Chương 148

-0-0-0-0-0- The Port Authority, Atlantis, The Kalenic Sea -0-0-0-0-0-"HelloooOOOoo? Anybody home?" Captain Eli Hart called into the empty building. He'd noticed, as they came into port, that it was substantially quieter than it'd been the last few times he'd visited. There were only a few ships in the harbor, and no one came out to greet him when they'd moored at the dock. Given the rumors swirling through ports all along the eastern coast, Eli wasn't surprised.

Being the target of a crusade, after the Bahrain invasion? He had no doubt that anyone who felt like they could get out while they could, did. The once-bustling Port Authority stood quiet and empty—no clipboard-toting capriccio to log his cargo, nor brawny minotaur to unload it. The few sailors who loitered around the docks were openly drinking from bottles and slumped against walls.

"I say, this place looks, well, terrible!" Gresh said, trailing after his captain.

"I'd expected fewer people, but I suppose the dungeon recalled its Children. It's eerie."

"It is at that," Eli agreed.

"Well, let's head up to town. If any of my contacts are still hanging around, we'll at least get something out of our cargo, apart from the dungeon's order, of course. Need to head up to The Voice's manse for that." The two men wandered up through the main street of the little island town. Just as with the port, it was almost disturbingly quiet. The occasional person wandered around, but both the bank and many stores were firmly shut. The market, usually bustling at this time of day, was silent.

No stalls were manned, and no goods were on display. All of Eli's regular merchant customers were gone; likely having left in the exodus from Atlantis. The only businesses that seemed to be running were the taverns, from which Eli heard a steady drone as they passed.

"Probably the remaining guilders," Eli theorised aloud, to a hum of agreement from Gresh. Thus, they continued up the street, emerging from the buildings at the far end of town. It was a short walk past bare land to reach the fortified mansion that The Voice had taken over and improved from the Medean lords. Great blackstone walls rose high, with arrow slits intermitent throughout the wall and crenelations along the top, granting plenty of cover.

The street led straight to a gatehouse, the main gate of which lay open, though it was manned. Two huge black Scorpans, wielding large halberds and shiny, silvery armor, stood as guards. Their weapons crossed to block Eli's approach. Knowing they couldn't speak Phenocian, though they did understand it, Eli initiated the conversation.

"Hello friends! I am here to deliver a number of goods to The Voice and The Creator by proxy. Navigator Gresh here has the manifest, if you require proof of some kind." The Scorpan shared a glance, and the leftmost one waved a humanoid hand at him. Gresh stepped forward and handed over the clipboard, which was taken with a nod of thanks. The enormous scorpion's eyes flickered as it speedread the manifest. At some point, its stance shifted, and its reading became more...

intense, rather than the casual look it'd had before. The Scorpan looked back up and nodded with all seriousness. It handed back the manifest and waved them on, the two halberds moving apart to grant them access.

"Thank you, friends!" Eli replied with a smile and a nod."

'till we meet again!" The two humans moved quickly through the gate. It was much busier here, though still quieter than he'd expected. Various humans and Children wandered about the grounds, some in armor and others in more ordinary clothes. Most ignored the two as they went about their duties. The few who did look didn't give them more than a curious glance. Eli and Kailen made their way straight to the Mansion, itself looking more fort than mansion lately.

Beyond the doors was a small foyer, with a human woman standing at the door. At their entrance, she looked up, and her eyes lit up with recognition. She waved at them to wait, then passed through a side door. Five minutes later, she returned and bade them approach. As they did, she opened the door.

"Captain Eli Hart of the merchantman ship Good Tidings and his Navigator, Kailen Gresh, to see you, your ladyship," The woman announced. Eli and his navigator shared another glance and entered. At the far end of the hall, The Voice sat upon a throne. It looked like she was holding court, a dozen people arrayed about the hall and four standing before the throne. As Eli and Kailen crossed the hall, their conversation ceased, and most turned to face them.

"Ah, welcome, Captain Hart, Navigator Gresh," The Voice called, a smile on her lips.

"It is good to see you again. We were worried our order would be impossible to fill, given the state of the world at the moment. Did you find all the animals we requested?"

"Animals, huh?" One of the armoured figures at the base of the throne said, his voice sounding strangely familiar... He turned, and Eli recognised him instantly. He felt a wide smile grow as he approached, arms out for a hug.

"Akio! I am glad to see you, my friend. How are you doing?" Eli asked as Akio accepted the hug.

"We're doing well," Akio replied.

"We're registered with the guild and everything."

"We've gotten to the Fourth floor, too," the other boy said. Bruce, Eli remembered, was his name.

"Should be on the fifth after our next delve."

"I'm glad to see you're all doing so well." The Voice cleared her throat, and Eli's eyes flicked up to her, nervously. She looked amused, but had one eyebrow raised. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Ahem," Eli cleared his throat.

"Mayhaps we should catch up another time. Gresh!" Eli called, snapping his fingers dramatically. The man sighed long-sufferingly and handed over the clipboard to his captain. Eli took the manifest and cleared his throat again.

"As requested, we managed to acquire breeding pairs of every unique kind of animal we could find. We have several species of dogs and cats, notable for their differences. We have pairs of ponies, horses, donkies and a dozen small mammals. We also have species of snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders."

"Excellent," The Voice said with a clap, displaying her sharp teeth with a smile that stretched across her face.

"Please give the manifest to Skitters-Across-The-Sand. She will be organising the work detail to bring the animals down to the dungeon."

"Of course, your ladyship," Eli answered. he handed the manifest to the clipboard to the large black scorpan that approached with a respectful smile and nod.

