The men lingered on the shore longer than expected. The crunch of boots and the soft groan of ice shifting disturbed the stillness of the land.
Sarika took the first step forward. Her boots sank slightly into the powdery snow, which glittered like crushed glass.
"Secure the landing zone," she ordered.
Their landing spot was an excellent location to build a port. Unlike past explorers, Sarika intended to claim this land on behalf of the kingdom, regardless of whether it was valuable or not.
After all, having land is better than having none.
Two sailors planted the expedition's first signal pole, a tall iron spike topped with Ryntum's crest, into the frozen earth.
Their simple act marks the ownership of this land.
"Let's follow the coast first," Sarika said, pointing eastward. "Stay close to the waterline. No one wanders off. We don't know what's out there."
The party advanced slowly along the frozen beach. The cartographers took note of all features of the coast.
