by Gene Stiles
“I hear all of you and I agree with all of you,” he said after the shouting and bickering abated to low mutterings. “You have asked me to lead – something I am still not comfortable with – so I ask you to think of the logistics involved and not just the emotion. We must create a rational, plausible course of action no matter how strongly we feel on any one subject. This entire community is counting on us. We will not let them down.”
“Please take a moment to cool down and think what is best for the majority,” he said, his rich baritone voice calm and serene, but strong and firm. “We cannot leave the Retreat at the moment. With Cronus searching for us, it would be suicide. Even if we did, we have no way of conveying so many. Lastly, where would we go if we somehow managed to escape undetected? Since these issues cannot be addressed in the here and now, let us table that discussion for a further date.”
“I may be able to help with that,” came a strange, lilting voice from the far end of the room. The woman who accompanied those oddly accented words strode through the tall, carved-oak doors of the chamber, two wide-eyed Aam flanking her a step behind, stunning the occupants into a hushed silence.
The woman smiled warmly at their reaction, her full, red lips bright against her copper-tanned skin. Shimmering jade eyes twinkled in her oval, high-cheeked face, sweeping over the room and hesitating briefly upon every person gathered there. Her curvaceous body was tightly wrapped in a sleeveless gown that sparkled as if it were made of tiny overlaid silver scales from her sloping shoulders to mid-calf. A wide belt of black trimmed, crimson tiles encircled her narrow waist, spreading out into an inverted V that terminated midway down her well-muscled thighs. Sandals of deep, dark red covered her feet, laced up her calves by strips of maroon leather. Between her ample breasts hung a large amulet of polished gold in the shape of two curved horns with a swirling yellow sun cupped between them. A crown in the same motif, braided gold, horns holding the sun, encircled her forehead, trapping her long mane of wavy, dark auburn hair away from her incredibly sensual features. She raised her bare, bronzed arms outward, a murmur of shocked awe sweeping the crowd at the movement. Wings of purest white, edged with a thin trim of gold, were banded to her arms by circlets of white at her biceps, elbows, forearms and wrists.
“I am Isis,” she said, coming to a stop at the foot of the table, “emissary of Ra and Captain of the Night Star of Nil. I am here to help.”
“How did you know where we were? Let alone that we are in need of help?” Zeus asked bluntly, a sharp edge to his words, more than a little alarmed that the Retreat’s location was known to people outside of Home.
After introductions were made around the table, Captain Isis was seated at his right hand and the issues facing the community were laid out in detail for her. She listened intently, nodding at the things she knew and asking for clarification on things she did not. Isis deeply mourned the loss of Morpheus with them having counting him and Haleah near the top of her long list of friends. They worked together on the docks of Atlantis and she gave what support she could in freeing the Izon, though she was not a Captain at the time of their escape. Over the years, even after Isis and Ramatus had taken command of Nil, the three kept in constant communication. It was through the three that trade was established and maintained between Home and Nil.
“Not that we are not grateful for your arrival,” Haleah kindly added, noting the rough tone to his voice, “but we were not aware anyone but those of Home knew of this place.”
Captain Isis gave a small, enigmatic smile, her emerald eyes twinkling, but she said nothing.
“I told her,” Rhea announced, her blue eyes blazing with cold fire, her full, red lips pulled tightly across her softly squared jawline. “As soon as we arrived here, I opened a private comlink to Nil and asked for their assistance.”
“You had no right,” Zeus snapped at her, biting back the anger that flared in his golden eyes.
“True,” Isis responded, calmly placing a long-fingered hand upon his corded forearm, “but you can trust us. We have been friends of Home for over a century. Of Morpheus and the Lady Haleah even longer. We would never betray you.”
“I do believe we have proven our allegiance to you all many times over,” Isis added, her gaze shifting to sweep over everyone in the room. “It is our technology that cloaked your home. We sold you our skyships and taught you how to fly them. We have provided you with supplies and trade goods, helping your economy and way of life. Never once did we give away your location to Atlantis or that monster, Cronus. We are of one belief. You can count on us.”
