“Looks like a storm’s brewing!” Chuckled the boat’s captain, as he lifted the anchor. Burnes remained silent, keeping his eyes firmly fixed upon the horizon in order to settle his churning stomach.
“The island be just north a’ ere”
“How long will it take?”
“An hour or so, with this wind in her sails she’ll be flyin’!”
Burnes sat down and sighed. The cold wooden seats offered little comfort, and already he felt his head spinning.
“There be something strange ‘bout the island. Thousands a’ birds, birds that were not used to in these parts.”
Burnes nodded, he had been given a detailed account of the area, and was travelling to meet a man who had made a startling discovery. It seemed some magic of unknown origin was at work.

Before long a small island emerged from the dense sea-fog, its rocky shores teeming with tropical birds. The captain dropped anchor a short distance from land, and the two men huddled into a small row-boat to reach the shore.
“Thank thee” Said Burnes to the old seaman, as he strode towards the edge of a dense cluster of trees. Burnes unclipped the horn which hung from his belt, and putting the instrument to his lips sounded a long, steady tone. Before long the dense foliage broke and out strode a man, resplendent in shining armour, atop a mighty horse.
“Greetings sire, I am Lador.” Spoke the man.
“Hail!” Said Burnes, relieved that this meeting was not a hoax after all.

“I was on this island harvesting wood, when I stumbled upon the wreckage of a ship.” Said Lador, with an expression of grim foreboding.
Burnes nodded, “Lead on my friend, lead on.”

A short trek through sparse woodland and Burnes found himself staring at the wreckage of a large galleon, strewn about along the island’s northernmost shoreline. Lador stooped and picked up a small rectangular section of wood which was polished on one side, and handed it to Burnes. Intricately carved lettering read “The Phoe”.
“What were looking at here simply has to be the remains of Rothermere’s ship, the Phoenix.”
“Aye”. Nodded Lador.
“You have done very well Lador, and are deserving of much praise for your intuition.”
“Thank thee, though this is not all…”
“Aye?”
“Aye sire, for a strange tree is just southeast of here. I spoke the name Myella, as indicated in the puzzling note that lead Rothermere to this very same area…
Burnes was impressed. Lador seemed a man of keen intellect.

When they came to the area Lador had mentioned, it became apparent to Burnes right away that the tree was indeed harboring some powerful magic. It seemed to glow, and was almost golden in hue, the very air around it crackled with powers unseen.
Burnes looked towards Lador, who insisted he demonstrate first. Whispering quietly the word Myella under his breath, Lador vanished with a blinding flash. Nervously, Burnes did the same.

A strange sensation swept over him, and upon opening his eyes again, Burnes found himself in a dark cavern, deep in the bowels of the earth. A large stone ankh stood behind him, and before him a huge set of iron doors were sealed shut. Lador was standing next to them.

“I’ve tried for hours, they wont open.” Said Lador.
“Perhaps a lock-pick?”
“No use.”
“Hmm…”
Burnes contemplated the bravery of the man, he would be wary of coming here alone, yet Lador seemed unbothered by such a place.
“I will have the Royal council look into this area, and the matters at hand. Someone, somewhere, shall know what lies behind these doors.”

On the return voyage Burnes scribed an official document of the day’s discoveries, knowing that some progress would soon be made. There may even be some books which contain details of such a place, or the magic which was at work.

The story is from http://www.uo-europe.com/