Legends of Amacia Rise of the Caverias

As everyone merged on the portal chamber, Hanna went to her room to retrieve her belongings. When she got to her room, she received a little surprise. The Relic, Artifact, and the other ancient pieces they’d brought with them lay on top of her dresser with the crystal Cylinders. On the bed lay the Sword of Ezra Karac, the Scepter, along with a set of strange armor that had been tailored to her size: a female breastplate with back plate, a long shirt of the shimmering-mail armor same as she’d found in the armory inside Skull Pass, clasp-on arm and leg armor guards, and armored leather gauntlets. A long coat of chainmail with three-quarter sleeves lay next to the breastplate. All of the armor seemed to be made from the material same as that of the shimmering-mail armor coat. She looked at the armor, and then the sword, seeing it now had an elaborate scabbard and harness with a strange-looking draken emblem on it. Her eyebrows rose in interest as she then saw a strange leather coat with ties rather than buttons, belt with a draken buckle, and cloak lying there waiting for her. On the floor next to the bed sat a pair of long armored boots made of leather. A smile crossed her lips. “Someone’s been busy here,” she commented with a smile as she picked up the breastplate, finding it incredibly light. “My word; this thing is really light.” Sitting the breastplate down, Hanna set about putting on her armor and arming herself.

First, she changed into the armored boots that covered her legs almost to the knees. After lacing up the boots, she walked around in them to get the feel for the new shoes. “Oh, goodness, these are comfy. I didn’t think they’d be this comfortable.” Next, she donned the shimmering mail armor shirt, followed by the chainmail coat, which reached to her just above her knees. Then she put on the clasp-on arm and leg armor, followed by the breast and back plate. Once Hanna adjusted the fit of the breastplate, making sure it was comfortable, she slipped the coat on, which reached to her knees and tied it closed. Finally, she buckled the belt about her waist. With the armor in place, Hanna turned to the weapons. She grabbed her long curved dagger, hooking it on her belt on the right hip. Reaching out, Hanna took the scepter next, slinging it so the strap lay diagonal across her chest. Next, she slung Ezra’s Sword across her back because of its massive length, letting it cross the scepter as it hung there. Seeing the armored gauntlets, she slipped them on, finding they fit to her hands perfectly. She also noticed the gloves were missing their fingertips, allowing the ends of her fingers to show. Working her fingers in the gloves, a smile crossed her lips. “Nice,” she chimed softly. Lastly, Hanna donned the cloak. The fact that she didn’t feel bogged down by the equipment surprised her.

Checking closely to make sure she’d not forgotten anything, she saw a beautiful electronium-colored hair restraint resembling a tiara lay on the pillow. She picked it up and smiled. “What a beautiful hairpiece,” she murmured, putting it on to keep her hair out of her eyes while looking in the mirror. It framed her face and forehead, securing her hair firmly in place. After putting it on, she stared for a moment at her reflection. “Oh, my god,” she breathed, “I look like the Valkyries of old. I suddenly feel so powerful...like a warrior queen.” Caverias abruptly appeared behind her in her reflection with a smile on his face. He put a hand on Hanna’s shoulder as she said, “You are the reason I’m this way, aren’t you?” Caverias smirked and she turned from the mirror to leave when a thought entered her mind. She walked to the dresser and saw the Seal of Khitia lying amongst the ancient artifacts.

“Take the Seal of Khitia with you,” Caverias whispered in her ear. “You may need it.”

Hanna picked up the ancient Seal of Khitia and looked at it. It felt warm in her hand. A wry smile crossed her lips and Hanna hung the ancient artifact around her neck, hiding it under her shimmering armor shirt. “Time to go,” she muttered, heading to the portal chamber.

A few minutes later, Hanna entered the chamber to be greeted by the most dangerous looking group of people she’d ever encountered. Everyone was armored and heavily armed. She stopped and looked over the group, seeing Nathanael standing there with new set of customized armor. His executioner’s blade lay slung over his shoulder.

Next to Nathanael stood Electra wearing a shimmering mail dress that reached to her knees with a leather dress over it and a large belt around her waist with a caronadon buckle. She had clasp-on arm and leg guards. A cloak hung fastened around her neck. It draped about her frame like a shroud with the hood pulled back. Twin sabers with three-foot blades hung on her belt. Hanna couldn’t help but think of the elves of myth when she saw Electra. She was graceful and beautiful with a very dangerous air about her.

Hanna’s gaze fell on Emma next. She wore tailor-fitted armor breastplate with chain-mail sleeves. A plain leather skirt came out from underneath the breastplate and dropped to just below her knees. She too wore clasp-on arm and leg guards and at her side hung a long, elegant katana-type blade. Tied around her neck was a hooded cloak that seemed to swallow her. She had the hood down and she wore a strange hairpiece similar to the one Hanna had on that kept her hair out of her face, making her look very regal and dangerous. She had the look of a queen who was very capable of fighting in the garb she was wearing.

Hanna’s gaze then fell on Elle, who had the look of the ancient Valkyries. She was armored and dressed similarly to Emma with the only exception being that she had on a helmet with bird wings swept back on it. Hanna looked at her and saw the look of a predator in her eyes. She too had a cloak with the hood down. In her hand was a double bladed bow staff that was a good two feet taller than she was. Hanna smiled wryly at her and winked.

