The Last Apprentice

By

Marcus Malone

Copyright © 1991 by Marcus Malone

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Marcus Malone.

Table of Contents

- Prologue

- Chapter 1, Snake in the Garden

- Chapter 2, The Master's Shard

- Chapter 3, Flowers and Squirls

- Chapter 4, Territory of the Gods

- Chapter 5, The Love of a Woman

- Chapter 6, Unforseen Consequences

- Chapter 7, The Mystic's Cloak

- Chapter 8, Enemy of my Enemy

- Chapter 9, Paralyzed City

- Footnotes

Prologue

Beneath the brine of the Atlantic Ocean lie ruins of an ancient continent. It was once Atlantis; a rich land filled with prosperous kingdoms and great cities. Now it is less than a memory; it is only a legend.

According to legend, Atlantis sank beneath the waves of the sea over nine millennia before Christ. It was the very best Earth had to offer. Atlantis was blessed with a temperate climate and played host to an unbelievable variety of plants, animals, and minerals. The terrain was equally diverse and ranged from low lying marshlands and fertile plains to lofty hills and breathtaking mountains. Some resources discovered in that ancient land could not be found anywhere else on Earth. Those resources, along with many species of plants and animals, were lost with the continent.

Cities across ten kingdoms of Atlantis were also lost. The largest of these cities, Atlanta, was located on the southern coast in the kingdom of Atlas. It was the center of human activity and the very first of all human civilizations.

As the legend goes, Atlantis was destroyed about 9,400 years before Christ when it sank into the Atlantic. According to Plato (Greece, 427 - 347 B.C.), Atlantis sank "in a single day and night". Some say Atlantis is legend or myth, others swear it is history.

Until 1986, all we knew of Atlantis came from fragments of ancient writings; the most complete of which was the work of Plato. Plato recounted a dialogue between Critias and Socrates wherein Critias described a journey by Solon to Sais (a city in Egypt at the fork of the Nile).

A priest at Sais learned of Atlantis from Egyptian records, which were already 9,000 years old at that time. The priest told the story to Solon, Solon told Critias, Critias told Socrates. Plato acquired his information by eavesdropping on Critias and Socrates.

As one might guess, the story of Atlantis must have been brilliantly colored as it went through this chain of imaginative philosophers. Therefore, Plato's account of the lost continent might not exactly agree with the ancient records at Sais (which have been destroyed or lost since Plato's time).

To make things worse, Plato's account is incomplete—he died before he could finish his manuscript. Since Plato's sketchy third or fourth hand account of Atlantis was our most complete fragment of the ancient writings, Atlantis fell from fact and was replaced by legend and myth.

Atlantis remained an obscure legend until a fantastic discovery during the last half of the twentieth century. In 1986, a sealed canister of solid gold was discovered while excavating a New England basement. The canister was 17 inches long, 4 inches in diameter and weighed 33 pounds, 6 ounces. The lid of the canister was sealed with molten silver. A gentle shake of the canister betrayed something hidden inside. At that time, a decision was made to conceal the find until it could be positively identified.

The ornate canister was transported to San Francisco where it was studied and finally opened in 1987. Inside, researchers found a scroll and a small quantity of preservation fluid.

The ancient script upon the scroll was interpreted and transcribed into English. The 11,400 year old document was written by Odius, sole apprentice to the last Great Marce of Atlantis. Great Marce was not a name but a position or title; the Great Marce was master of the Crystal.

The apprentice described an ancient world filled with magic, wealth, power, and corruption. He also spoke of the curse that destroyed any evidence of Atlantis or the circumstances surrounding its demise.

The curse mentioned in the scroll held firm after more than eleven millennia. The original scroll and transcripts were destroyed by a fire in the wake of a major earthquake on October 17, 1989. Three of the four researchers assigned to that project died in the mishap. Perhaps that same curse also brought Plato to his end.

The existence of the scroll was neither disclosed nor acknowledged prior to its destruction. Without proper recognition of evidence, the contents of the scroll and existence of Atlantis is again lost to the ages.

This story was written from interviews with the sole survivor of that ill-fated research team. The researcher, who wished to remain anonymous, related the contents of the scroll from memory. Every effort was made to maintain accuracy. In some instances hypnotism was used to clarify fading memories. Some actual excerpts of the scroll appear under chapter headings, while the rest of the story was assembled from information contained in the scroll. Since proof of the scroll cannot be offered, this story must take the form of a novel.

Despite the threat of that ancient curse, the story recorded by Odius must be told: he not only recorded the devastation of his ancient world—he also left a warning to generations of the future. Apparently, the same menace that brought Atlantis to its end has vowed to return to our world of today.

Chapter 1, Snake in the Garden

...Before the time of cities, before Atlanta, when men roamed as primitive animals, Poseidon came down from Olympus for he loved the Earth-born woman named Cleito, daughter of Evenor and Leucippe. Poseidon sheltered and seduced Cleito until she bore for him five pair of male children. Of the eldest he named Atlas, who became king of Atlantis and was given the largest and most favorable lands. The other male children became princes, and by the wishes of Poseidon, each was given a provence over which they held sway...

...Poseidon was pleased and gave to his sons the art of civilization. Gone were times when men must scamper about the wilds, lest he wishes. The great gift of Poseidon brought letters and numbers and dwellings and goods and honor with multitudes. Poseidon bestowed his gift in this wise; he wrought the first of all cities with his own hand and bade his sons to look on. He told each of his sons to forge such a civilization in the lands over which they held sway, except for the eldest, Atlas, who would rule the city Atlanta, for only a king shall rule a city built by the hand of Poseidon...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

The call of a cock announced daybreak and woke Odius from a comfortable night's sleep. Odius laid in bed long enough to savor those fleeting restful moments that come with the passing of slumber.

He always spent the first minutes of the day trying to recall dreams from the previous night. The Great Marce told him to heed his dreams; for they are the true substance of a man's thoughts. He recalled nothing other than a vague image of a unicorn, much like the beast he had seen on the slopes of Tritus several weeks earlier.

Odius vividly remembered that day—and the majestic creature. It was a mare in her fifth or sixth summer. They were extremely friendly creatures and not the least bit dangerous, yet they were as untamable as winter storms. Unicorns had a habit of looking directly into a human's eyes, as if to look deep into the soul and see the true merit of the person within. This made many people uncomfortable because they feared the animal could see their darkest deed.

Odius took note of the vague image left by his dream, but made no effort to analyze it or link it with the mare on the slope of Tritus. He rubbed his eyes then stretched to push the sleep from his muscles. After a drawn-out yawn, he took a deep breath of fresh morning air.

Reluctantly, Odius slid a foot out from under the bedclothes and placed it on the warm stone floor. The warmth came from firestones which were laid down before the dwelling was built. Firestones were mined from a quarry beyond Mount Atlas. They were yellowish-orange in color and hot to the touch. They never seemed to cool down and were used as a source of heat for most dwellings across the continent of Atlantis. Firestones were a prized resource and never exported or traded with foreigners—no matter how attractive the offer might be.

After a moment or two, Odius rolled back the bedclothes then sat up on the feather-stuffed mattress. He was a young man in his late twenties, fair skin, light hair, and blue eyes. What he lacked in build he made up for with intelligence. He was of average height and generally considered attractive by women of his time.

Although several women expressed interest in him, he had not settled down to a wife or even socialized with a woman on a consistent basis. His celibacy was by no means due to lack of interest in the fairer sex—it was because of his position and fear of corruption.

For the last six years Odius has been an apprentice to the Great Marce. He was only an apprentice, but in the years ahead he himself would become the Great Marce, master of the crystal. Odius was to become one of the most powerful figures on the entire continent of Atlantis. Already he was known throughout the city as apprentice to the Great Marce, to the point where his position preceded him. It was often one of the first subjects new acquaintances would bring up.

Most women Odius met knew who he was and what he would eventually become. If they were not aware of his position they soon found out. When befriended by a pretty woman, he could never be sure whether she was interested in him as a man—or as the Great Marce. He was afraid of being led on and snared as a prize. Such circumstances could only lead to misery, or worse, abuse of power. He wished he could have met a woman who was ignorant to his destiny. Then he would know for certain how she felt about him as a man. Perhaps this fear would pass with age, as for now he would not concern himself with a relationship and concentrate on his apprenticeship.

After sitting for a few seconds, he stood up then staggered across the floor toward the washroom. He briefly look around his modest dwelling as his eyes adjusted to the morning light.

His dwelling was small, hardly fifteen feet square, and cut from a solid block of stone. The white stone was very fine grain and quite similar to marble in texture and color. The stone was cut to a flat, smooth finish both inside and out, and all corners were perfectly perpendicular. The dwelling was divided into two rooms, the smaller of which was a washroom. It was four by six feet and located in a corner opposite the entrance. The larger room served for sleeping, working, and relaxing.

His dwelling was furnished with a small table, two chairs, shelves, and two trunks, all fashioned from various hardwoods. The shelves were stocked with assorted pottery, tinted goblets, and brass dinnerware. A rack for storing books in the form of scrolls hung on one of the walls and several clay oil lamps were set on small shelves near the ceiling.

Two plants in hanging pots grabbed the morning light from one of the three glass windows. The glass had a faint pink tint and crude texture which cast swirlish patterns across the stone floor. Each piece of glass could be removed by unfastening two brass catches on the sides of the frame. The door to the dwelling was made of tight grained mahogany and decorated on both sides with inlaid brass and orichalcum.[1] The entire structure was immaculately clean both inside and out. It was typical of most Atlantean dwellings for one or two persons.

Inside the washroom, Odius squinted at a mirror of finely polished silver then ran his hands through his hair. A marble likeness of a rhinoceros head was mounted on the wall below the mirror. He pulled and tugged at the rhino's horn until the horn slid outward an inch or so. Water began to trickle from the rhino's mouth into a cistern. Odius cupped his hands under the fixture to capture a cold drink of water.

The cistern had a drain, which could be closed with a wooden stopper. When the stopper was pulled, or when the cistern overflowed, water trickled into an adjacent trough which served as a toilet. The trough was gradually tapered toward a large drain hole at the opposite end. A crude trap kept any smell from escaping out of the sump below.

After Odius turned off the water, he stepped into an Atlantean version of a shower. The entire ceiling of the shower was made of porous rock similar to volcanic pumice. This rock formed the bottom of a shallow tank, which was filled with firestones. When the shower was turned on, water came up from an aqueduct under the city and filled the tank where it was warmed by firestones. The warm water slowly seeped through the porous rock, then dripped in a gentle uniform pattern like summer rain.

Odius continued his morning routine. He was a creature of habit and preferred it that way. The next step in his routine was to plan the coming day at work while he showered. After that, it would be time for breakfast, then a walk to work along the canal. This was a typical day for Odius, it was nothing special—or so he thought.

This particular day was indeed special for a young Greek named Marcus. This was to be his first visit to the world famous land of Atlantis. Marcus was about the same age as Odius but that was where all similarities ended. Marcus was not nearly as educated as Odius, noticeably shorter, and quite stocky. His stereotypical Greek features, olive complexion, dark curly hair, and hazel eyes would make him stand out as a foreigner in the fairer race of Atlanteans. Marcus was a galley dredge on his twentieth day at the handle of an oar.

He was new on that crew and low in seniority. He spent most of the voyage in the same aisle position where he found himself that morning. The aisle position was less desirable since its oars were longer and heavier than the oars at the porthole positions.

His muscles ached with each stroke of the oar. He was tired and hungry. His skin felt filthy and crawly after twenty days of pulling, lifting, pulling, lifting, over and over to the beat of the hammers and their dull, monotonous cadence. He was tired of listening to the ship creek, tired of smelling his shipmates, and tired of stroking that oar.

Marcus looked at Sampson, who sat next to him at the porthole position. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then thought better of it. Marcus gave a quick, nervous glance through the deck grate overhead. Satisfied that the overseer was not watching, he again turned his head toward Sampson.

"Can you see anything yet?"

Sampson glanced at the same grate, then briefly looked over the oarlock on the next forward stroke.

"Yes, Water and oars."

"Someone on the other side said they saw land."

Sampson did not seem to be interested. He had been a galley drudge for many years and stopped counting voyages long ago. For Sampson this was all routine. Marcus, on the other hand, was thrilled with the prospect of pulling into port.

This was the first voyage Marcus had seen. He was anxious to get out of the hold and see sunlight again. He was also anxious to see the great city of Atlanta. He had heard so many unbelievable stories about Atlanta—he hoped at least half of them were true.

"What are you going to take back with you?" he asked Sampson.

"A belly full of wine and an eyeful of beautiful women."

"Quiet down there!" the overseer shouted from above.

The overseer watched the two men in the hold below; he had nothing better to do. He was standing where the sun shone and the air was fresh with morning mist. Any one of the seamen below would have given a month's pay just to stand up here for an hour, away from the stench and drudgery of the hold. Satisfied that the men would remain silent, he wandered back to Demesis, the merchant who chartered the vessel.

Demesis was a heavy set man in his early fifties. He was a delegate of the Greek government and had sole responsibility for their cargo. He was experienced both as a merchant and a diplomat. His official mission was to trade their government-owned cargo in Atlanta for gold and ivory which he would take back to the palace at Athens.

This particular mission was to be one of his easier tasks. The barter had already been arranged, the price was set, and he knew his Atlantean contact well. He would not have to dicker and quibble over a price or devise a ploy to gain any advantage. This was suppose to be a simple matter of unloading their goods then taking their payment of gold and ivory back to home port.

"Remarkable city," Demesis said while looking in the general direction of Atlanta.

"Aye," replied the overseer. "After many a voyage to these lands, she is still something to behold."

They were speaking strictly from experience because Atlanta did not look all that impressive from the sea. A stone wall, which met the sea at its southern most point, completely surrounded Atlanta and hid every detail of the city. The only seaward entrance to the city was through a gate in the massive wall. The two 150-foot brass gates were usually open during peacetime and always closed during time of war. The impressive sights began beyond the gate, where a five and a half mile canal took ships to and from a circular harbor at the center of the city.

The harbor was actually a perfectly circular canal 1,800 feet in width and almost two and a half miles in diameter. This canal was known as the Outer Harbor and was open to private and foreign vessels. It had docking facilities to accommodate 800 ships. Two covered bridges crossed the Outer Harbor and allowed access to the island at the center. The bridges were 100 feet wide and high enough to clear masts of any seagoing vessel.

Since land was about 80 feet above sea level at the Outer Harbor, the sides of the harbor were 80 feet tall. The outermost side was tapered to a 6% grade and covered with warehouses, shops, and streets. The opposite side, near the island at the center, was sheer rock. Shipping traffic kept toward the inside wall, while docking facilities littered the outside grade.

The island at the center of the Outer Harbor was perimetered by a stone wall covered with brass. Beyond the brass wall was an 1,800-foot strip of land, then another circular canal 1,200 feet in width. This canal was known as the Middle Harbor and was reserved for military vessels. Two short access canals allowed ships to pass from the Outer Harbor to the Middle Harbor. These access canals could be secured by gates at the brass wall. There was also a bridge over each access canal as well as two bridges to access the island at the center.

The island at the center of the Middle Harbor was surrounded by a wall covered with tin. Beyond that wall was a 1,200-foot strip of land and another circular canal 600 feet wide. This canal was known as the Inner Harbor and was reserved for flagships and royal vessels.

The island at the center of the Inner Harbor was surrounded by a wall covered with orichalcum. This was the citadel where Atlanta's greatest treasures were kept. At the exact center of the citadel, a monument to Poseidon and Cleito stood behind a circular wall of solid gold. This wall had no opening—the shrine inside was for the gods alone.

Poseidon's temple also stood in the citadel. It was a massive building 600 feet in length and 300 feet in width. The roof of the temple was covered by silver with the exception of four gold pinnacles, one at each corner. Inside the temple, orichalcum floors, walls, and pillars were topped by an ivory ceiling. In the center of the temple, a larger than life statue of Poseidon nearly touched the ceiling. The solid gold statue stood in a chariot pulled by six winged horses. There were other statues in Poseidon's temple including Nereids[2] on dolphins.

Two palaces were located in the citadel; one served the kingdom of Atlas, the other was used jointly by the ten kingdoms of Atlantis. The rest of the citadel was filled with assorted government buildings, the temple of the crystal, parks, gardens, and a bathhouse for royalty. There were also countless statues paying tribute to various gods and kings of past generations. These statues were fashioned from a wide variety of materials ranging from stone to precious metals.

The strip of land between the Inner Harbor and Middle Harbor had no official name but most people referred to it as the royal district. This name probably came about because that was the area where lesser members of royalty lived. High ranking royalty lived in the palace while those who were related but had no official capacity lived in the royal district. Likewise, government officials, such as the Great Marce, scholars, and philosophers lived in the royal district. The royal district also had quarters for visiting dignitaries as well as the typical gardens, parks, bathhouses, and statues honoring the gods.

The strip of land between the Middle Harbor and Outer Harbor was used for public exhibition and became known as the public district. This was the location of a stadium, an amphitheater, and a racetrack for both athletes and horses. The public district also had a large covered pavilion for public meetings as well as the usual; gardens, parks, and yes, more statues honoring the gods.

The larger part of the city, that area between the Outer Harbor and the stone wall at the sea, also had its share of parks, gardens, and statues. It seemed like a new statue was dedicated every week or so in Atlanta. The larger part of the city was filled with homes, shops, warehouses, and small manufacturing facilities for goods such as cloth, pottery, glass, or metal working. Although there was no fine dividing line, private residences were generally located in the outermost regions near the stone wall, while shops and manufacturing facilities were generally closer to the center. All of the warehouses were located along the edge of the Outer Harbor. One of these warehouses was owned by a merchant named Averon.

Averon specialized in foreign trade. His warehouse was always well-stocked with everything from oils and incense to rare works of art. If someone needed a rare item from exotic lands, Averon was the man to see. If he did not have it, he could certainly get it within several months.

Averon started that day's work long before sunrise. He had to move stores to make room for merchandise due in from Greece. Averon had already finished that chore and had sat down to his books. His attention was diverted from his work when a silver chariot raced up to the front of his warehouse.

The chariot was predominantly silver with a small amount of gold trim. It was pulled by two white horses covered with foam as if they had been pushed hard for many long miles. The chariot rattled and clanked as it wheeled to a sudden stop.

"Whoa... Whoa there!" the driver shouted as he pulled on the reins without mercy.

The exhausted horses stopped the heavy chariot, then one of them reared from the strain of its bit. The chariot slowly rolled forward and back to nervous hoofsteps as the driver jumped off. Averon stood up and watched as the man approach.

Averon assumed the man was a high ranking official because of his privileged armor. The warrior's armor consisted of a half helmet and small chest piece, both of highly polished silver. This armor was worn for show or diplomatic missions. During time of battle the warrior would have worn a full helmet and a much larger chest piece, both of which were made of a stronger tin alloy. Averon recognized the man's coat of arms; he was a warrior from the kingdom of Gades.

Gades was an adjacent kingdom on the east coast of Atlantis. It was the smallest of the ten kingdoms and was wedged between the northeast border of Atlas and the sea. Its short coastline was only five days voyage due west of the Pillars Of Hercules.[3]

The man marched up to Averon as briskly as he drove his horses. He stopped, saluted with a closed fist at his shoulder, then boldly announced his business.

"I bear a message from the king of Gades for the merchant Averon!"

"I am he."

The warrior produced a piece of parchment, which was folded in thirds and closed with a wax seal. Averon examined the letter. The wax seal was imprinted with the king's official mark—it was genuine. The king of Gades actually sent Averon a message by royal courier!

What does the king want of me, he thought, a mere merchant?

Suddenly, he smelled a profit and his face began to glow.

Averon broke the seal then began to read the letter while the warrior stood steadfast and firm. As Averon read, his expression changed to reflect his confusion. When he was done, he briefly turned the letter over to check for marks on the other side, then read it again. The warrior continued to wait.

Averon looked at the warrior in confusion. "The king has summoned me to Gades?"

"He has," the warrior replied.

"I can not... I have a shipment due in from Greece today."

"The king has instructed me to serve in your absence."

"I don't have to go," Averon retorted. "I am not one of his subjects. Only the king of Atlas can force my will."

"The decision is yours," the warrior replied.

"What does the king need of me?"

"I am not exactly sure... although, I believe it has something to do with Egyptian merchandise."

Averon was quite undecided—the warrior could see that.

"The king seemed most anxious about this matter." The warrior tried to persuade Averon without getting pushy.

Averon already had a commitment today. But, the king of Gades could be a very profitable trading partner. This could be a big improvement to his already flourishing business. He thought more about the profit potential.

As for his commitment, the deal was already set up. Anyone could handle the transaction. He looked over the warrior and thought how he had conducted himself in a most professional manner. Surely he could be trusted to carry out the transaction with Greece.

"You say you will serve in my place?"

The warrior nodded.

"Very well, I will see your king in Gades." Averon smiled as he folded the letter. "Follow me, I'll show you what must be done."

Averon talked to the warrior as they walked toward a corner of the warehouse. The corner sheltered a table that he used as a desk and office. "You will be meeting with a merchant from Greece named Demesis. He will deliver oil, wine, linens, and Persian silks. You will pay him in gold and ivory."

Averon picked up a piece of parchment from the table and handed it to the warrior.

"This is the tally. Make sure he delivers these numbers on the tally—take no more nor less."

Averon paused for a moment while the warrior examined the tally. "Pay him the numbers shown on the tally—again, no more nor less."

When the warrior finished reading the tally, he set the parchment on the table, then looked at Averon.

"Where shall I stack his goods?"

"Follow me."

Averon escorted the warrior to an empty space near a small crate and several neat bundles of ivory. He motioned to the open space.

"Stack his goods here," then he pointed to the crate and ivory, "Pay him with this. Any questions?"

"Yes, what of other business?" he asked.

Averon thought for a moment before replying.

"Take an appointment for my return."

"As you wish... anything else?"

Averon shook his head.

"Be rest assured, I'll care for your shop. You should not keep the king waiting."

Averon nodded. "I'll get a horse at the livery and leave straight away. Any questions?"

The warrior shook his head. "Go and have a safe journey."

Averon nodded.

Averon left for the livery. His anticipation of large profits overpowered any concerns about leaving his shop with the warrior. By the time he reached the livery he convinced himself that he was doing the right thing and that the warrior was of honest character. After all, the warrior was an official courier of the king—and the letter was quite authentic.

Averon left in such haste that he never bothered to ask the warrior's name. He signed for a horse at the livery and was outside the city gates within the hour. He rode hard as his mind's eye painted a greedy picture of treasures and wealth from the king of Gades.

Wealth was plentiful in Atlantis. It was a rich continent with many forms of treasures, most of which were just lying about for the taking. High quality gemstones were often found in the hills and canyons. Precious metals were abundant and remarkably pure. The forests were rich in exotic hardwoods and abundant with wildlife. Even the fertile land, which had two growing seasons each year, was considered a treasure because there was nothing like it anywhere else on Earth.

One particular treasure stood above this sea of wealth—the Crystal. The crystal was a gift from Poseidon many centuries ago. Atlanteans considered it a gem, but Poseidon bestowed it as a tool to ensure his children would prosper. The crystal was a perfect sphere about the size of a man's head. It was absolutely flawless and perfectly clear like a mountain stream.

The crystal was much more than a gem; it was power. It was immeasurable power. Anyone who knew its secrets could conjure powers of nature to command storms, floods, or earthquakes. It could bring rains for the crops or push ores from the ground. A skilled master could use the crystal to build canals or hollow buildings out of solid rock. For centuries the crystal built the cities of Atlantis and destroyed armies of her foes. Atlantis became great because of this uniquely powerful treasure.

The secrets of the crystal were known by only one man. This was a safeguard since the crystal's capacity for good was matched by its capacity for evil. The power of the crystal could be devastating if abused. To reduce any risk of abuse, only one person was allowed to know its secrets and only one person allowed to exercise its power. That person was given the title of Great Marce.

There was an exception to this practice. Periodically, a time would come when two people had to know the crystal's secrets. This was necessary to pass the crystal's secrets from one generation to the next. When the Great Marce grew old, he would select an apprentice. The apprentice studied under the master, until the master died. At that time, the apprentice became the Great Marce—and the only man to know the crystal's secrets.

The temple of the crystal was located in the citadel of Atlanta. The base of the temple was roughly pyramid shaped with extremely steep stairs on all four sides. The stairs led to a flat foundation where the temple of the crystal stood.

The crystal was kept in the crystal chamber, which was a room at the exact center of the temple. Inside the crystal chamber, a stone pedestal supported a solid gold casting. The casting was somewhat abstract and resembled two hands with forearms extending upward from a massive base. The forearms came together at the wrists where the palms and fingertips cradled Poseidon's gift.

The temple of the crystal had other rooms. One room was an archive where scrolls and ancient records were stored. Another room was dedicated to consultations with the Great Marce. Here, royalty and representatives would make their requests for services of the crystal.

There was also a study in the temple, which served more as an office than a study. The Great Marce had been in this room since early morning. He was reading a scroll written centuries ago by one of his predecessors.

The Great Marce was a very old man. His body had been growing feeble over recent years but deep inside he was still very wise. Some say he was only eighty, while others swear he was a hundred and twenty. No one knew his exact age, not even him. His name was also lost. For many decades he had been known only as the Great Marce.

The Great Marce was seated at a table where a scroll seemed to trap his interest. His thin hands stumbled as he advanced the weathered parchment. He had to squint from time to time as he studied the script. Reading had become difficult for him since his eyesight began to fade six years ago; that was when he decided to take on an apprentice.

"Odius," he called in a raspy, weathered voice. "Odius!"

He briefly looked out the doorway of the study. After recalling that his apprentice had not yet arrived for work, he returned his attention to the scroll.

He was a pleasant man, not the least bit rude or overbearing. He was extremely thin and stooped at the shoulders. The hair on his head was noticeably sparse but his narrow face was covered with a thick white beard and mustache. He lifted his eyes from the scroll when he heard someone enter the temple.

"Odius?"

"Yes Master, it is I." Footsteps followed the young man's reply. A moment or two later he was standing at the doorway of the study.

"Good morning Master, are you doing well today?"

The old man chuckled as he put much effort into standing up.

"Like any other," his reply was punctuated with a short cough.

"Come hither," he gestured with a subtle wave of his fingertips, "come".

The Great Marce extended an arm as Odius approached. He laid is hand on the young man's shoulder, then drew him close as if to confide in him. He spoke softly.

"I have a concern greater than my well being. That is; are you doing well today?"

A big smile came across the young man's face. He always admired the way the old man expressed himself. He thought it was clever and unique. The Great Marce was his role model and he often made many feeble attempts to match the old man's style.

"Like any other, Master," he nodded with a smile, "Like any other".

The old man smiled back at Odius, then said with a playful point, "Your well being is of greater concern than mine".

"Certainly not, Master."

"Soon you will be the Great Marce, my time grows short—very short."

"Speak nothing of this, Master!" He put as much authority into his voice as he dare without offending his master. "Your years could yet be plenty. No man can say his time of death... Not even the Great Marce!"

The old man replied with a familiar grin. The Great Marce often made this expression when he knew damn well he was right. Odius always took it as meaning, `you're wrong'.

"Master!" There was great concern in his voice. "This... this cannot be. I have much yet to learn." He shook his head and placed a hand on his chest. "I am not ready to take your place."

His master nodded.

Odius was not sure what he meant by the nod. Did it mean the Great Marce thought he was ready, or did it mean the Great Marce agreed with him? In either case, it seemed to affirm his fears that the old man would soon pass on.

Odius hung his head. "I... I am not ready to lose my friend."

"Nor I, young Odius. Nor I." After a deep, slow breath he continued. "Death is the price we must pay for living. And, to mourn the loss of a friend is the price we must pay for friendship. But remember young Odius, the bonds of true friendship cannot be broken, not by man, not by death, not even by the gods.

"I wish to say that I am most proud of you, Odius. You have been a good apprentice and will do honor to the title of Great Marce. You have also been a good friend. You are like a son to me."

"Thank you Master, your words are most kind."

"You need not thank me for the truth."

The Great Marce positioned the chair, then gestured to Odius. "Sit," he pointed to a passage on the scroll. "Read here".

Odius sat down, adjusted the chair, then began to read as his master had instructed.

"...I speak now of the demise of Joda, son of Lykos, who did on this day anger the great god Poseidon. Hardship befell Joda after his wealth was lost to many games of chance. He sorrowed in wine and ale, and wandered through the streets of Atlanta late into the night. In wandering among the public district, Joda happened across a monument honoring Poseidon. Poseidon's monument was a statue of orichalcum in the god's own likeness, whose pose was such that Poseidon held his trident in one hand raised to the heavens. Joda did, on that night, blame the great god Poseidon for his misfortune. In anger from drink he cursed the god's name and impaled a flask of wine unto the likeness of the god.

"Upon daybreak, the pose of that same monument was such that Poseidon held his trident horizontal across his chest, and the neck of Joda was held firm behind the trident's staff. Joda was unable to free himself and lingered for three weeks and two days until death took him. Men were unable to remove his body until his flesh rotted from his bones and his skull fell free from his corpse. That likeness of Poseidon still holds such a pose to this day..."

"Stop reading," his master interrupted. He strolled for several steps with his hands behind his back. "What lesson can this passage teach?"

Odius thought for a moment. He already had an answer ready but experience had taught him to think carefully before replying.

"Foremost, never curse the name of Poseidon while in a drunken stupor! ...But, as you have taught me, there is more to a lesson than the obvious, one only has to look."

"And what other lessons could you learn from this passage, if you truly wanted to look?"

Odius thought for a moment longer. "That the gods are powerful... and sometimes vain... and their justice is swift."

"Justice?" asked the Great Marce.

Odius gave an uncomfortable glance toward the heavens. In light of the passage on the scroll, he thought it would be best to word his response very carefully.

"As a mere mortal, and unknowing of the god's views, I would, with my humble wisdom, consider it vengeance for the punishment did not fit the crime."

"Do you see another lesson here?"

"No, Master. Is there another?"

"What of you, young Odius? If you were Poseidon, what punishment would you administer?"

Odius hated hypothetical questions because they could never be put to the test. He would never be Poseidon. After thinking for a moment he replied.

"Perhaps I would hold Joda for a day, then release him. Joda's crime was to disgrace Poseidon, therefore disgrace should be the punishment, not slow death."

"Hmm..." The Great Marce again strolled away from Odius with his hands behind his back. He thought for quite some time then turned toward Odius.

"Can you administer such a punishment?"

Odius smiled. "You seek to trap me with my own words, Master, just as you have so many times in the past. Therefore, I must word my answer carefully, and it would be lengthy."

The Great Marce smiled back. "You have learned well, Odius. I trick you as a teacher and a friend. When you become the Great Marce, others with less nobel motives will also try to trick you. You must always take care when wording a response. If it must be lengthy, then it must. I have already trapped you with your own words, but continue, I wish to hear your lengthy response."

"When you ask, can I administer such a punishment, you ask many things. The crystal indeed has the power to bend arms of a statue, or a tree, or most solid objects. Also, I do possess skills that could summon such powers from the crystal. With careful preparation, I could even arrange a victim of my choosing. It would be possible, therefore, to trap a man by such a means. But, to say I could administer such a punishment would be wrong, because the crystal must not be used for punishment. It is not allowed and would be very unwise."

"And I ask you again, Odius, is there another lesson to be learned from this passage?" He pointed to the scroll.

Odius was lost for an answer. He knew from past experience with lectures of this nature that a simple response of 'no' would be incorrect. Odius knew the Great Marce was leading up to something, but he had no idea what it could be. For lack of a better answer he replied with the obvious.

"Ah... Joda was a fool?"

The Great Marce looked a little disappointed with his answer.

"If you had free use of the crystal for whatever desire, that is you could use it for vengeance with a free conscious, and someone disgraced you, what punishment would you administer?"

Odius responded immediately, and with confidence.

"None, Master. I would remember the deed, and at some time should that person ask favor the deed would weigh against him. But I would not take vengeance, it would only breed trouble and ill."

"Ah...," the great Marce held a finger up, "But you have stated earlier that if you were Poseidon you would have held Joda 'the fool' for a day. In each case you were disgraced, yet your punishments were markedly different. Why this disparity in your judgments, young Odius?"

"In the former I was speaking as a god, in the latter I was speaking as a man."

"Is it true that a Great Marce in command of the crystal is halfway between a man and a god?"

"It is, Master."

"Then, considering your sentence for disgrace against a god, and disgrace against a man, what would your sentence be for disgrace against a Great Marce? Would it be a proportional measure of, say, hold the perpetrator for the half part of a day?"

Odius realized the Great Marce had tricked him again. It was rough on the ego, but he knew that he would leave the experience with a little more of the master's wisdom. He decided to hazard an attempt at salvaging his reputation.

"No, Master. The laws written in the temple of Poseidon state justice must be balanced for all."

"Then, if you reconsidered your position, what would be your judgment for each case?"

"Judgement must be balanced Master. In reconsidering I must say the sentence for each, disgrace against a god, disgrace against a Great Marce, and disgrace against a man would be; take no vengeance, but remember the incident to weigh against future events."

The Great Marce smiled. With a nod he said, "I am pleased, young Odius. I ask you again, is there another lesson to be taught by this passage?"

"Yes, Master. Although the gods are powerful and often provide for us, they can sometimes be vane and unjust." Odius made another nervous glance toward the heavens. "Many men have cursed the gods without recourse, yet Joda was sentenced to slow death. Perhaps... Perhaps great power, which tends to corrupt men, also corrupts the gods from time to time. Perhaps in a weak moment, a god might be blinded by anger and use his great power unjustly."

"And...," The Great Marce waited for Odius to continue.

Odius thought for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.

"You miss the most obvious lesson of all, young Odius."

Odius still looked confused. "Which is?"

The Great Marce bent close to Odius then gently poked him in the shoulder to punctuate each word which was spoken slowly and clearly:

"Never anger the gods."

Odius chuckled at himself for overlooking something so blatantly obvious. "I will remember that, Master," he nodded with a laugh, "until my dying day, I will remember that."

The Great Marce smiled then started for the doorway. "Come, Odius." He walked with a slow shuffle as he spoke. "A representative of the farming community has requested rain." He stopped to looked at Odius, "You must summon the rain today. I grow weary."

"Certainly, Master."

As they continued their walk, Odius became more deeply concerned about his master's health. His master seemed to be doing poorly today—more so than usual. His steps were shorter than normal and breathing was clearly more difficult. Odius ignored the obvious and hoped he would soon recover.

When they reached the crystal chamber, the Great Marce had to pause to catch his breath. After a moment or two, he gestured toward the crystal in its gold mount.

"Proceed, Odius, the farmers are waiting for rain."

Odius approached the crystal. He briefly prepared himself mentally, then placed a hand on the crystal. He closed his eyes and started to concentrate.

"Remember," the Great Marce interrupted the young man's concentration, "do not overdo it, just a mild rain for, say, twenty minutes."

"Yes, Master."

Odius prepared himself again, only to be interrupted again.

"Careful where you drop it! Don't let any rain fall in the city, just the surrounding plains."

"Yes, Master, I'll be careful."

Odius once again prepared himself. He briefly peeked at his master to make sure the Great Marce had nothing more to add. Satisfied he could continue without interruption, he began to concentrate on the task at hand.

Within seconds, the crystal began to glow with a yellowish-green luster.

Clouds began to form in the skies just outside the walls of Atlantis. Within minutes, white to light gray clouds covered 77,000 square miles of farm land adjacent to the city. Despite an abrupt change in weather, the sun still shone brightly on Atlanta—Odius hit the mark just as his master had instructed.

After one solitary bolt of lightning, a gentle summer rain began. It lasted for about twenty minutes, just long enough to saturate the ground and fill several hundred miles of irrigation canals. When it was over, the clouds quickly dispersed and a clean, fresh smell filled the morning air.

The weather that morning was not nearly as damp in the northwest territories of Atlas. This mountainous region was home to the most peculiar mountain in the world, Mount Atlas. Mount Atlas was the highest of any in Atlantis and certainly the most beautiful. It was peculiar because its incredibly steep upper slopes towered deep into a permanent cloud bank. Clouds always masked the peak of Mount Atlas, whatever the weather. Even on the fairest of days a small patch of clouds deliberately hid the mountain's summit. No one had ever seen the peak of Mount Atlas.

The lower slopes of Atlas fanned out to more hospitable terrain. These slopes were stocked with tall conifer forests and big game. Several streams trickled from these slopes and wove their way through miles of lofty foothills and hardwood forests.

The foothills of Atlas were a paradise in its own right. Small lakes and meadows interrupted a vast forest of diversified hardwoods. Streams from Atlas poured into numerous tiny lakes, the largest being only four or five hectares. Each little lake would fill, then overflow as the stream continued its journey through the foothills. Some lakes bordered meadows of grass and wildflowers while most surrendered their shores to the forest.

Many trees in that forest were extremely old, some were more than twenty feet wide at the base. Tall columns of ancient bark reached into a canopy one hundred feet high. Birds, monkeys, and squirrels shared the green treetops which cast cool shade to ferns and moss on the forest floor. The foothills were crawling with wildlife from small mice to larger animals like deer, unicorn, and bear. It was a pristine world far from any plow or saw.

Few people ever laid eyes on this remote paradise. It was far from any beaten path in a region where few traveled. There was, however, a sole resident who lived deep in that forest. Her name was Maia.

Maia, a young woman in her early twenties, has lived alone in the foothills since her early teens. She was a petite little woman; just over five foot and not quite a hundred pounds. She was also remarkably attractive and carried a figure that could make the gods jealous. Maia's simple beauty could not be matched anywhere, not even by the Atlas paradise.

Like most Atlanteans she had fair skin, blue eyes, and light brown hair which almost bordered blonde. Her waist-length hair was usually kept in one long braid and tied at the end with a strip of leather. She wore a pair of weathered sandals and a simple two piece linen garment. The bottom half remotely resembled a loin cloth, except the free ends were flared out somewhat and laced together at the sides to form a short skirt. The top half was little more than a strip of cloth four to five feet long and about a foot wide. The cloth was draped over the front of her from behind the neck, then tied just under the breasts by a thin strip of leather around the chest. The free ends of cloth hung down to the top of the skirt. It was comfortable, Maia often wore it when she did her chores in the forest.

The forest had been good to her and provided her with almost everything she needed. On rare occasions, she would gather surplus nuts or fruits and make a forty mile journey to the nearest village. There she would trade her stock for various goods that the forest could not provide. She enjoyed these trips to the village, it was a chance to see people.

The people of that village were often kind to her, yet, they kept their distance. Rumors and speculation gave her a reputation of being something unnatural, probably because she was somewhat different. Maia had little experience in socializing with others and was not sure what was or was not considered proper. She had a fear of saying or doing the wrong things—and often did. Maia had spent too many years alone in the forest.

Maia would have preferred to live in a village, or even one of the larger cities—like cities the villagers sometimes spoke of. She often fantasized about being a prominent lady in a big city, although she knew she could not possibly handle the role. Yet, in her fantasies she always said the proper things, made the proper decisions, and fit into society like a glove.

Maia lived in the forest by her own choice. She knew she would never see a city. Just going to the village was risky enough. Maia chose the forest because she had something to hide. For many years Maia had been plagued by a problem. It was an unspeakable problem that destroys a person from within. She could not bear to think of it or face it, much less display it to others. This paradise of Atlas was her safe haven; a place where she could pretend to hold some dignity. Should her nemesis surface without warning, no one would know, no one would hear, and no one would see.

All of that was far from her mind on this lovely summer morning. Maia was deep in the woods gathering mushrooms. The birds were singing, the monkeys had begun their morning chatter, and the fresh morning mist still hung in the air. She was happy and thought how great it was to be alive.

Occasionally she would whistle an answer to the song birds twittering in the canopy overhead. Most of the forest animals were familiar with her and comfortable with her presence. She did not fear any of the woodland creatures. Even the most fierce of all nature's beasts respected her and made no threatening advances. Maia gave many of them names as if they were pets. She was as much a part of the forest as the trees or wolves.

Maia walked through the sparse undergrowth that morning with a straw basket in her hands. She had already found a dozen large mushrooms and was looking for a particular tree that often sheltered a large patch of the little treasures. The tree was not easy to find since it was one of many in a vast stand. It was a large mahogany, which grew on a gradual hill more than a half mile from her simple log home.

Maia found the tree she was looking for. She crouched down on one knee then picked up a short stick to turn over a layer of mulch at the foot of the tree. It was then she noticed something disturbing; an uneasy change came over the forest.

An unearthly quiet settled around her. All the birds suddenly stopped singing—all of them. The chatter of monkeys also stopped just as suddenly. The fresh morning mist now seemed to hang pungent and heavy. Maia felt a cold twinge ripple through her spine.

She slowly set down the stick, then her basket. A uneasy, frightened look dominated her face. She could feel her chest pounding with each heartbeat. Without making any sudden movements, she carefully lifted her eyes toward the canopy. All the monkeys sat still and motionless as they nervously sniffed the air—they all seemed to be looking in the same direction. She felt flush and frightened. A panic began to boil inside her.

The animals sensed something wicked. Maia could sense it too, it was her nemesis! Once again it surfaced without warning like a snake in the garden. It was looking for her! She knew there was no escape from this menace or the terror it promised to bring.

Maia was on the edge of tears. She rose to her feet with painfully slow movements. Her eyes began to water and each shallow breath was taken with short sporadic jerks. Her face twisted in agony as if she was going to cry, but she dare not. Perhaps if she stood still...

It was too late. A hollow whistle, like that of a woodwind, filled the forest. Maia knew that it had found her. She broke into a dead run toward her house, screaming and crying. Her shrill screams of panic and pleas for mercy echoed through the treetops.

The monkeys cleared out and scattered across the canopy as she ran through the woods in tears. The monkeys were familiar with her, they knew this panic and they knew the filth that would soon charge down the wake of her screaming footsteps. They wanted no part of it.

Maia would put every ounce of life into that half mile sprint because she knew what would happen when it caught up with her. She didn't know exactly what this ungodly thing was, just what it wanted—it sought pleasures of the flesh! She had been through this hundreds of times before, and each was just as terrifying as the first. The thought of it hardened her stride.

Her sides ached unbearably but she would not loosen her pace. She screamed until her throat was raw and dry. A tight pain ran through her legs but her blind panic would not let her back down. She still had a quarter mile to cover before reaching her house.

This menace always pushed her to panic before striking. It seemed to enjoy invoking fear and agony in her as much as possible. It was savage and indiscriminate. It would down her and have its way with her whenever or wherever it desired. It didn't care where she was or who she was with. In the past it often picked an opportunity to make a spectacle of her in public. This is why she moved to the foothills; to be spared the disgrace of prying eyes. The memory of those eyes still burned deep inside her.

Maia pushed her pace even harder when she came within sight of her home. She wanted desperately to make the threshold before this thing caught up with her. Her home was no sanctuary; the foul deed would be done, no question about it. The absolute best she could hope for was a little privacy. She wanted that privacy more than life itself. She could not bear the thought of any onlookers—not even the woodland creatures.

Maia hit the door of her house with a thud. The door swung open to the inside and Maia tumbled to the floor in a pile. After a brief moment she curled to a fetal position. Her strength was completely spent and her stomach tightened.

This was the way it wanted her; exhausted and frightened. Her breathing was heavy and she found it difficult to swallow. Her head throbbed with each hammering beat of her heart. She could barely see. All her muscles ached with a wobbly tightness. Her whole body glistened with sweat and trembled from fear and exhaustion. She knew the worst was yet to come.

As she tried to get to her feet, she saw her nemesis at the doorway. It was a hideous dark shadow without form or soul. It constantly changed shape like a dusty night mist as it writhed and slithered. She could see right through it as if it were a thin haze of smoke, but smoke it was not. It had a mind and will of its own. It slunk close to the ground as it poured itself past the threshold. With it came the pungent musk of a goat, except many times stronger.

"No, Please," she begged, then she started to cry and back away.

A long, thin wisp of shadow reached from the dark form like a tentacle. It wrapped itself around her ankle, she could feel the cold pressure of its grip. At the same time, the rest of the bulk began to advance.

She screamed as she reached down to free herself from its hold. She knew from experience that it would be pointless. She tried to grab the dark tentacle but her hand only passed through it as if it were a shadow. Yet, she could see and feel a spiral depression around her ankle where the formless appendage held on. She struggled to no avail.

The shadowy tentacle began to extend as it advanced up her leg, leaving a cold depression on her sweat-soaked skin in its wake. When it reached the inside of her thigh, Maia began to swing and strike at the larger bulk of the beast, even though her hand would only pass through it. It let her struggle and scream as the tentacle advanced further and dug itself under her loin cloth. It wanted her to struggle, to work the last of her strength. It craved the fear and adrenaline that rippled through her body. The tentacle penetrated her then ripped her loin cloth as it began to swell and undulate.

Maia screamed and swung on dusty shadow again. Another smoky tentacle came out from the darkness and grabbed her arm. It advanced quickly up her arm to her neck. The tentacle wrapped itself around her neck, then stretched her body out flat. Within seconds the foul shadow poured all over her, tearing off her clothes in the process. It covered her entire body in an attempt to absorb every bit of fear, and feel the struggle of every little muscle.

Like an addict it craved for more and more terror. Periodically it would tighten its grip around her neck until she couldn't breathe. It lusted for every ounce of fear she felt and every little quiver as she struggled to breathe. Her terror mounted as she got closer and closer to passing out. This terror only drove the creature's desire—it wanted more. When she was on the very verge of passing out, it would loosen its grip, let her catch a breath, then repeat the whole thing over, and over.

It would continue this nightmare of terror until it had its fill. Maia knew she would be locked in the monster's grip for at least the better part of an hour, sometimes it was the better part of a day.

After it was over the foggy shadow would leave the same way it came. Maia would gather her strength, then walk to a stream where she would bathe until well after dark. It took hours of scrubbing to get the pungent smell off her skin, but no amount of scrubbing would ever let her feel clean again. She would almost trade her life for that.

Maia had no idea what that foul creature was, or why it tormented her. She only knew the agony it brought and that she had no defense against it. For the time being it had its fill and would stay away for several days, maybe even several weeks. But sooner or later it would be back, like a snake in the garden. No one could stop it—not even the gods.

Chapter 2, The Master's Shard

...Before one can know my master, one must first know of his deeds, which are numerous and would be wearisome to narrate. I shall list his greater deeds here, though only in part: My master devised aqueducts under the city of Atlanta to bring sweet water to every dwelling. He constructed canals for irrigation of crops. He silenced the Earth-fire atop Mount Tritus. Of his greatest deed, he turned a mighty wave of such height that Atlanta would surely perish...

...I pray this scroll survives the curse of Zeus, that men not yet born shall know the last Great Marce of Atlantis, and that I, Odius, did my utmost to serve him...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

Odius worried about his master. He could see the old man's health was fading quickly. The morning was only hours old and already his master could hardly raise himself from a chair. He begged the Great Marce to seek medical help, but the Great Marce refused.

It had been a particularly hectic morning. The Great Marce was up to something, Odius was sure of it. All morning his master had been pouring through scrolls in search of—something. The study was littered with ancient documents as Odius brought armload after armload from the archives. Despite his failing health, the Great Marce worked very tenaciously—as if there were no tomorrow.

Why does he toil so, Odius thought, what does he mean to do?

Odius was in the archives on another errand for the Great Marce. This was his fifth or six excursion of the morning. This time his master requested a particularly old scroll that was written when the crystal first came to Atlantis. It was titled 'Untried Powers'. Odius was not aware that such a scroll existed.

After a lengthy search, Odius found the scroll in question. He briefly examined it to make sure it was the scroll his master requested, then he hurried back to the study.

When Odius reached the study he could see his master was in pain. The Great Marce was holding his chest and breathing heavily.

"Are you ok, Master?"

The Great Marce nodded, "Everything is as it should be." He motioned to a neighboring chair, "Sit Odius."

The Great Marce waited for Odius to take a seat before he continued.

"I looked into the crystal and have seen what is yet to come."

"But, Master, that is forbidden!"

The master nodded. "Today, the king of Atlas will request services of the crystal. His request will be unjust and unwarranted." He paused to catch his breath. "I must do more than refuse, I must deprive him of the crystal."

"Why, Master?"

A passing pain caused the Great Marce to hold his breath and closed his eyes. When the pain subsided he opened his eyes, took several deep breaths, then continued. "I fear the whole of the world is in grave danger."

"The whole of the world?" Odius shook his head in disbelief. "How is that possible, Master?"

The Great Marce closed his eyes as if to recall some unspeakable nightmare, "World war."

Odius was confused, he had no idea what the Great Marce meant by 'world war'. Throughout written history even the greatest of battles were confined to a battlefield or a siege on a city. The most drastic outcome was the fall of a kingdom after many such battles.

How could anyone fight the whole of the world, he thought.

"What is world war, Master? What fate did you see in the crystal?"

"I saw a fate where all kingdoms fought at once, each kingdom favored by a different god. The war became bloody and infected the heavens. Gods fought against gods, men fought against men. I saw the war spread and fester until gods fought against men, and men against gods. When I saw the smoke settle, no life was left in the mortal world."

"But..." Odius paused as the implications of his master's words began to settle in. "Did you see a fate that will come to pass, or might come to pass?"

"It is a fate that would come to pass if the course of such events are not altered. I will do my part, but the seeds of war have already been planted."

"What can I do, Master?"

"You can serve me." He looked at Odius intently and drew his fingers across his beard. "Can I trust you to serve me, young Odius?"

Odius did not quite understand the question. Of course he would serve the Great Marce, he vowed to do so when he accepted the apprenticeship.

"Certainly, Master. There should be no question of that."

"I could demand plenty, young Odius. Times ahead will be difficult, maybe intolerable. I will release you from your vows if you wish."

"No, Master."

The Great Marce smiled, then pointed to the scroll of 'Untried Powers'. "Hand me that scroll, I must prepare for the king's visit."

Odius picked up the scroll. "What are untried powers, Master?"

"Untried powers can be summoned but once. They must be used wisely, for once tried they cannot be used again."

The Great Marce took the scroll from Odius then pointed to the doorway. "Watch for the king. Advise me when he reaches the first step."

"Yes, Master."

Odius left to watch for the king. He felt very uneasy. It was not like the Great Marce to question his loyalty. By this omen alone, he knew the times ahead must truly be wicked.

