 He had promised in the presence of Verity, who was his prisoner, that he would not take a coin of his ill-gotten gold for himself as long as his crewmen must row the ship without oars.After breaking his oath (thanks to Jasmine) he was pulled into the ocean by his crew, who are now little more than animated cadavers, having plied at the oars for longer than mortal lifetime.The Guardians are the ones that the Shadow Lord sent the Ak-Baba to deliver the seven gems of the Belt of Deltora to in order for them to keep them from falling into the hands of his enemies.