Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Harco Empire	By : Toddy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 34430 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or films. I do not make any money from the writing of this story, just enjoyment.

Chapter List
- 243
- 244
- 245
[Note conversation=: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ WATERY ABODES ~~~
Lucius did not attack that day. The Dumbledorians spent a leisure day, pretending to be muggles on holiday and enjoying the beach and water. That included borrowing Euterpe’s boats and sailing, hidden under thaum-depressing shields, around Golem Grad and the other rocks and miniature islands; much as they would have from the chalet on Lac Léman. It also gave Ronald a time to reconnoitre the hidden island unobtrusively and decide where to station his troops.
Euterpe reported that she and the islanders were very pleased to find the daffodil connection reconnected and to know that reinforcements were ready whenever the next assault took place. Ronald also used those daffodils to talk to the Dioketes of Adoresgariko and agree tactics. In fact, it was a further two days before anything happened.
“The barrier has been replaced, Harry,” reported Sonny: “And the satraps have extra patrols out.”
“I’ve called all the boats in,” Ronald added, “The satraps appear to be trying to raise a storm; using our own lagoon tactics on us. However, having suspected that these things might happen we’ve managed to find a disused muggle telephone cable and Griswold’s team have created a connection for us. I’ve also told all our operatives to keep their notice-me-not shields up when outside Euterpe’s tholus. The patrols seem to be looking for outside thaumic interference and some are riding around in motor boats inspecting the shores. To that end we have our tholus englamoured to represent an empty olive grove. Euterpe tells me that she quite often has trekkers camping overnight and then moving on. So we’re hoping that, if they noticed your tent, they assume you have walked on to another site.”
Just before sunset Ronald put everyone on alert, because more movement had been noticed around the satrap camp and because the storm seemed to be building. Various Dumbledorian groups had, in the intervening days, memorised their allotted places on land under the guise of muggle hikers or sailors coming ashore for a picnic. Thus a number of apparition destinations were available for Ronald to use. A couple of those were nothing more than rocks sticking out of the lake’s surface. They would suffice if the mages concerned apparated already mounted on their brooms. The only sector uncovered was towards Macedonian Territory, the direction that Ronald expected the mass satrap attack to start from. Besides, there were no suitable rocks or islets between the shore in that sector and Adoresgariko.
Alexandrou, Frederick, Ganymede and Teddy, sat under a miniature tholus on Golem Grad; watching in the direction of Adoresgariko. They had expected to raise a storm in order to hamper the satraps, by blowing it towards the Macedonian coast. However, when the attack started they found themselves having to cast calming charms instead. It seemed that the satraps had learned how to use water to their advantage. The rain and spray made visual sighting difficult so Ronald relied of the telephone connection.
The storm starting, was the signal that Ronald needed. Once the Dioketes confirmed that the satraps were out in force, Ronald deployed his troops according to the pre-arranged timetable and the water group started their calming efforts. It became obvious that the Dumbledorians had managed to keep their presence hidden from Lucius, so the satraps were extremely shocked to be turned into defenders instead of being aggressors. They had been concentrating on the Adoresgariko tholus when they were assaulted from behind by a barrage of fire hexes.
It was all over in half an hour, despite Lucius’s threats of retribution for the satraps’ cowardly actions. When the retreating army arrived back at their Macedonian camp they found it on fire. So they rescued whatever they could and disapparated. Lucius’s parting gift was dark mark in the sky over the smouldering camp. It consisted of a skull and sword, plus the caption: ‘Death to the interfering Blake clan and their supporters’. Unfortunately for him, the reversed storm his sorcerers had created, quickly dispersed the cloudy message.
The result? Seven downed captured/killed satraps – three slightly singed Dumbledorians – many jubilant inhabitants of Adoresgariko – all the Dumbledorians chuckling derisively at Lucius’s ephemeral threat.
Once the retreat had been properly verified and the remains of the camp evanesced many of the Dumbledorians went back to their normal activities, although a few remained to enjoy exploring the extent of Lake Prespa, mainly from on board Euterpe’s boats. Like the Eden-Elysium mages it was felt that Adoresgariko should remain semi-secret. One of the islanders offered a family heirloom – pair of cabinets – for the general use; so these connected Adoresgariko to Exohilada – the name of Euterpe’s demesne – and the new portal converted into a postern connected to Eden.