The Great Marce watched until Odius was out of sight. He sadly shook his head and quietly said, "I fear you are in great danger, young Odius." Then he turned his attention to the scroll of untried powers and continued with his preparations.

Demesis was also making preparations that hour. The Greek galley had docked at a pier in front of Averon's warehouse, and preparations were being made to unload their cargo. Sampson watched the gangplank fall from the porthole at his oarlock. At the same time, Marcus tried to get a glimpse of Atlanta, which was difficult since Sampson's head seemed to fill the whole porthole.

"What do you see?"

"Shhh!" Sampson held a hand up as to say 'be patient'.

When Sampson could see Demesis and the overseer on the gangplank, he turned to Marcus.

"Do you really want to help unload the merchant's cargo?"

"I want a bath," Marcus replied.

Demesis stepped off the gangplank with a copy of the tally in hand. Usually, Averon would be waiting to greet him at the pier. He looked toward the warehouse but there was no sign of Averon—just a warrior in silver armor.

The warrior noticed Demesis looking at the warehouse. He went inside for a moment, then emerged with a piece of parchment in his hand. He started for the pier at a brisk march.

Demesis spoke quietly to the overseer. "I don't like the feel of this."

"Aye," he replied.

They watched cautiously as the warrior approached. His heavy, military style footsteps echoed with authority as he marched down the wooden pier. He stopped abruptly when he reached the men, then saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder.

"I have business with the merchant Demesis!"

There was a short, uneasy pause before Demesis replied.

"I am he."

"I bid you well." He greeted them with a single nod of the head. Demesis returned the nod. The warrior could see Demesis was uncomfortable.

"Averon has been summoned on royal business. I have orders to serve in his place. He asked me to apologize for his absence."

"When will he return?"

"He did not say."

The warrior held out the parchment in his hand. "I trust your tally agrees with mine?"

Demesis took the parchment and compared it against his tally. His tensions eased as he studied the documents. After several minutes he returned the warrior's tally with a smile.

"Everything appears to be in order. Ah... Where do you want the goods?"

"Follow me."

Demesis followed the warrior and motioned to the overseer to join them. The warrior escorted the two men into the warehouse where he pointed out the area Averon had cleared that morning.

"Averon said to stack your goods here. Will you require my assistance for unloading?"

"No," the overseer replied, "we have men to do that labor."

Demesis and the overseer returned to the galley. Within ten minutes a column of galley dredges made their way back and forth between the ship and the warehouse like a column of ants. It would take at least half of an hour to unload the numerous crates, sacks, and urns. The men unloaded the ship with haste in anticipation of long-awaited shore leave. After all, this was not just any port—it was Atlanta.

Inside the temple of the crystal, an excited apprentice burst into the study.

"Master, Master, the king approaches!"

The Great Marce started to push himself up from the chair.

"Very well, Odius. Help me to the crystal chamber."

Odius helped the Great Marce out of his chair, then drew his master's arm around his shoulder. Progress was slow as Odius carefully assisted his master step by step.

"You should not toil today, Master."

"Odius..." His slow persistent pace labored his frail body. Odius did his best to help him. "Do not let the king sway you. Pay close attention this day and heed my every word."

"As you say, Master."

"You must follow my commands with neither question nor delay."

"Yes, Master."

It took quite some time to reach the crystal chamber. Odius thought surely the king had reached the top of the stairs by now.

"I will stand there, on the other side of the crystal." The Great Marce pointed beyond the crystal. "You must stand at my side. Always stand at the side closest to the king. Always stay between me and the king. If you must change sides, pass behind me, never in front. Do you understand, Odius?"

"Yes, Master, but, why?"

"You must follow my commands with neither question nor delay."

"Yes, Master."

The Great Marce pointed toward the doorway. "Go to the entry; wait for the king, then show his party in. Mind you, remember where to stand."

"Yes, Master," Odius started for the entry at a trot.

He hurried to the entry of the temple, only to find that King Authemur had not yet finished climbing the steep stairs. The king of Atlas was extremely well-fed and had begun to tire somewhere past the halfway mark.

Two bodyguards, Valimur and Brutus, escorted the king. King Authemur had a tendency to change bodyguards rather frequently; usually due to assassinations or murders, although occasionally one would quit or be dismissed from the post. Valimur replaced a guard who carelessly angered the king and, consequently, was relieved from duty. Brutus, on the other hand, had been with the king for five years. This courageous warrior was experienced in battle and had been decorated for everything from bravery and valor, to saving countless lives of his comrades. He was once a hero, but, by the wisdom of the king, he had been reduced to a bodyguard.

King Authemur was often absorbed in his own greatness and blind to the virtues of his subjects. He was at his greatest when posed as a figurehead, while his underlings handled the decisions and details of government. When the king actually became active in the process of government the state of Atlas often declined. Usually, his lower offices could clean up the mess.

The king was nothing like his father; a wise and noble ruler. However, most Atlanteans thought he was of the same weave. This image could largely be attributed to the king's lower offices, who loved the kingdom built by his father.

King Authemur lived in a narrow world of luxury and distorted values. Governing Atlas was more a personal pastime than a service to the people. He often looked at foreign affairs with the same attitude. To him, foreign affairs were like a chess game; something to manipulate for his amusement. He did not have a realistic view of the world, nor did he realize just how much he could damage it.

The king finally reached the top of the stairs and the entry of the temple. He greeted Odius who was waiting on bent knee.

"Summon the old man, boy, I must see him at once," the king said while huffing and puffing to catch his breath.

Odius rose to his feet then stretched a hand toward the crystal chamber.

"This way, Eminence."

"I said summon him," the king retorted.

"If you please, Eminence," Odius made several humbling bows, "my master is expecting you. He asked I escort you directly to the crystal. He is waiting there to service your needs."

The king asked his guard, Valimur, "Did you forewarn of our visit?"

"No, Eminence. We told no one."

The king looked at Odius suspiciously. "How is it your master comes to expect us? Does he have a spy in the king's chambers?"

"Oh no, Eminence." Odius shook his head. "He knows all, he is the Great Marce."

Odius again motioned toward the crystal chamber. "If you please, Eminence."

The king let out a sigh of disgust, "Very well, lead on boy."

Odius escorted the king's party to the crystal chamber then announced the king's presence.

"Authemur, king of Atlas!"

Odius stepped to one side to let the king and his party pass. He took careful note of the king's movements so he could position himself as his master instructed. He had no idea why his position was important in these proceedings, but he would certainly comply with his master's wishes. His loyalty was to his master—the king was another matter.

When the king appeared to have settled on a place to stand, Odius walked to the appropriate side of his master.

"These are sensitive matters of state." The king made an uncomforting glance at Odius then looked back at the Great Marce. "Is your Apprentice necessary?"

"Yes, Eminence."

The king addressed Odius, "You will say nothing of this boy, or I will see you in my dungeon. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Eminence."

The king returned his attention to the Great Marce.

"We need an advantage over Egypt for strategic purposes. Do something to ensure complete crop failure, such as a plague of locust or drought."

The Great Marce displayed a look of concern, which was strictly for the king's benefit. Since he looked into the future that morning, he already knew what the king wanted—and why. Nothing at these proceedings would come as a surprise.

"Why so drastic, Eminence?" asked the Great Marce in a concerned voice.

"Do you question your king!" he retorted.

The Great Marce gave a humbling nod, "I only wish to serve you, Eminence. I cannot provide proper consultation without answers to certain questions. Please, Eminence, why is this action needed?"

The Great Marce knew the truthful answer to his question. He was simply fishing for an opening to make a suggestion.

The king was clearly uncomfortable with the thought of revealing his motives. There was a long pause before he finally answered.

"Very well. We have reason to believe Egypt will march on Atlantis. We need a crop failure to divert their attention to domestic matters and deter their ambitions against Atlantis."

"Deter?", the Great Marce asked. He knew the king was lying.

"Yes, deter."

The Great Marce appeared to be thinking. Again, this was for the king's benefit since he had already planned what he was going to do. After a brief delay the Great Marce spoke.

"Might I make a suggestion, Eminence. Shall we use the crystal to see that which will come to pass in the months ahead? Perhaps we could see if Egypt will indeed march on Atlantis without the need for such measures."

Odius was shocked. He knew looking into the future was strictly forbidden. He was always taught to keep that power secret for fear it would be abused by royalty.

The king, on the other hand, was confused. "You can do such a thing? Foretell prophesies?"

"It is possible, Eminence."

"I was told it could not be done!" the king retorted.

"It is not allowed, but it is possible," the Great Marce replied. "Shall I, Eminence?"

A smile came across the king's face. "Yes, look into the crystal and see if Egypt will wage war."

The Great Marce nodded, then placed a hand on the crystal. He briefly prepared himself, then concentrated on the crystal and the future. The crystal began to glow with its familiar yellowish-green luster.

Odius looked on intently. He had never seen this power summoned from the crystal before. Odius had become sensitive to the crystal during his apprenticeship and began to feel the powers summoned by his master. Suddenly, he could see images of ships in his head. He could see an ocean covered with hundreds of warships! His master began to speak.

"I see triremes of war in great number." He paused for a moment, then continued. "They sail from the Pillars Of Hercules bound for Atlantis."

"I knew it!" the king shouted in excitement. Odius noticed the king was actually smiling. More than that—he was thrilled with the prospect!

"How many ships?" the king asked. The excitement on his face made him look like a child at a party.

"Twenty-six score[4]," replied the Great Marce.

"Twenty-six score?"

The king asked Brutus, "Can Egypt gather such a force?"

The Great Marce replied before Brutus could answer, "The ships hail from Greece."

"Greece?" The king's mood quickly shifted from excitement to anger. "You must be mistaken!"

"No, Eminence, the ships have Greek sails."

"You feeble old goat! They must be Egyptian, we have no quarrel with Greece!"

The king's outburst interrupted the master's concentration. He opened his eyes and the crystal went dark.

"I only report what I see, Eminence."

"Enough of this foolishness! Fulfill my request and bring crop failure to Egypt!"

The Great Marce politely replied, "As you wish, Eminence."

Odius knew from that morning's discussion that the Great Marce would not fulfill the kings request. Surely this would be the moment when his master would use the untried powers they labored all morning to prepare. Odius was anxious to see what kind of ploy his master had devised.

The Great Marce placed his hand on the crystal, then concentrated as the crystal began to glow. After what seemed to be a long time, the Great Marce removed his hand from the crystal, yet the crystal continued to glow. Odius never knew that was possible.

The Great Marce kept his eyes closed as he raised his arms to the heavens. The king and his party looked on as if everything was normal, but Odius could tell something unorthodox was taking place. He could sense how the Great Marce was mastering the crystal. Then, after several weary minutes he sensed that the Great Marce was no longer mastering the crystal, but submitting to it! Soon thereafter, the crystal's glow changed to red.

The glow from the crystal became more and more brilliant until Odius could feel heat being radiated. The others still looked on as if nothing were wrong but Odius could sense his master going deeper and deeper into submission. Now the crystal was master of the Great Marce!

Suddenly the intensity of the crystal jumped to a blinding brilliance. A second later the mighty crystal cracked in half and sent a single shard flying deep into the chest of the Great Marce. The Great Marce fell back as the remains of the crystal went dark.

"Master!"

Odius managed to grab his master before he hit the ground. As he slowly lowered his master to he floor he saw the shard protruding from his master's chest; it was lodged just under the sternum. The shard was several inches long and nearly an inch at its widest point. By the time Odius laid his master on the floor, the old man's chest was covered with blood.

Odius bent over the Great Marce, "Master?"

The Great Marce was still conscious. He held his breath and tightened his muscles in attempt to fend the pain in his chest.

In the background Odius could hear the king ranting and raving, "Fool! Look at the state of the crystal..." But Odius was not paying attention. He looked at the shard protruding from his master's chest. It was still glowing!

Odius reached for the shard. When his fingers touched the fragment of the crystal he heard his master's voice. "Lean closer Odius, hide the shard from the king."

Odius realized that he did not hear the voice with his ears, it was in his head like the vision of the ships. Odius looked into his master's eyes as he leaned closer. His master was still alive. He could tell by quivering muscles that the Great Marce did not have long to live. The puddle of blood on his master's chest grew with each passing second. Yet, the Great Marce continued to speak to him through the crystal's shard.

"Take this shard, Odius. Keep it with you and tell no one of it."

Odius swallowed hard as he gripped the protruding end of the shard. Warm blood oozed from around the fragment and soaked his fingers. He hesitated. The king was still screaming in the background, "Incompetent..."

Odius heard his master's voice again, "Pull the shard while life is still within me. Hurry Odius. Pull!"

Odius pulled the shard from his master's chest. A brief spray of blood followed and his master's body went limp. Odius was suddenly covered in blood. He looked at the shard in his hand. It was dark and drenched in his master's blood, which trickled from the puddle in his hand. He suddenly realized that he had taken his master's life.

Odius placed a hand on his master's chest and a tear began to mix with the blood on his face. "Farewell Master."

Odius felt a sharp jerk as someone grabbed his shoulder.

"The king is speaking to you boy!" Valimur shouted.

Odius discretely slipped the shard into his robe then rose to his feet. He still had tears running from his eyes.

"My apologies, Eminence. I was mourning the loss of my master."

The king pointed to the crystal. "I said can you mend the crystal?"

Odius looked at the crystal. Poseidon's gift to Atlantis laid in two neat halves among the gold hands that once cradled it so gently. Odius knew there was not even a remote chance of fixing the crystal; it was not the kind of thing one could be mended or patched. However, the king was irate and insistent. Odius wanted to be alone to wash his master's blood from his body and mourn the passing of a friend.

"Perhaps, Eminence," he lied, " I would need time to search through the archives before I knew for certain."

"How long will that take?"

"Several days at best, Eminence."

The king paced for while. He knew the crystal would be his only salvation. He needed the crystal to solve other problems of his own doing.

"Three days, no more!" he said sharply. He quickly walked up to Odius and grabbed him by the collar. "You are confined to the city until I say otherwise." He shook him abruptly. "Tell no one of what happened here. No one must know we've been deprived of the crystal. Understand?"

"Yes, Eminence."

"See that you do, or rot in my dungeon." He released Odius sharply and sent him back several steps. The king started for the door at an angered pace. When he was nearly at the threshold, he stopped and turned toward Odius.

"You will never become the Great Marce until the crystal is returned to service." He pointed to the body of the Great Marce on the floor. "I will send someone later to pick up that incompetent fool."

The king stormed out of the temple with his guards close behind. As he left, Odius could still hear him carrying on, "Greeks... We have no quarrel with Greeks!"

Meanwhile at Averon's warehouse, the Greek galley had just finished unloading their government-owned cargo and was preparing to take on payment. Both Demesis and the warrior inventoried a pile of goods delivered from the galley.

"The quantity looks correct to me, do you agree?" Demesis asked.

"Yes," the warrior replied, "Now, if you would kindly place your mark here."

The warrior handed Demesis a piece of parchment. It was a copy of the tally, which Averon had left with the warrior. The warrior pointed to an area at the bottom of the tally.

Demesis looked uneasy.

"Is there a problem?" the warrior asked.

Demesis smiled sheepishly as he tried to approach the subject with some diplomacy. "Ah... It is customary to close the tally after the transaction is complete."

"And it is," the warrior replied, "we both agree on the numbers."

"Ah... We have not received our payment, gold and ivory as written in the tally."

"But you have," the warrior replied, "On your last voyage."

"No!" Demesis was shifting from uneasy to angry.

"According to Averon, you took gold and ivory on your last voyage and agreed to pay with these goods upon your return." He pointed to the Greek merchandise. "This is payment for an outstanding debt."

"It is not!" Demesis retorted. "We only agreed to the barter on our last voyage. We will not be cheated!"

"You, sir, are the cheat."

Demesis turned and motioned to the overseer who was standing by the doorway. As he waited for the overseer to join them he noticed a commotion building outside. It would seem several chariots had pulled up to the front of the warehouse. He heard voices along with the rattle of armor. Demesis began to realize that this was not a misunderstanding, but a setup.

Demesis waited for the overseer before he continued.

"This merchandise is property of the Greek Government. If you refuse to pay we must take it back to Greece."

"Averon warned you might try this. I cannot allow it!"

Demesis knew diplomacy would no longer work here. He also knew he was at a disadvantage. After thinking for a moment, he told the overseer, "Notify the captain and rally the men."

The overseer nodded and returned to the pier.

"That would not be wise Demesis!"

By the time the overseer reached the pier six chariots and fifty armed soldiers had gathered in front of the warehouse. More were arriving in small groups. The captain and several crewmen anxiously watched the troop buildup from the deck.

The overseer stormed up the gangplank to the waiting captain. Four other crewmen, who were on deck at the time, gathered as the overseer spoke his peace.

"There is trouble in the warehouse. I believe the Atlanteans refuse to pay. Demesis said to inform you and rally the men."

"Rally the men?" the captain asked.

"Yes, but I don't think he knows how many troops lie in wait."

The captain looked across the Atlantean soldiers which quietly grew to a force of seventy-five. "We can not fight them."

As the captain assessed their problem, he saw Demesis at the entrance of the warehouse. He was being forcibly removed by two armed soldiers. The captain pointed to one of the crewmen nearby.

"You... Go below, get ten men up on deck. Warn the others of trouble. Quickly!"

"Aye, captain." The crewman ran down the stair to the hold.

"The rest of you come with us." The captain started down the gangplank followed by the overseer and three crewmen.

The five unarmed men boldly walked into the midst of the Atlantean forces. They were weary from a long voyage, many of them were filthy and dressed in tattered cloths. The Atlantean soldiers, with their highly polished armor and breakfast still warm in their bellies, closed in around the small group of Greeks. Several men watched nervously from the deck of the galley.

The Greek party slowly made their way through the crowd and finally reached Demesis. Demesis had been brutally beaten. Unable to stand, he was being held up by two Atlantean guards. There were several bruises on his face and blood ran from his nose and mouth.

"Release that man!" the captain insisted. "He's a representative of the Greek Government!"

The guards dropped Demesis to the ground. He was badly beaten but still conscious.

"Then take him back to Greece where he belongs," the warrior said. "And tell your king to keep his filthy Greeks out of Atlas. We can't stand the stench."

A murmur of laughter rippled through the crowd of Atlantean soldiers.

Two of the Greek crewmen hurried to aid Demesis. He was dazed and unable to stand on his own. Each crewman drew one of his arms around their shoulders then started to take him out of harm's way.

"This is an outrage!" The captain pointed an angry finger at the warrior. "You have gone too far! Indeed, the king will hear of this!"

"I'll go much further. I have orders to seize your ship and imprison your crew unless you leave port immediately."

"By what authority?"

The warrior drew his sword, "You wish to find out?"

The two men silently stood their ground for a brief time. Finally, the captain backed down.

"You have not heard the last of us. This is an act of war!"

The five Greeks stayed in a huddled clump as they slowly made their way through a sea of Atlantean armor. Demesis was carried to the pier with his feet dragging behind him. Throughout their slow retreat they were taunted by Atlantean soldiers and periodically struck by the thrust of a shield.

Several men watched from the ship's deck, many of them with clenched fists. They could see the soldiers gave their men very little room as they made their way to the ship.

As the small group of Greeks started up the gangplank the captain shouted, "Prepare to get underway!" Several men on deck scattered to comply with the captain's orders.

The warrior and his command stood watch until the ship pushed off and was out in the channel. When the ship was well on its way, the warrior returned to the warehouse followed by several soldiers. He gave each of them orders.

"Summon the forge," he said to one of the men. The man saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder, then left the warehouse.

He pointed to another man, "You, disperse seven man among the neighboring shops. Tell them to ask for a drink of water and strike up a conversation with the storekeeper. Spread the rumor that this is a training exercise. Give no more details than that, understand?"

"Yes, sir." The man saluted, then left.

He escorted the rest of the men to a pile of gold and ivory at the back of the warehouse.

"Two of you load this gold and ivory into a chariot and take it back to Gades. Keep it concealed in case you pass Averon the merchant."

Another man approached the warrior, "You summoned me sir?"

"Ah yes, the forge. Wait for me by that table." He pointed to the table that Averon used as a desk. "I'll be with you as soon as I dispatch these men."

"Yes, sir."

He addressed one of the two remaining men, "You, form a detail to go over the warehouse and remove any sign of a scuffle. Also, hide any tracks out front. Make this place look like business was normal. We must be quick about this. Any questions?"

"No, sir."

The warrior dispatched the last man, "Send the rest of the men back to Gades. Make sure they leave the same way they came; in small groups across several roads."

"Yes, sir"

The warrior walked over to the table where the forge was waiting. He picked up the copy of the tally and shoved it toward the forge.

"Can you forge the mark of Demesis here?" He pointed to an area at the bottom of the tally.

"I'm not familiar with the mark of Demesis. Do you have an example?"

"Look around," the warrior suggested, "There must be documents around here bearing his mark."

They started looking through Averon's records when another solider hurried up to the warrior.

"Sir," he saluted, "The gold and ivory are loaded. Who gets it?"

"Take it to the king of Gades. Tell him our mission was successful and he can send Averon back."

"Anything else, sir?"

"Yes, tell the king that the Greeks called this an act of war. I'm sure he'll be pleased."

"Yes, sir."

"I found it!" the forge shouted. He held up a document, then examined it briefly.

"Yes, I can forge this."

"Excellent!" the warrior replied. "When Averon returns he will suspect nothing. The Greek merchandise is here, his gold is gone, and the tally will be closed. It will be some time before he comes to realize the seeds of war were planted at his establishment."

By that time the Greek Galley had reached the brass gates at the sea. The crew was already weary from the voyage to Atlantis. Now they had to return to Greece without a rest or even taking on fresh supplies. Food and water was low and bitter feelings permeated the ship.

Demesis took a turn for the worse. He was lying on a makeshift cot on deck and coughing up blood. Everyone on board was shocked by their brutal encounter with the soldiers, especially Demesis.

"How could this happen?" Demesis asked.

"Quiet," the captain said, "you'll need your strength. It's a long voyage back to Greece."

With the men spent and supplies low it would indeed be a long journey back. The galley would pull into Greece some twenty three days later. However, Demesis would only survive five of them.

They had just left the bay of Atlas and were entering open seas when the overseer came up from the hold. The captain watched him approach. Somehow, the captain knew the overseer would bring bad news.

"Captain, two men are missing!"

"Missing!?" he shouted. "Impossible!"

"Aye captain, they're not on board."

"Who?"

Somewhere in a bathhouse of Atlanta...

"Did I not say Atlanta was great?" Sampson asked his companion.

Marcus only replied with, "Ahh..." He was naked and up to his neck in steaming hot water. Neither of them realized just how much hot water they were in.

Sampson was sitting at the edge of a large sunken tub with a towel around his waist. "Is this everything I said it was?" He looked around to admire the ornate inlay work of precious metals, the ivory tiles on the floor, and the beautiful young women tending their bath.

"It is..." Marcus could not quite finish as a female attendant poured a bucket of hot water over his head to rinse oils from his hair. After the water trickled from his face he finished his reply. "...Atlantis is a wonderful place indeed."

"Better get out before you wrinkle."

"Aww..." Marcus did not seem anxious to leave the spacious pool.

"Hey..." there was a glint in Sampson's eye. "Get a rubdown!"

"Men or women?"

"Your choice."

"Ah!" Marcus started to climb out of the tub. "A woman of course."

A female attendant waited with a towel as Marcus climbed out.

"I told you," Sampson spoke with a little too much pride and arrogance, "Follow me, I'll show you the true merit of being a sailor. Is this not far better than unloading the merchant's cargo."

"What if they miss us?" Marcus asked.

"I do this all the time." Sampson replied with confidence, "Just unload a crate or so, then steal away when no one's looking."

"I'm not so sure...."

"Don't worry yourself, they won't notice us gone when they release the rest of the crew."

"How shall we know when to return?"

"It is the same on every voyage, the crew gets shore leave until morning. At sunrise we meet the crew at the pier, load new stores, then sail back to Greece. I do this all the time—and I have yet to get caught."

Marcus looked a little worried. "I don't want to cause trouble for myself on my first voyage."

Sampson reassured him, "Don't worry! Trust me."

It was late in the evening before Odius started his walk home from the temple of the crystal. He spent most of the day in idle mourning, although he did take some time to do a little research on exactly what happened.

He found the passage his master used in the scroll of untried powers. It would appear his master deliberately destroyed the crystal at the cost of his own life. He also learned that the master's shard might still be of some mystical value, although he had no idea as to what extent. All of that was of little consequence to him this evening. The loss of a friend and master took the deepest toll of any of his newfound problems.

Odius took his time walking home. He stopped on the bridge over the Inner Harbor and gazed into the waters, mindlessly staring at the reflections from many torches along the piers. He did the same at the Middle Harbor and Outer Harbor. Unable to relax, and unwilling to go home, he also stopped several times along the canal. He spent hours just staring at the water.

Many thoughts bothered him that evening: The person he held in highest esteem died today. His dream of becoming the Great Marce was shattered. In three days time he would have to face an angry king with bad news about the crystal. If he was not imprisoned by the king, what would become his occupation? Worse yet, what would become of Atlantis without the great crystal? He wished his master could have given him advice as he had so many times in the past. Somehow, his thoughts always returned to his master.

From time to time he would take the master's shard from a pocket on the inside of his robe. The memory of that shard and his master's blood in his hand still stung deeply. It was like an albatross hanging around his neck; he wanted to cast it into the canal to free himself from the vivid memories it sparked, yet he was bound by his master's last request to keep it.

Odius stopped along the canal for the last time that night. He was at the point where he must depart the canal to walk the last quarter mile home. The day's thoughts continued to bother him. The king was so cold and thoughtless, his only concern was Egypt. Even the king's bodyguards had shown no regret when the old man died. His master's body was taken away in secret to conceal the fact that the crystal was destroyed. Nobody knew the Great Marce died, and those who knew did not seem to care. Odius thought it was so unjust, especially when one considered how much the Great Marce contributed during the course of his life.

Odius was tired and extremely depressed by the time he reached his home. He walked in and sat down at the table without even lighting a lamp. He sat in darkness as he tried to think to the future. He knew he should try to develop some plans for the rest of his life, but it was useless, his thoughts always returned to his master. He was too filled with sorrow and self pity to sleep, and too tired to stay awake. He sat there in the dark for hours.

"Odius..."

Odius heard someone call his name! He stood up abruptly, knocking over his chair. He hurled around several times looking for some sinister shadow lurking in a dark corner of his house.

"Who goes there!?" he shouted.

He stood still for a moment. There was no reply. Odius sparked a flint to an oil lamp several times. When the flame came up he could clearly see there was no one else in the house. He was alone.

It had been an extremely rough day. Odius began to suspect his mind was playing tricks on him. He thought perhaps he should try to get some sleep, then this mental fatigue would pass. Odius convinced himself that the voice was nothing more than a manifestation of stress. Then he heard it again!

"Odius... It is I."

"Master?" Odius clearly heard his master's voice.

"Yes young Odius, the shard."

Odius took the master's shard from his robe. It was glowing with a faint green light. Odius cradled it gently.

"Where are you Master?"

"Embodied in the shard, young Odius. My work here is not yet done."

Odius carefully laid the master's shard on the table. He picked up the chair, then sat down in front of the shard.

"Will you serve me, Odius?" the voice said.

"Oh yes, Master!" a bright smile came across his face. "Indeed I will!"

"I knew I could trust in you, Odius. There is little else in Atlantis left to trust."

"Are times so foul, Master?"

"Yes, young Odius. From this side of death I see with broader eyes. There is little hope."

"What do you see, Master?"

"I see men waging war and plotting conquests across the whole of the world. Atlantis bears much guilt in these matters. The kings and rulers of Atlantis are not as they appear. Even the gods are not as they appear."

"The gods?"

"Lust for power and conquest spreads through the heavens as well as Earth. These times are most foul. We must do what we can to save our world gone mad."

"What must I do, Master? How can I serve you?"

"Go to the summit of Mount Atlas and summon the god Poseidon."

"Poseidon, the god of Atlantis?" Odius became nervous. Poseidon had a reputation for being rather nasty from time to time.

"Yes, Odius. But take care, remember the demise of Joda."

"Yes, Master. How will I summon Poseidon?"

"You will know when you reach the summit. You must leave tonight, Odius."

"I can not, Master. The king has confined me to the city."

"You must leave tonight."

"As you wish, Master."

"For now, my time grows short. Get a horse at the livery and leave for Mount Atlas tonight."

"Yes, Master. Tell me, why must I summon Poseidon? What shall I say?"

The master's shard went dark. Odius tried to summon him again by using skills he learned during his apprenticeship, but nothing happened.

Odius put the master's shard in his robe, then started gathering a few provisions. He did not take food with him since fruits, nuts, and small game were plentiful throughout the countryside. He packed a copper pan, a knife, flints, several blankets, and a flask for carrying water. Since he would find himself face-to-face with Poseidon, he also took his best azure robe. He bundled everything in one of the blankets, then donned a small sword. He extinguished the oil lamp, then left for the livery.

It was well past midnight by the time Odius reached the livery. He had to awaken the livery manager to sign for a horse. Neither the livery manager nor the horse were very happy about his late visit. The manager recognized Odius and knew he was apprentice to the Great Marce.

Odius managed to get some cooperation by telling the manager that the Great Marce sent him. He neglected to mention that the Great Marce had died earlier that day. He explained that he needed a horse for an urgent matter pertaining to the office of the Great Marce, and that it could not possibly wait until morning. Since the death of the Great Marce had been kept secret, the manager found little reason to doubt him.

His pick of horses was limited at that hour of the morning. The choice was between a young stallion with little experience, and an old, half-shod nag. Odius took the stallion. He signed for the horse with the promise to bring it back in five days, although he knew he would need the horse for at least a month. If the king ever found out about this, there would be hell to pay.

The moon was well past full and had barely cleared the horizon when Odius left the gates of Atlanta. He wanted to get as much distance between him and the city as he could before daybreak. Sooner or later, the king would learn of his exodus, and that he had blatantly ignored the king's orders. He hoped the king would not send any soldiers looking for him. He had enough problems as it was—he still had to face Poseidon.

Chapter 3, Flowers and Squirls

...All I toiled to be vanished in the span of a single day. I fled Atlanta like a thief against the wishes of the king and bittered in feelings of life run asunder. The road behind me soured and the road ahead uncertain with the wrath of Poseidon...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

When Odius first fled Atlanta he spent most of time looking over his shoulder, watching for the king's army. He was not entirely sure the king would send soldiers after him, but he was cautious all the same. He looked over his shoulder less and less with each passing day. After a fifteen day ride, he found himself in the remote foothills of Mount Atlas. Even if the king did send someone to hunt him down this would be the last place they were likely to look. Since he had not seen any sign of the king's men he felt he was out of their reach—at least for the moment.

All the problems he left behind seemed far away and long ago. Instead, his encounter with Poseidon began to weigh heavy on his mind. Odius still had no idea why he was suppose to summon Poseidon. He hoped his master would tell him what to do or what to expect before he reached the summit of Mount Atlas, but the master's shard remained dark and silent since the night he left Atlanta.

Odius was surprised to find that climbing Mount Atlas would be a major problem in and of itself. He had his first glimpse of Mount Atlas several days earlier. With each passing day the mountain drew closer and revealed more detail of its upper slopes. The upper slopes were extremely steep and covered with ice and snow. The mountain looked to be impassable from the snow line up to the cloud bank that hid the summit. Odius had no experience in climbing ice covered slopes.

To most people the clouds on top of Mount Atlas looked natural, but Odius knew better. He recognized the cloud formation as being artificial, like the clouds he often produced using powers of the crystal. Odius knew exactly how the clouds were formed, the question in his mind was why. After giving the subject some thought he began to suspect they served two purposes; to hide whatever is on the summit, and to protect it by maintaining impassable ice slopes.

Odius had plenty of time to think while he rode through the beautiful foothills of Mount Atlas. In studying the problem he devised three plans of action. One was to circle around the mountain to see if the slope on the far side was more passible. Somehow he doubted it. If somebody went through the trouble to cover the summit with clouds and ice, then they were not likely to leave a convenient trail up the mountain.

Another possibility was to see if he could find some local residents. Perhaps he could hire a guide to help him up Mount Atlas. That prospect did not seem likely either, the last sign of people was in a village nearly forty miles back. If a village did exist back in these hills, then they were isolated because he saw no sign of a road or trail.

Another alternative was to try to climb the icy slopes himself. He thought he might be able to fashion ropes and a stout hardwood pick from resources in the forest. This was his least attractive alternative. Even if he did manage to make mountain climbing gear, he would have to learn how to use it by trial and error. It was a dangerous proposition.

Odius decided to circle around the mountain and get a look at the far slope. Even if the slope was impassible, perhaps he could find a village on the other side where he could get some assistance. He held little hope on finding a passable trail up the mountain or a village, but it would have to do until a better idea came to him.

By late afternoon Odius was still at loss for a better idea. He was just beginning to entertain the thought of stopping to make camp when something startled his horse. The horse broke its stride with two skittish steps sideways.

"Whoa!"

Odius stopped and listened. He heard nothing unusual, just the chatter of monkeys and the breeze as it gently whispered through the canopy. Still, he felt uneasy, as if he were being watched. He looked around several times from his high vantage point on the horse, but saw nothing.

He was about to dismiss it, thinking he was just overreacting to whatever startled his horse, when he heard a twig crack. He snapped his head toward the sound and barely caught a glimpse of someone peeking at him from behind a tree. The person quickly withdrew from sight.

"Please, wait!" Odius shouted.

He heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps charging off through the vegetation on the forest floor. He saw no one. Odius brought his horse around and charged toward the tree. As he expected, by the time he rounded the tree no one was in sight.

Odius checked the base of the tree and found footprints in the soft mulch on the forest floor. A few feet from the tree the imprints became deep with a long stride, as if the person took off running. The tracks led down a gradual slope.

Odius looked down the slope and spotted a young woman in the distance. She was only in view for several seconds before she disappeared in a thick stand of trees. She was a petite woman with her hair in a long, single braid.

Odius brought his horse to a full gallop and headed toward the place where he spotted the young woman. He was surprised at how far she had run in that short span of time. He thought she must have had ample practice running through this type of terrain.

By the time Odius reached the place where he saw the woman, she was well out of sight. Odius wandered around the area to see if he could find her tracks again. After several minutes of looking he managed to pick up her trail.

He followed her tracks for several hundred yards until they came to the bottom of a hill. At that point the ground changed from soft mulch to a hard base of small rocks and gravel. Odius lost her trail among the rocks.

She couldn't have gone too far, Odius thought.

Odius assumed that there must be a village or settlement nearby. It did not seem likely that a young woman like her lived alone in these remote lands. Perhaps someone in the settlement knew something about Mount Atlas. If so, he might be able to hire a guide to help him up the mountain. He had to get to the summit one way or another.

In the court of Authemur; king of Atlas...

"Fools!" King Authemur ranted and raved as he wildly paced back and forth in front of his throne. The throne of Atlas, like most thrones in Atlantis, was fashioned of solid gold. The throne rested on a broad pedestal some ten feet square and a foot and a half high. Two steps surrounded the perimeter of the pedestal and allowed access to the rest of the court. A long red carpet ran from the pedestal to huge double doors ninety feet away.

The throne room was not quite as wide as it was long and decorated with many statues of gold, orichalcum and silver. Most of these statues were mounted on the walls. The throne room was used mostly for business of state, although by tradition it was often opened to the public for festive occasions.

The proceedings this day was definitely not a festive occasion. Three warriors in full dress battle gear were being unjustly reprimanded in front of court spectators. They were each commanders representing the highest level of authority beneath the king. The three warriors were down on one knee at the base of the throne's pedestal with their heads lowered.

"Incompetent idiots!" The king continued to pace and spout slanderous remarks. He had angered himself to the point where his face was red and he could not help but to shout.

"The greatest army on the continent of Atlantis fails to bring me one scrawny apprentice. Whose to blame?" He stopped pacing momentarily to shout, "Well?"

The warriors would not tremble under the kings abuse. They had become used to these childish antics ever since the king's father died. One of the warriors spoke out.

"None is at fault, Eminence. These operations take time and your order was issued only six days past."

The king resumed his wild pace, "I know when I gave the order! What I don't know is why the apprentice has eluded my army! My kingly wisdom tells me incompetence is at large!"

The boldest of these warriors was Spartos. He had served faithfully in the Atlas military since adolescence when he carried water and food for troops. Spartos slugged his way through the ranks and won his current position by bravery and deeds, rather than politics and favor. He was a huge man of 280 pounds, all of which was rock-solid muscle. He loved Atlantis and the kingdom of Atlas, but he had little tolerance for this foolish king.

The king stopped in front of Spartos and shouted, "What have you to say?"

Spartos spoke in a deep burly voice. "There is nothing to say, Eminence, the search continues."

In anger the king kicked at Spartos and caught him in the chest piece. Spartos did not sway but it was obvious that the king hurt his royal foot.

A murmur of laughter rippled through the spectators, which further irritated the king. The king surveyed the crowd and all became silent. He panned an angry finger across the crowd, "Clear the court," he shouted.

The king said nothing as he watched the crowd file out of the throne room. He heard murmurs and quiet rumblings of people discussing the incident. He strained to hear what was being said, but all he heard was the general grumbling and muttering of the crowd.

After the crowd cleared out of the throne room, King Authemur continued to grill Spartos. "I gave you an order, yet I see no result. What are you doing to comply?"

"We have six garrisons of your best men combing the entire kingdom, as well as Gades and Mestor. The search continues as we speak."

"I'll have you know a hand-picked delegation is approaching Egypt as we speak! When they arrive, they will expect total crop failure. But there will be no crop failure without the apprentice and the crystal! My delegation will be in Egypt in a matter of days. How soon can you find the apprentice?"

"Perhaps by the next moon, Eminence."

"Why are you not looking?" the king asked.

Spartos was somewhat confused and surprised by the question. It was not proper procedure to send a commander on a task like this. The commander's duty was to coordinate the search. Before he could reply, the king spoke again.

"I order you to the field and assist the search, personally. If my army fails, I will have you imprisoned! Am I clear?"

"Yes, Eminence," he replied in disgust.

"I want that apprentice!" The king turned his back to the warriors as he stormed out of the throne room.

Odius spent several hours pursuing a fruitless search for a settlement in the remote foothills of Mount Atlas. Late afternoon gave way to early evening and the sun slid below the jagged horizon. Odius was somewhat disgusted with himself. He should have scared up some game and settled on a place to camp while daylight was still ample. Soon the dim evening light would give way to darkness. Even the moon would not befriend him tonight, it was only a sliver and would soon follow the sun below the horizon.

Odius decided to break off his search and find a flat place to sleep. Most of the terrain was hilly and would be difficult to sleep on. He had already missed his opportunity to hunt and would go hungry.

Odius saw what looked like a convenient place to camp on a neighboring hill. It was difficult to see in the dim evening light but it appeared to be a clear area on the top of a gradual mound. The horse stepped cautiously in the dim light as Odius made his way to the next hill. As they crossed the gully between the two hills, something peculiar caught his eye.

"Whoa!"

Odius pulled his horse back a step or two. He saw what looked like a footpath along the gully. He dismounted, then crouched down to examine the find.

It looked like a footpath alright, but it was difficult to tell for certain. Odius saw no tracks in the dark evening light. He knew it could have been an animal trail, such as deer or unicorn, or it could have been a footpath for his elusive settlement. Odius wondered if he should try to follow it tonight, or if he should wait until morning. After toying with the idea for a while Odius decided to follow it.

"Which way?" he asked his horse.

As expected, the horse took no notice of his question. Odius made his best guess then led his horse on foot. The evening light slowly gave way to darkness.

Odius followed the path for a quarter mile where the forest opened to a small clearing. The path led to a small log home on the opposite edge of the clearing. Odius approached the house cautiously. The flicker of an oil lamp and shadows of movement within told him someone was home.

The house was unusual since most dwellings in Atlantis were made of stone. It was difficult for Odius to see any detail of the building or surrounding grounds except where dim light poured out of a window. Odius tied his horse to a post near the porch, then knocked on the door.

After a noticeable pause Odius heard the wooden bolt slide back, then the door open just a crack. An eye peered at him through the tiny opening.

"Yes?" a woman's voice said.

"Good evening. I offer my sincere apologies for calling at this late hour—I do not mean to be a burden." Odius felt a little awkward. He could tell his presence made the woman uneasy. "I am a stranger to these parts and need a little help finding my way. Could you offer directions?"

There was silence.

"Please—could you tell me if there is a village or settlement nearby?"

"No." Her answer was short but polite.

Odius looked at the ground for a moment then chuckled. He felt awkward talking to an eyeball on the other side of the door.

"Excuse me kind lady, ah, do you mean 'no' you can't tell me, or 'no' there is no..."

"Are you a warrior?" she interrupted. The tone of her voice was mildly excited, as if she were talking to a celebrity at a church social.

"Huh?" her question took Odius by surprise. "No... I'm an apprentice."

"Oh!" She spoke very pleasantly.

Since she brought up the subject of warriors, Odius began to wonder about the king's men. Perhaps she brought up the subject because she saw some of the king's soldiers prowling about recently.

"Have you seen any warriors of late, kind lady?"

"No! No, I've never seen a warrior before, ever!"

"I see. Can you tell me if—"

"I saw a picture of one once. He had a sword like yours." A slender finger protruded out of the crack in the door, pointed toward his sword, then withdrew.

Odius looked down at his sword then chuckled to himself again. He began to realize that the person on the other side of the door was not deliberately being rude, she just expressed herself somewhat differently.

"You do not get many visitors, do you?"

"No, you're the first."

"Indeed!" Now Odius began to understand her strange manner. "Then—please allow me to introduce myself, I am Odius."

"Odius?"

"Yes." Odius offered his hand in hopes she would open the door. "And your name, kind lady?"

"Um—my name is Maia." He could see her eye bob down, then up as if she curtseyed. She still did not open the door. Odius withdrew his hand.

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Maia. How close is the nearest village?"

"About three hundred fifty stadia[5] to the southeast. It's a long walk."

Odius realized she was talking about the last village he stopped in several days ago.

"Does anyone else live in these parts?"

"No, just me."

"Then, perhaps you could help me, Maia. Do you know anything about Mount Atlas?"

"Oh yes, I could tell you stories about that mountain all night. What do you want to know?"

Odius gently motioned to the door. "I do not wish to appear bold, but, perhaps this would be easier if you were to invite me in?"

"Um—" She paused. Odius could tell she was uncomfortable with the idea. "Did you see anything—well, unusual? You know, lurking about?"

Odius looked confused. "I saw no animals or people—if that's what you mean."

"You saw no strange fog or smoke?" she asked.

Odius thought for a moment. "No, Maia. Why do you ask?"

There was silence for a while.

"Yes, please come in!". Maia stayed hidden behind the door as it slowly opened. Odius stepped in.

"Thank you, Maia."

Odius heard the door close behind him. When he turned around he was surprised to find that Maia was very beautiful. He admired her for a moment, then said with a smile, "You are certainly a beautiful woman, Maia"

She just smiled and buried her face in her hands. Odius did not mean to embarrass her, he only wanted to pay her a well deserved compliment. Odius tried to abate her uneasiness by admiring her home.

"You have a very nice house."

"Thank you. I built it myself."

"You did? That's impressive."

She blushed. Maia found herself stealing a glance at her handsome guest, but when he happened to return the glance she brought her eyes to the floor in a shy manner. She wished she was more confident like the city ladies. Her newfound friend seemed to be very nice and she did not want him to think she was unworthy of his company. She liked the way he smiled at her. It was a caring and happy smile, not like the men in the village who's smiles were sinister or taunting.

"Sit down!" Maia was afraid her words might have sounded like a demand, rather than an offer. "I mean—if you want."

Odius smiled, "Thank you."

Maia motioned to a table with a single chair. She never had need of a second chair before. Odius did not want to sit in the only chair and leave the lady standing. He was thinking of how to decline without hurting her feelings.

Maia wondered why he hesitated. She was not sure of the proper way to dispense such hospitalities and thought maybe she was doing something wrong. She thought for a moment then, with an unsure smile, walked over to the chair and pulled it out for him.

Odius did not have the heart to refuse her, she looked so proud of herself as she waited for him to sit down. Odius thought he should oblige her, then give her the chair later.

As Odius sat down he noticed the chair had been hand chiseled from a solid chunk of mahogany. It was an immaculate job. The chair was somewhat barrel-shaped and decorated along the armrests and base with carvings of flowers and squirrels. The seat and backrest were comfortably padded with thick brown fur and trimmed with a black cord.

"Did you make this chair as well?"

"Uh-huh." Maia carried a large clay urn to the side of the table. She turned the urn upside down, positioned a dainty little pillow on it, then sat down with her hands in her lap and an unsure smile on her face. Odius could see she was uncomfortable, he began to feel more guilty about taking the chair.

"Maia, allow me to sit on the urn and you take the chair."

A worried look came over Maia. "Don't you like my chair?"

Odius saw she was sincere, that she genuinely thought he was displeased with the chair. He felt bad about his suggestion and tried to remedy it.

"Yes I do." Odius ran his hand across the carvings, "I have seldom seen such quality. You are very skilled at the crafts."

"Thank you."

"I thought perhaps a fine woman like yourself might be uncomfortable on that urn."

She smiled, "No, you're the guest, you should have the chair." Her expression changed from an unsure smile to something like trepidation. "Oh, Guest! Um—" She stood up then nervously looked toward her kitchen shelves. "I should offer you something."

Maia went to the kitchen area before Odius had a chance to decline any offer. She almost seemed frantic, like she was trying to right a great injustice. Odius watched and smiled as she went through several empty containers in search of something. He got the impression her stores were almost bare. Her eyes lit up when she came across two apples at the bottom of a deep basket.

"Would you like an apple?" she asked with a smile.

Odius could see she did not have much but was afraid to refuse. He did not want to hurt her feelings as he did with the chair.

"Yes please."

"I have wine too!" she shouted with a smile. "Would you like some?"

"Indeed!" Odius made a point of showing his enthusiasm because it seemed to thrill her so much. He had a weakness for her delightfully timid smile.

"Um—what kind? I have apple and blackberry."

"Blackberry, if you please."

She brought a clay bottle capped with a wooden stopper and two small cups. The cups looked more like bowels than cups and were not entirely round, as if molded by hand instead of thrown on a pottery wheel. Odius knew she had made the cups herself because they were imprinted with the same design of flowers and squirrels as the chair.

Maia pulled the stopper out of the bottle, then started to pour two cups of wine. "You asked about the mountain?"

"Yes" He waited for Maia to sit down before he continued. "How could I get to the summit?"

Maia shook her head, "No one goes to the top of Mount Atlas." She leaned closer to him and whispered, "It is the home of demons."

"Demons?"

"Shhh!" She placed a finger in front of her lips, then continued at a whisper. "The woods have ears."

Odius took a sip of wine. He found it was not a true wine because it still retained much of the fruit's pulp. He looked in his cup, swirled it around several times, then took another drink.

"I've never tasted the likes of this wine," he held up his cup, "This is excellent!" He took another drink, then smiled his approval.

Maia seemed to be somewhat uneasy as she started to drink her wine. Odius noticed she sat very rigidly, as if she was self conscious about her posture. She kept one hand in her lap at all times and her back perfectly straight. She held her elbow out to the side as she drank. When she was done drinking, she set her cup neatly in front of her then placed her free hand in her lap to join the other.

One would have thought she was a formally finished lady except her shy, timid smile betrayed her uncertainty. Odius admired her naively innocent qualities. He could tell she was excited yet nervous at the same time, like a young girl on her first visit to the king's formal ball. Odius felt bad about making her nervous in the sanctuary of her own home.

"Why—" Odius stopped abruptly and placed two fingers over his mouth. In remembering that this topic was suppose to be whispered, he leaned toward Maia then started over in a whisper. "Why do you say Mount Atlas is the home of demons?"

Maia leaned toward him without taking her hands out of her lap. The conversation continued at a whisper.

"Because of the clouds," she replied.

"You mean the clouds that gather at the summit?"

Maia nodded. "Even in the fairest of weather the clouds hide the top of the mountain. Those clouds are not natural, they were put there by demons. More wine?"

"Yes please."

Odius tried to think of a way to word a response without offending her. He knew demons were a myth but did not want to insult Maia by saying so.

"Why demons?" he whispered, "A wizard like the Great Marce could have made such clouds."

"A wizard!" she shouted in disbelief. "There's no such thing!"

Odius was startled by her loud, abrupt reply and it shown on his face. They laughed for a moment about the way Odius reacted, then Odius continued.

"Have you not heard of the Great Marce of Atlantis?" Odius asked.

Maia shook her head.

Odius was surprised to find a person that had never heard of the Great Marce. He realized that for the first time in recent years, he met a woman ignorant to his destiny. Now he could enjoy Maia's company without any worry about her motives. She began to intrigue him.

"Why do you want to go to the top of the mountain?" she asked.

"Well—" Odius thought carefully. He did not think it would be wise to tell her about the crystal, his master's death, or summoning Poseidon. Also, he did not want to tell her he was next in line for the position of Great Marce—at least not yet. He felt an attraction toward her that seemed to be mutual. If they did develop serious feelings toward each other, he wanted her to like him for the man he was, not the position he might hold.

"I can not say. But I must get to the summit—or die trying."

"Your need is so drastic, Odius?" There was concern in her voice.

Odius nodded, "It is."

Maia took another drink of wine. She had never met a man with such conviction before. Nor had she ever met a man who made her feel like a lady. She looked at him and thought how kind he had been. He did not laugh at her like the men in the village—he laughed with her, like a friend. He was polite and had a kind smile. She wanted a chance to know him better.

"When must you go?" she asked.

"On the morrow," he said sadly. Odius took a deep breath, then looked Maia square in the eye. "I've enjoyed the evening with you. You are a charming woman indeed. I wish we had days to share, instead of hours, then we might become friends instead of acquaintances."

Maia held back a tear. No one had ever told her she was a charming lady before. For the first time in her life, she felt like a charming lady. She also wished they could spend more time together. But she realized it was probably just as well he left soon; this short time together was risky enough.

Maia knew her nemesis could come slithering under the door at any moment. She also knew that the longer Odius stayed, the more likely her nemesis would catch her in his presence. She could not bear the thought of such a disgrace. At present Odius still considered her a charming lady—that meant a lot to her. If he left before her nemesis surfaced again, then at least one decent man—somewhere—would always consider her a charming lady.

