PROLOGUE

The legends say that once—long, long ago—there was a single round world, like a ball floating in space, and that it was ruled over by six wise badgers. The legends also tell of a tremendous explosion, an explosion so huge that it shattered the round world into a thousand fragments, a vast archipelago of islands adrift in the sky. As time passed, the survivors of the explosion thrived and prospered and gave their scattered island homes a name—and that name was the Sundered Lands.

That’s what the legends say.

But who believes in legends nowadays?

Well … Esmeralda Lightfoot, the Princess in Darkness, does, for one. According to Esmeralda, the truth of the ancient legend was revealed to her in a reading of the magical and ancient Badger Blocks—a set of prophetic wooden tokens from the old times. And her reluctant companion, Trundle Boldoak, is beginning to believe, as well—especially as they have already found the Crystal Crown, first of the six lost Badgers’ Crowns. They also have a new friend to accompany them on their quest—a light-hearted minstrel by the name of Jack Nimble.

But there is a problem. Someone else is also hunting for the six Badgers’ Crowns. His name is Captain Grizzletusk, and he’s the meanest, bloodthirstiest, wickedest pirate ever to sail the skies of the Sundered Lands. And worse than that—he’s hot on their trail. In fact, he’s right behind them!