“This is true,” Zeus conceded, his fury slipping from his body as mist blown by the winds. His muscles relaxed, though his irritation at his mother did not fade. “Forgive me, Captain. I meant no disrespect.”
“No offense taken,” Isis smiled disarmingly. “Forgive me for appearing in my formal, ceremonial dress,” she added, raising one arm to fan her pearl-white wing out beneath it. “I felt it necessary to convey that I am here in my official capacity. And, yes,” she grinned impishly, “because I think I look incredibly sexy in this outfit.”
After the guffaws, chuckles and nods of complete agreement slowed down, she continued.
“Ra offers you sanctuary,” Isis said solemnly. “I have two cloaked transports on the other side of the mountain. Each can handle two hundred people. It will take more than one trip, but we can transport you to Nil undetected. You may stay and become part of our community under the rule of Ra and the Trinity or remain only until you can build yourselves a new Home somewhere else on the continent. That is what we can offer. The choice, of course, is up to you.”
“Sadly, Lady Rhea,” Isis added, her smile retreating as she faced the woman, her jade-green eyes sorrowful and apologetic, “we must refuse your plea to intervene in Pettit. We will not go to war with Atlantis on its own soil.”
“But it was Ramathus, himself, who told us of that vile, horrendously appalling place!” Rhea shouted, jumping to her feet, vehement rage igniting within her soul and quaking through her trembling body. “How could you allow such atrocities to continue? How dare you allow women to be brutalized when you could free them? How could you?”
“I am truly sorry, Lady,” Isis replied, her eyes downcast, her demeanor expressing her heartfelt regret. “It is not that I do not agree with you. I do. Yes, he did inform Oceanus and the Lady Tethys of the conditions there, but only so that you, the Twelve and the People of Atlantis could decide what, if anything, to do about it. It is your responsibility to make your own judgments and to take action according to the will of your people. Your society must decide how you wish to live. Not us.”
“It is because he told you of Pettit that I am here,” Isis said, addressing the chamber once again and ignoring Rhea’s continuing protests. “Inadvertently, it is because of that information that Home was destroyed and you are here today.
We deeply regret what happened here and bear some responsibility for it. It is for that reason alone we offer you sanctuary.”
“It is more than enough and we thank you, Lady Isis,” Zeus replied, stilling further conversation with a raised hand. “If you would honor us, we will provide you suitable quarters for a night or two until we can debate further. And, please, join me for dinner. You are, of course, free to tour any part of the Retreat you wish. I will assign you a guide if you wish and Aam guards if you feel it is necessary, which I assure you it is not.”
“Two days is all I can spare,” Isis said, locking his forearm with hers and thanking him for his kindness. “I am at your service until then.”
“I shall return in three days,” Captain Isis told Zeus as most of the remaining residents of the Retreat entered the transports parked on the grassy veldt in front of the white granite face of the mountains. Gone was her stunning official garb, replaced by more functional leather breeches, white, billowy-sleeved blouse beneath a loosely laced vest and knee-high boots. The leathers were the color of polished rubies and hugged every
curve of her sensuous body like a jealous lover. An ornately tooled headband with the emblem of a horn-cupped sun embossed in the center held her luxurious mane of shining auburn hair away from her amazingly green eyes.
The thick, dark clouds of a passing thunderstorm, tattered and broken by high-level winds, scurried across the azure sky allowing shimmering beams of golden-yellow sunlight to blazed down upon the dampened meadow. Waves of evaporating moisture rose in the fragrant, heated air and glistened upon the sheer stone cliffs behind them. A double rainbow arched across the western horizon, the multi-hued shades beautiful and full of promise for a bright future.
“I cannot thank you enough, Lady,” Zeus responded sincerely, his fisted hands resting upon his wide hips. “You have done so much.”
“I wish I could do more,” Isis responded as she gazed into his amazing golden eyes. She had never seen such a shade on anyone else. Isis could easily get lost in their hypnotic depths. ‘Ah, in another time and in a different life,’ she thought wistfully.
