"Welcome to the F'Rekkah Atoll, a very prestigious mage knight academy," Sion addressed the group, "Please, disembark your craft and be our guests."
    "I am Garalt, and these are," Garalt said, addressing each in turn, "Demonclaw, Greylen, Alyia, Garn, Drakon, Tundrock, Swift-Strike, and this is the Elf Captain and his crew."
    "Ahh, elves, I've not talked to one in ages.  But then again, when you're so far away from the shipping lanes, you don't get much company anyway." Sion said, saluting the elves.
    "Why be so far in the middle of nowhere?" Garn asked.  Garalt smiled at Garn's lack of tact.
    "Simple, the Polestar needs to be away from traffic to avoid possible accidents, and to protect it, the Council placed this school here."
    Garalt could hear a muffled gasp behind him as he climbed off the airship's forecastle onto the city wall.  Could this be the same Council that controlled Ethelred and Zakar?  If that were the case, Garalt could not let any of the residence suspect that he or any of his friends were from Ikros and were their enemies.  Garalt could see the fear in Alyia's eyes, and the anger in most of the rest of his group.
    "The Council? Wonderful!" Garalt smiled at Sion, he could see the odd looks he was getting out of the corner of his eye.  "We have heard much of the Council, and we wish to learn more about it.  Looks like we stumbled on a great place to be shipwrecked."

    "What great fortune for you," Sion smiled, "I will take you all to the headmaster, he can answer all of your questions much better than myself.  So if you will all follow me, I'll take you to him post haste."
    Garalt turned to his friends and motioned them on, giving them all a reassuring smile.  Alyia took his hand and carefully disembarked, followed by the rest.  They all seemed to know exactly Garalt's plan now, keeping a low key on their origins.  As they walked down the narrow city wall, Garalt couldn't help but marvel at the city in the middle of the ocean.
    "I take it this place is magically protected from the elements." Garalt said.
    "Of course.  The Polestar is of the utmost importance to all of us here, it must be protected from everything," Sion answered.
    "Excuse me," Greylen called out to Sion, "but what is this 'Polestar'?"
    "Why, the large black structure to your right.  Like I said, Headmaster Wurrelin can answer all your questions much better than I can.  I'm just a soldier."