There was little time for the seers to have a long discussion with Euterpe and the Dioketes, but once the summer was over they promised a return visit.
~~~ MUNDANE? ~~~
Draco and Harry were now accredited examiners in potions and DADA respectively and Astoria for Political Education. Ginevra had grown into a form of domestic bliss at Godric’s Hollow not just caring for her own children but had developed a maternal attitude to all the children who attended, or who had attended, the village school. She had become the ‘Molly-figure’ to that village, in the same way that her mother had to Ottery St Catchpole. They were the mother figures to whom anyone in trouble naturally gravitated. They also had an uncanny knack – no doubt thaumic – of healing family and neighbourly arguments. Thus three of the seers were embroiled in examinations whilst the other mothered the village.
Then it was Hogwarts express time and devoting as much time to their offspring during the six-week holiday. As before they spent time together on Sirius and at the Hermitage. There were excursions to London and to Paris, surfing at Guéthary, races in southern Spain – Teddy won a trophy, this time – and dinghy sailing of Lac Léman and Lake Prespa. Where the seers led, many mages followed. The single field in Euterpe’s olive grove soon took in other adjacent ones. As at all the resorts the Dumbledorians used, the participants wanted to keep the unique atmosphere of each place intact. So by dispersing the tents carefully and limiting their numbers, Euterpe managed to keep the remote stillness feeling intact.
September the first, Hogwarts Express, this time with Lily on board as well as her brothers and friends. Then it was interviews with aspiring undergraduates one of which turned out to be Radovan. Next was going through their holiday assignments with the current undergraduates. There were Wizengamot meetings to attend, not only in Britain but many of the other European assemblies wished for the seers to address them upon specific matters. September was almost over when three of the seers heaved a sigh of relief and could look forward to a few days which were no longer crammed with appointments.
“Let’s go out on the Sirius for three days.”
“Nice idea!”
“Sorry we can’t. Rory has it out of the water for servicing and repainting the hull.”
“Fine … Um … Lac Léman?”
“Same again except it’s Griswold doing the servicing.”
“Euterpe has a small cruiser.,” put in Bobby: “And it’s available.”
“We promised to return after the holidays.”
“Not more input, I’m full to the brim with people telling me things.”
“Go for a cruise first,” suggested Bobby, “Her cruiser’s booked by someone else next week.”
The cruiser was wider that the Sirius but not quite as long, and it had sufficient space for the four elves to accompany them. The early autumn sunshine was glorious as was the unspoilt scenery while they made an unhurried circuit of the lake, including a day exploring Golem Grad. Greatly relaxed they returned towards Exohilada only to spy a small canopy set up under the olive trees. Under it were a number of chairs around a circular table, upon which were glasses and plates of food. Some of the chairs’ occupants they recognised – The Dioketes and Euterpe – the other pair they did not. The fact that four chairs were empty spoke that the seers were expected to fill them
Bobby grinned at Harry: “I imagine you are expected.”
Harry sighed: “It would seem so.”
“Well you did say you would talk to them when you were less busy,” remarked Astoria.
Draco smirked: “It’s obvious that you ladies are expected as well.”
“We’ll see to the cruiser, Seers,” said Robbie, “You go and chat to your friends.”
Ginevra chuckled: “I think a little more clothing than just our shells might be appropriate.”
~~~ ESCAPE ~~~
It was warm enough not to need too much clothing so shorts and a tee-shirt did for the males whilst summer frocks adorned the ladies. Upon being introduced to the other two gentlemen, the seers found out that they both had the tingle, one being a priest and the other an imam. In the end, the seers spent a night in a tent under the olive trees and the next day being shown around Adoresgariko – gaining it via the cabinet link. It had the same kind of self-sufficient agriculture that Elysium had, only the island did not export food; just maintaining their self-sufficiency plus that of their three agents, Euterpe being the Greek one. The population was about quarter of that of Elysium and had a greater Muslim contingent. The Christians were some of those who had escaped the turmoil of the Middle-Eastern insurgencies. The Muslims were more from the sect that Qasim and Sahir belonged to, that group had been equally persecuted by the hard-liners.
