The Queen's Admiral

Chapter 46: Terror and Chaos

"I think the lamp's been opened," Ensign Lorens announced as my companions and I all stared at him with apprehension.

"How?" Aunt Elsa asked.

Ensign Lorens was shaking but I knew it wasn't from the cold. "I... I... was watching... the lamp through the mirror... just like her majesty instructed I'm... I'm... sorry... I got... distracted. I mean I saw Prince Fredrik... letting out ice and he was me with that... that..." He couldn't seem to express it in words and he pointed in the direction of King Triton. "I'm sorry... I should have been watching the mirror..."

He went on babbling something incoherent that Admiral Westergard had to hold him by the shoulders and shake him to focus. "Lorens! Tell us what you saw!"

"That's just it," he cried. "I missed it! Something must have happened with the lamp while I wasn't looking... while I was watching you all here in the shore. When I... when I checked all I saw was some strange smoke... and lights... I... I'm not sure what it was... something blue next to the mouth of the lamp. I... heard... voices. I couldn't discern who they were... then... the mirror turned into a plain looking glass and refused to show me anything. I don't think it's working anymore."

Oh no, is there no end to the havoc I caused this night? I'm the Prince of Disaster!

Lorens handed the mirror to Admiral Westergard. He tried calling out to it to reveal people. But it did nothing but reflect his face as an ordinary mirror should.

"Something's definitely wrong," Admiral Westergard finally admitted. "It might be Heinrik who has the lamp or it could be somebody else. Let's not panic, but I think it would be better to take precautionary measures."

"What precautionary measures?!" a voice behind him asked. We realized we had forgotten about King Triton who was still standing right there and was privy to all of what we had been talking about for the last few minutes. "What is going on here?! I demand an answer!"

Aunt Elsa faced him a bow. "I apologize Sire, but we are in something of a crisis. There is a being, a powerful magical creature with almost omnipotent powers that may have just been released into the world. It's not yet certain, but... we may all be in danger."

"In danger!" he cried in alarm. "How so?"

Aunt Elsa and Admiral Westergard quickly explained as much as possible about the genie of the lamp. There was some difficulty in getting him to grasp the concept of a lamp as we realized he had never seen one before. They had to describe it to him before he could understand what we were talking about.

"And you're saying that this genie, this slave of this vessel you used to make light could potentially do anything?" King Triton asked.

"Yes," Admiral Westergard confirmed. "According to the stories surrounding it though, there are certain limitations. It can only grant three wishes to its master on anything except for three things: It can't kill, it can't make anyone fall in love and can't bring the dead back to life."

"So in the wrong hands this genie can be a powerful weapon," King Triton said.

"Yes Sire," Admiral Westergard answered. "We will do the best we can to find out who has it. I know, it's too much to ask, but may we request for your assistance in case something untoward occurs."

I never thought Admiral Westergard would be so bold as to ask the King of the Sea this. King Triton did not answer immediately which made me fear he might have taken such a request as an offense. But finally he nodded.

"Well somebody needs to make sure you humans don't end up killing yourselves. However, I only do this out of consideration for my daughter and granddaughter and I shall secure them under my care until this crisis is over." He turned again to the sand and spoke. "Sebastian! Call Ariel and Melody back here now!"