Magnus nodded, his face lined with deep grat.i.tude. "Now Destiny's Edge has purchased its own billet. All of you are free."

The s.h.i.+p's Council of Lion's Arch announced a feast for Destiny's Edge, slayers of Morgus Lethe. Every captain wanted to host the banquet, and every dignitary wanted to attend-with supporters and family and friends. As a result, no s.h.i.+p was big enough, and measures had to be taken to keep out undesirables.

In the end, the feast took place in the middle of the Grand Harbor aboard not one but seven s.h.i.+ps, connected via gangplanks and swinging lines. Each s.h.i.+p sought to outdo the others. Every deck was holystoned, every bit of bra.s.s polished, every rail festooned. Lanterns blazed upon the spars, sending a warm and manifold light down over the elegantly garbed partygoers.

Even Eir and her companions wore new clothes-greatcoats in dazzling white. They were gifts from Magnus the b.l.o.o.d.y Handed, tailored from the first s.h.i.+pment of fine wool to pa.s.s the erstwhile lair of Morgus Lethe. Each coat designated its wearer an honorary member of the s.h.i.+p's Council.

"I think we look das.h.i.+ng," Logan said, "as white as Seraph."

"I think we look like waiters," Rytlock griped. His brawny shoulders bristled beneath the yards of white cloth, and his horns continuously snagged the coat. "I can't move!"

"Luckily, all you have to do is shake hands."

It was true. From the beginning of the party until well into the evening, Destiny's Edge stood as a long line of dignitaries filed past and shook their hands.

The companions coped with varying degrees of success. Eir and Logan were the most gracious, nodding and thanking people. Snaff and Zojja didn't understand how to keep the line moving, though. Whenever someone would say, "I don't know how you did it," Snaff would leap in with, "Well, let me tell you! It all began with the design of the hold golems . . ." Then he would spin a long, elaborate tale, all the while shaking the person's hand so that he or she could not get away, with Zojja breaking in every fifth word with a correction.

The companions were, of course, stationed on the finest of the seven s.h.i.+ps-the Pride Pride-a great war galley that belonged to Commodore Lawson Marriner of the s.h.i.+p's Council. He was a man of contrasts. The finery of his greatcoat contrasted with the leathery skin of his seafarer's face, and his quick movements aboard s.h.i.+p and his even quicker mind belied his age. When finally the receiving line ran out, the commodore showed the members of Destiny's Edge around his s.h.i.+p.

"It's a wars.h.i.+p, yes," the commodore said as he guided Rytlock and Logan into the stateroom beneath the aft deck, "but it's also one of the meeting places of the s.h.i.+p's Council." The room was lavish, with silver leaf and red velvet drapes. In the center stood a great, round table in oak, where the commodore and the captains of Lion's Arch routinely met to do the city's business. Just now, though, the table was loaded with thundershrimp and clams and swordfish and squid. "Avail yourselves."

Rytlock grinned and grabbed a plate. "Ah, seafood."

"I'm surprised a charr would like seafood," Commodore Marriner remarked.

"I like any food I can spear with my claws," Rytlock replied.

There was plenty to feast on, of course-ales and wines and cheeses and breads and every other bounty of this bountiful city. Loaded down, Logan and Rytlock staggered out the cabin door and seated themselves on the capstan. There, they ate, listening to a nearby conversation.

"It's the size advantage, for one," said a young asura, her skin smooth despite sea and suns.h.i.+ne. She was speaking to Snaff, Zojja, and Caithe, and judging by her short greatcoat, she was a person of importance. "I mean, a norn in the hold-it's a comical thing. And on deck they're constantly getting whapped by the boom. 'Bring a s.h.i.+p about and there's a norn in the drink' is the old saying. And have you ever seen one climb the ratlines? Looks like a mantis in a spiderweb."

Rytlock laughed, a shrimp flying from his mouth.

"I can imagine," Snaff said encouragingly. "Go on, Captain Shud."

"Captain?" Rytlock wondered.

"Shhh," replied Logan. "I want to hear this."

