It was a hypnotic journey for the Asherouboros. It would be difficult to find an aquatic environment more different from the roiling milky slurry of the Circe sea than the waters of World End's Crater Bay. The visibility under the surface was almost incomprehensible to the legendary beast. It looked down into the vast depth of the crater and saw layer upon layer of fish, small and large, swimming is schools of varying sizes, their silvery scales reflecting the sunlight like so many glittering gems. The schools moved in a synchronized choreography, dancing their underwater ballets to the natural music of grunts, squeaks, and deep base throbs and thrums, ever present within this vast blue world.

Larger solitary fish, sharks and barracuda, circled curiously around the violet shield surrounding the Asherouboros. They had never seen a being as large as the creature and satisfied their own curiosity, staying at a prudent distance, uncertain of the Asherouboros' intent. It was a slow journey, but the beast was lost in its own amazement, completely entranced and unaware of the passage of time.

It was nearly an hour of hard rowing later when the boat carrying Robbi reached the crater rim. At the location they chose to cross, the shallows over the rim were eight feet deep and stretched two hundred yards from the point where they began to the drop-off into the Northern Sea. The shield containing the monster rode nearly seven feet below the surface, so it would be a tight fit, but everyone realized that as talented a wizard as Robbi was, it would be nearly impossible for her to raise the shield above the water containing over a hundred tons of beast and water, so dragging it carefully seemed the best option.

What had been an adventure of discovery to the great beast now took on a new aspect. As the Asherouboros approached the shallows of the rim, its vision became inundated with color. Where the great depths of the crater had turned all the denizens of the deep to varying shades of blue and grey, the proximity of the shallows to the bright sunlight let their colors show.

The rising crater wall and the entire bed of the shallows were encrusted with huge heads and fans of coral. Masses of red, yellows and purples surrounded the shield as it slowly dragged along the bottom. It was not uncomfortable for the beast, the shield cushioned it from scrape and scratch and what it felt was a raking stroke, not unlike a gentle massage.

For the first time it could see the smaller inhabitants of this world. It saw rainbow-colored fish and soft anemones swaying in the current. It saw spiny lobsters hiding at its approach and eels backing themselves into the coral heads. Crabs and mollusks eased their way along the sandy surface between the same corals.

A curious octopus tried to grasp the shield directly in front of the Asherouboros' good eye and unable to secure a hold, changed color from a spotted brilliant cobalt to an angry frustrated deep red. If ever in its long hard life the creature was capable of a smile, this was the time it came closest. The Asherouboros had discovered beauty and now it bathed in it.

Robbi began getting noticeably tired as her craft crossed the crater rim. She had been in deep concentration for over two hours and it was beginning to take its toll. Her head throbbed mercilessly, her legs and arms were cramping, and most seriously, her focus was beginning to waver as the various pains played on her body. Rather than risk loosing her containment of the Asherouboros, she bit painfully into her own lip to overwhelm her other senses and allow her to split her awareness between her spell and a single source of discomfort rather than a dozen separate distractions.

This strategy seemed to work, the magical bubble which had begun to flicker slightly during her ordeal was soon glowing smoothly. The craft finally breached the outer edge of the crater and the sea-floor dropped almost straight down upon entry into the Northern Sea. The West Wind was anchored nearby. Soon Robbi's vessel was situated under its prow where a hoist was holding the tank submerged to a depth of about ten feet with its immense canvas bladders attached, but un-inflated.

Chumley and Thoris had remained on their small boat awaiting Robbi's arrival after unloading their cargo. The rowboat towing the great creature maneuvered to a point where the Asherouboros' large form was directly over the enclosure. Chumley signaled up to the beasts waiting to begin their hoisting. The tank was raised around the creature till it was breaking the surface of the water by several inches. A second signal was given and several dozen beasts onboard the West Wind began pumping furiously to inflate the massive bladders encircling the tank to keep it afloat.

Her task complete, Robbi collapsed in exhaustion. The violet egg dissipated. Chumley directed his boat beside hers' and hopped aboard. The small wizard lay on her back, moaning lightly. She smiled weakly upon seeing Chumley's grinning face staring down at her.
"I don't think I want to do that again anytime soon," she said in a fragile voice.

"Yah did a great job, luv," the garrulous rat said, helping Robbi sit up, "now ah recommend we get you aboard the West Wind. We got a cabin all set for yah, don't we? Nice and cozy, dark, cool...a nice soft bed... we got some tucker in there for yah as well. Ah figger that a good meal and about a dozen hours o' sleep and you'll be as good as new, won't yah?"

