Fire & Ice: War Games

‘There is no expeditious road
To pack and label men for God,
And save them by the barrel-load,
Some may perchance, with strange surprise,
Have blundered into Paradise.’

Francis Thompson, Epilogue (st. 2)


Sea gulls glided on the warm wind above the foaming waves crashing across the tanned sand before rushing back. Lush and long green blades of grass waved in the salty breeze up high on the shore’s banks. Sparkling crystle towers rose from the earth and reached towards the clear sky above as the sun shined down upon them.

For those who were fortunate enough to call this Eden home, there was no denying that heaven was a place on Earth. Blond and bronzed children played happily in the wild fields,ivioivious to the darkness and cruelty lurking at the doorsteps of their isolated world. Here peace and tranquility reigned supreme, as common as the marble stone streets beneath their leather sandaled feet. An alluring temptation few outsiders could resist if given the slightest opportunity.

The blue-green surface rippled as four heads broke through, spurting and gasping for air to fill their burning lungs. Swimming towards the tan beach, they ignored the bewildered and curious looks generated by their sudden appearance in the tropic waters. Crawling out of the surf’s reach, they collapsed from exhaustion on the warm sand. Oceanic water drizzled down their faces and ran off their nude forms as locks of hair lay plastered to their faces. Four pairs of eyes fluttered close as their labored breathing began to ease.

Cautiously, a half dozen lean men crept down the clay like embankment and slowly drew near the slumbering strangers on the beach. The braver of the investigators poked the forms with the curved ends of their shepherd’s crooks. Sighing with relief as the foreigners remained undisturbed, the natives quietly discussed the current events taking place before their eyes.

Agreeing with the unspoken decision of their community, the investigators dragged the unconscious men back to their small village. Leaving four of their strongest men watching, gung ong over the sleeping figures as they called a meeting of the wisest heads their civilization had born.




The fine amphitheater that housed the forgotten empire’s sports also housed the seats for their elected body of officials. Deafening noise swallowed the oval shaped building as bodies representing the small empire far and wide clamored for their seats and ordinary spectators assembled in the tiers above the legislative body.

A withering figure crept across the polished black marble stage, oblivious to the activity around the crystle building. Pounding the end of the staff on the marble, the bustle of activity quickly came to an as tas those assembled found their seats. Glancing around the colossal chamber as the last stragglers seated themselves on the hard benches, the decrepit figure cleared his throat. “Since the time the Gods created the first man and the woman were set up on the earth, we have sought their divine guidance for the path our feet tread. In the absence of their divine influence, our ancestors turned to the wisdom of their elders to speak in the place of the Gods.”

The fragile figure wobbled off the marble platform as two young boys ascended the stairs at opposite sides, each carrying torches. Solemnly walking towards the center of the black marble stage, they held their heads up high as they calmly approached the gold bowl in the center. Wordlessly, the teenage boys dropped their torches into the amber oil within the bowl embedded in the polished platform. Titan sized red-orange flames leapt towards the vaulted ceiling, licking at the air.

A small band of aged men hobbled onto the polished platforarefareful of the rising flames. “As all are surely aware, for the first time in nine generations outsiders have washed onto our shores. We have therefore assembled from far and wide to answer this riddle sent to us by the Gods. Are they friend or foe, why are they here? After consulting the oracle of Poseidon, we have come to this conclusion. Let it be known from corner to corner of our lands that thoutsoutsides are....”




Groaning, four bodies slowly stirred into the state of consciousness inside the one room shepherd’s hut and attracted the attention of their lounging guardsmen. Brushing back a thick lock of greasy grey hair, onyx eyes were met by curious hazel. Struggling to sit up, the groggy man scrunched his eyes at the lean and athletic man crouching in the doorway of the nomadic hut. He raised a curious eyebrow as the native’s language reached his ears. “Uoy era ohw?”

Shaking his head, “I don’t understand. Do by chance speak English?”

Tilting his head, the native glanced at his companion. “Em dnatsednu t’nseod eh!”

Watching the exchange between the natives, the wizard glanced at one of his companions. “Slytherin’s bloody balls, where are we?” He winced as one of the native’s jabbed him in the ribs with the straight end of his crook.

“Morf emoc uoy od erehw?” The native snarled, jabbing him a few more times. “Tnaw uoy od tahw?!”

“Maybe a translation charm would help.” A brown eyed wizard said quietly looking at the first wizard hopefully.

“Those only work when you know the language you need to translate,” the onyx eyed wizard snarled. He turned his attention back to the arguing natives.

“Sredle eht ot meht ekat dluohs ew.”

“Meht llik tsuj dluohs ew!”

“Meht htiw od ot tahw wonk lliw Sredle eht, on. Nodiesop gniregna dna?”

In the middle of the natives’ heated argument, a third native appeared and stood between the pair. Holding an object wrapped in yellowing ler, tr, the third native gestured to the watching wizards. Unwrapping the object, “eltsyrc egaugnal.”

