The Prophesy: Book 3 - The Hammer of Atlantis

 

The next morning came early for everyone. At breakfeast, decisions for the upcoming week were taken. It was decided to resume the Ark and Eden project but to delay dealing with the recovery of the people in South America until the upcoming issues with the orcs were resolved. Harp and Sitar resumed installing booby traps everywhere they could think of, and the alarms were set so that, as soon as the orcs moved, the army would be on the move to face their assault.

"There is one thing we have not done yet, guys! We should install explosives right above their tunnels. We know there is a second wave that is planned on their part. By cutting the first wave from their backup, we will have less trouble disposing of them," suggested Sitar. "The more they lose, the less we have to deal with."

"But we can't use the orcs to trigger these explosives," commented Enron.

"No we can't, but let's think this out. The second wave is probably hidden some distance off the kingdom, waiting for the first wave to vacate the tunnels. I know, it's tempting to blow them up right now, wiping their first wave, but by delaying it, we do not tip them to our advanced knowledge of their tactics. If we blew them up now, we would have to do another search for tunnels in the short run, and they would just multiply like fleas on a corpse while we spend time looking for these tunnels."

"Yes, so? What's your point, son?"

"We let them come in, they think they have us good; the next wave rushes into the tunnels, right on the back of the first wave. We blow the tunnels up, preventing any assist from outside the kingdom, disposing of the second wave, and our traps decimate the first wave. Given the lengths of these tunnels and their numbers, we can estimate the first wave of orcs to be in the range of several hundred millions. Their second wave is probably about the same size. I estimate that half of the first wave will get killed by the traps, while the entire second wave will be crushed by the collapsing tunnels."

"What if they have a third wave waiting?"

"If they have a third wave, it's further off the kingdom. Viola, when they come to the tunnels, there just won't be any left for them to use."

"What would the impact be on the movement of glaciers?" Enron wondered, as he nonchalantly threw a rat to Spare Ribs, to see if the cat would consider it food.

"They would move faster for a bit, but that is secondary. The glaciers are at the kingdom's border, Enron, and even if they suddenly leaped forward a mile, it wouldn't affect us."

"If your estimate is correct, Sitar, we still will be faced with a powerful assault. What is the plan once they have managed to break through our defences?"

"We make them pay for every inch they gain. I've been thinking of many types of weapons, both classic and magical. We have installed fortified lines all around Thebes. I just wish we knew all the surprises the orcs have for us. Dad, I found a drawing of a flame-thrower in the Archives of the Ancients. We can make several thousands overnight. Typhoon, I looked at their airplanes, they carried fragmentation bombs that were triggered by impact, and I think we can make some of those too. I'm sure a rain of shrapnel travelling at the speed of sound will slow down their advance. The adult dragons could drop several tons of those on their advancing units. I've already set detonating devices in the dams that still stand. You know as well as I that orcs and rushing water do not live well together! Paschal, how many Spiders are available?"

"There are six thousand waiting to be placed on a search line across the Atlantic along the equator."

"Hold them and all those you produce. I want them to be available to assault the orcs."

"All right."

"Do we build artillery pieces?"

"No, we do not have the time for that. Thorsten, ask your chemists to produce several million tons of napalm. Here is the formula. I want the ordinance to be available with the fragmentation bombs."

"How is our classical weapons stock?" asked Annabelle.

"We have several million bows of all types; the number of arrows is such that for each bow, there is a thousand arrows. All arrows have been dipped in poison, thanks to the help of the Fairies' spiders. Every Fairy has three blowguns available, and a hundred darts each. The number of swords of quality is at present sufficient to supply everyone able to walk with one; there are five war knives per able body, and everyone has a war stave fit for his size. Every dwarf has a first quality axe; the Trolls have their maces. We ironed every Equine, even the Centaurs. They have their swords, bows and pilum fit for their size. The packhorses have reconverted into cavalry, as have all zebras."

"How is training?" asked Samson.

"Apart from the people we got from the United Kingdoms of Americus, just about everyone able to walk can kill on sight an orc. The refugees' children are the ones gaining proficiency the fastest, but they will be far from ready to face their first real challenge in a month. The older ones are a lot slower to get motivated. Dad, of the three or so million we recovered, barely a hundred thousand will be able to sustain a defence, should it come to it."

"Paschal, what is the situation in the stasis chambers?"

"We are running on schedule. The medical stasis chambers should all be freed a day before the assault begins, if the orcs maintain their timetable. As for the psychiatric wards, about half will be released by then. The cryogenic chambers are less then one percent occupied. I will stop transferring people from cryogenic to stasis chambers a week before the assault. All the staff is ready and up to par or beyond."

"Mage-wise, Harp, what is the situation?"

"I did my report to grandpa late last night. He has another three centuries of mages ready to graduate. He asked me to test them today. I'll go there after breakfast. Banjo, Cello, Viola, and Jefferson, you are coming with me. Ian, Sitar, please come also. I want all three to vote on the results."

"Why is that?" asked Cello.

"First, because I said so; second, because I want to test your magic; third, once this is done, I will get you four into magic exercise."

