“Cost?” Arconn asked.

“My time and labor is a cost,” said Bill. “The trip will cost me both at least, and probably more. I’ve mentioned that some here in Dunnstal would not want me talking to you. What they will think of me could cost me my reputation as well.”

“You know your business and your people,” said Thrang in a thoughtful tone. “We need to make this journey, and can pay you a fair price for your time and troubles.”

“A fair price,” Bill repeated.

“For you andyour crew,” Alex said. “We understand how few people are willing to sail to the island and how hard it might be to find a full crew.”

“That is correct,” said Bill.

“What price will you consider fair?” Thrang questioned.

“I will think on it,” Bill answered, rubbing his chin. “Meet me here tomorrow night, after your evening meal. I will give you my answer then.”

“I would prefer an answer now,” Thrang began, but Alex cut him off.

Thrang glanced at Alex and then back to Bill, looking a little put out by the delay.

“Very well,” said Thrang after a brief pause. “We will meet you here tomorrow night.”

“I will wait until you leave,” said Bill, turning the lamp on the table back down.

Thrang nodded and led Alex and Arconn out of the room. Outside the common room, Thrang stopped and turned to Alex.

“Why did you not let me press him for an answer now?” Thrang questioned.

“He is unsure, and pressure to answer quickly might cause him to say no,” said Alex. “There are several things he needs to think through besides the price. The members of his crew will have to agree to this voyage as well.”

“He is the captain; the crew should go where he says,” said Thrang in a firm tone.

“It’s not as simple as that,” said Arconn. “We know the people here believe the island is haunted and that they would prefer that no one travel there. Perhaps they fear some evil will be brought back from there.”

“Yes, of course,” said Thrang. “I suppose there are stories of such things happening, and the people here would naturally be careful. They have a pleasant life, after all, and anything that might endanger that life would make them nervous.”

“Exactly,” said Alex. “So we will wait and see what Master Clinker decides.”

Thrang was still unhappy about waiting, but he agreed that Alex and Arconn were probably right. The next day passed slowly for them all, and Thrang spent most of it pacing back and forth in the common room. Alex and the others spent their time telling stories of previous adventures, all of which Thrain listened to with great interest. When it was finally time for their evening meal, Thrang was too anxious for an answer to eat. He picked at his food, continually glancing toward the doorway.

“We will know soon enough,” Alex pointed out. “You might as well eat something. Starving yourself won’t help.”

“I know,” said Thrang, setting his fork on the table. “They say that dwarfs are patient, but waiting has always been a burden to me.”

As soon as Alex and Arconn finished eating, Thrang insisted they wait in the small meeting room. Alex thought he was being a bit silly, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t think Bill Clinker would show up for some time yet. The captain would want to be careful to time his arrival so as to remain unnoticed.

Alex was surprised, then, to find Bill already in the small room waiting for them. He looked tired and pale, as if he had not slept much since the day before. Alex could tell from the look in his eyes and the cool, determined expression on his face that Bill had made his decision.

“If you agree to my terms, we can leave in the morning.” Bill spoke slowly, as if he had spent the day practicing the words.

“Let me hear what your terms are,” said Thrang, moving to a chair.

“First, neither I nor any of my men will set foot on the island,” said Bill. “We will provide you with a rowboat so you may leave the ship and travel to and from the island, but we will not go with you.”

“That is agreeable,” said Thrang. “What else?”

“For myself I will ask ten gold pieces for each day we are away from Dunnstal,” Bill continued. “That includes the days we wait at anchor for you to return from the island.”

“Very well,” Thrang agreed.

“I estimate that it will take three days to sail to the island and three to return,” Bill explained. “It may take longer if storms come up, but that is a chance you will have to take.”

“Yes, of course,” said Thrang. “How long are you willing to wait for us at the island?”

“We will not wait at the island,” said Bill. “We will sail a short distance away and anchor. We will return to Dunnstal after two weeks and one day—with or without you.”

“Very well,” Thrang agreed grudgingly. “What else?”

“For each of my men, I will ask one gold coin for each day we are away. Those are my terms. Do you accept?”

“How many men do you have?” Arconn questioned.

“There will be twelve, besides myself,” Bill answered.

“That comes to four hundred and sixty-two gold coins, if everything goes well,” Arconn said, looking at Thrang.

“Those are my terms,” Bill repeated.

“Very well, we accept,” said Thrang.

“Payment in advance,” Bill added quickly.

“Half when we reach the island, and the other half when you pick us up,” said Thrang.

“Half now, and the second half when we return to Dunnstal,” Bill countered.

“Done,” said Thrang, holding out his hand for Bill to shake, sealing their bargain.

Thrang took out his magic bag and counted out the gold. He handed Bill the two hundred and thirty-one gold coins, counting them slowly so Bill knew exactly what he was getting. With the payment made, Bill shook hands with all of them and gave them directions to his ship.

“Be there an hour before sunrise,” he said. “With favorable winds, we can be well on our way by the time the sun is up.”

“We’ll be there,” said Thrang.

Bill left the room without another word.

“Well, we have a ship,” said Thrang after a moment.

“The price was higher than I thought,” Arconn said.

“A small matter if we find what we are looking for on the island,” said Thrang.

“We don’t know how large the island is. It may take more than fourteen days to search it,” Alex pointed out.

“Kat’s gift for finding things should speed up our search,” said Thrang. “And we know that Albrek’s city was on the southern end of the island. We will start there.”

“And if there issomething there? Something worse than ghosts?” Alex asked.

“That’s why we’ve got you with us,” said Thrang with a grunting laugh.

Alex managed a weak smile. His thoughts returned to the wild, reckless feeling he had felt when facing danger on this adventure. A touch of fear entered his mind as he thought about what it might mean, but he didn’t say anything to his friends.

That night Alex dreamed about the Isle of Bones, but it was not a normal dream. He was flying over the sea, desperate to reach the island for some reason he could not name. He knew that all his questions would be answered if only he could reach the island. But whenever he flew near the island, it vanished in front of him. When he finally woke, he felt exhausted, but sleep was the last thing he wanted. Instead, he lay awake on his bed, forcing his mind to relax and wondering what his dream might mean.

***

When morning came, Thrang’s spirits were high and his happy mood rubbed off on them all. They ate a large breakfast at the tavern, and when they had finished, Thrang made arrangements with Ishly for their horses to remain stabled at the Sea Mist. Ishly agreed and said he would only charge them if and when they returned from their voyage. If they did not return, he would take the horses as payment.

The eastern sky was beginning to change from black to dark blue when Alex and his friends boarded Bill Clinker’s ship, the Seeker.Alex thought the name was a good omen. The Seekerwas not a large ship, but it was still larger than a regular fishing boat. Instead of cabins on board, there were only a couple of small rooms below deck that Alex and the others would have to share.