Chapter 12

A shadow watched a building from an alley. In spots, the figure could see weapons being carried by the Tlaxcala soldiers that were not spears, arrows, or clubs tipped with sharpened obsidian. They were guns and other weapons from the lost civilization of Murau.

Each regular Murau gun could launch a bullet at the speed of sound that could wreck a human being in an instant. When Murau wanted someone dead, they were dead. These on the other hand were the most advanced guns that the Murau created- those were able to send a coin size object at near the speed of light. Those rifles were mostly destroyed in the destruction of the continent of Murau. Merlin probably had them stored on the Avalon.

Any others left in this age would be possible in the fleets that had gone to fight the Great Enemy. The figure knew that, but what worried the figure before heading over to the building in the noon day sun was that the worst of weapons from the dead civilization had been their specialized blades.

The figure knew one still existed somewhere in a lake in England. It slumbered unchanged from the ravages of time. That sword had been given by Merlin to its guardian after recovering it. A machine made to look like a mermaid continued to guide that blade. No doubt the machine was finally starting to fall apart, and the next time, the figure would be able to get Sword Excalibur, the sword of kings. Merlin didn’t know that sword could act as a key to something that the figure had found. Probably another thousand before the guardian finally fell apart.

However now wasn’t the time to wonder if the figure could find Excalibur and access that treasure trove near the bottom of the pacific. No, it was time to pay the debt. Pressing a button on the arm, light swirled around the figure altering a now visible face into a man’s face as other features started to appear. There was low roar as something seemed to flicker to life buried in the water as the transforming figure began to walk.

Huitzilopochtli stood looking at the men who were once the same age as him, but now they had become old men. He has the weapon that Merlin told him was a rifle holstered on his shoulder.

One of the other attendants looked at him. “The Council of elders did that to them. I remember those two were some of the younger ones. The other one in the bed I didn’t know, but They appeared to be many, many seasons more than they should be. What foul magic did they commit to deserve this?”

It was a question that Huitzilopochtli asked himself several times since arriving at the apartment that the ancient had set up for the three remaining priests. He remembered guarding them when the second batch of travelers had arrived. They suddenly look even older than when he had escorted them from the place the first time. Their aging had forced him to pull back that night which allowed the Aztecs to capture most of the travelers.

“They were part of the nine who pulled those future men through time. Six of them were stolen during a previous raid by the Aztecs without anyone seeing. From what the ancient says, each time the spell is used it drains life. Even those two are the youngest of the nine, are aging rapidly.”

Huitzilopochtli pointed at the two in a corner.

The other guard wearing the strange uniform that seemed to be cooler than the clothing that the Tlaxcalan. There was no good explanation on how it breathed better than just the loincloth, and it also seemed cool as well. The ancient didn’t explain how this was possible, but he apologized that he didn’t have any helmets for the warriors.

And the other guard spoke. “I use to be friends with one of them. He was a jerk then, and now, I wonder if he will die soon. It makes one think how long do any of us have when the gods are involved.”

Huitzilopochtli nearly spoke up to talk about the possibility that the gods were not involved. And then there was a knock at the door. Huitzilopochtli went to the door of the stone apartment. There were two guards above. The two priests sat a bit dazed on a bed sleeping off lunch while the third slept in a bed. It wasn’t the most luxurious apartment.

As Huitzilopochtli went to the door, he gave a look to the two guards above. Each gave a nod as they primed the weapons that the ancient had given them.

Opening the door, a figure in a heavy cloak walked through, and it was the ancient who stood there when he removed the hood. There was something off, but Huitzilopochtli couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Honored Ancient, you are earlier than expected,” said the head of Merlin’s Guards.

Merlin smiled. “I was able to get here quickly. I am concerned that the priests are aging faster than I expected. Atlantean magic requires too much sacrifice. However, I can stabilize it.”

Out of nowhere, Merlin pulled out his staff. The guards at the windows in the upper levels stood down. Merlin was led by Huitzilopochtli to the two who slept next to the cool stone of the apartment.

“You should have found one with a basement that is cooler during the day.”

Merlin looked and examined the two. Touching their ears, the ancient seemed to concentrate. “This is not good.” The ancient then used his staff to touch the third lightly on the ear as well.

“If I just realized this sooner, I could have stabilized them like the . . .no problem. I have a means to keep them from dying too quickly.”

Merlin reached into the robe, and he took a piece of metal out of a pocket. Placing it onto the nape of one of the priests, a swoosh sound could be heard after a button got pressed. Energy seemed to flow from it for a second as Merlin started on the second. And for a moment, Huitzilopochtli’ eyes narrowed as he saw a being who had mocha skin when energy discharged from the third.

However, before Huitzilopochtli could react, Merlin or the figure who took his form used the staff and struck both Huitzilopochtli and his companion down. Raising both hands up, the figure shot magic out of his hands as light around showed a woman of mocha skin with straight black hair wearing a robe with something purple underneath it.

It was at that moment that the two gunmen on the second floor fell to the ground turning to dust. She held Huitzilopochtli down with her staff that changed to wood from the more metallic staff of Merlin. With a fling of her hand, magic flew off her hand which freezes the other guard to stone.

Huitzilopochtli struggled, but the witch seemed to be able to press hard with staff on him. The guard began to gain strength against being push down as he reached out. He was almost able to get the rifle.

