"That's it?" Alonso questioned.

"Find something to brace yourselves against!" Sabrina yelled as she wrapped her slender arm around the foremast.

Danny had spent more than enough time around Sabrina to know that it was generally a good idea to do as she said. He rushed forward and gripped the railing. Looking around, he noticed that others were doing the same, including Matt, Chris and Doug. Alonso, however, refused to budge, he stood still, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"All hands trim the boat to the bow and brace yourselves!" the captain yelled from the rear, most of the crew went toward the front of the ship and grabbed handfuls of railing or rigging.

Alonso suddenly thought better of his judgment as he ran for the railing. However, he was too late, the wind picked up in earnest, gusting from somewhere behind the ship. The sails stretched forward and flapped in the gushing flurry of air, pushing the ship faster and faster. Danny, gripping the railing tight enough to turn his knuckles white, watched helplessly as Alonso faltered and tumbled backward, the ship bounding out from under him. Flailing across the deck, Alonso stopped dead in the air when Sabrina caught his right arm at the wrist in an iron grip and hauled him back to safety.

The Radiance leveled off as she reached her peak speed. The wind kept pace, filling the sails with gusts of endless air.

"Trim the sails!" The crew jumped into action, removing all the slack from the rigging.

"Thanks," said Alonso in an unconvincing tone, rubbing his wrist where Sabrina had gripped him hard.

"That was epic," said Matt. "How'd he do that?"

"A Navi is a navigational wizard," said Sabrina. "But his main purpose will be revealed once we reach White Rock Island."

"And what purpose is that?" Matt asked, his interest piqued as he fiddled with his glasses.

"Why, The Eye of Darkness, Squire," said a deep voice from behind.

Matt turned to find the Navi standing behind him, the Navi's white hood still pulled over his head, hiding his features. Matt's face paled as the Navi placed a heavy hand upon his shoulder.

"Why didn't someone tell me that he was standing right behind me?"

A soft chuckle escaped the confines of the Navi's hood. He pulled back the heavy white cloth, revealing an inviting smile and bold blue eyes. "I am not one to be feared, Squire," said the Navi, scratching his short brown hair. "It is the Eye you should be worried about."

"But I thought the Eye of Darkness was somewhere on White Rock Island and guarded by Knights of the Light," said Danny.

"And so it is, Squire," said the Navi, turning his head in Danny's direction. "However, the Eye's evil cannot be contained to the island alone. The terrible power of the Eye is the cause of a storm that has raged around the island for hundreds of years. When it is time, it will be my responsibility to protect this vessel from the worst the storm has to unleash."

"So, the Eye of Darkness is the reason the Bermuda Triangle is known for causing ships and airplanes to come up missing," mused Matt, more a claim than a question.

"Indeed it is, Squire," confirmed the Navi. "Those without the proper protections, which I will provide, can become quite lost within the raging storm of the Eye. The Eye is both a curse and a blessing for those of us of the Light. It protects the location of White Rock Island, our home. However, it is a stain on this world, a blight that threatens to wipe out everything that is good."

"Why not destroy it?" Doug asked.

"Many have tried, my young squire, all have failed," shuffling in Doug's direction. "Wizards of all talents have studied it to no avail, and knights have wielded Bondeds of great power against it, only to fail in their attempt."

"So why keep fighting?" Alonso asked.

With an expression of shock, the Navi turned on Alonso. "What a strange question for an aspiring Knight of the Light. We fight, because we must, my young squire, for that is the price of the Light. If we do not fight, who will?"

Alonso shrugged in response.

"Be wary of those musing, Squire, for it is thoughts like those that have caused stronger knights than you to turn away from the Light." Dropping his intense gaze, the Navi sighed and said, "You are still young, Squire and experience is not on your side. You are a first-year, correct?"

Alonso nodded affirmatively.

"Then, you have much to learn, my first-year squire. I look forward to seeing whether or not your opinion has swayed after your training. However, right now, I have duties elsewhere that I must tend to. If you will excuse me."

"Wait, sir, what's your name?" Danny asked to the Navi's back.

"You may call me Nicholi Ormstead, Navi to the Radiance and Wizard of the Light. My young squires, your names are?"

"My name is Danny Firoth."