“We escaped on boats, having walked through Turkey. The price was high and the boats not terribly seaworthy either.” The Dioketes grinned: “In fact, we had to use a number of surreptitious bailing and buoyancy charms in order to reach the shore safely, because we had muggles with us. When we landed we were safe and yet we were not safe. You see, there were no persecutors, wonderful! But the beach we landed on was deserted. Deserted, because it was surrounded by a wall of high smooth cliffs. Our landing was not all that easy, either. There were hidden rocks beneath the sea’s surface and our boats became holed. However, we salvaged everything possible and used the salvaged bits to build shelters, and the splintered wood plus the flotsam made fires for us to dry our sodden clothes and belongings.”
Draco grinned back: “Obviously you found a way out of the dilemma.”
“Yes! Under cover of darkness a few of us used elevating charms whilst the others made a glamour to hide what we were doing. As we rose up the cliff we became aware of a number of oblong openings. These had to be explored so we ventured inside. Once out of sight of the muggles we risked casting a lumos and found that we were inside a cell. Further inspection found that this was connected to an underground corridor and from thence to a number of other cells. It was by now obvious to us that these were some form of human habitation, but not recently inhabited.”
“So you were safe then?”
“Not really. The cells must have been deserted for some good reason. One that in the gloom of lumos lights could not be ascertained. So we had to find a subterfuge to allow some of us to explore during daylight. One of the things we had never lost were our sleeping bags. They were some of the first things we dried out over the fires. In fact, the magely party took over drying those for everyone. In that way we used the surreptitious drying thaums to comfort the whole party. Two of us managed to look cold and shivery the following day and so the second night we were transported up into the cells, leaving our shivering facsimiles in the bed-rolls. Thus we could explore the cells in the daylight of the third day. It was our surmise that some orthodox hermit-monks had tried to inhabit the rock-dwellings, but had been dissuaded, or forced away. We know not.”
“So you stayed in the old monastery. Did you?”
“Not really. We did find a way down almost to the beach but it was blocked by rubble. That called for another night’s thaumic work and then: surprise! Surprise! Someone found what they thought was an entrance to a cave hidden behind a pile of rock. We used the muggle way to clear that out – although, much more work had been carried out thaumically before that. Then, as a whole party, we set out exploring. There were wild goats to be caught, some for their milk and others for their meat. The monks must have planted fruit trees for there were many of those. That helped to keep our population alive for the time being. The mages in the party felt uneasy about the attitude of some of the muggles. We had co-operated well in our efforts to escape the war-zone and persecution, but it was obvious that some of the Christian sects were very anti-magic. So tactfully we brought about a dispersal. We mages came here, to join others who had escaped earlier. Some of the muggles stayed on, but most of them moved out also. So that’s how my group got here.”
The other two had similar stories, plus harrowing tales of fanatics who tried to torture people into believing in their narrow-minded religion and its harsh rules.
G: *That jocular bravado hides a lot of anguish. Their halos have grown increasingly unsteady whilst telling us. *
H: *Are they alright now? I could feel pulses of magic too, but they seem to have steadied. *
G: *Yes they’re steady now, I think that there are greater horrors hidden behind that bland story. *
D: *Part of their memories are in sealed places. It was unlocking them that caused the tremors. They’ve sealed them away again, but I got whiffs of horrible deaths and anguish about drawing lots to see who would die next. I suspect that their voyage was a long one and they were nearly starving when they reached that bay. It’s probably better for their mental health that they have those memories sealed, *
A: *They gave off a bad odour whilst they told us. I think it took much courage. The bombast hid the fear. They smell sweet again now. *
Ginevra had a feeling that something was being left unsaid: “That was a very interesting story you told us. But I have the feeling you were leading up to something. Were You?”
“Erm … Yes … More of a fear, really. You said that the Seignior was looking for a suitable retreat. You also suggested that you wanted him not to find such a place. Now, Volvoditi, the ancient monastery that we found, is such a place. Muggles could not make it work, but mages with water lifting charms could, just as we have done here on Adoresgariko. We have ways of augmenting nature’s cycles, and being able to feed more people per acre of cultivation that is normal for muggles. Hence our thriving community here.”
