"What makes you think they had slaves?" asked the Orc.

"We ran across them on the way here," said Natalia. "They used slaves to man the oars."

"Ah," said the Orc, "I see your confusion. Back in those days, they didn't use oared ships. Instead, they used small sailing vessels. The use of galleys came much later."

"How much later?" asked Athgar.

"About forty years ago, around the same time that the great merchants started arming their ships."

"It makes sense, I suppose," offered Natalia. "Given the increase in piracy, it would only make sense to take precautions."

"Perhaps," offered Tonfer, "but I find the whole thing suspicious."

"Why would you say that?" asked Natalia.

"I would have expected the merchant houses to demand the pirates be eradicated by the Temple Knights, wouldn't you?"

"It does seem strange that they didn't take any action," said Natalia.

"What happened to these Sisters you spoke of?" asked Athgar.

"The Sisters of Saint Agnes?" asked the Orc. "Why, the order is still here, though in much smaller numbers. They often work with the Mathewites, among the poor."

"Anything else you can tell us about the pirates?" asked Athgar.

"Yes," replied Tonfer, "after reading through many first-hand accounts, I have noticed a pattern of sorts."

"We know," said Athgar, "they strike when ships are becalmed."

"Yes," agreed the Orc, "but up until forty years ago, the area we now know as the Pirate Coast carried strong and consistent trade winds."

"What could cause that to change?" asked Athgar.

"An Air Mage!" burst out Natalia. "Most likely a very powerful one, at that."

"He would have to be powerful indeed," offered Tonfer. "I've never heard of someone with that sort of magical ability."

"There's another possible explanation," said Natalia, "one which only now occurs to me."

"Which is?" pressed Athgar.

"A linked spell," she said. "I've heard its theoretically possible, but I'm not aware of anyone actually using it."

"What's a linked spell?" asked the Therengian.

"Its a way of linking mages together to perform a more powerful casting."

"How would that work?" asked Athgar.

"Let's put it this way," said Natalia, "you remember the spell I used on the Swift?"

"The favourable seas spell? The one with the currents?"

"Yes, that's the one," she continued. "If you remember, I told you I could move a smaller vessel much faster."

"I remember that," he replied, "but what has that got to do with a link spell?"

"Imagine if I could combine my spell with an identical spell cast by another Water Mage. The result would be even more speed!"

"Does that mean you and I could combine spells?" he asked.

"No," she said, "my understanding is that we'd have to be using the same type of magic, but imagine if a group of Air Mages decided to control the wind?"

"It would make them very dangerous," offered Athgar, "but how common are these mages? I've never seen an Air Mage, have you?"