“Can’t you sail to someplace other than the docks?” asked Mistake. “Is the harbor so small that you will not be able to?”
“The harbor is huge,” replied Eltor, “but we will not be free to sail anywhere. Two armed ships will meet us, one on each side. They will lash our ship to one of them and tow us to a dock. If we try to deviate from the course, or jump overboard to swim somewhere else, they will kill us. That is why we will not be able to talk to anyone before we are imprisoned.”
“The other approach is by foot,” frowned Caldal. “We would have to abandon this magnificent ship along the coast and then trek through a dangerous jungle. There is a good chance that we would not survive to get to Elvangar.”
“We would survive,” interrupted Eltor. “We have been in jungles before and survived. Besides, we would reach our village before the elders knew that we had returned.”
“There are no guards to stop you?” asked MistyTrail. “That sounds rather lax for a people who cherish their isolation.”
“There are guards,” nodded Eltor, “but they are guards from our village. They will capture us and then send a runner to the city. The elders will send guards to take us away. Still, we will have a few hours to greet old friends and let them know that we are alright.”
“That means a lot to you, doesn’t it, Eltor?” asked MistyTrail.
“It does,” nodded Eltor. “We are likely to be imprisoned for some time. It is the only way that we will have to say goodbye to those we love.”
“And you want to just give yourselves up, Caldal?” asked MistyTrail.
“It is the right thing to do,” nodded Caldal. “We have broken the law. I think we should eagerly surrender and ask for mercy from the elders. If we enter through the jungle, it will appear that we were trying to sneak back into Elvangar and hide our transgressions from the elders. I doubt that any mercy would be extended towards us.”
“What will happen to MistyTrail and me?” asked Mistake. “We haven’t broken any laws yet.”
“You will be hailed as heroes,” replied Eltor. “Or special guests. I am not sure which.”
“Heroes?” frowned Mistake. “Why?”
“Because you rescued us from the Island of Darkness,” explained Eltor. “You are heroes. You are also special because you are elves born in a foreign land. The elders will have many questions for you. You will probably dine with the queen on more than one occasion.”
“Regardless of our method of entry?” asked MistyTrail. “People sneaking into the Sakova were never warmly welcomed.”
“Another reason to give ourselves up,” frowned Caldal.
“I don’t think it matters,” argued Eltor. “It will be obvious that we brought Mistake and MistyTrail to Elvangar. How we decide to enter will have no reflection on them.”
“I have to agree with Caldal,” volunteered MistyTrail. “If Elvangar is similar to the Sakova, it is best to be upfront and get it over with. It removes all doubt about your sincerity and your willingness to face up to your punishment.”
Eltor sighed and hung his head. He stared at the floorboards and said nothing. Mistake’s lips pressed tightly together as she watched him.
“I think it is important for Eltor to say goodbye to his friends and family,” Mistake declared. “The jungle may be dangerous, but we have faced danger before and persevered. It is not like he is trying to avoid his punishment. He is just using his free time wisely before he is sentenced.”
“That brings us back to a stalemate,” Caldal shook his head. “How will we decide this?”
“What is there to decide?” asked Mistake. “We are all going to end up in the same place. MistyTrail can sail with Caldal through the Gates of Elvangar. I will trek through the jungle with Eltor. We will meet in the city, and everyone will be happy.”
Eltor brightened considerably and took Mistake’s hand. He looked up and smiled at her. Caldal smiled and nodded.
“So it shall be then,” Caldal declared. “To each his own.”
“I cannot leave Mistake,” frowned MistyTrail. “I promised.”
“You are not leaving me, MistyTrail,” smiled Mistake. “We are going to the same place, but by different routes.”
“You will only be apart for a day,” added Eltor. “Set course for Alamanda.”
Caldal nodded happily and complied. The ship turned slightly as the Barrier Islands grew small behind them. Several hours later, a coastline came into view. They watched as the land drew closer. Several tiny white spots ran along the coast, visible only because they contrasted with foliage of the jungle behind them.
“What are they?” asked Mistake as she pointed to the white areas.
“Ancient elven cities,” replied Eltor. “At one time the elves lived along the coast as well as the interior. That was before the attack by Angragar.”
“Vand,” frowned Mistake.
“Vand,” agreed Eltor. “The ruins stand as a testament to the elven need to remain isolated. We are forbidden to live outside the jungle ring that surrounds us. Oh, how I would love to live on the coast with my ship anchored in front of my house. That can never be, though.”
“Is Alamanda one of the ruins?” asked MistyTrail. “Is that where we are heading?”
“It is the most famous of the ruins,” nodded Eltor. “It is famous not for being attacked, but as the birthplace of Kieran. Only one elf escaped the slaughter that day. It was a young lad named Kieran. He ran all day to carry the word of the attack by ships flying the flag of Angragar.”
“And for this his name is remembered after thousands of years?” questioned Mistake.
“No,” Caldal shook his head. “He is not remembered for his heroic feat. In fact, he is not remembered because of Alamanda, but Alamanda is remembered as his birthplace. Kieran is revered as the greatest elven magician to have ever lived. He was but a student when the attack destroyed the city. He grew up to be not only a great magician, but also the king of the elven people.”
They watched silently as the ruins grew larger. Eventually, Eltor ran to the bow as the ship entered a small natural harbor. He pointed to something unseen, and Caldal steered away from it.
“There are still remnants of stone pillars underwater,” Caldal said as he answered the unasked question. “It is best to avoid them. We have sailed into this harbor many times before. It is our favorite overnight spot when we go fishing.”
Caldal slid the ship onto the beach. Eltor jumped off and dragged the anchor onto the beach and set it. He returned to help Mistake and MistyTrail off the ship. Caldal jumped down and the four of them walked along the beach. Eltor spotted a raft and pointed to it. He ran towards it with Caldal on his heels. Mistake and MistyTrail walked towards them.
“It is crude,” remarked Caldal as he gazed at the simple raft.
It had a mast of sorts and a tattered sail still flapping in the gentle breeze. Fish skeletons littered the roughhewn deck.
“What do you make of it?” asked Eltor. “I have never seen such a sight here before.”
“Nor I,” agreed Caldal. “I suspect that it just washed up here. It is hard to imagine anyone sailing the seas on it.”
“It would be fine for along the coast,” mused Eltor. “Maybe we should secure it. After we give up the elven scouting ship, we won’t have a boat any more. At least we could sail along the coast on it.”
“Along the coast would be fine,” nodded Caldal as if he had another thought entirely. “We will talk about it later. Let’s build a fire and cook a meal.”
Mistake and MistyTrail explored the ruins while Eltor and Caldal built a fire and cooked a meal. The ruins were not much to look at. There were no partially formed buildings to investigate. Instead all that was left of the city of Alamanda were piles of sun-bleached rocks. Some piles were higher than others, but it was not an interesting walk. They returned to the beach.
The four adventurers ate a warm meal and relaxed on the sand. Caldal spent some time cleaning up the abandoned raft and then returned.
“Why did you bother?” asked Eltor. “The sea is only going to reclaim it soon.”