"It shouldn't bother us," said Cyric, "we've lots of spare room. Captain Runell won't get any closer than our current position. With any luck, we should be clear of the Teeth by mid-afternoon."

Athgar returned his gaze to the rocks. There was something about the foaming water that demanded his attention, and he strained to make out what it was. "I see movement," he finally said.

"Not unusual, I'm told," said Cyric. "Debris from shipwrecks has a way of accumulating along the Teeth."

"It's more than that," Athgar said, shifting slightly in the vain hope that his sight would improve. "I think there are people out there."

Cyric and Natalia both moved to the port side railing, the better to view the distant Teeth.

"Are you sure?" asked Natalia. "I don't see anyone."

"I do," said Cyric, "by that tall spire, the one with the forked peak, do you see?"

"Yes, now I can," she agreed. "It looks like a boat."

"It is," said Athgar, "and it looks to be in trouble."

As they watched, the small ship came into view. Before, it had been blocked by the Teeth, but now the current carried it out between two of the giant spires. The vessel sat at a strange angle, it's bow pointing upward, its deck partly awash with water.

"They're in distress!" called out Athgar. "We must do something!"

"I'll get the captain," said Cyric, moving off the foredeck.

Athgar felt helpless. The forlorn boat was taking a pounding by waves, it's crew striving to board a rowboat. Even as he watched, water sluiced across the ship's deck, washing two men overboard. They disappeared into the foaming water, failing to resurface.

"What can we do?" he asked, turning to Natalia. "Can you calm the water as you did for the Swift?"

"No," she said, "they're too far away."

They watched the drama unfolding before them, gripping the handrail tightly in their concern.

It was Captain Runell that broke the silence. "We're launching the skiff," he announced, looking to Natalia, "and I'd like you on it. You can calm the seas around it, can you not?"

"I can," she said, "but it won't help the currents, only the waves."

"Can't you use a spell to control the currents?" he asked.

"I can," she said, "but currents of this magnitude will be hard to control. I doubt my magic would make much of a difference."

"We'll do what we can," said the captain, "but if we can't get close enough, we'll have to abandon the attempt."

"Very well," she replied, then climbed down from the foredeck. The crew had pulled the canvas from atop the skiff, and now they were releasing it, while others rigged up the block and tackle that would lower it over the side.