"But I don't do magic!" exclaimed Jefferson.

"Oh yes you do! You survived that long hostage period with next to no food or water. Had you not been able to harvest magic, young man, you would have been dead in the first week. So get over your self-pity. By the way, Germanicus has finally gotten out of his funk; he is training as a mage as well to become apprentice, but he has a long way to go before graduating out of the College of Magic."

"That's good news, son. I was wondering how he was doing."

"Physically, he is fit. It's between the ears the problems reside. He doubts himself all the time, and when you deal with magic, it's a show-stopper."

Just as Harp finished, a powerful growl came from Spare Ribs, as the rat went flying across the room from a powerful swipe. The cat literally ran after the big rat that tried, very unsuccessfully, to escape the predator. A squeak was heard shortly after the cat had followed the rat under a pile of cushions, and then the feline emerged, carrying his prize in his mouth by the neck. He dropped it at Harp's feet, and rubbed himself at his legs, looking at him with blue eyes.

"Harp, he is offering you a gift," said Sitar as he looked at the behaviour.

"I wonder what brought the action?" asked Enron. "It was toying with the rat for a while, then suddenly, it's like there was that switch!"

"I think I know. Look at his left forepaw. The rat made the mistake of taking a bite!" said Annabelle.

"Ok. Let's heal this. Rats, even if raised for food, aren't the most clean of animals."

Harp sat on the floor and took the paw. With a quick movement of his hand he disinfected the rather deep wound and then repaired it instantly.

"There you go, little devil, good as new."

Figure 10: Harp in his Sabre-tooth Leopard Form

"Are there any reports of the last crystal?"

"Not yet. We may be close, we may be far, but we'll find it."

"Where is Fang Chao?" asked Diamondcutter.

"Ian took it out to play in the snow. I'll be joining him shortly with Spare Ribs, before going to see Nestor and his new batch of mages. Poor Bushy Tail Fox had a hard time with the two last night. First they wanted to be fed, and it took him an hour to figure out how to become a cat and then to lactate! I heard he didn't bother to do the full sex change thing, limiting himself with the production of milk. The other issue was the two were constantly warring for a tit, and he had to keep giving swipes to one or the other so each could feed."

"Sibling rivalry can be ferocious at best of times! I can just imagine the situation with these cats!" said Annabelle, laughing.

***

The morning continued peacefully, as the two kittens were introduced to their first snowstorm. They kept snapping at the flakes, taking swipes at them and otherwise hunting them. Harp and Ian had a lot of fun with them playing tug of war with a piece of elk meat. Once the kittens were asleep from their exercise, they were brought back to their respective box. Harp deemed it preferable to keep them separated given they were always fighting the moment they woke up.

«That opened my appetite. Let's go raid the kitchen!» said Ian.

«Do you really want to do that in our current form? I like the idea! Let's how fast that ill-tempered cook can run!»

The two felines walked stately into the halls of the castle, and then, reaching the kitchen, invited themselves inside while a soldier obediently held the double doors open for them. The dwarf had a good sense of humour and guessed something was up when he spotted the two cats on the warpath headed for the kitchen. He looked on as the two leopards sneaked around the preparation table to reach the oversized head cook.

Suddenly a ferocious growl was heard, as the two cats stood on their hind legs, claws out, and teeth bared, tail swishing and ears pulled back, hairs straight on their body, and looking three times their size. The cook looked behind himself and did the biggest and most convincing hurdle race of history, jumping right across all the preparation areas, heading for the exit at a world record and breakneck speed. Behind him laughter erupted from the kitchen boys who had been enduring his temper and from the dwarf soldier at the main entrance.

"That's the best show I've seen in years, princes. Too bad I cannot identify you by name given your current form!"

The two cats reformed into Ian and Harp, and began a quick raid on the food store, with the help of the kitchen boys.

"Thanks boys. We were hungry from playing with our kittens."

"Can we play with them too?" asked a very naïve boy.

"If you can put up with leopard kittens, I don't see why not."

"Why did you scare the cook?"

"He has been a pain in the rear for us as well. I think he'll be running around the town for a few hours before the weather cools off his fears. Every time we raid the kitchen, we are told we are eating his reserves. He forgets they are our reserves, not his, and that we replenish them every day by magic. If he used magic he wouldn't be such a tempting piece of ham!"

"Harp! Do I have to remind you that cholesterol is watching us?"

"With the magic we use, little brother, I doubt we will ever see a clogged artery."

"Meanwhile, who will guide the kitchen? He is always complaining about everything, and never tells us something is well done or not."

"I'm sure the amount of yelling has paid off. And you know who is best amongst yourselves for each type of dish supper will run. Anyway, boys, beef stroganoff isn't that difficult to make, and we aren't that difficult either. Just don't burn the kitchen down. For lunch, from what I smell, all is ready, and it's only a question of presenting them in dishes."

"Ian, we have to go pick up the others for the magic exam. I'm sure Nestor is grumpy when you are late!"

"We aren't late. I sent him a message that we would be there at tierce. And it's half to tierce."

