The Vengeance Vengeance was an eerie place. The heavy cloud hanging overhead cast a deep shadow over the entire ship, and the only sound they could hear was the quiet rhythmic creaking of the ship itself as it rocked gently on the incoming tide. Jenna and Boy 412 padded quietly along the deck, past neatly coiled ropes, orderly lines of tarred barrels and the occasional cannon pointing out menacingly over the Marram Marshes. Apart from the oppressive blackness and a few traces of yellow slime on the deck, the ship bore no clues as to who it belonged to. However, when they reached the prow, a strong was an eerie place. The heavy cloud hanging overhead cast a deep shadow over the entire ship, and the only sound they could hear was the quiet rhythmic creaking of the ship itself as it rocked gently on the incoming tide. Jenna and Boy 412 padded quietly along the deck, past neatly coiled ropes, orderly lines of tarred barrels and the occasional cannon pointing out menacingly over the Marram Marshes. Apart from the oppressive blackness and a few traces of yellow slime on the deck, the ship bore no clues as to who it belonged to. However, when they reached the prow, a strong Darke Darke presence almost knocked Boy 412 off his feet. Jenna carried on, unaware of anything, and Boy 412 followed her, not wanting to leave her alone. presence almost knocked Boy 412 off his feet. Jenna carried on, unaware of anything, and Boy 412 followed her, not wanting to leave her alone.

The Darkenesse Darkenesse came from an imposing throne, set up by the foremast, looking out to sea. It was a ma.s.sive piece of furniture, strangely out of place on the deck of a ship. It was ornately carved from ebony and embellished with a deep red gold leaf-and it contained DomDaniel, the came from an imposing throne, set up by the foremast, looking out to sea. It was a ma.s.sive piece of furniture, strangely out of place on the deck of a ship. It was ornately carved from ebony and embellished with a deep red gold leaf-and it contained DomDaniel, the Necromancer Necromancer, himself. Sitting bolt upright, his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open and a low, wet gurgle emanating from the back of his throat as he breathed in the drizzle, DomDaniel was taking his afternoon nap. Underneath the throne, like a faithful dog, lay a sleeping Thing Thing in a pool of yellow slime. in a pool of yellow slime.

Suddenly Boy 412 clutched Jenna's arm so hard that she nearly cried out. He pointed to DomDaniel's waist. Jenna glanced down and then looked at Boy 412 in despair. So it was true. She had hardly been able to believe what Alther had told them but here, in front of her eyes, was the truth. Around DomDaniel's waist, almost hidden in his dark robes, was the ExtraOrdinary Wizard's belt. Marcia's Marcia's ExtraOrdinary Wizard belt. ExtraOrdinary Wizard belt.

Jenna and Boy 412 stared at DomDaniel with a mixture of disgust and fascination. The Necromancer Necromancer's fingers gripped the ebony arms of the throne; his thick yellow fingernails curved around the ends and clipped on to the wood like a set of claws. His face still had the telltale gray pallor it had acquired during his years spent Underground Underground, before he had moved out into his lair in the Badlands. It was an unremarkable face in many ways-maybe the eyes were a little too deep set, and the mouth a little too cruel for it to be wholly pleasant-but it was the Darke Darke that lay beneath that made Jenna and Boy 412 shudder as they gazed at it. that lay beneath that made Jenna and Boy 412 shudder as they gazed at it.

On his head DomDaniel wore a cylindrical black hat shaped like a short stovepipe, which, for some reason he did not understand, was always a little too big for him, regardless of how often he had a new one made to fit. This bothered DomDaniel more than he liked to admit, and he had become convinced that since his return to the Wizard Tower his head had started to shrink. While the Necromancer Necromancer slept, the hat had slipped down and was now resting on the top of his whitish ears. The black hat was an old-fashioned Wizard hat, which no Wizard had worn, or had wanted to wear, since it had been a.s.sociated with the great Wizard slept, the hat had slipped down and was now resting on the top of his whitish ears. The black hat was an old-fashioned Wizard hat, which no Wizard had worn, or had wanted to wear, since it had been a.s.sociated with the great Wizard Inquisition Inquisition many hundreds of years ago. many hundreds of years ago.

