Homecoming Reports (46)

“I am sorry but we could not delay him longer.” Sert stated.

“We tried everything including stories about our trip but Cole kept reminding us he needed to tell the Council of your return to Atlantis.” Meli added. I stood with a half smile still on my face.

“It is unimportant.” I returned calmly. I waved away their pleas for forgiveness. “You did what I required which was remove Cole from the harbour.” I told them. “And if you have not heard,” I began slowly, “Her Holiness is sequestered from the public because on an attack she performed on a visiting Ambassador.”

“She would never do something like that!” Meli remarked. I could feel the anger that welled in my companions.

“Her explanation is that she became annoyed and over reacted.” I returned calmly. “Look into the details of that event and the supposed attack on Annianka during her voyage to the Healers' Hall.” I informed them. “That is when her seclusion became absolute.” I explained. “I will visit the Council to discover what charges and reasoning for her internal exile from the populace.” I continued. “Tomorrow morning, we will review what has passed on Atlantis during our absence.” I concluded.

“We gather in the kitchen for a meal before bed?” Sert asked.

“One last time for Kestrel to tell us what not to reveal to the general populace of Atlantis.” Meli returned. She gave me a half smile.

“Agreed.” I answered. “And Her Holiness is expecting your visit within the next two days to report about our trip.” I added.

“We will have to reveal what we have learned about the Leviathan's technology.” Meli hazarded. We had slowly been moving toward the kitchen. I laughed at her tone.

“She has been told about the Lemurian technology on board and wishes to know your views on it.” I reported to them. I heard the gulp in Meli's throat at my revelation. “You need not hold anything back from our trip while speaking with Annianka.” I continued. “During your research, stop at the Royal Guards station to alert the Captains that I will have time in the afternoon to receive complete reports from them.” I added. They stopped mid step to turn on me. Their eyes were wide as they stared at me. I sighed before signalling them to speak.

“Is that not above your station?” Sert hazarded gently.

“Before the Captains, Annianka has named me her right hand and equal.” I returned calmly. I heard the door slamming open in the foyer. “Let us rush to the kitchen but keep my new appointment in silence.” I informed them. They nodded before we darted down the back hall into the kitchen. I did not mention much information to avoid in general conversation around Atlantis. We ate sparingly before agreeing to retire for the night. “I must believe that our gear has been delivered?” I asked silently. We were in mid climb of the back stairs.

“Yes, each pack placed in our respective rooms.” Meli returned quietly.

“Good.” I replied softly. Once in my room, I placed my new items with other pieces I had collected into their proper spots on the selves that lined my private room's walls. The last piece I placed was my ocarina on it's stand upon my writing desk. A chirping giggle from my empty bag drew my attention across the length of the room. There on the edge on my open pack sat a ball of fur and feathers that stared back at me through crystal blue eyes. As I watched, a third sullen red eye opened just above his normal eyes.

“Did the one from the human farm send you?” I asked calmly. I received a string of chirping chuckles and giggles as answer. I touched the Ken's mind finding no mental abilities nor the base of any consciousness in the creature. It squealed loudly then disappeared before my own eyes. A gentle knock sounded at my door. “Enter.” I ordered quietly and calmly. Sert opened the door slowly before glancing in my room.

“I heard the noise of the Ken in this room.” Sert explained quickly. I still stared at the spot the pseudo Ken in silence while my mind scan for any ethereal disturbance that would account for our surprise guest. “What has happened sir?” Sert added in the silence.

“I had what appeared in form to be a Ken in my room but it vanished before you knocked.” I explained. “It did not have the feel of the one we meet on the Roman farm.” I continued slowly. Sert searched the room with his eyes as he moved slowly to stand by me. “It lacked the mental abilities and consciousness of the other Ken.” I stated slowly. “A base animal would be more evolved than the creature that appeared in this room to me.” I told Sert.

“I will send word to have the place searched magically for foreign incursions.” he returned. I noticed his glance darting to the shadowy corners of my room while his hand sat in readiness on his sword hilt. “Could it be something from a rift?” he added softly.

