Jal stared after Diego as he left. His mind grappled with the man's words only briefly, then were dismissed. The remark seemed out of place, but what the hell did it matter? What the hell did any of them below deck matter? They were on the brink of something great, Jal knew, something that would elevate him above everyone that looked down at him lat he was rat. Jal took another long drink from his flagon to empty it, then rolled up the map and stuffed it in his empty boot beside his hammock, before he blew out lantern and retired. Still, though, as the hammock swung lazily back and forth in front of the stern window, moonlight playing across Jal's face, he thought for a moment that he could tell them, warn them of what he knew was lurking inside that cavern. Jal dismissed the thought. If they knew, they may demand the ship return to Dairsmuid empty. That simply would not do.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>The following days were spent much alike. Jal kept to himself, only speaking when he threw orders across the deck at his crew, who often had a hard time with the early morning sun. Eventually the excitement wore off and the sailing became a task again, rather than an adventure. The crew saw to their duties in the day, gambling away the hours or talking amongst themselves. The ribald comments thrown at Aure and Luna that had been common before were very few, and quite. The stares had also stopped. When Atashi and Aure dueled and practiced, it was the Kossith woman that maintained their interest. The sailor's eyes were more occupied with her curves than the elves that were of their height. When Atashi would pass the sailors, they nodded, and occasionally gave her a compliment. Still, beneath their pleasantries lay the lust that Atashi had only stroked the first night. On occasion, when away from the sight of Aure, Diego, Luna, and Jal, the man who had so boldly posed the crew's original question jingled his leather purse of gold at the Kossith with an inviting grin.<br/><br/>Through the days, Diego made himself popular as well. His lute offered a rare reprieve from the sun and sweat that the men had not experienced on a ship. Even as Jal seemed to grow quieter with each day, the crew's morale rose.<br/><br/>Jal spent his hours watching the coast, watching as it began to rise with the cliffs. He kept the map close at hand and watched examined each rock. The crew's mirth kept them away from him with their complaints, which suited him well. His mind was now focused on only thing, Vendomur and what lay between him and the long dead pirate's riches.<br/><br/>On the third day, a tropical storm rolled across the coast, sending torrents of rain down on the ship. Even below the deck there was no respite from the rain, as it leaked down, raining drizzles upon those seeking shelter from it. The crew stayed on deck only when needed, but Jal remained at the wheel, steering the ship toward the coast, daring to skim the ragged rocks while the waves battered and pushed the ship. They were close. He knew it.<br/><br/>As they passed before a great jutting spire of stone, Jal's eyes widened as they pierced the sheets of rain and he saw at last the marks upon the map, laid out along the coast. Lightning cracked and flashed, illuminating the labyrinth of razor sharp rocks rising like teeth from the waters before the high cliffs, and there, within their face, he saw the crevasse, disappearing within.<br/><br/><span style="color: SeaGreen">Anchor!</span>He shouted madly through the roar of the rain.<span style="color: SeaGreen">Drop the anchor!</span>He laughed as he ignored Reshad's calls for caution. Dropping anchor so close to the rocks in a storm could send the ship into them and splinter it, waylaying them, or worse, stranding them. Jal ordered the anchor dropped anyway.<br/><br/>He ordered the shore boat hauled to deck and readied, and told his four would be mercenaries to gather their things. The rain's onslaught lightened as the oars were loaded into the shore boat. When Aure, Diego, Luna, and Atashi were at last present with their things, Jal grinned at them, rain still dripping from his face.<br/><br/><span style="color: SeaGreen">This is it then! There is where it lies!</span>He pointed across the rocks to the crevasse.<span style="color: SeaGreen">When you get there, remember to be cautious, we don't know what may have taken up residence within. Once you've found the gold, come back and signal us and we'll send out the other shore boat with the chests to begin filling them!</span><br/><br/>He stepped aside and motioned for them to get into the boat to be lowered down into the water.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>