Chapter 10 Hail to the Seahorse King

Queen Aurora married The Seahorse King
Victory over the griffin Hades the mermaids sing
Given The Heart of the Sea to her forevermore
Locked into this charm his hair sealed the core
Became a banshee guiding lost souls to The Happy Sea
Hence, inside Aurora’s heart holds a magic key
Through any door guarded by a spell
But only to send your enemy to hell
Many have sought and died for this golden charm
For The Heart of the Sea can only be held by a magical arm
Or cursed shall you forever be
And forbidden to live in The Happy Sea, said he

“So what are we doing here again?” asked Jack as Captain Homer ordered the ship to drop anchor.

“We are calling the Seahorse King for an amulet to kill the King of Nubia.” answered the captain.

“Ishtar, please hold my weapons. Colby, you know what to do and make sure you hit the heart.”

Homer faced out to the ocean at the edge of his ship and Colby stabbed him in the back to pierce his heart. A pool of water swirled into a green whirlpool. The ship remained in its position and shifted to the swells passing underneath. A head of a horse peeped out of the green foam inside the whirlpool and swam out to the ship. A merman soon followed sitting in a seashell carriage. He looked at the starstruck elves and humans to notice no one dead. He sniffed the air and moved over to Homer.

“You are not dead. Why did you call me here, elfman?” demanded The Seahorse King.

“To ask for an amulet to kill the King of Nubia. He is wiping out elves in his kingdom and I have to stop the carnage. Mermaids and elves have always been allies and trading partners. I need magic from you to pass through any protective spells that surround the king. Now please give me a lock of hair like inside Aurora’s Heart of the Sea to empower my knife before I…”

“Pass out.” finished The Seahorse King as Homer collapsed.

“Please, Majesty. My husband must not fail in his quest or it means the death of mermaids protecting the refugees on The Mermaid Islands from the Nubian sailors. They declared war on mermaids as well as elves over an omen a seer made. We beg you for help.” interjected Ishtar.

The Seahorse King paused, looked at his seahorse, and sighed. Homer gasped for air and shook in pain. Ishtar watched his soul rise from his body and be taken by the seahorse king into his carriage. Homer’s body continued to breathe, but he grew very cold. They reached deep into the sea where Queen Aurora held her court. Many mermaid souls passed them by as they reach the Happy Sea. A sunken ship gave way to a dark tunnel and Homer wondered if the Happy Sea was anything like the North Sea he knew so well. He noticed there were no sharks attacking dolphins, just swam side by side as if they were friends. Queen Aurora’s court floated in the water with her golden crown reflecting the light from above. They entered a dark trench full of merfish and creatures of the sea. Queen Aurora welcomed the elf to her cavern and begged her husband for an explanation. He explained the elfman’s quest. Queen Aurora reached for her amulet hanging on her scaly neck. She assured the elfman that many have asked for her amulet and many have died trying to control its magic. She asked why he is worthy of such power over life and death of a soul. Homer clasped his hands to together and bright beam of light erupted from his fingers to strike Aurora’s crown, causing it to tilt upon her brow.

“Well done, elfman. Do you have a name?” inquired Aurora straightening her crown.

“Homer, Your Majesty.”

“Very good. And whom is the enemy you desire to kill?

“The King of Nubia,” answered Homer

“Oh, he will be heavily guarded by spells from his magicians. You have a plan, I presume?”

“Yes, Majesty. Fourteen ships will attack the coastal villages and east gate of the capital city Tanis along the delta. My companion and I will enter the palace through the kitchen under cover of darkness when it is empty and the king has retired to bed from lack of progress invading the east gate. It is the only time he is alone. We climb the servant stairs and enter through the servant entrance to the king’s bed chamber, that way we bypass the guards in the hallways. There will likely be a guard inside the bed chamber so I bring my friend Colby to occupy the guard while I kill the king.

“Sounds like a good plan. Well thought out. The protective spells will be likely surrounding the king himself, and not the guard. Do you plan to murder the innocent guard for simply protecting his beloved king?” asked Aurora.

“Only if we have to, which is likely. The King of Nubia has ordered the death of thousands of elves and mermaids hiding them, I would not call any of his guards innocent.” replies Homer.

