Part 119: Peace Talks

Chapter 25: Peace Talks


Silmaria has been at peace with its neighbors for centuries. Recently though, a people has turned against our people. A nation wars with us, although no word of this war has been spoken. I speak now of the nation of Atlantis. Though it was buried beneath the waters centuries ago, its people still rule the waves. Now the tritons have been attacking our ships and driving away our trade. They have shattered the harmony we once all shared. You will seek out the lost city of Atlantis. Speak with her queen, and forge a new alliance between their lands and ours. Return with the symbol of the agreement. This is the Rite of Peace.


You know, I actually feel kind of good about this one. It’s kind of like the Leopardman village all over again, and I did pretty well with that. I’ll have to figure out where Atlantis is, of course. Hell, maybe FA knows.


You been practicing your swimming lessons? Sounds like they’ll be coming in handy soon.
You still keeping up to date about that?
Oh, yeah! I’ve gotten my strength back up to the point where I’ve been able to make those ceremonies you’re in. Honestly, it’s pretty exciting to see a graduate from my correspondence school doing so well in the Rites. You know you’ve been leading since after the Hydra? And I get the feeling that you would’ve won that one too, if it weren’t for a little…feminine persuasion?
Hey, now.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given her the win too, a pretty girl like that. So, you’re going to Atlantis? I’ve been there before.
Yeah, I remember the little poem you made.
Oh, those were some good times under the sea. Hippolyta, that’s her name. The queen, I mean. She and I…well, like I said, good times. Wonder if she still remembers me?
You think I’ll be able to talk to her peacefully?
It’ll be tough getting past all the guards she’s probably got surrounding her, but I happen to know a few secrets about Atlantis I think you might appreciate.
Like what?
First of all, Atlantis isn’t in the middle of the sea. It’s right smack dab in the middle of the island of Skyros, in the lake at its center. It’s connected to the sea, though, so your best bet for getting in is finding a passage around the outside of the island.
How come it’s in a lake?
Don’t know exactly. Heard some rumors a while back that Atlantis got sunk by a giant dragon, but I wouldn’t call that a guaranteed fact. Now let’s see…that’s right, I found a few secret panels while I was in Atlantis. The last side panel of the first sections of the wall had a small secret passage. Could get you past a guard, if I recall right. Then there was a big, circular tower with a shell on it. Yeah, it had a secret passage on the side that lead directly to the throne room. A sneaky sort of adventurer such as yourself shouldn’t have much trouble using them.
Thanks, FA. That should help a lot.
Oh, if you think of it, you might take Hippolyta some flowers. Tell her they were from me. She might like that. And I almost forgot; you’ll need a way to breathe water while you’re down there. Might want to ask a wizard friend for an amulet or something.
Shakra and Erasmus are still out, but I’ll ask Katrina the next time I see her.
Katrina? Didn’t you say she died? Congratulations, Nike, not everyone manages to get someone out of Hades.
Well, I figured it saves me a trip. See you around, FA.
Tell Hyppolyta I said hello!


Bad Rite. Hades bad place.
It wasn’t fun, no.
Toro happy hero Nike and Elsa back safe from dead place. Elsa go dead place. Not good place to go. She mad you first.
So she really went?
Elsa want rule Silmaria, so Elsa go dead place. Elsa not like dead place. Toro not like dead place.
Have you seen her since she came back?
No. Toro here alone.
Alright. See you later, then.
*Nods gravely*

In other news, the assassin’s bounty has been raised to 15k. Someone’s really getting worried.


Huh. That’s funny.


Looks like Gort’s gone too. Hey, maybe I can finally look at that panel he’s always standing in front of.



What was the password from that second screen? Oh yeah, “SCIENCE.”



Oh, there you are.