Maia looked down to the table in sadness, "Yes, it would seem the most precious pieces of life are also the most fleeting. If I had the power of a wizard I would stop this night and forbid morning to come." She looked up at Odius. "I wish you could stay, but—"

She pushed the sadness from her face with a modest smile, "We should make the best of the time we have. We want happy memories of tonight, not sad ones."

"Indeed!" Odius held up his cup.

They took another drink of wine, then Maia returned to the subject of Mount Atlas.

"I know a way you might get to the top of your mountain."

"You do?"

"Maybe," she said with uncertainty.

"Does a trail lead up the mountain?"

"Oh, no. Death waits on those sheets of ice!"

"If not a trail, how?"

"More wine?"

"Yes please." He gave her his cup. "You were saying?"

Maia smiled as she poured his wine. "About two summers past, I went to the evergreens on the lower slopes of the mountain. I was looking to see what the slopes might offer..."

She handed Odius his cup, then filled her's. Odius patiently waited for her to continue.

"...And I came across a cave hidden among some brush. I followed the cave deep into the mountain." She spoke with a gleam in her eye as if she was proud of herself. "It was a sinister place. I saw many bones by the light of my torch. Some of the bones were old, others new. Most were bones of animals, but some were bones of men."

"Men?" Odius had a lump in his throat.

"Yes," she nodded. Maia told her story with all the trimmings a storyteller might use at a campfire. She spoke slowly to build suspense and paused in all the right places to emphasize the more ominous parts. A faint hint of a smile betrayed the fact that she enjoyed relating her adventures in this fashion.

"I could tell they were men by their skulls. Some of their bones were scattered about but most were gathered in piles, like they were the feast of many vicious beasts."

Odius looked on with wide bulging eyes as she told her story.

"There were swords and shields, and bows scattered about as well. The cave was dusty and filled with small creatures of the night. I walked through the cave for almost twenty stadia and passed many, many bones. At the very end of the cave was a huge den where flesh-eating beasts bed down for the night. It was empty when I got there, so I took a look around."

Odius gave her his undivided attention as he took another sip of wine. He could hardly imagine this timid woman wandering alone in such a place.

"Were you not frightened?"

Maia thought for a moment. "Perhaps I was a little frightened. After all—how can one have adventure without any risk or fear?"

"Is that what coaxed you to explore the cave? Adventure?"

"There is little else to do in the forest. I spend my days gathering fruits or nuts, then spend my nights carving or weaving. Life would have little meaning if not for adventure.

"Anyway, I found a stairway made of strange blue stone at the back of the den. The stairs were very steep and twisted." Maia emphasized, "I mean they were dangerously steep."

"A staircase? In a den of beasts? Where did it lead?"

"They went straight up into darkness. I think they might go all the way to the top, but I don't know for certain. I didn't climb them."

She paused to take a drink of wine before she continued.

"I was going to climb the stairs—but I heard the beasts coming back to their den."

"What kind of beasts?"

"Dragons!"

"Dragons!?" Odius said in disbelief. "There is no such thing!"

"Their as real as your wizards!"

Odius looked confused. "I thought they were myths."

"So did I until two years past. You meet one of them in a dark cave with nothing but a torch and you know exactly what they are."

"What did they look like? Were they huge lizards with wings and fangs?"

Maia nodded. "They were about the size of a calf, not giant monsters like the myth. And they don't breathe fire either."

"Dragons! How many did you see?"

"About a score. They all came back to the den at once, like a pack of wolves."

"What happened then?"

"I thought it might be best to leave—so I left. I could hardly see anything because the dragons kicked up so much dust. I took slow, careful steps and walked right past them."

"It was that easy?"

"No, they hissed and snapped at me all the while." She nodded her head emphatically, "They were frightening. I never ventured back there again."

"Where is this cave of dragons?"

"At the base of the mountain. It's hard to find. I don't think I can tell you how to find it, but I could show you the way."

"How far is the cave?"

"Three days walking."

Odius thought for a moment. "Then it would be a day's journey on a horse." A bold smile slowly came to his face. "If you ride with me, you could show me the cave and we could spend another day together."

Maia replied with a nervous smile. "I would like that, Odius."

They took several more sips of wine, then a concerned look came over Odius.

"Ah—how do I get past the dragons? Several men have died there, probably from the dragons."

Maia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, Odius." she shook her head. "I often wondered why I got out alive. Maybe it was because I had a torch, or maybe because I made no threat." She paused. "Or—"

"Yes?"

"Well—I've never been attacked by any forest predator. Bear, wolves, whatever, they just walk by me. I don't know why. But maybe the dragons left me alone for the same reason."

"Hmm..." Odius thought for a while. "So the only way up is either slip past the dragons, or climb the ice slopes."

"I think you would have a better chance getting past the dragons than climbing the ice sheet. You'll see what I mean when we get there. I'll take you as far as the cave, but you must face the dragons alone."

"I'm glad you're going with me, Maia. I would be honored to spend another day with you." Odius reached out and touched her hand.

Maia did not quite know what to make of the gesture. She quickly withdrew her hand in a brief panic. She brought her hand to her chest then covered it with the other one. Odius could see she was frightened and nervous. They said nothing for a moment until Odius broke the silence.

"I—I'm sorry m'lady. I meant you no harm."

Maia saw that Odius was shocked by her reaction. Many thoughts went through her head during the silent moments that followed. Everything was going so nicely until this. She wanted so much to live up to the 'charming lady' that Odius saw her as. She realized she made Odius feel awkward by her foolish reaction. She just wasn't expecting him to touch her. In her mind's eye she saw Odius slipping away farther and farther with each passing second.

She swallowed hard, then said in a broken whisper, "No man ever touched me before."

"I had no Idea, Maia." He let out a sigh, "I will leave if you wish."

"No! Please stay." She took several deep breaths. "Um—I just wasn't expecting it and..."

Odius returned an unsure smile.

Maia slowly reached out and took his hand. She gently bit her lower lip, then said with a nervous smile, "I'm afraid I'm not very good at these man and woman things. Please stay."

Odius nodded and tried to reassure her, "I understand Maia."

Maia began to feel more comfortable with Odius. She knew if she made another mistake, Odius would not take it wrong or criticize her. She became more relaxed and less self conscious as the night went on. She knew she could just be herself and enjoy the company of her new friend without worrying about what was or was not considered proper.

The bottle of blackberry wine soon went dry, then they started on the bottle of apple. They spent most of the night talking. Odius told Maia stories about Atlanta, although he never mentioned the Great Marce or the reason he sought Mount Atlas. Maia told him stories about the mountains and woodlands, although she never mentioned her nemesis.

They talked well past midnight. They were honest with each other, they laughed, and they enjoyed the night together. It was several hours after midnight before they finally retired. Maia turned down her bed and Odius spread a blanket on the floor.

Elsewhere during those early morning hours, the king of Gades was awake in his chambers. King Crylos was sitting at a table waiting for a visitor and making final preparations on a battle plan. He had thought out the plan carefully and was just going over the finer details. His attention was distracted by a knock at his chamber door.

"Enter."

His personal aid opened the door and poked his head in. "He is here, Eminence."

"Send him in directly." King Crylos replied.

After a short pause, a warrior entered the king's chambers. The warrior was Martimus; the king's most trusted warrior and close friend. Martimus had been away on a special mission for the king, he was still dusty and dirty from the long ride back. King Crylos motioned for Martimus to sit at the table with him.

"I trust your mission in Autowin was successful?" the king asked.

"It was, Eminence."

"I have been waiting anxiously for your return, Martimus. I have summoned you to my chambers that this matter will remain secret."

"You must be speaking of your plans to assault the Sea Of Hercules[6], Eminence," the warrior replied. "Tell me, have you found a way around the law?"

King Crylos smiled. "The law of Atlantis must stand, we dare not break it. Therefore we must achieve our means by adhering to the law."

The warrior sat back and folded his arms in a casual manner. The two men had been friends for quite some time and the protocols of office were often ignored when they were alone.

"I take it you have secured enough votes from the other kingdoms to wage war?" Martimus asked.

The king smiled as he shook his head. "The matter has not been brought to council yet. But I have already implemented a plan that makes us look completely innocent in the matter. I have tricked Greece into declaring war on Atlas!"

The warrior broke out laughing. "Your are most clever, Crylos. How did the bumbling fool take it when he found Greece declared war on his kingdom?"

The king replied with an ear-to-ear smile, "He doesn't know anything about it."

Martimus began laughing even harder.

The king continued while the warrior tried to compose himself. "I want you to post a spy at the Pillars Of Hercules. Our spy will return when he spots the Greek fleet. When we get word of the Greek fleet and their numbers, we send a messenger over land to alert the king of Atlas."

"I would like to see his face when the fool learns Greece is sailing against him." Martimus interrupted.

"And you will, my friend. You will deliver the message."

Martimus smiled, "Justice!"

Martimus thought about it for a while then asked, "How will Gades enjoy in the spoils if Atlas fights Greece?"

"When you deliver the news of the Greek fleet, you will also deliver a message from me. Since we can reach the Pillars Of Hercules in just five days, and them in twenty, we offer to intercept the fleet at sea before they reach Atlas. Atlas will surely vote for our offer as will Gades. We are bound to get a supporting vote from at least four of the other eight kingdoms, and hence the six votes needed to approve a declaration of war."

"I see," Martimus said, "our hands will be clean of the matter because the conflict is between Greece and Atlas. After the spoils are collected, Authemur will still owe us a favor." He started to laugh all over again.

"Here's the battle plan." King Crylos spread out a map. "We send two forces; one here to intercept the Greek fleet between us and Atlas, the other will sail here to cut off their retreat at the Pillars Of Hercules. We crush the Greek fleet, then, with our legal declaration of war, we sail on to conquer Greece. Once the battle starts, we can draw other countries such as, Egypt and Arabia into the battle. When the battle is over, we have control of the entire Sea Of Hercules. We give a small piece to each of the kingdoms of Atlantis and save the greater part of the spoils for Gades."

"Your plan is ingenious," Martimus said. "We look like we do our brothers a great service, not like we instigated the affair."

"Exactly, as far as the other kingdoms know, the dispute is between Atlas and Greece. Should the plan run asunder in council, Atlas will get the pointing fingers, not us."

"What if Atlas declines our offer? What if Atlas decides to fight Greece and take the spoils?" Martimus asked.

The king shook his head, "That would not be likely. King Authemur is already taxed with a number of problems. Our spies tell us that he has a crippled plan to conquer Mestor."

"Mestor? He can't fight another kingdom of Atlantis, it's against the laws decreed by Poseidon."

"We don't have all the details, but he intends to persuade Egypt to do his fighting for him. He wants Egypt to wage war on Mestor."

Martimus looked confused. "What will he gain by that? He would not be able to change the borders set down by Poseidon. He could never annex any portion of Mestor."

King Crylos threw up his arms. "I know. Authemur is a bubbling fool. His plan has already come upon problems. He would not be willing to fight Greece."

Martimus stood up, "Very well, I will dispatch a spy to the Pillars Of Hercules on the morrow. Would you require any other service of me."

The king shook his head, "Not at present. Although, I might mention that we will not be able to use the crystal for battle, so plan accordingly."

"Why? We have as much right to it as any other kingdom."

The king took a deep breath. "Information from our spies comes in tatters and shreds, but it would seem the crystal is damaged."

"Damaged?"

"Yes," the king replied," it is not yet public knowledge, but apparently the Great Marce is dead and the crystal rendered useless."

"How?"

"I don't know, just those facts, the Great Marce is dead and the crystal damaged. Also, the apprentice to the Great Marce disappeared soon after the incident. What was his name anyway?"

"I believe his name is Odius, son of, ah..." Martimus could not recall the name.

"Anyway," the king interrupted, "King Authemur has many garrisons searching for this Odius. He seems to be obsessed with the search. Anyone who finds the apprentice could hold him for a fortune. I thought you might be interested in that prospect."

"Hmm," Martimus thought for a while. "I might at that."

"It is late my friend."

"Then I take my leave of you, Crylos." He showed his respect with a single nod of the head. "Until the morrow."

King Crylos nodded, then Martimus turned to leave his chambers. After Martimus left, the king carefully packed away his battle plans then retired for the night.

The morning sun barely touched the foothills of Mount Atlas when Odius and Maia prepared for their journey to the cave of dragons. Odius came out of Maia's house to ready his steed while Maia stayed inside to gather a few belongings. This was the first time Odius had a clear look at her house. He was impressed.

Each log was meticulously tailored with tight-fitting joints. Upon closer inspection, Odius found that the horizontal seams between each log was actually a V-shaped tongue and groove. Each seam was surprisingly accurate and apparently chiseled by hand. The tailored logs were sealed weather-tight with a crude glue made from pine sap.

Odius took time to admire the immaculate detail and creative resourcefulness that went into this piece of art. He found the door was cut from a single log and decorated with impressions of flowers and squirrels, just like the impressions on her chair and cups. The door did not have a frame, it was set neatly in a hand-chiseled jamb carved from the logs in the wall. A strip of thick brown fur lined the door jamb to fend against weather.

Odius walked around to the side of the house. He noticed the shutters were made of tightly woven reeds on a wood frame. The frame was also decorated with her typical pattern of flowers and squirrels. The roof had a single tapered pitch neatly covered with split cedar shingles.

The only flaw Odius found on the house was on the rear corner. There was a very small gap on one of the corner joints between logs. The gap barely revealed a stout corner post that was driven vertically through holes in the logs. Apparently the whole structure was pinned together in this fashion. It was an immaculate job and would have taxed the most experience crew of craftsmen, yet Maia built it herself. His fascination with Maia grew deeper.

"Odius?"

He walked toward the front of the house when he heard Maia call his name. She was standing by his horse with her provisions neatly rolled in a blanket.

"How long did you labor on this house?" Odius asked.

"Three months more than a year."

"I am impressed. You certainly master the crafts."

Odius took her bundle to secure it to the horse.

"I know enough to get by."

"You speak far too modestly." Odius paused to finish tying down the load. "You're a master of the crafts. Skills such as yours would be worth a king's ransom in the city."

"I would like to go to the city," she said with a big smile. "I always wanted to go to a ball." She held her little loincloth skirt and curtseyed. "I want to dance with the best of them," she held up one hand as if to pirouette while the other was offered to an imaginary partner, "and show the world that I'm a proper lady. Then I..."

She stopped. A sudden sadness came over her. It occurred to her that she could never see her dream fulfilled. She could never go to a city. Sooner or later her nemesis would surface, and she would be shamed out of the city, just like that small village so many years ago. She no longer danced with her imaginary partner, instead, she hung her head.

"Maia?" Odius said softly. "What bothers you?"

She was silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"I could never go to a city. I can not leave these foothills."

"But—but why?"

"I—I cannot say."

Odius felt hurt for her. He wished he could help. More than anything, he wanted to see her dreams fulfilled.

"Please, tell me why. Perhaps I can free you from whatever binds you here."

Maia shook her head, "Nothing can free me."

"Surely no harm would come if you told me what holds you here," Odius said.

"Surely there would be no harm in telling me why you must go to Mount Atlas," she replied. Then Maia let out a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry Odius. I wish I could explain but I dare not speak of it."

Odius smiled. "It is I who am sorry. You do not owe me any explanations. I did not mean to pry in your affairs, I only sought to help."

After a quiet and difficult pause, a subtle smile came to Maia's face. "We have so little time together, Odius. Today, and if you survive the mountain, maybe the ride back." She took a deep breath. "After that, you must leave me to my solitude. Please, Odius, let us enjoy this short time together and not ponder the bitter pieces of life."

"You are wise, Maia." Odius took a deep breath and briefly look across the scenic landscape. "It is a beautiful day—and the day is young." Odius motioned toward his horse. "Shall we?"

Maia nodded.

Odius took the reins, then climbed on the horse. He offered a hand to Maia.

"M'lady."

Maia smiled, then took his hand. Odius helped her onto the horse, then let her get settled. Maia slid her arms around his waist. To her, the simple experience of holding onto a man seemed like the ultimate thrill of a lifetime.

"Ready?" Odius asked.

"Yes yes!"

A gentle kick of the heels nudged the horse to a lazy walk as they started their journey to the cave of dragons. After several minutes, Maia mustered a little more courage and pressed herself against Odius.

"I never knew sharing time with a man could be so wonderful."

Odius smiled as he felt her gently tremble from the new experience. He understood her isolation and what she must be feeling. Odius thought of the night before when he frightened her with a simple touch. He longed to hold her in his arms, but he knew he must be a gentleman and let her take their relationship at her own pace.

Odius was amazed with his newfound friend. He thought how she was so unique; she was frightened by his touch, yet bravely faced a whole cave full of dragons. Odius never thought a woman could be so precious. He thought he should tell her so.

"Of all my travels, Maia, I have never met a lady so precious as you. I'm proud to share your company."

Odius never noticed the joyful tear that graced Maia's cheek.

They managed the day without incident from beast or foe. For the most part they just rode and talked. Late morning brought them by a plum tree where they rested and stuffed themselves with fruit. They rode on through the afternoon telling stories and laughing. That day was very special to both of them. Their pace gradually slowed down as the day grew older. Neither of them were in a hurry to part company, and they each knew they would—as soon as they reached the cave of dragons.

Chapter 4, Territory of the Gods

...I could never forget that lady of the forest. She found me on the darkest of all my journeys and shed light with only a smile. I no longer bittered for such was not possible in the shadow of Maia....

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

The evening was young and the sky had just begun to dim by the time Odius and Maia approached the cave of dragons. They reached the edge of the evergreen forest where foliage gave way to the mountain's rocky upper slopes. Although they had already passed the pines on the lower slopes the greater part of Mount Atlas still towered high overhead.

Odius clearly understood why climbing the upper slope was out of the question. The ice Maia spoke of was more treacherous than he imagined. Most of it hung in huge multi-ton icicles and all of it seemed unstable as it constantly creaked and groaned under the strain of its own weight. Every so often one of the mammoth icicles broke off and rumbled down near vertical slopes, sometimes with devastating effects. Evidence of this was apparent by several large pines which had been sheered off at the base by huge chunks of falling ice.

Odius was impressed with the system of clouds and ice that protected the mountain. Permanent clouds at the top of the mountain not only hid its peak, but also churned out ice. Fresh ice at the top of the mountain gradually pushed older ice down the slope, somewhat like a glacier. The ice worked its way down the upper slopes until it reached warmer elevations where it broke off. This system constantly replaced ice and prevented any long-term project for climbing the mountain, such as carving steps in the ice or driving supports for platforms.

"Stop," Maia whispered.

Odius pulled on the reigns, then looked around cautiously.

"How far?" he whispered.

"See those thorns among the rocks?" She pointed to a place about fifty yards up the slope.

"Yes." They continued to whisper.

"The cave is hidden behind those thorns."

"We should dismount here."

Odius helped Maia off the horse, then dismounted. He kept his attention on the thorns as he untied his provisions. He watched carefully but saw no sign of dragons.

"Are there any forks in the cave?" he whispered.

"No, just one passage all the way back—you can't miss it! I'll wait here and mind the horse."

"Maia," Odius stopped what he was doing so he could give her his full attention. "I expect to return promptly, perhaps a day or two. If I fail to return by nightfall after the third day, then, my path led to demise. Do not wait for me beyond the third day."

"I'll wait for you, Odius. I'll wait."

"I must be going. Leave after the third day—and keep the horse."

"Be careful, Odius."

Odius unfastened his sword and sheath. He seemed somewhat hesitant as he handed it to Maia.

"I should leave this here. You managed to pass the dragons unarmed, yet men with swords have died there. Perhaps a sword would invite trouble. Besides, I'm not a warrior."

Maia accepted the sword very diligently, like it was something reverent. She never handled a weapon before. She cradled it in her hands like a glass scepter and looked at it with a certain amount of awe. "You might need this!"

"Maybe you will," Odius said with a smile. "Treat it with care, it belonged to my father, and my father's father."

Odius slung his bundle over his shoulder, then picked up a torch, which he had prepared that morning.

"I should delay no longer. Will you be alright here?"

Maia nodded with painfully slow movements. She was not experienced with matters of the heart and, consequently, never had to endure a separation. She took a moment to get a grip on her feelings then managed a raspy, broken whisper. "Please come back to me."

"Good bye Maia."

"Bye," she was near tears.

Odius could tell she was hurt inside—it was a feeling they both shared. He wanted to tell her how strongly he felt about her, but the separation would be difficult enough. He did not want to draw it out with words. After a brief pause Odius simply turned and started for the cave.

"Odius!"

Odius stopped and glanced back at Maia. She looked like she wanted to say something but was lost for the words.

"I—Um..." She let out a heavy sigh, "May the gods watch over you."

Odius smiled at the irony of her parting words—his intent was to summon a god.

"Thank you Maia." He said with a smile, "May they watch over you as well." He was reluctant to leave but duty forced him to turn his attention to the rocky grade.

Odius felt uneasy about leaving Maia. He felt like he had known her all his life, yet they had only been acquainted for the short span of a day. The scrolls at Atlanta spoke of such things; where two people felt they have known each other long before they met. According to the scrolls, this feeling was caused by a joining or bonding between something much deeper than the inner self. The scrolls said this kind of bonding was very rare and should be cherished above all else.

Odius knew the circumstances surrounding their lives would not allow their relationship to grow. Maia insisted on her solitude, she made that fact clear more than once. Odius had his own responsibilities as well as a commitment to the Great Marce. At best they could share only one more day together, then savor the memory as life forged on.

Maia also had problems with their separation. She watched Odius walk up the grade and felt a pain with each and every step he took. She firmly believed demons lived on top of the mountain, and if the dragons did not kill him then the demons surely would. She clutched his sword more tightly and held it across her chest like a rag doll. If Odius did not return, his sword would be her only memorabilia of him.

Odius cautiously approached the vast growth of thorns at the cave's entrance. At first glance, the brush seemed as impenetrable as a stone wall with its stout stalks tangled and twisted into a dense mass. Sharp, needle-like thorns covered the stalks to protect the brush against intruders. Most of the stalks were covered with coarse bark as a testimony to the its age and endurance.

As Odius drew closer he noticed a low passageway near the back edge of the brush. The passageway was like a tunnel that snaked its way through the thorns and, presumably, to the cave's entrance. It was just big enough for a man to crawl through without becoming entangled in the thorns.

Odius slowly dropped to his hands and knees then peered down the path through the brush. He saw nothing other than thorns. Odius also listened for any activity. There was no sound of movement or stirring. After a brief pause Odius started to crawl through the thorns with slow, diligent movements.

He took his time, partly because he was nervous, but mostly to avoid becoming entangled in the thorns. As he made his way through the twisted passage he came across his first evidence of dragons. Huge lizard tracks, larger than the size of a man's hand, were imprinted in the dirt along the pathway. He also noticed pieces of shed skin tangled here and there among the thorns. He stopped briefly to examine one of the sheddings. It looked just like the sheddings of a lizard—only much larger. Odius assumed the dragons probably shed their skin just like a lizard.

Odius managed to crawl through the thorns without getting so much as a scratch. He made his way to the back of the thick growth where he found the entrance to the cave of dragons. The entrance was a dark opening in the rocks not more than four or five feet across and five or six feet high. A foul smell came from the cave, like that of rotting flesh but not as strong. He carefully looked into the dark abyss but saw nothing.

Odius waited at the entrance as he listened for any movement. There was something unnerving about this particular hole in the ground. He began to wonder what possessed Maia to venture past this point, much less walk all the way back. He continued to listen as he struck a flint to his torch.

The flame on his torch began to grow and flicker. Odius held the torch inside the opening to avoid setting the thorns on fire. He tried to get a good look at the interior of the cave but its darkness prevailed. Once again he wondered what kind of conviction drove Maia past the entrance.

Odius carefully poked his head in the cave of dragons. He held onto the side of the cave as he slowly searched for a foothold in the darkness. His foot found a large rock just beyond the opening. He stepped in and waited for his eyes to adjust to darkness.

Hardly any time passed before Odius' eyes became accustomed to the dark. He was surprised to find that the cave was several times wider and taller than the opening led him to believe. The entrance seemed small because it was partially obstructed by a large pile of rocks. The rocks were noticeably different than the native stone and neatly piled as if to fortify the cave against intruders. As Odius climbed down the rocks he noticed that they were neatly and deliberately interlocked like crude stonework. He refused to believe it was the work of dragons. He wondered who placed the rocks—and why.

The ceiling and walls of the cave were coarse grey rock with many irregularities. In some places the rock bulged outward to cast shadows where the imagination could paint demons or serpents. In other places the rock formed pockets, which also harbored darkness and monsters of the imagination.

Odius noticed one such pocket near the ceiling where a small pair of eyes mirrored light from his torch. The eyes watched intently from its dark perch, which hid every detail of the creature's identity. Odius had no idea what kind of creature lurked in that black cubby-hole and decided it might be best not to ponder any possibilities. He swallowed hard then, one foot at a time, slowly started down the cave.

The cave's dark grey walls were no help in reflecting faint light cast by the torch. Even after his eyes were fully acclimated to the dark he could see no more than ten or twelve feet in front of him. With such short visibility he could wander dangerously close to a dragon without seeing it. The thought sent a tingle down his back.

After taking several steps, Odius noticed the floor of the cave was covered with a thick layer of fine, powdery dirt. The dirt was so fine that even the lightest footfall raised a small cloud of dust. He stopped momentarily to look back at the entrance. He saw how his painfully cautious footsteps still managed to raise a thin cloud of dust. The dust rose about knee high and hung motionless in the cave's stagnant air. Obviously nothing had passed this way in quite some time. He took note of the dust and continued his journey down the cave.

He began to plan a strategy during those first few steps. If he walked fast, he would make more noise, raise more dust, and probably give the dragons plenty of warning that he was coming. He wanted to proceed slowly and cautiously, but that would prolong his journey. The cave was about two and a quarter miles long according to Maia. A slow pace would mean five or six hours of wandering through this strange realm.

His thoughts were distracted when something scampered across the floor of the cave. It moved too quickly to identify but seemed to be about the size of a small mouse. All he really saw of it was a small trail of dust darting along behind it. Odius watched the tiny dust trail weave its way into darkness beyond the reach of his torch.

The tiny dust trail lingered in the stagnant air and refused to settle. The highly volatile dust almost seemed to hang in the air forever. He wondered how much dust a dragon might raise as it thundered down the cave—and how long it might take that dust to settle. Apparently no dragons have passed through here in quite some time. That thought caused him to wonder about the dragon's daily routine.

If a dragon was basically nothing more than a huge lizard, then they should be cold-blooded like a lizard. If so, then they would need to bask in the sunlight daily and return to the warmth of the rocks by night. It was early evening and nothing passed by here in quite some time. Perhaps the dragons had not yet returned for the night. If that was the case, then they should be coming back soon because the sun was setting and a chill would soon fill the air. Odius decided to pick up his pace and get through the cave before the dragons returned.

Odius found the strange dust to be an increasing problem. His heightened pace churned a thick cloud of dust from floor to ceiling. He looked back through the dust and could hardly see more than five or six feet. The bad visibility gave him cause for concern. Should the dragons return he would not be able to see them until they were within five or six feet of him. The prospect of a dragon sneaking up behind him was a thought he had to push from his mind. He just had to concentrate on getting to the stairway at the end of the cave.

Outside the cave of dragons, Maia had just settled down for the night. She knew it would be at least a full day or two before she saw Odius again and decided to make her stay as comfortable as possible. She had tied a vine between two trees then draped a blanket over it to make a crude shelter. The corners of the blanket were held down with heavy rocks. The shelter was just big enough to accommodate her simple bed, which was nothing more than a blanket folded in half and laid over a foundation of dried grasses. She knew her shelter would not hold up to a storm, but it was at least enough to fend the morning dew.

Daylight had already given way to twilight and Maia huddled near a fire to ward off the mild evening chill. Her eyes gazed into the soft flickering flames while her mind painted gallant pictures of Odius. She smiled as she imagined what life might be like if she could share it with Odius. Then, when her attention was distracted by stirring leaves, she recalled the reality of her nemesis and her fragile smile faded. She quickly pushed those distasteful thoughts from her mind and returned her attention to the flames and her fairy-tale fantasies of Odius.

From time to time she found herself in worry that Odius might not survive. As far as she knew Odius had dragons and demons to conquer before he could return to her side. Even if he did return, she could only risk one more day with him. She knew this rewarding new friendship was as fleeting as a bubble on a pond. She tried her best to just savor the happiness Odius brought and ignore any distressing thoughts.

Her attention was again drawn from the fire when the horse let out a restless snort. She realized she had been staring into the fire for quite a while and decided to stretch her muscles. She stood up then rubbed her eyes and yawned. The dim evening light had changed to darkness but she knew it would be quite some time before she could sleep.

Maia picked up the sword, which rested neatly along her place at the fire. She examined the sword and sheath carefully, turning it over and over to admire the weapon's detail. Then, for the first time, she slowly pulled the blade from its sheath. Her eyes sparkled as she watched the flame's reflection dance off the finely polished blade.

Maia never held a sword before. She wondered what it must be like to live the life of a great warrior. Unable to resist, she grabbed the handle with both hands then wielded the sword from side to side several times like an angry warrior in battle. After slicing her imaginary foe to virtual ribbons she returned the sword to a forward position, then proudly glanced about like a triumphant gladiator at the peak of victory. The only spectator in her arena was the horse.

"Is a fine blade!" she said to the horse. Maia often spoke to animals in the forest as if they were people. It was simply a way to cope with her long years of solitude. To her, the horse was no different than any forest creature.

She walked over to the horse and presented the sword.

"Only the most gallant of men could carry a blade so fine as this!"

Actually, that particular sword was below average for weapons of the time. It was shorter than most and considerably light. It was a simple sword, nothing more than a brass handle with a steel blade. Maia had nothing to compare it against—she could only judge the sword by the valor of the man who carried it.

"I wish I were skilled with such a sword."

Again Maia wielded the sword from side to side. The horse thought she was a little too close for comfort and shied away with several skittish steps. After six or seven ferocious swings the sword made an audible swish as it sliced through the air. A bright gleaming smile came to her face.

"Hear it cut the air?" she said to the horse. "If it can cut air, then it can cut smoke! Maybe it can cut the vermin that taints my door!"

She swung the sword violently from side to side, advancing a half step or so on each swing.

"Back! Back I say!"

She brought the sword to a forward position.

"Advance an inch and I'll sever thee! Go back to your abyss unworthy demon! Back!"

She spent several minutes gazing at the sword's imposing blade while her mind's eye painted a fantasy of justice. Finally, she walked back to the fire then returned the sword to its sheath.

If only I were skilled with such a blade, she thought.

She examined the sheath and found a small clip that was used to catch the belt of a robe. The sheath was worn under a belt and the clip hooked over the belt to keep the sheath in place. Maia held the sheath at her side, as if she were wearing it. She did not have a belt, but the thought to make one had occurred to her.

After several minutes of thinking, an idea came to her. She could wear the sword on her back! She slid the sheath down her back and under the strap of her top. She tried drawing the sword and realized some adjustments were necessary. She found that if she wore the sword on the left side of her back, she could reach over her head with her right arm and grab the handle somewhere near her left shoulder blade.

She practiced drawing and returning the sword for five or ten minutes. She could draw the sword easy enough with one hand but both hands were needed to return it. She had to use her left hand to guide the tip of the sword into the sheath. She thought that if she had a sword of her own she would make a harness to bring the sword's handle just above the shoulder.

The night chill became more pronounced and Maia returned her attention to the fire. She crouched near the fire with the sword across her back. Maia reached out to warm her hands then smiled as she thought of her valiant Odius and the happiness he had shown her. She was not sure if she would ever see him again. Even if he survived the mountain their time together would still be fleeting. She kept reliving details of the previous day and night over and over. She wanted to embed them deep in her memory before those fleeting moments with Odius passed forever into eternity.

Odius had wandered deep into the cave of dragons. It had been some time since he lost sight of the entrance. The cave seemed to get more eerie with each step he took. He could not shake the persistent feelings of isolation and fear. Once again, he wondered about Maia.

Why did she venture so deep in this hole, he thought. Does her thirst for adventure make her such a stranger to fear?

He stopped from time to time to listen for any movement. He could not stop very long before he had to press on to keep ahead of the dust. The dust not only reduced his visibility, but also irritated his eyes, nose, and throat.

Odius walked just over a mile when he came across some of the bones Maia mentioned. They appeared to be bones from a large bear. The bones were scattered about in small piles, as if each dragon tore a chunk from the carcass then dragged it off to eat in private. He stopped briefly to examine the bones but the constant advance of his dust trail soon forced him to move on.

As Odius walked away from the bones, he began to wonder. Most reptiles swallow their food whole, bones and all. The piles of bones left by the dragons were more typical of wolves or coyotes, where each hunter carried off its prize to a neutral corner and stripped the meat from the bones. What he saw was not a typical eating pattern for lizards. If their eating habits were drastically different from lizards, then perhaps the dragons themselves were drastically different from lizards. Perhaps they were not even cold blooded.

This thought bothered Odius. His brilliant deduction that the dragons were out was based on an assumption that, like lizards, the dragons were cold blooded. If the dragons were cold blooded then they must be gone because they had to leave during the day to bask in the sun and nothing had returned to disturb the dust in quite some time. However, if they were warm-blooded then they could have stayed in their den all day—that would also explain the settled dust.

The dust itself was confusing to Odius. Most caves were formed by erosion from underground streams. Flowing water usually washed any dust out of the cave and left the floor either solid rock, gravel, or washed sand. This cave had no sign of water. It was dusty and had no stalactites or stalagmites. He began to wonder how a cave of this length was formed if not by erosion.

Odius passed many other bones as he journeyed deeper into the cave. All the bones, like those of the bear, were collected in various feeding piles. One of the piles contained a human skull, which was used as a nesting place by several small rodents.

There were many dragon tracks among the piles of bones. Odius crouched down by a set of tracks to determine just how big these creatures were. He could see clear imprints left by the hind legs and a flat, smooth area where the dragon dragged its belly across the ground. There was no sign of any front limbs. Either the dragons did not use their front limbs for locomotion, or any tracks made by their front limbs were smoothed over by their bellies.

This particular set of tracks lead out of the cave, which was a comforting thought to Odius. However, he saw other tracks that went the opposite direction. Odius began to wonder which tracks were most recent; those heading in toward the den, or those heading out to the rest of the world.

He only had to go another thirty or forty feet to find his answer. He came to a bottleneck where the cave's passage narrowed. The bottleneck was so narrow that the dragons had to pass through in single file. He could clearly see that the last dragon to pass by the bottleneck went into the cave because all their tracks converged—and the last set of tracks went in.

An uneasy feeling rippled through Odius as he looked at the tracks. He knew for certain that at least one dragon was still in the cave. Since their eating habits were similar to animals that roam in packs, he thought they probably stayed together in a pack. If so, then all the dragons were somewhere between him and the staircase Maia spoke of. It was against his better judgment to walk into a den full of dragons, but his commitment to the Great Marce had to prevail. Odius pressed on.

The torchlight caught a reflection from something metallic just beyond the bottleneck. Odius cautiously passed through the bottleneck to look at the metal. As he drew closer he saw that the metal was a dusty shield lying next to a pile of human bones. After just a few more steps, his torch lit up a large area of bones and battle gear in a section where the cave bulged to double its normal width. The remains were numerous. Most of the bones were in the dragon's typical feeding piles, but some were just scattered about. There was a wide variety of abandoned battle gear: swords, bows, spears, shields, armor, and helmets. One of the helmets was still strapped to a dismembered skull.

The terrifying sight caught Odius by surprise. He paused just long enough to catch his stomach, then carefully stepped through this field of the dead. Odius briefly glanced at the remains as he walked by. The warriors who died here were of an elite corp. He recognized many of their coat of arms. These warriors were from the kingdoms of Mestor and Autowin. They were not just some ordinary high-ranking warriors, these men were of the kings' elite special forces. Odius began to realize that this was no matter of predator and prey—a battle took place here.

He kept moving to keep ahead of the dust that relentlessly pursued him through the cave. He passed by many piles of bones and numerous dusty weapons. The sight of jeweled swords, shields, and dented armor of the elite lying half buried among bleached bones sent a chill through Odius. These were of the best men Atlantis had to offer, and they were massacred. Odius began to wonder what kind of chance he had against these monsters.

Somewhere near the back edge of the battlefield, he came across a sight that summed up the battle in one fleeting glance. He found intact skeletons of a man and dragon locked in battle.

The skeleton of the dragon was at least fifteen feet in length. It had a slender body with stout hind legs and front limbs that were distorted into wings. The dragon's wings somewhat resembled the wings of a bat; they were like short arms with extremely long fingers. Some of the fingers were at least eight feet in length and probably formed ribs of the wings. Odius guessed that this particular dragon had a wingspan of twenty-five feet, although wingspan was difficult to determine because of the position of the bones. The skeleton also had a long, tapering neck with a skull about the size of a large watermelon.

The skeleton of a warrior was still locked in the dragon's jaws. The dragon's six-inch fangs had pierced the man's chest armor, and the warrior's sword was still lodged in the dragons neck. The warrior had wedged the blade neatly between the third and forth vertebras behind the skull.

When Odius approached the warrior, he thought something seemed familiar about him. He had see that particular coat of arms before but could not quite place it. When Odius looked at the sword standing vertically from the monster's neck, he suddenly realized who the warrior was.

Only one man carried a sword with embedded rubies in a gold handle—that would be Gratimus. Gratimus was a living legend from the kingdom of Autowin. All of Atlantis and most of the known world heard of his deeds. He had never been defeated in battle and had a reputation for winning against uncountable odds. A common Atlantean saying, 'Gratimus against the world', came about when Gratimus alone held a piece of ground against fifty men. After six days of battle, Gratimus was the only man left alive.

Odius stared at the sight until his dust trail crawled in and hid the remains of both warrior and beast. Odius remembered hearing a rumor that Gratimus went to fight the gods—and had not yet returned. Until now, Gratimus was still presumed to be alive—somewhere. Odius swallowed hard, then pressed on to get ahead of the dust.

The stench grew thicker over the next half mile and piles of bones became more frequent. Odius could feel his heart pounding in his chest as his fear grew with each step he took. As near as he could tell, he had walked over two miles and should be nearing the den.

Odius stopped when his torchlight fell on a brownish-green bulk not twelve feet in front of him. It was the inevitable! After taking a few more cautious steps, Odius could see that the brownish-green bulk was indeed a dragon. It was lying motionless on its belly in such a fashion that it nearly obstructed the whole passage. The monster was apparently sleeping; its eyes were closed and it took slow shallow breaths.

Although he was frightened he knew he must keep moving. The dust was persistent and unforgiving. If he stopped he could end up walking among the dragons in a dense fog of dust. Odius approached the sleeping tyrant with slow, cautious movements.

Odius guessed this particular dragon was a sentry. It seemed to be deliberately sprawled out across the passageway as if to block entry. It slept with its wings somewhat unfolded to cover the ground completely from one edge of the passageway to the other.

Odius clung to the jagged wall of the cave as he started to step around the beast. He moved very carefully as he shifted his attention between his footing and the dragon. Suddenly, something moved and Odius froze. At first he thought the prehistoric beast stirred, but he soon realized the movement was only a frightened mouse. A tiny dust trail followed the mouse as it darted from the edge of the cave to the dragon's head. The mouse scampered over the dragon's muzzle then fled to the far side of the cave. The dragon did not stir.

The persistent dust had begun to drift in over the dragon's head and Odius knew he should hurry if he wanted to pass the dragon in clear air. His legs were shaky and he could hardly breathe as he tip-toed past the bulk of the sentry. His heart was pounding so hard he thought his heartbeats would surely wake the dragon. He could not recall ever being so frightened.

He slowly stepped over the tip of the dragon's huge wing, then took a series of quick steps to get the dragon behind him. After he passed the dragon he looked back to make sure the dragon had not been disturbed. All he could see was a cloud of dust; there was no sound of any movement. Apparently, the dragon was still asleep.

Odius continued his journey to the illusive staircase and, hopefully, to the top of Mount Atlas. He thought his fear might subside after getting past the dragon but it only grew worse—now his exit would be cut off if the others were alerted.

As he pressed on through the cave a comforting thought came to him; perhaps that was the only dragon in the cave! The thought that the worst might be over brought a smile to his face. Perhaps the rest of the journey would be a breeze. He began to breathe a little easier. He went less than twenty feet before that smile was shattered.

Odius suddenly found himself standing at the threshold of the den. He could hardly believe what he saw in the scant light of his torch. The huge den was filled wall-to-wall with sleeping dragons. He guessed there must have been at least twenty-five of them. Odius stopped breathing for a moment as he surveyed the mass of sleeping giants. The sight was hardly like anything he imagined.

Odius looked across the sleeping dragons for the stairway Maia spoke of. The light was dim and it was difficult to see, but Odius thought he could make out an alcove on the far side of the den. The alcove was about the size of an average doorway. He assumed it led to the stairs.

Odius tried to size up a path among the sleeping beasts. He had little time to plan a strategy because dust had already started to drift into the den. This was not the kind of place to wander about blind. Odius knew he had to keep ahead of the dust or risk bumping into a dragon.

Odius swallowed hard then, one foot at a time, started a slow, cautious pace through the den. He kept as much distance between dragons as possible. One by one, he passed dragon after dragon without incident. The monsters seemed to be extremely heavy sleepers. They just laid there, unaware of his presence. Odius was making excellent progress and knew he would be at the alcove in no time at all.

Everything was going better than expected until Odius became alerted to the sound of heavy movement. He stopped. Fear shot through him as he looked across the mass of sleeping giants. A restless dragon kicked up a large cloud of dust somewhere near the far left edge of the den. He watched in horror as a huge dragon emerged from the cloud of dust.

The dragon slithered on its belly like a snake as it pushed itself across the dusty floor with its powerful hind legs. It seemed to be half asleep as it wove its way between sleeping heaps of dragons. The other beasts completely ignored the movement. The restless dragon mindlessly wandered for twenty or thirty feet until it crashed into another dragon with a tremendous thud. The wayward collision sent large plumes of dust in the air, which quickly obscured everything at that end of the den.

Odius stood perfectly still as he stared at the advancing dust. He listened carefully for any movement but heard nothing other than his heart pounding in his chest. All appeared to be still once again. Odius swallowed hard then pressed on to get to the alcove before the dust engulfed him.

The cloud of dust advanced quickly and prompted Odius to move with a little more haste. He took long, rapid strides past the sleeping beasts as the cloud of dust closed in. Long strides changed to bounds as he hurried to get to the alcove before the dust. Misfortune fell when he planted his foot on what appeared to be solid ground—but was actually loose dirt scattered over a dragon's tender wing.

The dragon immediately reared up and let out a high pitched scream like the call of an eagle. As it reared, it pulled its wing out from under Odius' foot and sent Odius falling to the ground. The dragon beat its huge wings several times and filled the entire den with a thick shroud of dust.

Odius brought himself to a sitting position as he tried to decide which way to run. He could hardly see his feet through the dense cloud of dust, much less the alcove. He could tell by noises around him that most—if not all—of the dragons had been awaken by the incident. Sounds seemed to be coming from all directions. He heard hissing and screeching as well as thunderous movement of thousand-pound bodies. He heard wings beating somewhere nearby then a blast of air blew dirt into his eyes. For a brief moment he was blinded by irritation.

Odius dropped his torch to rub the dirt from his eyes. He managed to get one eye open just in time to see the head and neck of a dragon hovering feet above him in the dense cloud of dust. An instant later his face twisted in pain as the dragon sunk its six-inch fangs deep into his right calf muscle. Odius screamed and scrambled for the torch but was unable to grab it before the dragon lifted him from the ground. He was sure his life would be over in seconds.

Odius dangled upside down with his leg firmly clamped in the dragon's jaws. The monster's grip tightened and quivering pain sent his body into a squirming frenzy. He wished he had something sharp so he could lash out in desperation, rather than submit in despair. Then it occurred to him—the Master's shard!

He reached in his robe and fumbled with panic as he tried to get a grip on the shard. A split second later he pulled the shard from his robe then drove it as far as he could into one of the dragon's eyes. The dragon abandoned its grip on Odius as it bellowed out in pain.

Odius fell to the ground with a thud. He quickly scrambled to a sitting position, ready to fend off another attack, when he noticed something amiss. A bright reddish light filled the dusty air around him and the dragons began to shy away like frightened cattle. One by one they backed up, some even slithered off for darker corners of the den.

With all the excitement it took a while for Odius to discover the source of the strange red light; the shard in his hand was glowing! He could sense the power of the crystal as the shard held the dragons at bay. It was the first time he felt that power since the crystal's destruction in Atlanta.

Odius came to understand how the master's shard worked. He had no control over it, only his master could summon powers from within the shard itself. Apparently he woke his master when he ran the shard into the dragon's eye. It was actually his master who held the dragons at bay.

"It is good to have you with me again, Master."

He could hear his master's reply in his head, "To speak from this place takes much effort, young Odius."

Odius could feel the shard's power decrease as his master spoke. The light from the shard began to dim and the dragons edged a little closer. "I will stay with you as long as possible, young Odius, but I must remain silent. Haste, young Odius. Haste."

When the Great Marce finished speaking, the shard's light returned to full brilliance and the dragons resumed their retreat. Odius watched the dragons until they completely withdrew from sight. He could still hear them moving about under the cover of dust but none of them seemed bold enough to venture into the light.

Odius turned his attention to his injury. He held the shard next to his leg so he could examine the bite. The wound was hidden under a mixture of blood and fine, powdery dirt. He noticed blood oozing from both sides of his leg and realized that the fangs had gone all the way through. His leg had already started to swell and he knew he would have to tend to it quickly or face drastic consequences.

Odius struggled to his feet. It was a painful and laboring experience—his crippled leg was stiff and would not support any weight at all. He looked around to make sure the dragons were still out of sight, then started for the alcove with a very pronounced limp.

Each step was awkward and painful but that did not seem to matter any more. Only moments ago he escaped death at the jaws of a dragon and was grateful for his life. Odius thought how the Great Marce paid a far greater price for this expedition when he shattered the crystal. His injury was nothing compared to his master's sacrifice. By the time he reached the alcove he was thinking of the journey ahead—and his meeting with Poseidon. He still had no idea of what the meeting was about.

Odius leaned against the entrance of the alcove then looked back to make sure the dragons kept their distance. He could hear them moving about just beyond the shard's light but saw nothing. As far as his journey was concerned, the dragons were behind him and the stairway still lay ahead.

The alcove was actually a short cave about as long as the height of a man. Odius limped to the back of the alcove where he found the staircase Maia spoke of. He looked up the staircase and realized he still had hardships ahead of him. The staircase was more than extremely steep—it was almost vertical!

The stairs were carved from fine bluish-grey rock and seemed more like a series of ledges than stairs. Each step was a different size ranging from one to three inches deep and one to two feet in height. Most of the steps were jagged or crooked, some were broken.

Odius held up the shard to get a better look. The staircase curved and twisted so badly that he could hardly see more than thirty feet before it bent out of view. It would have been a formidable climb in the best of health—and near impossible with an injured leg.

Odius took some time to tend his injury before attempting the climb. A flush, feverish feeling had already started to come over him in response to the dragon's bite. He tucked the shard under his belt then lowered his pack to the ground.

"I will not fail you, Master."

Odius rummaged through his pack in search of a flask of water. After retrieving his water, he tore several strips of cloth from the edge of his robe.

"I know you can hear me, Master." Odius poured a gentle trickle of water over his wound. "My courage is great, and my will strong but—my strength is fading."

Water mixed with blood and fine powdery dirt to form a slippery muck that rolled off his wound and slid down his leg in dark streaks. He used a cloth to gently brush the muck away from his tender wound. His first sight of the injury was much more disgusting than he imagined. Half of his leg was discolored with deep shades of red and purple. The degree of discoloration varied in proportion to its distance from the fang holes. Each fang hole was outlined with little tatters of chalk-white skin that begged to invite gangrene. The center of the fang holes still harbored small chunks of muck.

"Our quest must be of grave importance for you to lead me to such subjections. Please, Master, give me strength to do what must be done. Indeed, my will is strong."

Odius took several painful gasps as he tried to work the last bit of muck from his wound. The leg was tender and did not appreciate Odius' efforts of wiping, squeezing, and digging. He cleaned the wound as best he could, then wrapped it with a strip of cloth to keep any more dirt from finding its way in. He still felt feverish and ill as he stowed his belongings and readied himself for the long climb up the staircase.

Odius looked out the alcove one last time and saw nothing of the dragons. It seemed they preferred to stay out of sight. Satisfied that the dragons would not follow, he shouldered his pack then started up the stairs.

He had to climb the staircase as if it were a series of ledges rather than stairs. He used his hands to hold onto a ledge then pull himself up until he could get the toe of his left foot onto a lower ledge. He reached for the next ledge then repeated the process for each and every step. All the while his injured leg just hung like useless baggage.

Odius only assumed that the staircase led to the top of the mountain—he did not know for sure. He began to wonder how many steps he had to climb in this pains-taking manner. His guess was hundreds or possibly thousands.

Odius kept climbing. His arm muscles began to ache after the first hundred feet or so. The nausea and fever brought about by the dragon's bite became worse as he struggled to climb the stairs. Every so often he would stop to rest, although it was not much of a rest since it took plenty of strength just to hang on. After a very short breather, he continued up the ratty, crooked stairs.

As Odius climbed he began to wonder about the battlefield where Gratimus died. They were elite warriors from two separate kingdoms. If Gratimus was among the warriors, then there was no mistaking the fact that somebody went through great pains to assemble the absolute best force Atlantis could muster. What Odius wondered was; why? He also wondered why soldiers were sent from two different kingdoms, Mestor and Autowin. He could only think of three possibilities: somebody bought the warriors as mercenaries; the battle was a joint effort between Mestor and Autowin; or the two groups of warriors died in two separate battles.

The thought bothered him as he made the slow ascent up the stairs. Odius decided to check the battlefield more closely on his way out. Perhaps he could determine from the spoils whether two independent battles were fought there, or if all the warriors died in the same conflict. As to the purpose of their mission, Odius could not even speculate. He hoped the top of the mountain might yield a clue to suggest why the warriors were sent, but until then he was lost for any ideas.