The captain went on, "An asuran s.h.i.+p, though, there's a thing to behold. We fit everywhere-the tops, the decks, the holds. And we can run more sail than any norn s.h.i.+p. We can set the boom four foot off the deck, not twelve. No, the seas were meant for us-"

"Not to mention the innovations," broke in another asura, who was shorter than the first. The tail of his greatcoat pooled on the deck.

"What innovations, Captain Tokk?"

"Well, things like retractable keels so you can sail in three feet of water, and retractable masts so you can sail beneath bridges."

"Fascinating," Snaff said. "I'd like to learn more."

"Well, I I would like to learn more about you and your goals." would like to learn more about you and your goals."

"Ehh?" asked Snaff, his mouth hitching.

Captain Tokk smiled, his face beaming red. "Well, you've done so much for the norn in defeating Jormag's champion, and then for Lion's Arch by defeating the Orrian dragon's champion, but what have you done for our own people?"

Snaff blinked. "Well, I invented completely new forms of golems, ones that allow the controller to move them while moving their own bodies. I call it double sight."

"What else?" Tokk pressed, smiling in a self-important way.

"Well, I've innovated sand golems-actual golems that rely more upon the powerstone dust that controls them than on the substances that make up their physical forms."

"Exactly," Tokk said as if he hadn't heard a word. "Nothing. It's time for you to pay back your homeland by defeating another dragon champion."

Snaff blinked away his frustration. "Another dragon champion?"

"It's rising near the city, in the jungle beyond the swamp."

"Yuck," Snaff said.

"I know! know! Mud, mosquitoes, those bushes that stick seedpods to your pants-" Mud, mosquitoes, those bushes that stick seedpods to your pants-"

"Sticker bushes-"

"Thanks," Tokk replied. "Yes, in such a horrid place is where a champion of Primordus is rising."

"Just name him!" Snaff said, scowling now. "Imagine the cheek, rising near Rata Sum!"

"He is called the Destroyer of Life," Tokk said, his eyebrows lifting as if his own words amazed him. "His master, Primordus, was the first of the Elder Dragons to rise, and he wreaked havoc on the dwarves. They slew his first champion, the Great Destroyer, and we allied with the dwarves to fight back the tide of minions that boiled up from the deep places. For centuries, we had them driven back. But the old wyrm found a new champion. The Destroyer of Life is forged of stone and magma. He is raising more armies of destroyers."

Snaff now was shaking one small fist. "We'll get you, Destroyer of Life! And why shouldn't we? We're the killers of dragon champions!"

Tokk grinned. "So you think you and your comrades could destroy the Destroyer of Life and his army?"

"Of course," Snaff said resolutely.

The party lasted all night and stretched straight through till morning. As guests boarded boats and rowed back to the docks, the comrades found themselves lingering together around the council table and the ragged remains of the feast.

"You know," Rytlock said as he hoisted a barrel and poured the dregs of the ale into a stein, "that's two two we've done for the norn." we've done for the norn."

Eir glanced at him in annoyance. "What?"

"You know-the Dragonsp.a.w.n was for Nut White-Face-"

"Knut Whitebear."

"And we did this one for Morgan Bloodfist."

"Magnus the b.l.o.o.d.y Handed. How much ale have you had?" Eir asked.

Rytlock pointed a claw at her and sighted somewhat unsteadily down it. "Not enough to not be able to recognize that it-I mean, to not not notice it's been all norn favors so far." notice it's been all norn favors so far."

"Fine," Eir said. "Noted."

"All I mean is, maybe next time we do something for the charr," Rytlock ventured, downing the stein in one gulp.

"Yeah," Logan said with a laugh. "Let's destroy Ebonhawke. But afterward, we have to help the humans by destroying the Black Citadel."

Rytlock looked at his friend with surprised admiration, and then with shocked disgust, and then with a mixture of the two, which looked very much like a hangover.

