* * * PARTHIA – TOD * * *

Vaar’s Beach proved to be a sprawling village protected by a timber palisade. From the deck of the Queenie Tod was able to study the place thanks to his binoculars. The village was built up against a creek and sprawled along the beach. There were several small fishing boats plying the calm water behind the rocky reefs.

He watched as one, bolder than the others, worked its way through the rocks and rowed up to the Queenie. Tod watched as several baskets of fresh fish were passed aboard in exchange for a silver coin and a handful of copper. From look on the faces of the fishermen, they were more than happy with the exchange.

The only fly in the ointment he could see were the racks, where the villagers were drying and preserving their catch. Tod gave good odds that when the wind was in the wrong quarter, it would stink to high heaven.

Tod dropped his binoculars to his chest and turned to Captain Gail Stormchaser. “Much better. I suspect they will welcome a dungeon. At least at first.”

“I’m certain they will,” she agreed.

“So can you show me this cove you mentioned?” asked Tod.

Twenty minutes later the Queenie's anchors hit the water. They were still on the seaward side of a rocky reef. On the other side of the reef lay a shallow sandy cove surrounded by low cliffs. Tod studied the cove through his binoculars for a long time.

“Yes this will do Gail. How are we going to get the stuff to the beach?” he asked.

Gail laughed. “Why, we’ll swim! We have several sea humans and a sea elf. That and storage devices, what could be easier.”

Tod slapped his head in exasperation; then stripped down to his swimming trunks while Gail barked orders. Tod joined several of the crew in diving into the sea. They made their way through the rocky reefs and through the cove. Tod dove and examined the sandy bottom as he went. He was the last to emerge from the waters and walk across the beach.

Then they explored all three of the small caves Tod had spotted from the Queenie. He finally settled for the one at the top of the dry sandy beach, at the head of the cove. It was the only one that wasn’t tidal. Tod made his way to the back of the cave and seated himself on a camp chair that he produced from his storage ring. He looked up at his two new friends. “Well, I guess this is it.”

Mason exchanged a look with Rita and they grinned. “Do you want us to wait outside? And do you want us to allow that eager scamp Silverfin into your cave?”

Tod looked at Mason with surprise. “Silverfin? Is she here?”

“Yes,” confirmed Mason. “She is still determined to be a dungeon companion. Especially when you bought the were-seal template from Mother.”

“Sea leopard, not seal. They are different animals. Sea lions too. Though I’m not sure why Mary decided to throw those in as a bonus. Fine let her enter after I’ve changed.” Tod chuckled, “I still have to see if I can claim the beach outside this cave.”

“There should be no problem,” affirmed Rita. “Several dungeons own a patch of ground outside their dungeons proper.”

“Probably because Mother knows something about your sea leopards you failed to recognise,” explained Mason.

“Thanks again you two, for offering to act as guards until I’ve established my defences.”

“Ah Bah!” said Rita as she and Mason left the cave.

Tod watched them go, and then he got up from the chair and sat on the sand of the cave. He placed the two storage gems by his feet and released the hold he had been consciously maintaining on his humanity.

* * * EARTH – ARENA OF BLOOD * * *

Frog and Angel liaised with Frog and Strelitzia and with Lewis Carroll and Alice. As a small favour Lewis created a long tunnel that came up half a kilometre outside the walls on Conimbriga. The other end ended just outside Frog’s domain. Then Lewis relinquished control of the near kilometre long tunnel.

Frog expanded his domain slightly, worrying the Conimbrigan authorities; and linked a tunnel of his own to the tunnel in question.

Then Frog and Angel offered the US authorities; who were camped around his dungeon in ever increasing numbers, access to this new exit, explaining in vague terms how it came to be. He didn’t mention Lewis Carroll. He just hinted at being helped by a local dungeon. Said help given in the hopes of help in casting off the shackles of slavery.

* * *

The following days were interesting. The adventurers from Tarifax returned, the Houma city authorities had hired them, or rather hired most of them. The werewolf seemed to have a different paymaster. Her reported links to Blue Lagoon had attracted attention from a different branch of the government.

From what he was overhearing the local and national agencies were trying to buy the farm where the tunnel opened out. Frog and Angel found the grumbling at having to use gold amusing, especially given how the value of gold was so artificially inflated on Earth.