As Odius continued his grueling climb he came to suspect that the steep staircase, as well as the cave, dust, and dragons, were put here for a reason. Perhaps this passageway was only intended for the gods and the purpose of these obstacles, like the ice sheets, was to prevent men from ascending Mount Atlas. Odius began to worry that he might be intruding on territory of the gods. If this was true then his life was in great danger.

He remembered what his master told him the night he left Atlanta; the gods are not as they appear.

He thought to himself, what are the gods anyway?

He also remembered the lessons his master taught him when he read of the demise of Joda; the gods were powerful and sometimes vengeful. If this passage was only intended for the gods, then perhaps they would be angered by his presence. He suddenly remembered the most important lesson of all; never anger the gods.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized the whole thing stunk. He heard rumor that Gratimus went to battle the gods, then he just happens to find the warrior's remains on his way to summon Poseidon. Obviously someone other than the Great Marce knew that this mountain was of some significance to the gods. Who? More importantly; what did they expect to gain by a conflict with the gods? It seemed to be his most perplexing question; why were the warriors sent to Mount Atlas and by whom?

Odius continued to hash over these questions as he made his painful ascent up the forbidden corridor. He grew more weary with each step, and more nervous as he thought about the gods and the encounter he was to have with Poseidon. He also gave a lot of thought to Maia, who waited for him below the mountain.

Odius spent many hours climbing the treacherous staircase. As he got closer to the top, the steps got farther and farther apart. His leg continued to fester and throb. His muscles ached with pain more excruciating than any imaginable torture. His own strength gave out long ago and he had been drawing energy from the master's shard for the last several hours. He clearly realized the staircase was not intended for a man. He paused to take a short break and survey the staircase ahead.

For the first time during the entire climb he saw what appeared to be a landing. the stairs appeared to make a sharp bend not more than ten feet above him. He assumed it was a landing because he could see no steps above it, just bluish-grey rock. He was relieved to find a point where he could rest without having to hold on for his life. He cut his break short and continued the climb toward the landing.

When he reached the landing he found it was not a landing at all—it was a dead end! The staircase led to a small dark room hardly eight feet square. He sat down and took a well deserved rest. After some heavy breathing, he lifted the shard like a torch to examine this place at the top of the stairs. It was just a room carved out of the same bluish-grey rock as the stairs. Just a room, nothing more. He saw no doors or exits, other than the staircase that led down to the dragon's den below.

"Where do I go from here Master?"

The shard had no reply.

He spent more than an hour in that room wondering why he came. His master told him he would know how to summon Poseidon when he reached the top of the mountain, but he didn't have a clue. He made a thorough search of the room for any hidden doors or some kind of concealed lever but found nothing.

He sat down and buried his face in his hands. His injured leg was throbbing and discolored. He still felt feverish and nauseous. He was discouraged, weak, and ill. Odius did not relish the thought of climbing back down the stairs, but there seemed to be little point in staying here. He decided it would be best to climb down the stairs now—while he still had some strength left.

He lifted his face from his hands and looked around one last time before descending. He suddenly made a shocking discovery. There was a door just opposite the stairs—a door that was not there before!

Odius hobbled to his feet and limped over to the door. It was carved from the same bluish-grey stone as the rest of the room and bore an inscription in seven languages. Odius understood four of the seven languages. Apparently the inscriptions were identical for each language. There was a brief statement saying that the door would only appear for several minutes twice each day. There was also a warning. Odius swallowed hard then read the warning out loud.

"If ye be mortal, pass not!"

The warning confirmed his suspicions; this mountain was clearly the domain of the gods. He did not want to flatly ignore the warning, but after all he had been through it would seem cowardly to let a few words turn him back. Odius was not sure when the door had first appeared and realized it could disappear at any moment. He had to make a decision now; follow his master's instructions, or heed the gods' warning.

His loyalty to his master was stronger than his fear of the gods. Odius decided to press on while the opportunity was still at hand. He placed both hands on the door then closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Odius gave the door a firm push then stumbled as he passed right through the blue stone as if it were a curtain of smoke. He tumbled to the ground, then found himself lying in tall grass at the top of the mountain.

The cool, damp mountain air was a welcome change from the stale air in the mountain passages. It was early daybreak, apparently Odius had spent the entire night crawling through the passageways deep inside the mountain. Now, seventeen days after he left Atlanta, he finally stood at the top of Mount Atlas.

"We made it at last, Master!"

Odius looked at the shard and realized that it no longer glowed.

"Rest then, Master. Indeed, the night was trying." He put the shard in his robe then struggled to his feet.

Odius found himself next to a large bluish-grey boulder. He was certain he tumbled from that boulder but saw no sign of any door or opening. Apparently the room at the top of the stairs was inside the huge rock. Odius wondered if the door would reappear on the outside of the boulder twice each day as it did on the inside, or if some godly magic was required to summon the door.

He looked across the top of the mountain. The morning light was dim yet bright enough to get the lay of the land. The summit of Mount Atlas was a small flat plateau about a half mile in diameter. The surrounding edges of the plateau were cloaked in artificial clouds but the grassy plain itself was under clear skies. Most of the plateau appeared to be empty grassland except for several other large bluish-grey boulders and some kind of shrine at the center.

The other boulders were identical to the one Odius stepped out of. He wanted to be sure he could find his way back to the proper boulder before he set off exploring. Odius took careful note of how this particular boulder was positioned in relation to the others. He thought of marking it somehow but decided not to for fear the gods might see it as a desecration.

When he was certain he could find this particular boulder without confusing it with others, he decided to change into his azure robe in preparation for his meeting with Poseidon. He originally packed his azure robe as a flighty thought when he left Atlanta in haste, now he was glad that he did because the robe he wore was dirty and tattered after all he had been through. He knew appearance was important when making a first impression, but he was not sure if appearance meant anything to a god. He quickly changed robes then started for the shrine at the center of the plateau.

His pace was very slow and lopsided because of his stiff leg. Odius did not have the opportunity to work the injured leg while climbing the stairs and found the exercise to be beneficial. He noticed the stiffness gradually improved as he worked the leg, but if he paused even for a moment the stiffness quickly returned.

As Odius limped toward the shrine, he wondered about the other boulders. Was each one a door to another passageway through the mountain? And if so, did the other passages lead somewhere or were they just dead ends like a trap for the unsuspecting. Perhaps the other boulders served a completely different purpose. Maybe they were just plain old garden variety boulders.

Odius took careful note of everything he saw on his way to the shrine. There did not appear to be any signs of animals at all. He saw no burrows, no tracks, no sign of grazing, and no dung. He even noticed a complete absence of insects. In fact, it would appear that only one type of grass grew on the summit. There were no weeds, flowers, moss, fungus—nothing but the shin-high broad-blade grass.

There was also a strange feeling in the air. It was not a feeling of substance like dampness or wind, it was more a feeling of excitement or thrill. It seemed to make his skin crawl but not entirely in an unpleasant way. He felt anxious and sensed a certain magic surrounding him. It was remotely similar to the sensation he got from the crystal back in Atlanta, only many times greater. The feeling seemed to get stronger as he approached the shrine.

The shrine was perfectly flat and looked like a white stone disk embedded in the ground. It was about a hundred feet across and smooth like marble. There were also markings on the shrine and a small structure resembling a podium on the far edge of the stone disk.

The markings on the shrine were simple; just two red lines and two concentric circles. The lines were at right angles to each other and crossed at the center of the disk. The circles were centered on the disk, one inside the other, with an equal distance between the edge of the disk, outer circle, inner circle, and the center where the lines crossed. Odius had no idea what the symbol meant. He saw nothing like it in the ancient scripts at Atlanta.

Then, Odius happened across a curious pattern in the grass at the edge of the shrine. The grass appeared to be flattened into a circle. The circle was perfectly round and about eight feet in diameter. Upon closer inspection, Odius found that the grass was not flattened at all—each individual stalk was neatly bent just above the root. The stalks were bent, not crushed or broken, and the plant still appeared to be healthy and green. Each stalk was bent to point in a counterclockwise direction at right angles to the center of the circle.

At first Odius did not realize what, if anything, was significant about the circle until he noticed three others at equal distance around the shrine. It was the language of the ancients! Most people did not understand this lost form of writing, but Odius had to learn it because some of the scrolls at Atlanta were written in the ancient script.

The language of the ancients was not a true natural language, that is; it was associated with general ideas rather than a spoken word. This ancient form of writing had severe limitations and was eventually abandoned because it could not be directly translated into natural languages. The language of the ancients dealt primarily with generalizations conveyed through a series of hieroglyphs. For example, four solid circles surrounding an object conveyed the general idea of 'yes', 'good', 'allowed', or 'usable'. Odius took this to mean that it was OK to visit the shrine.

Odius stepped onto the shrine with confidence since the markings in the grass told him that it was permitted. He briefly crouched down, though his injured leg would not bend all that well, to inspect one of the red lines on the huge white disk. The lines appeared to be made of inlaid gems. Odius could not identify the gems but they reminded him of rubies. All the gems were uniform and perfectly rectangular, about four inches by eight inches. When he looked very closely, he could see something deep inside each gem, but had no idea what they were. After inspecting the gems, he limped toward the center of the shrine.

The Great Marce told him he would know how to summon Poseidon when he got to the top of Mount Atlas. He still had no idea what his master meant. As he got closer to the center of the shrine, the unexplainable feeling in the air continued to get stronger. He thought this odd feeling might have something to do with summoning Poseidon.

The feeling in the air grew remarkably strong when Odius reached the center of the shrine. Odius decided to experiment with the magic that seemed to permeate the summit. He closed his eyes as if to summon powers of the crystal. He tried to concentrate on the gods or at least conjure some kind of guidance on what to do next. After several minutes, Odius submitted to the fact that it was lost effort. He felt somewhat silly and realized he was nothing more than a mouse in this territory of the gods.

Odius decided to examine the structure that resembled a podium. As he walked toward the structure, the strange feeling of magic in the air continued to grow even more. Odius originally assumed the power emanated from the center of the shrine, but it soon became obvious that the strange feeling actually came from the podium. As he drew closer, he could see it was not a podium at all—it was a short wall, about two feet wide and four feet high, which sheltered a huge crystal on a pedestal.

Odius approached the crystal with caution. It rested on a simple cylindrical column made of the same type of stone as the shrine. The crystal was immense; almost three times larger than the crystal in Atlanta. It rested loosely in two gold rings at right angles to each other. The rings formed a cage that was big enough to allow a hand to be placed on the crystal, yet small enough so the crystal could not be removed from its pedestal. Odius could sense that this crystal was several hundred times more powerful than the crystal he used in Atlanta. Odius also came to realize that this crystal was not meant for a Great Marce—it was definitely a tool of the gods. A crystal like this would be difficult to master.

Suddenly Odius realized how he could summon Poseidon—he could use the crystal! His master was right; it would become obvious when he reached the summit of Mount Atlas. Now all he needed to know was; why should he summon Poseidon. He took the master's shard out of his robe.

"Master?"

The shard began to glow, "Yes, young Odius?"

"Master, why must I summon Poseidon, what shall I say?"

There was a noticeable pause before the Great Marce replied, "Tell Poseidon that our world is in grave danger from within. Beseech him to help—or his loyal subjects will perish."

"Simply that, Master?"

"Yes, simply that—nothing more. Be careful, young Odius. Remember—Poseidon is an angry god."

"Yes Master."

"The whole of the world is at risk, young Odius. Summon the god at once without delay or hesitation. This deed must be done."

"As you say, Master."

"Above all, young Odius, be careful. Poseidon is an angry god." Once again, the master's shard went dark.

"Indeed—I shall be careful, Master"

Odius put the shard back in his robe, then took a position in front of the crystal. He cracked his knuckles and took a deep breath. Odius stared at the crystal for a moment as he tried to relax, though he was far too tense. When Odius decided he was as ready as he would ever be, he placed a nervous hand on the crystal of the gods.

Odius closed his eyes and began to concentrate. He found the crystal to be like riding a stampede; there was great power all around him but he had little influence over it. Rather than commanding the powerful crystal he could only suggest his intentions.

After several weary minutes, the clouds at the edge of the plateau began to churn and boil. Odius became more nervous as he felt a general sensation of anger fill the air. The ground began to rumble and a stiff wind blew across the plateau. This continued for some time before a deep voice bellowed across the summit. It was a loud, booming voice that rang with authority and intimidation.

"Who dare to summon Poseidon!? WHO DARE!?"

Odius removed his hand from the crystal and took a few nervous steps backward.

"It is I, Odius."

The skies began to darken and thunder rumbled through the clouds.

"My master sent me to—"

"SILENCE!" the voice commanded.

Several bolts of lightning struck the plateau as the clouds grew thicker and thicker at an unnatural rate. Then there was a thunderous blast of wind that nearly knocked Odius over, followed by several more lightning strikes. Each successive bolt of lightning came progressively closer to Odius until the last one struck the crystal only feet away.

Odius dropped to the ground to humble himself and appease the angry Poseidon. Seconds later, six or seven bolts of lightning hit the ground in rapid succession, all within an arm's length of Odius.

Odius shouted as he cried out in fear, "I meant no harm!"

Maia looked up from the base of the mountain. She had been watching the clouds around the summit ever since the rumbling and thunder drew her attention. The activity at the summit caused the whole mountain to tremble. At one point the mountain shed several multi-ton chunks of ice that roared down the steep slopes. None of the ice fell close enough to Maia to cause her concern.

What did concern Maia was the angry, churning clouds surrounding the summit. At daybreak the clouds were only a small stationary mass gathered around the peak. But as soon as the rumbling started the clouds quickly grew into a black swirling mess that circled the summit like vultures circling the dead. The formidable mass had grown to blot out half the sky—and was still growing!

Maia looked up at the unnatural sight with a tear in her eye. "I see you made it past the dragons, Odius. Now how will you fare against the demons?"

Odius was still trembling on the ground near the crystal of the gods. He had been spared any near lightning strikes ever since he shouted in fear. Although he was frightened, he could still think clearly. He wondered what the point of all this might be. Was the thunder and lightning meant to show him his place beneath the gods, or did it serve another purpose? Odius also wondered what would happen next. Would he actually see Poseidon, or was all the thunder and lightning a warning to say 'never try this again'?

His attention was drawn from his thoughts when the markings on the shrine began to flash in a curious manner. Four bright red points of light appeared on the shrine, one at the end of each line. The lights moved quickly as they followed the lines toward the center. Each time the lights passed one of the concentric circles the whole circle briefly flashed on, then off; first the outer circle then the inner circle. The lights disappeared when they met at the center, then the whole pattern repeated itself over and over in rapid succession.

Odius began to suspect that the shrine served some greater purpose than merely paying tribute to the gods. He watched the strange lights and carefully took note of as much detail as possible. Despite his fear, Odius wanted to learn more about this magic of the gods.

His fear increased when he noticed a strange kind of lightning collecting high above the shrine. The lightning looked like cloud to cloud lightning, except the bright flashes changed in color from yellow, through various shades of orange, to red. The flashes seemed to get progressively brighter and more concentrated in the area just above the shrine. Then Odius realized that there was no thunder associated with this lightning.

What manner storm is this, he thought.

Odius wondered if this was the type of storm that brought plagues of insects or buried entire cities under a shower of stones. Odius worried that perhaps this storm would impale him to the clouds forever, or inflict a disaster far beyond anything he could imagine.

Odius felt his fear grow as the lightning became more concentrated in the skies just above the shrine. He believed Poseidon had the power to incarcerate his soul—and might do so if provoked. When he faced the dragons he feared for his life, but here he feared for his eternal existence. Despite his wild trembling fear, his craving for knowledge of the mystic arts kept panic at bay. He was mesmerized by the this magic of Poseidon.

Whatever was taking place in the shrine and clouds above it went far beyond his understanding. Odius suddenly felt out of place. He realized that Poseidon was right; how dare he—a mere mortal man—summon a god with the power and fury of Poseidon.

The strange lightning stopped when a large mass of light began to slowly descend from the clouds above the shrine. It was an oblong mass and seemed to continually change shape and color. The mass of light changed color from yellow, through orange, to red, through orange again, back to yellow, and so on. The cloud of light made no sound as it slowly drifted straight down out of the sky.

As it settled to the shrine, Odius could see a strange object embedded in the cloud of light. It was huge, maybe eighty feet in diameter, and roughly resembled two shallow bowls joined at the rims. It stopped just a foot above the shrine, then hung there, motionless.

"I meant no harm," Odius said in a broken whisper.

The cloud of light began to diminish but never completely disappeared. Then Odius noticed a circle of light about seven feet across appear on the side of the object. It was a perfectly round disk of brilliant white light. A split second latter, the great god himself, Poseidon, emerged from the light. He hung in mid air, just like his flying chariot, with his feet about a yard off the ground.

Poseidon looked just like the statues in Atlanta. He resembled a man about fifty years of age with a husky build and height of six and one-half feet. His dark brown, curly hair ran down the side of his face to form a full beard. He was barefoot and simply dressed in a loose toga. He held his characteristic trident proudly in his right hand and just floated in mid air. He did nothing other than stare at Odius with cold, empty eyes. His eyes were nothing like those of a man, they were completely black without whites or pupils. They looked like cold, lifeless pools of mire.

Odius just stood there looking back. He could hardly believe he was standing face to face with the patron god of Atlantis. There was a fear, or more like terror, that seemed to surround the aura of Poseidon. He knew he should not take too much of the god's time, but he could hardly bring himself to speak. He was not even sure of the proper way to address a god. As he tried to find the words to state his business, Poseidon began to approach.

The god floated through the air toward Odius without moving a muscle and without breaking his empty stare. He came within two feet of Odius and hovered just six inches off the ground. Odius was pushed near panic. He tried to take several steps backward but discovered that he could not move. He did not understand why he was unable to take his eyes off of Poseidon's black, gazing stare. It was as if he had no will of his own, or like his body was held in the grip of Poseidon.

Poseidon never broke eye contact as he lowered his trident and placed the center point firmly under Odius' chin.

When the god spoke, his loud booming voice seemed to come from everywhere.

"Why do you tax me, little one?"

Odius nearly fell apart. After a brief surge of panic he quickly regrouped his thoughts. He knew if he wanted to fare well through this experience he should not keep the god waiting for an explanation. He should just simply state what his master told him to say.

"Great Poseidon," he swallowed hard, which was difficult with the point of a trident under his chin, "our world is in grave danger from within. I beg of you, please help us, or your loyal subjects will surely perish."

"WHAT!?" Poseidon shouted in an angry voice, "You summon me from Olympus to tell me that which I already know?"

Odius was not sure if Poseidon actually expected a reply to his rhetorical question. He wanted to turn his eyes to the ground but could not. No matter how hard he tried, he could not break eye contact with Poseidon's black stare.

Poseidon removed his trident from Odius' chin then raised it to the heavens.

"I AM A GOD!" he shouted. "I know more of these matters than you could possibly learn."

Poseidon brought his trident across his chest. He still would not let Odius move or turn his eyes from the god's penetrating stare. "You mortals have destroyed my Atlantis with corruption and evil. You infect other lands with war and conquest. Many gods of Olympus argue over the exploits of Atlantis. Zeus grows angry and blames me, Poseidon, for conflicts in Olympus. Now you," he pushed Odius sharply with the staff of his trident, "have summoned me to Atlas." Odius was allowed to stumble backward several steps, he found the extra distance somewhat comforting. "Now I must explain to Zeus why I have been summoned to Atlas!"

Poseidon advanced closer to Odius, "What shall I tell him—Odius?"

Odius was so frightened that he could hardly muster a broken whisper, "I—I don't know, Great Poseidon."

"Certainly you don't know." He pointed toward the kingdom of Autowin with his trident. "You don't even know what takes place in Autowin! Mortals there wish to challenge the gods. Olympus wants to destroy Atlantis, but I, Poseidon, have stood in their way. Is that not enough to ask from a god?"

"Forgive me, great Poseidon. I meant no harm. I come only because I love Atlantis and—"

"And your master asked you to come."

"Yes, great Poseidon."

"I will spare your life because you serve your master—and he has served me well. He destroyed the crystal before your foolish king could cause more problems for me."

Poseidon began to slowly float backward toward the shrine. "But I have spoke your name, Odius. Such is demeaning to a god. I once spoke the name of Joda, son of Lykos. Like he, you shall be imprisoned for life.

"I condemn you, Odius, son of Everet, to the confines of this summit. Here you shall stay for the length of your mortal days."

Poseidon slowly drifted backward into the circle of light on the side of his flying chariot, then disappeared from view. Odius found he was free to move as soon as he lost sight of Poseidon's empty eyes. His fear took much longer to subside.

The cloud of light that surrounded the god's chariot began to increase in size and intensity. After several seconds, the mass of light, chariot, and poseidon, ascended into the clouds. Odius watched as the light disappeared into the heavens.

Although Odius trusted the Great Marce without question, he could not help but wonder why this trip to the territory of the gods was necessary. What did the Great Marce expect to achieve? The thought bothered Odius for quite some time. What bothered Odius even more was the fact that he failed his master—Poseidon was not willing to help.

Odius waited quite some time for his fear to subside. By the time he felt fit enough to approach his master the angry grey clouds had already changed to a soft white fluff. He reached in his robe and took out the master's shard.

"Master?"

The shard began to glow with it's familiar greenish-yellow light, "Yes, young Odius?"

"I fear I have failed you, Master."

"Faith, young Odius, faith." The shard went dark and his master said nothing more.

Maia had been watching the summit from her campsite at the base of the mountain. She watched the clouds grow to a dark, angry fury, then dwindle back to a peaceful white fluff huddled around the summit. She spoke quietly to herself as she looked up at the summit, "Well, Odius, did you win or did you lose?"

Chapter 5, The Love of a Woman

...On the third night of my imprisonment I was awaken by a dream. I dreamt I held a man's skull in the palm of my hand, but when I looked to my hand, I found it was not a skull at all...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

A warrior in Atlas armor sat idle on his horse some thirty miles from the city of Atlanta. Both the warrior and horse were well rested since they had nothing to do for the last three hours except lounge around under the shade of an old oak tree. The tree sat proudly on a grassy knoll, which made an excellent vantage point to survey the flat farmlands adjacent to Atlanta.

The warrior was on duty that morning. He carefully watched for any suspicious traffic on the roads or in the fields, as well as an occasional cloud drifting by or bird that might happen to light in his oak.

It was a boring job; waiting there to intercept the apprentice, should he happen to return. It was, however, much easier than gallivanting across the countryside like many of his fellow warriors. This warrior was lucky, he was one of the few who could return to Atlanta when relieved, those out searching the countryside could not return until Odius was found. Most of the Atlas military had been deployed to search for Odius, making it the largest manhunt in the history of Atlantis.

A dust trail on a distant section of road caught the warrior's attention. It was a small dust trail, perhaps one or two men. After watching the trail approach for several minutes, he could see that it was one lone man on a horse. The horse was apparently exhausted because it occasionally wove from one side of the road to the other.

The weary horse stumbled and collapsed about one hundred fifty yards from the warrior's post. After the dust settled, the warrior saw that neither the horse nor rider got back up. He decided to investigate and started down the road toward the fallen rider.

As he drew closer, he could see the rider was a fellow warrior. The warrior had a leg pinned under the horse, but otherwise seemed to be alright. The horse did not fare as well, it appeared to be as dead as a stone. It was motionless and covered with lather.

"Are you alright?" the warrior shouted.

"Yes—stupid horse!" the downed man replied.

The warrior dismounted then walked over to his associate. "It's a heavy stupid horse I'd wager." He chuckled despite the fallen warrior's discomfort.

"I've had worse," the fallen rider replied, "can't say as much for this horse."

"Tell me, what is your urgency that you had to push such a fine, heavy, lest we forget stupid, animal to its death?" The warrior conducted himself in a very casual manner, as if talking to a man under a horse was an everyday occurrence.

In an effort to save face, the fallen warrior also acted nonchalant, as if there were nothing unusual about lying on the ground with a dead horse on his leg. He reached under his armor and produced a piece of parchment, which was folded in thirds and sealed with a wax imprint.

"Get this to King Authemur with the fastest possible speed. It has been carried by five relays, you will make the sixth. Don't delay, leave at once."

"And leave you like this? Surely not!" The warrior examined the wax imprint. The seal indicated that the message was extremely urgent and for the king's eyes only.

"I can free myself, go quickly."

"The king can wait two minutes more," the warrior argued, "You could lose that leg if it stays under your horse too long."

The warrior drew his sword and slid it under the horse alongside the trapped leg, then used the sword like a lever in attempt to free the man from the horse.

"That's not good for the sword!" the downed rider said as he tugged and jerked to free his leg. Each time he pulled, the leg would slide an inch or so.

"No matter, Authemur has many more where this came from."

One final tug and the leg was free. The injured man slowly stood to his feet then limped when he tried to take a few steps.

"Can you make it to that oak?" The warrior pointed toward the oak tree with his sword.

"Yes."

"If I am unable to return, my relief will meet you there in five hours." He slid his sword back in its sheath, then climbed on his horse. "If I can, I'll be back before then with a horse for you."

The warrior took off at a full gallop toward the city of Atlanta. As he rode off, the injured man heard him shout, "Perhaps I'll bring a horse that's not as heavy...nor as stupid!" Then he laughed with a hardy roar until he was well out of hearing range.

Odius served his seventh day of imprisonment at the top of Mount Atlas. Frequent rains provided ample water but food was very scarce. Grass was the only organic material available and it was difficult to digest. Odius grew weaker and weaker with each passing day.

His injured leg appeared to be doing better, despite his weakness. Odius carefully cleaned it daily and spent many hours exercising it by walking the perimeter of the plains—there was little else to do. Although it had shown a marked improvement over the first few days of his imprisonment, it was still discolored and stiff.

Odius noticed that new markings had appeared in the grass since his encounter with Poseidon. These new markings, like the circles around the shrine, were formed by neatly bent stalks of grass. The new markings were two concentric rings around a solid center circle with a straight line extending from the center of the solid circle to several feet beyond the outer ring. This hieroglyph conveyed the general idea of 'capture', 'hold', 'caged', or 'trapped'. Odius assumed it was a sign to indicate his presence as a prisoner.

Odius thought about using the crystal of the gods for his escape, but decided against not to because it would surely anger Poseidon. Up to this point Poseidon had been lenient. If he tried to use the crystal to undermine Poseidon's decree then Poseidon would surely administer a far more sinister punishment. Even if he were bold enough to defy Poseidon, the crystal of the gods was still extremely difficult to control.

Odius longed to see another face. Even the empty face of a god would have been welcome. There was little Odius could do to pass the long, lonely hours other than walk and think. He found plenty of time to think.

Odius thought about the gods; what were they, and why were they? He also thought about the Great Marce. He tried talking to the Great Marce several times but the shard remained silent and dark. Odius also thought about the woman he had grown to love. He knew if she followed his instructions she would have left after the third day. Odius wondered if she felt the pain of their separation as deeply as he did. He wished he would have held her in his arms while he had the chance. The fact that he did not became his deepest regret.

Maia still held her vigil at the base of the mountain—despite Odius' instructions. She thought he might have been delayed a little and decided to stay a fourth day, then a fifth, and so on, and so on. Although she did not want to accept the loss of her gallant Odius, she slowly came to realize that he was not coming back. For the first time after many years of solitude Maia finally began to feel lonely.

Maia tried to keep busy throughout the past week. Her makeshift shelter of vine and blanket had become a sturdy lean-to of sticks and pine bows. She made a harness for the sword, which was neatly woven out of hair from the horse's tail. The harness allowed her to wear the sword across her back in a more comfortable fashion than simply sliding the sheath under the strap of her top.

Maia also carved a belt buckle of rock-hard briar root to give Odius upon his return. She noticed that Odius did not have one, he simply tied his cloth belt around his waist. She thought a man as kind and noble as Odius should have a buckle like most men of great position.

It was a small flat buckle about two inches wide and just over a quarter inch thick. The face of the buckle was decorated with her typical impressions of flowers and squirrels. The back of the buckle had two vertical ribs with narrow slots to accommodate a cloth belt. It was an attractive and intricate piece of work. Briar root was extremely difficult to work with and she went through great pains to ensure that it was of the best possible quality she could muster. The finished buckle was superior for accoutrements of the time and would have been fit to give a king. She held the buckle loosely in her hand as she stared into the week-old fire pit with an empty, distant expression.

Maia had kept a fire burning day and night since Odius left—it was her way of keeping vigil for his return. With all hopes of their reunion lost, the fire that she carefully nurtured had been reduced to smoldering coals.

"Curse those demons." she said in a broken voice. Her fantasies and dreams of the future were crushed—it was time to return to her reality of solitude and pain at the hands of her nemesis.

It occurred to her that she had not see that filthy black shadow in nearly a month. It seldom stayed away for more than two weeks and was long overdue. She knew it would soon be lurking about to seek its way with her and violate the very core of her well being. Somehow she did not seem to care. Nothing seemed to matter to her anymore. The loss of Odius brought great despair and self pity.

"If I were a wizard..." A tear began to run down her cheek. She took a deep breath, then began to cry. She shouted in a choppy voice broken by the strain of her tears, "...I would torture those demons until they begged for mercy! And when they did, I would crush them for killing Odius!"

She continued to cry as she gently rubbed the face of the buckle. She looked down at the buckle through tear-streaked eyes. She could not bear to keep it, nor could she bear throw it away. She had no experience with matters of the heart and did not understand the pain she was feeling. Many confusing thoughts went through her mind, most of which were wishes of being able to change what had happened.

"If I were a god," her voice was still fractured by her tears, "I would undo the demon's evil and bring my Odius back from death."

Maia continued to cry as she got up to gather her modest belongings. By the time she rolled everything in her blankets her sobbing was reduced to tears, sniffles, and short sporadic breaths. After she tied her blankets into a neat pack, she looked at the buckle in her hand one last time, then tenderly tucked it away in her pack.

She looked up at the summit of Mount Atlas. "If I were a king, I would gather the whole of my army into one place, and command them all to beg the gods—"

She stopped suddenly. She stopped talking, crying, and for a brief moment she even stopped breathing. She stood there frozen with her mind tormented by confusing thoughts. She finally succumbed to a great pressure from within. She no longer acted on intellect, she was acting on her heart.

"What if..."

Maia's idea gave her a glimmer of hope. That faint glint of hope brought a happiness along with tears. She began to cry all over again but this time her tears seemed more triumphant. She hastily kicked loose dirt over the fire then hurried to the horse with her pack.

She spoke to the horse in a raspy voice as she secured her pack. "I hope you feel in good form today!"

Maia made one last glance toward the summit of Mount Atlas, then climbed on the horse. She grabbed the reins with one hand and a handful of mane with the other.

"Onward beasty!"

Maia jabbed her heels deep into horse, causing it to bolt at a full gallop. They charged through the thick pine country like an experienced warrior and steed. Her teeth were clenched and tears of hope continued to flow. Maia did not slow her pace until she reached the edge of the scenic foothills.

King Authemur was conducting business in the palace courtyard under bright Atlanta sunshine. He was accompanied by two personal body guards, a common servant, and three logistic officials from his lower offices. The business at hand concerned planning an upcoming trip to the kingdom of Autowin.

"The matters to be discussed in Autowin are extremely sensitive." King Authemur spoke with his typical condescending attitude. He was planted in a comfortable chair and relaxed while the others stood around him. A servant stood at his side holding a platter of grapes, which the king picked through with finicky fingers. The king seemed to give more attention to the grapes than the officials he met with. "I can say little of the meeting other than it will be the most important diplomatic mission in the history of Atlas. We must make an impressive appearance."

The king paused to stuff several grapes in his mouth. After rolling the grapes around in his mouth for several seconds, he found one was not to his liking. He picked the less than perfect grape from his mouth.

"Bah," he tossed the grape on the ground, "tart". Then he busied himself with searching the platter for a suitable replacement.

"Where were we?" he asked while picking through the grapes.

"Ah—we must make an impressive appearance, Eminence," one of the officials said.

"Yes, exactly!" He held up a grape for close inspection, then returned it to the platter. "I want to flash plenty of gold, for gold is the measure of success. Put gold fittings on all our chariots, gold bridles for our horses," he paused to inspect another grape, "gold scrolls and folders for our documents—gold, gold, gold. When the affair is over, we will melt the gold down and return it to the treasury. I also want the royal jewels displayed."

He popped a grape in his mouth then thought for a moment. "Perhaps we should let key members of our delegation wear less spectacular pieces of the royal jewelry collection—as if they owned them. Let the others think such is the quality of common jewelry in the great kingdom of Atlas. What do you think?"

"Prudent, Eminence," one of the officials replied. "How many to your entourage? Might I suggest three score, Eminence?"

"Perhaps four or—" The king stopped speaking when he noticed a warrior entering the courtyard. The courtyard quickly became silent, except for the cadence of the warrior's boots as he marched toward the king's assembly.

Everyone remained still as they watched the warrior approach across the long courtyard. When the warrior finally reached the king's party he saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder, then stated his business.

"I bear a message for Authemur, king of Atlas!"

The warrior reached under his armor and produced a piece of parchment, which was folded and sealed with a wax imprint.

The king snatched the parchment from the warrior's hand then examined the seal. The seal indicated that the message was urgent and for the king's eyes only.

"We will continue this matter at another time." He gestured to the officials and his servant with a subtle brush of the fingertips. They showed their respect with a single nod, then left the king's company.

The king impatiently tapped the parchment against his fingertips as he watched the officials walk away. He waited for them to get well out of hearing range before he continued.

"From where did this come?" the king shook the parchment in front of the warrior's face.

"I don't know from where the message came. It was delivered to my post at the oak tree two hundred fifty stadia north on Olympus road. I am the last of six relays."

"Very well... Return to your post."

The king waited for the warrior to leave before he broke the parchment's seal. His bodyguards watched as he read the urgent message. One of the king's bodyguards, Valimur, seemed to be particularly interested in the king's letter.

As the king read the document his expression slowly changed to reflect bad news. After several silent moments, the king crumpled the parchment in anger.

"Blast!"

"Distressing news, Eminence?" Valimur asked.

"Yes, Valimur." The king rose from his chair. "Our delegation to Egypt has encountered severe problems."

"They would not wage war on Mestor?" Valimur asked.

"Our delegation told Egypt that Mestor was responsible for their crop failure, and we would provide food if they marched against Mestor."

The kings' voice grew louder, "Except our delegation did not bother to verify Egypt's crop failure before they stated our proposition!"

King Authemur took a moment or two to calm down and bring his voice to a more civilized level. "It would seem Egypt is expecting a record harvest this season." He held up the crumpled parchment. "According to this message, our delegation was imprisoned by the Egyptian government and due to stand trial for conspiracy. The Egyptian government will be seeking an official explanation for the incident."

"What will that official explanation be, Eminence?"

"It must be denial! We know nothing of their activities, and assume they acted for their own personal gain. Atlas was not involved and their documents are obviously forgeries."

"But, Eminence, you would be condemning them to death. Such is punishment for conspiracy in Egypt."

Again, the king raised his voice, "I have bigger problems to worry about!"

Once again, the king waited a moment to calm down before he continued. "I wanted Mestor to be burdened with a war before we journeyed to Autowin!"

The king flopped down in his chair. He was silent for a moment as he stared off into the distance.

"Now I need that apprentice more than ever."

"What good is the apprentice without the crystal?" Valimur asked.

"Do you not see? Have you learned nothing at my side? We need the apprentice because he possesses knowledge of the mystic arts. We need every advantage possible when we make our bid for world power in Autowin. Knowledge of the mystic arts is a clear advantage."

Authemur stood up then nervously paced about the courtyard. "We are the greatest kingdom in Atlantis. We stand leagues above the rest. Mestor is the only kingdom that could possibly challenge our bid for world power. I wanted them burdened with a war, but now we must look elsewhere for an advantage. The apprentice is an excellent advantage!"

"But, is the apprentice worth such an expense, Eminence?" Valimur asked.

The king stopped pacing and looked at Valimur with a cold and hardened expression. Valimur could see anger in the king's face. The king's expression held firm as he started to approach Valimur with slow, arrogant footsteps. "What are you implying?" he asked pointedly.

"Just that you expend many men in search of the apprentice. Could those men be of more use elsewhere?"

"I believe I've had my fill of you, Valimur." The king pointed an angry finger at his bodyguard. "I no longer need you as a guard, you shall join the search for the cursed apprentice."

"Eminence?"

"I have spoken!" the king shouted. "Report to command. Tell them to assign you to the search and to submit candidates for your replacement. You are relieved of this post!"

Valimur had a look of disbelief on his face. He knew the king's decision to discharge him was made in a hasty fit of anger, and that perhaps the decision was not in the king's best interest. Valimur also knew there would be no point in asking the king to reconsider because the king's foolish pride would not permit a royal decree to be rescinded. Valimur simply nodded then turned to leave the king's presence for the last time.

As Valimur walked toward the gates of the courtyard, a sinister grin began to appear on his face. He knew the king's problems were only beginning. Valimur knew much more about these matters than the king realized.

The beautiful foothills of Mount Atlas had many lush meadows filled with wildflowers and tender grasses. A young deer grazed peacefully at the edge of one such meadow where prime, young shoots seemed unusually tasty and plentiful. The graceful beast foraged among the wildflowers in peace, unaware that someone was watching it from the cover of nearby brush.

Maia kept perfectly still as her eyes followed the young doe. She hid behind a thin cover of brush, which was just tall enough to conceal both horse and rider. Maia had been watching the doe from the back of her horse for some time as it slowly wandered about in search of tender, young shoots. She would have preferred a more impressive animal, but this one would at least serve her purpose.

The doe had encroached to within ten feet of Maia's blind when a whip of the horse's tail alerted the doe to danger. The doe froze in its tracks then nervously sniffed the air for any signs of predators. Maia knew she had to act immediately or lose her opportunity.

Maia dug her heels into the horse then drew her sword. Both horse and rider crashed through the brush and charged for the unsuspecting doe. The deer reacted almost instantly and started to flee for the safety of nearby trees. The horse's thundering hoofbeats were no match for the doe's graceful bounds. Maia knew the deer would have no problem outrunning her horse; if she did not intercept it within ten yards then it would go free.

Maia managed to close the space between predator and prey to about four feet before the doe started to gain ground. She swung the sword in desperation but the blade fell at least a foot shy of the animal. Her aggressive swing threw her body off balance and she started to slide off the horse. Although she managed to keep one leg over the animal's back, the bulk of her body dangled precariously from the side of the horse. The only thing between her and the ground was a handful of mane.

"Whoa!" Maia struggled to regain her mount as the horse slowly came to a halt. By the time she sat squarely on the back of the horse the doe was nowhere in sight. Maia was somewhat disgusted with herself as she returned the sword to its sheath.

Maia had no experience hunting big game—or hunting from horseback. She considered the failed attempt a learning experience and decided to try again. She circled back to the down-wind side of the meadow to select a new blind. She could not use the same wall of brush as before because it was thoroughly trampled and would not provide any cover.

Maia checked the entire downwind edge of the meadow but could not find enough brush to conceal a horse and rider. She was toying with the idea of moving to a different meadow when the horse nudged its head toward the ground to get its share of the tender grass. Maia gave the horse some slack on the reins to let it grab a mouthful of grass while she thought about a subsequent course of action.

The horse nipped and pulled at the sweet grasses. It lifted its head to savor the greenery, then went for another bite. Maia gently patted the horse on the side of it's neck.

"That's a good beasty."

Maia watched the horse as she thought about what she was doing. She had a great respect for life, especially the forest creatures who have been her only friends for many long years. She loathed the thought of hunting and killing. She wondered if this foul exploit would actually help Odius, or if she was just acting in desperation.

She thought for a moment about abandoning the hunt and just accepting the loss of her gallant Odius. For some reason, that thought seemed more distasteful than the hunt. She knew she had to try as long as there was a remote chance of helping the man she loved. She decided to dismount and let the horse graze before moving on to fresh hunting grounds.

Maia was just about to dismount when she noticed three deer grazing comfortably at the far edge of the meadow. They apparently snuck up on her while she was lost in thought. She did not see them enter the meadow, she just happened to look up and notice them grazing. The small herd consisted of two does and a very large, impressive buck.

Every so often the horse would take a casual step or two to cover new ground but the deer paid little attention. It would seem the deer were willing to share their meadow with the horse—despite its rider. Maia held her position on the horse and tried to stay as still as possible. She wondered how close she could get to the herd before they panicked.

Over the next ten or fifteen minutes the deer and horse wandered about the meadow eating at their leisure. At times they wandered closer together, and at other times they wandered farther apart. There was little Maia could do except wait for an opportunity.

Maia did not want to issue any commands to the horse for fear it would alert the deer. She was familiar with the way animals communicated and knew body language played an important role. At the moment, the grazing horse behaved as it would in the wild and the deer seemed comfortable with it. Maia was afraid that if she invoked a trained response from the horse, the deer might become nervous or alerted to the horse's artificial behavior.

After a long and tedious wait, Maia saw her opportunity. The distance between her and the large buck had closed to about twelve feet. The animals had been grazing for quite some time, she knew they would probably move on soon. This might be her best shot at the buck. The distance was a little more than she hoped for but she did have an advantage; a doe was grazing just a foot or so on the other side of the buck. The two deer stood next to each other and both were broadside to Maia.

Maia watched the doe and took careful note of its eating habits. It lowered its head to nip the grass at regular and predictable intervals. The buck was somewhat less predictable, its eating patterns were more random. Maia decided to time her attack with the doe.

When the doe lowered its head to bite at the grass, Maia gently stroked the blind side of the horse with her foot. The horse did not understand this strange command, but the gesture brought its trained responses to mind. The horse lifted its head in anticipation of a command and was ready to react. Maia discretely took up slack in the reins as she kept her eye on the doe. The buck was cooperating beautifully; it was still between her and the doe.

The horse's change in posture made the buck nervous, it lifted its head and looked anxiously at the horse. The doe did not notice, it could not see the horse from the other side of the buck. When the doe lowered its head for another bite, Maia reached for the sword and charged the buck.

The horse was ready for her command and responded immediately. The buck's response was just as instant because its attention was already focused on the horse and rider. As the buck sprang away from the horse it bumped into the unsuspecting doe. During the confusion, Maia managed to close the gap between her and the buck to three or four feet.

Maia was still not within striking range when the buck began to gain ground. In desperation, Maia lunged from the horse and dove at the buck with her sword ready to strike. Everything happened so fast; she swung her sword at the buck, she saw the buck's legs in her face, then everything went black with a cold thud. Maia was unconscious when she hit the ground.

When Maia regained consciousness she found herself lying in the grassy meadow next to the sword. It was still daylight and the sun was still high in the sky. She slowly sat up then held her head for a moment until the dizziness subsided. She began to wonder how long she was out.

After several minutes of recuperating, Maia stood up and looked across the meadow. She found the horse grazing at the edge of the meadow but there was no sign of any deer. Maia had hoped she would at least have a carcass to show for her efforts. She was doing this for Odius and was determined to try again. She thought maybe she would have better luck if she tied the sword to a long stick and use it as a spear.

Maia decided to gather her belongings and try another meadow. When she reached down to pick up the sword, she noticed that blood covered the sword as well as blood in the grass nearby. The blood made a trail that lead off to trees at the edge of the meadow. Apparently, her strike had made contact with the buck.

The blood on the sword had begun to congeal but was not entirely dry. Maia knew she could not have been unconscious too long since the blood was still relatively fresh. There was plenty of blood on the ground, surely the animal was mortally wounded. Maia decided to track the buck and claim her prize. She put the sword in its sheath then went to get the horse.

Maia led the horse on foot as she followed the tracks and scattered blotches of blood to the edge of the meadow. She continued to follow the trail, which led her through woods and thickets. After about a quarter mile the blood became more frequent and the hoof prints were spaced closer together.

The trail led Maia to another small meadow where the animal apparently stumbled several times. She crouched down to examine an area where the animal fell. The flattened grass was stained with fresh blood, which had hardly begun to congeal. Maia knew she was gaining ground on the beast. She tried to guess how much of a lead the wounded animal had when her attention was drawn by a disturbance in the brush at the distant edge of the meadow.

Maia led the horse to the edge of the field where she found the buck. It was weak and struggling to free itself from the thick brush in which it became entangled. The deer could only grapple with its front legs because its hind quarters were completely immobilized and covered with blood. There was a two-foot gash in its rump which laid its flesh open to a depth of two or three inches. Maia found the sight horrifying.

The deer would struggle, then lie still for a brief moment, then struggle again. Each time it struggled to get free it only embedded itself more deeply into the brush. Maia had hoped that the deer would be dead when she found it. Its pitiful face was streaked with panic as it expelled the last of its strength in a feeble attempt to escape death. Besides having no taste for blood, Maia had always considered the woodland creatures her friends. She could hardly stand the sight of the atrocity she committed.

Maia walked around to the front of the animal. She drew the sword, then swallowed hard as a tear pooled in her eye.

"I—I'm sorry."

Maia knew she must finish what she started. She took a deep breath, then ran the sword through the deer's neck. The animal quivered for moment, then went limp.

Maia withdrew the sword from the deer. She felt bad about what she had done. She tried to keep her spirits up by remembering why she did it. Maia slid the sword back in its sheath then started walking toward the horse. She still had a tough day's work ahead of her. She began to think more about the evening's preparation and less about killing the deer. She hoped her efforts would not be in vain.

Maia walked up to the horse and gathered the reins that dangled from its bridal.

"It's a fine animal," she said to the horse, "It will be a fitting sacrifice for the gods. I'll offer it to Poseidon—then ask him to undo the work of the demons and restore life to Odius."

She knew little of the gods, unlike Odius who had to study them during his apprenticeship. She believed Odius was dead and was not entirely sure if the gods had the power to restore life. But she was willing to try. A subtle smile came to her as she thought about the possibility.

"Come on," she said to the horse, "we'll find a vine to drag it out in the open, then we'll gather wood to burn our sacrifice."

Maia mounted the horse, then started across the meadow.

"By morning we will be back at the cave of dragons and Odius will come to my side—you just wait and see."

Maia spent several hours gathering wood for the fire. She collected everything from kindling to logs. Some of the logs were almost fifteen feet in length and had to be dragged by the horse. By late afternoon she cleared all the deadwood for hundreds of yards and constructed a neat rectangular pile of six or seven cords.

Moving the remains of the buck proved to be a formidable task in and of itself. The buck was a large, impressive animal of at least three hundred pounds. Maia spent the better part of an hour just hacking down the brush in which the buck had become entangled.

It was early evening before she managed to get the three hundred pound buck on top of her pile of wood. She had to make a skid out of logs to carry the buck. The horse pulled the skid up a crude ramp consisting of two logs and many loose sticks, which were used as rollers. It took several hours of tugging, pushing, and prying before the buck rested on top of the huge pile of wood. Both Maia and the horse were exhausted by the time she finally struck a flint to the kindling.

By late evening the fire burned so fiercely that Maia had to stand at least twenty feet away. Flames, smoke, and embers towered high into the heavens. Maia was inexperienced with the rituals of sacrifice and did not know exactly what to say. She simply praised the name of Poseidon, and asked that he restore life to Odius.

The fire burned late into the night. When the fierce blaze had been reduced to a smoldering bed of coals, a pair of unicorns appeared at the edge of the meadow. The unicorns just stood there looking at the coal bed for almost an hour. Maia took this as an omen because unicorns were reputed to be creatures of the gods.

Shortly after the unicorns left, Maia gathered her belongings then climbed on the horse. She watched the embers glowing in the coal bed for quite some time, wondering if the gods would grant her favor.

"It's done," she said to the horse, "nothing left to do but wait at the cave of dragons."

Maia gently nudged the horse with her heels. Together, the weary pair started at a slow plod toward the lower slopes of Mount Atlas—and the cave of dragons.

King Crylos of Gades was, once again, burning the midnight oil in his chambers. He was trying to piece together confusing politics that seemed to dominate the continent of Atlantis. He knew each of the ten kingdoms would be present at the secret conference to be held in Autowin, and that most of them would make a bid for world power. What he did not know was who had the best edge for winning that bid. He was just about ready to put his notes away for the night when someone knocked at his chamber door.

"Enter."

His personal aid stepped in, "A stranger is here to see you, Eminence. I tried to turn him away but he said his business with you is urgent."

"Does this stranger have a name?" the king asked.

"He would not give his full name, Eminence, just—Valimur."

The king's expression changed from fatigue to intrigue. After a moment, a smile slowly came to his face, then he began to chuckle.

"Show him in immediately! We should not keep the stranger waiting."

The aid left the king's chambers. King Crylos cleared his notes from a neighboring chair in preparation for his guest. After a short pause his aid returned with Valimur.

"Eminence—" Valimur was silenced when the king placed a finger to his lips.

"I don't require your services at the moment," the king said to his aid.

The aid nodded then left the room. Neither the king nor Valimur spoke until the heavy wooden door swung shut.

"Well, Valimur," the king said with a smile, "what brings my most trusted spy to the king's chambers on a night like this?" King Crylos motioned to the chair.

"Thank you, Eminence," he said as he walked over to take a seat. "I'm afraid I have been relieved of duty by king Authemur. I am no longer his bodyguard."

"Pity," the king said, "he paid well. Do not distress yourself—you'll continue to receive your wages from my paymaster until I find a new position for you. You have served me well for many years."

"You are most kind, Eminence. My deepest regret is that I can no longer serve Gades as a spy against Atlas. I wish to make a final report, Eminence."

"You can dispense with the amenities while we're alone in my chambers. You need not refer to me as eminence." The king settled back in his chair. "Continue, I am anxious to hear your report."

"It would seem that king Authemur's delegation to Egypt ran asunder."

"Really?" the king said with a sarcastic smile. "That's too bad."

Valimur nodded, "They were imprisoned and due to stand trial. Authemur will turn his back on his own delegation and let them be put to death."

"His plan was feeble anyway," King Crylos said, "He couldn't possibly enjoy the spoils of a war between Egypt and Mestor."

"It was not the spoils he sought. It concerns the bid for world power."

A look of alarm came over King Crylos. "Speak of this to no one! I have not even told my own bodyguards about the bid for world power. They only know that I am going to Autowin, they do not know why."

King Crylos looked disturbed as he thought for a moment. "Does his other bodyguard know of the bid for world power?"

Valimur nodded.

