Pardon? he queried.

Heliona forgive me. She removed the headband and lifted her veil clean off her head. Then stood, eyes lowered to the ground in fear.

After a seemingly endless silence, Turan placed a finger beneath her chin and raised her head for her to look him in the eye. You've been here all the time?

I did propose to you once, she sniffled, forcing a laugh as she shrugged.

That was you? He could have kicked himself. He felt he had no right to ask her to abdicate her position now, and he could not lay claim to her whilst she held it. If only I'd known!

Well, now that you do know, know this also. She gazed up at him with a hopeless expression upon her face. I would sooner give up my life's work than consent to the termination of your life.

And I would rather live out my days in misery, than force you into that position.

As this was not really the response Temperance had hoped for, she lowered her eyes and moved away from him. Well then, that would seem to leave us right where we are.

If that is what you wish. The Shar bowed his head to her.

She turned back to view him, maddened by his stance. Why had it been so easy for him to confess he loved her a moment ago and so difficult now when she so desperately needed to hear it? What I wish? I would like to know what you wish, Turan.

The Shar knew what she wanted to hear, yet it was not his place to make this decision for her. My only desire is for you to be happy. I am entirely at your disposal.

So I must decide our fate alone then?

No, Temperance. Turan ventured to close the space between them. You have only to choose your destiny, and mine shall follow accordingly. But, if I could be so bold as to put forward something in my own cause?

Yes? she appealed, feeling that she would renounce everything at even the slightest hint that he felt as she hoped.

Turan's response was unexpected and convincing.

Temperance had never conceived of such emotion as his kiss aroused in her and for a few brief moments she completely lost herself in it.

Yet when Turan realised she had started to weep again, he stepped away. Forgive me. I have upset you again.

Not at all, she hugged him, tightly. These tears are of relief. I was so horrified Lamamu had left without telling you.

Lamamu knew! Turan was almost enraged to discover this, so Temperance quickly added: I was afraid of the decision I'd be forced to make, if you discovered Lamamu and I were one and the same.

Turan understood this fear well. It was not so long ago that Lamamu had forced him to make a similar choice. As scary as it had been at the time, resuming his physical form was one of the best decisions he'd ever made.

So she never did tell you then? Temperance was amazed. Which means, I have brought this on myself. She seemed pleased about it. It really was meant. She gazed up at the Shar, her beaming smile conveying the peace she felt in her soul.

No one knows better than I, he said, that as surely as you and I are upon this earth, we belong together.

Then who are we to question the will of the Gods? Her lips lingered only inches from his. So be it.

PART II.

THE SON.

The Red Centre

9.

IN THE BLOOD.

Tory and Ray returned to the twenty-first century the day after their departure for Atlantis. The ICA were probably searching for them, and Tory didn't want to risk losing her kin or her craft. Since Myrddin's cave was chock-a-block with the Atlantean spoils for the Goddess, she manifested the chariot in the torch-lit earthen corridor that led to the secret cavern of treasures at Dinas Emrys.

'Tory!' Myrddin stepped out from within the piles of equipment, looking rather cranky.

'Yes, father, I know what you're going to say.' She climbed out of her transport, unfazed by his obvious irritation. 'I'll have it all out of your way in a couple of days.'

'Well, why on earth didn't you send it to Taliesin's abode? He's not using it at present.'

'Look, I'm sorry.' Tory was feeling a little tense herself, having left without saying goodbye to Turan and knowing he might be in a bit of a bind. 'I wasn't thinking straight.'

Myrddin rolled his eyes. 'So what else is new?'

While Tory and her father argued, Ray silently crept over to inspect the large metal plates that would house the Goddess' hover-systems.

'Tory!' Ray looked at her, aghast. 'He just walked straight through this!'

'Sorry, Ray, you've never met my father, have you?'

She casually motioned to the bizarre character dressed in the long flowing robes of a druid.

Myrddin's long, black, wispy hair was streaked with grey. A dash of grey hair began at each side of his mouth, also, and extended to meet in a central point below his chin to form a perfect triangle amidst the dark hair of his beard. The man's eyes were wild, wide and green, like a stormy sea, and those bushy eyebrows made him appear all the more ferocious.

'This is your father?' Ray squeaked, with a gulp. 'I thought Professor Renford Alexander was -?'

Myrddin spun around in a clockwise direction and turned into the aging professor of British history. 'Now you see him ...' Renford spun anti-clockwise, 'now you don't.' The Merlin raised his eyebrows a couple of times.

'Ray. I'd like you to met Myrddin.' Tory placed an arm around her awestruck friend as he was looking a little green around the gills again.

'As in King Arthur ... Myrddin?' Ray hesitantly extended his hand, and Tory cringed knowing her father wasn't going to appreciate the comparison.

'No, you silly goose.' Myrddin slapped Ray's hand away, angered by the long-standing misconception.

'Arthur never actually existed! He was merely conjured up to account for the feats of a number of great warrior kings. Who, I might add, were robbed of their due.' He nodded sagely, leaving through the same wall of metal plates that he had emerged from.

