Crystal Doors #1 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta

sail, carried away from the coast by a freshening breeze as the tide went out. We left our beloved Afirik behind and sailed into waters that were unknown to me.
    “I had never seen the ocean before — so much water! Once we lost sight of the shore, I felt as if I were drowning in the vastness. Master Kundu had sailed twice before to Elantya, and he reassured me. Captain Argo showed me his astrolabes and star charts, explaining how he could navigate without landmarks. I was unfamiliar with this skill. Even out in the broadest brown savannahs, there are trees and distant hills for landmarks, but the ocean was green-blue and smooth, extending forever and ever. I found it very humbling.”
    Tiaret gave a wan smile and looked at her listeners, then took another drink of water before she continued.
    “Captain Argo was the Key, master of his own ship. He was born in Afirik and could open the crystal door directly to Elantya once he arrived at the proper coordinates. Our ship sailed through the night and half of the next morning before we reached an otherwise unremarkable spot in the middle of the ocean. Master Kundu and I came forward to watch the opening of the crystal door.
    “Argo stood at the bow of the ship, looked out at the waves, and read the words of the spell tattooed with aja ink on the skin of his forearm. When he finished his chant, the air and water in front of us changed. It was as if the sky itself had been painted on glass, and Argo’s spell shattered the pane. In front of us the water and air broke, cracked open, and on the otherside of an invisible door lay a different sea, different waves, different clouds.
    “His crew worked the sails, and the ship cruised forward. They had made the passage so many times they just went about their jobs, but I was fascinated. The vessel passed through the open door, gliding into the waters of this world. Behind us, the gateway closed again, a thin mosaic reassembling itself in the air, restoring the wall between universes. And we sailed on toward Elantya.”
    Tiaret closed her amber-gold eyes for a moment, as if hesitant to move to the next part of the story. She shifted her grip on the polished teaching staff. Gwen leaned forward to hear better.
    “Our ship rode low in the water, its hold heavy with the rare star aja Elantya had ordered. We expected no problems.” She drew a heavy breath. “No problems…
    “On the second day out, the lookout spotted two sea serpents with gold and blue scales, and serrated fins like the edge of a broken sword. They rose out of the water on our starboard side, spitting sea foam from their fanged mouths. They approached our ship, and I could see their large slitted eyes. Master Kundu stood on the deck holding his teaching staff.” She lifted the polished weapon in her hand; Gwen realized that it must have belonged to the girl’s teacher.
    “The giant serpents circled us. Their sharp fangs were as long and curved as the tusks of an elephoar. Most frightening to Captain Argo, though, were the unmistakable designs
branded
on the sides of their sinuous necks — geometric symbols, like tribal markings etched into the serpent scalesand painted with enamel. The creatures wore spiked metal collars, golden harnesses, and silver linked chains.” Tiaret paused to let the implication sink in. “Someone domesticated these sea serpents, kept them in thrall.”
    “Merlons,” whispered one of the Pentumvirate members.
    “The sea serpents swam beside the hull, then departed, slipping under the waves and swimming away. Once, in my childhood, I had seen enormous pythanas hanging from trees in the rain forest, but these were beyond my ken.
    “The crew was uneasy, and Captain Argo put everyone on watch. Master Kundu and I trained on the deck, practicing our fighting skills together, but he kept his eyes on the water. We saw lines of black storm clouds gathering on the horizon. From afar, I observed a silvery waterspout, a fearsome weapon of weather.