Above the throne a dark red silk canopy, emblazoned with a trio of black stars, hung heavily in the drizzle, dripping every now and then onto the hat and filling up the indentation in the top with a pool of water.

Boy 412 took hold of Jenna's hand. He remembered a small, moth-eaten pamphlet of Marcia's he had read one snowy afternoon called The Hypnotik Effect of the Darke The Hypnotik Effect of the Darke, and he could feel Jenna being drawn in. He pulled her away from the sleeping figure toward an open hatch.

"Marcia's here here," he whispered to Jenna. "I can feel her Presence Presence."

As they reached the hatch there was a sound of footsteps running along the deck below and then rapidly climbing the ladder. Jenna and Boy 412 jumped back and a sailor holding a long, unlit torch ran up onto the deck. The sailor was a small, wiry man dressed in the usual Custodian black; unlike the Custodian Guards he was not shaven-headed but had long hair carefully tied back in a thin dark plait that straggled halfway down his back. He had baggy trousers that reached to just below his knee and a top with broad black and white stripes running across it. The sailor took out a tinder box, struck a spark and lit his torch. The torch flared to life, and a brilliant orange flame lit up the gray drizzly afternoon, casting dancing shadows across the deck. The sailor walked forward with the blazing torch and placed it in a holder on the prow of the ship. DomDaniel opened his eyes. His nap was over.

The sailor hovered nervously beside the throne, awaiting his instructions from the Necromancer Necromancer.

"Are they returned?" came a low, hollow voice that made the hair on the back of Boy 412's neck stand up.

The sailor bowed, avoiding the Necromancer Necromancer's gaze.

"The boy is returned, my lord. And your servant."

"Is that all all?"

"Yes, my lord. But..."

"But what what?"

"The boy says that he captured the Princess, sire."

"The Queenling Queenling. Well, well. Wonders Wonders will never will never cease cease. Bring them to me. Now!" Now!"

"Yes, my lord." The sailor bowed low.

"And-bring up the prisoner prisoner. She will be interested interested to see her erstwhile charge." to see her erstwhile charge."

"Her what, sire?"

"The Queenling Queenling, wretch. Get them all all up here. up here. Now! Now!"

The sailor disappeared through the hatchway, and soon Jenna and Boy 412 could feel movement below their feet. Deep in the hold of the ship, things were stirring. Sailors were tumbling from their hammocks, putting down their carvings, knottings or unfinished ships in bottles and turning out onto the lower deck to do DomDaniel's bidding.

DomDaniel eased off his throne, a little stiff from his doze in the chill drizzle, and blinked as a runnel of water from the top of his hat landed in his eye. Irritated, he kicked the sleeping Magog awake. The Thing Thing oozed itself out from under the throne and followed DomDaniel along the deck, where the oozed itself out from under the throne and followed DomDaniel along the deck, where the Necromancer Necromancer stood, arms folded, a look of antic.i.p.ation upon his face, waiting for those he had summoned. stood, arms folded, a look of antic.i.p.ation upon his face, waiting for those he had summoned.

Soon a heavy footfall could be heard below, and a few moments later half a dozen deckhands appeared and took up their positions as guard around DomDaniel. They were followed by the hesitant figure of the Apprentice. The boy looked white, and Jenna could see that his hands were trembling. DomDaniel barely gave him a glance. His eyes were still fixed on the open hatch, waiting for his prize, the Princess, to appear.

But no one came.

Time seemed to slow down. The deckhands shifted about, unsure of what they were actually waiting for, and the Apprentice's nervous tic below his left eye started up. Every now and then he glanced up at his Master and quickly away again as if afraid DomDaniel may catch his eye. After what seemed an age DomDaniel demanded, "Well, where is is she, boy?" she, boy?"