“Very well. You may have my amulet for three days. In that time you can order the life or death of anyone around you so be mindful of your thoughts. Once dead, you can not bring them back.” spoke Aurora removing her amulet.

“I will need more than three days to lead this attack and murder. Nubia is at least three weeks away sailing in good weather.” quickly retorts Homer.

“Very well. Then take this sand dollar and drop it in the sea when you require it. It will appear in your hand and you will have one day to be a banshee of death.”

“Thank you, Majesty.” bowed Homer accepting the sand dollar.

The sea horse king guided the elfman back through the afterlife tunnel and returned him to his ship. Homer’s soul reentered his body shivering with cold with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He croaked in pain as the seahorse king asked for the weapons of the assassins. Ishtar handed Homer’s sword over. He examined it closely, complimented Ishtar on her spellbinding. He carefully plucked a hair from his head to wrap it around the blade. The murderer will need a magical weapon to kill a man so protected by spells. He insisted on them returning his gift when the deed was done, and he will know if deceived. He asked for Colby accompanying Homer and he stepped forward to hand over the bloody sword he stabbed Homer with. The king carefully examined it and wrapped a hair around it. He finally held his hand over Homer’s wound and Homer continue to stir in moaning agony. The king disappeared into the murky ocean and Homer sat up. Colby helped guide Homer to his bed and Ishtar poured a willow bark tea over his wound. Homer recited meeting Queen Aurora and the promised amulet. Colby assured him that they both have weapons to kill the king, but the magical gift must be returned. Homer agreed to that. He rather not be cursed by a god, being cursed by mortals was bad enough. Homer whimpered in pain as Colby and Ishatar went over the plan. A small raid on the ships docked near the east gate will distract the soldiers. It is distant enough to not cause alarm and the king would continue his sleep if disturbed. They will set fire to their own ships and aim them adrift towards the docked ones. Then the nearby farms and villages will be raided, pillaged, and burned. Homer and Colby will enter the city following the crowds rushing to get in saying they are sailors off the burning ships. They will slip through the palace any way presented and go through the kitchens after the cooks and maidservants have retired to bed. They will follow the servant hallways to the wardrobe room of the king on the third floor. A guard has been resting at the foot of the king’s bed, but does not stand guard. The guards patrol the main corridor leading to the queen’s bed chamber and staircase to the great hall. The corridor guards can not enter the bed chamber until the protective spells break at the crow of a rooster.

A week later Dracons’ ships arrive and twenty of Homer’s ships make off for Nubia. They stop for supplies along the island countries and coastal colonies. Upon seeing a Nubian fishing boat, Homer orders to halt in order to trade news. Alarmed at the size of the armada, the crew draw weapons and Homer orders a lifeboat over to exchange news. The crew members claim to escort an ambassador to Ithaca and Anaki pirates make these waters unsafe. They paid the fishermen for their catch of the day and went on their way. Homer claims to want a merchant ship more than fishing boat. They reach the west coast of Nubia and seize a Nubian merchant ship full of wine jars and cotton. Homer offered employment to those wanting their lives spared and tossed the rest into the sea. The next day they gazed upon the delta where the capital city lay just upriver. Homer dropped the sand dollar in the sea and Aurora’s Heart of Sea charm materialized in his hand. They had one day to accomplish his goal. The armada separated to attack the river and coastal villages carrying back any booty they could find. The commandeered Nubian ship was set afire and guided to the docked ships. Homer and Colby jumped off the inflamed ship to swim ashore. They joined the racing villagers and soaking wet sailors to the city’s east gate where horns were blaring their entry.

The palace was hard to miss up on the tallest hill. They slipped into a tailor’s shop and found a family huddled in a corner. Homer spoke perfect Nubian asking for a change of clothes since they jumped off their ship when the invader’s set one of their own on fire to crash into the docked ones. The tailor provided them with new clothes and took their old ones in exchange. They were off again to find the palace. They approached the palace sentry looking for an opportunity. They crept under a stopped cart entering the palace gate and slunk along to the stables. Homer found a hole in the hayloft they crawled up to and held up Colby for a peek. He found the maids chattering as they washed the tableware in large vats. When the kitchen lights extinguished, Homer and Colby snuck down the hayloft ladder to slither across the grounds to the servant entrance. They grabbed kindling as soldiers noticed their cloaked presence and swiftly darted for the servant entrance. They jumped down steps to the vast kitchen and looked for a staircase leading to the king’s bed chamber. Up to the third floor they went to find a guard sleeping near a arrow hole. As master of death, Homer decided to let the sleeping guard live, for now. They opened the door they believed would take them to the king’s dressing room. They found it locked. Homer tweaked the lock open to reveal a large dark room full of trunks and trees of armor. Colby tripped over an armor tree and caught the dangling sword before it hit the stone cold floor. Voices were whispered in another room. A candlestick floated through a distant door. Homer and Colby hid from view and silently watched the candle pass. Then, Colby grabbed the arm holding the candlestick while Homer grabbed the steel knife reflecting in the light and held it next to the man’s neck.

