The Marianne hit the pier with a bump. Natalia and Athgar stood by as the crew leaped into action, tying the vessel off. Captain Howe, his attention no longer required, walked down the length of the deck to where his passengers waited.
"You"ve done a great job," he declared, "and you"re welcome aboard my ship anytime."
"Thank you, Captain," said Natalia. "You"ve been most gracious."
"What will you do now?" he asked.
"We"ll look for a vessel sailing to Corassus," she replied.
"You"ll have to be vigilant if you"re sailing those waters," he said, "it"s a dangerous route."
"Dangerous?" piped up Athgar.
"Yes, you"ll have to sail through the Teeth of Karamir."
"That doesn"t sound too appetizing," replied the Therengian.
"That"s not the half of it," offered the captain. "To get to Corass