"We will also likely need aid in disembarking them. The docks are in a rather poor state, and I wasn't able to find any dockworkers." The Voice sighed sadly. -0-0-0-0-0- The Throne Room, The Voice's Manse, Atlantis -0-0-0-0-0-"Yes," Kata began.

"Unfortunately, many of the average citizens evacuated themselves once the crusade became public knowledge. We find ourselves surprised to see you again. We thought you would be intercepted or detained on Theona. You are known as our discoverer, and known to frequent our shores." The Creator was already distracted, and Kata could hear him mumbling about potential monsters he could make with those animals.

"Indeed, I noticed the increased patrols along the coast," Captain Hart replied.

"And the guards in the ports. That is why most of the animals I've brought you came from Hillia, the continent which once housed the Bahrain Empire."

"Oh?" Kata said, leaning forward. She felt His attention sharpen at that.

"We have not heard anything of the Bahrain since their ill-fated invasion of our shores. The lack of information was deemed suspicious, and we believed they were suppressing such information from leaving their shores."

"Well, let me be the first to tell you that the Bahrain Empire, as it was, is no more," Eli delivered, to murmurs and mutterings from the others in the room.

"They focused the majority of their forces and resources into the invasion of Theona and the Phenoc Kingdom, and when it broke upon your shores, without accomplishing even the first step of their plans, the backlash was... equally devastating."

"In what way?" Elize prompted, catching Eli's attention. Kata watched the hidden princess closely. She had a rather intense and lost look about her, though that was probably because the Bahrain assassinated her father and half-siblings, leaving her the only living heir. Knowing an enemy she'd clearly built up in her head had fallen, on their own? It would make anyone feel lost.

"Well, as you know, their invasion was prompted by their lack of food, water, and other precious resources," Eli continued.

"Their continent is mainly barren, except for the northern and southern shores. With very few soldiers remaining, and no ships to project their forces... all their conquered provinces rebelled. Since the failed invasion, the Bahrain have been reduced to their capital city, on their western coast, which itself is currently experiencing riots and unrest as what little food and water shipments they were receiving stopped."

"Between the Phenoc Kingdom shattering into pieces and the Bahrain Empire crumbling out from beneath it, it seems we are in a stronger position than ever," Kata asserted.

"Once this crusade has been dealt with, we will stand poised as the only remaining power with a fleet, trained and powerful soldiers, and near-infinite resources to use at our whim." There was a lot of blinking and paling amongst the remaining humans as they realised that, though the Children in the hall stood taller at the compliment.

"You have a fleet?" Eli asked, sounding confused.

"Of course. Did you not wonder what happened to the bahrain's ships? We took them, of course. Those that sank were also recovered and repaired."

"At what port?" The man was perplexed, though his navigator seemed to realise as Kata made to answer.

"The Eleventh floor is large enough to contain a small ocean, as well as an archipelago of islands. We have been training our Children in their use, and the excess ships we cannot man have been hidden away, waiting to be of use. We have multiple small ports with drydocks there, and have even begun building ships of our own design." Here, Kata paused, feeling out the idea The Creator was feeding her.

"Captain Eli Hart, we have a proposal for you."

"Ah, of course, your ladyship. What is your proposal?" The man sounded nervous.

"The way we see it, you have a choice. You can ply your trade amongst the freed Bahrain territories, far out of the reach of the Phenocian Crusade. On the other claw, you have been one of our associates longer than anyone else, and we wish to reward you. If you so choose, we will grant you access to the Eleventh floor, and you may weather out the crusade there." The silence was electric, and the tension in that room could be cut with a knife.

"The Eleventh?" Captain Hart asked uneasily.

"Surely, as ordinary men, my crew and I would perish quickly in such an environment. Why would you grant us such an honour?"

"The Eleventh has safe zones, just as the Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth do," Kata revealed.

"Most dangers would be found on the islands, and you would be in no danger if you were to go from port to port. The Creator would also give you a ward of protection, a barrier that would ward away monsters that might attack while you're at sea." There was more silence as Captain Hart considered her offer. His navigator seemed at once both excited and dreading.

"I must decline your generous offer, your ladyship," Hart eventually answered, to a sigh of relief from Navigator Gresh.

"My calling is to sail the seas of the world and trade with people from every shore. Though your ocean floor proved tempting, ultimately... It would be constraining. I choose to remain on the surface and ply my trade amongst the former Bahrain states. They will need help getting back on their feet, beyond what I have already done for them."

"You are a generous soul, and a free spirit, Captain Hart," Kata said, smiling without teeth —a kind, gentle smile.

"If we never meet again, know that The Creator apologises for ambushing you when you discovered Him. He was unsure of your intentions and did not wish to take chances. Though He cannot regret the deaths of Kurt and Kale, their memories of Phenocian let him understand you, and all that came after. For that, he remembers them, and you, fondly. He also hopes you kicked out Garth. From his description, the man seemed unpleasent." Hart closed his eyes briefly, and nodded gratefully.

"Thank you for your consideration. Kurt and Kale were good lads, and knowing they are remembered sets my heart at ease. And aye, I did let Garth loose when we next made port. He was rude and often made trouble among the crew. I don't regret my decision."

"Well, We believe that was all We had to discuss. If you would return to your ship, Skitters will follow you. Until we meet again, Captain Hart."

"Until we meet again, Voice of The Creator!" Eli declared, before turning away. Once the door shut behind him, his navigator, Skitters, and Kata turned back to the teen heroes, as The Creator called them.

"Well, that was an interesting diversion," Kata started, "Now then, back to our discussion. You were saying something about a spy?" -0-0-0-0-0-