Phobos flinched time and again when he heard the prince's cries. He had been unable to help himself and had taken him to his heart during the long hours he had carried him here to this breathtaking city. The young ray had tried everything to distract the sea boy from his pain and had therefore talked to him incessantly. Of course, due to the other's poor condition, it had remained mostly a monologue, but every now and then he had actually even been able to make him laugh slightly.
He had settled down in a reef a little outside the city and waited. He hoped to stay here in this wonderful place, but he was aware that this would probably only be tolerated if the sea people he had been dealing with for the last few hours put in a good word for him. He had often heard stories about Atlantica, but what he saw here put even the most detailed of these tales in the shade. The city was bubbling over with life. As colourful and varied as the accommodations were, as numerous and diverse were the inhabitants. He was sure that he too could find a place here, if only he was given the chance. Phobos reminded himself not to dream too much of a future in this paradise. After all, he was a ray, a messenger of disaster. Not a welcome inhabitant of the sea and certainly no company for a sea prince. He had to be honest with himself and not get his hopes up. Saddened, he let himself sink to the bottom of the sea and stirred up the sand underneath him until it disappeared in a cloud. However, he did not take his eyes off the palace for a second, even under his blanket of sand.
A whole group of worried family members had gathered outside the prince's rooms over the course of the treatment, hoping that now that the doctor had taken his leave, they would finally be allowed to check on Ares in person. Orpheus had come out with the doctor and now looked over the worried faces of his sisters-in-law, as well as those of his father-in-law and father. Among the adults, a young mermaid had also crept in, who, although not in blood, had always belonged to the family in spirit. He had expected nothing less from her and could understand only too well that she was worried about her childhood friend. Still, she would have to wait for the time being. Ares needed rest. After this ordeal of medical treatment more than ever, but he at least wanted to allow the grandfathers to check on him briefly.
Triton and Augustus didn't need to be told twice and immediately swam after Orpheus when he indicated that they should follow him.
"Ares," came as if from one mouth as the two grandfathers settled down at their grandson's bedside.
"Gramps... Pappou," Ares greeted them both, his voice unable to hide how weakened he was from the previous events.
Both mermen smiled graciously at their grandson. If there was anything that united the two kings and made them forget their competition for a moment, it was certainly Ares.
"How do you feel, Ares," Triton asked as he gently stroked his head.
"Like I've been caught in a maelstrom," Ares replied exhaustedly, exhaling deeply.
"You'll be fine, I'm sure," his maternal grandfather encouraged him, giving him an uplifting smile.
"I am so proud of you, Ares. You really were extraordinarily brave. Now you look like a true war hero. Everyone who comes face to face with you will know what a brave crown prince they have. These scars are a credit to your strong name, wear them with pride. You will one day become a powerful and respected ruler. Such experiences strengthen and steel the character of a merman. Even these barbaric Sharkanians will submit to you, I am sure of it," Augustus announced his view of things, instantly drawing his son's anger. Attina and Triton exchanged a meaningful look.
"How can you say such nonsense in such a situation, father? Scars are not what make a ruler someone to be respected. It is deeds that make a good and just king!" he vented his horror at his father's words, but was bid to silence by Attina's laid hand. He would be able to argue with his father later about their differing views, but not now, not here in front of their son. The fact that he allowed his wife to restrain him in this way earned him only a contemptuous snort from his father, who did not in the least realise that he had just made a misstep. Augustus was and remained a stubborn and narrow-minded man with a world view that was inexplicable to Orpheus. Ares, however, loved both of his grandfathers equally, it had never occurred to him to differentiate between them and as much as Orpheus denied his father's attitude, he had always been careful not to influence Ares in this respect. He did not want to instruct his son to show Augustus less respect than Triton. He would not, however, allow his father to interfere with his education by putting such nonsense into his son's head as he had just uttered.