"We aren't late now, but we will if you keep dragging your feet in the kitchen!"

The two boys ran off and ported up to jump the five stories that separated the kitchen from the Royal Quarters main hall. They dressed formally for the exam, knowing this was a question of decorum, even if Ian grumbled all the time.

"Ok, is everyone present?" asked Harp as he looked around.

"The only one missing is Jefferson, he had to go back to his room to get clothes on. I have been monitoring his progress, Harp. He is slowly making his way back. He had to take a nap once he reached his private apartments. I've been feeding him magical energy or he would have slept all day."

"Ok, Enron."

"Where were you guys?" asked Paschal. "I went to the inner courtyard, expecting to see you and the kittens but all I saw was a few compacted snow banks and huge paw prints telling me you had been there."

"We paid a visit to the kitchen. We were hungry."

"And the cook didn't complain?"

Ian and Harp exploded in laughter.

"He was too busy breaking the sound barrier to escape the kitchen to worry about complaining," said Ian. Ian then described what had happened in the kitchen that morning, much to the amusement of everyone in the room. Jefferson made his way to the hall just as the royals were wiping their tears off.

"What's so funny? I could hear you laugh from all the way down the hall."

"I'll explain as we go to the College of Magic, Jefferson. Are you ready?"

"Well, I didn't know what was needed but I put on my best clothes."

"That's fine. Let's get going. Everyone! Stand around me and hold hands!"

After verifying all those invited did as he asked, Harp did a countdown and ported the guests to the Grand Hall of Magic, where the students would be tested for their graduation exam.

"Hello, grandpa! How are you doing today?"

"Getting old, and older, that's how. Who are your guests?"

"Let me introduce you to my blood brothers, Viola, Banjo and Cello," replied the young boy as he pointed to each individual. After the perfunctory welcome, Nestor looked at the last boy that had yet to be introduced.

"And this is Jefferson, the sole survivor of the royal family of the United Kingdoms of Americus."

The announcement was met with a hush, as everyone had heard of the conquest of the United Kingdoms by Harold. Nestor looked at the young boy with compassionate eyes, and picked him up.

"We heard of the tragedy, Jefferson. Feel welcomed here. You are in good and loving hands. Angostini told us of what transpired during your rescue. We wanted to meet you but events kept getting in the way, and I had duties to the Kingdom of Atlantis and to my Liege Lord as Great Grand Master of Magic."

"Who is that?"

"Harp, he is the prince of Magic. My prince, we felt great magic used during the war. I am sure that the prince of Magic will explain to us what happened during the past three months."

"I plan to, after the exams, Nestor. I'm sure the students are impatient to showcase their power and capacity. Did you focus on porting for a while, as I asked? As you know, some that accompanied us in the war had issues."

"Yes, my lord. We have beefed up the teleportation and translocation curriculum. I admit I was rather furious at the Grand Master that taught it. He was weak in his chosen field, and I downgraded him to Master. He is currently very furious, but taking lessons from someone more qualified in the field then he is. Apparently, he managed to buy his way into Grand Mastery while the school was still corrupted by black mages. He escaped your cleanup because he had been away to tend to his sick mother when you visited us at our old campus."

"I would like to give that cheater a lesson, if you do not mind?" Harp asked.

"Sure, he is waiting with the others, outside of the Grand Hall. He thinks he is ready, but his teacher believes otherwise. I decided to let him prove himself, but I expect he will be ridiculed. His snub attitude has infuriated just about everyone. Follow me; I have set up tables for the judges and the observers. You are at the centre, top tiers. Your guests are above you."

Everyone seated, the double doors separating the Grand Hall from the lobby opened silently, letting the student body in. Those that were to pass their exam were confined to the lowest bleachers and the rest of the students sat on the upper ones.

***

Nestor stood up, and Ferriday gave him the scroll that contained the names of those that were to pass their exam.

"Thank you Ferriday. I am pleased to greet you all to this year's final exams. Some will go from trainee to apprentice, others from apprentice to companion, still others will graduate to Master, and finally, a few will try to pass their Grand Masters rank. I wish you luck and success during these exams."

Sipping a glass of icy water, Nestor looked at the students.

"Today, the exams will be presided by the Prince of Magic, the Prince of the Blade, and by the Heir of Atlantis. Let me introduce to you Harp Merlin Prince of Magic of the Court of Atlantis!"

Harp stood up to a roar of applause that took a few minutes to die down.

"To his left is Sitar, Montue, God of War of Atlantis, prince of the Blade!"

Another roar of applause met the announcement as Sitar stood up.

"The final judge and examiner is Prince Ian, Heir to the Throne of Atlantis!"

As Ian stood, the applause was so loud Harp wondered if the dome would not collapse from the reverberating sound.

"Finally, as guests of honour today, we have Harp and Sitar's biological brothers, from left to right, Legionnaire and cavalryman Viola, Woodsmen Banjo and Cello, and to the extreme right, Prince Jefferson sole survivor of the House of Davis, future king of the United Kingdoms of Americus, vassal to Atlantis."