"Then we must send an assassin to dispose of him. Only the kings of Atlantis are suppose to know anything about the bid for world power. You're not suppose to know about it either." King Crylos let out a sigh of disgust. "Authemur is a fool!"

"I could hardly disagree," Valimur replied. "True he is arrogant and selfish, perhaps talks too much—but he is also cunning and ruthless. These qualities make your foolish adversary quite dangerous."

"Agreed!" the king replied. "Tell me, exactly why did Authemur want Egypt to wage war on Mestor?"

"He wanted Mestor to be burdened with a war during the bid for world power. He believes Mestor is the only kingdom to rival his bid."

King Crylos thought about Valimur's words for a while. "Hmm..." He picked up his notes from the table then began to study them. Valimur could see the confusion on the king's face.

"Why?" the king asked.

Valimur shrugged his shoulders.

King Crylos continued to study his notes for several minutes before he continued. He shook his head. "I see no reason why Authemur thinks Mestor is a threat to his bid for world power." He looked up from his notes. "What does Authemur know about Mestor that I don't?"

"He never discussed the details."

"It is a pity that King Xaveous of Mestor does not need a new bodyguard. You already know about the bid for world power and would be useful to me in the kingdom of Mestor." The king shook his head, "You could not win that position—could you?"

"No," Valimur replied. Then, a grin slowly appeared on his face as he gave the subject a little more thought. "However, perhaps he needs a spy!"

The king began to smile, "What do you propose?"

"I could go to King Xaveous, as a bodyguard scorned, and tell him I seek vengeance against Authemur and would spy for him against Atlas. Meanwhile, I report my findings to you here in Gades."

"Excellent! As usual, you make me proud. Leave for Mestor on the morrow."

"As you wish."

"Be sure to hold out for a good price—don't appear too eager to take the position."

Valimur nodded.

"Before you leave... Do you know what Authemur plans to do now that his delegation failed in Egypt?"

"He puts more effort into finding the apprentice."

"The apprentice? Why?"

"Because he has knowledge of the mystic arts."

"Oh." King Crylos seemed to be satisfied with the Valimur's answer at first, but the more he thought about it the more confused he appeared to be.

"Well—what will he gain by that?" the king asked.

"I don't know. Apparently Mestor's advantage has something to do with the mystic arts. Authemur seems to think the apprentice is all he needs to secure his bid for world power. He's posted a wealthy reward for the return of Odius."

"Hmm... Perhaps you can find the answer to that in Mestor?"

"Possible." Valimur replied.

"In the mean time, perhaps we should be looking for this apprentice ourselves."

"Indeed."

Odius awoke to his eighth day of imprisonment to rather odd circumstances. He had bed down for the night near one of the distant bluish-grey boulders, but woke up standing in front of the crystal of the gods. Odius was confused, it almost seemed as if he were in a dream but he was certain that he was awake.

As the last remnants of sleep fled him, he realized something was drastically wrong. He could not move! He tried, but his body would not respond. It was then he noticed the overpowering and frightening presence of a god. He could not see the god because he could not take his eyes off the crystal, but he knew one was nearby.

Odius heard Poseidon's deep, booming voice echo across the summit.

"Look here!" A trident pointed to the crystal from somewhere behind him.

It took Odius a while to figure out what was happening because he just woke up from a sound sleep. He felt the power of the crystal ripple through him, then he began to see pictures in his head. They were pictures of Maia.

Throughout the next several minutes, Odius watched Maia's exploits of the previous day. He saw everything from the time she left the cave of dragons up to the moment she offered her sacrifice to Poseidon. It was a whole day's worth of events packed into the span of several minutes, yet the pictures did not seem to pass by in fast motion. Odius had a clear concept of how much time Maia spent stalking, tracking, and gathering wood.

This recounting of Maia's efforts was extremely unique. Odius realized he could feel what Maia felt at the time. He felt her pain when she was knocked unconscious, the sadness she felt when she killed the deer, as well as the ache in her muscles when the day's work was over. All Maia's feelings and desires were related to Odius through the crystal of the gods—right down to her craving for adventure.

Among Maia's feelings was her love for Odius. For a brief, fleeting moment Odius experienced himself as Maia saw him. In her eyes, Odius was filled with kindness and virtue. She held him in the highest esteem above all nobility and kings. He never knew love could run so deep. It was truly a unique experience; for a man to feel the love of a woman. Odius came to realize that with great love comes great responsibility.

As the pictures began to fade, Odius felt ashamed. He thought this experience was a gross infringement of Maia's privacy. He felt he had no right to sift through Maia's deepest emotions, especially where he was concerned.

"A sacrifice from the heart is the greatest a god can receive."

Odius started to turn around, although he made no effort to do so himself. He suddenly found himself looking into the cold, hard face of Poseidon. As before, Poseidon just floated in mid air with his feet only inches off the ground. The god's overpowering presence was quite a contrast from the gentler feelings he experienced just moments ago. He looked into Poseidon's black, empty eyes as the god continued in his loud, intimidating voice.

"Her sacrifice has not won your freedom, it only brought you to mind—and I have a mind to use you."

There was a pause. Odius suddenly felt strange, it was not like anything he had ever experienced before. He tried to assess what was happening. It seemed like some sort of confusion was taking place in his head. He felt crowded.

Then Odius realized what was happening. The god had entered the sanctuary of his mind. Some aspect of Poseidon had intruded into the very core of his consciousness and was freely picking through his thoughts and memories. Suddenly Odius realized that there was nothing he could conceal from the god. A sinister grin appeared on Poseidon's face in response to that realization.

The ordeal only lasted several seconds, but to Odius it seemed incredibly long and distasteful. He was angry about the incident and Poseidon knew it. Since no secrets could be kept, both of them also knew that Odius would just grin and bear it. When the incident was over, Odius found that Poseidon's overpowering aura was not nearly as bad as having him in his head. Poseidon continued in his loud, booming voice.

"Take this..." A cloth bag with a long shoulder strap appeared out of nowhere. The bag was rectangular and about the size of an average piece of parchment. It hung motionless in mid air for a while, then drifted toward Odius. Odius tried to reach for it but his muscles would not respond to his commands.

After a moment the strap settled around his neck, then Odius felt the full weight of the bag. It contained something bulky.

"What is it?" Odius asked.

"DO NOT QUESTION A GOD!!" Poseidon shouted in anger.

After a brief pause the god continued.

"Foul times have come. There is a traitor among the gods—a traitor who conspires against Olympus. Zeus grows angry and threatens to destroy the whole of the world in hopes of trapping the traitor. All the gods accuse each other of this wrong and conflict in Olympus is plentiful. Rest will not come to the heavens until the traitor is revealed.

"Many accuse me, Poseidon, because the traitor toils with mortals in my domain of Atlantis. I must find this traitor or suffer unjust vengeance from Olympus. I will use you for this means. Are you willing to serve your god?"

Odius thought the question was unfair and redundant; unfair because he could hardly refuse, and redundant because Poseidon had already been deep inside his mind.

"I shall, great Poseidon."

"Good. The traitor has concealed himself from the gods, and from mortal men. But perhaps traitor has not prepared a disguise to conceal himself from a Great Marce. All the gods know the Great Marce is locked in your shard—and that there will never be another."

Poseidon pointed a half-bent finger in Odius' face. "You have the skills of a Great Marce."

After a brief pause Poseidon lowered his finger. "I will be sending an apprentice to do a master's task, but you will have to do. It would seem I have little choice during these trying times."

Poseidon drifted backward several feet. "I release you, Odius son of Everet, from this domain of the gods. Go now, leave the way you came."

"I thank you, great Poseidon!"

"SILENCE!... Already soldiers of Atlantis are searching for you—rewards have been offered for your capture. Soon, the gods will be looking for you as well.... You must find the traitor from Olympus."

Poseidon began to drift toward his flying chariot, which floated just feet above the shrine.

"DO NOT CROSS ME!!" the god shouted. "I could make your life unpleasant!"

Of that Odius had no doubt.

Poseidon drifted through the circle of brilliant white light on the side of his chariot then disappeared from view. Odius found that he could once again move. He was anxious to look in the bag but decided to wait until Poseidon's chariot was well out of sight. He watched the chariot rise toward the clouds in its odd shroud of light. It had just disappeared from view when he heard his master's voice.

"You have done well, young Odius. You make me proud."

"Hello, Master. As always it is good to hear from you."

Odius moved the cloth bag from his neck to his shoulder, then reached in his robe for the master's shard. It was glowing with a gentle greenish-yellow light.

"Poseidon has taken a dangerous risk today. He must place great trust in you, young Odius. Examine the treasure he left with you. Handle it with care."

Odius carefully opened the bag, then peered in. He could hardly believe what he saw. "It's—it's a crystal!"

"Not just any crystal," his master replied.

"I can see that, Master! It's..." He simply shook his head.

"Go ahead, take it out and have a look," his master encouraged, "but be careful, it is in two pieces."

Odius tucked the shard under his belt, then reached into the bag. He lifted the crystal out with slow, careful movements. It was remarkable!

The crystal was in the shape of a human skull. It was painfully accurate in every detail. The lower jaw was loosely set in the skull, just like the jawbone of a man. Odius had to support the jaw when he lifted it because the jaw was free to move from side to side or open and close—just like the jaw of a man. It looked exactly like a human skull down to the fine details of its cranial cavity, teeth, and orbits of the eyes. There was even a place at the base of the skull where the spinal cord attached. It was a perfect replica of a skull and jawbone.

Odius said nothing, he just held it up to the sunlight and examined it. He was not entirely sure what to make of it. He turned it around several times to examine its fine detail and flawless crystalline structure. It was an incredibly pure crystal.

"Legend calls it the Skull of Poseidon," his master said. "I did not think it actually existed. According to legend, it is Poseidon's own personal crystal. He must offer Zeus an explanation for its disappearance."

Odius placed his hand on top of the skull to get a feel for its power. He closed his eyes then concentrated. Odius was relieved to find that it was not unmanageable like the crystal of the gods, but he could tell there was much more to it than the simple crystal that the master's shard came from.

"It can do more than our crystal in Atlanta, I can feel it!"

"Yes, young Odius, it is unique. There is a scroll concerning the Skull of Poseidon in the archives at Atlanta. It is the scroll from which the legend came. Go to Atlanta, young Odius, and get the scroll. We will need it if we are to hunt down a traitorous god."

Odius was still admiring the skull of Poseidon. "It is amazing, Master."

"We must go to Atlanta at once, young Odius."

"Certainly, Master." Odius carefully returned the skull of Poseidon to its bag.

"How will we find this traitor, Master?"

"First get the scroll. It is a long journey to Atlanta, perhaps we will devise a plan before we get there."

"As you wish, Master."

Odius started walking toward the bluish-grey boulder that sheltered the staircase to the dragon's den.

"There is something else you must do, young Odius."

"Yes?"

"Seek the girl of the forest—"

"Maia?"

"Yes, Maia. Find her and take her back to her home on your way to Atlanta. Stay the night with her, she will need you tonight more than ever. But be careful, young Odius, danger waits for you at every bend in the path."

"What kind of danger, Master?"

His master had nothing more to say. The shard went dark then Odius returned it safely to his robe. He picked up his pace as he hurried toward the boulder that he had emerged from eight days earlier. He was anxious to leave this territory of the gods and descend to his rightful place in the mortal world.

Chapter 6, Unforseen Consequences

...Toy not with the gods for their humor is foul and vengeance is quick. Avoid them lest they burden you with strange gifts or covet your life to satisfy their selfish needs...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

A Greek flagship with a compliment of 119 warships set sail from a port in the Mediterranean. Within several days, they would pick up another 400 ships from other Greek harbors until they gathered a formidable force of five hundred twenty vessels. The armada had orders to sail for Atlantis and launch a campaign against the kingdom of Atlas.

The Greek government declared war on Atlas when the merchant ship returned with news of Demesis' death. Greek officials were horrified by the captain's account of how their diplomat was treated and the crude manner in which their cargo was stolen. This swift and decisive action against Atlas was not administered by the heads of state—it was directed by their patron god, Athena.

The gold and ivory they were cheated out of was to be used for a statue to honor Athena. When the high priests heard of the loss they consulted the goddess for a course of action. Athena's decision was to shelter no expense in waging war against Atlas. Furthermore, Athena told her high priests to crush any Atlantean forces that might stand between them and their objective. The Greek government honored the decree of Athena.

It was not Athena's vanity for loss of a statue that curbed her decision; the incident was simply an excuse to dispatch forces to Atlantis. Once her Greeks were on Atlantean soil she would have a louder voice in the council of Zeus for deliberations concerning Atlantis. It was a political move to improve her position against Atlantis and rival its patron god, Poseidon.

Like many gods, Athena suspected Poseidon was the traitor and had an ambition to prove it. Athena craved the glory and power that would come with exposing the traitor and saving Olympus. She wanted this power above all else. The lives of her Greek warriors and the state of the mortal world were incidental to her cause.

Odius took one last look across the summit of Mount Atlas. At first he thought he fared quite well in this territory of the gods, but in retrospect he decided otherwise. Originally he came to ask Poseidon for help on behalf of the mortal world, instead he was rooked into helping Poseidon. Odius wondered if any other mortal had ever set foot in this forbidden domain and, if so, how well they might have fared.

Odius took his parting glance from the bluish-gray boulder that he stumbled out of eight days earlier. He often visited the boulder during his imprisonment to see if the door would appear on the outside as it had on the inside. On one occasion he held a day-long vigil to see if the door would appear but the boulder remained unchanged as if it were an ordinary rock.

Odius wondered about the nature of the door; did it only appear on the inside and never on the outside, or did the door refuse to appear because he was being held prisoner? Now that he was free would the door appear twice each day on the outside as it had on the inside?

Odius also thought of another possibility; perhaps the door was already present but somehow concealed from mortal eyes. Perhaps the door was hidden among the boulder's irregularities like a chameleon hidden among leaves. He ran his hand across the surface of the boulder in hopes of finding the elusive door but felt nothing other than common rock. After several minutes of searching, Odius stepped back to give the subject more thought.

He considered using Poseidon's crystal skull to summon the door but was not entirely comfortable with the idea. Although all crystals worked basically the same way, there was a certain amount of difference between one crystal and another. Odius knew he should avoid using the skull until he had a chance to study the scrolls in Atlanta. The mystic arts were an exact science with no room for trial and error. One slight oversight or mistake could conjure unforseen consequences.

Odius looked down and clutched the bag that hung from his shoulder. He had no experience with the crystal skull or these strange boulders of Mount Atlas, but he was weak and hungry and longed to return to his mortal world of men and beasts.

It was a difficult decision. If a mishap were to occur, it would most likely happen during the first few attempts at using the unfamiliar crystal. It would be best to learn as much as possible about it from the scrolls in Atlanta before he tried anything at all. On the other hand, Odius did not want to wait any longer than necessary in this territory of the gods. He wanted to leave for his rightful place in the mortal world before any other gods had a chance to come along and make his life more miserable.

Odius reached into his robe and pulled out the Master's shard.

"Master?" he asked.

There was no reply.

"Master!"

Again there was no reply. Odius realized that he would have to conquer this obstacle on his own. Reluctantly, he returned the shard to his robe.

After wrestling with the idea for quite some time Odius finally came to a decision. Although he knew it could be dangerous, he decided to use the crystal skull in an attempt to summon the door. He was not completely comfortable with his decision, but felt he had to do something other than wait.

Odius did not expect perfect results on his first attempt. He hoped any mistakes or oversights would result in simple failure, rather than catastrophe or disaster. He thought it would be best to spend a little time in preparation before he tried the Skull of Poseidon.

Odius closed his eyes and took several deep breaths in an attempt to relax and concentrate. The hunger pains in his stomach and dull ache in his leg hampered his efforts to focus on the crystal. It took several long minutes before he managed to ignore his discomfort and give full attention to the task at hand. When Odius felt as ready as he could possibly be, he reached into the bag and placed his hand on top of the skull. Nothing, as yet, seemed to be amiss. Odius carefully proceeded to the next step; he focused his attention on the Skull of Poseidon then concentrated on the boulder.

He was expecting Poseidon's crystal to be difficult to handle, much like the crystal of the gods, but he discovered quite the contrary was true. The skull of Poseidon was extremely easy to work with and required very little concentration. The skull almost seemed eager to help, as if it wanted to dispense its powers.

Odius had barely begun to concentrate when the crystal skull suddenly produced a strange picture in Odius' mind. The picture resembled a smooth slab of stone with words written in a language unknown to Odius. After a moment or two the writing on the slab suddenly changed to a completely different tongue. The writing changed three or four more times in rapid succession before it finally stopped at a language Odius understood. Odius started to read the words and soon realized that the picture in his mind's eye was a catalog of destinations, along with a complete set of instructions for using the boulders.

The picture was very detailed; it not only gave information on how to summon the door to the dragon's den, but also how to summon other doors as well. There were many choices listed on the slab, one of which was how to summon a door to Mount Olympus in Greece. According to the instructions; if he summoned the door to Mount Olympus all he would have to do is step through the door, traverse one or two miles of corridor, then walk out of a similar boulder on top of Mount Olympus. A traveler could journey to any continent in the world through this single boulder. Apparently all the boulders on the summit of Mount Atlas worked in just the same fashion—they were pathways of the gods.

Odius was not the least bit tempted to try any route other than the one that led to the cave of dragons. Poseidon told him to leave the way he came and he saw no advantage in pushing Poseidon's good humor. He prudently followed the instructions to summon the door that led to the cave of dragons. The Skull of Poseidon seemed anxious, even impatient, to comply with Odius' request. Within moments, the door appeared on the side of the boulder.

Odius was relieved at the sight of the door—and by the fact that he used Poseidon's skull without mishap. He was impressed with his new crystal and how incredibly easy it was to use. Odius could not help feeling powerful with such a remarkable crystal at his disposal. Those feelings fled as he remembered a lesson his master taught him; lust for power begets defeat. Odius turned his attention to the door.

The door looked the same as it had from the inside when he first came to the summit. Words were etched in the door, just like before, except the message was slightly different. The message was simply a reminder to remove the door after use. There was also a familiar warning; 'If ye be mortal, pass not'. On this particular occasion, Odius felt immune to the warning and walked through the door with confidence.

After Odius passed through the door he found himself in the small room at the top of the staircase. The room was completely black and Odius was not exactly sure where he was standing, or even which direction he was facing. However, he was certain a ledge with a thousand foot drop was somewhere in the darkness just feet away.

Odius did not want to move without some form of light to guide his footing. One solitary step in the dark could send him falling over the ledge to his death. He left his torch in the dragon's den at the bottom of the staircase and had no resources to make another. He knew he could produce light by using the Skull of Poseidon and was anxious to try the remarkable crystal one more time, but its use would have to be solidly justified.

Odius stood in the dark for quite some time as he tried to think of another way to fend the darkness. He thought of no possibilities other than the Skull of Poseidon. Odius placed his hand on the crystal skull, then closed his eyes and concentrated on light. He could sense that the Skull of Poseidon was quick to comply with his request—it all seemed so incredibly easy. A moment or two later Odius opened his eyes and found that he was surrounded by a strange white light.

The subtle white light did not seem to be coming from anywhere in particular, it simply surrounded him. He looked about to see where the light was coming from but was unable to determine its source. Odius was curious about the strange light and held out his hand to see where his shadow fell. He thought his shadow would betray the source of the strange light but, much to his surprise, he found that his hand would not cast a shadow. He looked across the floor then realized that his whole body had no shadow. He checked the walls and ceiling but his missing shadow was nowhere to be found.

"By the gods!"

Odius made as many observations of the light as possible. He wanted to record everything he saw and heard on Mount Atlas in the great scrolls at Atlanta. He was bound by duty to record anything regarding the mystic arts, just as each Great Marce had done before him. Above all, he wanted to recount his experience with the legendary Skull of Poseidon—and how he happened to come into possession of it.

After Odius finished taking note of the strange cloud of light he turned to face the door by which he entered the room. Despite his intrigue with the light he never forgot that he was suppose to remove the door. This was clearly another justifiable use of the skull and Odius was more than anxious to exercise his new instrument.

The skull made mastery of the mystic arts so easy that Odius began to wonder if he could summon the skull's powers without closing his eyes and going into a deep concentration. He placed his hand on the skull but did not close his eyes as he made a simple mental suggestion to remove the door. The door vanished almost instantly right before his eyes. This was a unique experience for Odius; to actually watch his powers at work. Throughout the history of Atlantis, no Great Marce had ever summoned powers from a crystal with their eyes open—or at least no Great Marce ever recorded such an event.

Odius began to think how the Skull of Poseidon made the mystic arts so easy that simple tasks, such as splitting wood or cooking a meal, could be performed with an idle thought. Normally, mystic powers required such deep concentration that common tasks were easier to perform manually. But the Great Marce taught him to use powers of the crystal wisely and cautiously. He knew it was wrong to use a crystal just to make a difficult task easy. Such a practice leads to abuse of power, which in turn can lead to defeat and destruction.

Odius wandered to the edge of the stairs as he shifted his attention to the journey ahead. He looked down the formidable passageway and thought about the pain in his leg and the grueling climb he endured just over a week ago. He also thought about the vast power at his disposal. Although Odius wanted to restrain his use of the skull, he knew it would be needed to overcome several obstacles in the cave of dragons. This staircase was one such occasion because it was never meant to be traversed by mortals.

Once again Odius made a demand on the skull. The crystal skull seemed to be easier to operate with each use. Odius did not close his eyes and concentrate—he just touched the skull and suggested his intentions. After a brief moment, he began to levitate in much the same fashion as Poseidon had. He began to slowly float across the floor and over the ledge. Odius looked down to see his feet dangling in mid-air as he started to drift down the long, crooked staircase.

Odius found himself thinking about Maia and the journey to Atlantis as the stairs passed one by one. He suddenly realized his mind was wandering instead of concentrating on the difficult descent. The skull seemed to take care of everything down to the smallest detail. The great power in his hands made Odius feel like a god, yet he could not avert a certain uneasiness that seemed to accompany it.

Hardly any time passed before his feet lit on the ground at the bottom of the stairs. Odius looked up the long staircase and remembered the last time he passed through the alcove. This trek through the alcove was quite a contrast from his last visit when he was frightened and in severe pain. The Skull of Poseidon made a world of difference.

Odius hoped that the dragons would be out on an excursion so he would not have to use the skull again. He cautiously crept to the edge of the alcove then peered out to the den of dragons. He discovered that all the dragons were still present; sleeping as they were a week ago. He remembered what the beasts were like when aroused—he could hardly forget because he still limped from his injury.

Odius thought the safest approach would be to float over the sleeping dragons without disturbing them. That way he would not stir any dust and hopefully pass without incident. Then Odius began to wonder if that would be a justifiable use of the skull. Perhaps he should try to make his way through the den without assistance from the skull. He could carefully step in between the dragons like a mortal man unless something disturbed them. If they became aroused then he could have the skull keep them at bay.

His leg still ached and the memory of those six-inch fangs still taunted him. Odius quickly changed his mind and decided to use the skull to float over the sleeping beasts.

Odius was about to place his hand in the bag to touch the skull when he noticed something peculiar. He realized he could feel the power of the skull without laying a hand on it. He was not merely sensing its presence—it was actually seeking a command to comply with! Odius wondered if he could command the skull without actually touching it.

As an experiment, Odius tried to summon the skull's powers without touching the crystal. He simply made a mental suggestion to float across the dragon's den. Odius could sense that the skull accepted his command and was eager to comply. A brief instant later his feet lifted from the ground as he began to drift across the den and high above the sleeping dragons.

Odius smiled as he surveyed the sleeping giants from the air. He was proud of his newfound skills and the safety they ensured. As he looked across the beasts, he saw the torch he lost a week ago. It was still lying on the ground where the dragons attacked him. Odius held out his hand and mentally asked the skull for the torch. The torch floated up off the ground and into his waiting hand. Odius was very impressed with the Skull of Poseidon and how eager it was to serve.

Odius was about halfway through the den when he noticed a dragon with an injured eye. It was the same despicable dragon that bit him a week ago. Odius hated that dragon. He thought of how easy it would be to casually snap its neck using the powers of the skull, but that would be wrong and pointless. The Great Marce once taught him that revenge is the aspirations of idiots and barbarians. He chuckled at the foolishness of his passing thought.

His mood changed abruptly as he watched the dragon's head twist upside down with a loud snap. The dragon quivered for a moment, then Odius heard its last breath hiss from its nostrils as he watched its whole body go limp. Odius looked at the dead dragon in horror—it was just a passing thought; he had no intention of actually doing it!

The incident made Odius realize he did not have complete and absolute control over the skull. He began to worry about his new powers and any unforseen consequences they might bring. He began to wonder what kind of burden accompanied this strange gift from Olympus.

When Odius settled to the ground on the far side of the den, he looked back across the sleeping dragons. He felt extremely uneasy about the atrocity he had committed. It was just a simple thought, yet its consequences were irreversible.

He also wondered how the gods would take the incident. These dragons were put here by the gods to protect Mount Atlas. Sooner or later, one of the gods would discover the dead beast and know how it died. Poseidon already warned him that the gods would be looking for him—now he had this deed to his credit.

Odius turned his back on the dragon's den then started to walk down the cave like a normal human being. He wrestled with his anxieties concerning the skull. He would either have to learn how to control the skull or himself—and do it quickly. Odius thought the best way to prevent any further incidents was to restrain himself from using the skull until he could study the scrolls at Atlanta. After all, restraint was his original plan.

Odius decided that a good way to start exercising restraint might be by using the torch for light instead of the skull. Odius stopped for a moment to strike a flint to his torch. He waited for the flame to come up, then ordered the skull to stop providing light. The skull complied and doused the shroud of light that had surrounded Odius since the top of the stairs. The torch shed enough light to serve his purpose, but a flame at the end of a stick seemed dark and primitive compared to the light produced by the skull. Odius swallowed hard then continued his journey down the cave of dragons. The pesky dust cloud had already begun to trail him.

Odius walked about twenty feet when he came upon the sleeping sentry. He thought about walking around the beast, but that would be much more difficult than the last time. The sleeping dragon was wedged perpendicular to the passageway in such a fashion that no one could possibly step around it. The beast looked pitifully uncomfortable. Odius wondered if the sentries started sleeping this way because he had managed to slip by one a week ago.

Odius realized that he would have to make another demand on the skull. He was no longer anxious to use the crystal and would have preferred to avoid the mystic arts for the moment, but there was no way to pass the dragon without it.

Odius did not want another dead dragon incident to his name, so this time he would have nothing but nice thoughts about the dragon. He took a deep breath, then cautiously summoned powers from the crystal skull. A moment later his feet left the ground and he began to float over the sentry.

As Odius passed the sleeping sentry he thought of how proud and magnificent the animal looked, and how it loyally guarded the den. As soon as that thought went through Odius' mind the end of the dragon's tail began to pat the ground like a happy puppy. Odius found the sight unsettling—the Skull of Poseidon seemed too eager to comply with his wishes.

Odius was relieved when he set foot on the ground after clearing the sentry. He looked back to make sure the dragon was alright, then turned to resume his journey through the cave of dragons. He hoped that he would not require the skull's services until he had a chance to learn more about it from the archives in Atlanta. The Skull of Poseidon and its unforseen consequences would keep Odius on edge for quite some time to come.

As Odius continued his journey through the cave of dragons he wandered past many piles of bones. He knew that each pile was a testament to feasts long gone by. Odius wondered how Maia managed to pass the entire pack of dragons unscathed. He saw several human skulls among those piles of bones and was grateful that Maia's was not one of them.

He stopped for just a moment and gazed at a pile of bones that harbored the half-hidden skull of a man. He found the sight distasteful and quickly resumed his pace. Odius knew he would have to pick through the bones of the dead when he came to the battlefield where Gratimus had died, and that he would have little stomach for the task. He wanted to check the remains of the battle to determine how many conflicts were fought there.

Odius also hoped that he could uncover a clue to explain why an elite group of warriors came to this forbidden passage. Poseidon mentioned something about mortals in Autowin trying to challenge the gods, and many of the warriors who died there were from Autowin. Odius wondered if there was any connection between the challenge against the gods and elite warriors storming the cave of dragons.

Odius walked just over a mile when he came to the battlefield. He knew he would not have much time to examine the site because his encroaching dust trail would quickly obscure the area. He wanted to learn as much about the battle as possible—but he did not like the idea of disturbing the warrior's remains any more than necessary. He slowly approached the edge of the battlefield then surveyed the site.

Odius could see that most of the men were devoured by dragons because their bones laid in neat piles where the dragons gorged themselves on the flesh of men. Several of these piles also contained chest armor. The armor was one of two types; those bearing coat of arms from Autowin, and those bearing coat of arms from Mestor. For the most part, the armor seemed to be intermingled. This would suggest that all the warriors died in the same battle, but Odius could not be certain because the dragons' activities could have intermixed the armor. Before Odius could probe any deeper dust drifted into the area and slowly crept over the feeding piles like an eerie fog. Odius had to turn his attention elsewhere.

It would seem the dragons ate their fill before all the warriors were devoured because several bodies were just left to rot, apparently where they fell. Two skeletons near the center of the battle field, one on top of the other, were still intact and had not yet been covered by the relentless cloud of dust. Odius moved on to examine them before the dust hid any evidence they might have to offer.

The two skeletons did not appear to have been disturbed since death. Both warriors still retained their armor, weapons, and boots, although their clothing and flesh had long since rotted away. The top skeleton wore armor from Mestor and still had its hand around a sword. Obviously the dragons could not have dragged that particular body around. The skeleton underneath it wore armor from Autowin. Odius knew the warrior from Mestor fell after the warrior from Autowin. Either this battle was a joint effort between the two kingdoms or the army from Autowin was defeated before the army from Mestor.

Odius carefully looked over the skeletons for any scrap of evidence that might point to their reasons for coming to the cave of dragons. He had very little time to examine the remains before the unearthly dust drifted in to obscure the site.

Odius managed to catch a glimpse of a piece of parchment just before the dust completely engulfed the two skeletons. He bent down to get a closer look but the effort was futile. He was certain that he had seen a piece of parchment protruding from the top warrior's chestpiece.

He waved his torch over the remains but could not see anything. The dust had already gathered into a thick cloud, which reduced his visibility to almost nothing. Odius swallowed hard then lowered himself on one knee as he prepared himself for a very distasteful task.

Odius held the torch above the skeletons as he slowly reached toward the warrior's remains with his free hand. The cloud of dust was so thick that he could see nothing beyond his forearm, yet he knew the dead man was somewhere just beyond his fingertips. He held his breath and trembled as his hand moved ever-so-slowly toward the remains. He cursed the dust and prayed that his hand would not come in contact with the dead warrior's bones as his fingers moved closer and closer to the remains. A brief moment later his fingertips came in contact with something. He quivered for a moment at the thought of touching bone, but was relieved when he realized his fingertips had rested on the warrior's chest armor.

Odius tried to remember the exact position of the skeleton as he slowly moved his hand across the dead warrior's chestpiece. He was hoping to find a convenient reference point to explore from, such as a coat of arms or fastener. Much to his dismay, his fingers wandered off the edge of the metal and came in contact with the dead man's clavicle. Odius gasped and withdrew his hand several inches as a nauseous feeling churned inside his stomach. He coughed and gasped a few times, then took several slow breaths as he tried to control his stomach.

Odius managed to settle his stomach and regain his composure. He swallowed hard then reached toward the skeleton in another attempt to find the elusive parchment. Odius' came in contact with the chest armor once more, then he carefully moved his hand across the chestpiece until his fingertips barely rested over the edge of the metal.

Odius followed the edge of the metal with slow, careful movements to avoid touching the dead man's bones. Occasionally, his fingers came in contact with a rib or two but Odius just had to bite his upper lip. Very little was known about the life hereafter and Odius did not want to disturb the remains any more than necessary. Besides having no stomach for the dead, he was also concerned about interfering with the warrior's eternal rest.

After several long minutes of searching, Odius' fingertips finally brushed across the elusive parchment. The weathered parchment was apparently wedged between the warrior's chest armor and its leather lining. Odius carefully pulled and tugged at the fragile document in an effort to free it from the armor.

The parchment slid just a fraction of an inch or so with each gentle tug. Odius was extremely careful but the parchment had been brittled with age. He only managed to free part of it before it broke neatly in half.

Odius stood up and carefully opened the piece of parchment, which had been folded in thirds. The brittle document cracked and broke along each fold line as Odius tried to unfold it. The dust continued to cause problems for Odius as he tried to read what was written on each of the three fragments. He had to hold the torch and each piece of parchment close to his face in order to read through the thick dust.

Although Odius only had half of the parchment, he managed to assemble the general gist of the document. It was a letter from the warrior's commander. In the letter, his commander relayed information from the warrior's wife about a newborn baby boy. The commander also offered his congratulations as well as leave of duty so he could get to know his new son. Apparently leave was to commence as soon as the warrior returned from his mission. Odius did not manage to get any names, dates, or the nature of their mission.

Odius felt a deep sympathy for the man, his wife, and son. Too often people thought of warriors and soldiers as infallible entities unswaying in either purpose or emotion. The letter simply emphasized the fact that these were once real men with families, hopes, and futures.

"Why did you come here?" Odius asked sadly.

Odius stared at the ground as he wondered why these warriors came to do battle here. As that thought wandered through his head he noticed a tribute[7] lying on the floor of the cave.

Odius walked over to the tribute; it was just lying there some eight or nine feet from the nearest remains. He picked up the jewel to examine it for any identifying marks. The tribute was set in a gold mount, which had a gold loop to accommodate a chain, but the chain was missing. The tribute was apparently worn by one of the men who lost it sometime before they died.

Odius turned the tribute over to check for inscriptions on the back. The back was smooth gold with no identifying marks. Odius was disappointed, he hoped the tribute would provide some clue of who came here and why.

Odius slipped the tribute in his robe. He thought he would give it to Maia when he rejoined her. According to tradition there would be no harm in it because the tribute was neither identified nor taken from anyone's remains. He wondered if someone else in the battle had similar jewelry with an inscription of the bearer's name.

Something seemed to be amiss as Odius looked across the battlefield for other possible evidence. The entire battlefield seemed somehow different. A brief instant later he realized what had changed; the air was crystal clear! That persistent cloud of dust—which he had cursed more than once—had suddenly settled. Odius realized he should have noticed that the dust was gone when he found the tribute.

Odius tried to raise some dust by kicking up loose, powdery dirt from the floor of the cave but nothing happened. Odius thought about the phenomenon for quite some time before he finally realized what had taken place. A cold chill rippled down his back.

Odius knew beyond any doubt that this was the work of Poseidon's skull. Apparently the skull had already attached itself to his subconscious and was taking commands from his innermost thoughts. When he became irritated with the dust, the skull took initiative to correct the problem. He hardly had possession of the skull for more than an hour and already it was responding to his subconscious thoughts. He knew that if he was not careful the skull could come to posses him.

Now Odius saw an urgency in returning to Atlanta for the scroll his master spoke of. He knew he was in great danger from the skull, he had studied such subjects as possession during his apprenticeship and was familiar with how it worked. It was somewhat like a drunkard with his wine; it starts out as a luxury but after unrestricted use it becomes necessary. With the skull attached to his subconscious Odius could hardly swat a fly without the skull intervening. Poseidon's skull meant no harm, it was just trying to please; like wine tries to please a drunkard.

His first reaction was to leave for Atlanta immediately but his master always taught him to think through every possibility thoroughly. There was no room for error where the mystic arts were concerned. Odius sat down on the dusty ground, then reached into his robe for the master's shard.

"Master?"

There was no answer.

"Master, please. I need you now more than ever."

The shard began to glow, "You fear the skull, young Odius?"

"Yes, Master."

"As well you should."

"What can I do to free myself from Poseidon's skull?"

"Do you feel it has you trapped?"

Odius thought for a moment.

"I cannot master it. The skull takes commands from my inner self."

"Do you fear your inner self, young Odius?"

Odius took several deep breaths as he thought about his master's words. He considered the question for nearly a full minute. "Master, you do not ask a simple question. If my response is to be accurate, then it must be lengthy."

"I will be locked in this shard for eternity—I have time. If your answer is lengthy, then it is lengthy. Once again, do you fear your inner self, young Odius?"

"I have great pride in the values you taught me, Master. I see myself as honest and good. I trust myself and have no fear of what I might do. All this is part of my inner self. That part of my inner self I do not fear.

"But no man can completely know his true inner self. Each of us hides some piece of us from both ourselves and the rest of the world. That piece also lies in the inner self. I do not know what that hidden part of me is like. I have not seen it, therefore I can not judge it."

"Do you fear your inner self, Young Odius?"

"Yes master. I killed a dragon but did not mean to."

"Your lengthy answer pleases me. You find yourself on guard, this is good. If you did not fear your inner self, you would not be concerned and cautious. If you felt confident that you could master the skull, then it would indeed come to possess you."

"I worry about Maia, Master. What if I accidentally harmed her... like the dragon?"

"How do you feel about her deep within yourself?"

"I love her, Master."

"Then it would be more likely that the skull would protect her, rather than harm her. It all depends on your inner self. Do you love her deeply and sincerely, or do you simply think you love her?"

"Of that I'm certain, Master. I love her deeply."

"Then you should not worry about harming her. Worry more about bringing harm to those you dislike."

"Master, how can I separate the skull from my inner self?"

"The answer to that lies in the scrolls at Atlanta. Until then be careful what you wish for—chances are, your wishes will come true."

Odius was still uneasy—the Great Marce understood why.

"Finish your search for answers here in the remains of this battlefield. It will give you time to learn how the skull reacts to your thoughts."

"I will heed your advice, Master."

"I must go now. Do not take too much time in these passages, for our world has very little time left. You must find the traitorous god before that time runs out."

"How much time do I have, Master?"

The Great Marce had nothing more to say. Odius watched the shard go dark, then returned it to his robe. He thought about his master's words for quite some time before he resumed his search of the battlefield. Odius knew this search for answers was important and that it must be done no matter how distasteful he found it to be. Reluctantly, he rose to his feet then surveyed the battlefield.

There was a total of five skeletons still intact; Gratimus, another one near Gratimus, one off to the side of the cave, and the two he had already examined. He also started to count skulls. As near as he could determine, there were twenty-two human skulls in the battlefield.

Odius wondered about the warrior's orders. If a letter from the warrior's commander was still intact, then perhaps a copy of their orders also survived. Usually the most prominent, highest-ranking warrior carried signed orders for the group. Gratimus was clearly the most celebrated warrior in this battle. Indeed, he was the most renowned warrior in all of Atlantis. Surely he carried the orders for their mission.

Odius approached the remains of Gratimus. It was an ominous sight, and one that he would never forget. The outcome of that conflict between the greatest of men and the greatest of beasts seemed to illustrate the irony of conflict; both contestants could claim victory over their foes, yet neither party won. The monument of man and beast locked in eternal battle seemed to be as much an omen of things to come as it was history.

Odius loathed the thought of picking through Gratimus' remains. Whenever Gratimus returned from battle, a parade often ensued. Kings and noblemen praised his name and he had become a legend in the folklore of the times. If word of his death were made public, all of Atlantis would surely mourn his passing and many would weep. Now, Odius had to search through his remains as one would search a trunk for a simple garment or trinket. Although he knew this task was important, he could not help feeling somewhat like a common grave robber.

Odius carefully stepped around the body as he looked for anything out of the ordinary. For the moment he simply looked, he did not disturb the hero's remains.

Gratimus had a reputation for flaunting jewelry and his last mission was certainly no exception. Odius saw a fortune in jewelry lying among the bones and dust of the warrior. Four necklaces with large jewel-studded pendants were lying in the dirt about his neck. Several gold bracelets encircled his wrist bones and rings adorned the gray, weathered bones of his fingers. A cache of coins and unmounted jewels laid by the warrior's side where a coin purse had apparently decayed into dust. There was also a sheath for his sword, and another for a knife—both of which were empty.

Odius had no interest in these items. Coins of the times did not carry dates and any inscriptions on the warrior's jewelry would simply identify him as Gratimus. There was only one item among the remains that Odius sought—the document pouch. If Gratimus carried orders they would be found in his document pouch.

A document pouch was a thick leather pocket attached to the inside lining of the chest armor. The pouch opened to the side where documents could be slid in or out using the less dominant hand, keeping the dominant hand free for weapons. Not all warriors carried document pouches as they were largely reserved for commanders and messengers; although most soldiers mimicked them by sliding their letters or whatever between the armor and its lining.

Odius located Gratimus' document pouch, which opened to the right. Apparently, Gratimus was left-handed. The armor was still locked in the dragon's jaws, which made access to the document pouch difficult. Odius tried to lift the chest armor up from the ribs far enough to slide his hand in the pouch but the dead dragon's fangs held it firmly in place.

Odius realized that he would have to move the ribs, rather than the armor. He picked up the corner of his robe then wrapped it around his fingertips. After several deep breaths he placed the corner of his robe on the warrior's ribs then gently pressed the ribs down until there was enough room to slide his hand in the document pouch. Once again, he had to fight a nauseous feeling in his stomach. He felt around inside the document pouch but found nothing other than one of the dragon's fangs, which had pierced the weathered pocket. He withdrew his hand in disappointment.

Odius could hardly imagine any warrior out-ranking Gratimus. If Gratimus did not carry their orders then they must have been operating on their own. This prospect seemed even more confusing. Surely this assembly of elites had been organized by someone.

Odius examined the body next to Gratimus in an attempt to find an answer. The search proved as fruitless as the rest; he found no clue to betray the warrior's identity or a reason as to why they came.

Odius had his fill of picking through bodies of the dead. He wanted to leave but there was one more skeleton left to examine. He walked over to the fifth intact skeleton near the edge of the cave. It was a warrior from Mestor.

The warrior was missing a leg, which was nowhere to be found. It appeared as if the man lost his leg in battle then crawled to the side of the cave where he died. He apparently lost his shield and sword as well because the only weapon he had was a knife, which was still clenched in his hand. Not far from the knife was an imperial bracelet, which encircled the warrior's wrist.

Imperial bracelets were literally built on the wrist and could not be removed. Usually imperial bracelets identified the wearer as royalty or high nobility. Odius crouched closer to get a better look. He thought an imperial bracelet was an odd find for a battlefield of this nature.

The bracelet was fashioned from gold and studded with several precious gems. It also bore a coat of arms along with other markings. Odius was unable to make out the markings because the bracelet was half buried in the dust. He reached for the bracelet and gently grasped it between two fingers. The warrior's wrist bones fell away as Odius lifted the bracelet from the dust.

The bracelet clearly identified the man as Prince Halimor, son of King Xaveous and heir to the throne of Mestor. Odius just stood there, astounded. According to the king of Mestor, his son had been gone for the last two years to seek a bride. Now he turns up in this forbidden passage with many other elites from both Mestor and Autowin. Like Gratimus, Prince Halimor was assumed to be alive and well.

In accordance with custom, Odius took the imperial bracelet so it could be offered to King Xaveous as proof of his son's death. Odius checked the body for any other evidence that might explain why the battle came to be. One of the first things he noticed was Prince Halimor's document pouch.

Odius lifted Prince Halimor's chest armor very diligently, then slid his fingers into the document pouch. His excitement rose when he realized the pouch sheltered a piece of parchment. He carefully slid the document out of the pouch.

Odius recognized the stock immediately; it was specially treated parchment unique to Mestor. The parchment had been laced with a preservative to keep the document from becoming brittle or decaying. The preservative worked quite well because the parchment was still durable and supple, unlike the letter he found earlier. He could easily handle it without causing cracks or breakage. Odius knew the nature of the document as soon as he unfolded it—it was Prince Halimor's official orders.

The orders were dated almost two years prior and signed by King Xaveous himself. They indicated that Prince Halimor was charged with taking the warriors listed below to the top of Mount Atlas where they would seize the crystal of the gods then transport the crystal to Mestor. A list of twenty-two names followed.

The list of names was impressive. The list mentioned many famous warriors from both Mestor and Autowin. Odius was astounded as he read through the list. It was widely believed that most of these men, such as Prince Halimor and Gratimus, were still alive. Either their deaths had not yet been discovered—or were deliberately covered up.

Several matters bothered Odius as he slipped the orders in his robe. The orders were dated two years ago, yet the decomposition of the warriors and deterioration of their gear suggested that they were here much longer than two years. He thought the discrepancy might be caused by the general nature of the passageway; this was the domain of the gods.

What bothered him more than the rate of decomposition was the skull count. The orders mentioned Prince Halimor and twenty-two other men. If all twenty-three men died here, then there should be twenty-three skulls lying around. Odius counted twenty-two skulls. Someone was not accounted for.

Odius quickly took count again. He even went through the trouble of checking each pile of bones for a hidden skull. He spent fifteen or twenty minutes searching for the twenty-third skull but found nothing. Odius thought of three possibilities: either the warrior's body was dragged to another part of the cave; the warrior died before they reached the battlefield; or someone had actually survived the massacre.

Odius was anxious to leave this place of the dead. He had already found more than he hoped to get; he had proof that King Xaveous knew about the crystal of the gods and that he tried to have it removed from Mount Atlas. He could not hope to discover anything more substantial than that.

As Odius left the battlefield his worries returned to the skull of Poseidon. It had attached itself to his subconscious like a common parasite. He wondered how he would handle it—or how it would handle him—during the journey ahead. He wanted to get to the archives in Atlanta as soon as possible.

A disturbing thought came to Odius somewhere during the long walk from the battlefield to the cave's entrance; what does King Xaveous want with the crystal of the gods?

At first Odius simply assumed King Xaveous wanted to covet its power. However, the crystal of the gods, like any crystal, is useless unless one has the skill to summon its power. No one without the skills of a Great Marce could feel its power or even sense the difference between a crystal and a clear gem. As far as Odius knew, he was the only person in all of Atlantis who possessed such skills.

Odius began to wonder if there might be another mortal somewhere who knew the secrets of a Great Marce. It did not seem likely. Even if someone else had knowledge of the mystic arts, the crystal of the gods was still unmanageable. It could not be mastered by a mortal, only by a god.

The thought stopped Odius dead in his tracks.

Of course, he thought, a god! ...And only a god!

Odius began to suspect some connection between King Xaveous and the traitorous god. The only other possibility was that King Xaveous conspired with someone who knew the secrets of a Great Marce along with other privileged information; such as the fact that the crystal of the gods existed, where it was located, and the forbidden passage that led to it.

Odius thought no one other than a god could possibly know these divine secrets—until it occurred to him that he knew these secrets and he was merely mortal. He began to wonder about the twenty-third warrior; was he still alive and if so what does he know about all of this? More importantly, who is he?

Odius decided that he should visit king Xaveous in Mestor. He was bound by decency to return the imperial bracelet anyway. He could approach the king under that pretence and see what might come of the meeting. However, first he had to go to Atlanta to get the scroll concerning Poseidon's skull. He had to learn how to master the skull—before the skull mastered him.

Chapter 7, The Mystic's Cloak

...I remember the day most clearly, when I left the cave of dragons and ventured back to the mortal world. I was sickened by ambitions of kings and gods who sought sway over the whole of the world. Power and wealth has brought a plague which taints the minds of men, and it will not stop until all is naught. I, Odius, must change the course of such events, for this is my mortal world, in as much as it belongs to us all, and neither god, nor king, nor mystic, shall take it from so much as one man...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

Odius was anxious to leave the dark and forbidden passages of the cave of dragons. By the time he was within sight of the entrance his thoughts had shifted from worry over the skull of Poseidon to his longing for the woman he loved. Odius picked up his pace when he realized that he could smell fresh air from outside. Soon, he would be in the bright light of day and free to search for his beloved Maia.

Odius knew his trip to Atlanta was extremely important, but so was the lady of the forest. His master told him to find her—and he swore to serve his master. But it was love, rather than duty, that urged him to satisfy his master's request. His master also told him he would have no trouble finding her. He knew his master would be as solid in this prediction as he was with others. He thought the first and most logical place to start looking for her was at her modest hand-crafted home.

Although Odius was weary, he quickly clamored up the neatly-set stones at the entrance. His excitement rose as he drew closer and closer to daylight. In no time at all he found himself crawling through the thick patch of thorns. Already the air began to smell clean and fresh like a typical summer day in Atlantis.

When he finally cleared the thorns, he looked down the slope toward the place where he last saw Maia. He was surprised and elated to find his lovely Maia already waiting there for him. She stood next to the fire with her back to the grade as she practiced her sword handling. Odius noticed that she had become quite good at it.

The sight of Maia swinging a sword prompted Odius to recall that morning's encounter with the crystal of the gods. The image of Maia wielding that sword to secure a sacrifice on his behalf still lingered vividly in his mind. He also recalled the regret he felt during his imprisonment for not taking Maia in his arms when he had the chance. His heart raced as he realized that that lost opportunity was once again within reach. He would not let the chance to hold Maia slip through his hands again.

"Maia!"

Maia turned at the sound of his voice. After all her efforts, she had no assurance that her sacrifice would bring Odius back to her side. In the depths of her mind was an uneasy fear that she might have been perusing an empty pipe dream. Those fears were suddenly shattered the instant she laid eyes on her valiant Odius. A bold, unbridled smile quickly dominated her face as her body began to quiver with excitement.

"Odius... you're back!" Maia quickly returned the sword to its sheath then ran for the hillside and the man she loved so deeply.

Odius had already started down the grade with a precarious hobble brought about by his injured leg negotiating the rocky terrain. Maia also labored over the rocks as she struggled to climb up to him. For both of them, the whole world was suddenly reduced to a rocky hillside under the bright Atlantean sunshine.

Somewhere about one-quarter way up the grade their outstretched hands met. Odius seized his lost opportunity and wrapped Maia in his arms. Neither of them could ever forget that first embrace.

Odius trembled as he hugged Maia more tightly. He could hardly believe the moment had finally arrived. She felt incredibly warm and vibrant to him as she tried to snuggle closer. For a brief moment he almost felt like crying. He felt helpless against the monumental emotions inspired by her simple, honest love. A tear pooled in his eye as he looked up at the sun and suddenly realized the greatest treasures of life were nothing more than sharing love, and being free.

Maia had never been in a man's arms before and was overpowered by the experience. His embrace was firm, yet gentle and warm like the love they shared. She felt an overpowering desire to get closer to him, though she was already locked in his embrace. She liked the feeling of his strong body next to hers and wished that they could have melted together as one. She felt sheltered and safe, as if Odius could hold the whole world at bay.

