laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Boots beat upon the wooden decking and stopped before Allaina's door followed by a knock. "Enter," she sleepily called from her modest room. Blue eyes rose from her candlelit desk built into the wall to see her trusted man-at-arms and head of the marines. His dashing, middle-aged frame bedecked in tan coat which lay over striped pantaloons, the upper yellow layers split and revealed black within as he walked.

"My Lady, you should get some air to quell your sea sickness," he smiled as a gloved hand rested on the door's frame. "Clean air.."

"Is full of salt and terrible for my complexion. Leave me be until we've arrived." A sigh escaped her lips rimmed in slender wrinkles at their corners.

He nodded once, prompting his long, greying brown locks to undulate over broad shoulders. A lingering stare stated all his mind tried to hide from the archmage. "You're sure this is going to work? It's not too late to turn around."

"My brave captain is getting cold feet? Your men are more than capable; they've proven themselves time and again already. What their bravery can't conquer, their guns and the cannon on these ships will make up for. I assure you."

Felix grinned, raising his van dyke slightly. "I have no hesitations on their heart, only what rumor and your research has revealed. I just don't want Errigal to be our graves."

Allaina straightened and turned herself to face him more squarely. "Nor I, my friend. I've been preparing myself for this all my life, so trust my judgement. I know what we're doing."

Narrowed brown eyes glanced to the large, leather bound tome before her whose weathered pages held decades of knowledge. "You're sure her spirit will still be linked to that spot?"

"It's where she died." Her own nervousness was well concealed; the archmage had made a life of keeping her fears buried from view. This expedition was a huge moment in her life and one that she wasn't about to back away from now. "We've come too far to turn back now, so you're more than welcome to stay aboard while I venture to the ruin if you wish."

His posture stiffened. "I will not, madam. Nor will my men; we gave our word to see this through."

"Good."

A voice echoed down from the main deck and interrupted their discussion. "Land ho." The declaration that prompted the aged woman to push herself up, right hand resting atop the bejeweled cane and left on the corner of her desk. She smiled at the ease this chore had become since embarking on this trip nearly three months ago and limped towards the stair, then climbed it with Sir Felix behind her.

Daylight streamed through the narrow openings in the dark grey clouds which hung heavily over the scene. Sailors ran to and fro as they conducted their various chores and Allaina struggled to the rail, glancing back to the other galleys that escorted them, then right to see the grey, rocky shore pierce the gloom. Her heart leapt at the sight as did her apprehension.

"Milady," the captain's deep, authoritative voice called as the leaner, older man approached. "We've sighted the entrance to the river and it is indeed wide enough for us. Just hope it's deep enough. We'll make soundings, but I'll have to leave the galleys anchored out here."

"Why's that," Felix's concern evident which annoyed Allaina sometimes.

"They're deeper on the draft than we are; can't risk having them ground."

"That's fine," Allaina looked to the clearer line of rugged cliffs as the water crashed upon it to either side of the river's wide entrance. "We'll rejoin them once this is done."