Robbi stood up with Chumley's assistance.
"That sounds heavenly and you'll get no argument from me," she commented gratefully. She turned to look at the tank, its supporting bladders continuing to inflate, "Ashy was very well behaved, I think he enjoyed the trip."

Chumley shook his head with mock gravity.
" 'E's gonna get spoiled, 'e is. Afternoon excursions and such and that ain't even takin' into account that they mean ta send out loads of fresh whole fish ta keep 'im 'appy. Fresh whole fish! Ah been givin' 'im fish parts all these years...yah, 'e's gonna get right spoiled, pretty soon 'e'll be wantin' vintage wine ta wash it down," he chuckled.

Robbi took Chumley's arm and crossed over to his boat. She smiled at her friend.
"I think he should get whatever he wants. We are asking a great deal of him and he has no idea what awaits him."

Chumley became serious.
"Ah wouldn't be to sure of that, darlin'. Ah've seen 'im many a night, lookin' north and bellowin'. Ah believe 'e knows there's an enemy waitin' for 'im...but that's enough of this, ain't it? We need ta get you ta bed."

The wizard nodded.
"Lead on pal, show me that soft warm bed."

After Robbi was welcomed aboard the West Wind and taken to her quarters for a much deserved sleep, King Frega, Egbert and Bobo arrived. Chumley and Thoris showed them around the ship. It was a class of vessel we know as a Xebec, a combination of a galley with twenty oars to a side and a sailing craft with three lateen sails on three masts, two large and the spanker to the rear. Chumley, who had been aboard for a while, acted as guide.

They stopped to rest in the empty galley space below deck, sitting on one of the rows of benches, in front of the sizable oars which had been shipped and pulled into the interior of the vessel through the oar-ports. King Frega looked around and shook his head. He uttered a mirthless chuckle. Egbert nudged him.
"What is it Frega?" the large mole asked.

"This space brings back memories I have strived to forget. When I was Khalis's prisoner as a young wolf, I was made a galley-slave for two years. It was not a pleasant time."

"At leatht ith behind you," Thoris noted, "and you theem none the worse for wear."

"Yah," Chumley added, "that's probably why you got them big muscles, ain't it? Made yah into quite a brute, it did."

Frega chuckled, squeezing the rat's unimpressive biceps.
"Perhaps we should chain you to the oars for a while, you could use the exercise."

Chumley shook his head,
"Nah, ah'm the brains and you, wolfy, are the brawn, ain't ya?"

Egbert laughed out loud.
"And what pray am Oi?" he asked.

Chumley slapped his friend firmly on the back.
"You, mah fine mole, are the voice of reason and if ever a group of fools bumpin' around in the dark needed it, it's us, ain't it?"

"Oi don't know about that," Egbert said lightly. He turned to Frega, "Oi apologize for bringing it up. Oi didn't know rowing would bring up nasty memories."

Frega laughed.
"Not rowing, I enjoy sitting with my wolves at the oars of our dragon-boats, but that is above decks in the sun and wind, not below decks like this. It is the smell and feel of this space, not the task, that sparks the memories."

Thoris diverted the conversation.
"I've never theen a dragon-boat, I underthtand they are imprethive."

Frega faced the pudgy weasel.
"They are magnificent. Fifty oars to a side, they cut through the water like a hot knife through snow. No enemy can outrun us. Each ship holds two hundred Lokian warriors ready to crush the foe. You may see them if we are lucky, the message I sent to Gruverst with Gladiverserac and Max, to my troops there...commands them to join us. They will be traveling by dragon-boat...Targas willing."

Bobo who had been quietly listening ventured a question.
"How are they armed, King Frega...catapults? Crossbows?"

"No, little knife-thrower. We do not shoot projectiles. Our ships are the arrows, shooting through the sea. The arrow-heads are the steel figureheads that extend past the bow... they pierce the enemy hulls and if it does not sink them outright, my Lokians see to the rest."

Bobo envisioned the battle and smiled.
"I sure hope they make it in time, it would be a wonderment to see."

When the group returned above decks they were approached by Captain Varga. He seemed a bit agitated to Frega.
"Is there something wrong, captain?" the big wolf asked.

"I am extremely concerned about the weather, King Frega."

Frega up looked into sky. It was clear and blue.
"What exactly is it that concerns you?" he asked.