"Matt Mickler," fiddling with his glasses.

"Alonso Martinez," in a rough voice, annoyed that the wizard called him out.

"Doug Garrett," the wizard eyed him with a single raised eyebrow.

"Chris Greene," inserted Chris when he felt it was his cue.

"And I am Sabrina Drake."

"I see, Sir Tyramear's daughter, your father is a powerful knight, my dear."

"I know," maintaining pride in her voice.

"I would expect great things from the daughter of such strong Dragonic blood," said Nicholi with a smile. "I look forward to learning of your progress, Squire Drake. Good day, squires. Nicholi bowed, gathered his hood back over his head, and headed aft.

"What was that all about, man?" Chris asked, shoulder-checking Alonso in the side.

"What?" Alonso inquired, rubbing his bruised arm.

"Why would you say something like that?"

"What did I say?"

"Why keep fighting? Are you serious?"

Danny noticed that the conversation was beginning to draw a crowd, consisting of first- and second-year squires, a few third-years seemed to be in the mix, sporting Bondeds upon their backs or strapped to their hips.

"It is a long swim back to shore if you are not here to fight," said a deep British voice from somewhere within the crowd.

Danny watched the gathered squires part as a single figure stepped forward. His eyes were piercing and electric blue. He wore a set of long flowing robes, dark-red in color, similar to that of the Navi, but slightly different. A white band with the symbol of Light on it encircled his right arm at the bicep, sewed into the fabric of the robe and a single piece of plate mail hung over his left shoulder with the intricate design of a dragon inscribed upon it. Poking out from his back was the hilt of a sword. Forged into the form of a claw with four talons, the pommel of the blade looked like it had been cut from a solid piece of ruby. It glowed and sparkled in the shimmering light of the noonday sun.

"And who're you?" commanded Alonso, he had never been singled out so blatantly.

"I am Squire Vyce Ven Lasko, Captain of Dragon Army." keeping his cool, stepping within an arm's length of Alonso. "We are at war, first-year," he continued, not giving Alonso a chance to answer. "The last thing the Order of Light needs is a coward in the ranks."

Alonso's hands curled inward as he snarled in response to the insult. Angling his right fist behind him, he readied to strike.

The red-headed, icy blue-eyed squire stood still, his expression stern. Alonso's threatening posture was of little concern to him.

Before Alonso could lash out, Sabrina rushed between the two, shoving Alonso backward. "That would be a mistake."

"You would be wise to listen to your friend," instructed Vyce calmly.

Alonso bucked forward, only to be stopped by Sabrina's strong grip. When brawn failed, Alonso turned to his mouth. However, before he could get himself into further trouble, Sabrina stopped him there as well, covering his mouth with her hand.

"Enough," she commanded.

By no choice of his own, Alonso was forced into compliance.

Vyce never smiled and if he found Alonso's situation funny, he didn't show it. "I see. Your courage is limited to situations in which you know you will not have to fight. However, I assure you that the legions of the Dark and the creatures of the Shadow will not show you any mercy."

Alonso struggled against his restraint and attempted to say something through his muffle, those attempts were thwarted by the confining embrace of Sabrina as well.

"Should you complete the first year of your training and return for your second, you can find me in the Great Dome." The fiery-haired boy turned, walked across the deck and descended into the bowels of the ship.

Sabrina released him and asked, "Are you mad?"

"Who the hell was that?" Alonso's fists remained balled up in rage.

"He told you who he was." However, Alonso's features failed to recognize her meaning, she added, "He is the Captain of Dragon Army and a third-year squire. The shoulder plate inscribed with the dragon marks him as such. Vyce Venn Lasko was the first second-year squire to become the captain of an army and he is the last person you want as an enemy."

"Why'd he talk so funny?"

"Squires come from all over the world to attend the White Rock Academy of Illumination. His accent comes from his country of origin."

"I could take him," said Alonso. A whisper of amusement answered him, as those who'd taken an interest in the recent confrontation and the current conversation snickered at the comment.

Before Alonso could respond, Danny asked, "What do you mean, Dragon Army?"

Sabrina's expression relaxed, glad to be finished with the recent subject. "At the beginning of second year, squires are distributed into eight armies: Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Rat, Python, Griffon, Horse, and Dog."