“Tell your king nobody is here and we let you live,” whispered Homer.

“They will kill me if the king dies on my watch,” replies the guard.

Homer squeezes the knife out of the guard’s hand and chucks it at the wall. A painful squeak is heard.

“Tell your king it was just a rat,” as Homer reaches out his hand to catch the flying blade returning to him. “And we will knock you on the head so you feel no pain.”

Homer hands back the bloodied knife and the Colby releases the candlestick. The guard returns to the bed chamber declaring the noise was just a rat and he killed it. The relieved king nestles back into bed and the guard starts to snore. Homer and Colby creek open the door to see the moonlight shine from a window. They hear voices outside in the hallways of the guards reporting the invaders retreat, but nothing urgent enough to disturb the king. Homer takes out his sword and plops it on the king’s chest to awaken him.

“So how does it feel to know you will die a horrible death reeking in agony?” inquires Homer.

Colby is heard knocking out the guard at the foot of the bed.

“Have mercy upon me,” whispers the wide-eyed king.

“The gods may, but I will not. Go on and scream, nobody will hear you. Just like those screams from those massacred elves were never heard.” replies Homer as he stabs the king’s heart.

The king gasps. Next Homer slides his sword down the king’s chest to hear him gurgle as he struggles to breathe. Finally, he grabs an axe off the wall and holds it even with his head.

“Send my regards to Hades,” says Homer with a mock salute right before chopping off the king’s head to receive a burst a feathers from the mattress.

The guard tied up with magic rope, the assassins started to leave. Except, a banshee screeched into the night proclaiming a death had occurred. Guards pound on the magic door that will not open. Shouts of an intruder ring through the halls. Homer looks about and spots the window. They creep out the open shutters letting in the moonlight upon this warm summer night. Stumbling across the roof tiles, Colby finds a gargoyle water spout. With Homer’s magic rope they shimmy down to the second floor to find a pair of closed shutters. He pries and pulls to kick himself away from the shutters. In frustration, Homer conjures up magic to open them as he swings away from the wall. Then the shutters sway open and Homer flies through the window to land upon a warm body muffling underneath him. He gets up.

“I wondered what that noise was,” speaks a young maiden in a nightdress laying on the floor.

Soon, Colby flies in the window to crash onto Homer with arrows whizzing in to bounce off the stone walls.

“Get off me,” muffles Homer with Colby’s cloak in his face.

The assassins assess the bed chamber they just entered. Colby closes the shutters leaving behind the magic rope. Homer blocks the door with trunks and a table with the maiden demanding to know who just intruded into her bed chamber. Then she gasps holding her hand to her mouth.

“You are the elf foreseen to murder the king, strangers from a foreign land?” asked the maiden.

Homer whips out his dagger and sets it under the girl’s chin.

“Yes,” he answers. “And you are?”

“Queen Chloe of Nubia and Aferdia. You just murdered my king.” replies the girl. Running foot steps are heard out in the hallways.

“Right. Now where is your secret passage out of this palace?” demands Homer.

“Behind the banner,” assures Queen Chloe pointing behind her.

Colby lifts up the banner to find a crack in the wall. The assassins and queen leave just as the guards break open the door.

“My dressing gown!” cries Chloe returning to the bed chamber.

“We will steal you another,” replies Colby grabbing her back.