"Father, a word," he therefore asked Augustus out with him, considering Attina's admonishing look. Displeased, the Olympian king obeyed his son's summons. Triton and his daughter stayed with Ares for a short while until he had sunk back into the land of dreams and then followed them out.
Even from a distance they could hear the angry voices of the two Olympians echoing through the corridors of the palace. Father and son were having a heated discussion inside the throne room, not giving a damn what the others present thought about it.
"You can't just put stupid things like that into his head! You are undermining my education! Get back to Olympia where you belong!" clamoured Orpheus just at the moment Attina swam through the great portal.
"Orpheus, you can't speak to your father like that," she was indignant at her husband's outburst.
"I can very well and I will continue to if he doesn't stop spouting such nonsense," he justified himself to her.
"But...", Attina continued.
"Stay out of it Attina, this is between him and me!", Orpheus interrupted her and silenced her.
"Well, well, can you stand up to your wife after all? It seemed to me that she had you under her thumb ever since you first met. There are even rumours in Olympia that she has robbed you of your manhood," Augustus mocked his son.
"You don't speak of my wife that way!", Orpheus then snapped at him.
"I say what I think, and what I think you need not like, but you must put up with it. I am and remain your father and king. Even if you have turned your back on your homeland and crawled into this other kingdom," Augustus shot back.
"You may be my father, I cannot change that, but you are not a king to me. Just as Apollo will never be one. You are tyrants. You have never understood what it means to be a king!", Orpheus accused his father.
"Keep your brother out of this! Nothing but pure envy speaks from your words. That you dare to speak so disrespectfully of him!" indignant Augustus said.
"I seem to have inherited that disrespect from you, father," Orpheus added.
"That's enough you two. I'm sure each of you has expressed his point of view quite extensively," Triton now interfered, knowing only too well how voluminous the arguments between the two Olympians could be. Whenever father and son met, it was not long before they hurled biting insults at each other. However, to this day it has never degenerated to such an extent. At joint celebrations, they had always shown consideration for the sea people around them.
Not wanting to violate Triton's authority, the two complied and kept quiet, but continued to throw nasty glances at each other. Ignoring the two, the ruler of Atlantica swam towards his throne and stowed the trident in its holder beside him.
Triton exhaled deeply and massaged his right temple before addressing those gathered.
"We should return to order as soon as possible. Both our kingdoms are vulnerable at the moment and we know only too well that such vulnerability can be quickly exploited. Augustus, I think you should lose no time in returning to Olympia now that we have Ares safe again. The affairs of state must resume. The search for Ares has caused us to neglect many things that must now be taken care of as quickly as possible. I therefore ask all of you for your support. Moreover, we must not forget that in addition to the search for our little prince, we also wanted to search for the sea witch. I will now detach a part of the guard to continue the search and would be very grateful to you, Augustus, if you would continue to leave me some of your men as reinforcement in this regard. Of course, only as many as you can spare. As you mentioned earlier, we must not lose sight of the Sharkanians. The danger of Olympia attracting their attention is something we should avoid at all costs," he elaborated his thoughts.
"I agree with you, Triton. These rogues must continue to be kept in check. We all know that the current peacefulness is fake and they have been just waiting for a suitable time to usurp the other kingdoms for years!", Augustus vented about his second favourite topic of contention. He did not even notice that his statement was not really well received by the sea people surrounding him.
"Good, then I'll arrange for everything to be ready for your departure," Triton said as he was already waving Sebastian over to attend to him with said task. The crab bowed quickly to its king and immediately rowed past the assembled company out of the throne room. As expected, the issue of his own kingdom's security had immediately jumped out at Augustus, and Triton's plan to physically separate him and Orpheus again as soon as possible had worked, without the Olympian ruler really noticing the overriding reason.
"Alana, Aquata and Arista, I would ask you to take the information on Atlantica's current situation to your new homes with care. However, I also ask for assistance from Liones, Düstrigar and Orcanus. I will be glad of any help we can get in finding this sea witch," he spoke addressing his three daughters who were married to princes of each kingdom.
