The ropes whipped through the air as the sailors tossed them to the adjacent ship. The flagship of the Iron Line pulled themselves alongside the SkyBird. Arilee stood amazed at the line of soldiers on their deck.

“I’ve never sssseen anything like it. So many sssships. So many sssssoldiers.” Said Slicks, looking down the line of masts and sails..

Even their colors were imposing. The soldiers’ uniforms of dark blacks contrasted with the bright reds, matching the sails and ship lining. >Level 30< hovered above most of their heads. Some higher. The battered and broken SkyBird looked raggety in comparison.

A regal dressed man, who Arilee guessed to be the Commodore, descended from the stern of the ship. A regiment of guards forming behind him. A group of sailors ran from behind Arilee hoisting a large wooden board above their heads, placing it as a bridge between the two ships.

Chip and Leela joined Slicks and Arilee watching the ceremony.

An accompaniment of 3 soldiers with trumpets preceded the Commodore aboard the SkyBird, and heralded his boarding with a resounding three blows of their horns. Scout Marshall Bodwin approached the Commodore and bowed.

The Commodore looked at the Scout Marshall sternly, nodding his head. “Scout Marshall.”

Scout Marshall Bodwin raised himself.

“It seems we received your message just in time. The package is safe, I trust?”

The Scout Marshall reached into a pouch on his belt and retrieved the dark colored tome. Presenting it to the Commodore, he said, “Yes sir.”

The Commodore waved his hand, and the Scout Marshall nodded and put it back into his pouch.

“Good. The Overlord is very excited to see this. Do you know anything about the pirates that were chasing you?”

“No sir.”

“It is no matter. Our investigation team will soon find out.” He said waving his hand, causing a chain of hand waves and signals to go down the line until three ships began sailing forward to the locations the pirates sunk.

The Commodore continued talking to the Scout Marshall. “My instructions are for you to board our ship and to personally escort you and the package to the Overlord.”

“And my team of recruits?” asked the Scout Marshall, nodding his head to Arilee, Leela, Slicks and Chip.

“You may rejoin with them after your meeting.” The Commodore looked at the group for the first time. Arilee could feel his eyes analyzing them. His eyes tightened. He turned over his shoulder and looked at one of his guards behind him. “Take them to Jacques. Have him clean them up. They’ve done a great service.” He turned back to the Scout Marshall, looking over his sea-washed hair and grease from the recent battle still on his hands. “You will want to clean up as well.”

With that, the Commodore abruptly turned and returned to his ship. Half of his guards followed him across, and the other half stayed, waiting for the Scout Marshall. The Scout Marshall first turned to Arilee and the group.

“Alright, it looks like we don’t have much a choice here, but this meeting shouldn’t take long. I will meet ye’ at the The Inn of Wandering Mist tonight. It’s just South of the Market in the Trade District. It’s not the nicest inn but they know me there and magical creatures are welcome.”

The group nodded and watched the Scout Marshall cross the bridge. Four of the guards left with him, one remaining behind.

“One moment. Our ship is coming up next.” he said.

Arilee watched as the Commodore and Scout Marshall sailed away and another ship sailed up next to the Skybird in its place. As the sailors threw ropes to the soldiers, Arilee heard a great surging of water from behind her. She quickly turned to see the three Investigation Ships next to a small whirlpool forming. Through the thrashing of water she could hear a soft mage chant coming from the ships. Then, coming from the dark depths, the sunken ship and wreckage slowly floated to the top.

“Wow,” she heard Leela say in amazement. Leela turned and looked at Chip. “One day that’ll be you doing that!”

Chip laughed. “Maybe one day.”

The remaining Guard announced it was time to board the ship and depart. They followed him across. The ship was smaller than the Commodore’s but still refined in the colors of the Overlord.

The ship rocked as the sails were lowered to full and caught the wind. The fog from the morning was beginning to clear and the sun was coming out from behind the clouds.

“So will we meet Jaques on this ship?” Arilee asked the guard.

“Yes he is Captain of this ship and you should be meeting him shortly.”

“Oh Arilee come look!” she heard Leela say from the railing. “It’s the city!”