Page 5 - UnderEarth

thicken the air, and Storm’s stomach turned over. “Enemies near!” she cried.
Lake shouted an order, and the lookout high in the nest on the main mast sounded the warning bell. Its iron voice clanged across the waves. The other ships were fading ghosts in the thickening fog, but Storm heard their bells answering.
And then, beside them, out of the belly of the sea, rose the dark shape of the Dolphin. The Elemental shot into the air, larger than the ship itself. Storm flinched as the spirit rose silently from the sea, blotting out the last of the light. The Dolphin cleared the Wayfinder’s three masts and slipped, sleek and dangerous, back into its Element.
“Lower the boat!” Storm shouted to Lake, shuddering away her childish fear of the Water spirit. The Albatross and Dolphin had both shown themselves in warning. The threat was severe. She must seek out the enemy before they could attack.
Her uncle obeyed her without question: thrice now she had sailed alone to face an enemy; thrice she had conjured a gale and blown predatory ships from other islands into the far distance. In a heartbeat, a small rowing boat was in the water. Storm ran to the rope
ladder held by two sailors. She was startled to see that
Uncorrected Sample
Not for Redistribution • Copyright © Protected 4