They race down dark steps as Homer lights a torch stationed along the stairs. Down the spiral staircase to find a tunnel filled with moldy air, cockroaches, and rats. No sounds of people following them, Homer walks on hitting the ceiling with the torch every few steps while Chloe clings to Colby too scared to move. They pass more tunnel openings hearing the screams of whipped prisoners. She breaks her silence to ask Colby why Homer was hitting the ceiling with his fire, he could put it out and they will have no light to see their way out. Colby explains he is marking their trail so they don’t get lost going down the same tunnel. After a long walk, they breathed fresh air and climbed steps out of a cave. A town was burning in the distance and ships were sailing towards the delta.

“Our ships are retreating. Find a boat, quick.”spoke Homer as he put out the torch in the cave.

They ran down to the burning village to find a family retrieving water to put out their flaming barn. Animals ran around loose in fright. The family froze in fear gazing upon the armed bandits gripping a reluctant lady.

“Excuse us,” was all Homer said as he headed for the glistening water and dull shadow of a dock.

They jumped in a tiny fishing canoe and rowed out to a ship with archers on the riverbanks in hot pursuit. Queen Chloe tried to escape and Homer hit her head with an oar. Colby caught her and laid her down. They reached a ship. A shipmate shot a flaming arrow straight into the sky followed by other flaming arrows elsewhere appearing like shooting stars. They sailed out to sea along the delta and met with the rest of the fleet at a small island called Thera the next morning. Thera held a small city along a lagoon , but the rest was sparsely populated by fishing villages. Homer took inventory and divided the booty with Dracon’s ships who set sail immediately for Rikia. As dawn approached, Homer dropped Aurora’s green locket into the sea and noticed Chloe uneasy when sailors stared at her. Her nightdress was see through in the morning light. Colby brought her below decks and searched a painted trunk. Homer followed to hear them by the deck ladder.

“This will do,” he said as he tossed a light robe at her. It hit the queen’s arm and fell to the floor.

“You’re not going to place it on me?” she asked.

“I’m not a hand maiden, highness.” answered Colby.

She stared at him leaving to go back up the ladder. Homer came down. Chloe retreated within herself and gazed at the garment on the floor not knowing what to do. A very dirty hand reached for the robe.

“You seem cold, milady” spoke Homer roughly placing the robe on her shoulders. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and held it close to herself.

“I see Colby forgot the sash,” he said and searched the painted trunk.

He brought out a soft yellow sash and showed her how to tie it. He then offered a cup of tea with a bowl of mush for her breakfast. They sat upon trunks surrounded by objects from the raid.

“You are quite more courteous than your men. I have heard many stories about the North Sea barbarians from ambassadors and returning generals. The nomadic savages are covered with hair with long braided beards, wear leather leggings, sleep on the ground under the open sky, harvest wild plants, and chase deer on horseback.” declared Chloe.

“I am well accustomed to trading and gaining allies for my adventures so yes, I am more courteous than my sailors. Though, you have a few things wrong. The nomads living in tents herd goats and cattle, make cheese, as well as chase deer on horseback. The farming village roofs are straw on top of walls made of overlapped willow branches covered in mud. They also raise grain, flax, vegetables, and gourds. They gather fruits and berries in the river forests. They raise a variety of animals spinning wool, making cheese and butter, and are avid traders on their boats. The stone city wealthy dwellers live much like you, but the poor dwellers dress like the barbarians and live in mud brick houses. Though under those civilized robes are pants and boots, not sandals like yours.” answered Homer.

“Barbarians have stone cities and farming villages too. How interesting.” condescended Chloe.

