[Child of the 7th Age]

It had not been an easy day. Luindal had spoken with Annû as well as others in the ship's company who had lost kinfolk and friends in the recent Corsair attack. A service of remembrance was already planned to take place early the next morning. Luindal had relieved the brother from his normal responsibilities over the coming week, and urged him to take time for rest and reflection, making what peace he could with the sad change that had come into his life. Luindal privately wondered whether Annû would eventually decide to leave the Havens and travel westward in hopes of reuniting with his brother. But until they managed to conclude their mission and sail back to Cirdan, that decision was likely to be postponed.

Overcome with restlessness and having little appetite for dinner, Luindal pushed his trencher aside and wandered out on the open deck, staring fixedly across the Bay. Under his arm were a number of journals and maps that Cirdan had entrusted to him before their departure along with one other ancient chronicle presented by the Elders after his arrival. The latter was sadly incomplete. Although carefuly inscribed on the soft hide of a deer, the account was full of indecipherable letters and gaps where time and the elements had eaten away at the text. Alahseey had translated this document for him some days ago, and then had spent more days trying to guess at the missing parts.

Determined to glean what clues he could as to the likely whereabouts of the Stones, Luindal had spent most of the afternoon reading and rereading the accounts of the shipwreck as well as Alahseey's translation of the comments that had been gleaned from the Lossoth onlookers. The latter had attempted to describe the location of the ship, the configuration of the Bay and the weather conditions that had resulted in the shipwreck. Putting these important hints together with Cirdan's own observations and a set of carefully annotated navigation charts used by navigators from that earlier time, Luindal had reached the surprising conclusion that he actually knew where the Stones had sunk.

At first, he could hardly believe his luck and had assumed that this was all a miscalculation. But reading and plotting again, he had come up with the very same conclusion. About one hundred feet out in the water, on the eastern side of the Bay, there was a lengthy sandbar that most navigators were careful to avoid. Ssince the water in that portion of the Bay was not deep, it usually froze quite early in the year. While the sandbar would not have caused the disaster, which was the result of the ship being smashed against the ice, it would account for the fact that Lossoth commentators claimed to be able to see the top rigging of the wreck for some years afterwards, until the winds and elements had battered the remains into nothingness.

An owl hooted overhead out of the gloomy night shadows that caused Luindal to glance up and break into a grin. Rôg had evidently taken him up on the challenge of suveillance work and was now returning to the ship. Eager to share his news about the location of the Stones, the Elf turned towards the shapechanger to speak. But before he could get a word out, Rôg came flapping down furiously, first landing on the railing and then blurting out a tangled tale concerning a shipment of supplies and some further mischief that was being planned by the Corsair crew.

Luindal scowled and shook his head, "I should have known. But this time, they'll not get away with their pranks. We'll be waiting for them with drawn sword."

"Perhaps we should just refuse the shipment?" suggested Rôg.

Luindal shook his head, "We need those supplies. And if we turn the Corsairs back, they'll come up with another scheme we won't be able to discover. At least this way we are prepared for them, even if we don't know exactly what they plan to do." At this point, Luindal explained to Rôg about the possible location of the Stones. "If we can just hang on till the morning after next, we may have the palantiri in our hands, and can say goodbye to the Corsairs for good."

"Let me think more on this, and I'll address the men tomorrow." With that, the two parted and went their own ways.

***************************

The next morning, once the service of remembrance had concluded, Luindal had shared with the crew Rôg's tale of a possible scheme by the Corsairs. "The shipment is to come on board tonight. We'll be ready and waiting. Some in clear view on the deck, and others crouched in hiding places, but all armed to the teeth. Trust nothing these traders do or say, and keep your eyes open."

The crew muttered its approval and agreement. After the losses of the past two days, many welcomed the chance for another crack at their assailants.

"One more thing," Luindal noted. "I had thought to take the small boats out tomorrow morning hoping to locate the Stones at the bottom of the Bay. Since then, however, I think we may actually have come up with an idea as to where the palantiri lie. So perhaps we may be able to collect them and sail home soon. We won't know for sure till we go down and have a look, but all the signs are good." There were whispers and mutterering to hear this piece of welcome news. Luindal cleared his throat and continued, " If the Stones are where I suspect them to be, we will locate them and immediately crank them onto the deck of the Spirit using the large winch. In this situation, the smaller boats won't do. So we will sail out on the Spirit and, with a bit of luck, be heading home not too long after that...."

"Now back to your cabins, all. Sharpen your weapons and your wits for we will be needing them tonight."

The crew wandered off, excitedly talking about the news, and prepared for the evening to come. By the time the stars shone in the heavens, the Elves and their Lossoth allies were safely hidden on the ships, awaiting the arrival of the shipment of supplies.