Shifting her gaze, Hanna beheld the Sons of Thunder: Andrew and Hunter. Of everyone present, they were the most fierce and dangerous-looking. Each was armored from head to toe. Andrew had a large shield slung over his back and at his side was an elegant broadsword that was nearly six feet in length and two inches wide. Hunter, on the other hand, stood with a great sword slung across his back and in his hand was the strangest weapon Hanna had ever seen. It appeared to be a spear eight feet in length with a hefty spear point on one end. On the other end was a massive circular blade that wrapped completely around the staff. The blade was nearly twenty inches across and looked capable of cleaving a man in half. The weapon impressed Hanna as she looked on to Kida and Enoch.

Kida was lightly armored and dressed in a similar manner to Emma and Elle with a leather skirt that came out from under her breastplate that was made especially for her. Arm and leg guards were in place and her cloak was fastened around her neck. At her side was a small oriental-type blade. On her back was a quiver of arrows and in her hand was a composite longbow nearly seven feet tall. Hanna looked at her and, just like her mother, thought of the elves in the fairy tales of the surface. Kida was so fair and beautiful, yet very dangerous like leopard or tiger.

Hanna then came to Enoch and saw a warrior king hardened by years of war. Armored from head to foot like everyone else, he gave the appearance of the kings of old. Two giant swords lay strapped to his back, partially uncovered by his cloak. Several daggers hung on his belt, which had a great golden draken belt buckle securing it. Nemesis stood beside Enoch with his huge arms folded across his massive chest, exhibiting an air of supreme confidence and raw colossal power. Elias, George, and Ben were armed with small blades but not armored. Elias had the remote control for the portal in his ear. He had already warmed up the portal machine.

When Hanna walked in, everyone looked in stunned silence at her as she looked over each member of her new team and family. Finally, Hunter managed to speak after Hanna had looked them over. “Would you look at that!” he breathed. “Hanna is a warrior Queen!”

Hanna turned back to him as she moved on into the chamber, saying, “And I must say that you all are the most dangerous-looking bunch of people I’ve ever seen. I think the Emperor is in serious trouble by the looks of what I’m seeing here.”

Enoch chuckled, saying, “The Emperor has no fear of us. You are one who is the threat to him. Now, we take it to him. The time for the talk is over. Let’s go get Selina and all those poor souls trapped in that dismal abyss.”

Hanna nodded as she walked up to Elias and asked, “Do you know where Acheron is?”

“Yes,” Elias replied. “The geography lesson from the Teacher was most helpful. Where do you want to go?”

“Open the portal on the east ridge outside the main gates,” Hanna stated. “It was where we opened it from Arionath, and where I landed after my escape. It’s one of the few places I didn’t forget in my convalescence.” Elias nodded and within seconds, the portal lay open to the same place.

At the self-same moment in Acheron, the guards on patrol saw a flash on the top of the mountain to the east and feared the worst. Word quickly spread that there was activity on the eastern flank. The guards and soldiers poured out of the city to the spot where the activity was. Argus took to circling when he noticed the flash. Seven guards reached the area first to see a glowing ball of fire growing larger by the minute. They set up a perimeter around the strange ball of fire and immediately noticed it was not giving off any heat. When the ball of fire had grown to twenty feet in diameter, twenty guards and soldiers had surrounded it back roughly forty feet from it. Among them were Magnus, Morrison, and Carver. Messengers quickly relayed the news to Joshua and Harry, and they rushed to the site with Amelia and the remainder of Hannibal’s team: Thomas, Sam, Jonathan, Ned, Cracko, and Arabella. “What in the world is that?” Morrison asked fearfully as the ball of fire seemed to pulse and dance almost hypnotically.

“I don’t know,” Magnus answered as the ball of fire suddenly flashed like the sun, briefly blinding all that were around, “I’ve never encountered anything like this before.”

By time the flash subsided, Joshua, Harry, Amelia, and the rest of Hannibal’s crew had arrived with reinforcements to the twenty guards that surrounded the ball of fire. They readied their weapons as the ball faded to a ring of scarlet energy that pulsed and circled a shimmering aperture through which shadowy forms could be seen. When the ring appeared out of the ball of fire, Harry immediately recognized it as a portal and declared loudly, “It’s a portal! Be ready. We do not know who or what is coming through!” By this time, fifty soldiers were in place.

Back in the Red Tower, Elias watched the crowd gather in the portal’s hologram. “You have a reception waiting and they don’t look too friendly,” he informed Hanna.

Hanna motioned for everyone to wait and she went to the hologram, immediately recognizing his friends, especially Harry in the images. Her heart burned within her at the joy of seeing her old friend again. “It’s all right. They are friends, Elias. They just didn’t expect me to come back this way. I think I’ll have a little fun with him,” she told Elias with a mischievous grin. Hanna turned and walked up to the portal and called through it to Harry.