"Wh-who, sir?" stammered the Apprentice, although he knew perfectly well who the Necromancer Necromancer meant. meant.

"The Queenling Queenling, you beetlebrain. Who do you think I meant? Your idiot mother?"

"N-no, sir."

More footsteps were heard below.

"Ah," muttered DomDaniel. "At last. last."

But it was Marcia who was pushed out through the hatch by an accompanying Magog, who held her arm tightly in its long yellow claw. Marcia tried to shake it off, but the Thing Thing was stuck to her like glue and had covered her with streaks of yellow slime. Marcia looked down at it in disgust, and she kept exactly the same expression on her face as she turned to meet DomDaniel's triumphant gaze. Even after a month locked away in the dark and with her was stuck to her like glue and had covered her with streaks of yellow slime. Marcia looked down at it in disgust, and she kept exactly the same expression on her face as she turned to meet DomDaniel's triumphant gaze. Even after a month locked away in the dark and with her Magykal Magykal powers drained from her, Marcia cut an impressive figure. Her dark hair, wild and unkempt, had an angry look to it; her salt-stained robes had a simple dignity and her purple python shoes were, as ever, spotless. Jenna could tell that she had unsettled DomDaniel. powers drained from her, Marcia cut an impressive figure. Her dark hair, wild and unkempt, had an angry look to it; her salt-stained robes had a simple dignity and her purple python shoes were, as ever, spotless. Jenna could tell that she had unsettled DomDaniel.

"Ah, Miss Overstrand. So kind of you to drop by," he murmured.

Marcia did not reply.

"Well, Miss Overstrand, this is the reason I have been keeping you. I wanted you to see this little...finale. We have an interesting little bit of news for you, do we not, Septimus?" The Apprentice nodded uncertainly.

"My trusted Apprentice has been visiting some friends friends of yours, Miss Overstrand. In a of yours, Miss Overstrand. In a sweet sweet little cottage over thereabouts." DomDaniel waved his ring-encrusted hand toward the Marram Marshes. little cottage over thereabouts." DomDaniel waved his ring-encrusted hand toward the Marram Marshes.

Something in Marcia's expression changed.

"Ah, I see you know who I mean, Miss Overstrand. I rather thought thought you might. Now, my Apprentice here has reported a you might. Now, my Apprentice here has reported a successful successful mission." mission."

The Apprentice tried to say something but was waved quiet by his Master.

"Even I I have not heard the full details. I am sure have not heard the full details. I am sure you you would want to be the would want to be the first first to hear the good news. So now Septimus is going to tell us to hear the good news. So now Septimus is going to tell us all all. Aren't you, boy?"

The Apprentice stood up reluctantly. He looked very nervous. In a reedy voice, he started to speak hesitantly, "I...um..."

"Speak up, boy. No good if we can't hear a word word you're saying, now you're saying, now is is it?" DomDaniel told him. it?" DomDaniel told him.

"I...er, I have found the Princess. The Queenling."

There was an air of restlessness among the audience. Jenna got the impression that this news was not entirely welcome to the a.s.sembled deckhands, and she remembered Aunt Zelda telling her that DomDaniel would never win over the seafaring people.

"Go on, boy," prompted DomDaniel impatiently.

"I-the Hunter and me, we captured the cottage and, um, also the White Witch, Zelda Zanuba Heap, and the Wizard boy, Nickolas Benjamin Heap, and and the Young Army deserter, Expendable Boy 412. And I the Young Army deserter, Expendable Boy 412. And I did did capture the Princess-the Queenling." capture the Princess-the Queenling."

The Apprentice paused. A look of panic had appeared in his eyes. What was he going to say? How was he going to explain away the lack of the Princess and the disappearance of the Hunter?

"You did did capture the Queenling?" asked DomDaniel suspiciously. capture the Queenling?" asked DomDaniel suspiciously.

