The Conspiracy of Hearts and Daggers

Chapter Three

Prince Randor was carried out of Consul Aris carriage once the horses brought it through the gateless walls of the Aqua-Life-Terrace's rehabilitation clinic. Randor was then briskly carried inside of a building with a plethora of colorfully patterned designed turtles that ran along the building's architecture. The very same turtle designs ran in the interior of the building as well, adorning the walls as well texturing the floor which led down a long corridor that ran to an open courtyard. In the open area of the courtyard, there where fountains with fish heads that squirted out water onto the shelled backs of turtles underneath them. There were large turtle statues fountains as well as running water ways with small bridges connected to other areas throughout. The healers directed by Mensa placed prince Randor very gently on a soft hammock tied between two palm trees which was close to an elephant head amongst many that sprayed water over a wall overlooking the ocean.

Mensa let some of the women dressed in short white one-piece skirts with tan sandal's come over to begin fanning Randor.

Immediately, Glenn asked Mensa, "How long do you plan on him being out in the open like this?"

"Until his body has cooled down enough from the trip over. Do not worry about the prince, the waters of Kaliva-Tay will heal him in a short time." Mensa assured Glenn.

From afar Glenn saw that the lady healers attending to Randor were calming him with their large, leafed fans as they sang to him a gentle island melody. Then two other lady healers walked past Glenn, with one carrying a turtle shaped porcelain bowl of water while in the other she held a small thin brass rod with hatched lines running along the length of it.

The women holding the turtle shaped bowl kneeled over prince Randor as the other women with the brass rod gently tapped the rim of the bowl, where she then stirred the bowls rim in a circular fashion. The effect of the women's stirring inside of the bowl produced a calming sound. Once the women producing the sound felt the sound had produced the desired effect, she ceased her stirring. Then after the sound had dissipated the other women who was kneeling sprinkled water with her fingers onto Randors forehead. This ritual was repeated a few more times until the women went to attend to other residents in the area.

To Glenns amazement, Randor seemed to become more alert from the effects of the water that was sprinkled onto him. Glenn seeing Randor's improved condition ran over to him.

"By Eternia! The waters of Kaliva-Tay have already taken effect on prince Randor!" Malcome shouted.

"Do you think the prince will be coming with us in two days?" Drusilla asked Mensa seeing how alert Randor was now.

" At the Aqua-Life-Terrace, we recommend at least a week of recovery for the best results." Mensa admits.

"We cannot thank you enough Mensa for your generosity." Duncan gratefully states.

Mensa simply gives Duncan a bright smile before saying," You do not have to thank us as it is the way of Kaliva-Tay. Though as much as I would like to stay and show you more of our facilities I do have to return to the port for Consul Ari as well as his other guests."

A suspicion came over Duncan as he thought about Aris other guests or rather Glenns fellow astronauts. Why were they always so close to Ari? It seemed as if they were somehow manipulating the consul's decision making every step of the way. Duncan thought that it was inconceivable but what if Glenns fellow astronauts somehow got to King Miro as well.

Duncan asked spontaneously, "You said Aris other guests, what do you mean? Can you clarify?"

"Of course." Mensa continued obligingly," Both Powers and Scopes will be staying in guest rooms inside Consul Aris manor while the rest of you will be staying in the guest house not far from there. You have been invited to breakfast in the morning. I believe it is tomorrow that Consul Ari will provide you with a schedule for your tour of the Golden Islands. I can take you to the guest house once I return from picking up Consul Ari."

"I cannot wait." Duncan said gruffly not really intending to do so.

The first word out of Randors mouth was Marlena as he addressed Glenn by her first name, the name that she recommended to him hours ago before docking the Majestic.

"Youve stopped shivering." Glenn warmly said as she stared into Randors bold blue eyes.

"You would think otherwise." Randor quipped, referring to his light clothing which was only two towels tide around his body.

The quip from Randor allowed for an unfettered smile from Glenn. Then Randor reached out to hold Glenns hand, which was gladly accepted.

"You have such a lovely smile, one in which only enhances your beauty." Randor said as he rubbed his thumb inside the curve of Glenns palm.

Glenn sighed as she clasped her other hand onto Randors as well. Then as she tightened both her hands around Randors she wanted so desperately to tell him about her fiancé back on Earth.

