Robbi woke up early, just before dawn, so that she could be on deck when the Crimson Rose arrived at Pisis. She had visited the small island a few times before to visit Gladiverserac Presapornaweev, her albatross friend, and to pay her respects to Gladis' parents, Protasgosarac and Femeldenarus.

When Robbi arrived on deck, she was pleased to see that Chumley, Thoris and Herman were already manning the rails, watching the small clump of rock in the middle of the azure sea growing as they approached.

The sun had barely breached the horizon when Willum ordered his crew to prepare to make anchor. The island of Pisis had no harbors and was not navigable anywhere close to shore, so any landing party would need to arrive via longboats and then make its way up the rocky cliffs to the central plateau where the Presapornaweevs made their home.

Robbi approached her friends.
"How is everyone doing this glorious morning?" she asked.

"Ah'll be better after ah get some chow in mah belly, won't ah?" Chumley said brightly, then added, "It'll be nice to she mah old pal Gladis, ah ain't seen 'er in nearly a year."

"Where's Eggy?" The small wizard asked.

"He ith thleeping. Thea travel doeth'nt agree with him."

"Yeah, we'll get 'im when we're ready ta head ashore. 'E'll be happy once 'e gets some dirt under 'is paws."

"As fer me," Herman interjected, "I'm right lookin' forward to meeting an albatross. Never met one before...never even seen one."

"She's hard to mith," Thoris said, "she's a big girl."

"A big, sweet girl," Robbi added. She looked toward the stony isle. "I wonder if they know we're here?"

Chumley chuckled.
" 'Course they do. That's what albatrosses do, ain't it? Keep track of mariners and the like. I expect they'll have a nice pot of tea for us...maybe some cucumber sandwiches and such."

"Ith always about the food," Thoris smiled, "We better get you thome breakfatht before you thtart nibbling on our pawth."

Robbi laughed.
"Sounds good, it'll be an hour till we're anchored and the landing boats are ready. Let's go to the mess deck and fill our bellies."

"Ah knew there was a reason that ah liked you as much as ah do. Ah second that suggestion, don't ah?" Chumley said happily as he led the small group to the rear of the vessel where the ship's cook, Burgle Tootspin, was dishing out meals.

It wasn't long until appetites were satisfied and the sun was fully risen. Even the groggy, but enthusiastic Egbert, accompanied by Bobo, had managed to fully awaken and both joined their friends for a quick repast.

Willum walked over to them with Max sitting firmly on his shoulder.
"Now here's a gang o' dangerous lookin' coves if ever I saw one. I best get ya off'n this ship afore ye decide to take the Rose fer yer own," he laughed, "so I reckon I needs ta get us all over ta Pisis. The boats be ready when you are gents...," he looked at Robbi, "and lady."

He led then to their debarkation point on the deck and pointed down to the empty longboat.
"Climb on down fellas, we'll do our own rowin'...and by us I means you. Robbi and I'll man the tiller."

Chumley grumbled.
"A slave-driver, that's what 'e is. Ah'm a delicate flower, ah am and 'e means ta raise blisters on mah paws."

Willum clapped his friend on the back and chortled.
"Ya kin use some muscles...at least two or three. I aims ta send ya back to that sweet wife of yourn in better shape than I got ya."

"Yeah, ah'm just countin' mah blessings, ain't ah?" the garrulous rat retorted.

It only took fifteen minutes to reach Pisis from where the Rose was anchored. They pulled the boat up onto a small swatch of beach directly in front of a flight of stone stairs which wound up along the cliff-face to the top of the plateau.

The small band climbed the stairs quickly and were greeted at the summit by Gladis and her parents. Greetings and hugs were exchanged, though Protasgosarac and Femeldenarus, in awe of wizards, were extremely formal and self-conscious of their manners. Robbi tried her best to put them at ease and soon everyone headed inland to the Presapornaweev residence.