So what are you doing with Gort, there?
That is none of your business! What are you even doing here? This lab is restricted! Only master scientists are permitted here. Go away!
I typed in the code from that panel over there. The test wasn’t that hard. So why is Gort strapped up like that?
Hmm, if you aren’t lying about passing the exam, then perhaps you are worthy enough to be told my master plan. Gort is my finest work of science to date. Didn’t you ever wonder where his strength and power come from? That’s right, they came from MY brain! I have created a man! Nyaah ha ha ha ha ha ha!
I know.
What?
I figured that out the first time I saw Gort. I told you I met Dr. Cranium, right? He had the same experiment going. Frankie and Gort both don’t talk much, they don’t move around too well, they’re both green…I’m not an idiot, doc.
Really? I’m not…that is, your reaction to my revelation was a bit less than what I was expecting. Nevertheless, it means that you can understand this hint of my true genius. My research with Gort nears its completion. Just imagine: a world populated by Gorts!
It’d be kind of slow. Plus guys like you would have to keep them moving along constantly.
Maybe so, but at least they would be compliant, which is something that cannot be said for the majority of the rabble that form the general human populace! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was in the middle of some delicate modifications. If this so-called underwater city actually exists, which I am still somewhat skeptical of, Gort needs to be made fully waterproof.
Didn’t you have him walk to Hydra Island?
The attempt was made, but the experiment exposed some worrying defects in Gort’s design, which is why I am attempting to correct these imperfections now. Now get out of here, young man, and leave me to my work.
Fine, geez.


Ann?
I really, really need your help. Oh, please say you will—pretty, pretty please?
What am I agreeing to?
Come on! You owe me after that stunt with the chocolates!
I don’t see how, but you are my landlady. Fine; so what is it you want me to do?
Great! I told everyone that I had a bellydancer to entertain this evening. Unfortunately, Tessie couldn’t fit into the bellydancing costume. Migal Sal has a black eye, and Tony has a broken toe, so they couldn’t do it. That left Rover, and he refused. All you need to do is go up on stage, get dressed, and come out dancing. Just wiggle your butt and wave your arms, and you’ll do fine. We’re all rooting for you.




After this event, Salla will play at the inn in the evenings. Moving right along…




This is the only other opportunity you have to give Elsa the thieves’ sign. Do try to avoid screwing this one up.

Elsa? What are you doing here? How’d you get past Ann?
I told you I was keeping a close eye on you, didn’t I? I wouldn’t have come here if it weren’t important, though. I am being watched, and I can’t let anyone see us talking together.
Why? Who’s watching you?
Minos. I think he may be behind all the problems in Silmaria. He’s been careful to act kind to me, but I don’t trust him. He knows too much about what’s going on. I also know that he doesn’t like you very much at all. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the assassin tries to kill you next. You would be the biggest threat to Minos, since you have a good chance to be the next king around here.
What makes you say all that? I mean, I barely know the guy, myself.
Minos’s family once ruled Marete, and he believes that he should as well. He has almost said as much to me. However, he is in no condition to enter the Rites himself—and I rather doubt he ever was—so he is using me to gain control of the kingdom. However, he is learning that I don’t follow orders very well. I am not the good little girl he first believed.
You nearly broke your father’s barony, then fixed it almost single-handedly. Why would he think you’re a “good little girl?”
I don’t know. I think he chose me first because he thought I led the brigands of Spielburg in order to overthrow my father, that I was a rogue without scruples. When I proved how wrong he was, he must have decided it meant I was weak and easy to manipulate. He was wrong about that, too.
So he’s a douchebag. What makes you think he’s behind all the troubles?
Small things. Conversations I’ve overheard, bits of knowledge he shouldn’t have. He absolutely hated it when he heard we worked together to take down the Hydra, even though you let me win that Rite. The last straw, though, was when he tried to persuade me against entering Hades. Somehow I think using that as a Rite was his idea, and meant to get you killed.
Huh. It’s true, everyone I talked to thought it was unusual. But why are you telling me all this? Aren’t we still competing against each other?
Make no mistake, I intend to do everything I can to become queen here. But I intend to do it the right way. I will earn the kingdom fairly, or not at all. Besides, you and I could be…that is, we could be friends, if we didn’t always seem to be playing on opposite sides.
Just friends?
I’m…not as sure as I used to be about that. But the reason I came here tonight is so you could know my suspicions in case I’m killed. I’m carrying Salim’s improved poison cure pills as well, and the assassin will not find me an easy target, but if I can’t prove that Minos is guilty, then you have to.
I understand. So does that mean you’re leaving soon?
You are correct. I must return to Minos’s ship before I’m missed. I’ll see you in the Hall of Kings. Take care.
You too, Elsa.

