The Conspiracy of Hearts and Daggers

Chapter Seven

"You are really at home on the sea...aren't you Master Commander Zarek?"", Glenn asked of the burly blond bearded man at the helm of the large ship being steered towards the island of Goshua.

Inside of the bridge, Zarek was at ease at the wheel of his great ship the Majestic, proud as an Earth Puffin. Once Glenn strode in to provide the stalwart Zarek some company as well as perhaps confide in him since she felt the most trustful of him at this point.

To Glenns surprise, Zarek spoke into the intercom," First mate Corvon to the bridge immediately!"

After barking his command, Zarek pressed a button shaped like a pair of blue wings in the middle of the steering wheel before letting go of it.

"This ship can guide itself enroute to the golden isles of Goshua.", Zarek chirped comfortably to Glenn in order to put any concerns of hers at ease. At least until my first mate arrives to take control of the wheel."

Glenn was still wide eyed at how advanced, yet archaic the Eternian's technology at hand was. It was the idolatry, the symbolism, the majesty of it all that always hid the astounding technology within.

"Let me take you to my private quarters, so we may talk. For as sprightly as the nature of the sea is in the moment, I sense something heavy weighing you down.", Zarek gestured kindly the way out of the bridge towards his quarters.

Glenn was surprised again, this time by Zarek, who's prim and proper bravado belayed a most sensitive nature inside of him.

Zarek was right as rain, Glenn was very much inclined to follow him to his quarters in order to put her thoughts as well as concerns at ease during the voyage.

On his way to Consul Aris estate, Duncan had been apprehended by two gold caped guardsman patrolling the area. The two guardsmen were not threatening to Duncan despite each one carrying the native golden clubs. Despite a warning about Duncan not wearing his silver battle helmet inside of the Consuls home the guards him past the tall wooden gates into the front yard after gaining clearance. The two guards left Duncan to walk up to the front door of the very round blue stoned mansion. Duncan held his helmet at his hip with his left arm as he walked up the wide stone steps towards the front door. The tall grayish door did not open upon Duncan reaching his last step nor as he stood before it.

Duncan, calmy waited for the doors to open up to greet him, he admired the architecture around the gray door of two long Charro birds outlining the door. The representation of the fiery red birds was exaggerated, showing them facing one another at the top of the doorway, there white beaks almost touching each other.

The Consul appreciated the Moa Toa Island, and it showed with the Charro birds showcasing his entranceway as the birds frequently mated there. Not originally from the Golden Isles the fire birds known as Charros migrated to and from there native lands of Operon near Targa.

Finally, Duncan was greeted by the voice of Consul Ari as he opened the tall doors automatically from somewhere inside the mansion.

"I wasn't expecting company this morning though please come inside.", Ari insisted.

Instinctively, Duncan felt something was wrong with the situation. The way in which Ari greeted him felt phony. Once the doors were fully open Duncan saw a disturbing image inside. While no one was there to greet him, there was a golden cage on the floor in the main hall. Inside the golden cage which was tied with something green lay a large bird of prey in what looked reminiscent of the legendary Zoar.

Duncan thought to himself as to why the great falcon was displayed this way. As what was the purpose of this mockery of the avatar of Zoar.

Obviously, Duncan knew this ruse to be a trap of some sort. Though it was not in the warrior's heart for Duncan to not free the falcon from its cage.

Duncan broke the silence as he shouted, "Why has nobody come to greet me at the door? Ari...Consul...Ari..."

The hallway echoed in silence.

Duncan had enough as he donned his battle helmet, he thought that if no one in the house was gracious enough to meet him at the door then he would stop playing polite guest.

The tall front doors remained open as bright sunlight shown in on the figure of Duncan slowly approaching the caged falcon. What appeared as a spotlight from the yellow rays of the sun shown the prone falcon, weak, it wings scuffed up with patches of feathers missing. Duncan was about to reach for the cage...when a voice entered inside of his head in alarm, "Do not attempt to free me...!"

Duncan froze, was he going mad, had the dive up after freeing Randor somehow affected him too?

"No... you are not delirious...it is I who am talking to you...", Duncan looking down felt that it was the falcon who was communicating with him.

Duncan spoke in silent wonder, "By Eternia."

Suddenly, a voice from atop the staircase raised the back of Duncans hairs on his neck," What are you waiting for...free the falcon!"

