The magic names

On the new chilly morning, Sienna and Nefari went out for fresh air again. They climbed the rock up chatting when they noticed that the sea was full of mermen. Glebius stood next to Sienna, "They came for their names, dear queen."

Sienna nodded, "Let them come. "Glebius gave the signal with his hand and mermen came up in groups of 20 to the rocks. They stood before the queen and Sienna gave each man a name which could be split in two. She started to go by alphabet because it was too many of them. So, the first man got the name on A, next on B and some of the just named as she felt if they looked like really matched certain names. When she came to Z, she started at A again.

Sienna took all morning to name the men with magic names, the mermen kept coming and coming. Her hand got tired of reaching to the tall men, so she asked them to kneel a bit after she look into their eyes. The mermen complied readily. She was their new queen after all.

Glebius was watching Sienna in awe," She must be magic too, to have so many different names."He thought.

Nefari brought her lunch, "Come eat Sienna."

Sienna shook her head." After I name all who want, "she said. "I will not leave anyone behind, it would be too disrespectful! These men came to me for a name and I will not stop, till they belong to my army!" she thought. Sienna counted she had an army of 1000 mermen. If they also name 2 each, it will be 3060 men and a captain Glebius."Not bad," Sienna thought with a cheeky smile.

Marco with his soldiers were almost at the seafront, still in the air, when he spotted the army of the Scorpion King arriving at the beach with heavy barrels of poison. Marco signalled the men to land behind the trees and he with Voltoire flew upfront. He looked over the sea and saw an army of mermen gathered in the waters around the rock formation in the sea.

Then Marco saw golden hair shining in the sun." Sienna, "his heart started to beat faster. He saw soldiers coming to her, kneeling and she put her hand on their heads and said something to them, then their went to the water again...

It seemed so weird to him. He dove straight down to Scorpion King."Sarcos, Sienna is surrounded by soldiers but they are kneeling to her." Marco said in one breath.

Sarcos swished onto Voltoire's back. They flew over the sea to check on Sienna.

Sienna just named the last soldier present."Go to your friends and give them part of your magic name, "she smiled."Every one of you is special in my eyes because you are now new men, who should fight for good. Be brave and work hard, so you be able to win the female of your heart and have a happy family. If you need more names for your friends send them to me again." she smiled gently.

The merman cheered and lifted their hands.

Suddenly a huge Sea Eagle and Voltoire with Sarcos appeared in the sky and went to land on the rock.

"Kings Sarcos and Marco, "Sienna calmed the startled mermen." My kings came to help." she smiled gently.

Sarcos hopped off Voltoire and took Sienna into his embrace. Marco and Voltoire took their human form too. The mermen stared at the legendary scorpion. "He surely looked formidable, of course, he must have the most beautiful and kind queen." they thought. After acknowledging Sienna as their queen and getting their names they felt more proud suddenly. She was kind and clever. She was a queen worth fighting for!

"My queen," Sarcos held her tight."Sarcos," Sienna kissed him. Marco came closer as well, he looked at her with his cold blue eyes. Sienna held his hand and smiled."Marco," her face relaxed happily.

"What is happening here? We are curious. "Sarcos looked around and pointed at mermen armies.

"I was just naming the merman soldiers, they are mine now."She smiled. Sarcos chuckled and pet her head."You are such an amazing queen." he said.

Marco nodded."So you will order all these men around?"

"Yes!"Sienna nodded.

"And who will pay them?" Marco looked at his queen pragmatically.

" Me, of course." Sarcos gleamed at his queen proudly."I will also get someone to train them well."

Sienna kissed his cheek." You are the best!"

Sarcos nodded."Anything for you." He pulled her waist even closer to his body.

"What about the old king? asked Voltoire." Will he be not wondering where his men are?"

"He will not miss them, because they are not his men."Sienna smiled cheekily.

"How so?"Voltoire opened his eyes wide.

Sarcos chuckled."The mermen soldiers have no names. So if these soldiers have names given by royalty, they are not part of the Merman King army anymore.."

"So which army are they? "Voltoire asked.

"Royal marines of queen Sienna and king Sarcos," Sienna said seriously. "I like it."Sarcos smiled.

Marco shook his head in unbelief. He started to suspect Sienna is a bit more sneaky than he thought.

" Go give your magic names from me to your friends in my name."Sienna sent the armies away.

Only the captain and guards stayed.

Sienna introduced captain Glebius to her kings and Voltoire. Sarcos took Glebius on the side and said to him." Protect my queen at any cost. If anyone will try to harm her, kill him in cold blood. Tell this order to every soldier under your command."He gave Glebius a pendant with a scorpion on one side and Sienna's face on the other."Keep this as a symbol of your allegiance and our cooperation."