Yet all that Glenn could pronounce back to the prince was," I was so concerned about you."

Somewhere in the dark hemisphere in a crooked valley leading towards Snake Mountain a lineup of heavy treading tanks amidst rows of Goblin soldiers were immobilized. General Harkan there leader riding on top of a tank in front of a double-barreled cannon blaster that had been maned by his chief soldier Tataran looked out amongst the countless skeletal soldiers surrounding his battalion. At Harkans side was Damon, a rather well-defined man wearing a rather drab looking tattered yellow shirt with long red hair as well as a dark goatee.

"We cannot just sit idle." General Harkan says as he grits his fangs.

"What do you suppose that Tataran and the wizard of Snake Mountain are talking about?", Harkan asks Damon, relying on his expertise when it comes to magick.

Damon smiles knowingly before answering," I do not fear this roustabout, he seems to be afraid that we will evict him from his current home. Tataran cannot tell him anything that would stop us from entering Snake Mountain."

"He is just delaying the inevitable." Damon concludes.

The image of Skeletor once again becomes manifest over the battalion of Goblins as if it heard what was said about him.

"My time is valuable as I know that you would agree the same applies of yours. ", Skeletor announces.

General Harken's eyes bulge as if he is about to start blustering at the illusory face making such bold-faced proclamations when Damon holds his bare arm to his chest.

Harken taking heed from Damon does not erupt in a rage as Skeletor continues," I am aware of your sorcerer, General Harken and would like to grant him an invitation to meet with me."

Harken whispers to Damon," I don't trust this arrogant fool."

"Neither do I, though it would be best for me to gauge his magick up close." Damon advises.

"Will you do battle with this mage?" Harkan asks.

"If it comes to that." Damon answers curtly.

Demanding an answer, Skeletor asks, "Your time is up, what is your answer?"

"I will let Damon go with you on one condition." General Harkan counter demands.

"Yes...tell me...", Skeletor plainly asks.

General Harkan proceeds to tell his demand," You have already been granted an audience with one of my top soldiers in Tataran, it would only be fair that you send him back to me. Only then can you have an audience with my wizard."

"Very well.", Skeletor replies as a portal is opened up in-between Genral Harkens tank and the one at the front as Tataran exits the mystic doorway.

Damon seeing that Harkans demand is met decides to climb down from the tank. Where he starts to walk past Tataran in order to enter the portal that the Goblin soldier had just exited.

Though as Damon passes Tataran his eyes glow red with his demonic magick. Damon instinctively detecting the illusion of Tataran shouts out, "Its a trick! That is not Tataran!" However, with his attention diverted, creeping gray tendrils come through the still open portal, grabbing hold of Damon!

The surprise attack on Damon is successful as he is pulled by the numerous grey tentacles into the portal. Then as the mystic doorway closes up, the image of Tataran slowly fades away having served its purpose.

While on the golden island of Kaliva-Tay, Consul Ari along with his guests have at last been brought to his mansion by Mensa.

Mensa looking down from the front driving seat of Consuls personnel cab asks Ari," Is there anything else that you require of me before I attend to the other guests?"

"My faithful Mensa, just light the torch posts before you leave as the sun sets into the sea. Then make sure that the others know Randor will be well attended to in the rehabilitation clinic. I don't want them to worry before there leave tomorrow to tour the islands."

"Of course, Consul Ari." Mensa says as he climbs down from the driver seat of the carriage.

Though before Ari can even think of mentioning another detail to Mensa, the consul is hurried forward by Powers as she holds onto his right arm dragging the old man in haste. The consul's left arm is also firmly held onto by the larger Scopes who assists Powers in her tugging of Ari as he scurries along towards the front door of his mansion.

Mensa studies the odd behavior of his consul as he is lead inside his own house by these strangers before attending to the lighting of the torch poles of the entranceway.

The same golden falcon that followed the Majestic to Kaliva-Tay had also followed Consul Aris ride from the port to his home studies Mensa from atop another palm tree. Mensa who had retrieved a long rod from the underside of the carriage, begins using it as a torch to light the other two torches which sat up-high on two very tall poles parallel each other in the entranceway. When Mensa finished his lighting of the torches, he snuffed the flame out from the end of his rod in order to house the tool on the underside of the carriage once more.

