Quest [Darva] Island of Memory

[Liminal]

Continued from here, twenty days later.

A smooth voyage, and a quiet sea. The trip to Darva had been uneventful. Captain Mainsail had sailed closer to Darva than he normally would have, in order to be able to let Minnie and Iskessah's boat off as near to the island as possible. They were at the mouth of Mystery Inlet when the Captain gave the order for the boat to be lowered. The sailors said little as they operated the winches and ropes -- the fate of the adventurers belonged in the hands of the gods now. Teresa had directed that the boat be stocked with food and supplies for the pair of travelers. Whatever it was that awaited Minnie and Iskessah, it wouldn't be death by starvation or exposure. Ordinarily, the boat would have been difficult to handle for only two people. However, on this day, a stiff breeze was blowing directly into the inlet. It scarcely mattered whether or not Minnie and Iskessah rowed or not -- their craft would go ashore on Darva's only beach either way. The Zeltivan ship changed its tack, and was soon out of sight around the curve of the island. To Minnie, of course, the sight of the beach would be unfamiliar, but to Iskessah, it might almost be too familiar. It was as if nothing at all had changed during the years since she had been here last. The same sparkling stream emptied into the waters of the cove. The same two paths led away -- one toward the central mountain, the other off towards the south. The same dense, green foliage blocked any view of the rest of the island more than a dozen or so yards inland. The same black sand lay in ripples around the edges of the sea. The boat soon scraped on the bottom of the inlet. From here, it would be quick work to drag the craft fully ashore.