The human captain pointed north, out to sea. There was an enormous fog bank, hundreds of meters high, arcing landward to the east. It did not seem to be moving quickly.
"I know it does not look dangerous, King Frega, but it is a certain indicator that a storm approaches, a storm we call the Northern Eagle. It is a nor'easter that comes through this time of year, it will blow for three days or more when it hits, driving any vessel that is unsheltered, aground. If we are not out into the Narrows before it hits, we will never reach Xenoth before the full moon."

Frega looked very concerned.
"How long before it reaches us, captain?"

"Two days at the most, your highness."

"Then we cannot afford to wait for my reinforcements past tomorrow. Whether they are here or not, we will leave for Xenoth." He addressed Varga sternly, "Let the other captains and crews know. We will meet in your cabin to lay out final strategy for getting past the Brotherhood ships. This is unfortunate news." He turned to his friends, "I will see you all in an hour, let Robbi rest, she deserves it.

The meeting that afternoon was a animated affair, but despite the enthusiasm and hope, an air of desperation permeated the atmosphere. The news about the weather could not have been worse. Many of the beasts present were residents of World's End and all too familiar with the weather phenomenon that they were now facing, the storm known as the Northern Eagle.

It was not all doom and gloom, however. The volume of information about the storm was impressive and it was determined that its progress was very predictable. The massive fog-bank would continue to move to shore on the eastern side of the Cape and would precede the storm itself by at least two days as it was pushed in front of the powerful winds.

A good deal of the meeting was spent attempting to accurately assess exactly how long it would take the small flotilla to reach Xenoth, knowing that their overall speed would be limited by the speed of the West Wind which would be towing the massive tank containing the Asherouboros. With all oars manned, sails unfurled, and a good following wind, they calculated she could do ten to twelve knots at the most. Without wind and relying solely on the oar-beasts, a maximum of about six knots could be achieved.

Frega was absolutely determined to reach their destination prior to the commencement of Azmeritus' ceremony to awaken the Ürgod. While they didn't know how long the ritual would take, they did know it would begin on the first night of the full moon, ten days hence. At an average speed of seven knots, it would take eight days to reach the Deev Castle on Xenoth. They sadly realized that they could not wait any longer for Lokian reinforcements, they would need to leave as soon as possible, certainly before the storm hit.

Frega knew that the four Brotherhood ships were moored just beyond the Cape, ready to sink any vessel attempting to enter the Narrows. They were spread along a five mile long north-south line about a mile north of the Cape's apex. The wolf knew that engaging the enemy would spell failure for their mission. With the West Wind's maneuverability and speed restricted by its towed load, it was an easy target and if it were lost, no matter what the eventual outcome of the sea-battle, it would be the end of hope for the allied forces and the end of hope for the world.

Stealth would be the strategy selected. The decision was made to leave anchorage that evening, as soon as the sea was dark. Oars would be muffled and the remainder of the evening until departure would be spent coating the sails of all three vessels with pitch and coal-dust to turn them black and therefore invisible on the dark horizon of the night.

Rather than head in a westerly direction to the Cape itself, the ships would head slightly east, away from the Cape and then north, directly toward the approaching storm. They would sail north throughout the night, finally turning west when the sun rose. Hopefully they would be far enough above the blockade to be unseen as they made their way into the northernmost reaches of the Cold Narrows.

If they were successful, the Brotherhood ships would never even know they had left. There were great risks inherent in the plan. They would loose valuable time traveling in an opposite direction from their destination. They would be uncomfortably close to the approaching storm, with little hope of outrunning it if it proved less distant than they assumed. The fog-bank would at least for a time, completed enshroud them, making visibility a major issue and forcing them to travel far apart to avoid collisions and thereby making the West Wind more difficult to defend.

The meeting was ended and the preparations for departure began. Soon the smell of hot tar and turpentine filled the air. A cloud of coal-dust could be seen over the vessels and there was not a single beast, from common sea-beast to the king of the Lokians, who was not soon smudged, stained with tar and looking as though they had never bathed in their lives. All three ships completed the messy task as dusk approached.

In the golden light of the gloaming, hundreds of beasts could be seen swimming around the ships, scrubbing their fur and bodies and working off the nervous energy of apprehension.

When the sun began its descent under the horizon and the brightest stars of the sky made their presence known, all hands were back on their respective ships easing lines and readying their vessels for departure. When full night fell, their anchors raised, sails were quietly unfurled and the swooshing sound of muffled oars mingled with the syncopated splashing of waves breaking over the crater-rim. Soon three dark shapes began their journey to the east, preparing to turn in the direction of the ominous, lightening illuminated cloudbanks of the approaching storm.