“We cannot interfere in Atlantean affairs,” Isis continued, feeling the need to explain herself once again. “We cannot help you with Pettit no matter how we are sickened by the situation. I am so sorry.”
“There is no need for apologies,” Zeus smiled kindly, his pearl-white teeth sparkling through his full, curly, red beard. “I, too, have long debated whether to get involved in my mother’s crusade against Cronus. I understand completely. You are correct. It is up to the People of Atlantis to decide on their own morals and on the path they should take.”
“I would have remained outside of that realm, despite my mother’s protestations, if not for the murder of my true father, Morpheus, and the devastation of Home,” Zeus added, his demeanor darkening and his eyes going cold. “Now I have no choice. Justice must be served and Pettit shall be but the first step. Freedom must be restored to them. No man – or woman – should ever be enslaved.”
“Well,” Isis smiled mischievously, clasping his burly forearm firmly, “I may not be able to assist, but should you have a few more residents upon my return who am I to ask which city they came from?”
With a nod and another ‘thank you’, Zeus watched as the incredible woman boarded her vessel and the ramp closed behind her. In moments, the two skyships lifted into the clearing blue sky, accompanied by only a slight hum that vibrated in the air. He watched until they were gone from sight then turned back to the assembled warriors behind him.
‘Now,’ he thought grimly, ‘to Pettit.’
Chapter V
An odd thing was occurring almost simultaneously at the both of gates leading into the Valley Diefilli where the city of Pettit resided. It was so seemingly innocuous that neither station thought to inform the other. Had they done so or if the Black Guard sitting in their shacks had given anything more than a passing thought to the strangeness of their visitors they would have at least saved their own lives.
“Another beautiful and boring day,” Jaylimis sighed, staring up at the high, wispy clouds that streaked the light blue morning sky.
A light, slightly salty breeze blew in from the calm waters of the straight between the Atlantean continent and the smaller landmass of Delecrete far to the west. It kissed the tall green grasses of the meadow outside the gates, rippling the tips like a stone tossed into a small pond. Colorful birds darted from limb to limb among the scattered oak and evergreen trees that found purchase along the foothills of the twin spines of the Northern Mountains. Their songs were sweet and carefree, as varied in tone as the myriad hues of the feathered plumes. The bright yellow sun hung low in the mid-morning eastern sky, the rays warm against the skin with the promise of a hot afternoon to come.
“Boring is good,” Hendrick smiled, sitting on a bench, his thick-wristed hands clasped behind his large, round head. “At least we do not have to go to the pens today. I prefer it here. We have no commanders shouting orders or keeping us busy with useless tasks. Boring is good.”
“True, but…hey, what have we here?” Jaylimis sat up quickly, his hand automatically touching his sidearm. He did not draw it though. A hungry smile came to his thin lips, his blue eyes sparkling at their good fortune.
Three young women stepped out of the high grass, glancing around with concerned wonder evident on their beautiful faces. They were dressed in matching outfits of soft, tan breeches, knee-high black boots and sleeveless, tunics belted around their narrow waists. Long, golden-blond hair cascaded over the worn packs strapped to their slightly sloped shoulders, tied with leather bands at the napes of their elegant necks. The collarless shifts were cut in a wide, deep V that graciously highlighted the cleavage of their abundant chests.
The women stopped when they saw the guard shack and the two men staring lecherously in their direction. They glanced around, as if unsure of which direction to go, whispering quietly to each other, their eyes confused and a little worried. After a few moments of quietly heated discussion, they walked slowly toward the two men, one of them taking the lead a couple of steps in front of the other two. As they made their cautious approach, Jaylimis and Hendrick noted they were as identical in looks as in garb from their shapely, sensuous bodies to the incredible beauty of their gently curved jawlines, pouty red lips and stunningly jewel-blue eyes.
“Can you help us?” the lead girl asked demurely, dropping her eyes slightly as she spoke. “We seem to be lost.”
