[Envinyatar]

The moon had sailed behind the clouds, rising in its path to the top of night’s dome. Hafez glanced up at the Windrunner and made out the dark figure standing against the bow railing. A small hooded lantern was in the figure’s hand, and he opened the aperture in the face of the lantern three times in rapid succession. The signal had been given. Hafez strode quickly toward the first of the crates on the dock. Already the ‘merchant’ seamen were prying off the front panel of the large crates in answer to the signal light.

Ten men, dressed in black, armed with cutlasses and knives came silently out of each crate and grouped quickly with their leaders. Thirty crates, three hundred men in total now moved with a single purpose into the welcoming darkness. They spread out, looting quickly and efficiently the warehouses and places of business on each of the first three tiers. They made little sound as they moved up the streets and did not stop to menace people who chanced upon them. Intent only on securing what treasures they could, they made a thorough circuit as their leaders directed them and filled their loot sacks with all that they could find.