As the sun crept over the eastern horizon, the man leapt off his bed. Today was a special day, and he was ready to leave in a flash. He wore a brown tunic and had short black hair. Dashing through the streets of town, he rushed to reach the harbor on the other side of town.

In his haste to reach the shipyard, he almost collided with another man. This man was diminutive, but very stout in appearance. He had a short-cut brown beard and his head was covered by a leather cap.

“’Ey, laddie!” exclaimed the bearded man. “Is that the proper way to treat a Dwarf, Termur?”

“Zarmenu, you made it!” Termur was astonished to see his good friend. “I thought you said you’d be too late to voyage with us.”

“Aye, that I did-,” replied Zarmenu, “-but thinkin’ ‘bout it, I decided you needed me ‘elp. After all, none of your ‘uman mariners will be able to fire the ship’s catapult like a Dwarf.”

“True Zarmenu,” laughed the young man. The two of them continued to walk as they talked, and as the neared the harbor, they caught up with each other regarding the happenings of their lives.

When they finally reached the port, they were met by a fair and slender man who seemed young, but held wisdom in his blue eyes. He wore a dark green tunic and had long, blond hair. The man bowed, and the two bowed back, smiling.

“You finally made it,” greeted the stranger. “I thought it was Zarmenu that said that Elves were always late.”

“Nenintor, it’s been too long since I saw you.” Termur shook the Elf’s hand and placed his fist over his heart, saluting him. The two were interrupted, though, by Zarmenu, who had been watching the harbor.

“If yer wantin’ to leave, you’d best do it now.” He pointed at their ship on the far left of the port. It was painted white, and on its gilded prow was carved the name, Silver Swan. In the center of the ship on a platform was a catapult, ready to fire. The crew was preparing for departure and calling desperately for their captain. The trio hurriedly ran to the ship without any hesitance.

Once the crew noticed Termur, they shouted, “Captain, you’re here!”

“Yes-,” he replied, “-and we need to leave now. We sail to search one of the Unknown Islands.”

The crew jumped into position and the shipwrights on the port cut the mooring lines. The sails unfurled, and the ship went full sail to the sea.

One night, when the crew was asleep, Zarmenu went above decks and looked out into the water. He was restless, and the water was especially rough that night. Suddenly, something surfaced from the water that gave him the biggest scare of his life.

The thing was somewhat like a giant octopus, and had many tentacles that writhed around it. It was mottled and green, and a sharp crest adorned his head. The Dwarf had little time to watch it, for after seeing him, it submerged again. Thinking that the incident had been a dream, he dozed off quickly.

* * * * *

* * * * *

Three days after Zarmenu’s sighting, another incident occurred regarding a monstrous being. As the ship neared the Island, the crew set up a watch to ensure that they didn’t barrel over the area as they slept. A battle-hardened veteran sailor was on watch, and near midnight he saw a shadow on the horizon.

“Land! We’ve reached land!” he cried, and the whole ship was set to work preparing for landing. As the men got ready, a massive impact rocked the boat. Men were sent reeling and water splashed onto the deck.

Before the crew could recover, another strike racked the vessel. A few men went over board and froze in the icy waters.

“What’s going on?” demanded Termur. In answer, another shadow rose from the depths just 300 yards behind them. It was the beast that Zarmenu had seen earlier, and it was terrifying to behold. The thing let out a mighty roar and gave chase to the boat.

“Kraken!” shouted Nenintor. The Elf’s eyes were wide with fear. “Hurry men, get to shore, full speed!”

The crew wasted no time unfurling the sails and rowing the boat. Zarmenu jumped into the catapult and ordered a group of men to load it. He took aim and fired at the beast, and the stone hit it right in the center of its horrible visage. The Kraken was faster than they were, but it was so far away and dazed by the catapult’s onslaught that it was too slow to stop them. Before it regained its senses, the ship had escaped.

They found an inlet, by chance, directly where the wind was headed, and they drove the boat into the shore. The sand was fine and, fortunately, caused little damage to the hull. However, the catapult had scarcely been used and it had been knocked loose by the emergency beaching and toppled, smashing apart.

“Durned Kraken,” shouted the Dwarf, who was enraged at the loss of the weapon’s fine craftsmanship.

“It comes again!” warned a young sailor. The monster was barreling through the water with an evil fire in its eyes.

“To shore!” commanded Termur, who was already gathering their weapons from the damaged ship. “It can’t reach us on land.”

Most of the crew made it to the land, but one man was too injured to go on. He was the one who had been on watch, and as the Kraken bore down on him, the men looked away. They never truly discovered his fate.

By some horrible evil, the Kraken was undeterred by the land merely using a few of its massive tentacles to walk on the sandy beach. It seemed almost faster on land, and they had little hope of survival.

“Go on!” cried Nenintor. “I can shoot him down.”

“No!” shouted back Termur, who stood by him. “We all stand or fall together.”

“Then get behind me,” replied the Elf. “I’ll fell him ere he reaches me.” The Kraken was rushing towards them and just before he struck the Elf down, an arrow flew through the air and pierced its skull. It fell in agony, and Zarmenu jumped upon it. Its many tentacles made it impossible to see what was happening, but the cries of the two combatants rang through the air. Suddenly, the Dwarf was grabbed by the beast and cast aside as if he were a sack of wheat. He smacked against a tree, and went still.

Termur went berserk after seeing this, and in his rage madly dashed at the creature. His crew gave out a mighty battle cry and joined him, while the Elf shot his bow ceaselessly on the beast. Because the monster was so weakened by its previous hurts, it easily succumbed to its assailants. The Kraken went still, and the men stood, victorious. The crew celebrated their victory, but Termur rushed to check on Zarmenu.

“Zarmenu,” he whispered. Tears were in his eyes, and he fought back despair. “Zarmenu, are you alright?”

“Termur?” the Dwarf was dazed, but still recognized his friend. “Is it dead?”

“Yes, dear companion,” the man answered. “You beat it.”

“Aye, I won.” The Dwarf coughed, and Termur grabbed him in his arms. “I’m not alright though,” he said. “The durned beast has won. It got me. I failed.”

“No you didn’t,” insisted Termur. “You’ll be fine. We’ll get you home, and it’ll all be fine.”

“You’re wrong laddie. I’m done.” The Dwarf went limp, and the man sobbed uncontrollably.

“Termur,” shout Nenintor. “What’s wrong?”

The young man looked up, crying. “Zarmenu was a loyal friend and crew member.”

“Alas!” cried the Elf. “He will never walk through his peoples’ halls again.”

“Termur stood up with the fallen Dwarf still in his arms. “We must set sail for our home again. We have found this island and it has brought us nothing but grief. It shall be named Khazbal, the Shadow Land.”

“I agree,” declared Nenintor. “There has been more sorrow wrought here than in any place that I have traveled to. It sickens me to witness such evil.”

“Indeed. Crew!” shouted an aching Termur. “Gather your belongings. We leave now. Make only what repairs the ship absolutely needs to sail. I do not wish to tarry in this dark place.”

“Yes, captain,” replied the first-mate. The men gathered what timber they needed and swiftly got to work repairing the vessel. It was in surprisingly good condition, and within a few hours they were on the sea again. Their journey had ended in sorrow, and when they reached the mainland, they would have evil news to give.

As Termur lied on his bed, he thought of the events that had passed. Soon, he was overcome by weariness, and fell quietly to sleep.