Ch 2:
"When Teron disappeared, Andorus was staring to deteriorate. My father, his name was Lucas. He was a proud man." When Ren heard this he smiled, and said, "Go on." She paused for a second. "I had one sister and one brother. My mother died when I was really young. I don't think my father really recovered after that. I think it was even hard for him to look at me, because I looked like her. My father wanted to send Artemus, my brother, to find Teron, but he was too sick. It seemed as the dark water had begun to deteriorate our home, it also made some of the fruit poisonous to eat; and because of the fruit Artemus had eaten he became deathly ill. We knew this because when my mother had gotten sick the same way before she died. Artemus since he was the oldest said he would go look for Teron, but he was too sick and could not make the journey. I told my father I could go, but he wouldn't let me. I begged and I pleaded, but he wouldn't listen to me. He thought my brother would get better. He told me I should stay home and take care of the family; not go on crusades looking for an ecomancer. We then got into a huge fight. I knew my brother wasn't going to get any better, so I left." "Tula," Ren said, "how old were you?" "I was only 17 when I left Androus." She then puts her hands to her face and begins to cry. When Ren sees this, he reaches over and takes Tula into his arms and holds her. She stops and dries her tears. "Ren, I loved my father. I wish I could go back and tell him that I loved him, but I can't. After I left, maybe a month had passed. I had gotten a job at a tavern. The same tavern where you met me. One day I was taking an order where I heard two sailors talking. They were talking about Andorus, my home. I was shocked. I had to know if anyone was still alive. I went over to one of the sailors and asked him if he saw anyone. He said no; all I saw were two graves. One was empty. We thought maybe grave robbers had dug up the body, but as we were looking around they found a body next to the grave. They told me the body they buried him. I wasn't sure it was my father so I described him to the sailors. They said yes.
"Ren, you know how I feel, and I care about you as well. But I don't think it would work. I have no family. The House of Primus needs a woman from a noble family. All I am is an ecomnacer." Ren then wipes a tear from her cheek and says, "I don't care about that. When I take over, things will be different. Please tell me you will think about it." "Ok, I will," says Tula. Ren was just about to put his arms around her again when Niddler came flying towards them. "Ren, you have to come right away!" Ren is surprised. "Niddler, what's wrong?" "Ren! It's the Maelstrom. You have to hurry. I think Bloth is going to attack the ship!" When Ren hears this, he grabs Tula's hand and they rush back to the boat. When they get back to the boat, they see Ioz fighting two pirates. "We have to hurry, and get aboard. I don't think Ioz can hold them off much longer," says Ren.
But as they get aboard the Wraith they hear a familiar voice. "Well, hello, Ren, I'm glad you could join us, and Tula, it's a pleasure to see you again." "Bloth! How did you get aboard so fast?" When Bloth hears this he begins to laugh. "You underestimated me, boy. I have been following you for some time now. I am tired of this game. I want to end it. You have been a big pain, and now I'm going to get rid of you for once and for all. Just like I got rid of your father." As he says this, he begins to laugh. "Take Ren and his friends to the maelstrom, but leave the woman. I want to talk to her for a moment." And before Ren and Tula can react, Ren is pulled from her, and taken away. Bloth is about to take Tula's arm when he hears Ioz yell, "You won't take me, Bloth. I will fight you to the end." He is about to rush Bloth when two pirates jump him. They grab both arms, while another one knocks him out. "No!" yells Tula. But there is nothing she can do about it as she watches Ioz's body being dragged from the ship. Niddler tries to stop them, but a net is thrown over him, and he is brought down. And as he struggles to get out of the net, he is hit to on the head by a wooden club. She tries to pull away from Bloth's grasp, but he does not release her. "You and I have a lot to discuss, my dear, it seems a friend of mine wants to talk to you. You remember Morpho, don't you, the leader of the dark disciples. His master has more use for you." He then pushes her inside the cabin. "After I get your friends Ren and the rest of the crew into their quarters, you and I will go see Morpho." He then slams the door and locks it. Bloth then calls two of his crewmembers over and tells one of them to watch the cabin. "If she tries to escape, restrain her." The guard nods his head and Bloth leaves the boat.
As he is going for the ladder, he summons the other guard over to the ladder and says, "I will have Mantus bring Morpho here but when he gets here, don't let Morpho see her. I don't trust him. I want to keep an eye on him. He does work for the Dark Dweller and since the Dark Dweller controls the dark water. He may want to turn against us, and we don't want that now, do we?" He then smiles and laughs as he goes down the ladder and paddles back to the Maelstrom.
When Bloth gets to the Maelstrom, he sees the same two men who had knocked out Ioz carrying him aboard the Maelstrom. "Take him down below." He then looks around for Mantus, when he sees him he calls him over.
"I have a job for you. I want you to take Morpho over to the Wraith." When Mantus hears this, he bows to Bloth and says, "Of course, Lord Bloth, but don't you want to come with us." Bloth smiles. "Yes, Mantus, I would, but before we go, I want to see our guests. Have the boy and the monkey - bird been brought board yet?" "Yes. Soon after you had custody of the wench, your men had brought Ren and the monkey bird aboard the Maelstrom. They're already waiting for you chained in their new home." Mantus smiles and laughs. Bloth then turns and goes down below where Ren and Ioz have been chained. When he gets down there, he sees Niddler, the monkey bird in a cage connected to the ceiling. He takes out his sword, and begins to push the cage. Niddler begins to scream. Bloth laughs, then turns to Ren. "Hello, Ren, comfortable? Do you like your new quarters?" He then laughs. Ren begins to struggle against the chains, "You, Dartha Eel, what have you done to Tula? Where is she?" "Don't worry about her, boy. She is well taken care of." When Ren hears this, he tries to pull himself from the chains. "If you harm a hair on her, I will hunt you down and kill you myself!" Bloth laughs when he hears this and leaves the room.
As soon as Bloth gets back on deck, he sees Morpho loading up a small canoe. He suspects lots of the chemicals in a box in the canoe that were for Tula. He also sees him putting a large chest in the canoe. Morpho then turns to one of Bloth's crew. "Put the rest of my stuff into the boat and be careful with them." He then turns to Bloth and says, "Are you ready? Do you have the woman?" hisses Morpho. "Yes, Morpho, I have the woman. I don't know what you want with her, but whatever you want with the wench you had better tell me now, or I will throw you and the rest of your pathetic schemes." "Of course, Lord Bloth," says Morpho. He then smiles. "My master believes when the woman fell into the dark water, she became clairvoyant. He wants to use that power for himself to take over Mer." This surprises Bloth. He didn't know about Tula becoming clairvoyant. Maybe she could use her powers too. He might even be able to use her powers to find the rest of the treasures as well as keeping Ren at bay. He then turns to Mantus, and says, "Let's get on our way. We can't keep the lady waiting."
