The Sword of Rakash (Part 4)

Ahktar knew not to upset the Merphibian creature, so he took up the Royal Archeological Book after opening to the page he left off. Ahktar then carefully traced the pages with his eyes until he came to an optimal place to start reading from. All the while Endo kept humming his Andreenid tune to ease the tension in the room.

The Mer Creature was attentive, with its large saucer shaped eyes focused on what Ahktar was about to read aloud from the book. Then just before the man could continue from the place in the book that he chose, the Mer-Creature broke in with a kind of reverence, "This...book is knowledgeable to you."

"Oh, yes, very much so.", Ahktar concurred.

The green skinned creature leaned in to say, "I am called Mer-Man by your peers." The name could be in reference to anyone of the Mer-Creatures save for the one near him now thought Ahktor. There was no reason to doubt the creature, Ahktor believed him to be the great ocean warlord. Then Mer-Man relaxed his taut green musculature into a chair lazily to listen to the man before him read from his book of knowledge.

So, Ahktar began to read aloud from his book once more," The Gar-Shan referred to their shaman to consult with their God Koklon in order to ask him for guidance against the invaders from the Great Sea. Koklon told the shaman that his people could take refuge in the caverns as he intended to unleash a great flood on the land of Rakash. The shaman was promised protection from the flood within the caverns if his people simply obeyed his guidance without question.

So, the Gar-Shan hastily retreated into the caverns, never questioning why Koklon directed them there. Once in the caverns for which they were familiar with the great flood was unleashed upon the land of Rakash! The Gar-Shan had not alternative save to venture into uncharted regions within the caverns. Then the walls opened up within an apparent dead end which revealed a land bridge over volcanic lava. The voice of Procrustus the God of the underworld, mountains, earthquakes and fire, invited the Gar-Shan into the opened-up cavern so they could seek refuge from the flood waters behind them. Without question the Gar-Shan went through the passage opened to them where they then traversed the land bridge across the periless fiery lava below.

The Gar-Shan eventually came to the other side of the land bridge to discover a large cave where in the center lay a dark pool of water.

A stupefied Mer-Man laid back in his chair looking in wonder as he listened.

The voice of Procrustus told the Gar-Shan who had little alternative that they could stay in this area for as long as they liked. The Gar-Shan adapted to the area as best they could seeing as they had small amounts of vegetation, fungus as well as crystals. The black pool was very hot, though if gathered in buckets it could be left to cool off. After many days the area where the Gar-Shan were was beginning to become gradually cooler. Also, hot steam began to break through the floor as geysers! It was becoming apparent that the Gar-Shan could not stay much longer because of the dangers.

The shaman was compelled in this crisis situation to contact Koklon for guidance on what his people should do to escape their predicament.

However, Koklon did not answer instead Procrustus assured the Gar-Shan that if they endured in this region of the cavern that they would be lifted off to another land to live free once more.

Then as the Gar-Shan huddled in fear they witnessed a bubbling in the black pool. Something was rising out of the pool until it was submerged once more! The Koklon spoke to his disciples, "I offer another solution to you! If only one of you can dive deep into the pool, you will find a pathway of luminescent crystals with the aura of a rainbow, follow them to a sword with bristles of teeth as sharp as Lurkos! Many of you will make the attempt to retrieve the sword though many will fail! I implore you to keep trying, then eventually one of you will succeed in taking the sword I grant you! Only then can you use the sword to reclaim your lost land of Rakash!

Then a gurgling sound exploded as the Mer-Man came alive in his chair and shouted, "The Sword of Rakash! I must claim it!"

Ahktar stopped his reading to ask, "Are you well?"

"I am much more than well!", Mer-Man told Ahktar,"I am free of the spell which has confounded me! I now remember who I am and what my purpose is before being washed ashore here. Though you must tell me where I am."

Ahktar answered slowly, "Of course, you are in my house along the Andreenid cost, near the Mystic Mountains. I am called Ahktar, a humble old fisherman. "Then Ahktar turned to his son to introduce him, "This is Endo a lost boy who I have aloud to stay with me as he learns the ways of seafaring." Ahktar gave a sign with his fingers for young Endo to stop whistling his harmonics.

"The last thing that I remember was seeking counsel with Koklon in the Crystal Sea.", Then Mer-Man gnashed his razor-sharp teeth before declaring, "It was the Nerva who placed me under there spell...which...", Mer-Man then directed his attention to Endo who became alert," The Nerva used their voices to sing me asleep, to hide my inner most thoughts and send me on a quest to find the sword."

"Though much in the same manner was this boy able to unlock the spell which freed me. What unusual features does he have, who is he really?", Mer-Man asked in a sly tone.

Ahktar replied happily to keep a peaceful setting, "I do not truly know, his origins are more a mystery than yours. Only the Elders of Eternia know for sure."

"Though I will say that he has changed my life in the most positive of ways. Having had no children of my own I can teach the boy my ways. Though more than that I am not lonely anymore.", Ahktar explained in the hopes of connecting with Mer-Man.

Mer-Man snarled," I care not for your idle life nor your kinds beliefs and traditions. I do however suspect you of hiding more than you know about this child. I will let it pass for what you both have done so far for me, but I must return to the sea."

What Ahktar would say was risky, but it was necessary for him to do so," I also thank you for turning the tide of the war against the Gar-Shan back in Eternias favor."

"I care not for helping your Kingdom nor your deceptive King Miro. Though I can see that you are of meager standards, so I do not take umbrage against you.", Mer-Man boasted.

"Let me help you.", Ahktar implored.

"What more do I need from you now that you broke the Nerva spell on me?", Mer-Man asked curiously.

"I fought alongside you in the defense of the Golden Islands against the Mekka beast. As you have already seen I keep many books of knowledge as well as old military ones. In fact, I have data on where the Mekka you felled off the coast of Goshua sank.", Ahktar told Mer-Man in the hopes of assuring his aide.

"The knowledge in my head already tells me this as it was I who slayed the giant mekka! The servitor of the Gar-Shan sank somewhere along the bottomless trench nearest the islands. I will find seek it out now that my mind has been restored to me. Though before I leave here thusly...before I return to the sea...let me warn you. I am coming back here...though it will not be in piece. Of course, it will not as before as when I was mindless thing...no it will be with purpose. For I will render this shack you live in asunder! For upon my departure, you had best be gone for you too will be rendered as such! I will grant your survival against my returning wrath as a mercy favor for your part in helping me."

Mer-Man then rises proudly from his chair to reclaim the sea that other than his god he perceives ownership of!

Ahktar puts his arms around his son as they both watch Mer-Man leave through the broken off door!

"We must hurry, Endo!", Ahktar told his son. Then upon looking at him he noted that his face had returned to normal.

"I am afraid father.", the boy told his father.

"So am I son.", the man told his boy. "Though we must make our way away from this house for we have a long journey to make."

"Where do you intend to take us?", Endo asked inoccently.

"Never you mind that now. There is much take along with us as we prepare for our journey away from here. For we have two enemies to contend with now.", Ahktar said cryptically to his son.