"Of course, father. Count on us!" his second-born Alana replied for herself and her two younger sisters. Aquata and Arista nodded in agreement.
"Andrina," Triton put in with a heavy heart after Augustus had been picked up by Sebastian and left the throne room.
"Yes, Father," she encouraged him to continue.
"I am sorry if I have offended you with my suspicious words just now. Know that this was not my intention. But it seemed to me the only and quickest way to get Augusts to leave. I know that Caleb's people are not as hostile as Orpheus' father always makes them out to be," he apologised to her for having previously spoken out against the Sharkanians, to whom her fiancé belonged. However, since their reputation, built up over long warring years, had still not really improved, they had not made the engagement public for the time being.
"I know that father, don't worry about that. We all know that it is a sensitive issue. I am all the more grateful that you have given your blessing to Caleb and I. Sharkania will also support Atlantica, albeit from behind the scenes, we mustn't ruin the bad reputation after all," Andrina assured Triton with a cheeky wink.
"Thank you," the latter replied with a kind smile on his lips.
The sea king scratched his chin thoughtfully before continuing quietly, "That covers six of the seven seas, the only thing missing is Octolae. Dudley, call me a messenger. Have him swim to the Indies as an ambassador and inform the Octolae of our quest."
"Very well, your majesty," said the old adviser, bowing and then setting off at his usual slow pace to find a suitable messenger for the task. Everyone looked after the tortoise as it struggled to move forward.
"Wait, Dudley," Adella finally interjected after it had taken a full five minutes for the old man to move past the first of many pillars that lined the throne room on either side.
"I want to help too. Let me travel to Octolea, Father," she asked, looking around for approval.
"Are you sure about that, Adella? It's a long way," Triton wanted to know from her.
"Yes, I am sure. Everyone else is helping, I want to do something too. And who is a better ambassador than one of the princesses of Atlantica?" she replied firmly.
"Well then, be on your way, my dear," Triton granted her request.
Dudley, meanwhile, had once again tried unsuccessfully to follow the rapid back and forth, turning his head from one to the other. Tired and relieved that he did not have to walk the long way out of the throne room after all, he now moved slowly back to his usual place at his king's side.
"Dudley, have everything arranged for the departure of my daughters," Triton threw his previous statement out of the window, thereby throwing a wrench into his advisor's calculations as usual. He had never paid much attention to the speed of the Dudley, but the fact that he, like himself, had not been the youngest for some time now did not seem to strike the king in his dealings. Triton was too accustomed to the fact that the other had always been at his side and carried out his every command and took a little longer than a nimble fish to do so. Triton fervently hoped that Ares would also have such a faithful companion at his side later on, after all, he knew how much value such a companion had. He was even fortunate to have had two such close advisors and friends at his side during his reign, Sebastian and Dudley.
One by one, Triton's daughters said goodbye to their father. They hugged him tightly and gave him a few smacks before leaving the throne room.
As Attina looked after her sisters, she noticed a gentle tug and looked down at herself. Her eyes met the little mermaid Orpheus had been able to spot among his sisters-in-law earlier.
"Anaya, what are you doing here?" asked Attina in wonder but kindly.
"May I see Ares? Pretty please," the little one mustered all her courage. Begging, she looked at Ares' mother from a face framed by brown curls. As Attina took her time with her answer, tears began to gather in the large amber eyes.
Attina then exchanged a questioning glance with Orpheus. The latter, acknowledging the little mermaid's persistence, gave her a brief nod of approval.
"All right, but only for a moment. Come with me," she allowed the little mermaid, who didn't need to be told twice and immediately swam ahead in the direction of Ares' room.
Orpheus sent a soft laugh after the two as Attina struggled to keep up with the little one, whose yellow tail fin had just disappeared behind the last column. He himself bowed respectfully to his father-in-law and then left him alone with his affairs of state.