Read Online The Gift From Poseidon: When Gods Walked Among Us (Volume 2) by J. A. Ginegaw - Free Book Online

in.”
    Hands across her chest, Diedrika practically gulped for air.  By way of the sudden shaking and splendor of the occasion, many hearts now raced madly.
    “You could not be more correct, Good Historian,” Diedrika quipped in a high-pitched, excited voice.  How she spoke so differently to some versus others fascinated Penelope.  “Let us hope his tantrum subsides so as not to leave me the ruler of a destroyed city!”
    “Or a melted one!” Penelope chimed cheerfully from behind Judiascar.  Polite laughs followed.
    Zarathustra offered as warm a look as his rigid face and unfeeling blackened eyes allowed.  As did the rest of them, he no doubt marveled not so much at the sight of it all, but of the one.  Even with a third of her tail tucked under to raise her upright, Queen Diedrika rose close to a pike tall and her reflective emerald green eyes gleamed brightly as she peered at their world with both a charming curiosity and command of everything and everyone.  Sweeping curves Sapien women would die for blending in perfect harmony with sinewy muscles men envied – Diedrika owned the strength to match.  A female Mermaid easily as strong as any male Centaur or Sapien, male Mermaids were just a tad stronger.
    The top that covered her chest was of a single strip woven from Arachna silk and dyed purple.  When in water, silk became less flexible – as if thick leather.  Thin, sculpted bronze armor covered most everywhere else.  When in Atagartis, every piece of clothing had to be just as functional in the water as outside it.  On land, however, a Mermaid could wear much the same as what a Sapien would.  Near all of them did on this day, but not Diedrika.
    A Mermaid unlike any of those she ruled – why should she dress as if she were?
    “Your new bow, Great Queen; although a gift recently given, its tale is already near legend.”  Zarathustra leaned in.  “Is it true, Diedrika?  Is the bow truly unbreakable?”
    The inventor of the Mermaid multi-string compound bow unhitched hers from the holder strapped to and slung over her back.  She then held it out for Zarathustra to see.  Capable of shooting two arrows at once – even the heavier bronze-made ones – its construction was pure genius.  Made of carved mammoth tusk at the center, alternating strips of Kauri and bamboo wood held together by animal glue made up the rest.  Although made from tusk and wood with bronze fittings and levers, the bow gleamed as if a single arc of curved gold.  No need to try to break the bow, how it shimmered made it obvious that a Sapien spell wrapped about its every fiber.  Zarathustra could only shake his giant, eight-eyed head in awe.
    “Your magnificence and that of every Mermaid, my dear queen, inspires us all!  It is my dearest hope that your reign forever reflects the brilliance of your endless radiance.”
    Not much left to say after this, Hezekiah offered some kind words of his own, bowed low, rubbed his beak against Diedrika’s elegant hand, and next embraced his burly new king.
    “Few would have the courage to wear Semitius’ war helmet,” Hezekiah told Judiascar warmly.  “And you and your father are the only two who could ever wear it so well.”
    “That twenty-eight centuries have passed,” Judiascar returned in his burly bellow, “and that this ancient helmet of bronze and gold still exists is a miracle in itself!  My son – he will wear it just as well!”  Hezekiah tilted his head down and smiled kindly at the snoozing Zacharias.  He then looked up again.
    “My heart swells with pride for you, my dear friend.  My dear king.”
    *****
    Cheers erupted all around for yet another grand display of lava and smoke.  Penelope turned behind her and peeked above the lip of the arena at the active volcanoes.  Using her walking sticks, she then made her way to the top step for a better look: A grand view she had yet to behold from this skyward perch was her reward.  A valley with a southern wall