Maia never expected to feel the way she felt and she never thought she could ever be so bold. She felt helpless to his will and was willing to surrender to him then and there. She had never been treated so tenderly before. She never knew that with the touch of lovers comes a gentle tingle that makes one beg for more. She did not understand the emotions she was feeling, she simply welcomed them blindly.

Maia's eyes filled with tears as she pressed the side of her face against his chest. She heard his heart pounding deep inside his chest and felt the warm vibrations as he softly spoke to her.

"I love you, Maia."

Maia's voice was unsure, though she was certain of her words, "I love you too, Odius."

"For days I did yearn for your touch, yet all I could hold was the memory of your smile." Odius let out a subtle sigh, "I pray we never part again."

Maia trembled at the sound of his words. She knew they would have to part company again, and that she must be left to her solitude or face disgrace at the hands of her nemesis. Maia did not want Odius to know anything about that filthy dark shadow. She would not let anything taint his image of her.

Those thoughts were shattered when Odius kissed the nap of her neck. The gentle touch of his lips sent a tingle through her body unlike anything she had ever felt before. She never knew something so simple could bring such a wonderful feeling.

"Thank the gods, you're back!"

They held each other for quite some time on the rocky slope below the cave of dragons. Neither wanted to break their comforting embrace. It was a reunion they had both looked forward to for a long time. Maia reluctantly disturbed the magic of that moment.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. I haven't eaten since I took leave of you."

"Come then, I have a rabbit on the fire. I must tend to it so it doesn't burn."

Maia took Odius by the hand, then led him down the grade, "I also picked some blackberries this morning. I'll feed you and you can tell me all about your adventures."

Maia noticed that Odius limped. She was not sure at first because the rocky grade made for precarious footing even under the best of circumstances. However, when they reached smooth ground at the bottom of the grade she was certain that Odius had been injured. She did not know to what extent.

Maia did not mention his injury until they were almost at the fire.

"You're limping!" she pointed to his leg.

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"Why?"

"Dragon bite. It was most foul about a week ago, but it has improved hence."

"Here, sit." Maia gestured to a place by the fire. "Let me have a look at it."

Odius sat down by the fire where his eyes immediately made contact with the rabbit Maia spoke of. It was skewered on a stick, which rested neatly across the fire on two 'Y' shaped branches. Odius could tell by its tantalizing smell and deep brown color that it was cooked just the way he liked it. He suddenly remembered the pain in his stomach left by his eight day fast. His mouth began to water at the sight of it.

"Let me see!" Maia drew his attention from the rabbit to his leg.

"Certainly!" Odius pulled up his robe up to show Maia the wound. Maia cringed at the sight.

"And you're walking on this leg? You should see a barber[8] about this."

The puncture wounds had already started to heel very well but Maia was concerned about the red, inflamed areas around each fang mark. Although little was known about medicine at the time, most people understood red or purple inflammation was a sign of trouble. Odius tried to put her mind at ease.

"It looks pretty as a rose against a week ago. It has been getting better with each passing day."

"Good," Maia said, "As long as it's getting better."

Odius pointed to the rabbit on the fire.

"When did you get the rabbit?"

"I snared him at daybreak in the blackberry patch. Would you like some?"

"Yes, love."

His response took Maia by surprise. She was not expecting him to refer to her as 'love'. It was simple gestures like these that made her feel like a lady. She looked into his eyes as a smile slowly grew on her face.

"I'm so glad I met you, Odius."

"As I, Maia."

Maia reached over the fire and picked up the skewer with the rabbit. She tore a leg off for herself then offered the rest to Odius.

"Here, you should eat this to build up your strength. I ate last night."

"Thank you."

Odius tore into the rabbit as if he had not eaten in a week. It was simple roasted rabbit without any trimmings, but to Odius and his starved stomach it was the best meal he had ever experienced. For that matter, it was the best meal he would ever experience for the remainder of his days. Even exotic dishes, which he would come to enjoy in the months ahead, could never compare to that simple meal on his starved stomach.

"I must leave for Atlanta on the morrow..." he said as he gobbled down another bite of rabbit. He paused just long enough to catch his breath, then looked at Maia.

"Please, come with me."

Maia hung her head.

"I cannot, Odius." A tear began to pool in her eye. "I desperately want to, but I cannot."

"Why not, love?" He watched her as he took another bite of rabbit.

"I—I can't say." Maia buried her face in her hands. "I wish things were different."

Odius put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't cry, love. We should be happy on our last day together."

His attempt to comfort her did little.

"Look," he said as he reached in his robe, "I brought you something." He pulled out the tribute he found in the cave of dragons then handed it to Maia. Maia gently accepted it.

"A tribute?" she asked.

Odius nodded.

"For me?"

Odius nodded again.

"From you?"

"Yes, love. A tribute from me to you."

Maia smiled then held it up to her chest as if it hung by a chain. "Thank you, Odius."

She admired it for a moment. "Only fine ladies get tributes."

"You are a very fine lady indeed, Maia. And an excellent cook!" Odius held up the rabbit. "This is very good!"

"Thank you, Odius. Um—I have something for you, too!"

Maia got up and walked over to her pack. Odius took another bite of rabbit as he watched her rummage through her belongings. After a moment or two she returned with something hidden in her hand. She sat down next to him, then handed him the treasure.

"A buckle!" he said as his eyes lit up. He graciously accepted the gift then held it up to his belt.

"I always longed for a buckle!" He examined the buckle closely and was impressed with the detail and care Maia had put into it. He knew Maia made it because few could match her quality, and no one else used her unique pattern of flowers and squirrels.

"And it has your flowers and squirrels!" He looked up at her, "Surely you labored over this for many hours. Thank you, Maia."

Odius handed the rabbit to Maia then untied his belt. Maia could tell by the bright smile on his face that he was truly excited about the gift. She waited and watched with a proud smile as he attached the buckle to his belt. When he finished, he looked up at Maia and simply nodded with a smile.

"Thank you so much. This buckle would be the envy of kings."

Maia felt too bashful to reply, she simply smiled as she gave the rabbit back to Odius.

Odius and Maia spent the better part of an hour talking and eating at the foot of Mount Atlas. Before too much of the morning had passed they gathered their belongings and began their journey back to Maia's home.

The ride back to Maia's home was largely uneventful except for what was suppose to be a brief rest under a stand of apple trees. The warm Atlantis sunshine kindled a lazy, carefree feeling that made the day seem like it would never end. They ate their fill of fruit and played games as they chased each other around the grove. Later, they relaxed in the shade and talked of many things from the beauty of a flower to fantasy dreams of life together.

They lost all track of time under the gentle shade of the apple trees. The magic of that afternoon was so precious that neither of them wanted it to end. The day gradually grew older and gave way to early evening before they finally gathered their belongings and continued their journey to Maia's home.

The ride to Maia's home was long and wearisome. Darkness also brought certain risks, such as the horse stumbling in the dark or large forest predators out on the prowl. Despite such concerns, they kept their spirits up with conversation and laughter. They both knew their permanent separation was close at hand and neither of them wanted to taint their last hours in each other's company with concerns about the darkness or fatigue. Although they were happy and content, an uneasy feeling filled the air as if they knew a grand era was about to come to a close.

Sometime shortly before midnight they approached the quiet little clearing at Maia's home. Odius and Maia were still alert and talkative, yet ready for a peaceful night's rest. The stallion was also ready for a long rest, it hung its head low to the ground as they slowly plodded up to Maia's porch.

"Whoa!" Odius pulled on the reins as the stallion gradually slowed to a stop.

He stared into the distance as he recalled his master's words about spending the night with Maia. Since the Great Marce had become locked in the shard, he spoke only when absolutely necessary, therefore, this matter must be of grave importance or the Great Marce would not have mentioned it. Odius was not entirely sure how he should approach Maia about staying the night. He spent an awkward moment in silence as he tried to think of a tactful way to phrase it.

Maia could sense uneasiness in his voice when he finally spoke.

"Maia, must this be our parting moment—here in the moonlight? Must I ride now to yon distant hill where darkness would cheat us of so much a parting glance? Must I leave you this moment without the simple beauty the morrow will promise?"

"I think not, Odius. Please, stay the night. I have no wine nor fruit, but I have many words to share and—and I long for your touch. Please, stay the night."

"I shall, my love."

"Remember," Maia started to dismount, "you must leave on the morrow and I must stay."

"As you wish."

"It is not my wish—it simply must be. Believe me, if I could change that which I can not, I would stay by your side for a lifetime. I love you, Odius."

"And I you." Odius smiled as he climbed off the horse.

Odius turned to face Maia in the pale moonlight. She waited for him with an unsure smile as if she were expecting some grand event. Her timid smile grew as Odius moved closer.

Odius sadly shook his head, "I will never forget you, Maia—no matter where my travels might lead."

He reached up and gently caressed the side of her face with the back of his hand. Maia closed her eyes then held his hand tightly against her face. She seemed somewhat nervous yet not the least bit uneasy. Odius gently drew her toward him then, with slow, tender movements, he kissed her soft lips.

A moment later they embraced each other and shared their first passionate kiss in the still moonlight. It was a long, tender moment filled with magic of the heart. Their kiss brought a gentle feeling of closeness, along with a subtle inkling of despair in knowing they had but one night to spend in each other's arms.

Maia felt particularly distraught. Odius almost seemed to be a part of her, as if he filled a hidden void somewhere deep within herself. She could not bear the thought of Odius leaving. Worse yet, she knew she might have been able to leave with him if not for her nemesis. A moment of sadness came over her, she sought comfort by pressing the side of her face against Odius' chest.

"I wish I could leave with you." Her voice was troubled though not entirely distressed. She took a deep breath then continued. "I need you tonight, Odius." She looked up at him, "I don't know why, but—I feel I need you tonight."

Odius gently stroked her back. "It is I who needs you, Maia. I have never truly felt love until you. Some search the years of their lives and never find what we share. For that I am thankful."

He gestured toward the door. "Shall we? We'll spend the night in each other's arms."

Maia nodded vigorously, although her smile was somewhat uneasy.

"First I must tend the horse with fresh water. Perhaps you could open the door and light a lamp? I shall be at your side directly."

Maia nodded with a smile, then pointed toward the side of the house, "There's a barrel of rain water and a bucket by the side."

"Thank you, Maia."

Odius watched as Maia turned and started for the door at a joyful trot. She opened the door then whistled a happy tune as she fumbled around in search of a lamp.

Odius picked up the reins and started to coax the horse toward the side of the house. As he tugged on the reins, he could not help but notice how Maia's happy little tune seemed to fit her modest surroundings. Her song gradually faded into a harmony of katydids and crickets as Odius walked farther and farther from the door. By the time he reached the barrel of rainwater, Maia's whistle had become nothing more than a subtle background for the countless creatures that filled the night air with song.

Odius scooped a bucket of water from the barrel then set it in front of the horse. As the horse started to drink a faint beam of light began to shine through half-opened shutters. The light grew slowly until it lit a large area of the little clearing. Shortly after the lamp was lit Odius saw Maia's shadow dance and flicker across the clearing. He could see by her silhouette that she was apparently dancing with her imaginary partner. The sight brought a smile to Odius' face. He watched her graceful and dainty movements glide across the moist grass as he thought about sweet Maia and how he happened to meet her.

His thoughts of Maia quickly drifted to their inevitable separation. Odius already found himself missing her, though their parting glances would not come until morning.

"I wish there was something I could do to abate our parting."

Odius took a short, frightened gasp as he recalled his master's words; '...be careful what you wish for—chances are, your wishes will come true.' He began to worry about the words that he uttered in idle contemplation.

He wondered if the Skull of Poseidon would heed his request, and if so, what the consequences might be. He had possession of the skull long enough to know that it was sometimes unpredictable. If the skull saw fit to grant his wish it might do so with no regard for repercussions. He hoped his carelessly chosen words would not bring any harm to his beloved Maia.

His thoughts were distracted when the horse suddenly became nervous and skittish. Odius grabbed the reins and tried to calm the animal but the horse only became more frightened. Something in the air seemed to be amiss, Odius was sure of it. The crickets and katydids no longer sang and the night air became as deathly quiet as a tomb.

The horse continued to step and prance about nervously as it whinnied and snorted. Odius tried to hold the beast as best he could while he looked about for whatever might have made the animal nervous. He found no obvious explanation, though he did notice a strange smell in the night air. Odius sniffed the air in an exaggerated fashion as he tried to determine what the strange smell could be; it smelled somewhat like a goat except much more pungent.

The smell drifted away as quickly as it came and the horse gradually calmed down. Odius patted the horse on the nose for a moment to assure the animal that everything was alright, though he was not entirely convinced himself. He sniffed the air again but found no trace of the strange smell. After a minute or two the crickets and katydids resumed their night choirs as everything returned to normal.

Odius led the horse to the porch where he loosely lashed its reins to a rail. He sniffed the air again then slowly panned the moonlit landscape for any signs of trouble. Everything seemed to be as it should. He spent several minutes watching the darkness before he finally abandoned his vigil and went inside to join Maia.

Maia was waiting inside with outstretched arms. She pranced up to Odius with a big smile and girlish squeal then threw her arms around him. Odius held her tightly as she pressed the side of her face to his chest.

"You're wonderful Odius, it's as if you have a magic about you."

Odius was somewhat distraught by her unfortunate choice of words. At first he wondered if the magic she felt was simple love or if the Skull of Poseidon had something to do with it. He did not want the love they shared to be some artificial manifestation of the mystic arts. Then he recalled the incident on Mount Atlas and how deeply she loved him long before he acquired the crystal skull. He knew that her love for him was genuine and felt bad about ever doubting it. He held her more tightly.

"Maia, I fear I have kept a dark secret from you. Perhaps I should tell you what brought me to these foothills."

"Shhh," she insisted, "I also keep a secret which I dare not share. We only have one night together, let's not change anything by revealing untold secrets."

Odius thought for a moment, then agreed. "As you say, we should not burden our short time together with matters of no consequence tonight. I want only to hold you in my arms. Nothing shall deprive us of that this night."

Odius wrapped his arms around her petite little body and gave her a gentle hug. Maia returned the embrace and snuggled as close as she could. The morning was still hours away and they planned to fill the night with close, tender moments that they would remember for a lifetime. The atmosphere in Maia's home was gentle, sweet, and peaceful. Everything was absolutely perfect until Odius noticed that strange goat-like smell once more.

Odius sniffed the air several times then asked Maia, "Do you smell a goat?"

Sudden panic came over Maia as she recognized the smell—it was her nemesis! This was by far her worst nightmare. Abuse at the hands of her nemesis was bad enough, but to have such violations displayed in plain sight of Odius was more than she could bear. She screamed and she pushed herself away from Odius in an act of sheer terror.

"What?!" A look of deep concern came over Odius.

"You—You must leave me Odius! You must leave now!"

Odius could hardly believe how quickly she changed from happy and content to terrorized.

"Why, Maia? What's wrong?"

Tears were streaming down her face. She reached forward to give Odius a quick kiss, then took several steps backward. "Go! Please go!"

"But.."

"Leave me!!" she shouted. Maia fell to her knees in a fit of tears. She sat back on her heels then buried her face in her hands as she pleaded with him. "I beg of you—leave me and never come back to this place!!"

"I do not understand."

Maia looked up at him through red, tear-streaked eyes. "I love you Odius! I beg you, leave me before it's too late. Please!" She buried her face in her hands once again then shouted, "I DIDN'T WANT THIS!!!" She cried and screamed hysterically.

Odius was not sure what to do. He loved Maia and would gladly comply with her wishes, but he did not want to leave her alone in this state of mind. He wanted to help but he did not understand her problem. He could hardly imagine anything invoking so much terror in a woman who boldly walked among dragons.

"Please leave before it's too late!" Maia was still screaming hysterically.

Odius could see that his presence was causing her pain. He wanted to comfort her but she already begged for his absence several times. A tear began to pool in his eye as he watched Maia tremble and scream in fear. He wanted to go to her but could not. He thought perhaps the kindest thing he could do for her was to respect her wishes and leave her to her privacy. Odius decided to leave but not wander off too far—just out the door and into the darkness where he could plan a subsequent course of action.

"As—as you wish my love."

Odius hung his head then slowly started for the door. He only took a step or two before he noticed a sinister shadow, which had slithered in under the door. He had seen this type of thing before—it was nothing more than a man under a mystic's cloak.

Odius had seen his master use the same technique to unlock a door. During the first week of apprenticeship, Odius carelessly locked the archives while the key was still in the room. The Great Marce used the mystic's cloak to creep through the keyhole and unlock the door.

Odius began to wonder who was under the cloak and what, exactly, they were doing here in Maia's home. He had no idea who it could be, but he did think of several possible reasons why—all of which were rather distasteful. Odius felt a rare moment of anger building deep inside of him.

He turned around to look at Maia. Judging from her fear he assumed she had seen this thing before—and that she knew what it had in mind. His anger grew. He marched over to Maia, grabbed her shoulder, then pulled the crying woman from the ground.

"Have you seen this shadow before?" He shouted in anger, although that anger was not directed at Maia.

Maia looked up at Odius through tear-stained eyes. She took short, sporadic breaths as her face twisted with unyielding despair. She was no longer able to confront the disaster at hand. She knew her nemesis would be all over her in minutes and nothing could be done to stop it. Worse yet, she knew Odius would witness her disgrace and that she would never be able to face him again. She wanted Odius to leave before she fell from grace in his eyes, but now it was too late. Maia lowered her head and went limp in an attempt to melt to the floor.

Odius quickly grabbed Maia's other shoulder then lifted her up to his face. He shook her abruptly one time then shouted, "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS THING BEFORE!?"

Maia's was too horrified to speak, she simply nodded and cried.

Odius glanced at the dark shadow, which as yet made neither advance nor retreat, then returned his attention to Maia.

"Why does it come here?"

Odius asked the one question Maia feared above all others. She did not want Odius to know anything about her nemesis or the disgrace it brought her.

"WHY!!" he shouted.

Maia could not look Odius in the face. He seemed to be the only person who ever cared about her and she did not want to alienate him with a horror story too gruesome for words. But she felt incredibly broken and confused while Odius seemed to be so strong and confident. Maia's darkest hour had come and she had nothing to cling to other than Odius. Reluctantly, she succumbed to his insistent question. She felt great shame as she answered in a broken, frightened voice.

"It's a demon. It comes here to—to..."

Maia was unable to finish her answer and quickly resorted to crying. Odius slowly lowered her to the ground.

Maia was not very specific but Odius got the basic idea all the same. He could not understand how anyone could be low enough to take advantage of such a lovely and innocent woman, especially by such cruel means. Rage boiled inside him as he thought about it. He had never felt so much anger before in his life. He sought to champion the woman he loved and was ready to dismantle the world stone by stone if need be. He was determined to bring vengeance to bear.

"It's no demon!" Odius shouted, "It's a wizard under a mystic's cloak!" Odius reached across Maia's shoulder then drew her sword.

"Stand fast behind me!" he shouted, "I'll remove his guise and slay him for the slug he is!" Odius wheeled around with sword in hand to face the sinister dark form.

Maia saw a glimmer of hope as Odius stood on her behalf. She was thrilled by the prospect of being freed from her nemesis, yet she was deathly frightened. Maia quickly scampered for refuge behind Odius' back and crouched low as to not obstruct his swing. She trembled as she clung to Odius' robe.

Maia somehow suspected this single blow of the sword would secure her fate; if Odius missed her nemesis would prevail, if he was successful she would be free. Either way her secret was out and Odius knew of her shame. She found herself becoming more concerned for Odius' safety than her own. This was her problem and she did not want Odius to be hurt on her behalf.

"Be careful Odius!" Her voice was barely audible.

Maia peeked out from behind Odius and saw how the dark shadow still lingered by the door. She had never known her nemesis to be so cautious and apprehensive. Odius was such a confident and determined pillar of strength—she felt safe in his shadow. Already her mind's eye had painted a picture of victory over her life-long foe.

Odius issued a command to the crystal skull, telling it to lift the mystic's cloak from his opponent. His sword was poised to strike as soon as the villain took solid form. He waited but nothing happened.

Odius began to apply more pressure on the skull. He concentrated and outright insisted that the skull lift his opponent's cloak. The skull was trying to respond in earnest and even began to draw from Odius' own anger. Odius realized he was commanding great power with little results. He assumed his opponent was fighting the skull with powers of its own.

Odius took one hand off the sword to reach in the bag and touch the skull directly. His hand and arm trembled from the sheer power that poured through the skull like water down rapids. Odius would not falter in stance or purpose. The mystic conflict persisted for several lengthy minutes before his opponent finally gave in and the dark mass began to assume a different shape.

The shadowy figure gathered itself into an erect column about the size of a man. Several seconds later the shadow began to form a silhouette. The top half of the silhouette took shape first as the head and torso of a man appeared. Odius brought both hands to the sword and readied his swing. Arms began to appear, followed by the waist and legs which seemed to assume a rather peculiar, crooked shape. The top half of the silhouette looked like a man but the bottom half looked more like a goat. Odius immediately realized that he was in deep trouble—and that he would not be able to defeat the opponent before him.

A brief instant later the silhouette took solid form. Odius and Maia found themselves staring at a sinister-looking creature that made an absolute mockery of nature. The bottom half of the creature looked like the hind quarters of a goat, right down to its cloven hooves. The top half looked like a man except for two nubs of horns, which poked out of its hair, and black, empty eyes—much like those of Poseidon.

"What—what is it?" Maia asked.

Odius had a lump in his throat as he answered Maia in a whisper.

"Pan; god of the forest."

Maia let out a subtle moan of despair.

Odius' anger fled with an inrush of terror. His confidence quickly faded but his courage did not; he was determined to stand his ground all the way to defeat. He remembered a lesson his master once taught; if you build a bridge then you must be the first to cross it.

Pan just stood there and stared at Odius for quite some time. Although Pan's expression was blank, Odius could see deep anger in his face. Odius recalled the demise of Joda and how helpless a mortal is against the vengeance of a god.

Pan pointed at Odius with a long, crooked fingernail, then started to approach with slow, rhythmic footsteps. Each step was punctuated by the clack of a hoof.

"What manner wizard are you that you can remove the cloak from a god?" Pan's voice was not loud and booming like Poseidon's. It was much more quiet and not as deep, but marked with a strange rumbling or growlish undertone.

Odius did not respond. He was neither expecting nor prepared to face another god that day.

"Well?" the god insisted.

Odius still did not respond. He realized Pan was trying to control him in much the same fashion as Poseidon did, except the skull would not permit it. Unlike his encounter with Poseidon, Odius found he was free to move and had sanctuary over his own thoughts.

Pan encroached to within an arm's length of Odius. The god tilted his head to one side as he stared relentlessly into Odius' eyes.

"You are mortal. What power do you hold?" He brought his face closer to Odius. "Why can I not subdue you?"

Odius still did not respond. He was not about to match wits with a god.

"No matter. I will learn your secret before the night has passed. As for now, step aside. I wish to indulge in the woman's flesh."

"Over my dead body!"

"Ah!" Pan held up a finger. "It has a tongue!" Pan poked Odius in the chest with his jagged fingernail, "Your dead body can be arranged—mortal! Now step aside."

"Never!"

"You should not stand between a god and his plaything—it is not wise. I noticed your buckle. The motif is, shall we say—unique?"

Odius realized that Pan had made the connection between his buckle and Maia's carvings.

Pan placed his hands behind his back then slowly strolled off an arrogant manner, his cloven hooves clicking each step of the way.

"I am a gracious and forgiving god, more so than most. I give you one more chance to step aside before I push you aside myself." He stopped pacing then turned to face Odius. "Well—Mortal?"

"I stay my ground!"

"You're a fool."

Odius suddenly felt a great pressure against him. It was not exactly a physical pressure, although it did tend to push him backward. It more closely resembled a force against his inner self. The pressure continued to grow until his feet slipped backward several inches.

Odius hardly expected such a gesture from a god; he thought Pan would surely administer something more horrifying than a simple shove. Maia was not sure what to make of the incident either, she simply backed up a step or two to give Odius more room. After a brief moment his feet started to slip again, but this time he continued to slide unabated.

Odius summoned power from the skull in an attempt to combat the force applied by his opponent. The skull was quick to respond but Pan simply increased the pressure against Odius as he continued to slide across the floor. Maia was frightened and stayed hidden behind Odius.

"What goes on here?" she shouted.

"We're loosing!"

Pan did not budge. He stood comfortably and effortlessly with a sneering grin on his face. "So, you have never played this game before, mortal. You are very poor at it."

Odius became more terrified as they lost ground inch by inch. His heightened fear spurred the skull's powers yet the god easily matched anything Odius could summon. Maia noticed that Pan had already edged them to within arm's length of the wall. She began to push against Odius but her efforts were little help. Pan still did not show any sign of fatigue or stress.

"I could crush you, mortal, but I shall spare you long enough to watch what happens to the girl."

Pan chuckled as he stepped up his power against Odius. Suddenly, Odius was slammed against the wall with Maia pinned behind him. Maia could hardly breathe under the crushing pressure from Odius' body. Odius fought Pan with everything he could manage but was unable to compete against the god.

"And you, my plaything, when I take hold of your flesh you will not survive. I promise it will be slow and miserable. After you go, your wizard will be quick to follow."

Odius was desperate for an edge against his opponent. Both Odius and Maia would fall at the hands of Pan if he could not turn the tide of the contest. He knew he would need a substantial edge because Pan still did not show any sign of stress. Pan clearly had control of the battle, and their dilemma seemed hopeless. In desperation, Odius tried an unorthodox move, which, as he was well aware, would put Maia's life at risk.

Odius reached behind him and grabbed Maia's hand. He pulled her hand into the bag and pressed it against the Skull of Poseidon. Maia instantly exulted with an ear-piercing scream as the power of the skull shot through her body. She was neither trained nor prepared for the terrifying force that overtook her. Her emotions, fear, and strength were fed into the skull along with those of Odius. Maia did not have a chance to draw another breath once her scream faded. She was slowly being crushed between Odius and the wall.

Pan began to show some sign of stress under the additional force offered by Maia. It was not much stress; he simply took a deep breath and shifted his weight forward somewhat. A bright glow caused by sheer mystic power soon appeared midway between contestants. It was followed by a shower of sparks as tension between the two opponents built to absolute limits.

Odius was aware of the fact that Maia could not breathe. He also knew the tensions between him and the god were too tight to allow either party to give in. This was now a contest to the death. Odius was fatigued and mentally exhausted as he spent the last of his concentration in maintaining power against the god. The shower of sparks grew thicker but Pan did not move from his position.

Maia was near passing out and Odius was at the verge of mental collapse. Pan would claim both their lives in just a matter of seconds. Odius could feel Maia's pain and sense her thoughts since they were linked together by the skull. Odius apologized for their undoing and professed his love for her. She reaffirmed her love for him and told him she would rather die with him this way than face another episode at the hands of that filthy black shadow.

Maia's thoughts gave Odius an idea—summon the mystic's cloak! He did not take time to think about any potential consequences, he just did it as soon as the thought came to him. He ordered the skull to cover both he and Maia with the mystic's cloak. A brief instant later, Odius and Maia changed into a thin wisp of smoke.

When Odius and Maia changed from solid form there was nothing left for Pan to push against. Odius let go of his end of the contest and the immense tension between mystics was suddenly expelled in a fierce Earth-pounding explosion. The devastating shock wave raced through the back of Maia's home and went on to flatten fifteen or twenty hectares of forest. Maia's beautifully crafted home was demolished in a fury of splinters and debris. Pan collapsed to the ground from shock, caused by a sudden change in mystic power, while Odius and Maia hung as inky shadows where the wall once stood. They were unaffected by the blast.

Dust slowly settled in the blown-out shell of Maia's home while larger pieces of debris occasionally rained from the sky. The wall opposite the door was completely missing and half of the roof was gone. What little roof remained was sagging and in danger of collapse. Maia's belongings were strewn about the countryside and the horse had bolted off into the night. Pan lied motionless on the floor while the shadows of Odius and Maia gradually changed back to solid form.

Odius was still holding the sword in a striking posture as he returned from the mystic's cloak. Maia also returned to solid form in a standing position but quickly collapsed to the ground. Odius dropped to his knees to assist Maia.

"Maia, are you alright?"

"I—" Maia trembled, "I think. What happened?"

His attention was drawn from Maia when Pan began to stir. Odius grabbed Maia and started to lift her from the ground.

"To your feet, quickly!"

Odius helped her to her feet then handed her the sword.

Maia accepted the sword, then looked over the ruins of her home as she slid the sword back in its sheath. She was shocked by the sight and could hardly believe her beautiful home was reduced to ruins.

"What happened to my house?"

"I'll explain later, we must leave this place!"

She pointed to the bag that hung from Odius' shoulder, "What is that? It tried to kill me!"

Odius held a finger up to his lips. "Shhh... Say nothing! We must leave with haste!"

Pan raised his head and upper torso from the floor. His head bobbed and wove for a moment as he mustered the strength to speak.

"You will regret this day, wizard. Run if you will but you cannot hide from a god." Pan took several deep breaths then collapsed to the ground once again.

"Will he die?" Maia asked.

"No, he's a god." Odius grabbed Maia's arm and started running. "He's immortal, he cannot die!"

Odius and Maia ran out through the demolished wall and hurried around the ruins toward the front of the house. They found that the porch and front wall were still standing, unlike the sides, which were severely damaged, or the back, which was completely leveled.

"We better get some distance before he recovers." Odius looked around anxiously for the horse, but it was nowhere in sight.

"Where's the horse?"

Maia pointed to deeply imprinted tracks left behind by the horse. The animal's stride was long and the prints were heavy, as if the animal tore off in a fury.

"It went that way!" She pointed across the moonlit landscape to a nearby hill thick with trees.

"Lead on! Hurry!" Odius shouted. Maia followed the horse's trail at a dead run, Odius was close behind her.

"Are you truly a wizard?" She shouted.

"Well...," Odius had to pause periodically to maintain heavy breaths as he ran. "Of sorts— Actually— I'm just an apprentice!"

They reached the thickets and started up the hill. Maia had no problem charging through the woods at night because this was her domain. However, Odius did not fare as well, his injured leg began to ache and throb. The distance between Odius and Maia gradually grew as the pain in his leg escalated. Maia had gained ten or twenty yards on him before she looked back and realized he was lagging behind. She stopped to wait for him.

Odius was breathing heavy and holding the side of his leg when he caught up with Maia. Maia could see that he was in great pain and unable to maintain a reasonable pace.

"If you are truly a wizard why are we chasing the horse? Can't you bring the horse to us?"

"Mystic powers must be used..." he paused to take several heavy breaths, "...sparingly." He waited a moment to catch his breath then continued. "However, I think your suggestion is prudent. We are doomed when Pan catches up to us—and sooner or later he will!"

Odius dropped to one knee in an attempt to shift some of the pressure off of his injured leg. "I'll summon the horse."

Odius closed his eyes as Maia watched. She was expecting him to chant or speak in strange tongues. To her disappointment, he did not even make any curious gestures. He just sat on the ground and closed his eyes.

"The horse is twenty stadia to the east..." He paused for a moment. "It's turning around..."

He took several more heavy breaths then opened his eyes.

"It is done. The horse will be here in but a few minutes."

"Good, you should not burden that leg." Maia was silent for a moment but Odius could see she had something she wanted to say. He waited patiently as she thought of how to phrase it.

"I want to thank you, Odius, for what you did here tonight."

Odius looked at her with surprise, "For what; nearly killing you, demolishing your house, or getting you in trouble with the gods?" He shook his head. "I hardly see any reason for you to thank me!"

Maia sat down next to him. "You have freed me from that dark menace. It is my untold secret. It is the reason I sought solitude." She hung her head in sadness. "I have been tainted, Odius. I fear I am not worthy of you."

Odius placed his hand under her chin and gently raised her eyes toward his. "Nothing could taint you in my eyes, Maia. I love you and nothing can change that. It is I who should be ashamed."

"What do you mean?" Maia asked.

"I have brought the wrath of Olympus upon you—upon both of us. I have done you much more harm than good, Maia."

"No, Odius, you can't mean that."

Odius nodded his head, "Indeed, before tonight your life was guarded by the gods. I have little doubt that Pan protected you from such harm as the dragons or forest predators. He wanted to keep you safe for his own selfish desires. Now, it is he who will hunt you—he will hunt us both. When Pan returns to Olympus all the gods will be angry. Soon they will be searching for us, and they will be empty of mercy when they catch us."

"But this is not your doing! Pan has violated me long before I came to know you. You did not bring this about tonight, it was just misfortune."

"Listen!" They were still for a moment. They could hear faint hoofbeats in the distance as the horse approached.

Odius was still breathing heavy. "I brought this tonight by making a careless wish. Then, in anger and arrogance, I thought I could defeat him. I did not know I was challenging a god.

"You see, Maia, I also have my untold secrets. I am apprentice to the Great Marce of Atlantis and have vast knowledge of the mystic arts. I used my skills to champion you, but, I only did you harm."

"You have not, Odius. I remain thankful."

The horse's hoofbeats grew louder.

"My master, the Great Marce, sent me to Mount Atlas to see Poseidon. This is what brought me to your home. The details are many and would be wearisome to narrate, but I shall tell you of it all in time. As for now, I shall just say the whole of the mortal world is in peril. I must go to Atlanta—"

Maia interrupted, "To save the world?"

Odius paused, then looked at Maia very intently. "I never put it in quite such terms before. I had always seen my task as serving my master." He paused again. "Will you come with me, Maia? I need you at my side."

"Oh yes! I want to be with you and ride on to great adventures. There is nothing to keep me here anymore and—I love you, I want to share the rest of my days with you. Besides, I would be at Pan's mercy if not by your side."

The horse finally trotted into view through the thickets. It appeared to be stressed and fatigued. Both Odius and Maia felt pity for this animal who served them so loyally for so long. They could see it was nearly spent as it gradually slowed to a stop.

"I suppose we dare not rest as yet?" Maia asked.

"No. Our days will be numbered when the gods take their revenge. Henceforth we must keep moving—always!" Odius gestured toward the horse, "Shall we?"

Maia nodded.

Odius climbed on the horse then offered Maia a hand up.

"Come, I'll tell you the details of our peril on the journey to Atlanta."

Maia took his hand then climbed on the horse. She settled in behind Odius then wrapped her arms around his chest.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yes yes."

Odius gave the horse a gentle nudge with his heels as they started for Atlanta at a painfully slow plod.

Maia hugged Odius as she thought of her deliverance. In the course of a single evening she saw the last of her nemesis, and the last of her long years of solitude. True, the gods would seek vengeance on behalf of Pan, but she would never again have to surrender her body to the desires of that dark shadow. She was grateful for plenty in the wake of her darkest hour. Above all she was grateful for the love they shared. She knew nothing could separate them now—not even the gods.

Chapter 8, Enemy of my Enemy

...Hereafter, when other lovers enjoy the beauty of a moonlight night, or savor the distant cry of a wolf, Maia and I must greet these pleasures with suspicion. Such is the nature of the gods...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

Odius and Maia rode most of the night through the dark foothills of Mount Atlas. The horse and riders were weary when the first hint of dawn appeared in the early morning sky. Maia clung to Odius with her eyes closed and legs just flopping against the side of the horse. Odius hung his head and did his best to fight sleep. The stallion was also spent and had nearly stumbled several times because of carelessly placed hoofsteps.

Odius had not slept since Poseidon released him from Mount Atlas. His eyelids slowly drooped as his head bobbed lower and lower with each step of the horse. Every so often he would open his eyes a crack, lift his head slightly, and wonder if he had actually fallen asleep or was just on the verge of sleeping.

Suddenly, the horse heaved hard to one side as several rocks fouled its footing. The awkward motion caused Maia to slide from the mount. Odius popped his head up as he realized that Maia was falling. The thought of Maia hitting the rocky ground brought a surge of panic. He was still struggling to open his eyes when he dropped the reins and turned to reach for Maia. He leaned as far as he dare and made a mad grab for the woman he loved but his fist closed around nothing but air. Maia fell from the horse.

Confusion set in as Odius' sight began to clear. His clenched fist was empty, yet he could feel Maia's weight in his hand. He struggled to focus his eyes. He could see that Maia had fallen from the horse, but her body had not yet hit the ground. His closed hand was at least a foot shy of Maia's shoulder, yet he seemed to have some kind of hold on her. As he became fully alert he realized that the Skull of Poseidon had intervened.

Odius strained to lift Maia back on the horse. Maia's body followed his clenched fist though he was not actually touching her. Odius managed to pull her up far enough to physically grab her shoulder with his other hand.

"Whoa!" he shouted.

The horse took one or two more steps then slowed to a halt. Like its riders, the horse was weary and more than willing to stop.

"Maia!"

Maia had just begun to wake up as Odius carefully lowered her to the ground. She was stirring but still not attentive.

"Maia, stand up!"

Maia's feet finally found the ground but her legs were still wobbly.

"Are we there?" she asked.

"We're somewhere."

"Huh?"

Odius held onto her until he was sure that she could support her own weight. He released her when she was fully awake and stood without swaying. Once Maia stood on her own, Odius started to climb off the horse.

"We should stop and rest."

"Where are we?" Maia asked.

"Perhaps you could tell me."

Maia rubbed her eyes for a moment then took a long look across the landscape through squinted, bloodshot eyes. She turned her head in several different directions to view the distant landscape but nothing looked familiar. Somehow, everything seemed different in the early morning light. After several confusing glances a sudden look of revelation came over her.

"Oh, I know this place!"

"How..." Odius yawned, "How far is the village?"

"The half part of a day." Maia slowly stretched as she let out a subtle groan. "There's a stream not far from here, about four or five stadia." She pointed to the southeast.

"Yes. I can hear it."

"Shall we rest by the water?" she asked.

Odius nodded then bent down to gather the reins, which dangled from the horse's bit and trailed across the ground. The horse hung its head and was reluctant to move. It had been worked for quite some time without rest. Odius reached under the horse's chin to lift its head, then he gently patted the animal on its nose.

"I had doubt about this animal when I left Atlanta, but it has certainly proven its worth."

"He's a fine beasty alright."

Odius led the horse as he and Maia started for the brook. It was not a very long walk—it just seemed that way to the weary. They hardly spoke a word as they staggered across rocky ground to a nearby meadow. Shortly thereafter they found themselves by a bank at the water's edge. The bank was steep along most of the brook except for a short stretch where the bank curved away from the water and sheltered a grassy depression near the water's edge. An old cedar tree and several bushes bordered the grassy area, making it an inviting place for weary travelers to relax.

Maia pointed to the cozy, secluded area near the water, "This spot?"

Odius nodded.

"Should we spread out a blanket?" Maia asked.

Odius thought for a moment then shook his head, "No. The forest is Pan's domain—he could be lurking anywhere. We must be cautious and alert. We must be ready to flee should the gods of Olympus come to seek vengeance."

Maia walked with Odius as he led the horse down the bank to the secluded, grassy place Maia had pointed out. As soon as Odius released the horse, it wandered to the water's edge where the sweet, tender grasses were too tasty to resist.

Odius took a deep breath of fresh air then gestured to a comfortable place in the shelter of the bank. "Sit. I shall fill the flask while the opportunity is at hand. We might miss our chance should we have to leave in haste."

Maia sat down against the grassy bank as Odius wandered toward the horse which had already begun to drink at the water's edge. She felt safe and secure in that secluded patch of wilderness, as if she could actually let her guard down and relax. She did not feel vulnerable because Odius was close at hand. She knew if any danger reared its ugly head Odius would be quick to defend her—as he did with Pan.

As Maia stretched out to relax, she found herself thinking about the previous night's conflict between Odius and Pan. She wondered how a mortal man could possibly walk away from such a conflict unscathed. She recalled that Pan referred to him as a wizard. She began to wonder what, exactly, Odius was; a man, or a wizard. Can a man be a wizard, or is a wizard all together different than a man? These questions haunted her as she watched Odius take the flask from his pack and carry it to the water's edge.

Do I love a man, she thought, or do I love a wizard? Why is Odius a wizard? What do wizards do?

A look of confusion came across her face. She decided that perhaps the time had come to ask some basic questions. A brief moment later, she began to reconsider. Perhaps it would be a mistake to learn his secrets. Perhaps this love they shared might change if she discovered something she wished she had not.

Maia wrestled with the idea. She wanted to learn more about wizards, but she did not want to upset these precious feelings between her and Odius. After giving the subject much thought, she decided that since Odius could accept her after she had been tainted by her nemesis then she could certainly accept whatever dark secrets Odius might hold. She began to wonder just how dark a wizard's secrets might be. Then she thought perhaps she might be painting a far gloomier picture than necessary. Perhaps the truth would be very easy to accept.

Maia was distracted from her thoughts when a black owl flew overhead and lit high in the cedar next to her grassy sanctuary. Black owls were unique to Atlantis and extremely rare. They were so rare that many actually disputed their existence. Maia herself had only seen three or four of these owls during many long years of solitude in the forest.

Black owls were large birds, about a foot tall from talons to beak, and completely black except for white tips at the end of the tail feathers. Maia thought it was rather odd to see a black owl so late in the morning because they generally roosted long before the first hint of daylight.

The owl began to make its way down the trunk of the tree by descending a branch at a time. Maia also thought this behavior was somewhat odd. It almost seemed as if the owl was trying to conceal itself. The owl had descended three-quarters of the tree by the time Odius finished his chore.

Maia turned her attention to Odius as he sat down next to her.

"Shall we sleep, love?" he asked.

Maia nodded with a big smile, "We must sleep before we forget how it's done!" Both Odius and Maia chuckled at her joke.

Maia took off her sword then set on the ground alongside her. She had never slept with a man before and was not quite sure what, if anything, was expected of her. She just sat there with her hands in her lap and wore an unsure smile as she looked to Odius.

Odius returned a gentle smile then leaned over to give her a kiss. They shared a short embrace, then Maia looked down to the ground in a shy, unsure manner.

"I never slept with a man before." She brought her eyes up to his, "How—um..." She looked back down to the ground.

"It is no different than sleeping alone. How do you like to sleep?"

Maia looked up at him with an unsure smile. She nodded playfully as she spoke, "I like to sleep on my side."

"As I. Here," Odius gestured across the ground, "make yourself comfortable, then, if you like, I shall curl up to you."

Maia nodded with big smile. She stretched out on her side with her back to Odius then wormed and wiggled until she got comfortable. Odius did not take off the bag that sheltered the Skull of Poseidon. He just shifted the bulk of the bag to his back then stretched out on his side behind Maia. He put his arm around her then cuddled her closely. By that time the owl had made its way to the bottom branch of the neighboring cedar tree. It stood perfectly still as it waited on its perch.

Odius had closed his eyes and was more than ready for several hours of sleep. Maia laid there with her eyes wide open. She liked the security and warmth Odius provided as well as the gentle tingle that his touch seemed to bring. She cherished his loving embrace and would have been content to fall asleep if it were not for the confusing questions that haunted her mind.

Once again Maia found herself wondering about this man she loved so deeply. Was he a man who happened to be a wizard, or was a wizard something completely different than a man? She began to wonder about the bag he carried over his shoulder. He did not have it before he went to Mount Atlas. He never takes it off—even when sleeping. She remembered how frightened she was when Odius put her hand in that bag during the contest with Pan. Something very strange was in that bag—she was sure of it.

Maia tried to ignore the subject and get some sleep. She decided to just enjoy the fact that she was in the comforting embrace of the man she loved, and that there would be many more such nights ahead. The thought brought a smile to her face as she closed her eyes in an attempt to get some sleep. The owl advanced out toward the end of the branch by a foot or so to get a little closer to the weary couple.

Maia opened her eyes.

"Odius?"

"Yes, love?"

"What is a wizard?"

The owl stopped its advance.

Odius thought about her question for a moment as Maia waited nervously. Odius opened his eyes then slowly sat up.

"Did I ask the wrong question, Odius?" she asked timidly.

"No, Maia. My master taught me that only unasked questions are wrong. Here, sit. We should speak of these things at length. There is much you should know if we are to share life together."

Maia sat up then adjusted her posture to get comfortable. She placed her hands in her lap then looked to Odius as she waited for him to speak. The owl crept down the branch another foot or so to get a better vantage point.

"Foremost, please do not think of me as a wizard. Those words were spoken by Pan, not I. I am simply the apprentice to the Great Marce of Atlantis, nothing more. In truth, I am but a mortal man with a unique burden."

"But, you did contest with a god—and won! By what means did you do this, Odius?"

"I won nothing, Maia."

Maia's reply was firm—and with confidence, "You did! You won my deliverance from the unspeakable. For that I will always be grateful." She shook her head. "How can you say you won nothing?"

Odius reached into her lap and gently took her hands in his. He took a deep breath then looked straight into her eyes as he spoke in a very grave tone. "The contest has yet to conclude, Maia. We have not seen the last of Pan—be assured of that."

Odius glanced across the wilderness, "He waits out there—somewhere. He bides his time."

Odius returned his attention to Maia, "He said he would learn the secret of my power before the night has passed. Should he learn of my secret, he will plot and plan his vengeance—and again he will bide his time. When the advantage is his, he will be back. Should I lose that bout, you might find yourself at his mercy once again. I fear that above all else, Maia.

"I will tell you my secret that you will know what stands between us and Pan. Guard this secret with your life for it is the only advantage we hold."

The owl tilted its head.

Odius reached behind himself and clutched the cloth bag. Maia's eyes followed the bag as Odius slowly brought it in front of him. Maia stared at the bag with awe as Odius spoke.

"Six summers past, I was accepted for the honor of apprentice to the Great Marce. The Great Marce chose me out of seven score who sought the same privilege. The Great Marce was my master, and I his pupil.

"My master taught me many things, which I did learn in earnest. He taught me his great knowledge of the mystic arts. He taught me of the gods, and of foreign and ancient tongues, and politics of kings and noblemen. Above all, he taught me wisdom; for the responsibilities and burden of Great Marce require wisdom."

Odius hung his head, "Alas, though I have the skills and wisdom of a Great Marce, the title shall never be mine."

After a long and awkward pause, Maia gently asked, "Why, Odius? What has cheated you of your rightful place?"

Odius looked up at her then continued, "Times have become most foul. There is no longer a crystal in the temple at Atlanta, and there will never be another Great Marce."

Maia looked confused. Odius elaborated.

"A crystal once rested in a temple at Atlanta. The crystal was the source of power for many generations of mystics. Each mystic held the title of Great Marce, and each Great Marce was charged with the responsibility and burden of the crystal. I was to become the next Great Marce until troubled times befell Atlantis.

"Scarcely a moon past, my master, the Great Marce, in all his wisdom did willfully destroy the crystal. In so doing he banished himself from the mortal world and deprived corrupt rulers of the crystal. It was a sacrifice he made for the whole of the world."

Odius reached into bag. Maia nervously squirmed for a moment in anticipation. The owl took one more step closer to the end of the branch.

"When I was atop Mount Atlas, I came into possession of another crystal. It is unlike any other."

Odius slowly pulled the Skull of Poseidon out of the bag. Maia's eyes widened with awe as she gazed at the remarkable crystal.

The owl blinked twice.

"It's—" Maia's voice was distraught, "It's the embodiment of all evil!"

"It makes you uncomfortable, Maia?"

Maia gazed at the skull for a while before she spoke.

"It has a sinister grin."

"Do not judge it too hastily, Maia. It belonged to the great god, Poseidon. Gods do not see the world as we do."

Maia still seemed uneasy.

"Maia, this was the instrument of your deliverance."

"Then... Then it is good? Right?"

"It is neither good nor evil, it is simply power. Good and evil lie in the hands of the mystic. The crystal makes no decisions, it only complies with the mystic's requests."

"This belonged to Poseidon?"

Odius nodded, "It is called the Skull of Poseidon. Poseidon never said whether it was mine to keep forever, or if he expects its return. I assume he will come looking for it someday."

"This is what makes you a wizard?"

"This and the skills my master taught me. The skull would be of little use to most mortals."

"I—" Maia began to look at the skull with a more relaxed expression. "I don't think it frightens me as long as it's in your hands. I trust you, Odius."

Odius smiled as he returned the crystal skull to its bag, "Your words please me, Maia. You need not fear the crystal—but you must respect it all the same. Remember, it belongs to a god."

"Why did Poseidon give you his crystal?"

The owl turned an ear toward Odius.

"I am to use this crystal to hunt down a god." Odius sadly shook his head, "Soon, all of Olympus will be looking for us."

Odius let out a heavy sigh. "I have done you a great injustice, Maia. I never sought to bring you harm." A look of great despair came over him as he hung his head.

"I did not mean to entangle you in these matters."

"What matters are you speaking of, Odius?"

"The whole of the mortal world is at risk of collapse. Men plot against men and gods plot against gods."

"But, Odius, is that not the way it has always been?"

Odius nodded, "It has. But now comes a time when men plot against gods and gods plot against men. You and I find ourselves at the pinnacle of these events. Though this bank and stream are peaceful in the foredawn light, we sit amidst the greatest turmoil the mortal world or Olympus has ever known."

Odius let out another heavy sigh. "If that alone is not enough, I am wanted by King Authemur of Atlas. His men are hunting for me as we speak. Soon, so shall the gods. You too must face these dangers if you stand at my side, yet, if you leave you will be at the mercy of Pan."

Maia placed her hand on his shoulder. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. After a long pause, she leaned toward Odius and spoke gently.

"My life has suddenly become worth something to me. This is a gift you have given. Only the greatest of wizards could have freed me from..." she paused for a moment. "In my eyes you are the greatest man the world will ever know. You have made me feel like a woman—not like a plaything. Do—do you know what this means to me?"

There was a silent and awkward pause. Odius could not possibly answer her question. Maia soon realized this, then continued in a soft, gentle tone.

"Oh, Odius. What ever the price for finally having my body as mine—I would gladly pay. Do you not see? I would rather die at your side as a woman, than to live as a—a..." She swallowed hard, then took a deep breath. "I owe you much, Odius—more than I could ever repay."

Maia was silent for a moment as she thought. Suddenly, the tone of her voice changed to something more determined, more defiant. "As I shall!"

"You need not, Maia"

"I shall! If the price is such that we must mend these conflicts you speak of then so be it. I will fight your cause that someday we can walk hand in hand among a mortal world fit for men and women and children. If you must defy the gods then so shall I."

Odius made a nervous glance toward the heavens and gestured to Maia to keep her voice down.