Circe noticed this, and she jumped off the guard. “Go to the window,” she ordered to a priest as she flew back beside the gun. The two priest with a vacant gaze got up and started to walk towards windows on the second floor. The third rose with the light blanket on him.

Picking up the gun, Circe reduced it to ash as she touched while whispering in an ancient forgotten tongue.

Huitzilopochtli looked for option as he got back up. His three allies were not an option as the three priests walked with no will up the stairs. “Careful, and get on the boat, darlings.”

“Witch, what is your game?”

Circe laughed. “My game is getting everything cleaned up, and gaining one more piece to my ultimate plan.”

Huitzilopochtli noticed that one of the guards’ guns did not dissolve. It was by the window. The Tlaxcala warrior stood and jumped towards the side of the wall and started to climb. He didn’t have much time to think of another plan.

Circe laughed. “Why do all men do stupid things when backed into a corner?”

The last priest had reached the second floor and started to go towards one of the windows.

Circe laughed. “The other window, darling. Like your friends.”

She had taken off the robe that dropped to the ground. Revealing her feminine form fully, she wore a purple dress of silk while picking up the robe that she tore off. Her sandals slapped against the ground.

“You must remember, I need one of you alive to tell Merlin when he does arrive what I am up to. So, he rushes after me. He tends to be my good puppy.” she said as she raised her staff.

Huitzilopochtli got hit by the bolt and fell to the ground. Only Circe looked at Huitzilopochtli as she walked towards him as he slumped over. “Typically, I’d be in my skinsuit for weather like this. And here instead, I am in this great purple dress, and you are on the ground, Let’s face it that jumpsuit doesn’t work with this robe. Now, I am going to want you to tell Merlin that he can find me using your tracker on your gun.”

The warrior looked delirious which Circe shook his head. “Okay, I guess that I will have to put a tracker on my skiff myself. I probably should have held back with the blast.”

Circe walked up the stairs as local people started to notice that the priests were just floating. This made Circe sigh. “You were supposed to walk into the cockpit.”

Circe picked up the weapon that Merlin’s last guard had that could also track her. Reading the dials in Murau felt oddly reassuring since there were barely any examples of the written language left.

Taking the gun, she hit the smaller cloaked skiff with a tracker, and then she shifted the gun to tracking mode. Taking out the ammo clip, she threw the gun below at the semi-conscious warrior that she left.

“Hopefully, Merlin gets the idea of where I am going. And now, I am going to have to pick up the rest of the priests. And then get this mess all taking care of. Sometimes, I have to wonder how he was the Archon that survived. All too complicated.”

It took Merlin longer to get to the secure apartment that he had procured for the final three priests. His guards were making him wait as there was a commotion somewhere close to the apartment. One had gone on ahead to make sure that everything was all right considering the commotion.

Then he noticed two kids running about, and that was when Merlin suddenly had his heart drop. Merlin made out what one them said, “The gods took the priests into the air.”

The ancient wizard didn’t want to believe it because he knew what that meant. “Come, gentlemen.”

Merlin quickly walked towards the apartment. “Get the people of the way,” he said as they marched with the scout coming back worried and a bit out of breath.

“Ancient, the apartment has been razed. Only Huitzilopochtli is still there.”

Merlin nodded. “Shift your weapons to light mode, and shoot into the sky. And whatever you do keep moving.”

The men did so, and the crowds started to disperse in front of the party. Men, women, and children scattered. Some screamed as they panicked. Merlin didn’t care if he scared them. He was tired of this whole situation, and his men were probably in trouble.

There was barely anyone who tried to stop him. They arrived at the apartment opening the door. There was Huitzilopochtli looking delirious. With a flick of his wrist, Merlin revived the man.

Being helped up by two other guards, Merlin watched as Huitzilopochtli rose from where he had been looking disappointed.

“Ancient, the witch attacked. She took us disguised as you. I am sorry- she took the priests and killed my men.”

Merlin realized that Huitzilopochtli looked remorseful. “Come, let’s investigate the situation. Did she say anything else?”

Huitzilopochtli nodded. “She knocked me out, and she spoke about something. I found the tracker gun next to me that you gave me. I had no idea what she did while I was unconscious.”

Looking at the only remaining gun. Picking up the rifle, Merlin looked, and it had fired the tracker device.

“No worries, Huitzilopochtli. I understand what she meant. It was what I wanted to happen, but we are now walking into a trap.”

Merlin looked at the transmitter received on the gun. “I can track the witch, but we must race to my ship. All of you, will need to be ready. I suspect that we are going to be facing more than we are expecting.”

Huitzilopochtli nodded, but he soon had a question. “What about the young Lord Ashton?”

Merlin nodded. “It is soon time for his patrol, and unfortunately, I do not think that we can get back to him in time to help him. I suspect that this all coming to a head.”

Merlin looked at two of the guard. “Help Huitzilopochtli up. We will need to be quick. There is still a chance that we can make it back to the compound before Ashton tries to go on patrol. If we can do that, we might be able to help him from dying horribly.”

Huitzilopochtli nodded as two of them walked closed to him. Merlin handed the rifle to one of the other guards. “Hold this. And we are not stopping for anything until we get back to the compound.”

The guards were ready for the march, but Merlin noticed something on the ground. It was a gun clip. Merlin also looked at the statue on the ground. He touched the statue of the guard, and it turned to dust.

“Circe, you didn’t have to do this much horror,” said Merlin. Then he looked at his guards. “Time to march.”