Threat Level Rising

Chapter Two

                                                      In her guise as the little blonde haired stable boy, Powers crept into the stalls in search of the injures horses. Powers knew that the stable boy was around the corner cleaning out some stalls, so she kept quiet while investigating the rows of stalls on her side. The first stall was empty, so Powers crept along to the next one, which was also empty. Then Powers heard some pained breathing from the next stall over. When Powers peered into the stall, she saw a large brown horse with many lacerations on its neck and hind quarters laying on its stomach. This horse was not Malcom's, as his horse was a golden brown, this horse belonged to the archeologist. Powers, wanted to effect Malcom's personal steed, in order to personalize his pain. Though there was not enough time to check all the stalls. So, Powers started to turn the latch on the door in order for her to enter the stall. The horse recognizing Powers as the stable boy looked up painfully nodding its large head at her. Then a bang came from the next stall over!

                                                          Powers in order to get to work knelt beside the wounded horse. The horse next store was making a racket as if it knew that Powers was not the real stable boy! Powers thought that it could be Malcom's horse that was carrying on like it was. Whatever the case, Powers had to act quickly in order to use her magick on the horses' wounds, to make the wounds more potent, more excruciating and more deadly. The other horse was ruining her concentration as it was, when a falcon's cry screeched in her ear as well!

                                                        It was of no use, Powers thought as she stood up, she had to abandon her cause. The real stable boy was bound to come see what all the ruckus was about. When Powers bolted out of the stall, she saw perched on the half wall which overlooked the field a rather large golden falcon. Powers felt an awareness from the falcon as it screeched its alarm! Though the only thing that Powers could do in the moment was flee back to Scopes having failed to perform her vile act!

                                                          At the peak of the serpent's maw of Snake Mountain, Skeletor residing on his skeletal throne spoke to Mer-Man standing with his tri-pronged trident before him," So, you think that you can intercept the vessel that prince Randor will be on as it makes its way to these Golden Isles?"

                                                       The overconfident Mer-Man boasts, "I have no doubt that I can not only intercept the vessel but capture prince Randor as well."

                                                          Beastman who was crouched down beside Skeletors throne begged, "Let me be the one to capture prince Randor. I can lay in wait at the port with a group of those apes from the valley! I will have the prince captured before he even leaves the port."

                                                       "Silence!", Skeletor scolds his flame furred henchmen, "You are not only unprepared for such a boastful claim you are also too foolish to carry it out! Now remain silent!"

                                                       Mer-Man showing his razor-sharp teeth grinned at Beastmans humiliation as he assures himself that currying favor over Skeletor's mongrel would be child's play.

                                                           "Then you must know that my two informers will also be on Randors vessel. They must not be harmed." Skeletor tells Mer-Man.

                                                             "What are their names?" Mer-Man asks.

                                                              Skeletor replies," They are individually a man and a woman. The women's name is Evil-Lyn while the man calls himself the Hunter. They will be informed of your interception of the vessel. Though you must tell me how you plan to intercept the vessel. So that I can relay the information back to them."

                                                               A gurgle of realization is made when Mer-Man catches on to Skeletors forethought," As warlord of the oceans on Eternos, I command all of its denizens! Your agents can expect anything ranging from a net of seaweed which would slow the ship to a crawl to a toxic bloom!"

                                                                 As Mer-Man takes a moment to decide on what form of sea life to use against the ocean vessel he concludes," I was subtle in my last encounter with the prince. This time I will ensure that he is dealt with once and for all! I will use the most feared denizen of the deep, the tendril nosed, spiked tentacled, Oktobarb!"

                                                             "How will you use this creature so that my informers know that it is you that attacks?" Skeletor insists.

                                                                "The Oktobarb can reach any ship with its enormously long tentacles and latch onto them! From there it can pull itself onto the side of a ship or even grab anyone that is on the deck of a ship!" Mer-Man explains.