“No sign or residue of a tear that allowed it entry and departure.” I responded. “It only spoke in chirps instead of words.” I explained slowly. He shrugged his shoulders before turning to face me. “It could simply be tiredness from the trip causing small distortions in our mind.” I continued with feigned calmness. “Head to bed Sertian, we have much to do tomorrow.” He nodded his agreement to my words before walking back to the doorway.

“We can ask Mekiliean in the morning if she had a similar event.” he stated. He bow to me from the door before closing it. I heard his soft foot falls as he returned to his room. I sat cross legged on my bed meditating as I consulted any higher power that may have played a trick on myself and Sert. All I discovered was a restful night floating in the void of space which had given me life. The light of dawn slipped silently into my room causing my eyes to open. My legs had not stiffened after a full night of sitting in the lotus position on my bed. I felt refreshed and at peace when Sert's gentle knock sounded on my door.

“I will be down in a moment.” I replied. “Have the group gather in the dining room for a breakfast meeting.” I ordered gently.

“As you wish sir.” Sert replied through the closed door. I changed into fresh cloth after washing myself from the basin upon my night table. I slowly walked down the back stairwell to enter the dining room from the kitchen door. Meli and Sert sat to the right side of my seat at the table while Cole sat to my left with an empty seat between us. I took my chair in silence before glancing over the selection of fruits, nuts, cheese and bread disks placed for the four of us to take. Two large pots of tea steamed out the smell of jasmine, lilacs, and cinnamon into the room.

“A new tea mix?” I asked casually.

“Just a recipe Lorenzo mentioned.” she replied. I gave her a small nod before placing my cup near the pot.

“So what has been happening during our absence Cole?” I continued casually. Meli slowly pour tea into my cup while I selected a few pieces of fruits and cheese to put in my plate with a few nuts. I could hear Cole muttering under his breath mixed with the nervous breathing. “I have already been told of Her Holiness' arrest and seclusion from society.” I stated softly. “But I would like to know more about everything else that has transpired.” I corrected. I heard the whispered snickers from Meli and Sert at Cole's nervousness. “I would also like to see our friends in the Council after breaking fast.” I added quickly.

“It is not their fault.” Cole retorted. “Even her own guards can tell you that something unearthly happened which is why they did what they could to protect Her Holiness.” he sputtered.

“I was told by the Captains, Miss Hope, and Her Holiness about the events that made her become a self proclaimed prisoner in her Royal Apartments.” I assured him calmly. “I wish to know what else has happened.” I ordered gently. “Trying to see if other events might be linked to the oddness that has touched Her Holiness' life.” I added. The casualness and lack of anger in my voice must have finally calmed him as his body and mind relaxed.

“We have been noting minor fluctuation in the energy net of Atlantis.” Cole finally stated. “Without finding a direct cause as of yet.” he continued quickly. “Other than that, nothing special outside the visit of Ambassador Kachek has happened in Atlantis.” he concluded.

“Did the fluctuation coincide with Annianka's outburst or the attack on her?” I asked gently. I held one hand toward Meli who gasped at my words. A look of sadness crossed Cole's face as he shook his head.

“It is during the stable moments that both events regarding Her Holiness occurred.” he informed us.

“How stable was it last night?” I asked softly. I felt Sert's chair scarping against the floor and heard it creak as he turned more toward me. The sound was echoed in a gentler fashion from Meli's chair letting me know they had discussed last night's oddity.

“I will verify with the energy department.” Cole returned easily. “I will return a time detailed graph covering sundown to sunrise for you.” he continued. “Easier to see the activity directly than having it described by unqualified eyes such as mine.” he added quickly.

“Are you doubtless about nothing else transpiring?” Sert asked. He eyed his half eaten plate. I could sense his disbelief and confusion.

“Atlantis may be peaceful but it is odd that nothing else happened during a nine month period.” Meli said slowly. Her mind mirrored the concern present in Sert's.

“Nothing else of that nature occurred.” Cole reassured them.

“What other political events occurred?” I commented calmly. A little boyish grin formed on Cole's face. I barely heard the groan escape from Sert and Meli.

