Daniel stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the ancient bottle still in his hand.
According to Atlan's message and the map hidden inside the bottle, this was the correct location. The problem was that there was nothing here besides stone cliffs and a few weathered statues overlooking the sea.
Mera looked across the horizon again before turning back toward the bottle.
"We're definitely in the right place. The map led us here, but I still don't see anything connected to the Hidden Sea."
Arthur crossed his arms near the stone railing.
"What was the message again? The one Atlan left."
"Only in the hands of the true king can he truly see."
Arthur frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe it's talking about me. I am technically the rightful heir."
Daniel shook his head while examining the bottle. "I don't think it's referring to a person." He raised it slightly.
"I think we've been looking at the clue the wrong way. This bottle isn't carrying the map."
He turned toward a nearby statue at the edge of the cliff, the weathered figure facing the sea with one arm extended forward.
"The bottle is the map."
Mera followed his line of sight and understood immediately.
Daniel walked over and carefully placed the bottle into the statue's stone hand. The fit was perfect — not close, perfect — as though it had been designed specifically for it.
"Now look through it."
Mera leaned forward and looked through the glass toward the sea.
For a moment nothing unusual. Then glowing lines slowly appeared across the water, the ordinary Mediterranean vanishing behind a network of illuminated routes stretching across the horizon.
"It really is a map."
Arthur walked over and pushed his head beside hers. After a few seconds his expression changed too.
"Only in the hands of the true king." He looked at the statue holding the bottle and snorted.
"I didn't expect that to literally mean a hand."
Mera turned away while still looking back toward the glowing route. Her attention remained on the map instead of where she was stepping.
Her foot caught an uneven section of stone, sending her stumbling backward toward the edge.
Before she could fall, a hand caught her arm. Daniel pulled her back onto stable ground.
Mera blinked, finally noticing how close she had come — jagged rocks and crashing waves waited hundreds of feet beneath the cliff.
Daniel released her arm and pointed downward. "You should probably watch where you're walking."
Mera glanced over the edge and stepped back immediately. Even for an Atlantean, that fall would have been unpleasant.
***
"So explain something to me. Why aren't we taking a boat instead of standing around here?" Mera asked, looking out over the harbor.
The three of them stood on the docks overlooking the Mediterranean. Fishing vessels rocked gently against the wooden piers while sailors moved cargo between boats.
"Because those boats belong to other people."
"So?"
"So we can't take them."
Mera frowned slightly, as if the answer made no sense. "Why not borrow one and return it after we're done?"
Daniel rubbed his forehead. "That's called stealing."
Mera opened her mouth to argue before Arthur started laughing beside her. "In Atlantis, nobody would care if it was returned."
"Well, this isn't Atlantis. Human courts tend to disagree with your interpretation."
Arthur grinned. "I actually agree with him for once."
Mera looked disappointed in herself for giving him the opening. Arthur pointed toward Daniel. "Then why don't you do that thing again? The black platform thing. The one that lets us ignore normal transportation."
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"Why?"
Daniel stared out toward the sea for several moments. "I'm not in the mood."
Both Arthur and Mera looked surprised. Daniel usually solved problems by throwing absurd powers at them until they stopped being problems.
Mera studied him more carefully. "Something bothering you?"
He remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "A little."
Arthur smirked. "What did you eat?"
"What?"
"Maybe you need a bathroom."
Daniel's expression darkened. "Screw you."
Arthur looked pleased with himself.
"I don't have stomach problems."
His grin widened.
Daniel sighed. "And stop annoying me. I get absolutely no appreciation despite spending the last few days solving your problems." He turned and walked toward a nearby harbor office.
Arthur watched him leave before looking at Mera. "Don't you think he's weird?"
Mera watched Daniel talking with one of the harbor workers in the distance. "Of course he's weird."
"Exactly."
"By human standards, we're weird too." Arthur wasn't exactly normal either. Mera's attention returned to Daniel. "Besides, he's more likable than you."
Arthur stared at her. "What?"
"I've known him for less than a week and he has annoyed me less."
Arthur looked genuinely offended. Mera simply ignored him and continued looking toward the harbor while Arthur stood there wondering how he had somehow lost an argument he wasn't even trying to start.
Arthur was still trying to figure out how Mera had reached the conclusion that Daniel was more likable than him when the man in question returned from the harbor.
Daniel walked toward them with his hands in his pockets.
"I've arranged a boat."
Mera immediately looked up.
"That was quick."
Daniel shrugged.
"Money solves most problems."
*****
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