The wizards watched as the precious looking gem glowed blue through it’s clear texture, “who are you?”

“Travelers from a far, our ship was destroyed in a storm. How is it that you suddenly speak English?” The brown eyed wizard asked, watching the reactions of the natives.

“We ask the questions and you answer them, outsider.” The second native growled as the first restrained him.

“Forgive Octavian, he is suspicious of his own mother both night and day.” The third native said with a weak smile. “This crystle allows you to hear English while we speak our natural tongue and vice versa.”

“Where are we?”

“The Council is convened and is discussing your fate as we speak.”

“Are we prisoners then?”

“That depends on the will of the Gods, as interpreted by the Elders.” The first native said with a warning glance at Octavian.

“So, we’re prisoners then.” The brown eyed wizard said slowly as he glanced at his companions.

“Think of yourselves as guests who are unable to leave yet.”

Escorted by their native guards, the four wizards quietly roamed the deserted village. While the oblivious absence of inhabitants put a slight damper on their excitement, the four wizards soaked in the wonder of the village with each new sight they were shown. Making their to the village’s heart, the four wizards glanced knowingly at each other before looking back to the colossal marble temple as it stood amongst the crystle constructed backdrop surrounding it.

They casually strolled up the worn marble steps and into the sanctuary. A dozen torches illuted ted the temple’s interior, the dancing flames reflecting off the temple’s sole resident. Circling slowly, the wizards noted the explicit scenes of people worshiping in the ivory surf as a pair of dolphins leapt into the air at the giant statue’s scaly waist. A curved fish tail rose behind the statue, seemingly frozen in time. In one hand statstatue held a golden trident and the other a gold scroll. A gold crown rested upon long, flowing silvery hair and the grand statue was carved from a single block of polished ivory.

Jabbing the grey haired wizard in the side, “if that’s not Huffelpuff’s seal, I’m not a Slytherin.” The brown eyed wizard whispered pointing to the badger engraved on the back of the supporting block of the statue. Turning to Octavian, “a little big don’t you think?”

“Poseidon is our past, present and our future. He is all-knowing and we trust in him. He will punish you for your sins and rid our village of your filth with your deaths.” The native smirked before dismissing the red faced wizard.

As the natives turned their backs to the wizards, the outsiders exchanged meaningful glances with one another. Stalking silently behind the natives, the wizards pounced on their oblivious victims. Gripping a handful of short blond hair in his fist, the grey wizard bashed Octavian’s head against the corners of the large square block.

Blood trickled down Octavian’s temple as his head was repeatedly smashed into the ivory block. Hearing the native’s skull crack and seeing a grey mush leak from beneath the scalp, he smirked as Octavian’s last breath rattled from his lips. The wizard dropped the lifeless body to the ground. Glancing around the room, the wizard nodded at the sight that greeted his eyes. The bleeding, broken bodies of thtivetives were strewn across the white marble floor as they were slowly encased in crimson pools.

Wiping the spray of blood on his sleeve, the wizard retrieved Octavian’s shepherd’s crook. “Taking candy from muggles,” the wizard smirked to his leering companions. Wedging the straight end of the crook in the crack at the bottom of the block and between the floor, the wizard leaned his weight on the thin implement. The crook snapped suddenly in half and the wizard crashed to the floor.

A trickle of blood trailed from his nose as the wizard gingerly pushed himself into a sitting position. “Delinquent spawn of a demonic serpent!” A leveled glare at his companions and their laughter died on their lips. “This would be easier if our Lord had not insisted that we leave our wands behind.”

“What was his reasons again?” A hazel eyed wizard asked cautiously.

“Some gibberabouabout teamwork and loyalty being the only magic needed to acquire Huffelpuff’s artifact.” The brown eyed wizard drawled, missing the look his companions gave him behind his back.

“Careful there McDougal, don’t want people to talk. Our Lord doesn’t take well to rumors of disloyalty amongst the ranks.” The onyx eyed wizard said, thoughtfully watching the other wizard. Seemingly shaking the moment off, “give us a shoulder.” The wizard said gesturing to the colossal statue.




The temple doors swung open and revealed the horrific scene inside. Blood caked the walls, floor and dripped down the god’s statue, mingling with the grey matter of the human brain. Four of their kinsmen lay in pools of their own blood, beaten to death on the statue they faithfully worshiped.

The earthly remains of one of the strangers was nailed to the wooden support beams. His flesh had been cut away to reveal muscle, tendon, blood vessels and glimpses of exposed bone. The wizard’s intestines were looped around his neck and arms, crimson blood dripped and rippled in the pool at his feet.

A withered and frail looking figure stepped foward through the gathered crowd of parishioners with the support of his staff. The figure’s head shook sadly, “no one can remember the last crime committed on this island. It’s been so long, until this day washed upon our shores.”


A/N

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Native’s language

Is English spelled backwards.

Titans

Giant gods of ancient Greece that proceeded the Olympians and fathered some of the major deities like Zeus, Hera, Hades and Poseidon.