The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon Page 8

CHAPTER 2:

  The large waves that seemed to have come from nowhere suddenly vanished. However, as the crew-Zacs began lowering the lifeboats, lighting and thunder continued to whip the sky. Someone cried out, “Land—there, out there—land!”

  “A beach—head for that beach!” Zeal shouted down at the lifeboats already in the water. He stood before the peg-lock chest looking around for his best friend Willow.

  Tailk, a rough-looking passenger with an eye patch nodded up at Zeal as he plunged his oar through the water, alongside Shanel. Finally the first lifeboat hit the sand, the rest following, guided by the lanterns of those who had already landed.

  Back on the Sealander, Zeal carried a heavy look of anxiety. Where could Willow be?

  Alil and a few others were in a lifeboat hanging from a pulley just beneath the railing. Moments later the peg-lock chest was lowered into it. Keeping the chest steady, they waited for other well trusted members of the crew to fill the empty seats before lowering it into the choppy waters below. A Zac stumbled out from the darkness. Tobben went for his pistol, but quickly realized it was only an elderly female. He hurried to assist her. “Ma'am, everything’s going to be okay.”

  “My husband!” she cried. “Have you seen my husband Kyltic? He’s bald, heavy, and only has one arm .…”

  “He’s with us,” Tobben said as he assisted her over the railing into the lifeboat.

  “I’m here, Malla.” Kyltic took hold of his wife. “I got her from here.” He groaned, wishing he had both of his arms. Angry with himself for losing his arm from the elbow down in a careless mistake at work. He knew it’d take a Zac his age over two years to grow a new one. “Stay close, Malla,” he murmured as he draped his cloak around her while the lifeboat was lowered into the waters.