“Odd ship claiming to be Egyptian representative brought treatise offers for Atlantis.” he started reporting. “They did not even attempt to disembark.” he continued. “They simply asked for a representative to receive their treatise offers while remain on their ship secluded from others.” he told me. “Once they handed the treatise bundle to an Atlantian representative, they sailed away without receiving an answer.” he explained. “This was part of the bundle specifically stated as yours.” he added. He placed the mildly ornamented wooden box by my hand on the table. I glanced at it quickly to notice the symbols of the house of Thoth with my nieces mark last in the line of three.

“A gift from the little princess.” I stated. I small smile formed on my face. “Possibly in gratitude for our assistance.” I commented. “Anything else?”

“No new edicts, structures, or events outside the mundane life on Atlantis.” Cole returned calmly. “Rumours mostly contradicting each other with no apparent truth behind them.” he concluded.

“Entertain us while we finish eating.” I ordered back. He shrugged and nodded before reciting the litany of rumours. He would take small mouthfuls between each pair of conflicting rumours as Sert, Meli, and myself slowly ate. “I must agree.” I remarked. “No apparent truth and each paired with its opposite.” I continued slowly. “Something to cause confusion and instability.” I surmised. I looked at each of my companions in turn as understanding gleamed in their eyes.

“Like the instability in the magical net.” they added together.

“I will verify if the whispering of rumours coincided with the magical instabilities.” Cole returned quickly. “But it may not show which of the two began the cycle.” he continued pensively. “Or if it can explains Her Holiness' over reaction.” he added.

“Odd that you use the same words Her Holiness stated in her defence.” Meli retorted.

“I was present during her interviews.” Cole returned. “It is, in part, the work of our friends in the Council that kept her rights to visit the Healers' Hall before the supposed attack on her.” he added.

“An attack where stones appeared from nothingness to be projected at Her Holiness.” I informed Sert and Meli. I heard the gasp from them while my eyes remained on Cole's face. He tried hiding his emotions but the corner of his eyes held an unshed tear. “Her Holiness and her guards were unharmed from the incident but forced Her to abandon visiting the Healers' Hall.” I continued. “Miss Hope did mention she felt like no longer visiting the Healers' Hall on the morning of the presumed attack.” I added softly.

“Are you suggesting she attacked herself?” Meli snarled at me.

“Not at all.” I returned. “But something wanting Her Holiness isolated from Her people would gain ground with a false attack.” I explained. We ended the meal in silence before departing for our respective research.

I spent the rest of my morning going through the reports filed on both of Annianka's events. I had been placed in a private room with Cole as messenger and foursome of Council Guards stood at the door. One would accompany Cole while the remaining trio kept me from being disturbed. The more I read of both events, the more it sounded contrived by an external force. It was proof enough that something sat in the Heartstone of Atlantis but its purpose was still shrouded in mystery. Nothing gained by isolation Annianka nor interfering with her daily visit to the Healers' Hall.

“If it is trying to turn her people against her, this would have the opposite effect.” I muttered under my breath. “Cole?” I called. He stepped into the room to stand by my side. “Look for any information on other events of Her Holiness over reacting from the moment she appeared on Atlantis.” I ordered. He nodded before disappearing from the room. Meeting the Council members was unfruitful considering the all felt the same way. “They could see no way of leaving her free in case another over reaction occurred.” I told myself. “Short of bringing her up on charges which would have her killed that none of them would agree to.” I mused. “If she is executed, the populous would rise up against the Council throwing Atlantis into turmoil without touching the outside world.”

“Makes sense to me.” Burdish stated from the doorway. “But we cannot understand who is behind this manipulation.” he continued. He slowly entered the room to take a seat across from me. “All we know is that it is neither the nobles nor the Council that is causing this to happen.” he concluded.

“It cannot be an external source.” I stated bluntly. “The enemy walks among us on Atlantis.” I told him.

“That is not reassuring to hear.” he returned.

“Still looking into it.” I said calmly. He nodded then left me to continue pouring through documents.