Chapter 20

Wendy's wings lowered the White Hawk below the cloud level and gently rested it against the ocean below. Once waterborne, Wendy resumed his form as a yeti and came above deck to see Shaw.

The dawn was about to break. Shaw promised Lucy they'd make it to the Isle of Alder by sunrise. And according to everything he knew about navigating the seas and the skies, their destination should be straight ahead.

Shaw stood, mouth slightly agape, as where the island was supposed to be was nothing but sea. He conferred with his charts, used every trick he knew to verify his location. After minutes of doubt and double checking, there was only one conclusion that could be reached.

The island was gone.

Go was the first to wake and emerge from below deck. He rubbed the sand from his eyes and ascended to the top deck where Shaw stood.

"How much longer until we arrive?"

"That... Is a very good question." Shaw shot a sideways glance at Go, his suspicion of the old man increasing by the moment. "What are you involved in, old man?"

"Part of the agreement was 'no questions asked', Captain. Do you intend to break our agreement?"

"I've done my part. But I fear your promise of payment will go unfulfilled." Shaw pulled up his charts. "We left the Port of Las Almas and took to the sky. From there we traveled for fifty seven and one half leagues on a heading of fifteen degrees west by north west following the current above the clouds. We turned forty five degrees starboard to catch the prevailing winds and continued onward for another sixty three leagues. We touched water again here." Shaw pointed to the map to show trip they made and where they ended. "This is where we are. The Isle of Alder should be half a league just over there." Shaw pointed to a place behind Go. Go turned and saw nothing.

"We're lost?" Go accused the captain.

"I wish we were. That would make my life a little easier. But no. We're right on course. It's your destination that's lost. The entire island is gone."

It was at that moment that Lucy emerged from below and caught the tail end of their conversation. "Gone?" She asked. "What do you mean 'it's gone'?"

Go closed his eyes and emptied his thoughts, opening himself up to the Way. In his mind's eye, the Way showed him the terrible destruction the Flying Fortress rendered upon the people of the Isle of Alder.

"It was destroyed, completely, by the Dynasty."

"How? They don't have the firepower, even with all their dragons. Level the island, yes, but destroy it completely?"

Wendigo uttered a soft, mournful roar. Lucy looked over the side of the ship to see hundreds of bodies floating in the water. She could not bear to look and turned away.

A horrible thought crossed her mind. She remembered her stone becoming a dancer that screamed. "One of them dreamed of dancing. Didn't they?"

"Yes, Lucy. Yes. That dream came from one of these poor souls."

Without warning, Jim grabbed Lucy from behind and pulled her bodily to the deck. She cried in pain and was about to protest when mounted dragon flew by the ship, scooped up some of the bodies in the sea, and began eating them.

"Dragon rider." Shaw hissed. "Get below, now." They all obeyed without question."

Shaw examined the rider from through a cannon window. "Dynasty Flier. Baby dragon. Not more than sixty. It couldn't have gotten here on its own."

"Alder didn't have dragon aeries. Where did it come from?" Go wondered.

Cecil woke up and spoke normally, which seemed like a shout in the current situation. "What's all the hubbub about?" Lucy put a hand over his mouth. He nodded when he saw the seriousness of the glares directed at him.

"Regardless, he won't be around long enough to tell anyone about us." Shaw loaded his cannon as quietly as possible while the dragon continued to feast upon the dead. A shrill cry echoed through the sky, forcing the company to cover their ears. The dragon looked up and took to the sky before Shaw could light the fuse. "Damn," he cursed.

"Look, he's heading for that storm cloud." Lucy pointed up to the sky.

"That's no cloud..." Go said slowly.

Originally posted on 6/13/13 at empowernetwork (dit) com/leewhittaker/?p=134

For a sneak peak at Chapter 21, go to empowernetwork (dit) com/leewhittaker/?p=135