Although the initial fury of the storm has been played out, the rain continues to fall hard and scour the island-town of Kinja. The weight of the water tears leaves off the trees and beats the grass into flattened submission. The exposed dirt of the island's highlands is washed into the low-lying places, which includes the towns of the island. It collects in depressions and corners, adding a disgusting muck to the already deluged streets. The wind further serves to make the weather miserable for any man or beast which might be forced to brave the elements. It forces the water inland, turning the market square into a swamp and finding the smallest cracks in buildings, making puddles form along window frames and door sills. But the residents of the island do not know or care about the fury of the weather. They are all safe and dry in largest tavern in the twenty seas - The Mermaid's Tale. Inside the tavern, an old rawun is completing the telling of her second story of the evening.

"… and so it was that the brave crew of the Reef Runner put to rest the ghost of the brave Captain Zafar ibn-Rufi and recovered the ancient tome which would prove to be part of the key to finding the remaining Lost Treasures of Rul. It was this tome - and the logs of Zafar - which would allow King Ren to resume the Great Quest and eventually destroy the Dark Water and defeat the Dark Dweller."

The last notes of music fade away as the song ends. It is quiet in the large common room of the Mermaid's Tale. The voice of the rain pounding on the roof is clearly heard, for the audience sits in silence. Unlike previous silences, this one has more the flavor of being shocked rather than appreciative or enraptured. The storyteller sits unconcerned in her place on the stage and sips again from her mug. She keeps her face impassive as she thinks to herself: "If this were any other tale, I would hide my face in shame at such a response. But tonight… this is exactly what I want. The fish now feel the hook, and they are trying to figure out just what this thing is that tugs them toward the surface."

The children in front of the stage are doing their best under the circumstances. Their little faces are scrunched up in intense - for children - thought. They know something important has just been told to them, but they don't know what it is. They are also a little worried by the lack of applause from the adults. Isn't that what you're supposed to do at the end of a song? A minute or so of confusion is enough for the youngsters. They once more flood the bard with their demands for answers.

"A book? I thought Ren used the Compass."
"That's wrong! There are thirteen Treasures, not six."
"Are all pirates that stupid?"
"If they knew who took them, why didn't they get them back sooner?"
"You're lying! Sharks can't talk."
"Can too! 'Sides, Selkie's a sea elf. They can talk to fish."
"When does Ren find the other Treasures?"

After this outburst, the gathered adults break their own silence and begin to speak quietly amongst themselves. The storyteller can hear many of the same questions being posed between fellow townsfolk, as well as much speculation on how what they've just been told fits with the legends and tales they already know. She lets the buzz of conversation continue for a minute or two, enjoying their attempts to figure things out. Finally, she lifts her voice to speak once more, to clear way some of the fog. But only some.

"My friends, it is only natural that you have questions. I have only given you half of the puzzle. It is quite true that the ancient tome spoke only of half of Rul's Thirteen - the very Treasures that King Ren and his companions sailed for and found using the Mystic Compass. As for the rest… Seeing that the words written in the book were true, Ren knew that the rest of the tome had to be found for it would surely lead to those remaining seven Treasures. If this were to be done, and for any hope of accomplishing the final destruction of dark water and the ultimate defeat of the Dark Dweller, the Library of Mirrors had to be found."

"Knowing that he was still watched by spies who worked for the evil pirate-lord Bloth, Ren could not risk leaving Octopon and leading that cursed villain to such a valuable resource. So, once more he asked the crew of the Reef Runner if they would serve him once more and sail to find the mythical Library. Captain Yamalla and his friends instantly agreed to sail under the banner of Octopon again. After all, each had personal cause to wish for the end of dark water, and this quest offered them the first real hope of that happening."

"But their quest nearly ended before it properly began. For the port of Bandar al-Sadat to which they marked their course was a lawless place, full of more monsters and villains than Jundatown before the kingdom of Octopon freed it from its oppressive pirate rulers. As they searched for clues to the location of the island known as the Sea Anvil and the Library of Mirrors, they became caught up in series of confusing and dangerous events - a war among the thieves.

"Sit back and listen now to my words as I sing of the voyages of the Reef Runner and her crew…"