“Teldin, what …?”
He turned slowly to see Djan skid to a halt on the battle station.
It was as if he’d opened his eyes for the first time, the Cloakmaster thought, was truly seeing for the first time. He could see every detail of his friend – every hair on the half-elf’s head, every pore in his skin, as a distinct element. And more: it was as if he could see deep within him as well, down into his soul. Djan’s emotions washed over him, became one with his own …
Then it was over. The transcendence, the epiphany, could only have lasted a few moments, but, subjectively, it could have lasted for years, a lifetime, an eternity. The blue-white nimbus faded, as did the Cloakmaster’s hyperacute senses, but the calmness – the sense of centeredness, of peace, remained.
He smiled at Djan, a smile of wonder. He pointed forward and down. “It’s there,” he said quietly, calmly. “The Spelljammer. I’ve found it at last.”
The half-elf dashed to the rail and stared in the direction that Teldin had indicated. A smile spread across his face – a tentative smile, though. With the last remnant of his enhanced perception, the Cloakmaster sensed his friend’s mixed wonder and trepidation.
“I see it,” Djan confirmed. “What do you want to do?”
“Bring us closer,” Teldin said simply. “Close with the Spelljammer.”
As Djan sprinted into the ship to relay the order, the Cloakmaster turned back to stare at the object of his quest.
The great manta ship had already maneuvered, he saw at once. Rather than viewing it from the side and slightly above, he now looked full onto the Spelljammer’s bow. The mysterious vessel was closing with him.
Sudden fear jabbed at his heart and throat. It was closing fast – already traveling faster than any vessel had a right to, and still accelerating. Against the chaotic backdrop of the Flow, the dark shape swelled alarmingly.
An attack run! With horrible clarity, he knew: the Spelljammer was attacking the nautiloid.
Why? He wore the ultimate helm, didn’t he?
But, then, weren’t there other ultimate helms in the universe, other contenders for the great ship?
What if someone else had reached the Spelljammer first, had taken control of it? And what if the new captain’s first priority was to eliminate all potential rivals – among them Teldin Moore?
“Battle stations!” His scream was so loud that it tore his throat. He was unable to wrench his gaze from the onrushing world-sized vessel.
“Evasive action!” he ordered, but he knew it was already too late.
Table of Contents
Title page
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
The Broken Sphere Page 32