“Harry Clint! What means this display of muscle? A little overkill, don’t you think, you ugly ape?” Hanna’s voice boomed through the portal. All those on the Acheron side of the portal saw were rippling figures and heard Hanna’s voice, which the portal strangely altered by the portal to where it sounded almost godlike in power and scope. Her voice echoed over the hills and the city and the people began to fear the worst.

When Harry heard the comment and the sarcastic nature of it, he rushed into the perimeter with his war hammer ready, stopping just ten feet in front of the portal. “You think I’ve overreacted here? Come on out and find out whether I have or not,” Harry roared back at the shimmering figure in the foreground of the portal.

“Still doing it the hard way, eh?” Hanna replied with a chuckle as she looked back at her new team and family with a grin. “Do you have any idea what you are facing? I don’t think you do. Besides, what do you do with that thing you’re carrying, crack walnuts with it? That’s just like an ape to crack nuts with an oversized hammer.”

Harry suddenly knew with whom he was speaking and returned forcefully, “Why don’t you come out and see, you cat-loving pussy.”

For a second, silence reigned between the two with only the howl of the wind breaking the silence. After nearly a minute of stony silence, Hanna broke out laughing. “You got me there, bud,” she crowed. “You win this round.” She motioned for the rest of her new family to wait and stepped through the looking glass to Acheron. When she stepped through, Harry didn’t recognize her initially because of her wardrobe. “My friend; It’s good to see you,” she said walking amiably toward Harry. Harry stood ready with his great hammer and a terrible scowl on his face as Hanna stopped five feet from him. Gasps of astonishment and amazement ran through the crowd of soldiers.

Harry glared at Hanna as she smiled warmly at him. They locked eyes in a staring contest with Hanna smiling pleasantly while Harry looked ready to kill. After several moments of it, Harry’s concentration broke and he began to smirk slightly. Moments later, he lowered the hammer and laughed heartily, “Hanna...you old she-goat; how the fuck did you get a working portal?”

Hanna put her finger to her mouth and whispered humorously, “Shhh. It’s an ancient Chinese secret!”

Harry dropped the hammer and they bear hugged each other, laughing. Without warning, Hanna kissed Harry full on the mouth. “Oh, god, I’ve missed your face,” Hanna beamed after the kiss.

“Whoa,” Harry replied, “Where did that come from?”

“Can’t a girl express her delight at seeing her best friend again?” Hanna returned pleasantly. She sighed deeply and admitted, “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“Well, so am I,” Harry replied, feeling attracted to Hanna after the kiss. “But I noticed you’re still a woman; a very hot tamale if I might say so with that outfit you’re wearing.”

“Why thank you, Harry,” Hanna chimed, kissing Harry on the cheek briefly. “What a nice thing to say. I feel like a hot tamale too. But what’s with the hostile reception? You know that the Emperor doesn’t have a working portal generator.”

“We were just being careful,” Harry admitted, “Much has happened since you left and not all of it good. Besides, you had us going there for a minute. The portal altered your voice. We didn’t recognize you.”

Hanna patted Harry on the shoulder in a friendly manner saying, “Is that so? I’m sorry if we caused you any undue alarm.” By then, Joshua came forward with Amelia, Magnus, and Hannibal’s team.

Joshua stepped up and said, “It’s good to see you alive, little sister. We’ve missed you terribly. By the way, that’s a stunning outfit. It suits you.”

Hanna hugged Joshua, saying, “Thanks Joshua. I’ve missed all of you too.”

Amelia stepped up as Joshua backed away to give her space. Arabella came from the other side. Amelia stopped in front of Hanna and looked deep into her eyes as she grinned pleasantly. She could tell that Amelia was breaking emotionally and opened her arms to Amelia. As tears welled up in her eyes, Amelia fondly embraced Hanna, saying, “You were sorely missed here, little sister. Much has happened in your absence.”

Hanna hugged her gently for a moment, saying, “I know, my sweet princess of Hyperborea. But I have returned as I said I would.”

“Were you successful?” Amelia asked

Arabella threw her arms around Hanna, crying joyously, “Oh, thank the Lord; you’ve come back. My friend has returned and not a moment too soon!”

Hannibal hugged her briefly, and then asked in a serious tone, “What do you mean? Something bad has happened, hasn’t it?”

Arabella was in tears as she cried, “They came! The black-shrouded flying monster assassins of the Emperor and they took Nicodemus! The Xenian was the only one capable standing against them!”

Hanna’s gaze snapped to Joshua who nodded, and then to Harry, who by his expression told the story. Hanna sighed and put a sisterly arm around Arabella, saying, “I thought as much. Such is why I have returned now.” Turning to Joshua and Amelia, Hanna said, “Thanks to Argus, we were successful in our quest and we now have powerful new friends and allies.” Then to the crowd of soldiers, she called out, “Put your swords away! The portal is under my control, brothers. We have found powerful allies in the fabled lands of Antilla and they have decided to join us in our struggle against the Emperor. Do not fear them for they are my blood and kin.”