The queen pondered all this observing the repulsive tattered clothes, boots, cloak, and straggled beard of her captor. Faintly, she saw blue symbols painted around his forehead hairline and his collarbone. Homer explained the symbols on his skin as prayers to the gods as well as symbols of great deeds. The starfish and crescent moon on his cheek marks him as servant to Queen Lexie of the North Sea. Homer was certain the haggard appearance of all the sailors held back any curiosity Chloe had of their savage homeland. Even worse, was the lack of privacy she was well accustomed to in the palace. Sailors ignored each other as they ate, worked, played, groomed, and washed in full view of everybody. They never ignored her as she learned to remove her outer robe to sleep in her nightdress. Then, as she attempted to drink some sea water and Homer dared to grab the royal hand to stop her. He explained the sea water will make her sick and when they reach Kala Island the next day, they will refill their fresh water barrels. He offered his leather flask for a sip of water, which the queen refused to drink as a barbarian. The queen spent the next day crying on a bunk released from the wall brackets that is usually held upright to keep them out of the way. Homer had little time to comfort the prisoner who only knew her Nubian language so she couldn’t really talk to anyone besides Colby and Homer, but they were not much conversationalists. Then again Colby was often on his own ship and jumped over to speak with Homer. None of the sailors asked her name and she learned not to freely give it again. She relented her refusal of Homer’s flask and watched the sailors laughing at her as she tried to figure out how to drink from it. She did ask about a carved rock floating in a bowl near the tiller. Homer gripped her curious hand explaining not to touch the lodestone. It is their way of knowing which way is north on a cloudy day or moonless night. Chloe was shocked and dismayed this peasant dared to grab her royal hand in such a rude manner again. Homer explained how as she says, he is a savage. Ilio explained the disk with the stick in the center telling them where they are located in the world. Chloe’s head became dizzy of such high knowledge and confessed her dread of her forthcoming captivity in this strange land. Homer watched for signs of escape, but assumed she was too stupid to come up with a plan. They are in the middle of the ocean and far from her home. She had never left the palace except being carried on tours to the temples during festivals as queen. They reached the Nubian colony of Kala Island and asked the chief for fresh water along with other foods. Chloe was surprised he didn’t attack the village. He explained he only attacks when well supplied and empty of treasure. Buckets of river water and food came aboard with the help of the villagers. The chief invited them to stay the night after Homer gave him a golden broach for payment of his assistance. Homer declined in fear of an attack on his treasure full ships.

They continued on to Bear Island ceded to Homer by the King of Ithaca. There the booty was divided by his sailors and many left the ships to go home to their colonial village Bearstown. Chloe began to realize the crew changes every port and many nationalities come aboard looking for work. Homer said many of his sailors are farmers and join his crews for extra earnings for their growing families. As the days passed, she was quite stunned that the captain of the ship actually took his turn rowing the oars with his rogues and guiding the tiller as they slept. She believed a captain would have earned the right not to work, but to delegate chores to his slaves. When four elves took sick, Homer was found by Chloe swabbing the upper deck by himself until his men joined him to get the job done faster. Captain Homer obviously had another view on things, like mutiny if his men believed he was a poor leader. But mutiny and betrayal were abstract concepts Queen Chloe could never grasp. Soon after leaving Nubia she became frequently ill due to the change in her diet, stress of being held captive, or the rocking of the ship. Homer was unsure which. They sailed onto another island with mermaid shacks along the beach. Stone ruins ran along the coast and Homer explained humans once lived here. They chopped down trees to build houses on the beach to have them covered up by sand to make dunes. The stone watch towers are the only buildings left of them. They killed all the animals of the forest and chopped down trees to grow crops, but the sand spread and seeds they brought failed to grow. After a famine, they sailed away to find another home and the Elf king of Alastair brought over animals and planted trees to nourish the island back to life.

“Elves have kings?” questioned Chloe.

“Not very many.” replied Homer. “The Elf king of Alastair patrols twelve islands in his domain. You are on one of them. The elves call this island Midas after a selfish king who was granted a wish to turn everything he touched to gold. Then, he could not eat or touch his wife and finally cursed the god who granted his wish. The god would only remove the touch of gold if he exiled himself from his kingdom and let his son take over as king. Midas consented and came to this island alone. He married an elf maiden he found here and had a son named Alastair. His descendents spread out among the islands and became great sailors trading all over the South Seas. They had been rescuing elves from Nubia and bringing them to the Mermaid Islands when Queen Lexie declared sanctuary. The Elf king lives on an island to the north. He will come tomorrow. I have to ask his blessing to perform a ceremony in his sacred circle to thank the gods for my success. Now, we must bathe before greeting the king. My sons Ilio and Jack will escort you to a pool where mermaids like to play. They will help dress you if you ask them to.”