"So, as first-year squires, we won't be placed in an army?" Chris asked for clarification.

"Correct, as a first-year squire you will learn the techniques of the blade, tactics, history of the Light, Shadow lore, defense against magic and receive conditioning training. That training regimen will prepare you for your second year, wherein you will receive your Bonded and join one of the eight armies to compete for the Chalice of Light."

"What do you mean by compete?" Danny asked.

Sabrina turned toward him, "Each of the eight armies wage battles against the other in a bracketed competition. The winner earns the coveted prize, the Chalice of Light, which currently resides in the possession of Dragon Army." Turning toward Alonso, Sabrina added, "Vyce led Dragon Army to victory last year."

Alonso scoffed at the comment and shrugged his shoulders, as if he couldn't care less.

Danny nodded. "So, as a second-year squire, you'll be-"

"...Placed into an army to compete for the Chalice." excitement evident in her voice.

"Sounds kind of dangerous," said Doug.

"Injuries have been known to occur," confirmed Sabrina, "however, every squire who fights in the Great Dome is protected by an enchanted suit of armor. Few have perished in the mock battles."

"That's comforting," said Doug.

"You will feel differently after your first year," assured Sabrina. "Are you guys hungry?" she asked, before anyone else could think of another question.

Danny's stomach grumbled in answer. "I guess I am," he said, smiling as everyone turned to regard him.

"I could always eat," said Chris.

"Yeah," Doug and Matt agreed at the same time.

"Whatever," said Alonso, still nursing what was left of his ego.

"Follow me," said Sabrina with a smile, turning and crossing the deck of the ship. Danny, Chris, Matt, Doug and Alonso walked evenly behind her. She led them through a door, down a steep set of stairs to the deck below, which happened to be a long dining hall. One long table ran the length of the middle of the hall, piled high with a banquet of food. Smaller tables with intricately carved wooden chairs rested on port and starboard-left and right-sides of the room. The majority of the tables were filled with hungry squires eating their fill, debating which army would win the Chalice of Light this year.

Danny listened with active concentration and found that most favored Dragon.

"Help yourselves," said Sabrina, charging headlong toward the assortment of food after obtaining a plate at the end of the table.

Danny did just that, he helped himself to a fillet of spiced salmon, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes drizzled with butter and a few slices of freshly baked-bread. Acquiring a tall glass of chilled milk, he noticed that Sabrina had found a table near the bow of the hull and joined her. Moments later, Chris joined them, plopping down two plates, both piled high with an assortment of foods.

"Think you got enough there, man?" Danny asked.

"You can never have enough. Besides, I have muscles to feed," said Chris with a wide smile, flexing for effect. He picked up a chicken leg and dug in.

Alonso, Doug and Matt followed behind, sitting next to them and eating their fill.

Chris was the first one done; Danny nearly fell out of his chair when the larger boy went back for seconds.

His stomach full after the meal, Danny felt tired. "How long until we reach White Rock?"

"It will take most of the day," explained Sabrina. "It will be almost nighttime by the time we arrive. We should all get some sleep."

Danny agreed. He'd gotten less than a few hours of sleep the night before, going to bed late after the flight on Tyramear's back and getting up early to catch the Radiance. It was all beginning to catch up with him.

"Come on," ordered Sabrina, there are personal quarters for squires on the lower decks. We can rest there."

"Lead the way," said Chris with a grin of satisfaction as he rubbed his stomach.

Sabrina led the group to a side passage and down another steep set of stairs. Passing through a long narrow hall full of closed doors, they found an empty cabin toward the aft of the ship. Cramped and small, the cabin held six hammocks, strung up on both sides of the wall, with a porthole in the back.

"I call top!" shouted Alonso, throwing his pack into the corner of the room, leaping up to the topmost hammock. He landed with most of his weight centered on the right side of the hammock, causing the fabric to lurch to the left. He spun upside down as the force threw him into the wall, then he fell to the floor face-first, landing with a hollow thud.

A shocked silence ensued. However, once Alonso proved unharmed, the loud sound of laughter followed.

"Epic fail," said Matt.

"It's not funny," argued Alonso, getting to his feet, nursing his nose.

Oh, but it was. Danny refused to tone down the humor, his laughter almost doubled.