Maia's voice grew louder as she made a sharp gesture toward the heavens, "Let the gods bellow and roar 'till all Olympus shakes! The gods have scorned me and I seek justice!! I will fight your cause to the end, Odius! If I must die in the struggle then I must! THIS IS OUR MORTAL WORLD!!!"

Both Maia and Odius were startled when the owl took wing and lofted itself into the early morning sky. It was the very crack of dawn as the first sliver of sun appeared over the eastern horizon. Odius and Maia watched the owl for some time before they returned to their discussion.

Odius spoke of how his master foretold of conflicts among the gods and among men which would eventually lead to a conflict between the mortal world and Olympus. He explained that it would be a conflict no mortal could survive. He told Maia that he thought the conflict might be averted if the traitorous god were revealed.

He tried to tell Maia as much as possible and gave no optimistic view for their chance of success. He showed Maia the orders he found in the cave of dragons along with Prince Halimor's imperial bracelet. He also showed her the Master's shard. Odius told her how his master destroyed the crystal and became locked in the shard. Maia listened intently as Odius started to disclose each and every little detail about the circumstances surrounding their quest.

The black owl had flown over several miles of lofty foothills before it finally perched in the lower branches of an old oak tree. The bird worked its way along the branch until it found a suitable place from which it could jump to the forest floor below. The owl's talons left the tree but cloven hooves hit the ground as Pan changed back to his traditional form.

The angry god stood motionless as an eerie stillness seemed to settle around him. His lifeless eyes stared toward nothing as he stewed over the words of the mortals.

He shouted angrily, "Defy the gods will they!!?"

Pan kicked up mulch from the forest floor rather abruptly then returned to his motionless stance. After a brief moment he turned his head toward the general direction of Odius and Maia, though they were miles away.

"I will bide my time indeed!"

Pan slowly looked across his domain of the forest as his anger festered.

"The wizard has the skull of Poseidon!!! HOW DARE HE!!?"

Pan lowered his head in anger as he charged the nearby oak. His hammering hoofbeats echoed through the forest, followed by a loud 'crack' as his head split the mighty oak from ground to canopy.

He shook an angry fist at the heavens and shouted, "Mark me Poseidon—ZEUS WILL HEAR OF THIS!!!"

The weather over the entire continent of Atlantis began to slowly deteriorate over the ten days that followed. Without a Great Marce to control the climate, weather had finally begun to pursue a more natural course. It was a side of Atlantis no one had ever seen before. For many it symbolized the end of the world. They did not realize just how close their assessment came to the truth.

Martimus looked up at the dingy gray skies over the city of Atlanta. The strange sight was not the least bit consistent with a reputation Atlanta had persistently forged over many centuries. The weather was just one of many subjects that bothered Martimus as he waited for King Authemur in the palace courtyard.

Martimus had been waiting for several long hours. He raced from Gades to Atlanta in what surely must have been record time. Once he arrived, he was told to wait in the courtyard. The news he carried was too urgent to be postponed and Martimus had begun to get irritated with the whole affair. He wore a scowl as he looked across the courtyard.

The palace courtyard had been the kings' preferred meeting place over many generations of monarchs. It was richly adorned with a myriad of exotic plants and several small animals such as raccoons and monkeys. At the far edge of the courtyard, two gold fountains poured water into a large pool stocked with fish and small amphibians. The pool overflowed to form a small stream, which trickled through the spacious courtyard then went on to grace the rest of Atlanta's citadel. The courtyard's pools and walkways were covered with ornate tiles and its pavilions were built from rare, exotic hardwoods. The courtyard also played host for several statues fashioned from gold and orichalcum. It was a luxurious garden and did honor to the bold, flashy image of Atlanta.

Martimus rose to his feet when he noticed the king and a bodyguard approach from the palace gates. He thought it peculiar; that King Authemur had but one bodyguard. It had been a tradition in Atlas for the king to maintain two bodyguards at all times. Then to his surprise, Martimus realized that he knew the man at the king's side. Martimus watched as the king and his party drew closer.

There was no doubt about it, the bodyguard was Rhylus—an elite warrior from Autowin. Martimus and Rhylus had often spent many drunken stupors together when Martimus journeyed to Autowin on official business. A bodyguard from Autowin was not per etiquette; only native warriors were allowed to serve as bodyguards. Martimus began to wonder what a warrior from Autowin was doing in Atlas armor and serving as the king's guard.

Martimus nodded to show respect as King Authemur and his guard walked past him without slowing down or hardly acknowledging his presence.

"I make no apologies for my delay," Authemur said in an arrogant tone. "Only four hours ago, Brutus, my bodyguard of five years, fell to an assassin's arrow." He plopped himself down in a massive chair and rubbed his brow.

Martimus nodded his head once again, "My regrets, Eminence."

"It has been a trying day," Authemur pointed to the sky, "and this cursed weather is no help either. State your business quickly—I have much to do today."

"Certainly, Eminence. I bring distressing news from Gades. It would appear a large armada of Greek warships are enroute for Atlas."

King Authemur looked angry and confused. "Impossible! We have no quarrel with Greece!"

"We have not learned of their motives, only their intentions, Eminence."

"How did you come upon this information?" the king insisted.

"Our spies report the armada passed through the Pillars of Hercules only seven days past, Eminence. If unchecked they will arrive at your shores in twelve days."

"Exactly how many ships are in this armada?" King Authemur asked.

"Twenty-six score, Eminence."

The sound of those words brought back memories of the day the crystal cracked. It was indeed a dark day for Atlanta. Since the Great Marce passed on everything the crystal served had begun to decay. Even the weather would not cooperate with the king's wishes and the crops were beginning to fail.

The king recalled how the Great Marce foretold of these ships. He began to strum his fingers on the arm of the chair. Martimus took note of the gesture and decided that this was the best time to put forth their proposal.

"I have been sent forth with a proposal from King Crylos. We could intercept the Greek armada at sea before they reach Atlas, but we must act immediately."

"What do you want from us in return?"

"Only to keep Atlantis sovereign, Eminence."

"I still find your claim difficult to believe. We have no quarrel with Greece."

Martimus knew King Authemur had a tendency to be stubborn and obstinate about news he did not want to hear. Time was a critical factor for Gades and a declaration of war was needed as soon as possible. Martimus did not want the king to take several days debating the subject with advisors. To make the situation sound more imminent he thought up a lie:

"I believe there are also a number of Egyptian ships in the armada, Eminence."

Martimus could tell by the king's reaction that he struck a tender nerve.

"What is this proposition you speak of?"

"Our ambassador has been authorized to move for an emergency meeting of the Atlantis senate. If you are agreeable, Atlas could second the motion. When the senate convenes, Gades will bring forward a proposal to defend Atlas by intercepting the armada at sea. We have sufficient navel forces to crush them, and we have the opportunity to intercept them before they reach the continent. Of course, we would need a formal declaration of war against Greece."

"Of course," the king replied. "Why would Gades be willing to fight our battle? Does the lives of your warriors and soldiers mean so little?"

"Certainly not, Eminence!" Martimus sounded shocked, but his reaction was solely for the king's benefit. He was expecting a question of this nature sometime or another. He had already prepared a response:

"As you say, you have no quarrel with Greece. Since we lack an obvious motive, we can only assume they campaign for conquest. Our intelligence believes they have accurately analyzed the Greek battle strategy."

"Which is?"

"They intend to defeat Atlas first, because Atlas is the most prominent kingdom of Atlantis. Assuming a victory, they would venture from Atlas to other kingdoms of Atlantis. Gades is small and close by. Our intelligence believes Gades would be their next target. We want the opportunity to stop this ambitious conquest while their forces are contained at sea. I assure you, Eminence, we have our own interests at heart."

"Hmm..." King Authemur stared off into a fountain as he thought about the prospect. "Give me a moment to my thoughts."

"Certainly, Eminence."

Martimus turned his attention to Rhylus while the king wrestled with a decision. Rhylus seemed to be behaving rather strangely; as if he had never met Martimus.

"It's been a long time Rhylus," Martimus said in a friendly tone. "How long, two, two and a half years?"

A look of worry came over Rhylus, "I'm sorry sir, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Breneous."

Although he professed to be Breneous his voice was that of Rhylus. Martimus was certain of the man's identity.

"Breneous?"

"That's right, Breneous."

Martimus wrinkled his brow. "Certainly you're the Rhylus I shared wine and bread with." Martimus waited for a reply but Rhylus would only pretend to look confused. "At the Dead Horse Inn—in Autowin."

"Ah," Rhylus replied, "Now I know you must be mistaken. I have never been to Autowin."

Martimus knew better but decided there would be no point in pushing the issue. As it was King Authemur had not yet taken notice of their conversation. Perhaps it was best to keep it that way.

The king cleared his throat to get Martimus' attention. "Very well, have your ambassador make a motion to convene senate and I will second it. When senate convenes I will use our persuasion in your behalf. We should manage to secure enough votes for your declaration of war—but I have a condition."

Martimus looked confused, "A condition, Eminence?"

"Yes. Your declaration of war must also include Egypt as well as Greece."

Although it was difficult, Martimus concealed a smile. This was more than he or King Crylos could hope for. He briefly thought about throwing Arabia into the deal, but decided that that would be going a bit too far. Martimus tried to sound reluctantly agreeable.

"Well... If you insist, Eminence."

"I do." King Authemur got up from his chair. "Luck is with us, representatives from each kingdom happen to be in Atlanta and will be for several days. If you make your motion today we could convene as early as the morrow."

"Until then, Eminence." Martimus nodded.

The king would not favor him with a response, he simply looked up at the dingy, gray sky. "I fear this despicable weather is an omen of bad times to come."

"Yes, Eminence. I must take leave from you to consult our ambassador."

King Authemur gestured with a brush of the fingertips.

Martimus nodded to the king again, then addressed Rhylus. "Until next time, Rhylus."

"Breneous."

"Whatever."

Odius and Maia managed the first ten days of their journey without incident. Although they had seen several public notices for Odius' capture, they were neither recognized nor pursued by bounty hunters. The same held true for several groups of soldiers they happened to pass along the road to Atlanta. During that time they had not seen anything of Pan. It would seem luck was with them.

They rode along the edge of the road and tried to attract as little attention as possible. They often waved at groups of soldiers as they passed by, which was common among people of the time. This gave the impression that they had nothing to hide. Maia's presence also seemed to divert attention from Odius. According to public notice Odius traveled alone; a couple did not quite fit that description. Also, Maia's incredible beauty often drew the soldier's eyes off of Odius. He knew this ploy would not work when they reached Atlanta because there he would be widely recognized as the apprentice to the Great Marce.

The stallion maintained its slow but steady plod as, mile by mile, they drew closer to the city of Atlanta. The day had grown to late afternoon and, like Atlanta, the skies overhead were dingy and gray.

"Odius?"

"Yes?"

"What would a god seek to gain by betraying Olympus?"

Odius thought for a moment.

"I do not know. Gods do not think as mortals do and we could not imagine their motives."

"How do we know the mortal world would be better off with the traitor revealed? Suppose our mortal world could benefit from the traitor. Could we be harming our own world? How do we know?"

"I simply trust my master's foresight on these matters. I know him well and have vowed to serve him. He said to seek the traitorous god."

"I would like to meet your master. From the way you speak of him, he must truly be a magnificent man."

"Perhaps someday you can speak with him, but he seldom reaches out from the shard."

"Odius?"

"Yes?"

"Can we stop?"

Odius turned to look at her, "Are you weary?"

She replied with a sheepish smile, "No. I—um—have to..."

"Say no more!"

Odius guided the horse off the road and through the brush. They continued for several hundred yards until they could no longer be seen from the road. Odius stopped when he found a secluded place with ample bushes.

"Will this place do?"

"It's fine," Maia replied as she climbed off the horse.

Odius waited on the horse while Maia ran off to visit the nearby bushes. After three or four minutes passed Odius heard Maia shout, "Ok."

When Odius turned to look she had just finished lacing the edge of her loincloth skirt and was tying the knot at the bottom.

"Would you like to rest here for a while?" Odius asked.

She replied with a smile as she walked toward the horse, "No, Odius. I feel fine."

Her expression suddenly changed to reflect nervousness or uneasiness. "Odius?" her voice was pathetically shaken. She looked very faint. Odius could see that she was in distress.

"Maia!" Odius climbed off the horse in a hurry and started to run toward her. Before he managed to reach her side she had collapsed to the ground.

"Maia!?"

Odius gently rolled her on her back. He could see she was still breathing but her eyes were closed and she would not respond to his voice.

"MAIA!" He shook her abruptly and shouted, "MAIA!"

"She has not been harmed." Odius recognized the loud, booming voice that seemed to sweep across the wilderness. It was the voice of Poseidon.

Odius looked about and found the god floating not twenty yards behind him. He stood up as the god approached.

"She is not important, your quest was."

Poseidon's trivial reference to Maia and use of the past tense made Odius extremely nervous. He just about had his fill of divine intervention and wanted to revolt but quickly reminded himself of his position. Then it occurred to him that he had control over his own body and mind, unlike his other encounters with Poseidon. Poseidon's own skull was apparently protecting him from its rightful owner!

Poseidon drifted to within an arm's length of Odius before he continued.

"You have created trouble for me because of that mortal on the ground." Poseidon pointed to Maia.

"You should not have engaged Pan. Even now he waits just out of sight to take vengeance. Because of your impetuous actions, Pan has discovered that you hold my skull and further degrades my name in Olympus." Poseidon pointed an angry finger in Odius' face. "When I bestowed the skull I said DO NOT CROSS ME!"

"I have not crossed you great Poseidon, I only—"

"SILENCE! Return my rightful property!"

Odius reached for the cloth bag and was about to take it off when he heard a subtle voice inside his head. It sounded like a high pitched whisper—and it seemed to come from the Skull of Poseidon.

"Do not. He cannot take—you must give. Do not."

Odius tried to think of a tactful way of refusing Poseidon, but when he opened his mouth he found himself saying, "No!"

"WHAT?"

Odius felt like melting. He did not mean to just blurt it out like that. He realized the skull had become quite an influence over him—this was the first sign of possession. He was in big trouble, and not just from the skull. The last thing he wanted to do was make an enemy of Poseidon.

"Do you refuse your god?"

"No," Odius said in a far less arrogant voice.

Poseidon held out his hand to accept the skull, but Odius did not offer it.

"I do as you ask, great Poseidon, look here." Odius reached into his robe and produced the orders signed by King Xaveous. The parchment violently flew on its own accord from Odius' hand to Poseidon's. Poseidon looked at it briefly, then looked at Odius.

"This is of no consequence." Poseidon dropped the parchment to the ground. "Mortals have always lusted for power of the gods—as you do now! Return my rightful property."

Again, Odius heard the voice in his head, "Do not."

Odius was confused. He felt like he was caught in the middle of a battle between Poseidon and his crystal skull. He knew he should surrender the skull, but for some reason he could not bring himself to do it. He just had to concentrate and think.

"Surely, great Poseidon, with all your wisdom you see what that parchment means."

"Return my property!" the god insisted.

"Xaveous does not want the crystal of the gods for himself! It is of no use to him!"

"Return my property or I will crush the mortal woman!"

Odius was frightened by Poseidon's threat. He was not sure what, if anything, he could do to defend Maia. He did not think like a god and could hardly match wits with one. In desperation he stepped backward and straddled Maia's unconscious body between his legs. He quickly reached into the bag and placed his hand on the crystal skull.

"Harm her and I'll summon Zeus!"

"You are a fool!"

"Fool enough to do it!"

Poseidon began to growl in a slow, deep tone.

Odius did not like the way the confrontation was progressing. Once again he had placed Maia's life in danger at the hands of the gods. Somebody had to give in and he knew Poseidon would not.

"I beg a truce, great Poseidon."

"Return my property and I will consider it."

"Alright—but first you must hear my words!"

Poseidon did not appear to be pleased with Odius' demand. The god neither agreed nor disagreed with Odius' condition, he simply stood there looking angry. Odius started talking while the opportunity was at hand.

"I seek the traitor as you, great Poseidon. No mortal can master the great crystal atop Mount Atlas—ONLY A GOD! A god seeks the crystal! I believe Xaveous knows the traitorous god! I could learn more of these events if I kept the skull."

Poseidon said nothing as he thought about Odius' words. After a very long pause, he spoke in a less formidable tone.

"Very well, you have won this contest, mortal."

"There will be no winners, great Poseidon, until the traitor is revealed." Odius shook his head, "I do not wish you as an enemy."

Once again Poseidon pointed at Odius. "Then do not create trouble among the gods."

"I will defend Maia!" Odius insisted. "If you want no trouble with Pan, then you keep him from her, lest I will!"

"You are a burden, mortal."

Poseidon encroached uncomfortably close to Odius. He brought his face to within inches of Odius', then spoke in a much more quiet voice.

"I can do nothing about Pan. I am soon to be an outcast from Olympus. If you want the help of a god, seek Athena. She has eyes for Pan. Her jealousy will deal with him—should she learn he lusts for mortal women."

Poseidon began to back away slowly. "But you would not be wise to summon her yourself, Greece is at war with Atlantis."

"War?"

"Heed my words, mortal, do not cause any more trouble for me. You would not like my vengeance."

Poseidon said nothing more as he began to fade away into nothing. Odius watched and waited until he was absolutely sure that the god was gone. Satisfied that Poseidon had left, he bent over and quickly snatched the parchment lying on the ground. He stuffed the parchment in his robe then attended to Maia.

"Maia!" he shook her, "MAIA!!"

Maia began to stir.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Maia had a confused look on her face as she slowly sat up.

"What—what happened?"

"Are you alright?"

"I—I think so." She looked at Odius. "Odius, your shaking! What's wrong?"

"Come," he helped her to her feet, "I'll speak of it on the road to Atlanta. We must leave—quickly!"

The Atlantis senate convened on the following day. They started deliberations some time around mid-morning. By noon most had grown weary of the proceedings and were ready to force the issue to conclusion. Opponents and proponents of war had been lobbying in the circular chamber of the senate all morning.

Although only ten members would be voting, one hundred twenty representatives were present for the debate. Those ten allowed to vote were not permitted to deliberate. Their duty was to listen to arguments and vote accordingly.

The seats of the senate were arranged in a three-quarter circle around a central platform. The seats were typically four rows deep although a short fifth row was located just opposite the gap in the circle. An arbitrator and two other officials sat behind a bench at the gap.

Domenesis, a speaker from the kingdom of Eavemon, spoke from the central platform. Domenesis was trying his best to convince the senate that Greece and Egypt should be stopped at sea before they could represent a threat to Atlantis. Actually, his concern was the kingdom of Eavemon, who's military was not as large as that of most kingdoms.

"We must make an example of any force wishing conquest against our great continent of Atlantis." Domenesis was skilled in his trade and had an authoritative voice that echoed through the senate chambers. "The whole of the world is envious of our wealth and prosperity. If we stop these invaders at sea, then others with visions of conquest will consider consequences more carefully before attempting such a ridiculous and ambitious venture."

"Time...," the arbitrator shouted, "Final phrases."

Domenesis looked somewhat disappointed, he enjoyed his brief authority and influence over the senate. Reluctantly, he made his closing statement. "We must approve Gades' declaration of war against Greece and Egypt to ensure sovereignty of this great continent, Atlantis."

The senate applauded as Domenesis returned to his seat somewhere near the outer edge of the circle.

Although Egypt had nothing to do with the Greek forces at sea they were included in the motion to wage war. A rumor of Egyptian ships in the armada was a lie created by Martimus to sway King Authemur into supporting the motion. Of all the deliberations that took place that morning, no one had challenged the accuracy of information presented by Gades.

The arbitrator shouted in somewhat of a drawn-out cadence, "All arguments are in!" His gavel fell. "Do any object to the vote?"

He paused for a moment to listen for objections. The senate was quiet and all seemed anxious to finish the proceedings. In order to secure a declaration of war, Gades would need more than fifty percent of the votes. Since only one vote was allowed per kingdom, six would be needed to pass the motion.

"Voting shall commence," the arbitrator's words were punctuated with the fall of a gavel.

The arbitrator shouted the name of each kingdom. In turn, each voter exalted a response from the senate floor.

"Atlas!"

"Aye!"

"Ampherus!"

"Nay!"

"Gades!"

"Aye!"

"Evaemon!"

"Aye!"

"Autowin!"

"Nay!"

"Mestor!"

"Nay!"

"Mneseus!"

"Aye!"

"Elas!"

"Aye!"

"Diaphres!"

"Nay!"

"Azies!"

"Abstain!"

Murmurs and groans rumbled across the senate floor. An abstention was seldom heard in the Atlantis senate. According to law, the vote must be retaken until all votes lay on one side of the issue or the other. Nobody really wanted to sit through several more hours of deliberation.

"Order!" the arbitrator shouted as he slammed his gavel on the bench. "Order!"

The senate floor slowly began to quiet down.

Off in an obscure corner of the senate, Martimus whispered something to the ambassador from Gades. The ambassador nodded several times, then whispered something back to Martimus. A moment later, the ambassador stood up and shouted, "Motion!"

"The senate recognizes a motion from Gades," the arbitrator replied.

"Gades moves for a recess of two sands."

"Any opposed?" The arbitrator waited for an objection but none was given. "So ordered; two sands!"

The arbitrator turned over a hourglass.

The senate again broke out in a rumbling of quite discussions. Meanwhile, Martimus got up and walked around the seats of the senate to a man named Nexus. Nexus was a representative from Azies; he was also the voter who had abstained. Martimus approached his seat and bent close so no one else was likely to hear.

"Why do you abstain, Nexus?"

"I'm unsure."

"Do you want invaders to overrun Azies?"

"No, but I see no profit in war."

Martimus rubbed his chin for a moment as he thought of a tactful way to reply. "How profitable would war have to be before you could vote affirmative?"

Nexus shrugged his shoulders, "Make me an offer."

"Ah...," Martimus looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Ten pounds of Gold?"

"Twenty."

"So be it!" Martimus returned to his seat, then consulted with the ambassador from Gades. They patiently waited for recess to run out. After several minutes, the arbitrator's gavel fell again.

"Senate is in session!" The arbitrator waited for the senate floor to settle down before he continued.

"Do any motion for further deliberation?"

The senate floor was quite.

"Do any object to the vote?"

Again the senate floor was quite.

"Voting shall commence," the arbitrator's gavel fell once again.

"Atlas!"

"Aye!"

"Ampherus!"

"Nay!"

"Gades!"

"Aye!"

"Evaemon!"

"Aye!"

"Autowin!"

"Nay!"

"Mestor!"

"Nay!"

"Mneseus!"

"Aye!"

"Elas!"

"Aye!"

"Diaphres!"

"Nay!"

"Azies!"

"Abstain!"

Once again the senate floor broke out in grumbling. The arbitrator's gavel pounded repeatedly for order. The ambassador from Gades discretely leaned toward Martimus then spoke in a whisper.

"I thought you had this fixed?"

"So did I," Martimus replied. "Can you motion for another recess?"

The ambassador shook his head, "Such a move would draw suspicion."

"Hmm..."

It had taken some time for the senate floor to quiet down. Shortly after silence fell on the senate chamber, a representative from Mneseus stood up.

"Motion!"

"The senate recognizes a motion from Mneseus."

"Because further deliberations are likely, Mneseus moves for a recess of twelve sands to accommodate dining and rest before proceedings continue."

"Any opposed?" the arbitrator shouted.

The floor was silent.

"So ordered; twelve sands!"

Martimus seized the opportunity to confront Nexus. He got up from his seat and hurried toward Nexus before he left for lunch. He found Nexus sitting at his seat as if he were waiting for someone.

"What goes on here?" Martimus' voice was firm yet kept to a whisper. "We had a barter!"

Nexus sat with a smug grin, "I'm sorry Martimus, but war is no longer profitable."

"Who topped my offer?"

Nexus looked shocked, "I can't tell you that—it would not be ethical."

"And selling your vote is?"

"Please," Nexus looked around to make sure no one was listening.

Martimus grabbed Nexus by the collar, "Look you slug, tell me who made the offer and how much."

"Alright, alright! No need to draw attention."

Martimus released him and impatiently waited for him to straighten his collar. Nexus seemed to be stalling as he looked around the senate chamber.

"Well," Martimus insisted.

Nexus pointed to two representatives who were talking some distance away. One was from Mestor, the other from Autowin.

"Those gentlemen." He returned his attention to Martimus. "They each doubled your offer. I believe that brings the tally up to eighty pounds of gold. Can your king do better?"

"That and more," Martimus was disgusted and it clearly shown in his voice. "One hundred twenty pounds—and not an ounce more! I swear, if you fish for a higher bid you'll be looking at an assassin's spear."

"Your threats mean nothing to me!"

"Vote against the motion and that threat will stick."

"Make good your threat and the senate will learn of your actions in my will."

Martimus left in a hurry to intercept the representatives from Mestor and Autowin. He had seen this kind of corruption before and knew how it worked. Nexus could—and would—keep upping the bid until one party or the other gave in. The only way to keep the price from escalating was to buy the other bidders. All Martimus wanted was a simple declaration of war. He was quite angry with the whole affair by the time he reached the two men who were bidding against him. They were just getting ready to walk off as Martimus approached.

"Ah... Gentlemen."

Martimus could see that he took the men by surprise.

"Martimus is it?" the man from Mestor said, "From, ah—Gades?"

"Yes," Martimus replied.

"If you wish to discuss the motion, please wait for deliberations. We grow weary of the subject."

"I did not have deliberation in mind."

"If not deliberation, then..."

"Business," replied Martimus.

The representative from Autowin looked confused, "Business?"

"Yes, Business. Nexus tells me each of you doubled my offer for his vote. I am prepared to match that with a sum to be applied to your personal purse."

"We didn't, oohf—" The man from Autowin was silenced with an elbow in the ribs. His companion was quick to speak.

"You would have to do better than that. I think for twice that figure we would forget anything about a bribe."

The representative from Autowin added with a smile, "For that sum we would certainly not break the law by making an offer to Nexus." He laughed out loud.

Martimus realized that he had been had. Apparently these men knew nothing about the deal; it was a ploy by Nexus to up the bidding. He also realized he would have to appease them or face strict consequences. The best he could do at this point was lie about the figures.

"Very well," Martimus replied, "ten pounds of gold each."

The representative from Mestor disagreed, "I know Nexus, he would not settle for such a trivial price. You better make it, say, forty pounds each?"

Martimus had little recourse, "So be it."

Martimus looked for Nexus on his way back to the ambassador, but Nexus had already left. He would certainly catch up with him later. When Martimus returned to his seat, the ambassador leaned over toward him and whispered.

"Well, did you finally sway this matter?"

"Yes, but it will cost the king two hundred pounds of gold."

"He'll pay," the ambassador replied. "You could have looked around for a better bargain, you know. I'm sure you could have swayed a nay vote for a lot less."

Martimus let out a sigh of disgust, "It started at twenty pounds."

"Then, how did the price escalate so?"

Martimus simply replied, "Nexus!"

The Atlantis senate reconvened some time later. After three hours of deliberation another vote was taken. The outcome was the same except for the abstention. Nexus was satisfied with his hundred twenty pounds of gold and finally voted for the declaration of war. Martimus returned to Gades with the declaration of war and a very expensive debt for King Crylos.

The weather over Atlantis did not improve as the days passed by. Odius and Maia rode across the last lofty hill at the edge of the flat, fertile plain surrounding Atlanta. They had an excellent view of the vast basin with its patchwork patterns of irrigation canals and crops.

"I've never seen land so flat!" Maia squirmed and stretched to get a better view around Odius. "Why does the distant land look so strange?"

"That is the sea! We shall near it come nightfall."

"I've always wanted to see the sea. I've heard villagers speak of it. They say the sea has fish bigger than a horse."

Odius nodded. "Atlanta is at the place where the land and sea meet. Enjoy the view while it is our's to see. Soon we'll be on the plains and the sight will fade."

Maia turned to look behind them for a moment, then returned her attention to the scenery in front. She sat on the back of the horse with a huge smile. She enjoyed the adventure Odius seemed to bring.

"Odius?"

"Yes?"

"What is Atlanta like?"

"Well," Odius thought for a moment, "It is a great city behind a wall of stone. It is filled with buildings, and gold, and canals—"

"It must have been difficult to build."

"The scrolls say it was built by Poseidon's own hand. Poseidon might have used this very skull to shape it!"

"Ooh!"

Again, Maia turned to look behind them.

"Is something wrong, Maia?"

She faced front then whispered in Odius' ear. "I think someone is hunting us."

"Hmm... We'll have no cover when we reach the plains."

Odius and Maia said little during their twenty minute descent to the plain. Maia looked to the rear from time to time in search of any pursuers. She was certain someone or something was stalking them.

They reached the plain and had traveled only several hundred yards across open country when Maia caught sight of a horse and rider emerging from brush on the slope.

"Odius!" she tapped him on the shoulder.

Odius looked to the rear and saw a rider charging for them at a full gallop. It was a warrior from the kingdom of Atlas.

"What should we do?" Maia asked.

"Nothing at present. Perhaps he is in a hurry to reach the city. If we bolt now he'll become suspicious."

They continued on their way as if nothing was wrong. Odius looked at the ground in front of their horse, as if he had no interest in the passerby. He could hear the pounding hoofbeats closing in behind them. He thought they were safe for a brief moment as the rider passed them by, but the horse and rider stopped abruptly and wheeled around in front of them to block their path.

Odius stopped, then looked up at the warrior. He was a formidable sight with both warrior and horse in full battle gear. Odius recognized the warrior's armor. He was apparently an elite member of the Atlas military. The warrior wore a proud, confident grin as he looked directly at Odius. A sick feeling hit Odius as he recognized the man behind the proud grin; it was Spartos, a high-ranking commander who answers directly to the king.

"At last, I find the apprentice!" he said in a deep, burly voice.

Spartos drew his sword, "I arrest you in the name of King Authemur. Surrender your weapons, Odius—then dismount." He pointed his sword at Maia. "You do the same."

Maia did nothing of the sort. She had no idea what would transpire, but she knew Odius would not let the warrior's demands go unchecked. She tightened her grip around Odius' waist.

The earth began to rumble and both horses reared high into the air. Maia was frightened but at the same time anxious to see what Odius would do. The road beneath Spartos began to crack and separate. Suddenly, the road under the warrior's horse sank quickly to form a pit some twenty feet deep. The ground fell so rapidly that Spartos and his horse were toppled.

Odius and Maia looked on from the edge of the pit as the tremors began to subside.

"Fear not, Spartos. Someone should happen by sooner or later."

Spartos clambered to his feet, then shook a fist as he looked up from the bottom of the pit.

"I'll hunt you down for the length of my days, apprentice!"

"I could have killed you as easy, warrior. Remember that next time you come looking."

Odius and Maia casually rode around the pit, then continued down the road to Atlanta. As they rode off, they heard shouting and profanity pouring from the pit. It was hundreds of yards before the warrior's threats and curses faded into the distance.

Spartos stewed at the bottom of that pit for most of the day. His horse broke a leg during the fall and had to be slain. His horse had seen many battles beneath him and was his closest ally. He was sure he would never find another as suitable. Spartos felt more grief over killing his horse than he felt for the countless men he had slain in battle.

As the hours passed, his vendetta against Odius grew. He not only lost a horse, but was likely to lose his position as well. He had cursed Odius' name ever since the king ordered him to join the search. He had spent years working his way to the top, now one lousy apprentice would render those efforts pointless.

Those thoughts went through his head as he sat in a corner of the pit and idly fiddled with his sword. He happened to be looking at the ground when he noticed a strange sight; a pair of cloven hoofs walked up in front of him.

Spartos looked up and immediately recognized the figure before him. It was Pan! He had seen statues of the god in the citadel of Atlanta. The husky warrior was frightened by the sight of the god and not the least bit prepared for the encounter. Spartos' fear rose when he realized he could not move. Pan seemed to take control of him as soon he made contact with the god's black, lifeless eyes.

"Stand," the god insisted.

Spartos made no effort to stand, yet he found himself rising to his feet none-the-less.

"Great Pan," his voice was shaken. Spartos could hardly believe that he was actually being graced by the presence of a god. "What have I done to deserve such an honor?"

"Nothing," the god replied, "You are simply the enemy of my enemy."

"What can I do to serve—"

"SILENCE! I shall speak, you shall listen."

Pan started to pace about the pit with his hands behind his back. Spartos still could not move, he was overwhelmed by the god's presence.

"If you want the wizard, then separate him from the pouch he carries over his shoulder. It is the secret of his power. Once separated from his powers he will be nothing more than a mortal man. Only then can you deliver him to your king."

Pan stopped pacing and turned toward Spartos. "Mind you, separate him from that pouch before he learns its true power or none shall defeat him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, great Pan."

"Should you succeed, bring me the pouch and the girl who travels with him. Do what you want with the wizard—just don't kill him. I'll tend to him in due time. Do you understand?"

"Yes, great Pan."

"Good. I will not be far, so mind yourself. I have no power over him, but I could make your life difficult."

"I'll do as you say, great Pan."

Pan began to slowly fade away.

Spartos watched until the god had completely disappeared. Shortly after the god was gone, Spartos began to wonder about the encounter. He thought that perhaps he had imagined the whole thing. Perhaps it was all a hallucination from the fall.

Spartos had just about convinced himself that the encounter with the god was not real when the ground began to tremble under his feet for the second time that day. He was thrown off balance and fell to the ground as the bottom of the pit began to quake and push upward. He watched in awe as the floor of the pit rose upward to meet the surrounding plain.

When the tremor stopped Spartos found himself lying on the road next to his dead horse.

"By the gods!"

Spartos realized that his encounter with Pan was real. He quickly gathered what belongings he could carry, then started down the road to Atlanta. He had plenty of time to think during the long walk. Most of his thoughts were contempt for Odius.

Pan had left Spartos with an uneasy feeling. He remembered the god said he would not be far. Those words caused Spartos to look over his shoulder quite frequently. Surely this episode would become a burden. He blamed Odius for his problems and vowed to get even. He was determined to triumph over the apprentice—or die trying.

Chapter 9, Paralyzed City

...Such had times become that all came to conspire against me. Not any I met, be they gods or kings or mortal men, would stay their hands from my throat; none could I trust save for my beloved Maia...

Odius, apprentice to the Great Marce

Sometime shortly after midnight an eerie fog crept up from the sea into the city of Atlanta. It was unnaturally thick and moved more swiftly than most people could walk. Most residents were fast asleep at that late hour and never noticed the ghostly cloak, but for those about, the sight brought an uneasy feeling of dread. Some said it was the work of demons, others said it was an omen, but all who saw it agreed that it was unnatural in source and composition.

The fog started from the brass gate at the sea then rolled up the canal to the outer harbor. It quickly spread outward from the waterways as it began to envelop the city. Building after building was engulfed by the strange aberration until the entire city was stifled in the shroud. The fog was so thick that visibility had been reduced to several feet in most places.

Odius and Maia waited patiently on a road just outside the city's perimeter wall. They stood not twenty feet from a gate where the road gained entrance to the city. The gateway was furnished with two massive hardwood doors, which were always left open except during time of war. They found the gates closed on that particular night. Atlas had officially assumed a wartime posture.

Odius and Maia had dismounted to give the horse some relief from their weight. The horse took advantage of the opportunity and quickly fell asleep. Both Odius and Maia were concerned about overworking the animal but had little choice; they had to keep moving.

They did not stop to rest during the long ride across the plain. They thought a rest would have been unwise because Spartos was still at large somewhere on the road behind them. The city would be no sanctuary for them either. Odius was widely recognized by most Atlanteans and news of large rewards for his capture spread quickly.

"I like your idea about the fog." Odius said quietly. "It was most clever."

Maia smiled, "It goes together, does it not?"

Odius looked confused.

"You know," Maia said with a grin, "wizards and fog."

Odius chuckled quietly. "If it is indeed as thick as I imagined, no one shall see us nor recognize us."

"How long will we toil in Atlanta?" Maia asked.

"Not one moment longer than we must—we have business in Mestor."

"Will we be here on the morrow?"

Odius shook his head.

Maia let out a subtle groan of disappointment, "I wanted to see the sea."

Odius thought for a moment. "Perhaps we could take the seaward route to Mestor. It is seldom traveled and we could spend the nights on its shores."

Maia nodded with a smile, "Then let us be swift about our business here. The sea awaits!"

Maia thought about their next destination for a moment, "Which city of Mestor do we seek?"

"Capripheta. It is the place where—"

Maia interrupted him as she pointed to the gateway, "Look! Here comes your fog!"

Odius turned to see the eerie fog pour over the top of the gate like a ghostly waterfall. It ran down the wooden doors then curled and churned as it met the ground. Shortly thereafter, fog began to pour over the entire perimeter wall in much the same fashion, making the city of Atlanta look like a cauldron of steaming mire. Odius could hardly believe the sight.

"Wake up the horse," he said, "It is time."

Maia gently aroused the horse from its sleep. It complained with a snort and briskly pawed the ground.

Odius kept looking at the fog, "I did not expect the fog to be so thick!"

"It will serve your purpose, will it not?"

"Indeed!"

Odius climbed on the horse then offered Maia a hand up. Once Maia was settled behind Odius, they started for the gate at a plod.

The crystal skull started opening the gates before Odius had a chance to make a conscious command. The massive doors slowly swung outward with a low, grinding creak as thick, eerie fog began to pour from the city like a flood. They could see nothing once the fog overtook them.

The weary travelers slowly passed through the gates, then into the city. Once inside, the wooden doors began to close with a creak. The timbers slowly swung together then echoed with a clunk as they met.

Although Odius knew Atlanta well, the paste-thick fog made his home town look like another world. They rode at a plod with each hoofstep echoing through the fog like footsteps in a cathedral. Odius and Maia strained to see the world around them, though they could hardly see the ground.

They saw a faint glow from a nearby street lamp, which struggled to cast its light through the menacing darkness. From time to time they heard footsteps scrambling through fog not more than yards away. They also heard mournful cries of citizens lost in the blinding darkness. Some were loud cries of terror, others were quiet whimpers of despair, but all were sounds of people frightened and confused.

Odius realized that he had paralyzed an entire city with the power of the skull. His heart went out to the frightened masses. He held nothing against these people and did not mean to bring them harm. He began to think little of himself until he brought their quest to mind. He realized that the fog was necessary if they were to save the mortal world.

"How will we find our way?" Maia whispered.

"The skull shall guide the horse."

They stopped talking long enough to let a set of frightened footsteps pass in the darkness.

"Will these people be alright?" Maia asked.

"So shall I hope."

They pressed on through the paralyzed city at a painfully slow pace. It took nearly an hour to reach the Outer Harbor. Throughout that hour the sights and sounds were the same. They saw very little other than fog, though they could easily hear the misery of frightened, confused people. On rare occasions they saw the faint glow of a street lamp, though they could only see it for a short distance. A small group of frightened citizens gathered and huddled under the shelter of one such light in hopes of seeking refuge from the fog. Odius and Maia could not see these people, they only heard their mournful cries as they pleaded to the gods for mercy.

They crossed the bridge at the Outer Harbor where they heard the scampering and shouting of a ship's crew below them. Although they could see nothing, the ship's plight was obvious. It was apparent from the exchange among the crew that the ship had run into a pier and was taking on water. Several men had panicked and jumped into the waters of the harbor.

When they reached the other side of the harbor, they wandered through the public district where they continued to hear cries of frightened people and running feet darting blindly in the dark. The horse's hoofsteps constantly echoed through the fog with a slow, rhythmic, clomp-clippity-clomp. That sound gave Odius and Maia some feeling of security in the strange world Odius created. The horse with the skull as its guide seemed like a haven or shelter from the chaos just beyond their sight.

The rhythmic hoofsteps of the horse began to gradually slow down as the weary animal trudged on. They crossed the bridge at the Middle Harbor, then slowly rode through the royal district. They had just started to cross the bridge over the Inner Harbor when the rhythmic echo of hoofsteps slowed to a complete and stubborn stop.

Odius gave the horse a gentle nudge with his heels but the horse did not move. It turned its head in an effort to look at the riders, then faced forward again.

"Are we there?" Maia asked.

"Not yet, soon." Odius tried to coax the horse into motion but it would not budge.

Maia gently patted the horse on the rear and spoke softly, "Get'a goin' beasty."

Reluctantly, the horse resumed its rhythmic pattern of hoofsteps as it continued to plod toward the temple of the crystal.

"Odius."

"Yes."

"We might lose this animal should we push too hard."

Odius was quiet for quite some time before he replied. Maia could sense a certain amount of stress in his voice. "We can neither afford to lose this animal nor lighten our pace."

"Then, can your mystic arts do something for it?"

"Hmm..."

Odius thought about the prospect. As it was, he did not expect the fog to be so devastating to the people of Atlanta. The skull's unpredictability had held true to form once again and Odius knew he should wait before placing any unfamiliar demands on the strange crystal. They were already at the wall of the citadel and would soon reach the temple of the crystal where the scrolls were stored. Once he read the scroll concerning Poseidon's skull he would have better mastery over its power.

Odius and Maia were silent as they rode through the citadel to the temple of the crystal. The sights and sounds in the citadel were no different than the rest of Atlanta. The aristocrats darted about blindly and shouted in fear, just as the common people had. Fear was a common thread for all who wandered through the fog. Only those few who happened to be in the tallest of buildings were spared the anxiety that the fog seemed to bring. The palace of King Authemur was one such building.

King Authemur nervously paced across his lush balcony high on one of the palace towers. The sky was mostly covered by clouds that night, though every so often a clear patch would let the moon's light shimmer down on the strange fog. On those occasions when the moon's light was allowed to crack through the clouds, Authemur quickly ran toward the edge of the balcony to survey the city below.

The sight of Atlanta buried under the milky cloak was something to behold. All that could be seen of the city was the towers of the palace, the tops of three government buildings, and several temples, which were held above the fog on large pyramid bases. King Authemur watched and listened as long as he could until the clouds cast their inevitable dark shadows over the city once more.

"Breneous!" he shouted as he returned to his business of pacing.

The king paced for several laps then muttered to himself, "First the weather, now this..."

He stopped pacing long enough to look through the balcony's entrance, "Breneous!!"

Rhylus ran up to the entrance of the balcony, "Yes, Eminence?"

"Have you not heard me calling for you?"

"My apologies, Eminence."

King Authemur pointed out over the balcony, "Why do they scream and run about in terror?"

"Because of the fog, Eminence," Rhylus stepped out on the balcony to join the king.

"It's just fog up from the sea!" the king retorted as he resumed his pacing. "There is no reason for fear!"

"It is more than fog, Eminence. Those who have been in it say it breeds great fear." Rhylus shook his head, "This fog is not natural, it must have been summoned."

"Summoned? Bah!"

"It is true, Eminence. Such fog could only be wrought by god or mystic. Why else would the fog confine itself to the city?"

King Authemur stopped pacing and approached Rhylus.

"I suppose my guard is skilled in the mystic arts?"

His sarcasm made Rhylus somewhat nervous.

"Nay, Eminence," he placed his fingertips on his chest and shook his head emphatically, "I only listen to the masses."

"You would do better to remember your place, Breneous." King Authemur said pointedly. "For now the king needs a guard. When I need a mystic I'll summon one."

"There are none left to summon, Eminence, save for the apprentice."

Odius stood at the base of the temple of the crystal. He stared up through the darkness as if he could see the long stairway, though he could hardly see the first step at his feet. It had been scarcely a month since he last set foot on those stairs, yet to him it all seemed so long ago and far away. Maia gently bit her lower lip when she noticed his distant gaze.

"What troubles you, Odius?"

Odius continued to stare toward the temple as he replied, "Not long ago this place brought grand feelings of pride and achievement. Now..." He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, "So much has gone awry."

"You are weary, Odius. Please, do not trouble yourself with memories."

Odius turned toward Maia as a gentle smile slowly came to his face. "You are my strength, Maia."

Odius held out his hand, "Come, we must be careful that we do not stray from the steps for their is no rail to guide us."

"Are the steps many?" Maia asked as she took his hand.

"They are."

"And, Are they steep?"

"Indeed!" Odius spoke as if there was nothing to worry about. Maia, however, was much more concerned.

"Then, how shall we find our way with neither torch nor lamp?"

Odius placed his free hand on top of Maia's and held her hand tightly between his. He started to make a curious rubbing motion across her palm as he spoke.

"A truly fine lady should never walk in darkness, lest she wishes." Maia watched her hand with grand anticipation in her smile. She knew Odius was up to something but was not sure exactly what. A brief moment later Odius curled her hand into a fist, gave it a gentle pat, the slowly let go.

Maia could somehow sense that something rather odd was in her hand, though it felt no different than normal. She turned her fist up then slowly opened her hand as a gentle light cast a soft glow on the fog around them. Maia smiled in awe as she looked in her hand more closely. There, in the center of her palm was a tiny spot of light hardly bigger than a grain of sand. She looked at Odius with a big smile, then returned her attention to the light in her hand.

"It's so small!" Maia cradled her hand in the other, taking care not to drop the tiny light.

"Worry not, Maia, It will not fall from your hand, no matter how hard you might shake it."

Maia wore an ear-to-ear smile as she looked to Odius. Odius pointed in the general direction of the stairway.

"Go on, try it!" he encouraged.

Maia slowly turned her hand over but the light stayed in her palm. She looked at the light one more time, then held the palm of her hand out toward the stairway. The tiny light was hardly bright enough to penetrate any more than three steps ahead of them, but it was more than enough to negotiate the steep stairway.

"Should anyone happen by, just close your hand."

Maia closed her hand for a moment and everything went dark. She opened her hand again then looked to Odius who was wearing a proud grin. Odius had to chuckle at the delight he saw in her face.

"Oh, my Odius thinks himself clever!" Maia threw her arms around him as the light danced and flickered to her movements. After their short embrace, Odius crouched down near the first step.

"Shine your light here."

Maia held her hand near the step. Odius pointed to a seam in the stonework, which ran the length of the stairway, "Follow this crevice, for it marks the center."

Maia nodded, "As you say, Odius."

Odius stood then motioned up the stairway, "Lead on!"

Maia let out a squeal of delight as she opened her hand to the stairway. She briefly moved her arm from side to side in an attempt to see the edges of the steps but her tiny light could not penetrate that much fog. She smiled then took Odius' hand in hers as she started to lead him up the stairway.

"Fear not, Odius," she said with a playful glee, "for a great wizard has given me power to fend the demons of darkness."

She led Odius up several steps with her open palm boldly defying the darkness. She stopped for a moment then quickly shined her light in several different directions.

"Back! Back I say!"

Again she started up the stairway, "Retreat ye demons to your domain of darkness. Back!"

Odius smiled as Maia led him up the fog-cloaked stairway. Her little fantasy had broken his uneasy feelings about visiting the temple after so much had gone awry.

King Authemur continued to pace across the balcony high on the palace tower. Every once in a while he would pause long enough to look across the fog but quickly returned to his duty of nervous pacing. Rhylus stood near the balcony's entrance and seemed to be unaffected by the strange event that befell Atlanta that night.

"Why do you worry so, Eminence?" Rhylus said in somewhat of a sarcastic tone, "You said yourself it is only fog up from the sea."

Authemur quit pacing long enough to scold his bodyguard, "DO NOT MOCK ME, BRENEOUS!" He cast an angry, scrutinizing glance toward Rhylus as he spoke in a rather assured tone, "You will fall the way of your predecessor should you keep with your insolence." The king resumed pacing.

Rhylus stood firm and unmoved by Authemur's words. After watching the king pace for some time, a faint, sinister smile slowly came across his face. After feeling some satisfaction from watching the useless king worry, he turned his attention to the darkness beyond the balcony. His expression suddenly changed to shock or surprise.

"Look, Eminence!" Rhylus pointed to one of the temples still visible above the fog.

King Authemur stopped pacing and looked out across the dark landscape but saw nothing. He was quite agitated by the time he returned his attention to Rhylus.

"Do you mock your king further, Breneous?"

"I saw a light at the temple of the crystal, Eminence. I swear this to be true. It was there for a moment, then vanished."

The king quickly glanced over the balcony then returned his attention to Rhylus. "Are you certain?"

"Yes, Eminence"

"No one has ventured there since the apprentice fled. I have sealed the doors myself."

Again, Rhylus pointed to the temple. "Look there, Eminence!"

King Authemur looked out over the balcony once again. This time he caught a faint glimpse of a light at the place where the temple's large pyramid base met the vast sea of fog. He leaned on the railing and watched as the light emerged from the fog. It appeared as if the light was following steps toward the doors of the temple. The king studied the light for quite some time before he finally spoke.

"Perhaps the apprentice has come back!" the king suggested. He thought for a moment, then a smile, which seemed to reflect a certain personal satisfaction, came to his face. "Perhaps the apprentice created the fog! Perhaps it is his cloak for whatever brings him back."

"The apprentice could not create the fog," Rhylus argued. "He would need a crystal—and the crystal has been shattered."

The king slowly turned to face Rhylus, "How is it you know so much of the mystic arts, Breneous?"

"Common knowledge, Eminence—a mystic needs a crystal."

"Hmm..." King Authemur returned his attention to the light as he wondered about his new bodyguard. He noticed that Rhylus seemed rather nervous and defensive whenever he brought up the subject of the mystic arts.

After giving the matter some consideration, he thought of a ploy that might confirm his suspicions, but it would be risky. Authemur spent several minutes wrestling with a decision; should he play it safe, or should he risk loosing his bid for world power?

Ultimately, the king's curiosity and suspicious nature got the better of him. He kept his attention on the light at the temple as he spoke in a casual tone:

"Perhaps the apprentice has the great crystal from atop Mount Atlas."

"How did you learn of the crystal of the gods, Eminence?"

King Authemur wheeled around abruptly and pointed a finger at Rhylus, "I might ask you the same, Breneous!"

Rhylus made no attempt to answer the king. He just stood there dumbfounded.

"Well?" the king insisted.

Again, Rhylus would not respond.

"GUARDS!" the king shouted.

Suddenly, Rhylus decided to speak, "I beg a truce, Eminence." He spoke with a very quick diction for fear the palace guards would soon be in earshot. "I shall say nothing of your secret if you keep mine. For the moment we must tend to the apprentice."

The sound of rushing feet and clinking armor could be heard in the room adjacent to the balcony.

"What is your secret, Breneous?"

The sound of hurried armor grew quickly until six palace guards piled out on the balcony. "Orders, Eminence?"