A murmur arose in the crowd of warriors as Hanna turned to the portal and waved, calling out, “It’s all right to show yourselves now. Come on through.” Joshua stood next to Hanna with Harry as they watched the figures move toward the aperture of the portal. Enoch and Kida stepped through first, followed by Nathanael and Electra. Emma and Elle came through next with the Sons of Thunder – Andrew and Hunter following close behind them. Nemesis and Elias brought up the rear. George and Ben remained behind in the portal chamber.

The people of Arionath suddenly found themselves face to face with a family of giants, which included two Lynxian women and two giant half-breed men that resembled giant elves. They were flabbergasted at the sheer enormous proportions of the giants, who emanated raw terrible power. Nemesis stayed in the background, hiding among the giant family members, knowing that the people may misconstrue his presence as a hostile act on the Emperor’s part. In fact, the giant family had made a perimeter around him, but because of their sheer size, no one except Hanna and Harry dared to approach them.

“My friends,” Hanna called out to everyone. “Allow me to introduce Enoch and Kida Caverias. They are real and no myth. Enoch here is the direct descendant of Thoth Caverias and Ariel and by some strange quirk of fate, literally my kin. Kida here is wife to Enoch and twin sister to my own precious Selina.” A rumble of astonishment and gasps run through the crowd as Hanna continued, saying, “You all, of course, know Nathanael. Nathanael, could you and Electra step forward please?” They did and Hanna announced to all, “For over two hundred and fifty cycles of this planet has Nathanael been robbed of his family, save Selina. Now, they have been found. Behold...the great Lynxian wife of Nathanael, Electra.” Hanna coaxed her forward by the hand and said for all to hear, “She’s the mother of Selina and Kida, and is a highly disciplined and powerful telepath. She’s also my friend and mentor.” Hanna smiled at Electra and patted her hand as she let Electra return to the side of Nathanael. “Now for the strange ones, the Sons of Thunder – Andrew and Hunter; they are the sons of Enoch and Kida and it shows well on them. They have the build and power of Enoch mixed wisely with the grace and beauty of Kida. They are mighty men of valor and have sworn an oath to fight with us.”

Hanna looked to Andrew and Hunter as she spoke. Hunter raised his great weapon in salute, saying with a loud strong voice, “That we have, little sister. We have come to stand with you!”

Of all the giants they saw, they feared the Sons of Thunder the most because of their godlike build and beauty. Hanna then went to Emma and Elle and drew them forward by the hands, introducing them. “These two Valkyries here are Emma and Elle,” she announced, drawing them in front so all could see them. The crowd gasped in awe at their sheer beauty, even in the warrior’s garb they were dressed in. Emma and Elle looked on silently with tight smiles on their lips as Hanna stated, “Emma is the sister of Enoch and Elle is an Ilmarinen, the last of her kind that we know of.”

Amelia gasped as she saw Elle, and pushed forward out of the crowd in disbelief, stopping just a few feet away from the giant Elle. Hanna saw Amelia’s reaction and paused as they confronted one another. Elle looked Amelia in the face and a puzzled, astonished look crossed her face. “I know you, sister,” Elle declared. “I know your face though it has been many, many cycles since I’ve seen you.”

Amelia stood there, literally trembling from head to toe saying, “This cannot be! I saw you fall!”

Suddenly, the puzzlement left Elle’s face as she remembered. She planted her bladed bo-staff firmly in the ground and stepped forward. “The daughter of Odin; I thought you lost too!” They came together and hugged each other warmly. “Oh, glorious day that we should be reunited, Sister Amelia,” Elle cried happily.

Hanna looked at the two with a smile as they stood together like the best of friends that hadn’t seen each other in many years. “You know each other?” Hanna asked with a deep sense of satisfaction that something unexpected, but pleasant came out of them coming to Acheron.

Amelia looked up at the giantess and said, “Oh, yes. It has been a very long time since we have seen each other.”

Hanna nodded pleasantly, saying, “I hope to hear the story sometime, if it pleases you.”

Amelia looked at Elle and they both looked on Hanna. “That we can do,” Elle said as Emma came over and stood next to Elle and Amelia.

“Now for the last two allies of our troupe; Elias, Nemesis, come forward and show yourselves to the people,” she called out.

Elias stepped forward but Nemesis hesitated. Hanna saw the hesitation and ignore it for the moment as she said, “May I introduce Elias Caverias, brother to Enoch and Emma. It is Elias who will run the portal machinery for me in our grand rescue of the remnant of Amacia.” The crowd murmured, as by now, the multitude numbered over three hundred. Word had passed into the city that Hanna had returned with a group of legendary giants and the people were coming out to see.

Hanna paused for a moment as she searched the murmuring crowd, seeing Magnus just outside the perimeter that the soldiers had formed around them. He was standing there with Hannibal’s original team. “Ah, Magnus, my friend; I have brought someone you may know,” Hanna stated pleasantly. Magnus’ expression raised a bit as Hanna spoke to the crowd, saying, “You have heard me speak of the most unlikely allies within the very City of the Damned helping me escape. Well, one of those allies has sought me out in Antilla without knowing I was there. I bid you to fear him not and leave your swords in their place for he too is a Xenian prototype, like Magnus. Nemesis, come out and show yourself. I know you have been hiding in the background because you fear that the people may take you presence wrong. You are under my protection here so come forward and show them the face of my salvation in the City of the Damned.” These words utterly surprised Nemesis because Hanna had done what no man or woman in many years could. She saw into his mind.