                                                                  "You must ambush the vessel." Skeletor surmises," One of my agents will be on the deck looking ahead at anything that the ship is in the direction of in anticipation. All I need from you is to let me know what my agent needs to identify."  

                                                                      "Very clever." Mer-Man cooed," Your strategy is a sound one. The marker will be a protruding red hump with a row of spikes like a sea urchin which floats above the water."

                                                                      "A floating trap!" Skeletor cackles, " Do not delay any longer! You must hurry in order to get ahead of this royal voyage! I will tell my informants what to lookout for! When you capture the prince do not bring him back to me. I want you to keep him in a secure location. Do you have a place that you can hold the prince?"

                                                                        Mer-Man thinking quickly says," The island of Anwat Gar."

                                                                        "Good." Skeletor muses, "Once the prince is placed at Anwat Gar come back here as quickly as possible. I will work on developing more effective ways of commuting remotely in the meantime. Then once you report back to Snake Mountain, I will have thought of the next steps to take. Now go!"

                                                                         Mer-Man with a solemn bow towards Skeletor then proceeded to race off towards the nearest porthole out of Snake Mountain!

                                                                         Prince Randor felt the need to drive his personal transport the Lion Carrier towards the Royal Port of Eternia.  In this way was he able to exert some control over his circumstances.  Along with Randor in the cockpit of the thundering machine was Glenn, Zarek and Malcome.

                                                                         "What was Duncan able to tell you before we left?" Randor asked Zarek as he drove the Lion carrier forward!  

                                                                            "Well, he still has his suspicions about certain cargo for which I won't outright say." Zandor was alluding to the passengers from Glenns contingent.

                                                                               Randor knowing whom Zarek was referencing too dismissed his snide comment as the Master-At-Arms continued.

                                                                             "For one thing Duncan is determined to solve the mystery of Keldor." Zarek went on.

                                                                              "Does he have any insight into my missing shipmate?" Glenn was eager to know after she heard the name uttered by Zarek.

                                                                            "I am afraid we are all at a loss about your colleague." Zarek politely told Glenn.

                                                                            "Duncan's last words to me were that it is all Gray Skull from here." Zarek concluded cryptically.

                                                                           Randor announced, "It is of no matter as were approaching Veridas now!"

                                                                          Glenn was about to ask what Gray Skull was in reference to when she saw from the front window an enormous city scape. Surrounding this enormous city which laid within a giant crater were many fields of crops. On the inside of the crater the enormous city lay atop first a lush green island surrounded by water then it was also cropped up on a circle of immense stone.

                                                                        However, the Lyon Carrier rode right along past the city raised on its fortification above its circled moat that lay inside of a ringed crater.

                                                                        "I should show you the inside of Veridas City after we get back from the Golden Isles. Randor told Glenn who was still in awe of the enormous city.

                                                                       The after rows of endless farmland, sand dunes started to form along the outside of the Carrier as it rode hastily on.

                                                                      A white hew began to from on the horizon outside of the window of the cockpit. Then something blue showed in-between the space of the white. The blueness would give off a sparkling glow from time to time like crystal chimes.

                                                                   "I recognize even the glimpse of an ocean when I see one! This must be the Royal Port!" Glenn shouted in excitement.

                                                                     "The Royal Port which overlooks the Ocean of Gnarl." Zarek says proudly.

                                                                      "That doesn't sound like an inviting name for an ocean." Glenn comments.

                                                                     "The Ocean of Gnarl is Eternias largest ocean. It is also a lot more inviting than the Sea of Rakash." Zarek goes on to say.

                                                                       "Why did you have to mention that body of water? We only recently had an encounter with those seas most notable resident." Malcom recounts.

                                                                       "Oh, fshaw!" Zarek squawks like a bird,"Mer-Man! That sea urchin is probably hiding in some underwater trench somewhere out in those dark waters."

                                                                       The Lyon Carrier slowly comes to a halt as Randor finally announces to everyone, "We can now prepare to set our sights towards the Golden Isles!"