Dawn of the Ice Bear Read Free

the edge of it, perhaps a darker strip. “What is . . . ?”
    â€œStygia,” Kral answered. “That, lady, is Stygia.”
    One of the sailors overheard and rushed to the bow himself. After a quick glance, he smiled, clapping Kral on the shoulder. Then he turned back toward the rest of the ship and cupped his hands to his mouth. “Land ho!” he shouted.
    The call was picked up, echoed by others all across the vessel. “Land ho! Stygia off the bow!”
    â€œAt last,” Kral said quietly. “Stygia, at last.”

2
    WITH STYGIA IN sight, things progressed at an agonizingly glacial pace. Having no official business in that land, they wanted to approach only when darkness would mask their arrival. Kral still had no idea what Gorian and his crew of mercenaries were after in Stygia. Nor did he particularly care, as long as their goals did not interfere with his. He knew he ran a risk—that if he and his friends abandoned the others as soon as they reached Stygia, they might have a difficult time getting home once he had the crown. But he was determined to ignore that problem for now. One thing at a time, and his first job was to get the crown in his hands. After that, he could worry about the next step.
    So they tacked back and forth, wasting time, drawing slowly nearer the shore, until the sun set. Once it had, they doused all their lights and made straight for land. Now the hours passed slowly because they were so close, and even though they made progress, it was not fast enough for Kral’s satisfaction. He was afraid morning would dawn before they were near enough.
    But only a few hours had passed before he was called to the wheel to join Gorian and Allatin, the blond-bearded first mate. When he joined them, he could see that they were skirting the shore. City lights glowed in the near distance.
    â€œThere be Khemi,” Allatin explained. “We dare not put in there, or at any other inhabited place. A ways down there are a couple of big islands offshore—we will want to avoid those as well. But in between is a fair stretch of uninhabited shoreline. We’ll make for there. We should be able to leave the Restless Heart offshore there for days without her being seen.”
    â€œI think you should move her about,” Gorian suggested. “Don’t let her just sit there. Someone might happen by.”
    â€œAgreed,” Kral said, not entirely sure why they had called him over.
    Gorian answered that quickly enough, though. “We still are not sure what you lot are after in Stygia, Kral,” he said. “We have reason to believe that we are not too far from our own goal here, but we know not where exactly you want to go.”
    â€œNor will I tell you,” Kral said. “But the truth is, I am not yet sure exactly where I need to go either. You get me to Stygia, and I’ll worry about the rest.”
    In the moonlight, Kral could see that Allatin was uncomfortable with his answer. But Gorian just nodded. “Fine,” he said. “You have not asked my business, and I can but do you the same courtesy. You will be alerted when we are about to drop anchor, and we will take the remaining boat over to shore or swim there. You can stay with us as long as you like, or split off at any time.”
    â€œVery well,” Kral said. He tried to display no emotion before these men, but inside he was nearly bursting with anticipation. What he had told them was true—he had no idea where in Stygia to look for the crown. A clue would present itself, he was sure, even if he had to turn the country upside down to find it. In the meantime, traveling with Gorian and his mercenaries would be safer than striking out completely on their own in unfamiliar and unfriendly territory.
    He excused himself and went to tell the others the news.
    Entering the cabin, he found them crowded around the porthole, watching the lights of Khemi skate by.
    â€œThat’s