by Spleen » Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:12 pm
The captain climbed up the ladder to where Jagen and the navigator were standing. "It doesn't look like there's a decent spot to beach the ship," he said, "I figure we'll send out the expedition and the equipment in the convertible rowboats."
"That should be fine," Jagen said. "When do we launch?"
"The ship'll take about two hours to get to the best spot to launch the rowboats," the captain said, "Get your team together and bring the stuff from your cabins down belowdecks, so they can get loaded. We'll be back to pick you up in twenty days' time. Can you stomach that?"
"Shouldn't be a hassle," answered Jagen, "How long will we have provisions for?"
"Oh, provisions aren't any trouble. Use 'em well and they'll last you thirty days, and that's if you don't fish or forage or anything. Oh, and before I forget, there'll be a ship passing decently close to the east end of the island in about ten days' time. They're on orders to keep an extra pair of eyes on the beach as they pass. Put some kind of a signal for them on the beach and they'll come and see what you need. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Get your team and bring them belowdecks, and we'll send you off."
Jagen found Tur first. "Get everything you need belowdecks, we're launching out in rowboats in two hours," he said, "Tell the others if you see them, I'm going to talk to Avry'l." He pointed up to where the other Wind Guide was hanging. He began to chant - the incantation he needed was long and pretty complicated, but it was one he used often. At its completion, Jagen began to glow very slightly blue, as the spell of Greater Flight took hold. He let the magic break some of the invisible bonds of gravity holding his body down to the surface of Elemaer, and concentrated, summoning a pocket of air to lift his lightened form off the ground. "Hey, Avry'l," he said as he reached hearing range, "We're here. Get everything together that you need and get belowdecks in two hours."