*Elsa puts out the torches, then softly sneaks out of your room. How did she get in here anyway?*


It’s a really beautiful day! The stars are smiling on us. Erasmus and Shakra are sleeping like babies and soon they’ll get better. That Lethe water was just the stuff!
You mean it worked?
We still don’t fully understand the sleep drug, but the waters of Lethe seem to have cured its effects. The wizards are on the path to recovery, and now I can finally rest myself.
That was some seriously bad stuff, man. I still can’t figure out how that drug even works. It’s got some stuff in it that definitely didn’t come from nature. It’s really weird, like somehow it was made, not grown. Usually something that powerful can only come from Mama Nature. There were even little bits of tomato in there, but tomatoes are totally good for you. They’d probably make a nice contrast to the chocolate, too.
A shame about the side effects.
No kidding. If you find out who made that bummer drug, have a serious talk with him. They probably need someone to help straighten them out.


Welcome back. How were things in Silmaria?
It’s going a lot better now. Salim and Julanar have been able to clear the sleep drug from Erasmus and Shakra, and it turns out the black lotus I found was the missing ingredient to the poison, so Rakeesh and Ugarte should be recovering soon.
That’s wonderful. I have been enjoying some things I couldn’t as a creature of the night. This morning, I saw a spider’s web glistening with sea spray, reflecting the colors of the dawn…just knowing that I could finally experience such things again, I found myself crying. And then when I realized I was crying for the first time in more than a century, I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I never realized just how immeasurably beautiful sunlight really is.
Is there anything you miss about being a vampire?
I’ll admit, there was a certain sense of power that came with being a vampire. I wouldn’t go back, though. I’ve been dead twice now, and I don’t recommend it. There are just so many things you can do when you’re alive, and neither Hades nor undeath can come close to it.
Like having kids, I suppose.
Tanya. Yes. I really did love her like she was my own daughter, and I hated you so much when you took her away from me. But you were probably right about her growing to resent me. I gave her eternal youth, but she will probably be much happier as a mortal than she would ever have been sharing undeath with me.
If it helps, she doesn’t resent you at all. She still calls you “Aunt ‘Trina,” and she’s teaching the women of the town how to read.
Really? So it ended well for her in the end. I’m glad.
Yep. To tell the truth, though, I came here to ask you about something. I need to get to Atlantis, and I was hoping you could help.
The kingdom of the sea? It’s been a long time since I explored the element of Water. I never had much interest in it until recently. I did make a magical amulet that allows the wearer to breathe underwater. It was a simple exercise, really. You’ll probably find it useful, so go ahead and take it.
Thanks, Katrina. I’ll see you soon.
You will always be welcome here, Nike.




Welcome back. I can see by your aura that something is making you happy. Did things go well in Silmaria?
Oh, yeah. Things are looking much better now.
I’m glad. I’ve taken some time to learn more about this island chain and the sea around it. There is so much unhappiness and danger here. I wish its beauty weren’t so marred by all the sadness that still surrounds it.
I didn’t want to bring this up earlier, but, well, when I slept by your staff or in the garden back in Mordavia, I had…dreams. And when I saw you for that moment after you came back, you said…I mean, did you…
In my imprisonment, I dreamed of you too, yes. Every moment of that purgatory felt like an eternity, but I’m glad I was able to spend some of those eternities with you. It gave me hope, knowing that someone out there cared about me.
And it felt like we’d known each other forever, even though we hadn’t even met.
Yes. You know, I’d never shared my life with anyone else before. But it looks like there’s something else that’s bothering you. Is there something I can do for you?
Actually, yeah. I need to get to Atlantis to make peace with the tritons. I’ve found out where it is, thanks to another old friend I’ve just met, but I couldn’t possibly hold my breath for long enough.
Atlantis? I remember hearing about that place. It was a land of wizards and magic users of all sorts. It sank into the sea eons ago when they created and released a dragon-like creature of fire and destruction. Some were able to survive by transforming themselves into sea creatures, but many more died.
The Dragon of Doom?
I believe so, yes. That’s right, you mentioned finding Dragon Pillars around the island before, didn’t you? I’ll need to look into those more thoroughly. But you still need a way of remaining underwater. Here, I shall make you a gift of this amulet. Wear it, and you shall breathe the water as if it were air. Please use it to ensure peace for all of Silmaria, and please don’t harm any tritons if you don’t have to.
I’ll do my best.
Thank you. Oh, and good luck!