"Yes, sir. I did did. But..."

"But what what?"

"But. Well, sir, after the Hunter was overpowered by the White Witch and left to become a buffoon-"

"A buffoon buffoon? Are you trying to be funny funny with me, with me, boy boy? If you are, I would not not advise it." advise it."

"No, sir. I am not trying to be funny at all, sir." The Apprentice had never felt less like being funny in his entire life. "After the Hunter left, sir, I managed to capture the Queenling single-handed, and I nearly got away but-"

"Nearly? You nearly nearly got away?" got away?"

"Yes, sir. It was very close. I was attacked with a knife by the mad Wizard boy Nickolas Heap. He is very dangerous, sir. And the Queenling escaped."

"Escaped?!" roared DomDaniel, towering over the trembling Apprentice. "You come back and you call your mission a success? Some roared DomDaniel, towering over the trembling Apprentice. "You come back and you call your mission a success? Some success success. First you tell me that the wretched Hunter has become a buffoon buffoon, then you tell me that you were thwarted by a pathetic White Witch and some pesky runaway kids. And now now you tell me that the Queenling has you tell me that the Queenling has escaped escaped. The whole point of the mission, the whole point the whole point, was to capture the upstart Queenling. So what part of it exactly exactly do you call a do you call a success success?"

"Well, we know where she is now," the Apprentice mumbled.

"We knew where she was before before, boy. That was why you went went there in the there in the first first place." place."

DomDaniel raised his eyes to heaven. What was wrong with his cabbagehead Apprentice? Surely the seventh son of a seventh son should have some some Magyk Magyk about him by now? about him by now? Surely Surely he should have been strong enough to triumph over a ragtag group of hopeless Wizards holed up in the middle of nowhere? A feeling of rage bubbled up through DomDaniel. he should have been strong enough to triumph over a ragtag group of hopeless Wizards holed up in the middle of nowhere? A feeling of rage bubbled up through DomDaniel.

"Why?" he screamed. "Why am I surrounded by fools?" Spitting with anger now, DomDaniel caught sight of Marcia's expression of contempt mixed with relief at the news she had just heard. he screamed. "Why am I surrounded by fools?" Spitting with anger now, DomDaniel caught sight of Marcia's expression of contempt mixed with relief at the news she had just heard.

"Take the prisoner away!" he yelled. "Lock her up and throw away the key. She's finished finished."

"Not yet," Marcia replied quietly, deliberately turning her back on DomDaniel.

Suddenly, to Jenna's horror, Boy 412 stepped out from the shelter of the barrel and moved silently toward Marcia. Carefully, he slipped between the Thing Thing and the deckhands who were pushing Marcia roughly back toward the hatch. The contemptuous expression in Marcia's eyes changed to astonishment, then rapidly to a studied blankness, and Boy 412 knew that she had seen him. Quickly, he took his dragon ring from his finger and pressed it into Marcia's hand. Marcia's green eyes met his as, unseen by the guards, she slipped the ring into her tunic pocket. Boy 412 did not linger. He turned away, and in his haste to get back to Jenna, he brushed against a deckhand. and the deckhands who were pushing Marcia roughly back toward the hatch. The contemptuous expression in Marcia's eyes changed to astonishment, then rapidly to a studied blankness, and Boy 412 knew that she had seen him. Quickly, he took his dragon ring from his finger and pressed it into Marcia's hand. Marcia's green eyes met his as, unseen by the guards, she slipped the ring into her tunic pocket. Boy 412 did not linger. He turned away, and in his haste to get back to Jenna, he brushed against a deckhand.

"Halt!" shouted the man. "Who goes there?"

Everyone on the deck froze. Except for Boy 412, who darted away and grabbed hold of Jenna. It was time to go.

"Interlopers!" screamed DomDaniel. "I can see shadows shadows! Get them!! Get them!!"

