Shadows of Atlantis by DD Adair

Author:DD Adair
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-73280-557-6
Publisher: Spiral Path Press

22

Key to an Army

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Ziel

“What do you mean you’ve scientists working on it this minute? We have not yet discussed this!” Ruler Kenna sounded tired, not to mention, cross.

“It’s very doubtful the Belials are still using this technology in their Mutazio. Didn’t you say the incident happened years ago?” Ruler Eirene was as steady and pragmatic as ever, even at this early hour.

“You got us out of bed for this?” Another grouchy voice chimed in.

“Where is this journal? I wish to examine it for myself.”

Without a word, I passed around copies. I’d known they would ask. Paper rustled in the hands of overly tired Rulers. I’d only given them the pages detailing the brain-nodes. The rest of it felt too private. Eventually, they’d demand the whole story and that would ignite a whole different discussion involving blood laws being broken—or not, depending how you looked at it. Technically, the Belials hadn’t taken any Atlantean lives. But they had forced Drey to do things against his will, abused him and allegedly planned to kill him.

I was certain now that Drey and Taya had been assassinated. The timing—right before Belial used their muta army to invade Greece—was too convenient. This also convinced me Belial still used Drey’s technology. But all of that would be dealt with later. Right now, I felt like a boy who’d deliberately rolled in dirt, hid the evidence, ate all the cookies, and now faced his mother. Only, in this scenario, there were six mothers.

I spoke into the silence as they sat reading the copies of Drey’s journal pages. “I strongly believe this is the solution to our problem. Perhaps the only one that will protect our ally and keep us from going to war with Belial.”

One by one, the other Rulers finished reading and looked at me, listening.

“I sit here with the wisest women I’ve ever known, and I have the utmost respect for each of you. We’ve known each other for decades and we’ve weathered enormous difficulties together. I’m asking you each to trust me on this. At the very least, consider my reasoning.” I searched their eyes, reading their energies and body language.

They nodded. Mirroring back respect and even a little hope—which I was about to ruin.

“We are, quite literally, out of time. Belial’s army shipped out yesterday. I only heard of it this morning—moments before I messaged each of you. More likely than not their Mutazio army is also being positioned. I propose we ready our troops—some to go, some to stay at our borders. But before we decide that, let me tell you my hope for the nodes.” I held up a hand, as if to physically stop the words hovering on each set of lips, barely contained under rounded eyes that would be panicky if they didn’t belong to such seasoned Rulers.

They stayed silent.

“You all know Drey was like family to me. Drey struck a deal with Mardu.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.