hovers silently just off shore in sight of the Ty Claddagh House. Its crew wonders what its mistress has in mind in this cold part of the North.

"What will you have us do my lady?" asks Calias with some concern, for he did not like missions in which he was not sure of the next move his mistress planned to take.

"We wait here Calias, tomorrow you and the crew may go ashore and enjoy yourselves," Cybelle's eyes were full of mischief and that rather frightened Calias, for his mistress was also a sorceress who could bring good or bad at whim.

"When you go Calias, I want you and Ioalas to inquire to a specific man. A barbarian he is, and goes by the name of Herger Hvitskald. If he is here I want you to spy upon him and bring me news of his movements and visitors."

"So Cybelle was up to something." thought Calias but he dare not ask for more. His loved his mistress but sometimes she was like a stranger to him. A beautiful and charming witch, even though he had known her since a little babe. She never ceased to amaze, surprise and awe the old man.

"What could an Athenian of her great standing, refinement and intelligence want with this wild and unruly barbarian anyway?" "Some things" thought Calias,"were better left alone or to the fate of the gods and goddesses of Athens, but it was they who Cybelle always meant to defy. So he would say no more he was here to serve and that is exactly what he meant to do.