Glebius smiled." Thank you king Sarcos, I will surely keep it, but my queen's name is in my heart."

Sarcos nodded. "Good man." He was satisfied with the captain."Send your men for their salary tonight, I always pay upfront." Sarcos noted.

"We never get a salary." Glebius eyes wondered.

" Then now you will get. It will help you to create wealthy and comfortable homes for your future mates. Plus if you join me in any fights, each man will get a portion of the spoils and gifts." Sarcos looked at him seriously.

Glebius eyes opened wide. He never saw someone so generous as a Scorpion King." If you have any problems, just come to me. Otherwise, just listen to your heart."Sarcos smiled and left Glebius in a daze.

Sarcos came back to Sienna."Would you like to stay here with Nefari or would you rather go with us to the land?" he asked sweetly."

" It will be better if the queen stays here," said Marco.

" I stay here," Sienna nodded."I have all army to protect me." she chuckled.

"I will send Leander as well."Said Sarcos.

Sienna nodded." Thank you."

Marco kissed Sienna."We are going to arrange the soldiers and weapons now."

Sienna nodded." I will miss you." She said like a purring kitten. Sarcos smiled and shook his head. "I hope my queen will never stop being playful. I must protect her the best!" he thought.

The kings took back to the sky. Sienna waved to them proudly." My mates are awesome!" she gleamed in her excited heart.

Nefari pulled Sienna's hand."Are you ready to eat now, your highness?", she said with a cheeky smirk.

" Yes, if you join me, beautiful mermaid, "she chuckled and hugged Nefari around her waist. They went back to Nefari's grotto and chat together.

After they finished their food they played chess and made funny stories about the chess pieces till the knock on the door disturbed them.

Captain Glebius brought Sienna a note from the king. Sienna read it and shook her head in unbelief."The king is asking, why king Marco and Sarcos did not come to greet him."

Sienna wrote a note." So they don't have an urgent taste to kill you dear merking. They are busy with fight preparations and don't have time for you for now." she wrote not very neatly and added a funny octopus-like monster picture pierced with arrows.

The captain looked with a smirk at the note and took it to the king.

The king showed the note to mage Quin."It is exactly as I said." the mage nodded his head." You should treat the queen nicer."

" But I'm king here."Nelius said."Call the captain in, he called to his guards.

Captain Glebius came proudly. "What would you like from us?" he asked politely.

" Bring me the queen." the king ordered.

" I will ask her if she likes to come," the captain said.

"What? If she refuses to come, drag her here." king Nelius almost exploded. Captain shook his head." I don't have the power to force my queen. But king Sarcos ordered to kill anyone who threatened her." he said coldly.

"But you are my soldier, surely." the old king stared in shock.

Glebius shook his head."I serve the kind queen."

"You dirty fish!" King got upset.

" Glebius, my name is Glebius, captain of the Royal marines of queen Sienna and king Sarcos, "He said proudly.

The king called for guards. The two strong mermen came in with long spears.

"Take the" Glebius" to prison and execute him for treason," the king ordered funnily.

The guards bowed to Glebius."What are your orders, captain Glebius? "

"Let's leave the old king to rest, "Glebius shook his head."Come, Gleb and Bius. You will keep guarding the old king and keep him safe," he smirked at them. The cheeky captain had his best friends guard the old king!

The king fall back on his throne defeated."Did she take over my army?" he said in unbelief.

" What army? " said Quin."You have hardly any men left."

" Call me prince Hector." the king whispered. Quin nodded and left.

The old king sunk into his throne. The opulent room looked cold and lonely somehow. The cold hand of fear grabbed his cruel weak heart as he waited for his son. The son, whose mother he had sacrificed to a Kraken many years ago...

Glebius felt like a new man, it was so nice to serve the brave queen. He felt happy and right in his heart. Gleb and Bius guarded the old king. They chuckled at the memory of the old king's surprised face." That was so worth it!"

"Prince Hector."The old mage Ouin found the merprince watching the land curiously, " Your father is calling you."

" I have no time." said the prince coldly." I need to get ready for the battle."

"But the queen took almost all men from your father's army." the Ouin called.

Hector smiled." Good, assemble the rest for me tonight then."

" Where are you going?" asked the mage.

" To talk to the queen's kings," Hector called and swished his tail.

The evening before Kraken Day, the beach was full of warriors getting ready. The eagles and scorpions mingled and worked hard.

Hector was restless. He hid near the beach and watched the huge scorpions moving around barrels with poison. Eagles were preparing more trees to use as lances and spears to throw. The scorpions were attaching the crystals spikes filled with poison to it.

Hector spotted Sarcos with Marco standing near the Kraken Rock. They looked as if they are making the plan.