Chapter 5: The Storm
With its mission accomplished in the Western Sea, Hauvarta’s Shield sailed eastward again toward the rising sun, carrying with it humanity’s hopes to defeat Aeshma and the empire of Hakem Rafi. And as the days passed, the travelers felt the weight of their destiny pressing heavily on their shoulders, for they still did not know how they were to accomplish the impossible feats Muhmad the prophet had laid out for them. They had seen so many miracles already, however, that they were willing to believe kismet might yet hold a few more for them. The blessing of the perfect winds filling the sails gave them a small measure of confidence, as did each dawn of good sailing weather.
In the late afternoons Jafar al-Sharif closeted himself in the sectioned-off portion of the hol