After he was certain Chloe was done, Homer appeared through the cattails and shouted a greeting to the mermaids while tossing coins into the water causing the mermaids to dive for them. He saw the queen in her linen nightdress and robe struggling in the water. Then he yelled at Ilio and Jack how they were suppose to help her, swatting them with his sword. He removed his belt and boots to dive into the water swimming about while mermaids surrounded him. He removed his linen clothes and tossed them to Jack. He motioned for the queen to come over and he helped her wiggle out of her drenched robe and nightdress. Chloe said Jack and Ilio escorted her to a waterfall pool that is a excellent location for bathing and reed picking. Mermaids laughed and splashed about in the mist. The queen held out her arms to be disrobed. Jack and Ilio stared at her. Jack layed a cake of soap and a sponge upon a rock, then turned away. Ilio put down a towel and robe. She stared at the presented objects bewildered what they expected her to do with them. Then they started cutting reeds and completely ignored her. She struggled to figure out how to remove her things for she knew no mermaid words to ask for help as Homer suggested. Homer ties her sash so oddly she can not figure out how to untie it. Finally, Ilio shouted strange words and the mermaids stopped their games to gaze upon the human queen. She decided to wade into the water with her clothing still on. The mermaids laughed and splashed the frightened queen. Homer replied he heard her utter incomprehensible words, but the disdain was apparent. Shivering in the cold water, she reached for the towel Ilio laid on the grass and wiped her face off in tears. Jack and Ilio were soon rubbing the clothes on rocks.
Homer spoke a few more words and the mermaids grabbed the bathing tools. They cleaned the queen and captain, including their hair. The mermaids then braided Homer’s beard. The queen dried herself off and Homer helped her into new robes. The clothes dried along bushes and the crew arrived to take their bath with the mermaids. Chloe unaccustomed to so much walking barefoot, she begged for shoes. Homer had no leather to make any for her and she simply has to continue suffering. Homer cooked crabs on the beach and soon boats full of elves came to greet the visitors. An elf in a tall feather headdress and overlapping iron plates tied to a leather shirt announced they were spotted by fishermen and assumed the pillaging of Nubia was a success. Homer and Colby showed off the stolen items. The elves brought food in baskets and jars trading for turquoise jewelry, bronze mirrors, and iron tools. They wore loose linen tunics down to their knees, colorful sashes, walked barefoot, and wore no savage leggings like Chloe expected. Their necks, arms, and ankles were covered in jewelry. The women had flowers tied in their long black or blond hair while men had their hair straggled and beards braided. A select few were permitted to come to the Elf king’s home island. Chloe noticed she was the only human. Homer explained he will not allow his prisoner out of his sight, especially around his crew.
The homes were earth lodges with vines covering wooden porch columns. The Elf king sat on a wooden chair offering refreshments to the visitors. Homer approached with a slight bow with his right arm extended. He spoke on his ingenious idea of hiding the invasion armada in the Atlas Mountains to the west of Nubia to appear as dealers trading for supplies after the long journey from the North Sea in the city Durwin, the farce attack on the East Gate to distract the Nubians from noticing the assassins gaining entry into the city, the great murder of the King of Nubia, capturing Queen Chloe, pillaging the surrounding villages, and escaping the Nubian navy. He asked permission to thank the gods in his sacred circle. The Elf king grunted and then nodded. With a smile, Homer introduced the queen to the king. The king rose welcoming the queen in Nubian and kissed her hands. She was given a red gemstone necklace and coral bracelet. He was displeased of her attire and ordered spare clothes to be given to her. Homer was given a blue cotton sash and new gray wool cloak. He gave his old cloak to Chloe as the twilight cooled the warm air. The elves fawned over Homer as the king guided them to their appointed quarters. A female elf entered the lodge with the spare clothing promised and helped Chloe change while amused at Homer looking at himself in the bronze mirror on the wall.

Homer ignored Chloe watching him put on his new sash and cloak. He casually said to the elf and Chloe staring at him that being on a ship for months with no privacy, one becomes accustomed to ignoring others as they groom themselves. He continued he gazing into the bronze mirror and slicked some oil on a table into his hair. Pinning on Homer’s old cloak unto Chloe, the female elf lead them to the evening meal. Musicians played during the feast of roasted deer, fruits, nuts, and roots. Dancers came out in animal masks to entertain the guests. One dancer held a spear pretending to hunt the animals. Then dancers came out waving their arms and stepping around in circles. Homer translated the dancing positions into words of a story of a woman losing her love into the sea and finding him in the netherworld after drowning herself in the sea. A male elf escorted the captain and queen to their sleeping room with willow branch beds. Homer lights a whale oil lamp and quickly changed clothes that were lain on his bed. He got out of his linen tunic and pants to place on a long fringed leather shirt highly decorated with beads and paint and a leather girdle to hold up plain fringed leather leggings. He picked up a staff with gourds, feathers, shells, and stones dangling from the top. He slipped on his new cloak and sash. Then puts on medallion necklaces over his neck. An elf with the same cloak and sash arrived at the door with a drum wearing a plain leather breechcloth and undecorated leather leggings underneath. Chloe appeared stunned he wore no tunic, but covered his face, chest, and arms in paint. Homer nodded as he placed on a beaded headband. He finally grabs a torch outside and lights it by the door. He announces he will back after a while and wished her a pleasant sleep. An elf comes by to paint Homer’s face before leading him into the forest.