D: *And the thriving community at Elysium. *
H: *That’s still our secret, remember? *
D: *I had! * “So! I suspect you would like us to investigate this seemingly ruined monastery, and make it unavailable for my Father’s minions.”
Just then Fawkes appeared. None of the people present seemed too phased-out when he popped into being.
D, wearily: *I expect that that’s our next task. *
F, drily: *How perspicacious of you! *
Harry smiled at the assembled islanders: “I think that our gaudy guide, has already decided that we should have a look-see.”
“Yes he is a bit bright,” replied the Dioketes: “But he’s also been our guide, off and on. He’s the reason why we’re on our island, and, no doubt, the reason you came to defend and befriend us. It’s quite an unusual experience when he talks inside your head, isn’t it?”
Draco smiled and nodded, whilst remarking internally: *Not when you’re a seer it isn’t. *
Astoria was the first to recover from supressed giggles, and also made a suitable affirmative remark.
“Perhaps you had better show us where this monastery is,” Harry suggested tentatively.
“Is it all right if I show you on a map? Most of us still have the horrors about that voyage.”
“Of course you may. We don’t want to stir up bad memories. I think you were very courageous in telling us what had happened.”
“Most of our people won’t talk about it. We have a new generation started and we don’t want them embittered by our harrowing experiences. That’s why we’re so pleased to be connected to your network. As well as the added protection you provide. Accio map!”
They stared at the map and realised that this was an area of Greece that was very rugged and sparsely populated. As much as they could they magnified it.
“I wonder if Dudley’s computer might have a better map?”
An explanation about who Dudley was, took place. In the end they borrowed the map and ported back the village.
~~~ VOYAGE ~~~
Dudley clicked the keys: “Sorry, there’re no pictures of that area. Not much of the western side of Nea Artaki at all. The nearest I can find is this gravel road but it’s quite a few kilometres away from the place you want. That peninsular looks quite barren.”
“Can we get there by train?” asked Draco eagerly.
“Sorry, no railways on the island. No public transport on that side either, that I can see.”
“How do they get around then?”
“There are lots of little harbours, so I imagine by boat. Those gravel tracks are probably for farm use or logging possibly, there are lots of trees.”
“So we go by sea.”
“Rad told me a bit ago that Uncle Neb bought a small sea cruiser with some of the quarry money. It was second hand and they’ve been doing it up.”
“I wonder if they’d like to have a proving cruise?”
Neither Astoria or Ginevra wanted to go – Astoria was tied up in politics and the academies, Ginevra taking her Veterinary exams – having taken on mothering animals now that her kids were at school. She had been studying with Gilda who was going to cover the pharmaceutical side of the village practice, now that Astoria was too busy.
They put it Nebjosa.
“That sounds like a good idea, but you’d better take Janos with you, he’s been fettling the engine.” Then he grinned: “Rad had better come too, those two are inseparable now your group has healed him. I can find someone else to do the veg rounds in the van for a week or so.”
The two seers, out of courtesy, also asked Vratsa.
“It’s time those two had a few days off, they’re so eager that they wear me out sometimes.”
And so it was that a week later two seers, two Croats and two glamoured elves set sail in the converted bracera ‘Morski Konjic’. It had much the same layout as the Sirius, however, where the centre cabin had a solid roof on the Sirius, on the Morski Konjic this was open with doors leading to the cabins. Rigged above this area was a canvas awning, partly as a sunshade; it could also be converted into a waterproof tent. Useful in a storm and giving privacy to the pair sleeping on the double-dinette.
The wind was reasonable when they set out. Of course they used the engine to exit the port, but thereafter relied on the sails to keep them going. Draco and Harry were soon only wearing their shells, causing the two Croats to ask questions.
“We were presented them by Neptune’s merpeople.”
“Go on, they’re just fables.”
“So were witches and wizards to you, until recently. I can assure they’re real.”
“You have a point. Are we likely to meet any?”
H: *It’s almost that time. *
D: *So it is. * “Possibly. We’ll have to see.”