In a panic the crew of the Vengeance Vengeance looked around. They could see nothing. Had their Master finally gone mad? They had been expecting it long enough. looked around. They could see nothing. Had their Master finally gone mad? They had been expecting it long enough.

In the confusion, Jenna and Boy 412 made it back to the rope ladder and down to the canoes faster than they would have thought possible. Nicko had seen them coming. They were just in time-the Unseen Unseen was wearing off. was wearing off.

Above them the commotion on the ship raged as torches were lit and all possible hiding places were searched. Someone cut the rope ladder and, as the Muriel Two Muriel Two and the Hunter's canoe paddled away into the mist, it fell with a splash and sank into the dark waters of the rising tide. and the Hunter's canoe paddled away into the mist, it fell with a splash and sank into the dark waters of the rising tide.

42.

THE S STORM.

Get them! I want them caught!" DomDaniel's bellows of rage echoed through the mist. DomDaniel's bellows of rage echoed through the mist.

Jenna and Boy 412 paddled Muriel Two Muriel Two as hard as they could toward the Deppen Ditch, and Nicko, who would not be parted from the Hunter's canoe, followed them. as hard as they could toward the Deppen Ditch, and Nicko, who would not be parted from the Hunter's canoe, followed them.

Another yell from DomDaniel caught their attention: "Send the swimmers out. Now! Now!"

There was a lull in the sounds emanating from the Vengeance Vengeance while the only two sailors on board who could swim were pursued around the deck and caught. Two loud splashes followed as they were thrown overboard to give chase. while the only two sailors on board who could swim were pursued around the deck and caught. Two loud splashes followed as they were thrown overboard to give chase.

The occupants of the canoes ignored the gasps coming from the water and pressed on toward the safety of the Marram Marshes. Far behind them the two swimmers, who had been knocked half unconscious by the huge drop, swam around in circles in a state of shock, realizing that what the old seafarers had told them was true: it was indeed unlucky for a sailor to know how to swim.

On the deck of the Vengeance Vengeance, DomDaniel retreated to his throne. The deckhands had shrunk away after being made to throw two of their shipmates overboard, and DomDaniel had the deck to himself. A deep chill surrounded him as he sat on his throne and immersed himself in his Darke Magyk Darke Magyk, chanting and wailing his way through a long and complicated Reverse Incantation Reverse Incantation.

DomDaniel was Summoning Summoning up the tides. up the tides.

The incoming tide obeyed him. It gathered itself up from the sea and poured in, tumbling and churning past the Port, funneling itself up into the river, dragging with it dolphins and jellyfish, turtles and seals as they were all swept along with the irresistible current. The water rose. Higher and higher it climbed while the canoes struggled slowly across the surging river. As the canoes reached the mouth of the Deppen Ditch, it became even more difficult to control them in the tide race that was quickly filling up the Ditch.

"It's too rough," yelled Jenna over the rush of the water, fighting with her paddle against yet another eddy as Muriel Two Muriel Two pitched from side to side in the swirling waters. The flood tide carried the canoes along with it, taking them into the Ditch at breakneck speed, twisting and turning helplessly in the wild surge. As they were thrown along like so much flotsam and jetsam, Nicko could see that already the water was br.i.m.m.i.n.g to the top of the Ditch. He had never known anything like it before. pitched from side to side in the swirling waters. The flood tide carried the canoes along with it, taking them into the Ditch at breakneck speed, twisting and turning helplessly in the wild surge. As they were thrown along like so much flotsam and jetsam, Nicko could see that already the water was br.i.m.m.i.n.g to the top of the Ditch. He had never known anything like it before.

"Something's wrong," he yelled back at Jenna. "It shouldn't be like this!"

"It's him!" shouted Boy 412, waving his paddle in the direction of DomDaniel and immediately wishing he hadn't as Muriel Two Muriel Two lurched sickeningly to one side. "Listen!" lurched sickeningly to one side. "Listen!"