The applause was more muted as people whispered about the lack of titles for the other brothers of Harp and Sitar. Nestor sat down, as he invited Harp to take front stage. Harp did not wait for silence to settle in. He used Bata to thunderous efficiency and brought everyone to still and fearful quietness. He then converted to his wolf form and howled loudly in the silent auditorium, before taking his human form again.

"Just so you remember whom you are facing! I could hear all the disparaging remarks you made about my brothers! They do not officially wear titles because Harold Thor Horus Pharaoh of Atlantis has not adopted them yet! It did not give any of you the right to show them disrespect! This lack of ethics is a shame! Being a lowly legionnaire as I heard, or a crappy woodsman is not the attitude I expect of students graduating from this school! You assume, wrongly, that being a mage elevates you above the common mortals! Well, let me tell you it is not the case! These professions are as worthy as your chosen one. They contribute to the well being of everyone as much as you do! Snobbish attitudes will not be tolerated, from anyone, be he or she a new student or a grand master! None of us pee gold, none of us shit chocolate, we all rot and smell bad when we die and before then as well! Get over that attitude now! We all travel from one hole to the next!"

The room was more silent then a tomb, as Nestor bleached from the furious tone Harp had used. It was apparent that he had missed the boat on ethics and he vowed to see to it that the ethics of magic and personal relations would take a more important part of the curriculum from now on. Twice that day, he had failed the Prince, and he was furious.

"Do you wish I handle you my resignation as Chancellor of the College, my Prince? I failed you three times already!" he whispered in the silent room.

"Certainly not, grandpa. You do your best, and that is all I ask."

"Very well, my prince. I will endeavour to improve the curriculum of this College so it meets your expectations."

"That is fine by me. Let's begin this series of tests. We will go from the beginners to the last one on the list. Remind me of their level, before we begin. Call the first name. Wards up!"

Everyone felt a tingle in their magic as Harp raised protective wards around the room. The first candidate was called and stood in the middle of the room, waiting for the first test.

"You are nervous. Try relaxing and let your magic flow freely of constraints. When you are ready, raise your right hand," said Harp.

After a few minutes the young girl indicated she was ready.

"Ok. First test: elemental energy. Pick your best and try to do something with it."

The girl produced a flicker of light at the tip of her wand that, if not very bright, was nonetheless stable and showed she had a modicum of control.

"Ok. Next test. Use your wand to lift some of the dust on the floor."

Again, the girl made it through this exam.

"Ok. Final test. You have your wand. Put it on the floor and levitate it."

The girl managed to do so, sweating profusely as she managed to direct the wand to her hand.

"You pass. You show good potential, control and endurance. Here is your Apprentice of Magic pin. Next?"

The exams continued until sext, gradually becoming more difficult and complex as each student tried to gain the pin marking the upper classes.

"It's lunch time. Rest and restore yourselves. We resume these exams in an hour. As you noticed, the number of tests and their complexity increases as we progress. I will not allow a mage to graduate until he or she has shown proficiency in all aspects of magic fit for their current level and beyond. Be aware that the next tests will involve defensive and offensive magic. Here is the food!"

Harp materialized tables at each seat, supporting a considerable variety of food and refreshments.

"Let those that have yet to pass their exam fill up! The next tests will be energy consuming, especially for those of you that have not yet understood how to live within your magical core and are forced to drain it through limited channels. Remember! There is magic around you, there is magic inside you! It is by doing a judicious balancing act between the two sources that the next candidates will pass!"

"Why did you give them tips?" Viola asked.

"If they haven't figured it out already, they are hopeless as mages, even if they are trying for Masters or Grand Masters. You already know how to do that, Viola, and so do my other brothers. I'm just formalizing your intuitive knowledge. These snobbish jerks will be in for a surprise!"

***

The afternoon started slowly enough as Ian, Harp and Sitar tested the candidate for masters both on defensive wards and on offensive spells. Sparks flew, and as the scale of power rose, more and more failed.

Then came the grand finale. Five candidates wanted to get their Grand masters status, including the snobbish individual that had cheated. The individual was put last, more to give him time to prepare from observing the others, so he could not claim being disadvantaged by the draw.

Of the first four, two failed, for inability to, for one, create an object, and the second, for not being able to port. The last candidate walked into the arena, confident to the point of arrogance.

"I have heard of you," stated Harp, as the man acted like a peacock on nuptial parade. "I have decided to pitch you against one of my brothers. Mind you, they have no grade in magic, but they have survived where you probably would not. Cello! You have shown fine control! Disarm the man!"

Even before the nullity had time to figure out what was happening, his five blades and his wand appeared in front of Harp.

"One for Cello, zero for you!" said Harp. "The next test is to see if you can protect yourself. Viola, draw first blood!"

Viola walked in to the sandy arena, and circled the man with a short knife, as the mage, which had recovered his blades and wand, tried to figure out what he was facing. His first try was a dark, killing spell, which rebounded off Viola's spontaneous magic shield, much to the surprise of the observers and the frustration of the offending mage. The next move was more physical. The mage threw a knife at Viola, who sent it right back at his owner with a simple move of the wrist, without even touching the incoming offensive weapon. The return caught the mage by surprise, and he could not evade the blade that lodged itself deep in his triceps.

