Part 13
And So It Begins
Iolaus hopped out of the rowboat and onto the sandy shore. "Which way to Serena's cave?" Helaine was a step behind him. Quickly surveying the beach, she nodded in an easterly direction.
"That way."
Theseus, stepping out of the boat, squinted towards the east. "Yeah, I see it. The way that outcropping of rock curves; there's a cave back there."
"Just a small one," the hind informed her companions, now all on the shore. "But it contains a passageway to a network of caves that my sisters have probably retreated to by now." She didn't waste another second. "We must hurry," Helaine took off to the cave, the sand flying behind her as her running feet kicked it up.
Jason, the unofficial and natural leader, placed a ready hand on his scabbard. "Be on the lookout," he said grimly. The others nodded. They didn't need Jason to remind them that there could be a handful of battle-scarred troops patrolling the area. Each keeping an eye out in different directions, Iolaus, Jason, Lilith and Theseus followed Helaine to the cave where Serena waited.
***
"Please, Uncle. I know my father has orders for us not to interfere, but the enemy has gone too far." Artemis gazed beseechingly at Poseidon. "Now he uses oceans in your domain as if they are is own. There are yours to do with what you will, by Zeus' own decree. Will he stop you from repelling an unwanted intruder from your territory?"
The mighty figure shifted on his magnificent, seaweed-encrusted throne. His niece did have a point, but…
Artemis took note of the torn tone to Poseidon's face. "If enough of us show opposition to what this foreign god is doing, will or can Zeus prevent us from taking action? It is not as if we are declaring war. We are only defending what is our own." Poseidon's shoulders sank with the weight of his decision. He had to agree with Artemis. All of Olympus was quite angered by the recent events. It was no secret that even almighty Zeus was perturbed, though his orders showed otherwise. Yet, no one could discern what went on in the head of the King of Olympus.
"Very well…I shall do what you request," Poseidon sighed. "But ask of me no further."
Artemis bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you uncle, thank you."
***
Nauticus smiled evilly to himself. The time drew near. The islands were in plain sight. Glancing at the huddle of three ships in the center of his fleet, Nauticus grinned again. The Corinthians, Balin included, were all on these few ships. They even worked the ships themselves, so Nauticus would lose none of the large crew he commanded. The seafaring man had followed his lord's orders precisely. Make sure the Grecians were contained alone on ships inside the fleet. He would take care of the rest. Nauticus could hardly wait to see what mighty Kal had up his sleeve.
A rumbling noise from beneath the deep waters broke Nauticus from his thoughts. "It begins," he muttered in glee, dashing to the side of his flagship to watch the spectacle about to unfold before him. The thunderous sound grew louder and louder; Nauticus' heartbeat increased along with it in anticipation. Terrified shouts could be heard from the ships designated to the Corinthian force. Just as it seemed like the deafening roar could grow no louder, it ceased. Nauticus' breath caught in his throat. What was going on?
An eerie silence settled about the rolling sea. "Too quiet…" Nauticus mumbled. There was no sound, only that of water lapping and splashing. "This close to shore, there ought to be the cry of seagulls." Nauticus peered over the edge of his ship, trying to find the source of this sudden change of events. He saw nothing. Nauticus straightened and began to relax. The frightened yelp of one of his own men spun Nauticus' body around in the next second.
A black tentacle shot out from the water. Then another, and another, until the powerful and twisting limbs of a cracken, agent of Poseidon, grabbed and ensnared each of the ships circling those holding the Corinthians. Only those ships remained free. Nauticus' heart leapt into his mouth when he heard his ship give way with a sickening crunch. The cracken's tentacles closed tighter around the ships it held, splitting them in two. Men screamed in fear and leapt, unawares, to their doom inside the cracken's mouth. The last thought on Nauticus' mind was a confused cry to his god before the world went black.