Coastal Guard

Laketown is one of seven large economic hubs in our country, located directly south of the main island and connected to the others by grand obsidian bridges but it's only our first stop to get to Haven's End.

Our trip will take us to the south-eastern tip of LakeTown and then south-west into the Emerald Isles where we'll hopefully find my aunt. We'll need her help because Haven's End is special, its wards make the land migrate. The island is never in the same spot twice.

It would be simpler to go straight to Haven's End but according to my mother's shadow, this can only be done by special ritual.. a ritual I was never taught. Which is why our journey will have to take us into the Emerald court where my aunt was last known to reside. My aunt has always been a free spirit, flitting from city to city based on her whims.

It takes us four days worth of bitter silence to sail around the eastern side of Dragon's Roost and loop back up to the southern most point of LakeTown. We make port, despite the risk, because we need supplies to make the trek to the Emerald Isles. I'm almost looking forward to the risk of being seen --if only to have someone to talk to. While my mother's shadow looks like her, she lacks the kindness and warmth of my mother. Her shadow treats me like a dirty thing she was forced into caring for... which to her, I'm sure I am.

For the last four days to the west the only thing I've seen are the large obsidian mountains that rise directly from the ocean. Smooth, sharp and dangerous. Above it sometimes you'd see the elusive peek of dragon wings.

As a child dragons fascinated me. Scales of opulent colours, and whispers of power I could only dream of. My grandmother told me once that my first ancestor took the throne because he wanted the power of the dragons but that he was never able to get it. There were no remaining books from that time or anything concrete to corroborate her stories but I still loved to hear them. Tales of a time where magic was a tangible thing and dragons actually spoke to humans.

Soon Laketown rises out of the ocean like a beautiful example of architectural ingenuity in front of us. It's outer districts are made up of ever-expanding busy ports. A thriving city not anchored in land. A group of sailing merchants got together one day and built it right out of the water. It is affectionately known by it's people as the floating city.

I wrap my shall closer around my face to obscure my features and the shadow gives me a look. With a sigh I duck down below while she navigates us into the port. In the bowels of the ship there's a trick wall. This wall is hollow and tight but we've tested it. My svelte frame just barely fits inside. The plan discussed between us is that while we approach Laketown and prepare for boarding by the coastal guard, I would hide myself away to minimize our risk.

Before I've opened the trick latch, I hear the trumpet announcing Laketown's water force. Each boarding is announced by two sharp trumpet calls. So I hurry forward, hooking my fingers under the hidden latch and slipping into the wall.

The confined space puts me on edge and I struggle not to hyperventilate. My mother used to say to me as a child that we cannot control the ultimate outcome of things but sometimes we can control small pieces that will eventually lead us to our ultimate goal. My small goal is silence and so I focus on slowing my breathing into quiet shallow inhales. I will deal with what comes after that once I survive this.

I hear footsteps, heavy, on the upper deck walking around languidly. At least four or five people, and then two heavy steps down the stairs drawing closer towards me.