"First blood goes to Viola. One for Viola, zero for the mage," concluded Harp.

"Last test: port your opponent to the Atlantic and back while evading his efforts at doing the same to you. That test is for Banjo! And no cheating mage! I can sense you trying to muster the assault before Banjo has passed the ward. It would only rebound and send you where you planned sending my brother!"

Banjo passed Viola on his way down and smiled at him, pleased at what he had seen so far. He walked into the arena and the mage went to the offensive right away. At first the two flickered as each tried to port the other while countering the efforts of their opponent. Suddenly a double bang was heard. The mage reappeared; he was wet and dripping, while the sand around Banjo stayed remarkably dry. Harp immediately shielded his brother, which was already creating a protective ward of his own.

"One for Banjo, zero for the candidate. You failed."

As the mage exploded in rage, he again disappeared for several seconds before reappearing, blue and shaking violently.

"Have you learned your lesson? I can send you for a very long stay in Antarctica if you keep that attitude. I'm sure that by the end of winter, you will have really mastered your magic, or you will become a testament to stupidity!" Harp exclaimed.

After a few seconds of silence, the room erupted in applause. Harp let it continue for a while then raised his hands, calling for silence.

"One last test for today. Prince Jefferson, you doubt you have magic. Please proceed to the centre of the arena. You will be tested to your limits so we know your power level."

The poor boy, too shocked to object, walked down to the testing ground. He looked at Harp questioningly.

"First, elemental magic. Create fire!"

Flames erupted at the boy's fingertips, hot enough to vitrify the sand it touched.

"Second, create a tornado!"

Right on cue, a strong whirlwind sucked the dust off the floor, reaching the ceiling while staying in place.

"Douse it in water!"

A local rainstorm brought the dust down, stopping the tornado in the process.

"Shatter the glass!"

A miniature earthquake shook the ground, converting the glass into tiny pebbles.

"Stop this spell!" as Harp cast a minor hex, which rebounded on a shield the created by the boy.

"Since the failure of the day is still in the arena, take the offensive!"

The prince slammed the guy in the gut with a powerful slap that sent the man sliding across the arena, while not even touching physically the individual.

"Create a broom!"

The spell, albeit simple, implied the capacity to materialize objects. A rather primitive-looking broom appeared, standing alone in midair.

"I was going to ask you to levitate it, but that is even better. Port the loser across the arena five times."

The prince obliged, and even drew a pentagram across the sand.

"Port yourself to the apexes of the pentagram you just created."

Again Jefferson obliged.

"Viola, Cello, Banjo, you now know you are part of the Royal Family of Atlantis. Do not accept nor tolerate any doubt to be said about it or to enter your mind. I did not test your power levels, but I can see from your magic that you are at least at Grand Master. Jefferson, you passed to Grand Master level. You have the power. I will see to it you get the proper ethics as well. I will talk to dad. You will be offered adoption into the Family if I have my way with dad."

"You always have your way with dad, Harp," replied Sitar, laughing.

"These exams are concluded. My sincere felicitations go to those that passed. For those that failed, persevere. Consider this a temporary setback and learn from your errors. Nestor, you have the stand."

"Before you leave to return to your studies, I would like to remind you that power is not everything. As Harp has demonstrated, ethics is an important part of being a mage. I was shamed at the beginning of the day by what Harp brought to my attention. I will not put up with anymore of this attitude! Grow up or else! Now, let us applaud the princes and the graduates!"

After five minutes, the applause died down.

"Dismissed!" as the doors opened and the shield fell, releasing he students to their duty.

***

Enron and Paschal began retrofitting the Spiders into offensive weapons right after breakfeast. It was a simple question of giving the machines a mental image of orcs, but it took time to allow for intra-species variations. Once the image was set and properly designed, a process which took a good part of the morning, they rewired the production lines so new spiders would already have the map ready for use. That took the rest of the day, but by vespers, the new offensive Spiders were coming off the line.

"We will retrofit those produced earlier tomorrow. It should take us a week," decided Paschal as they made their way out of the production area to go eat their evening meal.

"Ok. We shouldn't have skipped lunch. I could eat a bear!"

"I'm sure we will have all we need without picking stuff from the Ark."

As they walked up to the castle, they met Thorsten and Typhoon.

"How was your day?" asked Thorsten, looking gloomily at the two.

"A pain in the butt, as was yours from your looks. What happened?"

"Not much except an idiot used steel containers to produce napalm and it blew up the production line, killing the idiot instantly. I had asked for the use of sandstone containers, but the guy thought he knew better. I don't regret the fool, only the damage and the other lost lives. Six people died in the explosion apart from him! Luckily, the production line was separate from the main explosive line or we might have had a big hole in the middle of Thebes!"

"I didn't know we had light hydrocarbons?"

