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| Forbidden Places |
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| By Richard LeBlanc |
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| Chapter Fourteen: transformation |
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| In Markys' quarters below deck, Enchanter opened the curtains to let light flood into the room. Just by a casual glance he could tell that what he sought was still a long way away. He then looked over at Markys who was still sleeping soundly. |
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| I know she is here. I must find her. He thought as he closed his eyes. Markys slowly woke up and saw Enchanter standing by the window. |
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| "Enchanter? I feared you left." She whispered tiredly as she sat up. Enchanter looked over at her and smiled. |
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| "That isn't my style. You okay?" he asked curiously. |
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| "I feel great. That was wonderful." She replied happily. |
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| "I couldn't agree with you more. We should get dressed though." He replied calmly. With a wave of his hand - all of his clothes were back on. |
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| "You - you're leaving so soon?" she asked - almost hurt. |
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| "I know that you would like to me stay a while longer - believe me - I would like nothing more than to do that - but if I stay too long - the others might get suspicious - and we wouldn't want that just yet." He stated calmly. Markys sighed and looked over at the window. |
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| "So what if they do? Are you telling me that you couldn't take those two - losers down? I've seen you in actions in more ways than now Enchanter - even if they combined their might - they are nothing compared to you." She reassured as she looked over at him. |
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| "The things you say. I underestimated both of them and I paid for it. I can't allow myself to get lulled in again. Next time it could cost me my life." He stated seriously. |
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| "Then let me stand by your side! Together - we could crush them! I have more than enough power to do what is necessary to deal with them - just say the word - and they will be nothing but unpleasant memories to us." she replied impassioned. Enchanter looked over at the door and shook his head. |
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| "I can tell that you are becoming more powerful with the passage of time - but even still. It is best to err on the side of caution. But know that the time for them to become memories is almost at hand." He replied. |
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| "But - won't they know what we - well, did? I mean I must look different." She asked curiously. |
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| "You look the same - only better." He replied with a wink. |
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| "I guess you're right. I am being a little silly. I'm going to rest for a while. You sort of tuckered me out. See to it that I am not disturbed until we reach our next destination?" she requested with a yawn. |
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| "Where would that be?" he asked. |
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| "The ship will guide you where you must go. When we reach shore - that is where we will have to be." she replied as she rolled over and covered herself up. Enchanter nodded and quietly left the room. Once she was sure he was gone - she began to quietly laugh. She rolled over and looked at the door. |
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| "My nerves - I thought he would never leave." She muttered. with a wave of her hand - the same style of magical bolt appeared across the door. The curtains flew shut. The room was filled with darkness. It was then that her eyes began to glow white. Red Flames began to waft up from the floor - filling the room with red light. |
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| "The boy may be good in bed - but he sure is a presumptuous thing." She commented. She watched as one small flame began to snake upward. She then motioned for the flame to come to her. It then slammed into her chest causing her ruby red armor to appear on her chest and arms. |
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| "Be that as it may - he is still being too damn cautious - not like that fool Lord Arachnid." She muttered with an evil giggle. |
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| "You're an animal." She moaned mockingly - another wisp of a flame snaked up and slammed into her hip. The armor now went down to her knees. She looked at her hands and feet and thought about her experience with Enchanter. |
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| "But - I must look different." She moaned mockingly - her laughter echoed on the walls of her room. Two flames snaked up - crossed each other and hit her hands. Two ivory white gauntlets appeared on her hands. The smile then instantly faded. |
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| "As stupid as they are - the artificer - he is being way too perceptive. He could be a problem that needs to be dealt with. It would be too obvious if I got either Arachnid or Enchanter to deal with him. Hmm. I think that it is time I called on an old friend." She muttered as she looked up at the roof. |
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| "Hold onto your toys artificer - this will be a bumpy ride from here on it." She muttered. Flames rose up from the floor and engulfed her. When they died down - she was gone. As soon as she was - all of the flames vanished. The room was completely undamaged and there was no sign of what Markys had just done or become. |
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| At that moment up above - completely unaware of what had transpired down below - Enchanter had emerged from below deck. |
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| "Where is Markys - or need I ask?" Tuly asked mockingly. Enchanter sighed and looked up at the hawk that was perched on Toy Maker's shoulder. |
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| "I know that you are jealous - but it just wouldn't work for us. I'm a man - you're a bird." He retorted. |
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| "Remind me why you saved him from those tree sprites." Tuly requested lowly. |
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| "If I hadn't - we would have lost our guide as well." He added. |
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| "Oh right - I almost forgot." She muttered as she threw a nasty look at Enchanter. It was at that moment that something gently rocked the boat. It then was calm. |