Logan went on, "Instead of rus.h.i.+ng into another fight, why don't we do some-I don't know-diplomatic missions. For instance, Queen Jennah has requested our presence in Divinity's Reach-" missions. For instance, Queen Jennah has requested our presence in Divinity's Reach-"

"That's it!" Rytlock crowed. "We'll conquer Divinity's Reach!"

Everyone but Logan laughed at that.

Snaff shook his head. "It's no good doing things for humans or charr, but there is is an ancient threat rising beneath Rata Sum." an ancient threat rising beneath Rata Sum."

"What threat?" Eir asked.

"Another dragon champion: the Destroyer of Life. He's raising an army of destroyers to erupt from the ground and swarm the jungles and destroy Rata Sum."

Eir arched an eyebrow. "How much have you you been drinking?" been drinking?"

"It's true. Captain Tokk told me," Snaff said. "Rata Sum doesn't have effective defenses. Sure they have the peacemaker golems, but they're used mostly to prevent krewes from stealing each other's secrets. I've tried to sell them true battle golems, but no one on the council listens to me. This is just the sort of threat I was imagining: there's a volcano under the jungle, and its spewing out destroyers. Perfect!"

"You want us to fight a volcano volcano?" Rytlock asked.

Snaff bubbled excitedly, "We could come up with a caldera plug or maybe caldera creme-or even a giant spear like people use to lance a boil."

Eir smiled. "Excellent ideas, all. But first, we'll find out what really is happening beneath Rata Sum. Then we'll make our plans and our golems. If the Destroyer of Life is is rising beneath the jungle, he's just made seven deadly enemies." rising beneath the jungle, he's just made seven deadly enemies."

From Logan Thackeray To Her Royal Majesty, Jennah, Queen of Kryta, Regent of Ascalon Friend of all HumankindGreetings,As you have no doubt heard, Captain Magnus the b.l.o.o.d.y Handed, his troops, my comrades, and I have destroyed Morgus Lethe. This brave coalition of norn, human, asura, sylvari, and charr fought for many reasons; but as always, I fought only for you.Perhaps you have also heard that we were in the midst of celebrating this victory when the threat of another dragon champion came to our ears: the Destroyer of Life. It is a new champion of the Elder Dragon Primordus, and it rises near Rata Sum, homeland of two of my dear friends.I made a case for traveling to Divinity's Reach first, but my comrades are too eager to fight again, too fearful of what would happen if we let the situation in Rata Sum simmer. Eir keeps us busy with preparation.Just say the word, though, and I will leave them and come to you. I desire more than anything to see you again, face-to-face. It is my sole consolation that you are before me every time I close my eyes.Let me know what you wish, and I will obey.Your humble champion,LoganFrom Her Royal Majesty, Jennah To the Magnificent Logan ThackerayGreetings:I knew you would kill Morgus Lethe. The champion of a dragon cannot stand before the champion of a queen. Your works bring honor and glory to yourself and to me.Yes, of course I had expected you and your comrades to appear before me, but this next mission does take precedence. I have been in long-term negotiations with the Arcane Council of Rata Sum for a restored asura gate into Ebonhawke. The new gate will bind our farthest outpost to our greatest city. Long the asura have stalled, fearing a backlash from the charr. But when I received your letter, I at last had the bargaining chip I needed.I will allow my champion to fight this fight, and in return, I will get my superior gate.This is your greatest service yet to me, Logan, but I recognize the price we both are paying. I fear to lose you, and I want more than anything to see you again. But you cannot fight for me by standing around the halls of Divinity's Reach. The last thing I need is another polished advisor. They are just statues compared to a flesh-and-blood champion.So, fight for me. Defeat the Destroyer of Life. And in our long separation, I will content myself with letters and with visions of your heroism.Your queen,Jennah

BATTLE ON THE LAKE OF FIRE.

d.a.m.ned inconvenient," Zojja said a month later as she tromped behind Caithe and Snaff through deep jungle. "Why'd the Destroyer of Life have to rise so far from civilization?"

"Just be glad he did," Snaff said.