"We have a lot of heavy hydrocarbons. I installed a cracking and distillation column below, at the periphery of Thebes. It produces a variety of lighter molecules by cracking them through anoxic thermal reactions."

"Will you be able to procure the proper amount of napalm?"

"No. I have limited resources in heavy hydrocarbons."

"What about the production of fragmentation bombs?"

"That's your domain, Paschal, not mine. I have several thousand tons of explosives in stock, ready for use as dispersants for the bombs, when you have designed them. All I need to know is the form of the load. Don't forget to install an inertial trigger when you design them. We cannot count on the bomb landing in a specific position."

"When will the napalm production restart?" asked Enron.

"It already has. I rebuilt the production line to my specifications and the chemists that are doing it are aware of the risks. I hope the lesson carried about safety!"

"Hey, remember what dad did at the Command Rock? He used heavy hydrocarbons as base for his stuff!" exclaimed Paschal, suddenly remembering things. "Let's go see him, I'm sure there are more where he got his!"

"What are you talking about?" Thorsten asked.

Paschal explained the events that had led to the battle of Command Rock, and what Harold had managed to do with fire pots. As he finished, he added:

"I'm sure dad remembers where he got that black goo that smelled so bad. I remember him saying there was a lot in those funny underground caves!"

"That's an idea. Come on, guys!"

The four boys made for a mad dash up to the castle entrance, ported right up to the royal suite and hollered together "Dad!" just as Harp and the others also materialized in the great room.

"What's all the excitement about?"

"Dad, do you remember that foul-smelling stuff you used during the battle of Command Rock?"

"Yes, that inextinguishable fire, why?"

"Do you think there is more of that black goo?"

"Oh yes, millions of tons of it, but still why?"

"We need the stuff to make napalm. Thorsten says he has a... how did you call it?"

"A cracking distillation column. It takes heavy hydrocarbons and fractures them into smaller molecules to make lighter products that we then use to make napalm."

"Oh, ok. Why do you need it?"

"We have very little reserve of that product, since it had no prior use until now. But we need tons of it to make napalm now," explained Thorsten.

"I understand. We could hop and port the reservoirs underground here. I do not know if the containers are still tight. They might leak considerably. And we have no knowledge of the situation militarily and weather-wise there. I just hope that glaciers have not reached that area yet."

"That's a task for the dragons, my lord. They can fly right now, under cover of the night, and check for orc activity in the area," Typhoon said.

"Fine, proceed, send two wings with dragon riders. They are to stay out of sight. I do not want orcs, if any, to suspect there might be something of interest."

Typhoon converted to wolf form and raced out at full run to get the two wings in the air as soon as possible.

«Typhoon, tell the wing commander I will visually guide him to the location once he is over the general area.»

«All right, your Majesty.»

"Is there anything else to deal with before we head to bed, boys?"

"I tested Banjo, Cello and Viola for magic today by putting them in surprise conditions. They are fully magical dad. I also tested Jefferson. He is of Master or Grand Master Mage calibre. I want him adopted in our family. It would bond his lineage with ours."

"And Jefferson, what do you think of that?"

"Would that make you my dad?"

"Yes. And Annabelle would be your mother."

"I have no other family left. When can we do this?"

"I could do it tomorrow."

"Can we be adopted also?" asked Viola.

"I thought you would wait on your sisters?"

"We thought so too, but I feel like we must do it as early as possible."

"Another seer?"

"I don't know, Sire."

"Then so be it. Tomorrow it is if your brothers agree, that is?"

"We do. I have this feeling of dread and I know the path to survival passes by this road."

"Dad, I want to train them as early as possible in military art. The timetable is very tight. We, meaning Ian, Harp and I, have set it as follows: a week of intensive weapons and magic training, a week in the pyramids, and they should be ready to take command of their own legions. We need as many of us trained to our full potential. As of now, you boys will be sleeping in a tessaract to gain as much magic potential as possible. The Pyramids being themselves tessaracts, you will actually gain two weeks of full immersion into magic."

"Does that include Jefferson, Sitar?"

"Yes."

"Should we put off the adoption by two weeks then?"

"No, dad. Do it tomorrow at prime. We can have the adoption proclamation read and distributed overnight. No fancy stuff, no over the board party, we are at war and we need to act quickly. Then, when we have more free time, we do it in grand style. This is only for the paperwork."

"All right. So be it. Jefferson, that will not affect you status as heir to the United Kingdoms of Americus; it will only bond you closer to us then the status of vassal to liege lord."

Enron, Thorsten, Typhoon, and Timor exchanged glances and after a few minutes of talk to their respective dads and mothers via telepathic link, approached Harold. Enron, as the eldest of the vassal kingdom, addressed Harold formally.

"Harold, Thor, Horus, Pharaoh of Atlantis, we, meaning Timor, Thorsten, Typhoon and myself, have a formal request to express."

The formal approach did not go unnoticed by the others. Harold looked at Enron, wondering what was up.

"Feel free to state your request in your own words, King Enron, vassal of Atlantis," replied Harold with the same formality.

