[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HS4Hboq.png[/img][/center]
[b]New Atlantis, Atlantis[/b]

[color=#ffffff]Four days had passed since Orm had passed by Sue outside of Namor’s study but she thought of little since. Hours spent studying had revealed precious little about Namor’s ‘mad’ general and even less of his bloodline. Though even the king had spoken of Orm’s exploits at Xebel, the literature seemed to suggest that he barely existed. In fact, much of the literature around the Glorious Reclamation was pointedly short of detail – which was especially conspicuous given the many, many detailed volumes of almost every other period in Atlantean history.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Even today on a national festival set aside to celebrate the Reclamation, Sue found herself unable to answer even the simplest of questions about it. Though usually governed by strict, martial sensibilities, the festival was one of few joyful, expressive gatherings that took place in the nation’s capital – and for whatever reason, the king had insisted that Sue Storm be given pride of place at his side for it.[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Is this completely necessary, Namor?” [/color][color=#ffffff]Sue murmured as she tugged on the traditional Atlantean dress she was wearing.[/color][color=#9fc5e8] “I feel absurd in this get-up and it’s pretty clear that your subjects don’t appreciate my presence here.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]She looked anything but absurd. In fact, it had not gone unnoticed by some Atlantean subjects that sat beside their unmarried king on the podium, Susan Storm looked every bit the queen. Looking the part and wanting it were two very different propositions – and being wanted was an altogether different one. Though Namor seemed to enjoy Sue’s company, his subjects did not seem to share his regard. From the way they looked at her the very opposite seemed true.[/color]

[color=#45818e]“Nonsense, Susan. My subjects do as their king commands. They would gladly lay down their lives for me if I commanded them to. Enduring the presence of a surface-dweller is not beyond the capabilities of the average Atlantean, I assure you, no matter how pungent the smell.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The insult was thrown out in such a passing manner that it took several seconds for Sue to process it. [/color][color=#9fc5e8]“Excuse me?”[/color]

[color=#45818e]“Oh,” [/color][color=#ffffff]Namor said with as near to a sheepish smile as Sue had seen the king conjure up.[/color][color=#45818e] “I thought you were aware of it. You surface-dwellers give off an odour that is [i]very[/i] off-putting to the Atlantean nose. I believe it’s all the pus you ingest from those ugly bovines creatures. Dairy?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]She simply shook her head at the inquiry and turned back to the festivities. From the pedestal that Namor and Sue were sat on, they could see the entire procession of revellers passing through the streets of New Atlantis. The princess Namora had insisted upon sitting a level lower than Sue, whose presence there she considered an affront as ever, but her mood had brightened once the festivities had begun.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The significant military presence did not seem to quell the celebrations. Atlantis had a long, almost Spartan history that made its inhabitants accustomed to the presence of trident-wielding soldiers on almost every street. With tensions high since the Drowned’s attack on Tlapallan, the soldiers seemed more on edge than usual. Sue stared down at them for a few seconds before directing an inquisitive look at the king.[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Tell me more about the Glorious Reclamation.”[/color]

A servant scuttered towards Namor and offered him a golden platter covered in food. The king looked through it, his hands dancing above the pieces of fruit and dried fish, before finally he reached for a heart-shaped plant Sue did not recognise. It was purple with thick vein-shaped lines running along it. As he bit into the plant it burst open and sent green liquid squirting down the king’s chin.

[color=#ffffff]The king wiped the juce away from his chin with the back of his hand and looked proudly at Sue.[/color][color=#45818e] “What is it that you would like to know?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Well, your highness, all I have read so far are glowing accounts of your glory in battle,"[/color] Sue said with a diplomatic smile designed to ensure she did not incur the wrath of the Atlantean monarch's famously changeable mood. [color=#9fc5e8]"And as [i]enthralling[/i] as those accounts are, they are very light on actual facts. The more I know, the better I can advise you. So with that in mind: what was the great treason that the line of Atlan com-”[/color]

The proud smile on Namor’s face disappearing stopped Sue mid-sentence. The king stood up from his seat and threw the half-eaten plant down to the crowd of revellers in the crowd beneath them. The Atlantean’s fought amongst themselves for possession of it. Namor watched on whilst Namora and the other minor royals laughed at the commoners. He turned back to Sue and pointed down to the adoring crowd.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BQiaNEo.png[/img][/center]
[color=#45818e]“All you need to know, Susan Storm, is that through battle I restored honour to Atlantis after [i]generations[/i] of degeneracy – and so grateful are my loyal subjects that every year they celebrate the defeat of Atlan at my hand. What more is there to know? You need only look down at their adoring faces to understand the love my people hold in their hearts for their king.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]There was something there in the king’s gaze. Something that Sue couldn’t quite discern. Was it guilt? Shame even? Namor turned away from her before she could work it out but there was clearly something not quite right there. She considered asking another question when a fracas among the crowd beneath them caught her attention. A young girl no older than twelve or thirteen had managed to push her way to the front and was being set upon by armed guards.[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“What are they doing? She’s a child,”[/color][color=#ffffff] Sue said as she leapt from her seat and shouted down at the guards[/color][color=#9fc5e8]. “You’re hurting her! Let her go.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The guards looked towards their king for instruction. Namor felt the weight of the crowd’s gaze upon him – but the weight of Sue’s expectant stare seemed to wear on him more heavily than all the Atlantean faces staring back at him. He lifted a finger in the guard’s direction and with a dismissive wave forced them to stand down.[/color]

[color=#45818e]“Do as she says.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]They let the blue-skinned girl go and there was a roar of approval from the crowd. Sue smiled at Namor gratefully and, perhaps buoyed by Storm’s warmth, the king gestured towards the guards to help the little girl onto the pedestal with them. They lifted her up and Sue stretched her hand out and pulled her beside them.[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Are you okay?” [/color][color=#ffffff]Sue asked as she knelt before the little girl with a maternal smile.[/color][color=#9fc5e8] “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The little girl shook her head. She looked several years younger than her age, badly fed, and the rags that were hanging from her light-blue shoulders looked as if they had seen better days. Poverty was a rarity across Atlantis. The festival had brought beggars from across Atlantis to the capital to take advantage of the good-will created by the festivities. To be brought before the king was an act of kindness so wild that not even the most hopeful Atlantean could have dreamt of it. But Sue Storm had made it a reality for one girl.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Ignoring Namora’s protestations, Namor joined Sue and placed a hand on the child's shoulder.[/color][color=#45818e] “Have you come to pay tribute to your king?”[/color]

A broad smile appeared on the girl’s face and she drew back the portion of the rags covering her arm. Emblazoned on the girl’s forearm was a tattoo of a whirlpool. Its significance was lost on Sue but she noticed the king’s face twist with shock. He opened his mouth to shout a warning to those around him but before the words had left it there was a flash of blinding light. The pedestal and much of the crowd beneath it were hit by an explosion so powerful it sent shockwaves through the entire capital.