« You know Angel, I wonder if the US authorities realize what the dungeons ability to create gold is going to do to the world’s gold market? »

“What? Why?” asked Angel. “It’s just metal. Rather heavy, so it costs more mana than other more useful ones.”

* * * THE GARDENS OF PARADISE * * *

Foozharn Longlegs the majordomo of Meek’aym’ooz’s palace tossed another honey coated fried cockroach into his beak and crunched it thoughtfully. He sighed in contentment and tossed down a measure of southern firewater. He burped up a small-misshaped fire ring.

Rather reluctantly he reached for one of the documents that was piled up in his never empty in box. He read it swiftly. He scrawled ‘No’ at the bottom of the last page and tossed it into his out box for one of the many undersecretaries infesting the palace to deal with.

The in pile was significantly decreased when he was surprised by a very short four-page missive. He scanned it and his eyes bugged out in shock and surprise- In consequence, he coughed out a jet of fire.

Shocked, he looked at the scrap of burnt paper he was holding. ‘Oh I say, probably for the best. Got to send a letter to this naïve youngster with some honest advice. The girl simply can’t treat the Greater Gods like this. I really wouldn’t want the poor thing hurt out of ignorance. Oh Gods above, I pity whomever has to relay a reply of this nature to lord Meek’aym’ooz.’

* * *

As was the custom, Meek’aym’ooz was lounging in his public office receiving his secretaries and undersecretaries.

“... and in a very polite missive the new minor goddess Mary, Mother of Monsters and Blackbeard’s Bane begged leave to delay her appearance before your magnificence due to having many important duties to conclude.”

Meek’aym’ooz waved a languid hand. “Very well, I’ll give her a month. Please advise her as to her scheduled appointment.”

“Certainly my lord. It shall be done.” And with that the undersecretary bowed himself out as another of his colleagues took his place.

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

Mary looked over her much diminished recruits. The only good thing is that they were truly desperate, and though weakened they came from a world with a huge population which gave them several crumbs. Bes, for instance had benefited from staring in a couple of popular fantasy books. Though Mary thought they had probably twisted him slightly.

So she had four gods willing to risk all by helping her in Ambuila. Bes was a protector of households and mothers, children and childbirth. And the beep dwarf liked to fight. Achuhucanac came from Tenerife and was a rain god.

Then she had Ratumaibulu from mama’s Fiji, he was a snake god and he presided over agriculture. Finally she had Shulmanu, a god of the underworld, fertility, and war from Mesopotamia.

Now she had to take them to Parthia so her followers could welcome them as part of her pantheon before teaching those imbeciles on Ambuila a lesson. They might even be useful on Fragatta now it was just starting to turn green.

* * *

« Gods of information! How in hell did anyone get through these defences... God help me! I have to fix this program, and I don’t know how it is broke. »

Mary sat bolt upright and her eyes opened wide in surprise. She glanced around, yes she was still in a remote, all but forgotten and little used corner of the Earth’s Gods Realm.

And yet that heartfelt prayer... But she didn’t know... but she knew whom to ask...

« Mycroft... Can you be an Angel? My Angel. I have a worshiper asking for help and I need a messenger... »

* * * EARTH – IN THE NEWS * * *

From the CNN news desk:

“The Russians continue to deny involvement in the barbarous slaughter of the Somali Pirates. As you may remember, our news team was shown around the scene of the massacre. There was ample evidence of the barbarous murder of surrendered fighters.

“The leader of the contractors who rescued the hostages clearly stated that their paymaster had a Russian accent. As did the master of the boat they were loaned for the mission.

“Despite all the evidence, the spokesperson of the Russian Federation continues to deny involvement.”

“In other news, The President...”

* * *

“We are here to record the protests against the X rated Game Show that is being produced by the entity known as ‘Bet Your Life’. The show stars the nymphs Chloë and Mellissa and the satyr Cassanova.”

* * *

The TV showed a number of National Guard soldiers and vehicles in a rural setting. By the vegetation the location was somewhere in the south.

“And here we have what we have been informed is the location of the latest dungeon to be found in the US. We are some miles to the south of Houma in Louisiana. The...”

The viewers then saw a sergeant approach. “Please move on, you are blocking the road.”

“Is it true that this is the location of the dungeon known as Arena of Blood?”

“No comment,” the sergeant seemed to love saying that. “Now move on.”