Anchors splashed quietly into the lagoon, chains rattling as they were secured to coral outcrops.
Thick nets were unrolled across the deck, their threads faintly glowing with rune-etched knots.
A few dwarves tested harpoons, checking balance and edge, while others stripped down their armor and smeared their skin with a dull blue paste that shimmered when it touched water.
Almond and Lily observed them, inspecting everything.
"Sea-breath salve," Lily murmured after watching for a few seconds. "So that thing can be used to breathe underwater, eh?"
"So they are fishing and hunting," Almond said. "Not explorers. Locals, maybe."
Two dwarves jumped into the lagoon without hesitation, vanishing beneath the surface with barely a ripple. A third followed, carrying a heavy iron cage bound with chains. On the deck, the remaining dwarves kept watch, eyes sharp, hands never straying far from their weapons.
"Let's go."