Consul Ari had already been escorted to his room by the time Mensa began to drive his horses along with the carriage back towards the Aqua-Life-Terrace clinic.

The falcon decided to follow the carriage once again to find out where it was heading to.

Ari was placed inside a large circled seated area inside the large living space on the upper floor of the mansion. The large room had a front window which overlooked the entranceway, a large skylight, and a balcony which overlooked the sealine in the back. There was a robust library of books on one side of the room as there was an inner room which was probably Aris sleeping quarters on the other side.

Ari was put to sleep instantly by Powers as she placed him on some cushiony red pillows on the sofa.

"We need to take care of Mensa when he returns." Powers proclaims.

"There is a telescope on the balcony!", Scopes blurts out in excitement.

"There will be time enough for star gazing after we attend to Mensa.", Powers says demandingly.

Powers begins to notice that Scopes who is still blindfolded is just standing still as if something else has caught his attention. Though what it is Powers could hardly pretend to know, given the capabilities of Scopes own supernatural sight asks ponderingly," What have your unseen eyes spotted?"

"It might mean nothing to you, but I think that a falcon has been following us." Scopes admits almost in disbelief.

Almost in disbelief herself, Powers recalls her run in with a falcon at the stables of the Royal Palace ponders, "Or it might mean everything as...", after searching for her words, Powers continues," this falcon...where is it?"

Scopes answers," The bird is now following Mensa on his ride back to the rehabilitation center. Why?"

"If what you are telling me is true...", Powers is interrupted by Scopes who immediately becomes defensive," I have been watching this falcon follow us from the seaport to Aris home, then sit atop a tree outside, only to then follow Mensa after he left. It is fairly obvious that this bird has been following us. Though, I have no idea why."

"If you would stop interrupting me then I will tell you that this bird has not only been following us from the seaport, but it confronted me at the Royal Palace the day of our departure," Powers informed Scopes whose mouth had now dropped.

"What does this mean?", a bewildered Scopes conceited.

"For one it cannot be a coincidence, nevertheless we will find out what this means in due time. From inside this house, we will learn and study from Ari's library, from Ari himself and from even the stars themselves. We will study as we did a lifetime ago when we were in college together. It is no different just other than our surroundings. We will have time alone to plot as Glenn is taken on the Majestic once more with the prince's entourage on a tour of the islands." Powers explains.

"There will be a lot for us to attend to while the Majestic is away. In between our study time there will not only be a helpless prince at our mercy, for whom I will be influencing in the guise of Glenn. For I had taken notice of their embrace aboard the Majestic before it was attacked by Mer-Mans Sea serpent. I watched the body language between them, something you would never be able to have noticed. I watched as Glenn concernedly tried to sooth Randor from his intense pain. I felt her increased empathy towards the prince. Yes, there is something to be tapped into between those two bashful hearts."

Scopes interrupted once again," Glenn is engaged back on Earth, she would be cheating on her fiancé."

"Stop interrupting!", Powers harshly protested before she could continue on with her strategy," I do not have to point out the obvious dilemma of any of us ever returning back to Earth. Glenn as any other women in her situation would do is moving on. In every possible way, to prepare for a new life on Eternia with a new lover. However, if I were able to move things on a bit by seducing the weakened Randor in Glenns likeness...Now where was I..."

"You were stating how you would impersonate Glenn to influence a delirious Randor for some purpose." Scopes reminded Powers.

"Of course, I will attend to Randor at night as it is the time that my powers are at their peak. You my dear Hunter will be not only keeping a watch for the Falcon, but you will also be impersonating Mensa." Powers concluded.

"Why will I be impersonating Mensa again?" Scopes inquired.

Powers gave a sinister grin as she tells him," I will need you to visit the clinic on a daily basis. In order to accomplish this, you will have to have a disguise. I mean, you can't go to the clinic as you are now, can you?"

"Do we kill Mensa in order for me to take his place?" Scopes then asks.

"No, that would be a waste, just put him out of commission and tie him up. I will keep him sedated during his stay just as I do my dear Consul Ari." Powers smiled haughtily.