"We request adoption by your majesty into his extended family; we discussed this with our surviving kin and they are in agreement with our request. We feel that by creating a bond tighter then that of vassal to liege, we strengthen ourselves and Atlantis."

Iridia looked at the exchange and came to a decision. She took the same formal approach to request the same bonding to the crown of Atlantis.

"Princess Iridia, I do not know how the Fairy Council will react to this request."

"Badly for some hard-nosed sovereignists, but I will simply have them beheaded. They have been pissing me off long enough already."

"If you need my axe, Iridia, you need only ask," offered Thorsten, smiling.

"I know. I saw you dispose of some of your own troublemakers and I envied your decisiveness, King Thorsten. It is time I show the same fortitude."

"Then it is resolved. Are there any more pending adoption requests?"

A thunder of «Us! Us! Us!» flooded the telepathic continuum, as the Equines, Canines, Centaurs, Pegasuses and Unicorns leaderships asked to be taken under the direct banner of Atlantis.

«I see. I will have the proclamation ready shortly. The adoption procedure shall be done at the first rays of sunrise, marking not only a new day but also a new era in the dynamics of Atlantis. Harp, Sitar, Paschal, Ian, and Annabelle, we will bond magically so as to accept our new family members and bonding them to the Throne of Atlantis and to us by magic and blood.»

***

Prime rang at the bell tower, and the Royals progressed to the Great Plaza that marked the heart of Thebes. The snowstorm that had raged the previous night left the city covered in a mantle of ermine that was crisp underfoot because of the low temperatures of pre-dawn. There, aligned, were all those who would be adopted that day. Along the beautiful perspective that opened on the rising sun, millions watched the huge tribune that held the Thrones of the different kingdoms. Farther back on the same structure were the places reserved for the Privy Council of Atlantis, with its huge space reserved for the Gold Dragon King, the king of the Trolls, Samson, Diamondcutter, the Dwarf Council, the Fairy Council, the Seven of the Centaurs, the Legates of the Legions, the Stallions of the Unicorns and the Pegasuses, the Lord Agramon, Prince of the Equines that included the donkeys and the zebras, and the numerous members of the Canines, Dogs, Wolves, Foxes, Hyenas. Every living member of the kingdom was sharing the space, creating a veritable flood of life. If anyone had doubt this would be a momentous event, it had been wiped out by the amount of crowned heads that were already sitting and waiting patiently for the arrival of the Royal Family.

A continuous roar marked the progress of Harold and the princes as they walked through the streets of Thebes as they left the Palace to reach the Plaza. The ground shook under the sound, which reverberated from the distant mountains that marked the western edge of Lava Flows. The glow that enveloped the Royal Family spoke of Magic, of power unmatched in the history of space and time. Line after line of Canines, Fairies, Dwarfs, Elves, Legionnaires and Horsemen composed the Honour Guard that kept the passage clear for Harold and his family.

As they reached the Plaza, a powerful roar of approval resonated, each step taken up the stairs to the elevated platform accompanied by an ever-increasing sound level. As Harold reached the top of the stairs and held Annabelle by the arm to progress toward the Throne of Atlantis, the decibels reached a level comparable to a Saturn V on takeoff. There would be quite a number of hoarse throats after that performance.

Harold installed Annabelle and Alexander together to his right and then sat down on the Throne of Atlantis. Using a sonorous charm to be heard from one end of town to the other, Samson began his speech.

"Today, as per the request of too many to count, and by popular vote of confidence, the Throne of Atlantis has accepted to adopt all who wish into our home as members of our family. We will be one big, but very diverse, family come sunrise. All of you will be Atlantean, yet still remain a member of your respective sub-culture, your species, or race. Come sunrise, you will be the sons and daughters of the Kingdom of Atlantis. It will not make each and everyone prince; but it will make you all equal to each other, not that it was not the case in our eyes. With that adoption comes the obligation to serve, not for your own profit, but for the benefit of others. With it will be unlocked vast powers that have been held in check for thousands of years. You will learn in that instant, where we are from, who we are and what is the goal we seek. You will be called upon to contribute even more intimately to our progress and to our defence. This adoption is more then taking in more children under our umbrella, it is an oath of blood and Magic that will eternally make us one people, bonding us to you and you to us. Since we cannot, unfortunately do this on an individual basis, select representatives of your varied species have been invited to partake in the ceremony for all. Magic will bind you to their vow, your blood will be their blood."

Harold stood and walked forward.

"Let my family join in this ceremony."

Harp, Sitar, Paschal, Ian, Annabelle carrying Alexander, and Yamato created a circle around Harold.

"This circle symbolizes the unending bond of the family, with no beginning, no end. Viola, Banjo, Cello, Jefferson, come forth, and touch respectively Harp, Sitar, Paschal and Ian. Thorsten, Typhoon, Timor, touch Annabelle, Alexander and Yamato. Lance Master, as representative of the Centaurs, touch Paschal; White-Wing, as representative of the Pegasuses, touch Sitar; Golden Horn, as representative of the Unicorns, touch Harp. Iridia, as representative of the Fairies, touch Alexander. Greywolf, as representative of the Canines, touch Annabelle. This completes the bridge between our species. Repeat after me this oath: By my Magic I bond my blood to the blood of Atlantis; by my Magic I bond my family to the blood of Atlantis; by my Magic I bond my people's blood to the blood of Atlantis; By my Magic I bond my Magic to the Magic of Atlantis; by my Magic I bond the Magic of my family to the Magic of Atlantis; by my Magic I bond my people's Magic to the Magic of Atlantis!"