With a low rumbling growl, Nemesis said, “I fear neither god, man, nor beast, little sister.” He lumbered forward with the poise of a great king and stood next to Hanna, who looked like a child next to a parent.

“Behold the face of my deliverer in the dungeons of the Black Fortress,” Hanna called out in stark clarity. “Behold the terrible and powerful Nemesis who has been able to hide his intentions from the Emperor himself!”

Cries of shock and terror raced through the crowd as, despite of Hanna’s warning not draw swords, they were drawn. Nemesis was such a sight of terrible, brutal power that even Joshua drew his blade and Harry backed away in terror, taking his hammer and readying it. “Please...my friends, my brothers and sisters; I admonish you to not fear and keep your swords in their place,” Hanna urged as he saw the reaction. “Nemesis is our ally in the belly of the beast. He’s the leader of the resistance within the very walls and halls of the Emperor and was responsible for Magnus rescuing me from the Arena. So I plead with you, put away your swords.”

When Nemesis stepped forward, Magnus’ expression rose dramatically, driving him forward. In seconds, the two titanic Xenians stood face to face. They looked at each other for what seemed an eternity, and then with cry of delight, they hugged and shook hands. “Excellent job, Magnus,” Nemesis said, apparently pleased with the job Magnus had done. “You have gotten our little sister to safety and are now accepted by the people as friend.”

“Yes, my friend,” Magnus replied. “But it was a hard fight to win their acceptance. It took me tangling with the Rakshasar to prove it, though I was unable to prevent them from carrying Nicodemus off to the Emperor. They were scouts, looking for Hanna and our position. Nicodemus must have been a secondary order for they spent most of their time searching for Hanna.”

Nemesis’ face soured and he growled, “The Dark Riders were here?” Hanna paid close attention as they talked, as did Enoch and Kida.

“They swooped in out of nowhere nearly thirty-six hours ago riding on weracks. I was the only one who could stand before them. They killed nearly fifty in their raid. I know they’ll be back with reinforcements,” Magnus stated bluntly.

Nemesis seethed with hatred for the Rakshasar and the Emperor and let everyone know it. “The Emperor will rue the day he took Nicodemus!” he bellowed furiously. “If it the last thing I ever do, I’ll have that demon sorcerer Ahriaman on a spit roasting over hot coals!” By now, it became clear as crystal to everyone present where Nemesis stood in relation to the Emperor. “The Emperor will pay dearly for this evil!” he roared. “I swear it by the Ancient of Days!”

Hanna spoke up, saying, “That he will. But for now, great bear, reign in your rage for I have a job for you if you wish to take it.”

Nemesis calmed himself and said, “Of course, great one; whatever you ask.”

“I want you to return to the Black Fortress and spread the word that we are coming,” Hanna declared. “Let it echo like a ghost through the corridors. I want the Emperor to squirm, not knowing when I may come. Get word to the people who wish to leave that we are coming. Then find my wife and encourage her. Remember, we have the covenant. On your and my blood, you said you would watch out for her. I hold you to your vow, my friend. Make sure the wizard Ahriaman does not push her beyond her limits. Also, find Nicodemus and if possible, liberate him from the hands of the Emperor and Ahriaman for I fear that the Emperor may turn him over to Ahriaman for his demise. Try to find him if possible. He’s the Lord’s prophet in this land. Also, look into those other matters we discussed earlier. Josephine must be free as well all those who are being tormented in that hell.”

Nemesis looked down grimly, saying, “All of what you ask will be done for it was already in my heart to do it. Selina will be ready for you, as will the people. As for Nicodemus, he is my friend. I’ll find him, whatever it takes and bring him out no matter what disposition he is in for I will not leave that beloved holy man in that black abyss.”

Hanna grabbed Nemesis’ organic forearm and looked deep into his eyes, saying, “I know you will, my friend. Go with the blessing of the Almighty Ancient of Days. Do you remember where we parted in the dungeons?” Nemesis nodded and Hanna said, “Await my coming there on the dawning of the third day for in three days will we swoop in and spirit away the Lord’s people like a caronadon that carries away its prey. We will strike into the very heart of the Emperor’s domain for that’s where he is the weakest. His power and arrogance has left him vulnerable inside his very house. He believes that no one would dare hit him in his own house, and that’s where we’ll strike, into the very heart of that darkness. That’s what I learned in the pits of Amacia. The light of the Lord will pierce that darkness and cleave it in two. I will float right into his very presence, reverse his handiwork in me, and steal away that which he has set his black heart on and treasures the most: my beloved wife and soul mate. I will steal his queen away right from under his very nose! Spread the word, my friend. Let it ring in the halls and streets of Amacia, from the lowest dungeons to the highest tower. The end is here, and anyone who does not wish to be consumed in the iniquity of the City of the Damned had better leave and leave quickly. Before this is finished, the prophecies will be fulfilled to the letter and the city of Amacia will be burned to the ground with the wrath of the Almighty Ancient of Days and buried forever! He will come down as in the days of the 1st Age and take vengeance on the Emperor for his evil.” By now, the Holy Spirit had taken Hanna with her face shining and her voice echoing supernaturally over the mountainside. Everyone present without exception, including Nemesis, was awestruck by the display. “Go my friend!” Hanna continued. “And prepare the way. Gather the people and tell them that we are coming, but do not let them know when. Our arrival in three days is for your ears and only those whom you deem are worthy to receive such a treasure. Do not say anything about how we will come or where we will show up. This is a military operation and the element of surprise is essential.”