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| "What was that?" Arachnid asked hesitantly. Black mana began to spiral around him. Just then - it happened again - only stronger. Toy maker hopped up and floated to the front of the boat. He looked down and saw hundreds of silhouettes racing under the boat. |
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| "Trouble." He commented. |
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| "What kind?" Enchanter asked as he looked down. It was then that he saw it too. |
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| "A school of something is going by us." he added. Toy maker looked to the other side of the boat and saw dozens of merfolk surface from the water with weapons ready. |
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| "It isn't a school of something - it is an army of Merfolk. Why aren't they attacking?" Toy maker asked lowly as hundreds more began to surface and take on formations. |
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| "They aren't attacking - they were running." Arachnid stated. |
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| "From what?" Enchanter asked as a pillar of water erupted upwards from the ocean before them. There in the air - hovering in before them like a blue angel of death was Lithian - the Catfish Dragon. |
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| "Him again - how perfect. Where the hell is Markys?" Toy maker asked lowly. |
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| "Down below sleeping. She said that she didn't want to be disturbed until we reached land." Enchanter answered. |
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| "The only land we might be seeing is at the bottom of the ocean." He retorted seriously. |
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| "Be that as it may - that is what she said." Enchanter replied. |
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| "Fine. Enchanter - you protect Markys - Arachnid - you protect the ship - I'll - I'll deal with this damn fish." Toy maker stated seriously. |
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| "Who put you in charge?" Arachnid asked seriously. |
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| "You want to deal with him?" Toy maker asked seriously. |
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| "How will you fare any better than you did last time?" Enchanter asked curiously. |
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| "I believe I understand how this creature's power works. Time is wasting." He replied seriously. The two opposing wizards raised their hands and motioned for him to deal with the dragon wizard. Toy maker waved his hand before him and conjured up four quivers of Serrated Arrows. He closed his eyes and hoped that he was guessing right. |
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| "Time to do this." He stated coolly. He waved his hand and cast a flight enchantment on himself and hovered out to where the huge dragon was waiting. |
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| "I have been watching your little expedition across these lands and couldn't help but notice how you were not going after my enemy. I loath being lied to." Lithian hissed. Toy Maker looked back at the boat and saw that the others had taken measures to protect the ship. |
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| "Ask me if I care." He replied. An ancient bow appeared in his hands. He drew an arrow and fired it at the dragon. The arrow hit its mark. The dragon howled and flew back. |
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| "You pathetic fool!" Lithian howled. Toy Maker drew another arrow and fired. Again - it hit its mark. He drew another arrow and stared at the wounded dragon. |
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| "Not as confident as before I see. I guess I was right. You can only thwart spells cast at you. You have no control over spells that are already in operation. Leave now dragon. Each arrow I imbed in you weakens you." He warned. Lithian growled and doubled in size. |
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| "Your choice." Toy Maker replied as he fired another arrow. It flew in an arching motion and hit the large dragon's shoulder. Lithian soared at Toy maker - he dodged to the right as the dragon soared by. He armed another arrow and let it fly. It hit the dragon square in the back. It howled out and looked back at the calm looking wizard. |
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| "You have taken four hits. Three of those shots would fell a mammoth. I believe four is more than enough for you." Toy maker replied as the bow and quivers of arrows vanished. |
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| "You are mistaken! I still live." Lithian hissed. |
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| "Only because your power is sustaining you. Once the power is depleted - you will revert to your normal size and form - will you be able to say the same then? The choice is yours Lithian. Stay and fight - gambling that your power will sustain you long enough to deal with me - or flee to wherever you came from to lick your wounds." Toy maker offered coldly. Lithian looked at the arrows and could sense that what the wizard was saying was true. |
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| "I didn't start this - but if you want - I will be the one that finishes it. What will it be?" Toy maker asked. |
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| "You have not seen the last of me. this is far from over artificer." Lithian hissed as it dived into the water. Toy Maker sighed and looked back at the boat. |
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| I only sense - two wizards? He thought to himself. He flew back and landed on the deck several paces away from where Enchanter was standing. |
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| "Nicely done." Enchanter stated. |
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| "One side." Toy maker stated seriously. |
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| "Excuse me?" he replied. |
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| "I did a quick aura test of the ship - I saw Tuly - I saw your protective spells - and two wizards - where is Markys?" he asked seriously. |
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| "I told you - she is taking a nap." Enchanter replied. |
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| "Pardon me for not taking your word on the matter." Toy maker began. Just then the door behind Enchanter slowly opened and Markys peeked her head out. |
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| "What's going on? I heard a lot of shouting." She asked tiredly. Toy maker glared at her. |
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| "See?" Enchanter stated gesturing to Markys. |
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| "See what?" Markys asked. |
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| "The toy boy was trying to tell us that you weren't here." Arachnid commented. She slowly looked over at Toy maker whose glare hadn't shifted an inch. |
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| "I find it rather convenient - that when we get attacked - you are no where to be found." He stated seriously as mana began to swirl around him. |