Ray felt a little bemused. 'Am I in the twilight zone, or do I just need to brush up on my history?'

'You'll have to forgive Dad's intolerance. He's more used to the company of trees and animals these days.'

Tory took hold of Ray's hand, eager to get back to the rest of her kin.

'Ah-ha,' Ray uttered, bleary-eyed, as the light ethers began to engulf them.

When they appeared back in her quarters on board the Goddess, Ray and Tory were unexpectedly thrust off balance and flung to the floor.

'What the hell was that?' Tory struggled against the force of the vessel to raise herself from Ray.

'It felt like we hit something.' He struggled to get them both upright, when the craft suddenly tilted in the opposite direction and they slid to the other side of the cabin. 'You do care ...' Ray grinned as Tory again attempted to peel herself off him. 'All bets are still on, you know ... one hundred bucks.'

'Murdock! Just get off the door, so we can open it.'

She gripped the handle, and, along with another jolt of the sub, the door swung open. Tory managed to hold fast and grabbed hold of Ray as he was flung past her.

'Where do you think you're going, the control deck is that way.' She gave Ray a great shove and got him moving in the right direction.

They bumped and clawed their way to the central control room. The rest of the crew had huddled behind Teo and Naomi who were busy piloting the vessel.

'What's the story?' Tory stumbled over to join them all.

'It's about time you showed.' Brian gave her a dirty look. 'You were right. We're in deep shit.'

A blast was heard outside the vessel and everyone braced themselves as Teo swerved the Goddess away from it. 'Jesus, that was too close.'

'Would somebody please tell me what is going on?!'

Tory was annoyed to find she'd jumped through time from one traumatic situation into another.

'There's a naval sub on our arse trying to persuade us to surface.' Brian was none too happy to admit it. 'Any bright ideas, Einstein?'

It took a few seconds for the news to sink in. 'How far are we from the dive site for Chailidocean?'

'About three miles, and four thousand feet,' Naomi informed.

'Head for Mount Dur-an-ki,' Tory suggested, 'but, for God's sake, don't pass directly over it.'

'I follow.' Teo grinned, recalling what had happened to Merlin II when Tory had attempted to land there.

'We're going to get fried before we even get close,'

Brian whispered urgently.

'Yeah, right! And lose all Ray's precious research. I don't think so.' Tory set his mind at ease, knowing it was the risk to his family that was making him so edgy.

'Where's our huge friend when we need him, hey?'

I'd forgotten about him. Rhiannon braced herself as best she could as a plan formulated in her mind. She needed to be able to concentrate.

Teo led their pursuers deeper, planning to do a 180 arc around the mount. He hoped he was far enough ahead for the navy to anticipate his course, cut the corner to intercept the Goddess, and encounter the strange energy field that emanated from the mountain.

'Tory, you know they won't last five minutes at this depth without power?'

'It's us or them,' she stated coldly.

Ray looked at her, poised like a statue, with no hint of uncertainty. 'Those men are only following orders.

They don't know what's really going on.'

'Well, what would you suggest we do? Have you already forgotten that the last lot of men who were following Doc's orders beat you senseless?'

Ray had to think about it a moment. 'It still doesn't make it right though, does it?'

A grim smile crossed Tory's face. 'Once the chief of justice, always the chief of justice, eh Ray?'

The sonar pinged and they could see there was now a third player in their dilemma.

'Animal, vegetable or mineral?' Brian had found his sense of humour, having realised Tory was right; if their pursuers were aiming to harm them they'd be at the bottom of the ocean by now.

'It's the dino-fish, alright.' Naomi confirmed.

Another torpedo exploded nearby. How Noah wished he was on the Merlin shooting the entire incident. 'Moby Dick is surely not going to like those guys treating his girlfriend in this fashion.'

'What's lover boy doing?' Tory steadied herself against the back of Teo's seat to view the sonar.

'He's headed for the bogey, and ... contact! They seem to have changed their course.' Teo cheered, as did everyone, ecstatic to have them off their tail.

'Best get moving.' Rhiannon snapped out of her daze. 'He'll keep them turning in circles for a while.'

'How do you know?' Tory queried, taking her daughter under her arm.

'Call it intuition.' Rhiannon winked at her mother.

'Where to now then?' Teo turned in his seat to consult Tory and Brian.

Brian was perusing the large screen of the map table, mulling over their options. 'Are we thinking to head for Australia?' He glanced at his sister.

'I'll need a few hours to confirm it, but I believe we are.' She chewed on her lip, frustrated. They were more pushed for time than she'd expected.

'Well, north through the Pole is out. It will be crawling with UN personnel. Doc Alexander dropped another bombshell last night,' he advised Tory and Ray. 'But I'll get to that presently.' Brian looked to the south on his map. 'So, going down around the bottom of Africa would be the ticket, though we'll be damn lucky to make Australia without being spotted.'

'You let me worry about that.' Tory eyed the great distance. 'Tell me about Doc?'