"So let me get this straight," Zeus hissed angrily, his hair sticking up as electricity sparked around him in his agitation. "You believe some hag has bewitched Poseidon into believing Trent is his child, though you all believe he is some magical construct, in a plot to keep him away from his realm and his son Triton in an effort for some fool to kill Triton, thus diminishing Poseidon's power, which will allow Oceanus the ability to break free from his prison, likely leading to the death of my brother and further war for us. All the while, you," he gestured to Amphitrite, Triton and Tyson. "Sent one of our greatest warriors to a completely different realm, where we have no power, to find Triton's lost mate in an effort to save his life and once more, our world. Without, I might add, Poseidon's knowledge or blessing; instead turning it into a 'family movie night' for weeks. And not one of you thought I would need to know!" Lightening flashed around his body to show his fury.
Many of the gods and goddesses cringed in the face of their king's fury, while others simply ignored it, too used to his temper tantrums.
"Do stop with the dramatics brother," Hades drawled lazily. "Clearly we have more important issues than your wounded pride."
The sky god frowned at his brother, face dark as a storm cloud but refrained from retorting.
"I trust you have found evidence for your theories," Hades continued addressing the others. As the Ruler of the Underworld and head Judge of the Dead, he would not act on simple speculation. Facts were necessary before they could take any action against their brother, otherwise it would lead to more headaches and he had enough of those just from dealing with his realm.
"Yes Lord Hades," Amphitrite assured him respectfully. "Upon Lady Hera's suggestion Apollo and Hermes checked with the Fates. Trent's string did not come into existence prior to the end of the war with Gaea. Triton and Tyson are still searching for the sea witch, with some luck. We have not approached my husband to check if he is bewitched for we need the assistance of yourself and Lord Zeus. And while Urchin remains slippery as an eel, we have discovered the identity of the spy."
"Indeed," Zeus stated imperiously, earning eye rolls from his wife and siblings. "Bring forth this spy; I will hear what he has to say."
As Triton ordered the traitor to be brought forward, the gods positioned themselves in their usual fashion in the main throne room in Olympus. Only this time Hades sat next to Zeus and Poseidon was missing, off visiting Trent. Two fully armored mermen walked forward in their land forms with a smaller merman in their grasp. The spy had been a trusted servant in the palace, able to move to and fro with little to no notice. This was why the royal family checked their servants' backgrounds and loyalty thoroughly before allowing them access to their home. Sadly it did not mean one couldn't change over time, as this one had.
The traitor was thrown to the floor before the gods and their king, wrists bound in heavy irons keeping the merman weighed to the floor. He hunched down trying desperately to hide to no avail.
"You are accused of betraying your king, my nephew Triton, as well as betraying the god of your realm, my brother Poseidon," the king announced judiciously, his deep voice echoing through the room. "How plead you?"
"It… it wasn't my fault," he cried pitifully. "I had too!"
"Explain," Triton barked angrily, eyes glowing with power. "Explain how it isn't your fault that you willfully spied on those that trusted you with their lives and those of the kingdom?!"
"My… wife is sick. Urchin promised the sea witch would heal her if I gave him information," he whined. "I wasn't telling him anything no one else knew! Everyone could see how you were wasting away for your mate! But then you started getting better, though no one knew why…"
"How did you find out about Percia then," he demanded. "No one knew but a select few, and none of the servants were allowed in the viewing room, it was expressly forbidden."
"I… I…" he looked around eyes begging for help, but none would give it. The warriors guarding him sneered down at him in disgust. To betray their king and their royal family was the most severe of crimes. "I might have overheard you speaking of her when passing the room," he hedged. "But I didn't think it was a big deal. She's just a half-blood and not really a member of the royal family so I wasn't betraying you!"
"Wrong," Amphitrite informed him stoically. "Before she left Triton presented Percia with a Black Pearl and declared her a Princess of the Seas. All of our subjects would have heard his declaration." She deliberately turned to the guards. "Warrior Kale, did you hear the declaration?"
"Yes my Queen," he answered succinctly. "The proclamation by his majesty was heard by all."
"Warrior Dario?"
"Yes my Queen. Once Princess Percia was announced as an acknowledged member of the royal family by the king, all pledged to serve her as we serve every member of the royal family."
"Ah yes, that is the tradition is it not," she murmured almost absently, if not for her eyes shining brightly as they narrowed in on the spy. "In fact, every subject of our kingdom makes that oath, yourself included if I am not mistaken." It was not a question, and the spy knew it. A loud whimpering sound followed her words.
"I suggest you tell us everything we want to know," Hades informed the pathetic being cowering before them.
As expected the spy spilled his guts telling them every detail from Urchin approaching him, to his boasting of his brilliant plan, the meetings he had had with Urchin and the mention of the sea witch. They listened carefully as he described the location of the witch, a dark corner of the sea just within Poseidon's domain, but on the fringe so few traveled there. He didn't know where Urchin usually stayed as he seemed to constantly move. He also confirmed there did seem to be someone helping Urchin, though he knew nothing else about them, only that they had given Urchin something he needed to keep Poseidon distracted.
When he finished Triton motioned for the guards to take him back to the prison in Atlantis, he would be executed before their people as all traitors were.
"It seems your fears were warranted," Zeus stated stoically.
"You think," Hades snorted, once again ignoring the glare his brother sent his way.
"Enough fighting," Hestia chided from the hearth. "Now we must decide what to do next."
"Why not kill two birds with one stone," Athena offered. "Let us summon Trent here under the pretense of a quest, Poseidon will undoubtedly come. We can contain Trent and Poseidon at the same time."
"While we do that, fish face and one eye better go after that sea hag," Ares reminded them, dismissing the scowls the two in question shot him. "She needs to be neutralized fast, along with whatever Urchin gave her to help spell Barnacle Beard."
"Very well." Zeus took control of the meeting once again as was his wont. "Triton, Tyson go fetch the sea witch, she has much to answer for." The two bowed before Triton flashed them out of the room to where they would find the hag. "Hermes, go to the camp and have Chiron give our summons Trent. He will have to travel to the city to reach us, giving the rest of us time to prepare to apprehend both him and Poseidon."