That night they reached Corfu and hove-to before dropping their anchor in a quiet bay on one of the small islands nearby. They swam before eating and then, wind-burned and wave-tossed, slept soundly.
The weather was a little brisker the following day so they used the smaller of the two sails. The canvas awning was not opened out that day because of the spray, neither was it warm enough to be almost nude. Probably a good thing because when they arrived at the Rio Antrio Bridge there were a number of muggle sightseers gawking at the passing vessels. The weather was calmer now they were in the gulf of Corinth so the mainsail came back into use. They tied up to the quayside at Corinth for that night. It also enabled Janos and Radovan to go and find where they had to pay their toll.
At nine o’clock in the morning the bracera joined the South-west bound flotilla of boats, passing over the submersible bridge at the mouth of the Corinth Canal. They had to use the motor for this stretch of water, because the wind was in the wrong direction and tacking in the narrow confines of the canal was out. It had the advantage that all of the boats in the flotilla were travelling at the same speed. Once they were on the way the engine was stopped and the two Croats practiced the Navigamus charm, no one was near and what gongoozlers there were, were nowhere the water’s edge. Progressing through the man-made gorge the limestone cliffs grew higher before starting to drop away again just as they passed under a number of bridges. Two hours later they had passed over the second submersible bridge and were in the Saronic Gulf. Hoisting the sails again enabled them to set off island hopping before dropping anchor off a tiny uninhabited atoll in the Aegean Sea.
It was relatively early when they stopped so a long swim and some sunbathing was proposed. There were no people around so their overall tans were due for an airing too. All was quiet for a time as they toasted themselves in the sun’s rays. Suddenly there was a commotion as the two Croats grabbed some towels and covered up their modesty.
“Why did you do that,” asked Draco, lazily.
“Because there are some people swimming towards us.”
“Where?”
“There!” said Janos pointing.
Draco chuckled: “It’s no use being modest with them.”
“Why not?”
“You’ll see.”
Sure enough six bodies leapt out of the water and flopped onto the gunwales.
“Oh! They’re not people!”
“Oh yes they are, only they have tails instead of legs. Everything else functions as normal.”
Draco stood up and went over to the nearest merman, grabbing his phallus and greeting him. Robbie, Bobby and Harry were not far behind him.
A blushing Radovan asked: “Do you know them well then?”
“No! This is the first time we’ve met.”
“Aren’t you being over familiar?”
“Remember how we converse internally whilst holding your hands?”
“Yes?”
“Well it’s their pricks who are the receptors. Most of the merpeople are unable to speak through their mouths, it’s about having two ways of taking in oxygen, we’re told. We’ll have to eat some gillyweed in order to breathe underwater.”
Janos and Radovan were a little tentative to begin with, but soon got into the swing of things. Eating gillyweed and enjoying the delights of the depths and new partners. They didn’t meet Neptune but they did come back from their encounter with shells. Not as decorated as the seers or their elves, but modesty shells none the less. Of course they also had the warning about overindulgence from Draco and Harry.
Everyone slept well that night.
~~~ VOLVODITI ~~~
Their course took them northwards after breakfast, in and out of the many Greek Islands. Accurate chart work was useful so was Harry’s hand-holding surveys of shallow waters for hidden rocks. By mid-afternoon they were on the approach to Volvoditi. Two of the mermen reappeared and swam before them showing them a rock free channel towards the beach. A few yards out their guides signalled a halt, so the fore and aft hooks were lowered over the side for the mermen to secure.
Harry and Draco sat holding hands, with their eyes closed.
H: *There are odd traces of decaying magic but nothing recent. *
D: *I agree, and no traces of thaumic minds, bar our companions. I’m quite surprised at how much Janos can hold. *
“We think it’s safe to go ahead.”
“Okay!”
The two Croats jumped in wearing their shells and some deck shoes, so Draco and Harry followed suit. Checking that there were no sharp points under the boat before swimming to shore. In shore there were odd bits of flotsam that could have been the remains of the camp, but that many years later, none of them could be sure. There were no footmarks in the sand apart from their own and it took quite a few minutes to discover the partly concealed doorway that the Dioketes had described. An amount of debris had been deposited in it either by the wind or storms. That was soon thaumically cleared away. They started carefully up the spiral stairs cut into the cool rock. By the time they reached the first cell they were beginning to shiver. Harry was about to accio his clothes when Bobbie popped into being.
