The map is not at fault. There are no ports on Akoum.
Oh, this is excellent, Sorin said.
The shore is too perilous for ports, Anowon said.
However, the probability is high that a group of humans is forming a rescue party on shore even as we speak.
To rescue us? Nissa asked. Boats! Why did I ever get on a boat?
It is possible to land a ship, Anowon said.
But the water is filled with crystalline points invisible to even the most trained lookout.
And we do not even have that. Nissa said.
Precisely.
Why did you not say something about this sooner?
Anowon shrugged. One point more: There is a good chance that those human rescuers could also be bandits.
But how did the brood that took you prisoner get you to Ondu?
By wing.
Oh, lets do that, Sorin said.
Nissa ignored him. When she looked up, it seemed like the shore of Akoum had raised three hands higher, like a great maw opening to receive them.
This must be the welcoming party, Sorin said, pointing off the starboard side. A great field of bubbles erupted on the surface of the water. Soon the water churned with movement, and huge tentacles began to break the surface. A fleshy dome the color of a bled corpse broke the surface. Even Sorin drew his breath in sharply when two great, malevolent eyes opened in the dome and focused their long irises on the ship. Soon the full head appeared, with the tentacles where the mouth should be.
Nissa held her staff up. A kraken, she thought. What could happen next? She glanced at Sorin. Had he recouped his power enough to strike down such a large creature? Even though Sorin was smiling, she could see the lines of exhaustion on his face.
The kraken rose immensely next to the ship. Its right tentacle held a huge, spiked shell, and on its back was another even larger shell. The creature s other limb was huge, an armored claw easily as long as the ship they were standing on. The six gills running up its chest opened and closed in the early morning sun.
Why do you disturb the slumber of the sleeper in the deep?
Who is he? Sorin said innocently.
The eyebrow shells above the kraken s eyes dropped.
He is Brinelin, the Moon Kraken. He is I, the creature said.
For some moments, Nissa could only stare at the tremendous creature, dripping and glistening in the light.
Brinelin, Nissa said, raising her voice above the churning made by the kraken s tentacles. We did not mean to break your slumber.
The Moon Kraken harrumphed. An apology will not save you.
What will save us, great Brinelin? Nissa said.
Nothing will save you.
Nissa remembered the rumor she d heard about Speaker Sutina and the Moon Kraken. The rumor of a secret friendship.
Anowon stepped up beside Nissa. Do you have a riddle for us, great Brinelin?
The kraken regarded Anowon through round unblinking eyes. Riddle? it said. Riddles are a sphinx s folly. It raised one tentacle to its mouth. Brinelin demands red sacrifice! The kraken swam to a small rock sticking out of the ocean, and hoisted itself up into a sitting position.
Will you take this offering? Sorin said. He casually took one of the goblins by the scruff of the neck and tossed it screeching into the water, where it thrashed wildly.
The Moon Kraken regarded the panicking goblin for a moment before sighing and falling off the rock. It hit the water with a large splash and slipped under the surface. The goblin, showing the whites of its eyes, scratched desperately at the side of the ship, looking for a handhold. It did not cry out, but whimpered in a way that made Nissa s stomach turn. The other two goblins stared down at their feet while Smara sang what sounded like a song under her breath, oblivious to the goblins whimpers. Sorin chuckled. Anowon watched Brinelin s air bubbles approaching the goblin with a blank expression.
And then the goblin was simply gone, pulled under with a sudden jerk. The Moon Kraken surfaced a moment later.
Brinelin brought its huge shell out of the water and slammed it down on the water. The wave from the impact of the shell hit the hull and washed over the deck, drenching everyone on it.
You will do me further tribute, the Moon Kraken said. One of the goblin s arms was sticking sideways out of the kraken s beaked maw, and as they watched, a tentacle swept it away and into the water.
The two remaining goblins looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes.
The shore was not far away. Nissa could see the long crystals jutting out of the water. They would never make it through them without being guided. A narrow beach of white sand started behind the crystals, and a high cliff of black basalt extended almost vertically from the white sand. Nissa thought she saw movement among the crystals at the water s edge.
If you have nothing better to offer me, the kraken mused aloud. I will crush your skulls and suck out your brains and make tributes of you all.
You will not be eating anyone s brains today, Sorin said. Surely you know that?
The kraken regarded Sorin. I am Brinelin, the Moon Kraken, he said. I know nothing of the sort.
And I am Sorin Markov. If you do not stand aside this very instant you will be destroyed, and we will leave your body for your subjects the fish to devour at their leisure.
Sorin s voice had taken on a different tone as he spoke. It was both deeper and sharper. It hurt Nissa s head to hear it.
But the kraken did not move. Instead it stood up to its full height and pushed out its white breast. Your magician s tricks will not work on the Moon Kraken, little wizard, it said. I have battled other, greater magic users than you.
Sorin uttered no words. He spoke no incantations. His eyes simply went black, and his hands began to glow with a smoky light. The kraken noticed it, too. It dropped down into the ocean so that only its top gills showed above the surf.
Do you not remember me, fishmaster? Sorin boomed.
Nissa had to crouch down on the deck of the ship. Something about Sorin s voice made the parts inside her stomach and chest vibrate, and she suddenly felt nauseous.
The kraken looked closer at Sorin. You? it said after its examination. You have returned?
Stand aside, or you will be disposed of, Sorin boomed. Stand aside, now!
The timbre and volume of his voice was so great that Nissa had to clap her hands over her ears.