Their home was a unique residence, part cottage, part nest. It consisted of a lower structure of stone which contained the kitchen and a spacious living area complete with a fireplace which provided not only heat on cold nights, but an additional heat source for cooking stews and soups.

In the center of the room a spiral stone stair led up through an opening in the ceiling to a second level constructed of twigs, rush, and countless shreds and scraps of cloth.

Robbi smiled broadly as she accompanied her friends on a tour of the house. She had seen the nest before and envied the comfort and warmth of the roost. She looked fondly at the impressions in the nest where Gladis and her parents slept, imagining how safe and loved they must feel each night.

When the Presapornaweevs had finished showing off their home, they instructed Gladis to show her guests to the quarters in which they would be staying.

There was a second structure which stood at the plateau's edge about two hundred yards from where they now were. It had been present on the island long before the Presapornaweevs were even born, a relic of the distant past. The edifice looked a bit like a stone barracks, long and narrow with windows set every ten feet along its hundred foot length.

A new roof, constructed with mud and coral was a recent addition and protected any residents from the extremes of wind and weather. Three stone chimneys indicated the presence of fireplaces and offered the promise of warmth on cold nights. Who built it and why was lost in the fog of history.

Before she led the group to their residence, Gladis turned and addressed them.
"Guests we have staying with us. Like them, I hope thou willst."

"Guests?" asked Robbi.

Gladis stopped and answered.
"Castaways they are. Lost at sea on the wreck of a great ship I found them. Only two remained, a human girl named Vereena and an odd hedgehog-like beast who doth call himself Clevus. He hath a mighty temper, but seems an honest beast."

Herman ventured a question.
"Hedgehog-like?"

"He doth have spikes as thou doest, but they are far longer and quite sharp."

Robbi smiled and offered her expertise.
"I've seen that type of creature in the Great Book of Beasts, I believe you are describing a porcupine. I've never met one."

" Me neither," Herman interjected, "whereabouts are they from?"

"Strange it is," Gladis said quietly, "from a land of which I never knew, they come. Azereem, it is called and it rests far beyond the western sun."

"What are they doin' in these waters?" Willum inquired.

"Best that thou doth ask them yourselves," Gladis said solemnly, "a strange tale it is. A tale of magic and war...sad and ominous it is. Freely Vereena will share it, for allies she needs."

"Well then," Chumley said brightly, "lead on luv. Ah for one am quite intrigued, ain't ah?"

Gladis led them into the building. They found themselves in a large open area that looked like it may once have been a mess-hall. In the center of the room a long table ran length-wise. Seated on the side opposite the door were a young human woman with soft brown skin, dressed in a tan hooded robe and a porcupine dressed only in what appeared to be a burlap skirt. The porcupine was large, easily the same size as the girl. He leaned forward aggressively as the troupe approached. His quills bristled angrily, clicking and scraping.

Herman smiled.
"Sounds like it's rainin'."

"Be silent you blunt-quilled buffoon!" Clevus growled menacingly.

The girl turned toward her companion and scolded him.
"Behave yourself! Is this how you address friends? Apologize at once!"

The porcupine lowered his head and his quills ceased their rustling. He turned to Herman addressing him in a very low, almost indistinguishable voice.
"I beg your apology for my outburst."

Herman chuckled.
"I been called worse, think nuthin' of it."

Vereena motioned the friends to sit down, which they did, with Robbi sitting directly opposite her. Gladis settled down on the floor. It was silent for a few moments until Robbi spoke.

"My name is Robbi and these are my friends," she pointed each one of them out, starting to her right, "this is Captain Crookfang...,"

"Willum will be fine," the former pirate interrupted.

Robbi continued.
"...on his shoulder is Max. Next to him are Egbert and Bobo, two dear friends from my home city of Aolas. Here...," she now motioned left and smiled, "are Herman, whom you have met...he is from Seth-e-Raman, and next to him are Chumley and Thoris from the city of Thoth."