Duncan was in shock as seeing Prince Randor in all his splendor atop the stairs!

"No...it cannot be..."," Duncan told himself out loud, "You are supposed to at the Aqua-Life-Terrace..."

In its cage the Falcon fought to maintain it awarness of what was happening outside it in order to help her protector.

"Get out while you can...leave me...get help!", the falcon weakly screamed at Duncan who was far too distracted to see a tall figure creeping up behind him.

The tall doors were closing up behind a crouched Duncan when he was struck painfully hard between the shoulder blades behind of his back!

Duncans back was on fire from the pain in his upper back! Then as his attacker raised a literal cane above Duncan for another strike Duncan picked up the only object that he felt could protect him...as well as possibly free the falcon!

The cane came crashing atop the cage as Duncan blocked its path with it!

The cage's wooden bars splintered under the impact from the cane's wielder!

"Go fly away! Free yourself!", Duncan shouted at the falcon who was still weak.

Thats when Duncan saw the face of his attacker as he was about to strike the falcon at his feet with his cane!

A scream of "Noooo!", rang out from Randor as Duncan tackled what appeared to be a deranged Mensa!

Mensa let out some are as Duncan tackled his stone abed mid-section! It was Duncan that screamed in pin as his right shoulder pierced in pain from the collision! What was this guy made of Duncan agonizing in pain as he clung to Mensas waste so he could not strike at him with such savagery with his cane again.

Then it struck him, Duncan never knew Mensa to use a cane...only who was it...he could not think straight in his current situation as he tried to topple Mensa.

Duncan heard the front doors finally close shut as he tried to leverage the taller Mensa to the ground.

Then Mensa gave a sharp yell of pain!

The falcon had used her beak to strike at Mensa's ankle!

It was enough for Duncan to awkwardly bring mensa down! Though as Mensa fell, he twisted to fall on his side where he still clutched his long wooden cane with a bird carved at the handle.

Duncan heard the falcon who helped him take down Mensa...if it even was him screeched out loud!

The green rope that once held the cage together was now entangling the falcon in its thrall!

"Thats about enough of this nonsense! I don't know how you evaded my trap soldier at arms! Perhaps you are cleverer than I thought!", as what appeared to be Randor waving his arms as if he was a conductor, while cursing Duncans success at evading the booby trap laid for him again distracted Duncan who felt his own feet being stuck together by something slimy.

The green rope was seaweed all along that was being manipulated by Randor who was now shouting at Mensa," I have entangled his legs now I need to bind his arms! Hold him still so my seaweed can bind his arms as well!"

Without saying a word, Mensa lay his cane on the floor so he could hold both of Duncans arms behind him. Duncan winced in pain as Mensa locked his arms in a tight grip. The pressure from Mensas grip upon him caused Duncans former pain in both his right shoulder and upper back to sharpen with pain!

Mensa only let go of Duncans arms once the seaweed slime solidified itself like a pair of cast iron cuffs.

Duncan was helpless at his attacker's feet unable to move both his arms and legs he lay defeated.

"Good. Now take our guest to where the Consuls toy flyer is kept. I have to reform the falcons cage since you broke it!", a now shrill women's voice scolded Mensa who was now carrying Duncan with one arm over his shoulder. If it was the real Mensa thought Duncan to himself.

As Duncan was being carried up the stairs to where the Consul kept his toy flyer. Duncan knew Consul Ari had a platform hanger where he kept his Discus Sled for which he saw earlier flying over his head once departing from his guest house. Whoever was laid up in the platform hanger would explain a lot of what was going on.

To get to the platform hanger, Mensa carried Duncan on an elevator which rode the rest of the way up. There was actually an open are walkway that led to where the platform hanger room.

Once making his way across the other side, there was a gold door for which Menas unlocked using a code on the lock.

The Dicus Sled lay in the middle of a room filled with electronics.

In the back of the room Duncan gasped when he saw another Mensa laying tied up with rope probably from the work shed outside the mansion.

As Dunca was laid beside Mensa with a thud the bird headed cane was seen in the standing Mensas right hand.

"I am your guard as well as gate keeper. So, do not even think of escaping. Though for now I must leave you.", the now walking Mensa says as he leaves the platform hanger.

Duncan looked at what he suspected was the real Mensa for the real Mensa never carried a bird headed cane.

Duncan sighed as he examined this Mensa cast in a deep sleep.