Harold took a long breath as Magic absorbed the huge upheaval this oath had created, and then he began speaking anew.

"We, Harold, Thor, Horus, Pharaoh of Atlantis, accept the bonds offered to my Kingdom by blood and Magic. We, Harold, Thor, Horus, Pharaoh of Atlantis, by our blood and by our Magic, take into our family those sworn to us on this day and forever. Let the Rising Sun be witness to this Vow of bonding by Blood and Magic!"

Harold finished just as the first rays of the rising sun peeked over the eastern mountain range, making the snow glow golden yellow for a very brief instant, and again, Magic settled after another powerful upheaval.

"Open your eyes to your past; open your eyes to your present; and open your eyes to your future, people of Atlantis!" thundered Harold, as all those present saw for the first time the full extent of the sacrifices the Atlanteans had endured to insure their survival and the survival of life on Earth in the face of the Soul-Eaters. A newfound respect permeated the population and the true impact of this adoption began to sink in for those who did not have a full understanding of its consequences.

"Earth is our second home. Unfortunately, it is as doomed as our first. Events foretold thousands of years ago are now unfolding, and we need to learn to compose with them or die. This is our destiny, a destiny to which all life on this planet is bound; you know of the Soul-Eaters lurking outside of the trap and waiting for its collapse to assail this planet and reap it bare of life; you know the orcs, their origins and what we discovered; you know who guided the Ancients to the Cataclysm and why; you know how our ancestors worked and sacrificed themselves and their identity to ensure that the plans of the Soul-Eaters would fail. The first real battle will be in twenty-nine days, when the Orcs will breach the Magic Wall. We know when, we know where, and we know what do. Now, so do you. Be Atlantean, from snout to tail! This ceremony is over, we have a lot to do. Princes Banjo, Cello, Jefferson and Viola, you are to report to training with Sitar. Harp, Typhoon, Samson, Timor, begin installing the explosives above the tunnels the orcs will use; Thorsten, Diamondcutter, see to increasing the production of more napalm. I ported the reserve of heavy hydrocarbons to an artificial lake outside of Thebes early this morning. It contains five hundred million gallons of the stuff, frozen solid because of the cold, which is nice since there won't be any leaks that way. Williams and Dunbar, I expect you in my study for the report on what you found in New Zealand. I am not too worried about other doomsday devices handled by orcs; it will be another thing when the Soul-Eaters have access to the planet. By then I hope we will have located and disposed of them all. Get to your drawing board Paschal. I want the production of flame-throwers and fragmentation bombs to start post-haste!"

***

"So, Dunbar, Williams, you left a note you wanted to talk to me about something?" began Harold as the two men walked into his study.

"Yes. We have seen something rather troubling while recovering the last samples for the Ark project from New Zealand."

"You found the Golden Fleece?" commented Harold with a grin.

"No, Harold. First we saw a flying reptile. We thought this was odd but well, birds are flying reptiles, or more to the point, dinosaurs. It was big, but not overly so, so we sort of figured it might be a nice addition to the Ark. Things turned sour after we tried to capture a couple," Dunbar continued as he looked at Williams.

"What happened?"

"Given their size, we though we were dealing with adults, but there lay our mistake. These were juveniles; the adults were a lot bigger, about the size of the black dragon Harp described to us. But they were not black. I have spent a few hours with Paschal, giving him a description of the beast, and he produced this portrait for us."

"That is impressive, it looks like a ..."

"A pterodactyl, yes! But that is not all, your majesty," continued Williams.

"What else is there?"

"After the adults came to the defence of the juveniles, we decided to look for nests. We found some, rather well hidden, but we also found orcs! There were huge orcs, about the size of the general the God of War disposed of, your Majesty."

"Ah, the pterodactyls needed food?"

"Harold, pterodactyls are fish-eaters. The orcs were domesticating them, and riding them! That is bad news for us! Especially since, just before coming back here we were hidden in a cave and watched a huge flight of these animals, headed north, flew over us. We counted several millions of them."

"Have you estimated their speed?"

"Yes. They seem to be headed for a long flight over the Pacific Ocean; if their heading is maintained, they are headed for the Kingdom. They are doing it at a leisurely speed, and should put them in our skies within a month. I notice the pterodactyls never fly at night. They seem to want to conserve energy. At three hundred miles a day, these beasts will be as fresh as morning dew when they arrive. Given orcs eat anything, I wouldn't be surprised they would behave like pilot fish in these circumstances and eat whatever scraps the Pterodactyls drop."

"Thank you for the information, guys. I'll notify Typhoon and Sitar of this development tonight."