“I told you we went in the wrong direction,” one of the sister’s muttered angrily, shifting back and forth behind her as if she wanted to run back into the grasslands.
“We came up from Lycus a few days ago to go hiking in the woods along the river’s edge at the tip of the mountains,” the first woman said, ignoring her sister. “Our sled broke down and we got turned around in the forest. We’ve been wandering for two days. Where are we? I do not know about this place. Can you help us get back to the city?”
“Of course we can,” Hendrick answered as he and his friend walked nonchalantly toward the girls. His cold, black eyes glistened at their good fortune, a false, friendly smile playing upon his thick, darkly tanned lips. “Come to the shack. I am sure you must be thirsty after such a long walk. We have some red wine in the cabin.”
‘And maybe we can get you a little too drunk,’ he thought wickedly. He and Jaylimis flanked the first woman, each taking hold of her arms as if to steer her toward the tiny building. Glancing over her shoulder at the others, the woman nodded politely and went along willingly.
So enthralled were the guards that they barely felt the blades that came from behind them, slicing so deeply into their necks that their heads were nearly severed from their shoulders. They sunk to the blood-stained ground soundlessly, their wide-eyed expressions and open mouths the only comments on their passing.
“Get them into the guardhouse,” Lillianna ordered, wiping her arms off as if to cleanse them from the foul touch of these disgusting men. As her sisters wiped their bloody knives off on the clothes of the guards and dragged their corpses toward the shake, she whistled a high, melodic birdsong and turned toward the veldt.
A thirty-person squad of Aam from the Retreat appeared from among the grasslands, Haleah at the fore. Several went inside and turned off the wards at this end of the valley, checking the security screens to make sure their incursion had gone undetected. Haleah’s granddaughters changed out of their clothing into the Black Guard uniforms they had stashed in their backpacks. Now dressed like the rest of the unit, the plan was to slip in unnoticed and to take out as many guards as possible covertly and quickly.
“You did well, my daughters,” Haleah complimented the women, finding it much easier to refer to all of her children and children’s children as her own. “We will leave two men here and spread out into the compound. I hope your sisters with Zeus have done their part as perfectly.”
In groups of two, three and four person teams, they casually strode intermittently into the valley, some angling toward the guard barracks while others walked a
cross the grounds as if they had always belonged there. One by one, Black Guard died in their beds, in dim alleyways and among the stones of the rocky mountain foothills, their bodies hidden and forgotten.
At the southeastern gatehouse, the ploy would have gone off as easily if not for the actions of one overly suspicious guard. The thick, verdant forest that bordered the ward line between the foothills and the river was home to large mountain cats, the smaller cousins of the Dire Wolf and a variety of other dangerous predators. The wards kept them away for the most part, but occasionally a rouge or hungry beast would attack the unwary. Duramus feared that kind of ugly, terrifying death. This made him keep one eye always on the tree line when visitors approached.
The cold-looking, granite barracks sitting just east of the gate usually held twenty Black Guards, but most of them were out on patrols or going about their morning tasks within the valley. However, six of them lingered near the entrance, chatting lightly amongst themselves after finishing a hearty breakfast. There was seldom any need to rush since they were near the Pettit city limits. Only the Nephilim, their handlers, teachers and the officers lived there so, for the most part, there was never any problems that required their attention.
When four beautiful young women approached the gates along the hard-packed, dirt road looking bedraggled and tired, the guards were happy for such an unexpected, pleasant distraction. All of the lackadaisical men hanging by the barracks joined the two gate guards as they walked toward the women milling on the roadway.
All, that is, except Duramus. His sharp, deep-brown eyes narrowed as he scanned the dark shadows of the forest, searching for any indication of an animal attack upon his inattentive brethren. He fully expected the nightmarish screech of a wildcat or the blood-chilling howls of a pack of snarling wolves to split the morning air. What he did not foresee was the stealthy movement of a party of warriors as they slipped from tree trunk to tree trunk. His mouth went wide as he started to shout out a warning, his hand reaching for the alarm button on the console in front of him.