All the elves together, they made sacred circle and a loud screech from a grove of trees announcing the beginning of the ceremony. Homer lights four candles on poles demonstrating the four cardial points. A drum began to beat and more screams echoed into the silent night to attract the night spirits to hear their prayers. Homer thanks the gods and goddesses for his victory. He asks their blessing for a safe journey home. The drum gets louder and the cloaked figures move in a circle holding each other’s torches. The drumbeat ceases. Homer jumps up onto a stump in the center and raises his staff. He stamps it on the stump to make it rattle. An elf came up to him burning incense in a small clay bowl. Homer then speaks to his fellow elves.

“If we shall die, we die with purpose. Never will we die as deer run off a cliff or rabbits waiting in the heather to be slaughtered. We refuse to be victims of injustice or sacrificial lambs crying for their mothers. If we die, we die as warriors.”

Homer raises his staff over his head and the elves cheer. He raises his voice to the elves cheers.

“Let them see our angry bows! Let them taste our burning rage! Let them know we never go quietly into the night to disappear forever under the sea! Make them hear our battle cries protecting our fellow mermaids! Make them tremble from our hatred! Hear me holy ones. Protect us as we go to war against anyone who dare annihilate us and our fellow mermaids! We can have peace with Nubia or we can have war with Nubia. We can never have both at the same time. To war! To victory!”

Loud screams waking the sleeping animals of the forest repeat themselves as they stomp their feet. The drum beat sounded again and the elves walk in a circle again. Homer walks up to the four candles swishing his staff in prayer and the drum beat sounded again. The elves then drop their cloaks on the ground and danced around the sacred circle waving their torches shrieking battle cries into the night. Homer remains on the stump clapping his hands and stomping his foot in rhythm with the rapid drumming. The dancing and hollering cease as the drum suddenly stops and the elves return to their circle formation. Homer takes out his knife and slashes at the air in the four directions. The elves place their cloaks back on and make their way back to the village. Homer takes a torch and strides back to the village. As he trips over a fallen tree branch, he discovers Chloe hiding behind a tree. He said nothing but grabbed her arm in haste. They walked back to their sleeping quarters.

“Why did you follow me? Did you not know I only allowed elves to come here because of the need of the sacred circle from the king? You violated our sacred ceremony and placed a curse upon our prayers. Only the holy ones know what will become of our prayers because a human saw us. I can hope it leads not to disaster since you did not enter the sacred circle or interrupt the prayers. Now go to sleep.” scolded Homer.

“I was curious as to where you were going. It was a most intriguing ceremony I ever seen. I could not help but watch.” replied Chloe and wept into her mattress.

“It will be alright,” Homer tried to comfort. “Burn some sage in the morning and ask for forgiveness should help alleviate any holy anger.”

In the morning, they return to the ship. The Elf king of Alastair bids farewells and burns incense to pray for their safe journey home. The Alastair elves accompany them following in their canoes. As they reach sight of the shoreline, the elf in front of Chloe and Homer began rowing erratically.

“Hey Fletcher, where did you learn to stroke?” called out Homer. “Rusty, wake him up.”

A red-headed elf smacked the back of Fletcher’s head. The elf looked down at his tiny strokes and turned around.

“There is something in the water,” Fletcher whispered.

“There’s always something in the water,” announced Homer.

“I mean a shark. I’m sure I saw a shark fin come up.” replied Fletcher.

Homer perked up to gaze at the horizon.

“It’s just a porpoise. Keep stroking.” assured Homer.

Fletcher seemed confident in his captain and continued digging deep in the water with his oar. Then suddenly, he drops it.

