Free The Vault of Destinies (James Potter #3) by G. Norman Lippert Page B

dominated the center of the ship, fronted with the pilothouse. James could see men in white jackets and caps inside, moving busily about. An enormous ship's wheel turned gently back and forth as waves rocked the ship.
    "This is so cool," Ralph said, approaching James. "I've never been on a ship before. Do you think a magical ship is any different than a regular ship?"
    "You're asking the wrong mate, Ralph," Albus commented. "We're just as new to this as you are. Ask Uncle Percy if you want a real answer. Or Cousin Lucy, for that matter."
    "I've only ever traveled by ship once before, believe it or not," Lucy said, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "And that was a lot smaller than this one, on the way to Greece."
    "Have you seen the dining galley yet?" Petra called from the stairs to the lower level. "Breakfast is all laid out, and it's perfectly lovely! Come and join us!"
    "They have currant buns!" Izzy added importantly, cupping her hands to her mouth.
    James, Albus, Ralph, and Lucy ran to the stairs and ducked into a doorway at the bottom, which opened onto a long low room with windows on either side, letting in the watery morning light. Two long tables dominated the room, bordered on both sides by wooden swivel chairs. Silverware, crystal glasses, china plates and steaming silver tureens and platters were spread over the tables.
    "This is more like it!" Ralph exclaimed, pulling off his sweatshirt in the warmer quarters. He strode along the nearer table and took a seat next to his father, who was already stirring a cup of tea.
    "Enjoy it while you can, friends," Denniston Dolohov proclaimed. "This is what it's like to travel on the Ministry's Sickle." Beyond him, the rest of the adults were seating themselves as well, sighing happily and removing their traveling cloaks and hats.
    "The chairs are bolted to the floor," Albus said, swiveling his experimentally.
    "In case of storms," Lucy nodded, speaking around a mouthful of muffin. "Can't have everything slamming all over the place if the sea gets tetchy."
    Ralph looked up, his brow furrowed. "Is that likely to happen, do you think?"
    Lucy shrugged. "It's the Atlantic ocean. Tetchy is sort of a habit."
    "Especially this time of year," Albus agreed, reaching for a platter of toast.
    James nodded gravely. "We may have to steam right through a hurricane or two. And icebergs."
    "And sea monsters," Izzy added wisely, meeting Lily's eyes and stifling a grin. "Giant squid with tentacles like trolley cars!"
    "Ah," Ralph said, rolling his eyes. "Sarcasm, then. I see how it is."
    "Don't worry, Ralph," Petra soothed. "We've got Merlin with us. If any sea monsters attack, he'll just talk them into joining us for the trip."
    "Or vanquish them and cook them for dinner," Lily said, grinning.
    A little while later, James had finished his breakfast and discovered he was too excited to sit still any longer. The adults made their way below-decks to explore their cabins while most of the children scrambled back up to the foredeck to enjoy the brightening sun and the misty stamp of the bow on the waves.
    "What's making us move, I wonder?" Izzy asked, squinting up at the masts.
    James looked as well, noticing that all of the sails were furled tightly, lashed to the masts in neat bundles.
    "Good question," Albus agreed, frowning. "I guess we're being powered somehow. Look at the smokestack."
    Sure enough, a steady stream of black smoke was issuing from the smokestack's high, black funnel. James shrugged, turning back to the ocean view.
    "Coal, you think?" Ralph mused. "I wouldn't have expected that."
    "Maybe it's a magical fire," Lily replied reasonably. "One that doesn't need any fuel or anything."
    Lucy nodded. "Like goblin's spark. That'd make sense."
    Wind capered over the ship, pushing in from the ocean and whipping James' hair around his head. He grinned into it, and then turned and leaned on the railing, looking toward the shore as it crept alongside the ship. The Gwyndemere was passing