Earth's Grand Healer
Part 11: Female Ocean Master
"How is that possible?" Samantha asked. "As far as I have learned Atlantis has always had a king."
"That is true but in truth, Atlantis' king was in title only."
"I do not understand."
"When Atlantis fell, Atlan had three sons. Two went into hiding should Atlan be blamed for the deed and a mob would want their heads. The two sons were persuaded to form their own kingdoms to ensure that the royal line was not lost. Only they were tricked. The third, however, fled from Atlantis, never to be seen again."
"Strange."
"The first two sons still wanted to carry on Atlan's reign, but Atlan banished himself. He did not want his sons to carry on a reign where greed and arrogance persisted, where Atlantis would go to war with the surface. Atlantis needed to recover from her wounds. So, Atlan declared with his dying breath that only the true king who will be bring all his people together, who could commune with all creatures of the sea just as Poseidon could, that person would be king and ocean master. That person would wield his trident."
"And my father turned out to be that person."
"Yes, because Atlan's third son did the unexpected. He preserved king Atlan's line by returning to the surface. Atlantis had been part of the surface before it fell. Because that third son returned to the surface his history became lost to time. No one knew if his bloodline had survived. But his bloodline had not been lost.
"Did he ever hear Atlan's decree?" Samantha asked.
"No. How his bloodline had survived is unknown."
"The lighthouse keeper," Samantha suddenly said. "How does he play a role in all this?"
"You will have to ask your father," Eridac stated. "We do not know what became of that last son of Atlan, but it is possible that he kept watch over the area where Atlantis sank beneath the sea hoping for a way to return. However, those who left Atlantis and never returned lost the ability to breathe underwater and only the highborn could breathe both. They would travel between the land and the sea at first. At least that is what is written in Atlantis' most ancient scrolls. It was done openly until one of the steward kings forbade the Atlantean people from leaving the sea, never to return to the land. And then only the high born would be able to, but only on rare occasions. Probably to spy on the surface."
"I do not understand why Atlantis is a domed city why have a dome?"
"The dome is only over the capital for nobles and highborn and those who are called throwbacks live."
"Throwbacks?" Samantha question.
"Those that are born Atlantean, but cannot breathe water," Eridac stated. "They are thought to represent the ancient times." He didn't mention they were often persecuted. "There are those where the opposite is true and they must live their lives outside the city dome and wear special suits when they enter."
"Let's get back to the female ocean master," Samantha stated. "How is it that Atlantis has never had a queen as a ruler?"
"It is because the nature of the power that is wielded. One must be considered worthy by Atlan's trident and only then is the power granted to the bearer of that trident to become Ocean Master. The trident determines who is worthy."
"So, that doesn't mean a queen cannot rule but must be considered worthy."
"I suppose so. Even before he was born your father carried the power to communicate with the sea creatures; a power that was believed to only belong to King Atlan, granted by Posiden. The trident enhanced that power to reach deeper. His first two sons didn't carry that power. His third son was said to be able to communicate with the creatures of the air and land. Even so, only one who could communicate with the creatures of the sea would become Atlan's true heir."
"So, blood had nothing to do with it."
"It may be that blood still played a part; the power lying dormant until it would be awakened."
"The sea witch who was banished," Samantha coaxed, "Who was she really?"
"It is written she was Atlan's only daughter."
Continues with part 12