"But the mud," Zojja said, not for the first time. "And the bugs." She slapped her neck, and her hand came away red. The burst body of a gigantic mosquito was pasted to her palm. She shook the insect from her hand, then saw another giant mosquito land on Snaff's face. "You got one!"

Snaff went cross-eyed, staring at the gangly critter. "Look at that proboscis!" he said in genuine wonder. Just then, the bloodsucker rammed its snout right through Snaff's left nostril. He sneezed, a blast of air that shot through the proboscis, inflated the mosquito, and popped it. Snaff gazed cross-eyed at the limp thing, then dragged it from his face. "A design flaw, I'd call that."

From up ahead came a whistle.

Snaff's face brightened. "That would be Caithe. I wonder if she has found something."

The two asura pushed past ferns and fronds and entered a clearing. Caithe stood at its edge, looking down at a black rift in the ground. Sulfuric smoke rose in a long curtain from it.

"That looks like a way in," Snaff blurted.

Caithe held up a hand to signal that the two asura should stay still. Then she stalked soundlessly up to the rift, dropped to hands and knees, and stared within. After a few moments, she motioned her two comrades over.

The asura waddled toward her as quietly as possible, though their stubby legs stirred up the undergrowth and cracked sticks. Soon, they reached the brimstone-reeking rent, knelt beside it, and gazed within.

The jagged cleft descended into a dark cavern beneath the ground, south of Wildflame Caverns. As the asura stared, their eyes grew accustomed to the murk, and they could make out a red glow at the base of the cavern.

"What is is that?" Snaff murmured. that?" Snaff murmured.

In moments, it was obvious: A thousand feet down lay a huge lake of fire. At its center hulked a tormented volcano of ropy black stone. The caldera at its peak was filled with white-hot lava, and red stone poured down the sides. Gases hissed in gray jets from the slopes of the island, and the lake of fire boiled. The whole chamber rumbled like the belly of a t.i.tan.

"We're going to need a way to get down there," Caithe said.

Snaff nodded, writing on a pad of paper. He made a second bullet on his pad. "We'll also need some way to freeze the caldera. That's the source of all this lava."

"Isn't Master Klab working on a magic icebox?" Zojja asked.

Snaff sighed. "Klab. Yes. Magic icebox. He hasn't a romantic bone in his body. Here we we are, trying to save Rata Sum from destroyers, and there are, trying to save Rata Sum from destroyers, and there he he is, trying to keep food cold!" is, trying to keep food cold!"

"Still, we could use some of his arcane crystals," Zojja said.

Snaff scowled.

"Write it down. K-L-A-B. K-L-A-B."

Snaff dutifully scribbled. "Now, as to the enemy, there's neither hide nor hair."

"What do you mean? The chamber is full of enemies. Look!"

Snaff and Zojja peered back down into the rift and saw what Caithe meant: The lake of fire was boiling, yes, but not with gas bubbles. It was boiling with destroyers. They were being birthed from the lava-an army of them crawling onto the tortured sides of the island.

"I thought that's why you wanted to freeze the caldera," Caithe said.

"It was," Snaff a.s.sured. "Of course it was." He touched the tip of his stylus to his tongue and wrote down, Destroyers everywhere. Destroyers everywhere. He smiled up at the sylvari. "And I suspect those keen eyes of yours have clapped onto the Destroyer of Life itself?" He smiled up at the sylvari. "And I suspect those keen eyes of yours have clapped onto the Destroyer of Life itself?"

"Yes," Caithe said simply.

"Really?" Snaff blurted. He ahemed and regained his composure. "Show me."

"Right there." She pointed toward the caldera far below. "There, on the right edge. It's calling those creatures up out of the lake."

Snaff goggled for a moment into the darkness, then nodded sagely. "Very good, Caithe. Eir will be quite pleased with the reconnaissance we've gathered." He reached to smack his backside and fling away a b.l.o.o.d.y mosquito. "Now, let's get out of here."

Eir and Rytlock hoisted a ma.s.sive metal cha.s.sis from the sc.r.a.p heap and dragged it across the floor of Snaff's workshop. Steel skirled on stone.