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| "Are - are you implying?" she began. |
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| "I don't imply. How did Lithian know where we were?" he asked seriously. |
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| "He said he was watching us." Arachnid defended. Toy maker slowly looked over at the spider wizard. |
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| "If so - he would have noticed that we weren't going after this Tithian creature for quite some time. We have been at sea for a good portion of our journey. How is it that he just noticed us now and just came after us now?" Toy maker replied coldly as he quickly looked over at Markys. |
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| "Lay off Toy maker. She is our guide." Enchanter warned. |
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| "Guide be damned! She just led us out to open sea so a dragon wizard could destroy us." Toy Maker retorted sharply. |
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| "If you act against her - how will we find what we seek. She is our guide. Use your head for once artificer." Arachnid added strongly. Toy Maker looked at the two wizards with a sense of disbelief. |
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| "A guide - she is guiding us straight into a shooting range and I won't wear a damn target around my neck!" Toy Maker stated. Arachnid and Enchanter stood before Markys. |
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| "You want her - you'll have to get through me." Arachnid stated seriously. |
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| "The same goes for me." Enchanter added coldly. Toy maker looked at Markys that was smiling a smug smile from behind they backs. With a wave of his hand - the mana returned to the sources he called it from. |
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| "The blind shall lead the blind. So be it." Toy maker muttered as he floated up to where his workbench and table were. Arachnid and Enchanter looked at each other and then looked at Markys. |
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| "You okay?" Arachnid asked. |
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| "I am thanks to you two." She replied as she stopped her hand from shaking. |
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| "He's becoming dangerous. He's acted against all of us. I say we should deal with him now." Enchanter stated seriously. |
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| "No - it's too risky. We will just have to be careful. I thank you both. Heaven only knows what he would have done if you hadn't protected me." she said passively. The two wizards smiled and bowed politely. |
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| "We try our best." Enchanter commented. |
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| "I know. And don't think I haven't noticed. I'm going to get some sleep. Tell me when we reach the shore please?" she requested as she walked back down below deck. Both Enchanter and Arachnid watched as she vanished into the shadows. |
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| "If you stare any harder - you'll go blind." Tuly remarked. Both wizards instinctively looked away. Just then the boat shook again. Markys hurried back out. They all looked around and saw the water around the ship beginning to churn. |
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| "This can't be good." Arachnid muttered. the water began to spiral around and upward until it formed a perfect dome around them. as soon as it did - the water turned into a bubble. |
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| "I think our actions against Lithian got some attention." Enchanter added. The ship began to slowly descend downwards - but the water didn't pass through the protective bubble. It was then that they noticed Vodalian Mages swimming around the bubble - guiding it down further into the dark lightless depths. |
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| "Merfolk territory - just wonderful. I hope they aren't feeling hostile. If they are - we are in big trouble." Toy maker muttered coldly as he held his Rod of Ruin - in case worse came to worse. |
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| "I don't believe this." Tuly began. |
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| "What?" Toy maker asked as he looked around. Tuly pointed to the dark waters before them. |
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| "There. I can't believe that it actually exists." She continued. Toy maker tried to see what she was talking about - but could only see the dark waters around them. |
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| "What? I can't see anything." He asked seriously. |
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| "The Citadel of the Queen of Atlantis." She clarified. |
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| "I thought that was just a myth." Arachnid stated. |
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| "Ask any merfolk and they will say how real the place is." Enchanter commented. Mere seconds later the darkness began to fade as the shimmering glory of the Queen's Citadel became visible. The bubble slowly moved over and hovered a short distance away from one of the higher balconies. |
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| "I guess this is our stop." Arachnid muttered. it was then that a voluptuous mermaid swam out from the balcony - accompanied by several palace guards and floated in the water before the air-breathing guests. |
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| "Hmph. You would think that a queen would at least wear something." Tuly commented. |
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| "Just a different culture. Nothing more." Toy Maker stated unimpressed. |
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| "But what a culture it must be." Enchanter mused. |
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| "I bid you welcome to my realm surface dwellers." She began. |
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| "Why are we here - if I may be so bold as to ask?" Toy maker asked calmly. The queen looked over at him and studied the wizard for a few moments |
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| "You - are the one that battled Lithian?" she asked curiously. |
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| "Yes. Why?" he replied curiously. |
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| "I owe you my thanks. Had you not intervened - we would have lost many good warriors." She replied politely with a bow. As she bowed - so too did her guards. |
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| "I do what I can. Lithian gave us some trouble before - we were just paying him back." He replied. |
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| "Be that as it may - we are in your debt good stranger." She replied politely. |
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| "Excuse me for interrupting - but - our debt?" Enchanter repeated. Toy maker hopped down from where he was and landed by Enchanter. |