Nemesis looked at Hanna with new admiration and respect. Hanna was literally acting as a queen and prophetess rolled into one. He smiled, saying, “As the Ancient of Days and you will, my Queen.” He then turned to the crowd and bellowed in a loud voice, “Is there any among you who now doesn’t believe this mutated woman is the great promised warrior of the Prophecies? Do any of you doubt she is the Last Caverias, rightful heir to the throne of Amacia? Surely the days of the Emperor are waning into the twilight of oblivion.” Then Nemesis did something he had never done in his whole and very long life: he dropped to one knee and gave homage to Hanna as Queen. This move surprised Magnus and he too dropped on one knee as Nemesis said looking directly into Hanna’s face, “Hail to thee, Hanna, rightful Queen of Amacia!”

This move took Hanna by utter surprise for she figured that Nemesis would never bow to any man, woman, or god for that matter. The next thing she knew Enoch and his entire family settled on one knee, showing their respect. Nathanael knelt down too. Hanna looked behind him at the crowd that had grown to nearly two thousand and saw first the soldiers bow, including Joshua, Amelia, Carver, and her own original team. The people dropped to one knee in an immense wave that spread over the mountainside. The action smote Hanna’s heart and tears came to her eyes for this she never wanted, but was given it regardless. It humbled her greatly, and Nemesis said, “Look, your majesty; your people. Look how they love you.”

Hanna shook her head, saying, “No, my friend...not my people. They’re the Lord’s people and they should not bow to me. They should be bowing to Him and loving Him, not me.”

“But look at them,” Magnus replied. “It’s like your book says. They are sheep and the God whom you are a servant of has made you their shepherd. They’re weak and look to you as a source of strength and protection.”

Hanna once again shook her head, saying, “It’s the Lord they should look to for strength and protection. I’m but an extension of His power. None of this I have done in my own strength. A king or queen never did I want to be.”

“But you must admit,” Kida chimed as she knelt before Hanna. “You’re the very hand of the great Ancient of Days in this place. You cannot deny it. You yourself said so not just a few hours ago. Why would the hand resist that which moves it?”

Nathanael then jumped in, saying, “She’s right, Hanna. You cannot turn from the course now. You’re set on this path, and there’s no turning back. For this purpose, you were created and brought into being. God is driving you as you would drive a vehicle. He has set unearthly power at your fingertips...a power that drives and consumes you. Why do you resist it? Why do you resist what you see here? In the Kingdom of Heaven, which the Bible speaks so vividly about, His chosen people are going to be priests and kings to Him to rule over all the Earth with Him. Why do you resist the very power of God that has set you as a queen over these people? Embrace it, and rule wisely as a queen should. Believe it or not, this is your birthright. You are the direct descendant of Thoth Caverias, who had his kingdom wrought from his hand by the treacherous Black Prince in the guise of the Emperor. The Lord is righting a terrible wrong inflicted many ages ago. Vengeance is His and you are the Sword in His hand to make things right. Do you not remember the patterns of the scriptures? Whenever the Lord had to punish a country or people, he generally used men and women to do it. There was only two exceptions that I know of: the burning to ashes of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Deluge. But look at the unique place you find yourself: a great weapon hardened in the furnace of affliction that had been heated seven times hotter than ever before; a great sword in His mighty hand. Does the mountain bow to the wind or the other way around? No. The mountain does not bow to the wind. You, my friend, are the wind and the Lord is the mountain. Yet look at what wind can do. It is capable of great destruction or of great good. A tempest can destroy utterly, but a gentle breeze is pleasant and good. It clears the air and dries the ground so it can bring forth. Accept what has happened here and rule with wisdom and righteousness, my queen.”

Nathanael’s words smote Hanna’s heart again for she knew he was speaking the truth. She was indeed resisting the spirit of God and the great task of being a monarch, which the Lord Himself had ordained for her since before the foundations of the world. “Oh, truth of truths!” Hanna cried miserably. “I repent in sackcloth and ashes!” She dropped to her knees and wept bitterly. “I have been resisting the Holy God and His will by refusing this responsibility!” She wept bitterly, looking up at the strange sky of the caverns and cried out, “If it be thy will for me to be ruler of these people Lord, give me a sign so that I may know!”

The Holy Spirit immediately scolded her, whispering in her ear, “Oh, thou of little faith, still thou does not believe what I would do for you after all that I have done for you? Look to the south and doubt no more.”