The king continued to stare at Rhylus for what seemed to be an extremely long time. Rhylus was unnerved. He was sure that his next duty would be the king's dungeon.

"Orders, Eminence?"

"Yes," the king spoke without taking his eyes off of Rhylus, "The apprentice is attempting to breach the temple of the crystal. Seize him immediately and the reward is yours."

"Certainly, Eminence." The senior guard saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder, then the six men left as quickly and as noisily as they came.

Rhylus dropped to one knee and lowered his head, "Thank you, Eminence. I assure you, your secret shall be safe with me."

"What is your secret, Breneous?" the king insisted.

"Allow me to join the search for the apprentice—he can be sly, Eminence."

"Surely," the king nodded. "But you will do nothing until you tell what you know of the crystal of the gods—as well as why you take such an interest in the apprentice."

"Please, Eminence, or he will elude us!"

"First tell me your secret—or I might secure mine at the gallows."

"Very well, Eminence, but time is paramount."

"Then speak quickly, Breneous."

Odius and Maia had just finished climbing the long stairway to the temple of the crystal. Their slow but steady journey had finally brought them to the heavy double doors at the threshold of the temple. Odius was not surprised to find that the doors had been barred and sealed. A public notice was also tacked to the door. Maia held her tiny light up to the parchment as Odius read out loud:

"Attention residents of Atlanta, subjects of Atlas, citizens of Atlantis, and all ye foreign travelers: By royal decree, Authemur, king of Atlas, hearby seeks Odius, son of Everet and apprentice to the Great Marce of Atlantis. Whosoever shouldst seize, secure, and deliver such apprentice unto to the king's custody alive, shall receive a measure of gold equal in weight to the weight of the apprentice. Such is decreed this date by Authemur, king of Atlas."

The notice was signed by King Authemur himself.

"You have become quite a prize for the hunting, Odius." A playful smile slowly came to Maia's face, "Perhaps I should fatten you up!"

Odius chuckled as he grabbed a handful of skin from his belly, "Perhaps I should fatten myself up! Few men could boast such value."

Odius pointed to a large wax seal next to the notice, "See here." The seal bore the mark of Atlas and was about the size of a large dish except maybe four or five times as thick. It was positioned at shoulder height and centered over the seam between the two doors. Maia held her light up to the seal.

"This is the king's seal. To break it will bring a sentence of death."

"Will that stop you?" Maia asked in somewhat of a facetious tone.

"Nor will this," Odius pointed to a heavy hardwood beam, which had been secured to both doors by several large spikes.

Odius stepped back, "The only question to answer is—how?" He smiled and stared off into the distance as he placed a finger alongside his face in an exaggerated fashion. His antics were apparently meant for Maia's amusement. "Perhaps we shall free the door with a mighty bolt of lightning..."

Meanwhile, Maia moved her open palm across the beam to carefully inspect its craftsmanship. Something about the heavy wooden beam seemed to catch her interest.

"...Perhaps we could summon great powers of fire to burn the door to ash..." Odius paused as he pretended to be concentrating. Maia did not notice, she had finished checking the beam and turned her attention to the details of the seal.

"...Or perhaps we should silently seep inside using the mystic's cloak."

"I think not!"

Odius turned to look at Maia. She was standing at one end of the beam with a spike in her hand and a proud smile on her face. Odius' mouth hung open as he watched her swing the beam away from the door. The beam was still attached to the opposite door, which swung open effortlessly. To his amazement, the wax seal did not crumble; it followed the moving door completely intact. The beam and wax seal were only attached to one of doors.

"What goes on here?" Odius asked in a confused voice.

"See," Maia held her hand near the closed door to illuminate the area where the wax seal should have been affixed. A thin layer of wax still clung to the door. "Someone cut the seal from the door."

"How?"

Maia thought for a moment, "Perhaps with a thread, see these marks."

Odius examined the area Maia pointed out. The wax was marred with a series of fine lines as if it were painstakingly sawed from the door with a thread or small cord.

"And here," Maia held her light to the back of the wax seal, which overhung from the edge of the opened door. It had similar marks.

"What of the spikes?"

Maia held up the spike she removed from the door, "This one came free with little labor. The others are of no use. Look!"

Maia pointed out several empty nail holes in the door. Odius took a close look at the holes, then examined the spikes in the beam. It appeared as if the spikes had been pulled out, cut short, then replaced.

"Someone tampered with the door?" A concerned look suddenly came over Odius, "What of the scrolls?"

Odius took Maia by the hand then pointed into the darkness beyond the door, "Cast your light there."

Maia held her open palm toward the doorway as they cautiously stepped inside. Once inside, Odius could somehow sense that something was amiss. He reached up to a small shelf by the doorway where an oil lamp had always been kept. The shelf was empty.

Maia panned her hand across the large foyer to get some idea of what the temple looked like. Odius' eyes followed the light as he took careful note of everything in view. He saw nothing out of place other than the missing lamp.

After checking the foyer, Odius pointed to a doorway that led to a short hall, "This way."

Odius and Maia hurried toward the doorway then looked down the hall. Odius saw that the door to the archives had been left wide open.

"There!" He had a lump in his throat as he pointed toward the door. Maia could sense his anxiety as they hurried down the hall. Odius reached the door to the archives then stopped abruptly as a look of horror struck him in the face.

There, in Maia's dim light, was the shambles of the great library. Odius could hardly believe the sight. Many racks and shelves, which once housed ancient scrolls, were looted, overturned, and broken. Here and there were small tatters of parchment, and several empty spools helped add clutter to the debris. The archives had, for the most part, been emptied except for a small pile of scrolls, which were haphazardly tossed to a corner. Odius' heart raced as he stepped in to view the damage.

"Who could have done such a thing?" Odius gestured toward the ruins around him. His voice was distraught and tense. "Why would any wish to plunder the great scrolls?"

Maia could see he was near tears. She was not quite sure what she should say, what she should do, or for that matter—what she should feel. She shared his uneasiness as she stepped in to join him. She wished she could have offered some comfort but there was little one could do in the wake of a thief.

Odius began to wander through the debris as he spoke in somewhat of a despondent voice, "All we know of the mystic arts was once here. Every Great Marce since the birth of Atlanta wrote for these scrolls—as would I." He shook his head, "Some of these scrolls were written more than a hundred score seasons past."

Maia felt his sorrow as she waded with him through the debris. She could only imagine how he might have felt.

"The great scrolls numbered hundreds. Now..." He pointed toward the pile in the corner, "only a score or so." They started walking toward the few remaining scrolls.

When they reached the pile of scrolls, Odius crouched down on one knee then began to search through the pile. Maia stood over him to cast her light on the scrolls. Odius picked up a scroll then unrolled several inches of parchment to read the title.

"I never saw such writing!" Maia said.

"Few have," Odius replied, "It is the language of the ancients."

Odius rolled up the scroll then set it neatly to the side. He reached for another as he began to check each one in turn. The pile contained maybe thirty or so scrolls. Some were damaged from being cast aside but most were still in good shape.

"I have never seen the scroll that speaks of the Skull of Poseidon," Odius said as he checked another scroll. "I only know of the scroll because my master spoke of it."

Maia noticed that Odius seemed to become more and more intrigued with each scroll he checked. At first she was not sure, but after Odius checked his sixth or seventh scroll she was certain of it.

"Hmm..."

"Something interests you, Odius?"

"Indeed." Odius pointed to the scrolls he had already identified, "All these scrolls are similar—and in many ways." Odius reached for another scroll.

"In what ways are they alike?" Maia asked.

Odius unrolled the scroll, "Yes, this one too! All these scrolls are of the oldest—the very oldest. Some were written by the first Great Marce, some by the third."

Odius put the scroll down then picked up another.

"You said in many ways. How else?"

"Most of these scrolls teach the very basics of the mystic arts." He held up the scroll in his hand. "This one teaches how to clear one's mind to concentrate." He pointed to the scroll he had just previously checked, "That one teaches how to summon power from a crystal. Many of these scrolls were my first lessons. These scrolls were not cast aside by chance, they were chosen for this pile."

"Why?"

"I know not."

"Were all the scrolls written in this strange tongue?"

Odius shook his head as he reached for another scroll, "No, only the very oldest."

Odius unrolled the scroll then read the title out loud, "The Legend of the Skull of Poseidon. This is the scroll I seek!" Odius stood as he rolled up the scroll.

"Shall we leave now?" Maia asked.

"Not as yet." Odius motioned to the door, "I wish to check my Master's study."

They walked out the door then started down the hall. They were about half way to the study when Maia asked, "What do you seek in your Master's study?"

"Scrolls. Many were left there the day I fled. Perhaps the thief did not look there. Perhaps those scrolls are still here."

"How many scrolls?"

"Perhaps a score."

Odius opened the door to the study. They both stood with their mouths hanging open as Maia slowly panned her hand across the room. All the missing scrolls were there! Hundreds upon hundreds of scrolls were stacked, piled, or spread out everywhere.

"A score?" Maia asked.

"These are the missing scrolls!" Odius shouted. A smile came to his face as he and Maia hurried into the room. His smile grew as he looked across the immense collection of scrolls. A sudden elated feeling came over him, "The great scrolls are not lost, they are here!" Odius joyfully gestured toward the vast piles of scrolls, "Look!"

Maia smiled and nodded, "Yes, Odius, I see."

Maia watched as his expression suddenly became less jubilant. She could see that, once again, something brought Odius cause for concern.

"What bothers you, Odius?"

"Why did the thief bring these scrolls here?"

Maia thought for a moment, "Perhaps to learn of the mystic arts."

Odius made several quick glances around the room. "Then, the thief reads the wrong scrolls." He started toward the table where he and his master often studied the ancient scrolls. Many of the missing scrolls were neatly stacked on the table. Some were unrolled as if someone had been examining them.

"These scrolls speak of what the crystal can do, or what the crystal has done." He pointed in the general direction of the archives, "The scrolls cast aside in the archives teach how to summon power from a crystal. Those scrolls must be read first."

Maia pointed to the table where several plates of chicken bones were carelessly stacked next to an oil lamp. "Someone has been here more than once."

Odius nodded, "That lamp is from the entrance. Why is it here? Did the thief not need it to find the door?"

"Perhaps he read during the night, then left at day."

Odius nodded again, "Then the thief might have studied these scrolls at length." Odius seemed to become a little more nervous. "Someone seeks the secrets of the Great Marce."

Maia began to examine a scroll, which was partially unrolled across the table. Odius continued to wrestle with unanswered questions, "Why? There is no crystal to command."

"Did not Xaveous try to steal the crystal of the gods?" Maia asked.

Odius thought for a moment. "Perhaps there is a common stream that flows between this thief and King Xaveous. But, if one sought the secrets of the mystic arts, why discard the most precious of scrolls." He pointed toward the archives.

Maia looked up from the scroll on the desk with a subtle trace of a smug smile. "In all your wisdom and wit you do not see, do you, Odius?"

Odius waited patiently for Maia to continue. "The scrolls you speak of, as well as the scroll you hold in your hand, are written in a strange tongue few have seen." Maia pointed to the scroll on the table, "I can read these words, it's in our common tongue. Perhaps the oldest scrolls were cast aside for they meant nothing to the thief. Perhaps he could not read them."

"Indeed!" Odius thought about Maia's words for a moment longer. "Yes, then the secret of the Great Marce might yet be safe."

"Might?" Maia asked.

"Long ago, when civilization was new, men wrote in the language of the ancients. The language of the ancients was a gift from the gods. But gods do not speak as we do, they speak in thought, not words. The language of the ancients was written in thoughts. Such writing was difficult to master and few could read or write, though many labored long to learn.

"The fifth Great Marce saw how writing could savor a thought for generations yet unborn. He toiled to devise a simple way to write, that these words could be read by more than just the privileged few. He labored for years in his quest until he devised a way to write the spoken word on parchment. Hence, men could read the words, speak them, then understand the thought behind the words. Such is the common writing we use to this day. It was the work of the fifth Great Marce."

Odius held up a finger, then slowly leaned toward Maia as if to take her in confidence. He lowered his voice, "Before the fifth Great Marce died, he became concerned that the language of the ancients might fall from knowledge. Of his last work, he toiled to write a scroll that teaches how to read the language of the ancients. It is the greatest of writings, for without it men could not read the oldest of scrolls, nor could men learn the great secrets of the crystal."

Odius leaned closer to Maia and lowered his voice even more, "This great scroll I speak of is not here."

A smile slowly came to Odius' face as he lowered his voice to a whisper, "By chance alone, the greatest of scrolls hangs on a rack at my house."

"Your house?" Maia whispered.

Odius nodded then continued at a whisper, "My master let me take it to study during the evenings."

Maia looked at Odius with wide, awestruck eyes, "Might this thief think to look at your house?"

"Perhaps," he whispered.

"What if the thief happens across this scroll you speak of?"

Odius swallowed hard, then brought his mouth next to her ear and whispered ever-so-quietly, "Then the secrets of the Great Marce are his."

There was a disturbing, stressful silence for quite some time as they shuddered at the thought. The silence was broken when an abrupt look of alarm came to Maia's face, "Armor!"

A split second later Odius heard it too; the sound of rushing, clinking armor charging up the stairs to the temple. Odius quickly glanced out the door of the study and saw light from several torches flickering in the foyer. He hurried to the door of the study.

"It's him, the apprentice!" someone shouted.

Odius saw several men charging toward him as he slammed the door of the study. He quickly secured a wooden bolt just before the soldiers piled into the door.

"Break it in!" someone shouted.

Several loud, heavy thuds repeatedly rattled the door. Odius could see that the wooden bolt would not hold long. He pointed to the table and hurried toward Maia, "Quick, put your light there."

Odius took Maia by the hand and pulled her toward the table. He held her hand over the tabletop and gently rubbed her palm as he spoke, "The light will hold their curiosity as we escape by the mystic's cloak."

The little grain of light slowly fell from Maia's hand and gently settled to the table. Maia was somewhat disappointed about losing her newfound toy. She watched for just a moment as the light danced and fluttered about in circles like a crippled firefly.

Several more heavy thuds were heard at the door, followed by the sound of the bolt cracking.

"Quickly!" Odius shouted.

Odius took Maia by the hand and hurried for the shadows behind the door. Another loud thud and the bolt shattered into splinters. The door burst open and six armed soldiers rushed into the room with weapons poised. They were a formidable, determined bunch and seemed quite anxious to reap the king's reward. Two of them even dented their armor during repeated attempts to break in the door.

The soldiers looked around the room briefly but their attention was quickly drawn to the tiny light. Several of them huddled around the sight. Meanwhile, Odius and Maia hung as inky shadows in the darkness.

"By the gods!" one of the soldier shouted as he watched the tiny light dance and frolic across the table.

"Back!" another one warned, "It could be a trick!"

Several of the soldiers flinched back, then cautiously leaned forward to get a better look at the light, only to flinch back in unison as the little light wiggled and danced.

"I saw the apprentice standing here myself—SEARCH EVERYWHERE!"

Quite some time had passed yet the strange, eerie fog kept a choking hold on the city. King Authemur continued his worrisome vigil from the palace balcony as Rhylus stood on guard. They had finished their arguments, debates, and threats, and had come to an agreement—of sorts.

King Authemur leaned over the balcony's railing and gazed toward the temple of the crystal as he spoke, "How long has it been, Rhylus?"

"The better part of an hour, Eminence. If they have not seized the apprentice by now, then he has eluded us—just as I said he would."

King Authemur turned around abruptly and pointed an angry finger at Rhylus. "Do not push me, Rhylus! Consider your luck as wearing thin. I could yet have you executed for poising with the name of Breneous."

Rhylus was unmoved by the threat, "Consider your luck, Eminence. It too grows thin. You have yet to secure the apprentice."

The king's anger swelled at the sound of Rhylus' words. He took several brisk steps forward with grit teeth but stopped abruptly when he heard the sound of clinking armor and a soldier's prideful announcement:

"The apprentice has been captured... The apprentice has been captured."

Six weary but excited soldiers hurried out on the king's balcony. The senior soldier stopped before the king, then lowered his head on bent knee. His subordinates did the same. When the rattle of armor settled, the senior soldier saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder, then proceeded with his report.

"We have captured the apprentice, Eminence. He was clever and sly but wit was ours."

The king looked across the assembly of soldiers, "I see no apprentice in irons here. Where is your quarry?"

"We cornered him in the temple—the study. He thought to elude us by changing form, but we saw his guise and seized him. He put up a vicious fight."

The king took note of the soldier's dented armor and, thus far, was impressed with his story.

"What form did he take?" the king asked, "A ram? A mouse? A newt perhaps?"

"No, Eminence, nothing so natural as that. His form was most foul and sinister—but we arrested him all the same."

"Where is this apprentice? What form did he take?"

The soldier saluted once more, then proudly held Maia's tiny light between two fingers as he offered it to the king for inspection, "Here he is, Eminence!"

The king slowly leaned back to give some distance between himself and the diabolical grain of light. A slow, satisfying smile came to his face.

Rhylus, however, was not nearly as impressed. He rushed forward then kicked the tiny light from the soldier's hand, "You bumbling fool!"

The king and six soldiers watched as the little light sailed over the edge of the balcony then slowly flutter toward the ground.

"That is not the apprentice!" Rhylus shouted in anger, "It is a mystic's trick to amuse the simple of mind. You let him escape!"

The king's satisfying smile had quickly diminished to rage. He waved an angry finger over the assembly of soldiers.

"You could have done a great deed for your kingdom, instead, you bring me a toy."

"We knew no better, Eminence," the senior soldier pleaded.

"SILENCE!"

The king was still for a moment as he thought about the soldier's words. The assembly of soldiers waited nervously for their sentence as the king wandered to the edge of the balcony. He idly looked out across the fog-cloaked city.

"Of course!" the king said in a far less intimidating tone, "Few know the tricks of a mystic." He paused for a moment as he thought about the problem.

"Rhy... Breneous!"

"Yes, Eminence."

He turned to face Rhylus, "You know the tricks a mystic might use, do you not?"

"Yes, Eminence."

"Take these men under your command and hunt down the apprentice. I do not care how you do it, so long as you bring him to me alive."

Rhylus saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder, "Certainly, Eminence."

Odius and Maia rode through the fog along the canal between the Outer Harbor and the sea. It was the same route Odius had often used when he came home from his duties at the temple. He often enjoyed those trips along the canal, but on this particular night the canal offered no comfort. The sights and sounds of the canal were muted by his own doing, and there was an impending sense of urgency. He wanted to leave the city as soon as possible so he could remove the fog that terrified the citizens of Atlanta. Many of those citizens were once his friends, though all that seemed so distant and disjointed. He realized that he had become isolated from everyone—save for his beloved Maia.

For the first time since he left Atlanta, he wondered when and if this would all end. He wondered if he would ever be able to walk through the streets of Atlanta with his head held high and proud. Other than the signed orders by King Xaveous, he had found little to lead him to the traitorous god. Even if he did find the traitor, there was no guarantee that his life would return to normal. Normal, it would seem, had become a dreamlike state of mind.

As they turned from the canal for the last quarter-mile to his home, he thought about his upcoming journey to Mestor. He somehow knew time was running out and his sense of urgency seemed to heighten. He was not sure if he would learn anything in Mestor that might help his cause, but it was clearly the next place to look. Mestor was a distant ten days by horse, and this horse was all but spent.

"How much further?" Maia broke his train of thought.

"Not far, only several stadia." His fatigue began to show in his voice.

"Will we stay long?"

"No. Only long enough to seize the scroll."

Maia laid her head against Odius' shoulder blade, "I would like to leave this fog."

"As I, Maia."

Maia closed here eyes as she rested her head against Odius' back. Her muscles ached and her head felt too heavy to hold up. She knew they would have to stop soon but relished those few relaxing moments anyway. She thought how she would be willing to trade almost anything for a quiet, peaceful night's sleep far from any soldiers or warriors. Her brief rest was quickly interrupted when Odius stopped the horse.

"Whoa!"

Maia assumed they reached Odius' house, but when she lifted her head she discovered that Odius had stopped in a curious clearing in the fog. She looked at the strange clearing as an uneasy stillness settled around them. The clearing was perfectly circular and perhaps twenty paces across. The crystal clear air within the clearing gave way to a perfectly smooth wall of fog, which hid every detail of anything beyond it. She looked at Odius, who surveyed the clearing with uneasy, worried eyes.

"Did you do this?" she asked quietly.

"Sh..." Odius shook his head. He nervously looked about the clearing, shifting his position from time to time.

The moonlight began to crack through the clouds and shine down on the strange clearing. The moon cast dancing, writhing patterns of light that only seemed to fall within the confines of the clearing. Odius looked up at the night sky and saw how the clouds were to churning and swirling across the face of the moon in an unearthly, eccentric fashion.

Odius looked back down at the patterns of light, which continued to change shape and form. Gradually, the movement of light began to subside as two distinct pictures or symbols began to take shape. The movement stopped when the clouds finished forming their stencil over the moon. Odius recognized both symbols painted before them by the moonlight—it was the language of the ancients.

One of the symbols Odius had seen in the grass on the summit of Mount Atlas. It was two concentric rings around a solid center circle with a straight line extending from the center of the solid circle to several feet beyond the outer ring. This was the hieroglyph that conveyed the general idea of 'capture', 'hold', caged', or 'trapped'. The other symbol, which was much smaller, was a solid circle centered on a short line. This hieroglyph conveyed the general idea of 'laid', 'set', 'plotted', or 'planned'. The relative size of these hieroglyphs was also significant; the smaller sizing of the symbol conveyed the idea of past tense.

Maia huddled closer to Odius as they stared at the strange sight. She leaned forward then whispered in his ear, "What does it mean?"

Odius turned his head toward her without taking his eyes off the writing and whispered back, "A trap has been set."

"For who?"

Odius shook his head.

"Who set the trap?"

Odius never had a chance to reply before they began to hear the slow, unmistakable clack of cloven hooves somewhere in the fog just beyond their sight. Their eyes followed the sound as it slowly walked around the clearing.

"Is it Pan?" Maia whispered.

"Sh..."

The sound ceased.

They anxiously waited with their eyes fixed on the place where they last heard the sound. The air became tense with anticipation. Several long, lingering seconds later, a nightmare slowly stepped out of the fog. It was indeed Pan.

Pan only took one or two steps into the clearing then stopped. He stood perfectly still as he stared at Odius and Maia with those black, sinister eyes so typical of a god. Both Odius and Maia froze in place and hardly drew a breath as they waited and worried over what the god might have in store. An incredibly long time passed before the god spoke in his strange voice with its growlish, rumbling undertone.

"I have been in the shadows."

He continued to stare for a moment longer then turned to stroll along the edge of the clearing with his eyes to the ground an his hands behind his back. Odius and Maia's eyes followed the god who walked ever-so-slowly in an unsettling, nonchalant manner. After five or six steps, the god paused then turned his head to face the mortals. The fragmented moonlight cast eerie shadows across the irregular features of his face as his dark shadow fell across the moonlit writing.

The god quoted Odius by mimicking Odius' voice, "The contest has yet to conclude, Maia." Pan mimicked everything right down to the same tone, inflection, and diction Odius used on the night he spoke those words, "We have not seen the last of Pan—be assured of that."

Odius found the sound of his own voice coming from a god to be quite unnerving. A chill went down their spines as they watched the god resume his painfully slow pace. After two or three more steps, Pan shook his fist toward the heavens then mimicked Maia's voice, "Let the gods bellow and roar 'till all Olympus shakes!"

He proceeded to slowly pace around the circumference of the clearing as he mimicked direct quotes from the mortals. His imitations of both Odius and Maia were uncannily accurate. "Harm her and I'll summon Zeus!... Fear not, Spartos. Someone should happen by sooner or later..." Their hearts hammered in their chests and sweat began to build on their brows as their heads slowly turned to follow the god, "I wanted to see the sea... We might lose this animal should we push too hard... You are my strength, Maia..." There was an awkward moment as Pan passed behind the horse and they had to snap their heads around from the other direction. The air hung thick with fear as the god continued to mimic their words, "Why would any wish to plunder the great scrolls?... I have never seen the scroll that speaks of the Skull of Poseidon. I only know of the scroll because my master spoke of it..." Pan even mimicked Odius' whisper, "By chance alone, the greatest of scrolls hangs on a rack at my house..." Pan had paced nearly full circle and was approaching the front of the horse, "I would like to leave this fog... As I, Maia..." He stopped then looked to the mortals, "Is it Pan?"

There was several tense moments of silence as Pan stood in the light of the ancient symbols that foretold of a trap. The god pointed his jagged finger at Odius then spoke in his typical growlish voice, "Indeed I will bide my time."

He raised his finger to the heavens, "Poseidon can no longer help you, for Zeus has cast him from Olympus." He lowered his hand, "None can stop me now."

A slow, sinister, sneering grin came to Pan's face as he took several steps back into the fog. The sight brought an uneasy shiver that lingered for quite some time.

The clouds once again obscured the moon then the strange clearing began to collapse and close in around the mortals. Neither of them said anything until the fog had once again completely engulfed them.

"Is he gone?" Maia whispered.

Odius' eyes nervously studied the fog. He spoke in a distant, unsettling tone, "He was never gone. He only returns to the shadows."

Odius gently pushed his heels into the horse's side. The familiar rhythm of the horse's hooves once again echoed through the eerie fog.

"Why did Pan confront us this night?" Maia asked.

"One cannot guess what might be in the mind of a god. They do not think as we do." He swallowed hard, "He waits and watches just beyond our sight. He bides his time."

"Why?"

Odius turned his head toward Maia, "Why!? To seek vengeance of course!"

"Of course, but, is it not true that a god's vengeance is swift?" Maia asked, "Why does he wait?"

"Hmm..." Odius turned toward the front as he recalled the demise of Joda. He recalled how Poseidon's vengeance was swift and without mercy. Maia's question began to weigh heavy on his mind. Maia interrupted his thoughts, "Perhaps he waits because..."

"Sh..." Odius held up his hand and quickly silenced her, "The shadows are listening."

They spoke very little during the ride to Odius' house. Although his house was not far away, the ride seemed to take forever. Every-so-often they heard the sound of frightened footsteps, but for the most part they watched the fog, the moon, and the shadows with an uneasy apprehension. The thought of a trap lingered heavy in their minds. They were anxious to reach Odius' house and find some kind of shelter from the taunting images that their minds relentlessly painted in the fog.

They passed through an open gate in a waist-high wall, which encircled the small garden in front of Odius' house. The horse came to a stop. The fog was desperately thick and completely hid Odius' modest home. Maia was disappointed, she wanted to see what kind of house Odius called home.

"We dare not tarry," Odius suggested.

Maia started to dismount as Odius continued, "We must hurry to Mestor, for time grows short. Somehow, I must find time to study this scroll of Poseidon's skull."

Maia rested her hand against the horse so she would not get lost in the darkness. She waited for Odius to dismount then spoke in somewhat of a distraught voice, "Odius?"

"Yes love?"

"I..." She paused. "Somehow, I have come to fear the darkness."

Odius reached for her through the fog. When his hand made contact with her, he pulled her near him, then embraced her.

"I understand, Maia. It should pass when we leave this fog."

"Pan will remain in the shadows?"

"Sh... Yes, love." He patted her back, "I am grateful that you stand with me during these troubled times."

"And I you, Odius."

"I fear I would fail our quest if you were not at my side. Indeed, you are my strength, Maia. Come, we must hurry."

Odius started to gently ease his embrace, but Maia only held more tightly.

"Odius?"

"Yes, love?"

"Would you grant me another light? Just 'till we leave the fog?"

Odius smiled.

"Certainly, love," he said with assurance, "Such as I said before, a fine woman like yourself should never walk in darkness, lest she wishes." He took her hand then gently rubbed her palm. "By your own choice you have defied the gods of Olympus and swore to our cause. You place your life at risk for our great land, Atlantis, and the whole of the mortal world. Whatever you should desire, please, ask. If it is within my power as a man or as a mystic, I will surely grant it."

When Odius let go of her hand, a dim light softly lit the fog around them. Maia smiled as she looked at the gentle glow. Although her tiny light was very dim, its soft glow was far more friendly than the menacing darkness.

"Come," Odius tugged her gently.

Odius took her free hand as Maia held her palm against the fog. After just a few steps, Maia's light fell on the side of Odius' house.

"Did the words of light say where the trap was?"

"No, only that it had already been set."

Odius and Maia followed the wall until they came across the hardwood door.

"Hold your light here," Odius pointed to the door.

Maia held her hand up to the door as Odius worked the latch. After a jostle and tug, the latch gave in with a click.

"Just in, then out," Odius insisted, "we have toiled too long in Atlanta."

Odius pushed the door open into darkness, then Maia quickly held her open palm to the inside of the house. Maia could only catch a short glimpse of what the inside looked like before fog began to roll in and obstruct her light. Odius ushered her in quickly, then slammed the door to keep the fog at bay.

The fog by the doorway was thick at first but quickly diminished into a thin haze as it spread throughout the house. Odius strained to look through the haze. He could barely see that some furniture had been moved and one of his trunks had been opened and searched. However, Odius did not see the sinister pair of eyes watching him from a dark corner of his home. Nor did Odius notice a faint reflection from a knife lying in wait. The blade slowly rose to shoulder height.

Odius looked across the room to his rack of scrolls and saw that one of the scrolls was missing.

"Oh, no!" He hurried to the rack and frantically grasped the empty hooks that once cradle the most precious of scrolls. Maia hurried to join him.

"Someone has taken it!"

Maia let out a scream of terror as she reached for her sword, "Odius!"

Odius looked at Maia and saw her eyes focus on something behind him. Odius turned in time to see a man charge from the shadows. All he saw during that brief instant was gritted teeth and the point of a knife.

The stranger was upon Odius with hardly any time to react, much less think. Odius saw the knife going for his throat or upper chest area. He raised an arm to protect himself and made a feeble attempt to dodge the attacker.

The Skull of Poseidon seemed to follow Odius' reflexes. Before he knew what transpired, the attacker crashed into the rack on his way to the floor. The stranger came to rest on his back among pieces of the rack. Odius realized that he was holding the attacker's knife in his hand, though he had no idea how he came into possession of it. The sequence of events occurred so rapidly that everyone seemed to be confused about what, exactly, had happened.

Odius looked down at the stranger on the floor. Maia held the point of her sword at his throat with one hand and held her tiny light directly above him at waist-level with the other. The stranger's eyes were fixed on the light.

Maia was somewhat surprised by her actions. During the assault, she reacted without hardly thinking or hesitating. Now that the assault was over and the perpetrator was under control, she found that the shakes had begun to set in. She did her best not to let it show.

"Don't move," she insisted.

The stranger said nothing and continued to stare at the light in her hand. He slowly brought his hands, palms up, to the side of his face as a gesture of surrender. He made no threatening moves and appeared to be quite frightened. Maia adjusted her stance to portray a much harder person than she actually was. The stranger seemed to be convinced by her demeanor. He kept staring at the light in her hand.

A puzzled look came across Odius when he noticed the stranger's dark hair, dark eyes, and olive complexion. He pointed to the stranger.

"You're Greek?"

The stranger nodded.

"A warrior?"

The stranger shook his head.

"A spy?"

The stranger shook his head.

"A bounty hunter?"

Again, the stranger shook his head.

"Then, what are you?"

"A— A sailor," he replied timidly. The stranger could see doubt written all over Odius' face. He nervously returned his attention to the light in Maia's hand.

Maia spoke to Odius without taking her eyes off the stranger, "He's a bounty hunter alright, and a poor one at that."

"Hmm... Perhaps he is the trap."

"Trap?" the stranger asked nervously. He still did not take his eyes off of the light.

"What is your name?" Odius insisted.

"Marcus."

Odius looked at Marcus suspiciously. The stranger was meagerly dressed in a Greek loincloth and a pair of weathered sandals. He certainly looked like he could use the king's reward. Odius glanced at the knife he had somehow seized from the stranger. It was his own knife, which was apparently pilfered from the shelves where he kept his plates and dinnerware. Odius returned his attention to Marcus.

"A sailor?" Odius asked in disbelief.

"Yes, a sailor."

"From a warship?"

"No, no. A merchant vessel." Marcus' eyes were still fixed on Maia's light.

Odius was stern with the stranger, "I expect your attention when I'm speaking. Pay no mind to that light, it cannot bring you harm."

Marcus turned to look at Odius. Odius could see that the man was extremely frightened and leery. Marcus seemed to be far more submissive than his first impression led them to believe.

Odius was beginning to get somewhat irritated with the man and the incident as a whole. They had to leave for Mestor as soon as possible and did not need these delays. They had made little progress piecing together the man's story and there was still the matter of the missing scroll to consider. Odius thought it might be easier to assemble the man's story if he were not on his back. He looked to Maia, "Let him up."

Marcus watched as Maia withdrew her sword and took a step backward. Once again he found himself staring at the light in Maia's hand.

"To your feet," Odius insisted.

Marcus was still staring at the light.

Odius was beginning to feel the pressure of their imminent urgency to leave Atlanta and was loosing patience with the intruder. He began to shout, "I said, to your feet!"

The Skull of Poseidon sensed Odius' frustration and took his words as a command. Marcus instantly rose to his feet, though he made no effort to do so himself. A look of extreme terror and surprise was on his face as he stared at Odius.

Odius did not intend to use the power of the crystal in such a fashion. He realized that he better calm himself down before someone got killed unnecessarily. He took a deep breath then continued in a much more civilized tone.

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Am— Am I in the presence of a sorcerer and sorceress?" The shock of being yanked to his feet by some unknown force still shown in his voice.

"What we are is our concern," Odius said calmly, "What are you doing here?"

"It is a long tale," Marcus said as he shook his head.

"We have little time. Tell us your tale in brief."

Marcus' eyes swept across the floor several times as he tried to think of where it all began. After a brief pause he looked to Odius then proceeded to tell his side of the story.

"I was hired as a galley dredge on a merchant vessel several months past. My friend, Sampson, persuaded the overseer to take me on. Our first voyage took us to this city—that was about a month past..."

"What of this attack?" Odius held up the knife.

"Ah..." Marcus paused for a moment as he tried to think. He could see that Odius would be difficult to convince and somehow suspected that if he skipped the more refined details of his story Odius might get the wrong idea.

"A moment,"

Odius let out a sigh of disgust.

"When we reached port, Sampson assured me that we could leave before the ship was unloaded. We left the work for the others and went to a bath house, then an inn, then wandered the streets. When we came back on the morrow, the ship was gone."

Odius held up the knife and gently shook it between two fingers to draw attention to his original question. Marcus could see doubt in his face and held up a finger as if to say he was getting to that.

"We asked several merchants what happened. They told us the ship left after some soldiers came then went. We tried to find passage back to Greece but squandered our coin on drink and women. We worked for some time at the pier to earn passage home, but—but war was waged with Greece. We had to go into hiding, for we suddenly became enemies in a hostile land."

"What of your attack?"

Marcus could see that Odius was getting irritated with his lengthy account.

"We found this place. No one was here, we decided to hide here until war passed. We meant no harm. When I heard someone at the latch, I seized a knife and hid in the shadows—fearing capture." Marcus shook his head in an assured fashion, "I did not know a sorcerer lived here. I only feared for my life."

"Your story has a suspicious nature, Marcus."

"It is true, I swear. I swear."

"What of your friend? Does he lie in wait, as you did?"

Marcus sadly shook his head as he looked to the floor, "Sampson left three days past to seek food. He has not returned. I fear he has been captured—or killed."

"Hmm...," Odius sounded skeptical.

"He's a bounty hunter," Maia said, "He seeks the reward. See how he tries to win our trust."

"No, no, I speak the truth!" he pleaded.

Odius pointed to the pieces of the rack that were scattered across the floor, "What of the missing scroll?"

A flat look of despair came over Marcus as he lowered his head, "Kill me now and be done with it," he said hopelessly, "For if you doubt my tale of how I came to be here, then you will surely disbelieve what happened to the scroll."

"We have no time for your antics," Odius insisted, "What happened to the scroll?"

"The truth!" Maia added.

Marcus buried his face in his hands for a moment as he tried to think up a convincing lie. The stress began to show in his face. He knew beyond any doubt that Odius would not believe the truth.

"Our time grows short—as does yours," Odius threatened, "What happened to the scroll?"

Marcus was lost for a convincing lie and, despairingly, settled for the truth. He was tired of hiding, tired of running, and tired of trying to find passage back to his beloved Greece. He decided to tell Odius exactly what had happened then face his fate and end it all right here and now.

He took a deep breath, then began his tale.

"Not more than the half part of an hour past, I was standing there," he pointed to the corner from which he jumped Odius, "tending my own affairs. When suddenly..."

Marcus paused for a moment as he tried to think of a tactful way to phrase his story. No matter how he thought to phrase it, it still sounded ridiculous.

"Continue!"

"There came upon me the smell of a goat. I looked there," he pointed toward the center of the room, "and I saw a creature of the most hideous kind. It was the half part of a goat, and the half part of a man such that the bottom was goat and the top was man—save for two small horns and eyes black as pitch."

Marcus paused and waited to accept rebuttals.

"Continue," Odius insisted firmly, "Our time grows short. What did this creature do?"

Marcus wrinkled his brow in confusion. He could hardly believe that Odius was accepting this story, yet had rejected his perfectly reasonable account of how he had become stranded. He had grown to hate this strange land of Atlantis and wanted nothing more than to return to Greece where outlandish stories were limited to minstrels' tales.

Maia nudged his shoulder, "Continue."

"When I set eyes on this creature I found I could not move. I tried, I wanted to run, but I could not move. The creature walked to the rack, then picked up the scroll you speak of. Then, the creature came up to me! He held the scroll by one end, like it were a sword, then poked the other end here," he pointed to the center of his chest, "and said, 'tell the wizard his time grows short.' Then he vanished like a dream at daybreak."

"Hmm..." Odius thought for a moment. "Was that all he said?"

Marcus was stunned that Odius believed him, "Yes!"

"You say about the half part of an hour past?"

"Yes!" Suddenly a look of revelation came over Marcus. He pointed to Odius, "You're him, the wizard the creature spoke of! Are you not!?"

"That was no creature," Odius remarked, "That was a god; Pan."

"A god?" Marcus asked in disbelief, "A god?"

Maia interrupted, "Odius, that was before the writing of light. Pan said a trap was set. Perhaps the trap has something to do with the scroll."

"You are sought by the gods!?" Marcus began to take several leery steps backwards, "I believe I want no part of this." He began to slowly edge his way toward the door, "Please, wizard, let me go about my business of hiding and I shall forget I have ever seen you." He pointed toward the door, "I shall find another place to hide and leave you to whatever wizards do."

"Not so fast!"

Marcus stopped. He looked nervous.

Odius looked to Maia and spoke softly, "Can we trust him? Is he a bounty hunter? Will he betray us?"

Maia looked toward Marcus, "Do you stand with your story of being stranded and in hiding?"

"Yes, every word of it! I swear by great Athena!"

"Hmm... Athena." Odius suddenly recalled something Poseidon had mentioned about Athena and Pan. He wondered if he could possibly use Marcus as a pretence to summon Athena. He could make it look like he summoned her on the Greek's behalf. He wondered if she would be grateful for the return of her Greek, or if she would see it as a burden.

Odius also recalled the warning Poseidon gave him about causing trouble among the gods. He could only imagine how much trouble might be wrought if he told Athena that Pan had been seen lusting after mortal women. He wondered about Poseidon's prediction; that Athena's jealousy would take care of Pan. Would such a conflict be confined between Athena and Pan, or would it spread among the gods of Olympus? The prospect would require careful thought.

He was distracted from his thoughts when Maia leaned toward him and whispered, "He did try to kill you, yet the notice for your reward said, alive." she shook her head, "I do not think him a bounty hunter."

A slow smile came to his face as he nodded at Maia. He took several steps toward Marcus and tried to be as cordial as possible, "I believe your story, Marcus. My name is Odius," he gestured toward Maia, "And this lovely lady is Maia. You are most welcome to join us."

Marcus turned his head to the side then held an open hand in front of his face with the palm facing Odius, as if to shield himself from the wizard, "No thank you! I do not wish trouble with the gods. Leave me about my way."

"Perhaps I could get you passage to Greece!"

Odius could see he struck a chord at first when Marcus' face lit up, but it quickly diminished to skepticism.

"How? Passage is the eighth part of a pound of gold—but that was before war. I am your enemy, now, no one shall ferry me. How do you propose passage, Wizard?"

"Please, call me Odius." He tried to be as congenial as possible.

"How do you propose passage, Odius?"

Odius tried to make his proposition sound far less dangerous than it actually was. He played it down as much as possible, "Mmm... By the gods."

"No thank you. I would rather swim." He turned to look away as a gesture that he just was not interested.

Maia was not quite sure why Odius was trying to enlist Marcus, but she trusted his judgment. She knew they would not be able to discuss the matter because Pan was always listening from the shadows. She thought that if Odius deemed Marcus' help necessary, then she would do her best to assist his efforts.

"Come, Odius. Our time grows short. Let this fool swim to Greece—only to find it has vanished with the rest of the mortal world."

Marcus snapped his head around to look at Maia.

"You speak in riddles."

Odius interrupted, "Perhaps, but she speaks the truth. Soon, your Greece, our Atlantis, and all lands of mortal men will perish at the hands of the gods."

"You speak nonsense!" Marcus snapped, "The gods provide for us."

"The gods provide for Olympus," Maia remarked.

Marcus made a nervous glance toward the heavens, then shook an angry finger at Odius and Maia, "Speak not against the gods!" He spoke in a condescending voice, "How great a wizard do you think yourselves that you can challenge the gods? I would rather die on an Atlantean sword or feed myself to the sharks than anger the gods. Death is death, but a gods's vengeance can make death a trivial thing. You better go, your time grows short—such are the words of the gods!"

Odius succumbed to defeat. He realized that the Greek would stand his ground no matter what.

"Indeed, we shall leave," Odius said in flat, somber tone, "We shall fight for our mortal world while you busy yourself with hiding. And when Greece draws her last breath, you will still be hiding—until you too meet that same demise."

Odius started for the door and Maia followed. As they passed by Marcus, Marcus grabbed Odius' shoulder, "I would join you if your words were true, but you speak nonsense."

"I have no time to convince you, Marcus." Odius jerked his shoulder free from Marcus' grip. "You may hide here if you like. We have no interest in the war between Atlantis and Greece."

Marcus watched as Odius and Maia walked to the door. Odius opened the door a crack, then peered out as fog rolled in. Odius made one final glance toward Marcus then he and Maia left. The inside of the house went black as soon as they closed the door behind Maia's light.

"Fools," Marcus said to himself, "What did they hope to gain by defying the gods?"

Marcus turned, then began to wander through the darkness in search of a lamp. He had left the lamp and flint on a table at the far side of the room. He had become familiar with Odius' house during hiding and knew where all the furniture was, still, he stepped carefully and diligently through the darkness.

"Lies and falsehoods!" The more he thought about the incident the more he came to hate Atlantis. He came upon the table then felt across its surface for the lamp and flint. After several seconds of fumbling in the darkness, he found the flint, then the lamp.

As Marcus struck the flint, he noticed the unmistakable smell of a goat. It was the same smell he described to Odius. His first attempt at lighting the lamp failed. He nervously struck the flint again as the smell persisted. Again, he missed the spout of the lamp. He grew intensely nervous and glanced around the darkness for the source of the smell. He knew the strange-looking god was somewhere in the house.

He was about to make a third attempt when a flame came up on the lamp by its own accord. Marcus furrowed his brow as he looked at the flame. The flame was much larger than usual—but it did not seem to cast any light across the room. It was a large flame stilted in the darkness.

He continued to stare at the flame and noticed a strange image embedded deep within the flame. He strained to focus on the picture. After a moment or two he realized what he was looking at—it was an image of Athens being washed away by a great deluge.

"ODIUS!" he shouted as he started running for the door, "Odius!"

Marcus burst through the door and caught a vague glimpse of Maia's light not more than yards away. He hurried toward the light, leaving the door wide open.

"Odius!"

"Whoa!", Odius stopped the horse after taking just a few steps. They waited for Marcus.

"I believe you! I believe you!" Marcus shouted as he hurried toward the horse. Odius held out an arm to greet him.

When Marcus reached the horse he grabbed Odius' hand, "I will join your cause!"

"We are grateful you could join us," Odius replied, "What made you change your mind?"

"A vision of things yet to come. Do you have another horse that I might ride?" Marcus asked as he let go of Odius' hand.

"No, just this one and it is nearly spent."

"You challenge the gods, yet you can manage no more than one tired horse?"

"We are grateful for this one. Follow us to the city gates. There we shall join you on foot for the horse grows weary."

"As you say, Wizard. Lead on."

"Please, call me Odius."

Marcus followed the dim glow of Maia's light during the slow, eerie journey through the paralyzed city.All the while he was haunted by the sounds of frightened people, the thought of defying the gods, and the image of Athens during its final hour. He was not sure why Odius sought his help but he had grown tired of hiding and vowed to do what he could for Greece.

Odius paused for just a moment when they reached the west gate of the city. Marcus could see little but he heard the sound of the heavy wooden doors creak as they opened. A moment later, the horse resumed its painfully slow pace and Marcus followed. They only walked several yards before they stepped out of the gate and into the clear night air.

"Whoa!"

Odius stopped the horse then he and Maia turned to look back at the city. Marcus was curious about what held their interest and turned to look as well. He was astonished by the sight.

The thick, paralyzing fog that had plagued Atlanta suddenly began to retreat deep into the city. The eerie wall of churning, swirling fog left crystal-clear air in its wake as it cowered from the gate. Marcus stood and stared at the sight for quite some time while Odius and Maia dismounted.

"Was that fog your doing?" Marcus asked.

"It was. Come," Odius gathered the reins, "We must leave this place. Our time grows short."

The weary trio left the road then began to walk south toward the beach. From there, they would pursue a westward course along the southern coast toward the kingdom of Mestor. Each of them had their doubts and worries about what might lay in store for them during the journey ahead.

The fog left Atlanta almost as quickly as it came. It withdrew to the waterways then retreated down the canals and back to the sea from where it came. Within a half-hour, the ghostly fog had receded completely to the sea. Many people were relieved by the sight and praised the gods for being merciful. The eerie fog that paralyzed Atlanta would be the topic of discussions at street corners and shops for a long time to come.

It was almost an hour after the fog left before Rhylus and his band of six soldiers finally located Odius' house. Rhylus knew the apprentice probably left with the fog but felt obligated to check his house anyway. He thought, at the very least, perhaps he could find a clue or lead to betray the apprentice.

Rhylus and his men dismounted just outside the garden gate.

"You two," Rhylus pointed to a couple of men, "Check the house—and hurry."

The soldiers hurried into the house while Rhylus and another man, Herrasis, lit torches.

"We'll check the garden. The rest of you stay here."

The two men entered the garden. They held their torches close to the ground and, with a precarious bent-over posture, carefully combed the garden. After several minutes of searching, Herrasis hailed Rhylus with a whistle. Rhylus saw the soldier pointing to the ground then went to investigate the find.

Herrasis held his torch next to a footprint and seemed to be very proud of his find. Rhylus hardly saw the significance of a common footprint.

"So?" Rhylus said.

The soldier seemed to be confused by Rhylus' reaction. "Do you not see, Breneous?"

Rhylus looked at the footprint again, then shook his head. "It means nothing."

"It was made by a Greek sandal!"

"Are you sure?"

Herrasis, an expert tracker, seemed to be offended by the comment, "Yes, of course. We are at war with Greece, we should know their tracks!"

"What else can you tell about these tracks?"

Herrasis pointed to several other tracks in the area. "Three people were here; a Greek, someone wearing boots, and someone with Atlantean sandals. See!" He paused to point out specific tracks. "Two of them got on a horse here and rode out. The Greek left on foot."

"Hmm..." Rhylus thought for a moment then motioned for the other men to join them. "I recognize that livery mark" Rhylus pointed out three small marks at the top of the horseshoe. The marks identified the livery from which the horse was checked out of. "It is the same livery the apprentice used. Did the horse and Greek leave together?"

"I can not say. But all the tracks are fresh."

Two men hurried from the house and joined the others in the garden. One of them saluted with a closed fist at the shoulder then made a report, "No one is about. We found a lamp still burning and evidence of a struggle."

Rhylus thought for a moment. "Then, they left in haste. Look here," he pointed to the Greek footprint as he addressed the assembly of men. "This was made by a Greek who left on foot. Two others left on this horse," he pointed to the hoofprint, "with these livery marks.

"I do not think they have more than an hour on us. I want three men, each to take a city gate and look for these tracks. If we learn the gate by which they left, then we can track them. Make a search at your gate, then report back here."

He pointed to one of the men, "You, take the west gate...," He pointed to another, "North gate...," and another, "East gate. Any questions?"

There was no response.

"Fastest possible speed! Dismissed."

The three men hurried to their horses then quickly dispersed.

Twenty minutes had passed before all the scouts returned. One of them reported seeing that combination of tracks at the west gate. He also discovered that the two riders had dismounted at the gate and all three led the horse on foot. Shortly thereafter seven mounted men raced for the west gate at a full gallop.

The sun had just cracked over the horizon and promised ample light for tracking. Their horses were fresh and their hopes of winning the reward were high. They reached the west gate in record time then pushed on in high pursuit of the elusive apprentice.

END OF SAMPLE

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Footnotes

[1]   Orichalcum was a bright red metal with a shiny finish. Atlanteans placed its value somewhere between that of silver and gold. Historians believe orichalcum was a brass alloy rich in zinc.

[2]   A Nereid is any one of 50 daughters of Nereus; a sea nymph.

[3]   The Pillars Of Hercules is known today as the Straits of Gibraltar.

[4]   A score is a group of twenty. Twenty-six score is equal to 520.

[5]   A stadium is an ancient unit of measure equal to approximately; 607 feet, 185 meters, or 0.114 miles. 350 stadia is equal to approximately 40 miles or 65 kilometers.

[6]   The Sea of Hercules is known today as the Mediterranean Sea.

[7]   A tribute was an opal set in a gold or silver mount and usually hung from the neck by a chain. It was traditionally given to a loved one, of either sex, as a symbol of honor and loyalty.

[8]   Before medicine became a refined science, most health care duties fell on the local barber. It seemed to make sense at the time; the person who cut hair was also the person who amputated limbs, patched wounds, and set broken bones.