“We think you should wear something more; in case you meet a muggle.”
“Thanks! I think I should wear something more, because the cold rock is leaching away our body heat.”
Having dressed they continued their search – just more cells cut into the rock. The cells were not necessarily immediately next door to each other, being grouped in small clusters with sometimes long spaces in between. It reminded the explorers of houses in a lane. Many cells faced seawards, following the contours of the rock. Those that faced inland were fewer because they were on the inside of a curve. However, they overlooked a series of steep but shallow terraces, on which various fruit trees and bushes grew. The terraces led down to a small lake, which, after examination proved to hold freshwater.
Where the trees on the terraces had failed scrub had taken over, or maybe those terraces had been intended for crops and vegetables. Whatever happened, there were a number of goats nibbling at whatever herbage there was. The animals did not seem frightened of them, but remained wary. Upon reaching the summit some rock hewn cisterns were discovered in which there was some water. This water seemed to be gently leaking out through small holes. On further inspection these could be found to feed some irrigation channels. Some of the channels no longer fed the terrace they were designed for. Instead they formed gentle trickles down the slope into the pool at the bottom.
“With water lifting charms, mages could make this place quite fertile,” remarked Radovan.
“We’ll have to get Teddy to look at these,” enthused Janos.
“First things first,” Harry warned: “Let’s ward the place and then set up the cabinet we brought with us.”
“Ooh yes! Sorry.”
The wards they set up were rudimentary and included Hendy-type, notice-me-not element. One of the cells was cleaned out and the cabinet set up. Having passed the travel-thaum-sterile period and being closer to Samhain just two seers, Astoria and Harry, were all that were needed to create the portal link to Exohilada. However, before that could take place Fawkes appeared.
F: *Your help is needed urgently. *
Draco and Harry grabbed hands with the two Croats, so they could understand.
H: *What kind of help? *
F: *You will need to combine the encapsulating cantrip with the ward making charm you were using. Practice on Radovan and Janos. * Fawkes passed on the idea to all four of them.
R: *That’s very advanced magic. I’m not sure I can do it. *
J: *I know I can’t. *
H, with a slight giggle: *I think Fawkes intends you to be the people we encapsulate. *
R: *Oh! Right! Well … Get on with it then. *
So, under Fawkes supervision two seers ‘got-on-with-it’. After half an hour they had the cantrip learned.
F: *I want one of you on your stick outside the temporary tholus. It had better be Radovan. My two sons are then to attempt to make a bubble extension to the tholus using the new ‘capture’ cantrip, and bring him inside. * Again, Fawkes passed on the idea.
That took longer, a couple of times they managed to dip Radovan into the sea. Luckily the weather was warm so it did not chill him too much. Janos openly laughed at his mate’s soaking so Radovan replied with a relocation charm, dumping Janos in the water. As this was outside the tholus Harry had an extra practice, encapsulating Janos and drawing him back inside.
Fawkes chuckled at their antics and then flew off.
“What was that all about?” asked Radovan.
Draco shrugged: “Knowing Fawkes, we’ll soon find out.”
“What kind of bird is he?”
“He’s a phoenix, Janos.”
“Mythical bird … Err … Fire, or something?”
“Got the idea, reborn in flames. The muggle legends leave out the idea that the phoenix is a messenger, guide and conscience for those he adopts, and he seems to adopted us.”
“Uh Oh! Here he comes! What are those behind him?”
“Err … Arabian Nights … Magic carpets?” suggested Radovan.
“Yes, and they’re be pursued by satraps on broomsticks. I think that’s my father at the back.”
“Rad, do you think that you and Janos could maintain the notice-me-not charm on the tholus?
“We’ll have a go.”
“Thanks … Embraceor!” Harry cast at the nearest carpet and its chauffeur, drawing them inside the tholus. Then he cast a phantom carpet to continue in the same direction.