Hanna turned, still on her knees and looked to the south. For a moment, there was nothing to see but the mountains stretching into the distance with the Draken’s Teeth rising like a wall beyond them. She slowly rose while looked south and when she did, so did everyone else. Suddenly, Hanna saw a pure white spot on the horizon that seemed to dance and meander around. Slowly, it grew in size until it became plain it was a giant bird. Then Hanna abruptly realized it was closing on them with great speed, so fast in fact that in a matter of minutes it was closing noticeably on them. Hanna stared in wonder at the great white bird. The crowd began to rumble with awe at the magnificent bird, which appeared to be an albino caronadon bigger than any anyone had ever encountered before. Even Amelia, Elle, Enoch, and Nemesis were awed by the magnificence of the giant caronadon as it glided effortlessly toward them like a ghost.

The White Caronadon was bigger than Argus with a giant wingspan of more than sixty-five feet. It spanned thirty feet from the tip of its beak to the very end of its great tail feathers. It had talons big enough to carry off a full-grown bison. A shriek rang out as it approached, and with it still a quarter of a mile distant, Hanna could see all the detail of the regal bird. The only color it had on it was a crown of gold feathers on its head and a scarlet spot on its snowy white breast that was the size of a basketball. Its head was similar a giant eagle’s head. It circled the mountain at a quarter of a mile, slowly going round and round as if it were floating on a thermal. With each subsequent pass, its altitude diminished until it was a mere one hundred fifty feet over the heads of everyone. Its presences seemed to mesmerize everyone as it slowly floated over the heads like a ghost, occasionally flapping its great wings to maintain its altitude. It chirped and called out in a strange way that was almost musical.

Nemesis looked at the bird with great wonder and said, “Upon my word; a Roc! This is truly an omen of good fortune. Rocs haven’t been seen since before the Kragonar.”

Hanna ignored the words has she stared at the bird, seemingly entranced by its dazzling magnificence. Its feathers were the purest white, so pure that it would leave spots in the eyes like one would see if they caught sight of a welder without the proper shielding or looking too long at a light. It chirped musically then turned and headed directly for Hanna, coming in as if it were going to scoop her up. But it leveled off at thirty feet off the ground as it passed over top of Hanna, opening one of its talons, dropping what appeared to be an ordinary stone about the size of a small baseball. Its sheer bulk and speed generated a brisk wind as it passed overhead. After dropping the item, the Roc flew away as quickly as it arrived. Hanna caught the strange little item out of the air and looked at it closely. To her surprise, it was a container with etchings exactly like that on the Relic. The etchings were dull and faded with time. In seconds, she figured out that it was a container and had opened it by instinct.

Nemesis, Enoch, Magnus, Kida, Emma, Elle, Harry, Amelia, and Joshua gathered around Hanna as she opened the strange spherical container. “How did you know how to get it open?” Harry asked as Hanna cracked it open.

“I have no idea,” Hanna said plainly with just a hint of distress in her voice. She slowly opened the sphere and inside the sphere were two items: a ring that looked like a signet and a strange locket. She went for the locket first. It was hauntingly beautiful made of crystal and a beautiful, yet unknown metal that resembled gold, but it was so pure and fine that it seemed to swirl and move like liquid yet it was solid as a rock. On the face of the locket lay an etching of the Roc inlayed with crystal in the most intricate and delicate of detail. The back of the locket had strange writing carved on it that resembled a variation or combination of the Stone Language and Atlantean. Hanna held it in her hand as she handed the open sphere to Harry. The locket had a beautiful chain made of the same gold-like metal. She examined it with great fascination and interests, ignoring the crowd as they spoke and talked quietly to each other about what had just happened. Hanna felt the locket and every nook and cranny of its exquisite form, having the distinct feeling that this piece of remote antiquity belonged to her somehow. In seconds, she opened and found inside the locket a strange holographic picture of Thoth Caverias, Ariel, three boys, and four girls...obviously their offspring. It was a family portrait. The image smote Hanna to her heart and a tear welled up in her eye. Suddenly, she saw an inscription on the inside of the locket’s cover written in the most elegant and pure form of the Stone Language she’d ever seen. Her complexion paled significantly.

Harry saw her reaction touched her on the arm, asking, “What is it?”

Hanna choked with emotion as she showed it to Harry, who was speechless at an image showing what appeared to be Hannibal and Selina with a large family. “It says, ‘To my precious and darling Cleo, from Ariel and Thoth. May the Ancient of Days protect you in these evil days,’” Hanna said, slowly closing the locket, and then closing her fist around it. “This is it...the proof of my heritage,” Hanna stated softly, choking with emotion. Suddenly, she reached into the sphere, removed the ring, and examined it with as much intensity as the locket. All the while, the crowd remained quiet, giving her respect and time to discover her destiny and embrace it.

Hanna examined the ring with the intensity of a jeweler. It was made of the same material as the locket. Almost immediately, she concluded that the ring really was the signet ring of the great Thoth Caverias himself. Upon the top of the ring was the crystal engraving of the Roc, which had delivered the items. She turned it repeatedly, finding some writing on the inside of the band. She squinted at it, reading it, and suddenly went pale as if she’d seen a ghost. Her reaction concerned everyone around her.

