mind. He stood up, shook Edgar’s shoulder and helped his friend to his feet.
    “Come