Into the lair

It has been difficult to find a fisherman who would be prepared to sail me across the straits to Roper's Isle, but in the end I managed to persuade Corfan (along with the addition of several drouts) to take me.

We sailed across the straits and it was eerily quiet. Corfan pointed out to me that not only were the fish gone, but the dolphins that used to be so playful around the waters were also missing. Surely the Baldrake wouldn't be catching and eating dolphin.

After a while we arrived at the Isle. Corfan refused to leave the boat, although it had been moored against the rocks, and so I walked towards the caves slowly, with Tomepicker padding behind me. We arrived at one of the entrances to the Baldrakes cave and sat, waiting. If the Baldrake was still a creature of habit, it would be out in the waters at the moment and return to the caves soon.

We waited for maybe two hours, before Tomepicker nudged me with his snout, and then turned his head further down the beachline. There was the unmistakeable image of the Baldrake - being followed by two smaller creatures. I suddenly realised that the two creatures must have been the eggs I encountered before - although sadly it seemed that one had perished.

The Baldrake saunted up the beach, and towards the cave, passing straight by without a growl or fick of the tail. I followed the three creatures into the cave then stood, deep in thought hoping to find a way to touch the Baldrakes mind.

After a moment, I sensed it thoughts. It recognised me as the one who eased it's pain before. I asked the creature about the lack of fish in the local waters and the Baldrake spoke to my mind telling me that it was finding food hard to come by too. The strange boats that were passing by on a regular basis  seemed to be catching and taking large amounts of fish with them. Suddenly I felt a great deal of sadness in the mind of the Baldrake as images of the third  baby, nets and the strange boats flooded my memories.
I thanked the Baldrake, broke my hold on its mind and returned to the boat.

Back in Merquay I spoke to many fisherman and told what the Baldrake had said to me. The strange boats were to blame for the decreasing fish stocks, and  not the Baldrake.

Now, as I complete writing this entry for day I am left to wonder about the strange boats, the disappearance of Torfeld, the antics of Yermaj, and I wonder  whether they are related in anyway.