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| "But of course - why?" she asked. |
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| "He meant nothing by the remark majesty." Toy maker stated to the queen. He then turned and faced Enchanter. |
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| "Now is not the time for these kinds of foolish games! You piss her off she will pop this bubble and we will have to swim back to the surface - and I am not in the mood for that kind of swim." He hissed quietly to the wizard as he then turned to face puzzled queen. |
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| "Neither am I." Markys agreed as she too glared at Enchanter. |
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| "Is there a problem?" she asked curiously. |
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| "Pardon my crudeness majesty - but Enchanter over there - he's a pig. Born a pig - raised a pig - will die a pig." Tuly commented. The queen looked over at Enchanter and could not see the resemblance. |
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| "He doesn't look like one." She remarked. |
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| "Tuly was referring to his mannerisms." Toy Maker clarified. |
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| "He was staring at your boobs." Markys added curtly - scowling at Enchanter. |
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| "Why?" the queen asked curiously. |
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| "Different cultures - nothing more. As Tuly said - he's a pig." Arachnid agreed casually. |
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| "If you say so. I just had my mages bring you to me so that I might express my gratitude to you in person. Should every you need my aid - uhm, how are you called?" the queen asked. |
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| "I am known as Toy maker." He replied. a serious look crossed her face. |
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| "Toy Maker. I know that name. It is the name of a destroyer of worlds. Five entire colonies fell at the hands of Toy Maker. More than fifty thousand merfolk perished to the apocalyptic chiming of an Armageddon Clock recreated by a Toy Maker. Would you be that same Toy Maker?" she asked seriously. Toy maker lowered his eyes and sighed. |
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| "I am." He replied calmly. |
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| "I see." She began seriously. |
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| "If you desire justice of me - I have no defense. I used power that I could not control in the name of vengance. Millions have paid the price for my vengance - innocent people as well as those that wronged me. And as much as it haunts me to live with this - I know that there are millions - that can't." he stated sincerely. The queen studied the artificer and could see the truth in his words. |
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| "You are surprisingly sincere. You are nothing like I expected." She began. |
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| "I can not undo what I have done - but if you desire - I will do what I can - to amend what you have lost." He offered sincerely. |
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| "Artificers - you cannot build what you destroy. You can not replace the memory of a loved one - you can not build emotion - and a construct - cannot fill the emptiness - those who have lost - still feel. I see that you have felt a measure of pain - perhaps it is what led you to unleash such destructive power - I do not know. but you will not be welcome in these waters - or any waters controlled by my people. For the lives you have saved today - do not eclipse those you have taken from us." she stated calmly. |
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| "I will respect your wishes - and your territory. Should I find myself in violation of your edict - I will submit to your justice - however you may find it - whatever it may be." he replied politely with a bow. |
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| "A noble offer artificer - an offer I will hold you to. I know that you and yours are on a quest through these lands. Find what you seek. When you do - that is when - your offer will come into standing. Be at peace Toy Maker - for none below the sea - desire to feel your unguided wrath again." The queen concluded softly. she and her guards swam back into the palace. |
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| "That was intense." Arachnid stated - he looked over and saw that Toy Maker's thoughts were elsewhere. |
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| "What's wrong with you?" he asked curiously. |
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| "I knew the five colonies. I built devices for them to make their lives easier - and in my thoughtlessness - I destroyed them all. Very subtle Markys - I didn't think you had it in you." He stated calmly. |
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| "What are you talking about?" she replied in mild confusion. |
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| "I thought that Lithian was the whole of your plan - I wasn't expecting her." he replied calmly. |
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| "You think - she wanted your death." She asked curiously. |
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| "She still does. I made a vow to the Lords of Atlantis - the ones that governed those colonies I destroyed. She knows of that vow. Had she asked for my life - I would have gladly given it. My honor - would accept no less. It is only by her good grace that I still stand. Better luck next time." he said coldly as he began to walk away. Markys looked at the artificer and then at the other mages. |
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| "At least he didn't try to attack you." Arachnid muttered. The Vodalian Mages began to guide their guests back towards the surface. |
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| "So where to next?" Enchanter asked. |
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| "The forest city known as Tithian's Pass." She replied calmly as she looked over at Toy maker. He sat solemnly - working on more devices. She sighed and shook her head. |
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| You have the devil's luck artificer. I thought for sure that the Queen would have your head. But as you say Toy Maker - my luck will be better next time. she thought with an evil smile. The boat slowly rose to the surface of the water. Enchanter and Arachnid looked over at Toy maker and then over in the direction that the ship was sailing in. |
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| "I have a feeling that it is going to be an interesting journey from this point on." Enchanter commented as the boat continued on course. |
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| To Be Continued... |
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