“Lose something, Fletcher?” declared Homer holding two oars.

“The shark just killed a porpoise, I see the blood in the water.” trembled Fletcher.

“Then it is best we move away from it. Hoardes of sharks will be coming now.” ordered Homer handing back the oar to Rusty dripping over Chloe.

“Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.” commanded Homer.

“Yes, captain, sir.” stammered Fletcher.

A shark rises near the canoes and an elf hits it with his oar. Stroking faster, the farewell party rushes ashore while the sharks chase each other to join the feast. Back on the ship, Homer orders to set sail. Fletcher offers to teach the young queen some elf words so she can communicate with them. Very few of them speak Nubian well enough to speak to her about anything. He tells the queen stories of his home in Ithaca. His grandparents left their Lotan elf village during a famine to seek their fortune in an Ithacan colony called Laurel. Soon his grandfather was sailing upon fishing boats and trading ships. He bought a house on the colony’s home island Ithaca from a merchant. His father expanded it when he got a partnership in a laundry and then became a member of the pottery guild. His mother was a human daughter of a vineyard land owner and their family owns two villas now. When they reach Ithaca in three days, he promised to take her to a cobbler to have shoes made for her wary of Homer listening in on their conversation. Amused at Chloe believing he was courteous and comforting for a savage, he soon found his ship emptier of treasure trading for supplies. Courteous Captain Homer thought the time was right to show this prissy queen his true nature as a pirate. They came across the Nubian island colony Ramis rich with a hundred mud brick houses and tile rooftops situated along seashell paved streets. Eying the wealth that must be held within, Homer failed to see a stronghold. A wooden watchtower peeked out of the trees along the beach. Here was a good target for pirates. Five ships headed for the village at ranking speed with sailors rowing the oars and the captains at the tiller. Closer, most of the crew jumped into their canoes to reach land as the large ships lowered anchors off shore. Each pirate had a knapsack to carry off treasure and a set of battle axes. From ships, volleys of arrows flew into the fishing town as Homer watched from his ship’s tiller. Chloe looked on in fear and repulsion of people falling to the ground and whacked with battle axes. Jack and Ilio went ashore to picked up any arrows as well as treasure. People ran from the city into the jungle. A few fishermen fired back at the pirates, but were overwhelmed at their numbers to be killed. Several housewives swatted with brooms at the pirates to protect their children too young to run away. They were also killed and crying children ignored. The pirates stormed the houses searching for loot and pulled up roots in gardens. Knapsacks full, the pirates set the houses on fire to return to the beach. Some pirates took captives along of people who failed to get out of reach and begged for mercy. One elderly fisherman, one mother with her baby, four maidens, three older boys, and one young girl. Captain Homer hung his head looking at his captives for not one could row an oar for long. One young man disagreed with Homer’s announcement that the maidens were useless for they could give much pleasure to the sailors. Homer nodded his head as he listened to the assertion of this sailor, then stabbed the eager man with his dagger. He removed the bleeding sailor’s weapons and tosses his boots aside for Chloe to wear. He then picked him up and tossed him overboard.

“Anyone else wish to be shark bait?” asked Homer to his men.

His men looked away shaking their heads moving about to set sail again. Homer next wiped off the dagger blood with his fingers and then wiped his hand on his tunic. Then he polished the dagger with his sleeve to slip it back into his belt. The anchor brought up and tiller shifted back out to sea, Homer continued allowing his men to gather seawater in buckets to fling at the captives in order to weigh them down and prevent quick escapes. Chloe inconsequentially got splashed and felt the coldness of the heavy water. Next he assigned the elderly fisherman, maidens, and older boys to the oars. The mother and little girl assigned to help Ilio and Jack. The infant was placed in a basket to sleep. Later, Fletcher was to watch the fisherman and have him help with the sails. Maidens were assigned to Gavin to repair sails and swab the decks. Older boys were assigned to Dusty to help with tacking and ropes. Night soon fell and Homer counted the worth of his newfound treasure to pay the crew. Chloe was shocked at his serenity during his raid and kept her distance. Homer brushed off her distress declaring he has been in many battles and raids to no longer suffer the upset she feels. She felt compassion for the slaves who keep getting whacked with sticks and whips just to remind them they are now slaves.