Prologue: The Barbarian Threat

King Kashekim leaned over his plans and rubbed his temples in ardent frustration. The barbarians of Greece had been giving the King more trouble than he had originally planned for. He had sent emissaries to parlay with the Greeks in hopes that they would join his peoples. Just yesterday only one, Throki, had returned with news that the Greeks wanted nothing to do with their Heathen Magics. The other emissaries had been hung before Throki's very eyes. The young emissary had wept on his knees in front of the King for the loss of his companions, of whom he had been among for almost two hundred years. Seeing this man's tears of anguish had caused the King to burst into a fit of outrage, throwing jars and chairs. He only sought to bring them into a unified empire to better the entire world. Instead they merely wished to remain in simplicity and folly. Why couldn't they see that? War. He had decided that day. It was the only choice; these barbarians were going to be a threat to his people if they would not join together with his people.

However, he was still slow to attack them. King Kashekim started when a firm hand rested on his shoulder.

"You have a hard choice, my husband. You must think though, is this really what is best for your people?" Queen Maralana stepped closer to her husband. "I fear these people, with their deceitful scheming. They are truly barbaric, and perhaps…it is best to leave them to their own devices and eventual ruin."

"Ah, my love, if only it were that simple. If we were to show them weakness by ignoring the great injustice that they did upon our emissaries, then we would open the door to any of those lowly peoples to attack us. No, we must act, and we must act now." King Kashekim Slammed a closed fist on the table top.

"Mah-tim?"

The Queen gasped and turned to the doorway, "Kida, why are you out of your bed?"

Kida stood in the doorway to the King's sitting room with a wide eyed look, "I heard Tahb-toap yelling…he sounded very angry."

"It is nothing, daughter," the queen soothed, "return to your bed, Kida."

The toddler slowly melted back into the shadows and back to her room dragging her doll behind her all the way.

When the Queen heard Kida shut her door, she turned back to her grim faced husband. "I wish that she could always be so naïve to things such as warfare."

The King frowned deepening the already profound lines in his aged face. The king was nearly ten thousand years old, just at the end of his prime, and it was beginning to show. "It pains me to think that one day; Kidagakash will have to bear my burden. I think that she will do her people proud though."

"I do not wish Kida, or any of the future ones of Atlantis to know the horrors of these barbarians in war. Perhaps you are right, husband. It is best for the people."

"You see eye to eye with me at last, my queen. I will send the Ketak fleet out tomorrow. Greece shall kneel before us or fall to its ruin in ashes."