Vereena smiled.
"We are very pleased to make your acquaintance, though the towns you mention are unknown to us. I am Vereena and this sour-tempered fellow is Clevus. We are both from the Temple of the Guardians on Azereem.

"Clevus is my protector and sometimes is a bit overzealous in his charge. Though he doesn't seem so, he is at heart a gentle beast."

At this comment, Clevus grunted with displeasure. Vereena continued, "We were saved by Gladis...sadly the crew transporting us did not fare as well. They were swept away during the storm when our ship capsized. Were it not for Clevus' great strength, we would have shared their fate. It was three days later that Gladis found us and brought us here."

" 'Ow is it yah speak the same language as us, luv? Ah ain't never 'eard of Azereem, 'ave ah?" Chumley asked.

Clevus stood.
"Do not speak in so crude a manner to the Guardian!"

" 'Ave some tea and calm down, Needles," Chumley chuckled, "Ah meant no disrespect."

Vereena turned again toward the porcupine, who was by this time turning beet-red in the face.

"Clevus..." she said almost pleadingly, "these beasts are our friends...they don't know our customs. You must calm yourself...they mean us no harm."

Clevus turned to his charge and addressed her sincerely.
"I am sorry Vee, I cannot help myself. You are my responsibility...I will try to curb my temper," he looked Chumley in the eye, "and my apologies to you, I am over-protective...it is my calling, please do not take offense."

"Don't think twice about it, Needles, ah am quite used to bein' yelled at," he pointed to the ring on his paw, "married ah am...got a mother-in-law too."

Clevus chuckled and a smile replaced the formerly grim look on his face.

Vereena continued answering Chumley's question as best she could.
"I don't know why our languages are the same, though I am pleased that they are. Perhaps our land was populated by a common peoples. Where are you from...Lyonisia?"

Egbert answered.
"Oi don't know where that is. We are from Arishamal, but it has been called that only for a few years. It was known as the Oiland Continent before that."

"Aye," Willum continued, "It lays a few weeks sailin' south of here. Now I heard of Lyonisia...never been there or plan ta go. Heard a lot of bad tales o' that place. Treat beasts 'orribly or so the stories go. Is that where you're near? Lyonisia?"

"No, we are months to the west, but Lyonisia is where we were bound...and it would not surprise me if the stories you have heard of it are true," Vereena said, " it is ruled by a war-like people called the Aesirie. They raided our land and stole a precious treasure from us that I need to recover."

"They thtole a treathure...what kind of treathure?"

Vereena smiled.
"Please do not be offended, but it is a thing of great power and magic and I doubt you would understand its importance." She said apologetically.

Gladis let out a loud laugh.

"What's funny?" Clevus asked with annoyance.
Gladis stood and walked over to Robbi.

"A great wizard she is in her land. On the great council she doth sit. Of magic she doth know quite well."

"Her?" Clevus scoffed, "A wizard, I think not."

Robbi smiled coyly and made a quiet incantation while gesturing almost imperceptivity with her paw. Clevus suddenly found himself six feet off the floor, hovering. He pedaled his foot-paws furiously, but to no avail.

Vereena's eyes widened.
"It is true!" she said in astonishment.
Robbi made another gesture and Clevus lowered gently back into his seat.

Vereena leaned forward toward Robbi and spoke with a sincere urgency.
"It is most important that we speak privately. It is a matter of utmost importance!"

Robbi rose.
"Of course. Let's take a walk together. The others can set up dinner here," she turned to Gladis, "would that be all right?"

"Fine it would be. Happy will mother and father be that this tribe doth eat here. Too small their nest is for such a crowd."

Robbi raised her voice slightly to address everyone.
"Vereena and I are going for a walk. We'll be back shortly."

"Awroighty then," Chumley said for the crew,
"See ya then, but yah best not wait too long or the food might be gone. This is one heavy scoffin' group of beasts."

Vereena looked over to Clevus, who was obviously uncomfortable with letting her out of his sight.

"I'll be fine...behave yourself and try to be friendly," she said as she followed Robbi out the door.