Faunus had excellent hearing, but you didn’t need it to know something was very amiss in Nautilus.

Faunus’s mouth tightened.

He looked to Saturn.

Teddy looked to Saturn.

His mouth was tight too.

“Let us go see if we can find our horses,” Faunus muttered, but moved to the men on the floor.

He took their weapons, disbursed them between their crew, and unsurprisingly, he then took the lead as he carefully guided them into what sounded like pandemonium.

Queen Farah

Queen’s Study, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

It started as the sound of running feet.

Then the door burst open and Nav was there.

We all slowly stood from our seats around the table even as he spoke.

“Lock this behind me and do not leave this room.”

“What’s happening?” Ha-Lah asked.

He didn’t answer.

He slammed the door.

Ha-Lah rushed to it.

I rushed to the window.

“Do you see anything?” Ha-Lah called.

I did not, except for the lovely grounds of Keel Castle and the back of Medusa’s Gate at the end of the lane.

Thus, I answered, “No.”

But I whipped around when more running feet could be heard as well as some shouts.

“We have no weapons,” Ha-Lah hissed, standing several feet back, but staring at the door.

The screech of steel against steel could be heard, and I turned my head toward the fireplace.

Ry stood there holding the fire poker. “Yes, we do.”

Ha-Lah and I rushed to him.

He gave Ha-Lah the poker, me the shovel, and he took the tongs.

Even less optimistic noises came from beyond the door.

We all took hold of our makeshift weapons, steadied our stances, and kept our gazes alert on door.

King Mars

The Beach, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

“True! True!”

Both men turned from their study of the sea, only to see Florian sprinting their way.

They were on their feet in less than a breath and tearing through the sand to him.

When they met, Florian did not delay.

“They attack.”

“The Beasts?” True asked.

“No, their army,” Florian answered.

True recoiled.

“What army?” Mars barked.

Florian looked to him. “I don’t know what army. But they have a gods-damned, bloody, fucking army.”

“We must instigate the plan,” True declared. “Immediately.”

Mars looked back to the sea.

“Mars, Farah is in that castle!” True bit out.

He looked to his friend. “Silence.”

“Warn her and let us go!”

But True did not wait.

He and Florian raced back to the castle.

Mars raced back down the sand.

Quickly, with his boot, he gouged out one word.

Only when he was done did he sprint to the seat of the King of Mar-el.

Leaving behind a message that couldn’t be misread.

DANGER.

Queen Ha-Lah

Queen’s Study, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

The fighting could be heard outside the door.