The salt water flushed through my neck and rushed out of my nose. My eyes squinted to the bright sun, I could see few people above me. One of them was Fyena, she pushed her fist against my chest and got up. As she walked away a pale chubby guy, who was as bright as the sun came into focus.
"Not today brother," he said in a delighted tone.
The gnome lent his hands and pulled me up. Fyena knelt down, facing the sea. There was a counsellor behind her on a rough stone studying the same sea. Gabrel came from the West nodding, and went past me.
"It's alright," he said.
"No, it's not," The counsellor said calmly. It was one of the counsellors. "Alaas you have failed your duty."
I looked around, the others were nowhere to be found, Fyena was trying so hard not to burst out, the gnome glanced one after the other, "Maybe," he said. "Maybe we can talk it out in the council."
"There were supposed to be more crews to join us," the Elf continued the argument.
"That doesn't justify-" the counsellor stopped.
"I don't have supplies for the whole night," the gnome said.
He turned abruptly, then sunk into realisation, stood up and dusted off his cassock. "Hurry up then."
The devil's shore, seven flights away from the head council, where we were supposed to land. The vast area was covered by pale sand and dry stones. We had to pass through occasional buildings with no life in sight. Fyena and Gabrel were yards behind us, the gnome was my only companion as the counsellor was leading in front. Unfortunately the gnome was not an ordinary adventurer.
"Well, may I know the purpose of your visit," I had asked him, and I regretted it through the entire journey. He started with Edwin Wilbert and Condor, he was one of those opportunists who rushed to capture the deceased's space. Some how he heard the information before any one of us. He talked about the arms, the secrets that laid behind its craft, the elements that none had managed to replicate, the metal alloy that held them and the unknown metals behind it.
"You didn't answer my question," I couldn't think of a better way to stop the talk. It worked, it made him think, but not long enough.
"I seek the resource. Now who has them and is needy?"
"You are right."
The Wizard might have the dwarves, men and even elves, but he can't get the upper hand without the head knights.
The grand white castle was before us, in its huge glory, shining marbles, and massive airships flying around. It was a north facing round stone keep, accompanied by halls on west and an airship dock on the south. The people coming in ships usually anchored them in the east dock way away from there and travelled through other mediums. There was no man made moat around it, instead there was a split between the cliffs that was connected by two bridges one from the north and the other from the east.
We were closer to the north bridge than to the east so we proceeded towards it. Blue and Grey armoured knights patrolled the bridges and the castle. The twelve feet door opened, revealing the giant entrance hall lit by windows on both sides. A counsellor, about the same height and appearance as the one we rescued was standing in the middle instructing two blue armoured knights.
His face sank as soon as he noticed us, the West counsellor walked straight and went past him without a word. Fyena took the step, Gabrel extended his hand and gestured to us not to follow. There was a heated argument. The counsellor became red and slammed his hands in frustration.
"Isn't that a counsellor from the East Council?" The gnome pointed to another counsellor, holding a cluster of berries in his hand, sipping the flesh out one by one.
I checked the counsellor and caught him staring at me, "I'm afraid it is."
He swayed his hands and ended the argument. The elves turned and walked back. Fyena was whipping her nose, and trying to hold it together, she crossed me and walked out.
"They got the East Council?" I said when Gabrel approached.
"Yes."
"They rescued the counsellors?"
"Oh," he turned back. the counsellor started to strode behind. "No, some of them arrived here yesterday, to talk about the arsenal."
"So how many left?"
"Eight, including the one we rescued and the two who are with the wizard."
"What's next?"
"They have arranged a meeting, the wizard will be arriving."
"Should we stay?"
He was distracted, Fyena started to climb down the stairs, "yes," he said and ran to catch up.