Thereafter Draco and Harry cast their new cantrips and phantoms until the few carpets and their occupants were hidden behind Radovan’s notice-me-not charm. To that Draco added a form of Hendy charm too. Nett result was that the satraps flew past Volvoditi chasing the phantoms. They were too far behind to immediately tell the difference; only to find their quarry melt into nothingness when the caster lost sight of them on the far horizon.
The next task was to un-encapsulate the eastern mages and their woven steeds. Deciding to be careful Harry handed over the phantoms to Radovan and chose the capsule containing the mage who appeared to be their leader. Whilst Draco held a shield charm, Harry released that person and his carpet. Its chauffeur brought the carpet to land gently in front of Harry, who held his hands apart in the usual peace gesture. To which the other mage replied with a similar signal. Then Harry indicated that the man should touch his St George medallion, which the man did reluctantly.
“I am Harry Potter, welcome. The medallion you touched is a translating one. Thank you for trusting me.”
“I am Haroun; your welcome gives me great thankfulness. Of you I have heard. Would you be pleased to free my companions? We are a trading party and wish no one any harm.”
Draco was holding Harry’s hand: *I sense no malicious guile in him. *
“We shall loose the ladies first.”
“Then may it be my wife, Shireen, please?” Haroun winked and whispered: “She can get very strident if she’s confined for too long.”
Draco smiled and replied confidentially: “Ours do sometimes also.”
The seers set about dismantling the Embraceor capsules and their occupants brought their carpets gracefully down to land beside and behind Haroun.
“Well, husband, why did they capture us? Do they mean well? What sort of place do you call this? It doesn’t appear very civilised!”
Haroun gave a wry smile: “Harry, meet my wife, Shireen.” And then louder: “I am sure she means to thank you for her rescue from the bandits.”
“Oh … Harry … He-who-lived-twice, Harry?”
“Yes, My Love. The very same.”
“Hello Shireen. I agree this is not a very civilised place, but at least it is a temporary haven for you. This is Draco, my partner and two friends, Radovan and Janos.”
“Good to meet you. Thank you for rescuing us. I just thought it was another of the messes Haroun usually gets us into.”
Haroun pulled a wry face and winked, unseen by his wife.
Thereafter more introductions were made. There were twelve pairs in the party equally male and female. Some explanations were made as to why the seers’ party was here and a reciprocal explanation from the traders. They had been instructed by someone, who appeared to be the seer’s equivalent for the Asian Continent, to try and make links with the European mages and to try and establish a trading post.
“We have heard, further east, that the African mages have connections to a trading post in Southern Spain.”
“That would be Abdulmuralla, I expect. We had heard of some skimming-grass baskets visiting there with African mages aboard, and so, I suppose, you felt that the time was ripe to visit Europe too.”
“Exactly our thinking. Is this our designated enclave?”
“I imagine that is what Fawkes had in mind. Not that he actually told us. We had it in mind to connect this to the European postern network. We thought Fawkes wanted us stop the Seignior from making it a base.”
“The Seignior?”
“Yes, the mage who, with his satraps, was chasing you.”
“So that’s what you call him. We just referred to them as pirates, because they’ve been attacking our carpet caravans and stealing from them, when they could. The thing is, that carpets have a greater speed than broomsticks, but not by much. Whereas the broomsticks’ manoeuvrability is greater. So, we were trying to outrun them. I’ve really not heard of a trial between the African baskets and a carpet so I wouldn’t know which was superior. Not that there would be much difference, I suspect they all use the same propulsion thaums.”
“I agree. We use the same thaums on our boats too, although water is more viscous than air, so the speed is equivalently slower. Come; let us show you round.”
Shireen was critical of everything, that is until she saw the terraces.
“Like the fabled hanging gardens. This place has possibilities.”
Shireen persuaded the other ladies by her eloquent description of what Harry thought as a cross between Shalimar and the hanging gardens of Babylon. Not that he was about to cross the wilful witch. From then on, the groups of cells were seen as family residences and the one wide cavern as an indoor market. Quite soon each group had assigned to themselves their territory.
“Where’s Jamal and Naira? I hope they’ve not been taken.”
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Harco Empire