this time, but I would have sworn it was impossible . Maybe a Reader could tell me how they did it.”
That was entirely too intriguing to pass up, so he let her guide him down into the belly of the ship.
The hold had been packed with barrels, crates, and packets of gear, though most of the space was unoccupied. They had planned to return with a new load of cargo, after all. Now, raindrops and thin rivers of luminescence flowed in from the fractured deck above, through the hole that the Stormwing had blasted. Some of the crates had cracked open, leaking salt or wine, and a loose barrel rolled around on the wood.
Calder stopped the wild barrel with one foot, looking around for anything unusual.
Jyrine picked up a quicklamp, shook it, and raised it to one side.
In the splash of yellow light, Calder saw a message burned into the inside of the hull, as though someone had scorched a letter onto his ship. Thin wisps of smoke still rose from the charred wood.
Calder kicked the barrel aside, walking up to examine the lettering. “Petal didn’t do this?”
“I came in here after the explosion to survey the damage, and I saw it being written. It burned itself into the wood as though someone was writing with an invisible pen.” She clapped her hands eagerly, like a child at a show. “Now read it!”
He did, his own excitement growing by the word.
Calder,
Hope this mysterious message finds you well! I just learned how to do this, and it’s going to blow the pants off certain people back in the Capital. If you see it first, show it to Jyrine. She appreciates a good touch of theater.
The Guild has a new client. A pair of Witnesses wants to hire you to take them to a certain island, and withdraw a certain relic.
This could be huge, Calder. Not just for you, but for the Empire. And for the Emperor.
Calder stopped reading for a moment, shooting a glance at his wife. “The Emperor?”
Jerri’s smile widened. “Keep reading. It gets better.”
Whatever else this letter said, the Emperor had been dead for over five years. What did the Witnesses hope to find on the island? A way to bring him back from the dead?
With the Emperor, they might even be able to do it. That was a disturbing thought.
And by the way, this will be big for you. This was the Chronicler in charge of finance in the Imperial Palace. He wants me to tell you that if you’re successful, you will “sleep under sheets of golden silk in the cabin of your flagship. At the head of your brand-new fleet.” His words.
So I suggest you get your leaky tub and your flea-bitten crew back to port before he comes to his senses and hires somebody else.
-Cheska
Captain Cheska Bennett, Head of the Navigator’s Guild, was prone to exaggeration. But if she’d taken the effort to burn an entire letter onto the wood of his ship to get his attention, then this must be big. And if the reward was half as generous as promised...
He felt his mouth go dry. Sadesthenes once said, “The wise man is not blinded by gold, but only a fool turns it down.”
Calder rushed back up to the deck, Jerri following close behind him. “Andel! I’m raising the sails! I find myself suddenly homesick.”
C HAPTER T WO
Everyone has Intent. Even you!
You use your Intent every day: when you use a pillow to sleep, a brush to straighten your hair, or a coat to protect you from the wind, you are lending some of your Intent to an object.
Over time, your Intent builds and builds, helping that item get even better at doing its job! You will fall asleep faster on your pillow, your brush will never snag, and your coat will stay warm year-round!
What an amazing world we live in!
-From Chapter 1 of the best-selling children’s guide, Reading About Readers!
Thirteen years ago
Calder walked through the wood-paneled halls, over carpets soft as an owl’s whisper, and tried to look bored. When he passed an urn with delicate gold filigree worked into the edges, he moved his eyes over it, as
That was entirely too intriguing to pass up, so he let her guide him down into the belly of the ship.
The hold had been packed with barrels, crates, and packets of gear, though most of the space was unoccupied. They had planned to return with a new load of cargo, after all. Now, raindrops and thin rivers of luminescence flowed in from the fractured deck above, through the hole that the Stormwing had blasted. Some of the crates had cracked open, leaking salt or wine, and a loose barrel rolled around on the wood.
Calder stopped the wild barrel with one foot, looking around for anything unusual.
Jyrine picked up a quicklamp, shook it, and raised it to one side.
In the splash of yellow light, Calder saw a message burned into the inside of the hull, as though someone had scorched a letter onto his ship. Thin wisps of smoke still rose from the charred wood.
Calder kicked the barrel aside, walking up to examine the lettering. “Petal didn’t do this?”
“I came in here after the explosion to survey the damage, and I saw it being written. It burned itself into the wood as though someone was writing with an invisible pen.” She clapped her hands eagerly, like a child at a show. “Now read it!”
He did, his own excitement growing by the word.
Calder,
Hope this mysterious message finds you well! I just learned how to do this, and it’s going to blow the pants off certain people back in the Capital. If you see it first, show it to Jyrine. She appreciates a good touch of theater.
The Guild has a new client. A pair of Witnesses wants to hire you to take them to a certain island, and withdraw a certain relic.
This could be huge, Calder. Not just for you, but for the Empire. And for the Emperor.
Calder stopped reading for a moment, shooting a glance at his wife. “The Emperor?”
Jerri’s smile widened. “Keep reading. It gets better.”
Whatever else this letter said, the Emperor had been dead for over five years. What did the Witnesses hope to find on the island? A way to bring him back from the dead?
With the Emperor, they might even be able to do it. That was a disturbing thought.
And by the way, this will be big for you. This was the Chronicler in charge of finance in the Imperial Palace. He wants me to tell you that if you’re successful, you will “sleep under sheets of golden silk in the cabin of your flagship. At the head of your brand-new fleet.” His words.
So I suggest you get your leaky tub and your flea-bitten crew back to port before he comes to his senses and hires somebody else.
-Cheska
Captain Cheska Bennett, Head of the Navigator’s Guild, was prone to exaggeration. But if she’d taken the effort to burn an entire letter onto the wood of his ship to get his attention, then this must be big. And if the reward was half as generous as promised...
He felt his mouth go dry. Sadesthenes once said, “The wise man is not blinded by gold, but only a fool turns it down.”
Calder rushed back up to the deck, Jerri following close behind him. “Andel! I’m raising the sails! I find myself suddenly homesick.”
C HAPTER T WO
Everyone has Intent. Even you!
You use your Intent every day: when you use a pillow to sleep, a brush to straighten your hair, or a coat to protect you from the wind, you are lending some of your Intent to an object.
Over time, your Intent builds and builds, helping that item get even better at doing its job! You will fall asleep faster on your pillow, your brush will never snag, and your coat will stay warm year-round!
What an amazing world we live in!
-From Chapter 1 of the best-selling children’s guide, Reading About Readers!
Thirteen years ago
Calder walked through the wood-paneled halls, over carpets soft as an owl’s whisper, and tried to look bored. When he passed an urn with delicate gold filigree worked into the edges, he moved his eyes over it, as
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