Arthur and Barry arrived in Atlantis almost instantly. Mera was not lying in a hospital bed. Though she and Arthur had not officially married yet, the situation was urgent, and she was holding things together as Atlantis's future queen.
When Arthur returned, Mera gave him a heartfelt hug, looking somewhat exhausted. "Thank goodness you came back so quickly. The army has already been assembled. Are we moving out now?"
Arthur took a deep breath. At this point, he had calmed down instead. "Where's your trident?"
"I left it in Xebel. That thing is useless against Poseidon. We're only Sea People, but he is the master of the ocean."
"Fine. We'll discuss the details when I get back. I'm going to lead the troops and stop him..."
"Wait! I'm coming too. You have to take me!"
"No, Mera. He already injured you. If you force yourself to fight, something could go wrong. Besides, Atlantis needs someone guarding it in case some other lunatic storms in."
Mera knew Arthur was not someone who easily changed his mind. She could only look at her future husband with deep concern before nodding.
When he arrived at the parade ground, Arthur saw that nearly everyone in Atlantis capable of fighting had been gathered there. As descendants of the Old Gods, Atlantis could be said to have every citizen ready for battle. They had managed to field an impressively large army, and though its races were somewhat mixed, its formation looked excellent.
Arthur knew that Mera was actually better suited to be Atlantis's ruler than he was. But Xebel had once been a place where Atlantis exiled its criminals. Though it had become powerful enough now, it was still somewhat remote, and Mera lacked legitimate standing.
Several thoughts flashed through Arthur's mind, but his steps never