“What’s wrong?” Enoch asked, coming closer to see the ring up close. Hanna was without words. She couldn’t speak so she handed the ring to Enoch and pointed to the engraving inside the band. Enoch looked at it closely and his expression exploded with surprise.

Kida saw his reaction and asked, “What is it that causes this reaction in you both?”

Enoch turned to Kida and said so that everyone within earshot could hear, “It says ‘To my brave Beowulf: son and guardian of our future whom shall rule in my stead in the end of days. Thoth Caverias, King of Amacia.’ As I remember, his firstborn was named Beowulf. No wonder Hanna reacted the way she did for a great portion of her life, she has been known as Beowulf! But even more, it points to Beowulf being alive in the end of days. Thoth knew about Hanna and apparently had this ring made for her! This is beyond a coincidence. The Roc is our family crest and it came to her to deliver these two items. No, this is not a coincidence. She asked for the sign and here it is. Hanna Smith, alias Beowulf to her enemies, is the rightful heir to the throne of Amacia. It’s beyond all doubt now. She is the Last Caverias. Her destiny is now set in motion.” Enoch gently grabbed Hanna’s hand and placed the signet on her finger, saying, “This ring belongs on your finger, little sister; and the Locket belongs around your neck. It is a fitting gift for your most precious wife. Understand this, Hanna. The Roc does not appear for just anyone. Only the firstborn and heir to Thoth can summon the Roc. He came to you and you alone with the proof you asked for, most likely at the command of the Almighty Ancient of Days to prove to you what you really were born to be: the ruler of Amacia.” Enoch pulled his sword and raised it in salute saying, “Hail to the Queen.” Within seconds, every sword and weapon was raised in salute with a thundering chorus of hails. This finally galvanized Hanna as she finally accepted what her position was to be.

“All right then. Knock it off,” Hanna said bluntly, a bit irritated by the fact her friends literally dragged her kicking and screaming onto the throne. “If I am to be queen or king, then this shall be my first command. No one is to kneel to me. I will not have homage that the Lord deserves given to me. He’s the one who should be bowed to. A simple acknowledgment of me will suffice. Secondly, because of what we’re up to our eyeballs in, I must insist that you follow my orders to the letter. It may very well be the difference between life and gruesome, horrible death. I need no crown, nor want one. Just do as I say and we’ll be good. Is that clear?” Everyone answered in the affirmative immediately around her and a roar and cheer from the crowd said the same thing.

“All right then. Let’s get to it,” Hanna said plainly. “Elias, have George and Ben found the little communicators yet?”

Just as he spoke, Ben rushed through the portal with four small devices in his hands. He panted as he ran up, saying, “I finally found them. Here you go, Hanna.” He handed them over to Hanna after she hung the locket around her neck.

“Good. Good. Thank you, Ben,” Hanna replied. “This will simplify things greatly. Elias, you will be able to track us with the portal when we carry these communicators. It’ll be like a beacon for the portal generator to home in on. That way, we can get you to open the portal whenever and wherever we need it. These will be especially handy while we’re in Amacia. You take one and keep it with you at all times. I will keep one and Nemesis will get one so we can home in on his position when the time is right.” She handed one communicator to Elias, and then one to Nemesis. “Speaking of which, are you ready to go back there, my friend?” she asked.

Nemesis nodded. “Be careful not to lose the communicator or let anyone see it,” Hanna warned Nemesis.

“Never fear, little sister. I can link this device into my cybernetics and no one will be the wiser,” Nemesis replied with confidence. With that, he took the communicator in his organic hand and put it on his mechanized arm. The cybernetic arm seemed to become liquid and absorbed the communicator, completely camouflaging it. “There, now only I know where it is and can access it at any time,” he explained. “It’s completely fused and linked with my systems.”

“Good, good,” Hanna returned with satisfaction, turning to address Elias. “Send him back to wherever he wants. But be careful, the Emperor is sly and may be watching.”

Elias nodded and walked back into the portal chamber. Nemesis started walking but suddenly stopped. Turning to Hanna, he said, “I just had a crazy notion.”

Hanna looked at him in a questioning way asking, “Yes?”

“Could we try to use the portal to reach her?” Nemesis queried.

Hanna sighed, seeing the potential benefits of such a try, but also seeing the potential for disastrous failure in the attempt. “Do you know exactly where she is?” she asked, “Because for pinpoint portal openings, you need to know exactly where it is. If Ahriaman is involved, he may have found a way to shield the fortress, or at least parts of it. But if you can, do it, just be very, very careful. If they find out we have the portal, Antilla could be compromised, and we can’t have that.”

Nemesis though for a minute, then said, “I suspect your right. The Emperor will probably have such a place shielded from such machines. But we’ll try anyway.”

Hanna smiled a little, saying, “Good luck...old friend. Oh, and tell Elias that we’ll be in touch.”

Nemesis nodded and walked into the portal chamber, after which the portal disappeared into thin air with a pop and a hiss, leaving no trace that it had ever been there. Turning to Joshua, she said, “Come, let’s get something to eat and talk. I’m sure there is much to discuss.”

Joshua nodded, saying, “That there is, Hanna. Come.” The crowd parted and Joshua led them through the crowd toward the city.