“There are certain behavioural differences between us and the others.”

- A memory of the Old Ones.

***Atlantis***

***Magnus***

I watch Tetrach as he recounts his story in front of the elder. It is the same elder who oversaw my duel and he is looking at Tetrach with a mixed expression of curiosity and appalled shock. They are standing in the arena, while we are sitting up here in our pulpit.

Tina decided to join us together with Cecilia. I feel a little uncomfortable leaving the children just to Fiacre, but it can't be helped.

Then I notice the utter silence within the coliseum. Apparently, Gavin's ideas are equally distasteful to all the other clan-heads.

I return my attention to Tetrach and notice the big battery pack which Sely screwed to his head. I shudder and lean closer to her. “Did you have to leave the needles inside? He looks like a patchwork cyborg. Or a Borg, have you seen Star Trek?” Though I admit that the Borg never smiled. Tetrach seems to be comfortable enough with his new existence. The thought of having several needles inside my brain turns my stomach.

Sely nods. “Do you think he would be standing there and admitting his family's crimes if I hadn’t done that?”

I shake my head. “I still think that the chests are better. More humane.”

“Your method is barbaric!” Sely wants to go on, but the elder stops Tetrach's rambling with a gesture.

“We've heard enough!” The elder turns to the assembled ranks. “I think that we all agree that Gavin’s operation has to be shut down immediately. Nobody wants to be turned into one of his slaves.” The elder looks at the other elders who are waiting at their positions at the edge of the arena. “I suggest that we go there asap and try to stop it before it is too late.”

They nod with grave expressions and the elder turns back to study the ranks of the clan-heads. Then he points at someone in the south of the arena. “You! Jasper Hesserakt! The Yellowstone park is in your area of jurisdiction! A ritual like the one this worm described takes a lot of preparation. Why haven't you told anyone that the Hammons are entering and leaving your Veil as they please?”

The answer sounds a little puny and weak. “Our Veil doesn't extend to the indicated area! It's a neutral spot between us and our neighbours.”

The elder hisses and spits on the ground. “We'll see about that! In any case, there is something going wrong in your territory if someone can set up such a ritual right in front of your nose. The elders will have to take a very scrutinizing look at what's going on in your household. Something that affects our entire race can't be ignored. But for the time being, you can show your cooperation by allowing us to use your doorway. It's the fastest way to Yellowstone.”

Jasper looks offended, but he nods and gets to his feet. “The Hesserakt clan has nothing to hide. We aren't assisting the Hammons. I invite everyone who wants to join this venture to freely use our doorway.”

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I smile. That’s the only thing Jasper can do to save his hide. It would look too suspicious if he denied us access. I think everyone knows that it isn’t Jasper’s fault. Few clans care about what’s going on outside their Veil. The elder simply picked someone who lives close to the area and made it look like he could be involved, just to gain access to his doorway.

I like that guy.

The elder nods and then all the elders use levitation magic to fly up to Jasper's pulpit. He nods and guides them out of the coliseum, followed by other clan-heads.

I lean back in my seat and place both legs on the balustrade. “Well, that was easy for a change. I already expected that we would have to argue for them to intervene. But they actually got to their feet completely on their own. Seems like the end of civilisation and a madman who seeks world domination are enough of an argument.”

Cecilia jumps to her feet. “I am going with them. Gavin is mine to kill!” She rushes out of our pulpit and up the stairs.

I take my feet off the balustrade and sit up straight. “W- wait! Look at how many people are out for Gavin's head! There is no need for us to risk our necks!”

Tina sighs and gets up. “Sorry, Magnus. This is a matter of honour between the Rhondu and the Hammons. You don't have to risk your neck if you don't want to.” She gestures for her five guards to follow and together they join the little army that was formed on a whim.

Sely gets up and follows Tina. “Wait! I want to see it when Gavin gets his ass kicked! That's something I wouldn't miss for anything in the universe!”

“Sely, you are pr- pregnant! You can't join a fight!” I stand up, but she doesn't listen and I desperately try to find arguments. Then I notice Tetrach. He is still standing in the middle of the arena and smiles like a lobotomised idiot. I guess he is a lobotomised idiot. A forgotten, lobotomised idiot. “What about your brother!?” I point at him.

“Let him stay there until he rots!” she calls out without looking back.

I look back and forth between her retreating figure and Tetrach. By now, the coliseum is almost empty. I wonder if everyone is joining the elders, or if a large part of the people is simply going home.

“Argh!” I shake my fists and follow Sely. The stupid wench is carrying our child but goes right into danger. I wonder if there is something wrong with her brain! I hurry to catch up to the others, leaving Tetrach all alone in the arena.

We join a long procession to Jasper's doorway. It turns out that Jasper linked his door in Atlantis directly to a place at the border of his territory. It's almost funny to see a seemingly endless stream of people coming out of a small shop in a rural town.

In absence of a better plan, I decide to stick to Sely. It seems like the elders took control of this little campaign and with just a few words, they drafted an army of over a thousand Old Ones. I've never seen it happen before, so I am quite surprised at how much weight the words of the elders carry. But then I remember grandfather Hatlix. I would've frowned if he told me to fight for something, but I guess that I would've done it because he is my grandfather.

“I guess we have more than enough fighting power to squash a little country, but how are we going to move everyone to Gavin's base?” I ask. There are so many people that the street is being blocked. The humans are even beginning to ask if this is some sort of demonstration. The whole improvised character of this venture concerns me.

But our means of transportation is clear when one of the elders takes over a public bus and throws out the humans. Within seconds the clan-heads follow their example. The humans scream and protest when their vehicles are being taken. Some even try to fight and, of course, it does them no good.

Sely huffs. “Seems like the idea of presenting us from our good side went out of the window.”

Tina grumbles and walks over to an off-road car. I don't know the manufacturer, but it's one of those big, American dreadnoughts which have trouble fitting onto a road and waste insane amounts of gas. “This looks just fine. Must belong to one of the local farmers.”

She breaks into the car with more skill than I expected her to have and a few moments later the engine is running. “What are you waiting for? Women inside, and the men can get the truck bed.”

I grumble and hurry to get up next to the male guards. With Sely, Cecilia, Tina and two female guards inside the car, the vehicle is already filled to the brim. Then Tina puts the pedal to the metal and I have to use magic in order to hold onto the vehicle just not to fall off. “I highly doubt that your driving style is according to human traffic laws.”

One of the guards next to me chuckles. “I doubt that stealing the car was legal in the first place.” He points at a typical, fat American who just left a shop. He is running after us, screaming and waving his hands. As do many other humans who are now left without a means of transportation.

I sigh inwardly as Tina joins the long convoy of private vehicles. “I wonder what the humans will say in the news.”