The Guardians of Time

Chapter Twenty-Six: Consumed

"MAYLO!" Stenos shouted into the open air as he kicked into the fireplace of the dining room in his castle.

The black marble shattered and fell to pieces beneath his foot, extinguishing the roaring blaze within. He tried to convince himself that he didn't need Maylo to complete his task, but it was now inevitably clear that to get where he wanted to go, Maylo needed to be there and the Waters were not ready. It was then, as the fireplace crumbled before him, that he realized the other Crafters had entered the room and were staring at him from the doorway.

"Don't just stand there like idiots! Sit!" He commanded.

The Crafters looked at one another before shuffling to the large table before them and sitting. They watched as their king paced, speaking pointedly under his breath and shaking his head.

"This is absurd!" He finally shouted. "I gave you all ample time to prepare the Waters; to do what was required so that I could snuff out the Kromwelles. How could they not be ready?!"

They eyed him carefully as he stopped and stared them down before exchanging another volley of confused looks among themselves. There was one Crafter who had become somewhat of a representative of the collective after Maylo disappeared and assuming he was now in charge, he stood.

"I-if I may, Sire. We are unsure of what you speak." He said meekly.

"The Waters!" Stenos shouted at them. "They aren't ready!" The look in his one good eye was searing evil. He was angry and he wanted everyone within the boom of his voice to know it.

"A-actually, Your Majesty, the Waters are ready. They have been for quite some time." The man raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Stenos replied, confused.

"They are done." The Crafter repeated.

"But Maylo informed me he was going to Corinns to finish them. Why would he lie?" Stenos frowned.

"I am not sure, Sire."

"And now, he's gone. One of my best men, destroyed and you're telling me that he was leaving the planet for reasons he didn't tell me?" Stenos sat at the head of the table.

"Fool!" He shouted as he slammed his fists on the table, sending cracks webbing through the surface.

"He was very loyal, Sire." The Crafter said. "But I don't see any reason why we can't move forward."

Stenos brought a finger to his chin in thought and was silent for a long while. If the Waters were ready, there shouldn't be anything standing in his way. But why had Maylo lied? If he wanted out, he could have told his king.

Sure, Stenos would have ripped his head from his body, but it would have been a swift death and Maylo would have been free. Plus, he would have gotten Maylo's wife as a slave. He didn't mourn for Maylo anymore. Instead, he started to realize how selfish he had been. Sneaking away when his king needed him. Obviously, he was better off dead.

"So be it." Stenos finally said. "We move on. I want to do a test run with the Waters myself. Do you have them with you?"

"Of course, Sire." The Crafter bowed his head.

"Good. Follow me to the Pool. I have a memory I would like to relive." Stenos said coldly, smiling wickedly.

He stood and left the room with the Crafters in tow. They weaved through the castle and made their way to the room with the bowl suspended from the ceiling held the Waters of Atlantis. Stenos got to the edge and peered over. His hideous reflection stared back at him with a twisted smile.

"The vile." He said to the lead Crafter stretching out his hand without turning around.

The Crafter placed the tiny glass vial in the king's hand, bowed and them stepped away as if he might explode.