The next day, when Etania opened the door to Lindhall's study, she was startled to see that Lindhall was already there.

"What are you doing here?" she exclaimed in surprise, "You like to sleep in!"

"Not today." Lindhall said, somewhat cheerily. "Today, we travel."

"Travel? What in the name of the gods are you talking about?" she said, now
noticing that he had two traveling trunks by his side. She looked at him. "Where?!"

"I hope you don't mind I took the liberty of asking Patha to pack your things for you…"

"Fine, fine," Etania said, waving her hand irritably. She was not going to be distracted.
"Where are we going? And why?"

"All in good time." Lindhall said, striding to the door, he opened it. "After you."

Etania rolled her eyes and let out a grunt of anger as she exited the room. She would have been all the more angry if she had known Lindhall stayed behind a bit, laughing at her melodrama.

"Okay, now will you tell me?" Etania said, once aboard the ship. She looked at the water below, seeing if she could spot any creatures, or mermaids, even.

"Yes." Etania hadn't expected this, so she jerked her head up, rapt with attention.

"We are going to the Copper Isles."

"Okay..." the girl said. "Why?" she added, not hiding the agitation in her voice.

"Why, for the iguanas, of course," Lindhall said lightly, a smile on his face implying it was the most obvious thing in the world.  Collecting rare specimen from the environment..." he didn't show signs of continuing.

"Iguanas?"  Etania asked, disgusted.

"Don't tell me you don't love the creatures.  Sure they make a mess and you're the one cleaning the cages, but really, that's no reason to-"

"Iguanas, Lindhall!" Etania snapped.  "Iguanas are not the reason we are here!  They are not the reason why you've been exhausted the past week from spying.  The real reason is…?"

"Duke Roger is 'vacationing' there, I have been told.  And where Duke Roger is-"

"So is Ozorne," Etania completed with a smug smile, finishing her master's sentence. She sighed and leaned back on the rail, sniffing the rich, salty air. "So... how will this 'trip'
last?"

"As long as it takes," Lindhall shrugged.

"Merlords take you," Etania muttered under her breath.