Shimmer straightened and went to the side. Glancing out she stopped, her hands frozen at the shoulders of her mail coat. What she had taken to be distant islands – the source of the driftwood and jetsam – were not. Ships surrounded them, or rather they rested in the midst of a sea of motionless vessels stretching from horizon to horizon.
Complete silence oppressed Shimmer with its weight. A sea of ghost ships. Most of those nearby appeared to be galleys, though more distant vessels looked to be far larger, tiered sailing vessels. One such leagues out among the grey timber expanse must be enormous to stand so tall. All the crew on deck, she now saw, lined the sides motionless, staring. Some kind of enchantment? But no, probably the sight alone sufficed. "Smoky,' she managed. "What is this?"
"The Shoals," said a voice in Kurzan, lifeless and flat.
Shimmer turned. It was Jhep, his eyes dead of emotion. "The Shoals? Explain."
A weak shrug. "Legend. Old myth. Place where the god of the sea sends those he curses. Or those who trespass against him. Maybe this is where all those who try to use Ruse end up, hey? No wonder we heard nothing." And he laughed, coughing.
The blow to the head - must be. The alternative . . . Gods! No wonder there had been no resistance; you were always welcome to enter. But exiting, well, there was none.
"There must be another explanation. Currents . . . a backwater . . ."
"There's no current," said Smoky.
"Well – any ship would sink in time."
"No. No sinking in this sea."
Exasperated, Shimmer faced Smoky. "Explain yourself, Hood take you!"
Grinning, the Cawn mage touched a finger to his tongue. "Salt. The saltiest sea I've ever tasted. Nothing can sink here. Even I floated and I can't swim."
Shimmer threw herself to the gunwale, gripped it in both hands. Damn Mael! Damn these fool mages whose arrogance had brought them to such an end. Damn Cowl! How Hood must be laughing now; he need not trouble himself to take them away – they had just up and taken themselves!
Return of the Crimson Guard, by Ian C. Esslemont (Novels of the Malazan Empire #2)