As the Vengeance Vengeance had begun to rise high in the water and tug on her anchor chain, DomDaniel had changed his had begun to rise high in the water and tug on her anchor chain, DomDaniel had changed his Commands Commands and was shouting above the roar of the tide. and was shouting above the roar of the tide. "Blow! Blow! Blow!" "Blow! Blow! Blow!" he screamed. he screamed. "Blow! Blow! Blow!" "Blow! Blow! Blow!"

The wind gathered and did what it was Commanded Commanded to do. It came in fast with a wild howl, throwing the surface of the water into waves and pitching the canoes violently from side to side. It blew away the mist and, perched high up in the water at the top of Deppen Ditch, Jenna, Nicko and Boy 412 could now see the to do. It came in fast with a wild howl, throwing the surface of the water into waves and pitching the canoes violently from side to side. It blew away the mist and, perched high up in the water at the top of Deppen Ditch, Jenna, Nicko and Boy 412 could now see the Vengeance Vengeance clearly. clearly.

The Vengeance Vengeance could also see them. could also see them.

On the prow of the ship DomDaniel took out his eyegla.s.s and searched until he saw what he was looking for.

Canoes.

And as he studied the occupants his worst fears were realized. There was no mistaking the long dark hair and the golden circlet of the girl in the front of the strange green canoe. It was the Queenling. Queenling. The Queenling had been on board his ship. She had been running around, under his very nose, and he had let her escape. The Queenling had been on board his ship. She had been running around, under his very nose, and he had let her escape.

DomDaniel became strangely quiet as he gathered his energies and Summoned Summoned the most powerful the most powerful Storm Storm he could muster. he could muster.

The Darke Magyk Darke Magyk turned the howl of the wind into an earsplitting shriek. Black storm clouds came sweeping in and piled high over the bleak expanse of the Marram Marshes. The late afternoon light grew dim, and dark cold waves began to break over the canoes. turned the howl of the wind into an earsplitting shriek. Black storm clouds came sweeping in and piled high over the bleak expanse of the Marram Marshes. The late afternoon light grew dim, and dark cold waves began to break over the canoes.

"The water's coming in. I'm soaked," yelled Jenna as she fought to keep control of Muriel Two Muriel Two while Boy 412 frantically bailed out the water. Nicko was having trouble in the Hunter's canoe-a wave had just crashed over him and the canoe was now awash. Another wave like that, thought Nicko, and he'd be at the bottom of the Deppen Ditch. while Boy 412 frantically bailed out the water. Nicko was having trouble in the Hunter's canoe-a wave had just crashed over him and the canoe was now awash. Another wave like that, thought Nicko, and he'd be at the bottom of the Deppen Ditch.

And then suddenly there was was no Deppen Ditch. no Deppen Ditch.

With a roar the banks of Deppen Ditch gave way. A ma.s.sive wave surged through the breach and roared out across the Marram Marshes, taking all with it: dolphins, turtles, jellyfish, seals, swimmers...and two canoes.

The speed at which Nicko was traveling was faster than he had ever dreamed possible. It was both terrifying and exciting at once. But the Hunter's canoe rode the crest of the wave lightly and easily, as though this was the moment it had been waiting for.

Jenna and Boy 412 were not quite as thrilled as Nicko at the turn of events. Muriel Two Muriel Two was a contrary old canoe, and she did not take to this new way of traveling at all. They had to fight hard to stop her from being rolled over by the ma.s.sive wave that was thundering across the marsh. was a contrary old canoe, and she did not take to this new way of traveling at all. They had to fight hard to stop her from being rolled over by the ma.s.sive wave that was thundering across the marsh.

As the water spread across the marsh, the wave began to lose some of its power, and Jenna and Boy 412 were able to steer Muriel Two Muriel Two more easily. Nicko maneuvered the Hunter's canoe along the wave toward them, deftly twisting and turning it as he went. more easily. Nicko maneuvered the Hunter's canoe along the wave toward them, deftly twisting and turning it as he went.