Book Seven: Chapter 45

Everyone repeated the mantra. Princess Kailani cleared her throat, getting everyone’s attention. “You’re forgetting something.”

“Right.” Leilani held the conch shell to her mouth and blew. Instead of the low sound of a distant foghorn, the shell emitted a soft note that permeated the air and sent a ripple of light out into the sea. The merfolk turned and stared at the water, waiting.

A syrupy mist rose up from the water, about a hundred yards from shore. It rolled itself into a spherical cloud and a tall shape appeared within. The prow of a large wooden ship pierced the fog, and a galleon manifested before them. Large sails flapped in the breeze as the ship drew near. Standing on the prow was a man in a black canvas doublet wearing white breeches. The ship showed no sign of stopping, but came to a standstill about thirty feet out from the wall of water.

The man leapt off the prow, and the waves rose to greet him. He slid down the curved surface of the water and the