Maulia, a beautiful tropical refuge for those who call it home on this largely unpopulated island. (Human settlements rest on the coast, save two Ierendi towns on a single road that runs through the eastern forested side of the island. The island otherwise consists of mountainous wilderness, a mystical forest, and the ancient burial grounds of the Makai people, the indigenous peoples of the Ierendi Islands.) The sight of this remote paradise invokes calm and peace on most who find their way to it...one way or another:
A dockmaster waves the Whisker toward one of the larger docks and calls out in thickly accented common, "
"Listen! Don't be pushin' dat ship any further into port, ya hear? Di space be tricky. Spin dat wheel, turn dat ship to dis spot. We be lookin' out for ya, no wantin' no mishaps in our paradise."
Jin, Tasya, and Misha are on deck with Admiral, Taresh, and Skeev. The circus members look on with longing and anticipation, noticeably scanning the port the Whisker enters for their own ship.
Tasya's small sprite companion, Petalwing, leaps from Tasya's shoulder onto the ship's rail, "Pretty-pretty." She points to a waterway that runs through the village. (It looks like Maulia is built on the mouth of a river.) "Friends of fey here. Lady Oceana too."
Regan is amazed how well the two members of the Order of the Shadow know the small vessel they navigated to Elegy Island in pursuit of the ship--that Taresh apparently boarded after abandoning the Iron Ring vessel out side of Jahore port. They were lucky to spot the large ship on the horizon and follow it, while using Veilmaster Samin's amulet to keep out of sight. Despite the disadvantage they had in their small vessel, they were still able to effectively follow the ship even when waters got rough.
Now...they are not too far behind the ship--which Regan can discern is a pirate vessel--the pirate ship pulls into a village port. Regan's vessel, still conceal by shadow force, approaches the port as well.
"Lover, please don't go from me yet. Something's different in de air. I been dreaming the night about you being greater dan ya even know. De side of ya dat ain't human, it be callin', de voices of de ancient ones, be whisperin' dis to me."
Cordey works and her words keep playing in his head. His mind does get pulled away from her words when he notices the tall mast of a large brig sail into port. He knows every ship in port and every ship that comes through here. This is not one of them.