Get up, woman! someone called inside her head. You must act now!
The warship bucked, fighting the winds as well as the waves. It tilted sharply, sending sailors sliding across the saltwater-drenched decks.
Listen to me or you're going to die!
"Who are you?" Noleta demanded, grabbing her head and closing her eyes.
I am Devlin Morely. lama researcher at the Magistracy in Soronne.
Noleta's eyes opened wide. She rose to her feet as the ship shifted again.
"I know who you are!" she said aloud, glancing skyward and watching more birds descend.
"What's happening?"
Do you know about Mandel and Lenik?
"Yes," she said, eager to hurry.
She staggered to the wall beneath the stern castle. Telop and River had gathered there with a handful of other sailors.
Mandel has figured out the way to reach the second fountain, Morely told her. They will be there soon. If they attain its power, they may be unstoppable.
"We're five days away," Noleta said. "We can't stop them."
Perhaps you can, Morely suggested. But you have to move now. There is a path through the Sea of Mist. I can show it to you. I can take you directly to the beach on the Isle.
Noleta ducked as an osprey flew at her face. The bird smashed against the stern wall and dropped to her feet. Before her attacker could recover, she stomped it into a broken heap of bones and feathers.
"How did you find it?" she cried.
I've come from the Isle of the Dead. I'm connected to it through astral form. I can show you the way.
Noleta shook her head, staring at the devastation around her. They were doomed if they didn't do something.
It's the only chance you have, Morely emphasized. Let me help you.
"Okay," she called out. "What do I do?"
Steer the ship!
Noleta turned to Telop and River, who were the only ones around. "You two—come with me.
River shook her head. "I've got to find Praz."
"You've got to follow me!" Noleta ordered. "Unless we save this ship, we're all going to die. And if Praz isn't already dead, he'll die with the rest of us!"
Reluctance showed on River's face.
Telop grabbed her arm. "Come on," he said, "Praz can handle himself."
Noleta led the way up the stern castle stairs. She heard Jarrell roaring orders in the background, urging crews to climb aloft and furl the sails.
At the top of the stairway, Noleta cut an attacking osprey in two with her sword and pushed a dead sailor off the ship's wheel.