Tantalus

Twenty ships have left the gravitational field of the Earth with the intention of colonizing Mars. Each is independent of the other and set to become domed cities upon landing. The mission is simple: go forth to develop the new planet, make it an extension of our home. Well, it sounded simple. No one expected life on Mars to be easy, they are pioneers and that is a type of life that comes with dangers. What they didn't expect was for the settings of one of the ships to be off enough to miss their landing, to miss the very planet they were meant to settle.

As the inhabitants of Tantalus work together to create a new home, the Arc Royal travels closer to the planet. No one is surprised to find out that the man that they call the Witch Hunter is on board and in command, although not visibly so. He doesn't wait very long to make his presence known. The Tantalarians continue to do what they can to help their new neighbors including guarding those in need from danger. While this happens, new friendships develop, old ones strengthen, and the two species begin to form more meaningful bonds.

The entity who has been called the Witch Hunter is focusing on those who have psychic powers. He has issued an edict to the Tantalarians, demanding that they bow to his will. He has challenged the wrong people, though he doesn’t seem to realize it. One Tantalarian in particular feels he has an ax to grind with this Witch Hunter. This entity has mentally attacked Terec and singled out the woman he loves to use for his own nefarious purpose. He will not rest until his foe is dead. The game lines have been drawn; the war is on.

The Tribunal Elder has lived through more millenniums than he cares to think about. He is not the type to shirk his duties. He is a force to reckon with; yet he is known to be a kind man. To settle a dispute between the Martians and the Human, he will travel to Mars. Before he returns home, this problem will be settled, one way or another. The message from the Martians is clear: remove the settlers from the surface of their planet, or they will die. The Tribunal Elder soon discovers there is more to this than those who are in command know about....

Karia can barely stand to be around herself, never mind others. She has been confined to the Aerie, until after the birth of her child, but there are limits to what she can do to pass the time. Mitchell understands, although there is little he can do about it. He doesn’t have the time to deal with her moods and needs. Only one, Alena, seems to know what to do to soothe her granddaughter as she enters the final stages of her pregnancy.

Several surprises are waiting for Kyllan’s return. Trysuil, a Tantalarian he thought dead, is most definitely not lost to their people. The Phoenixes kept Trysuil in a state of suspended animation, until the time was right for him to rejoin his people in the future. In his position of power, he is known as the Adjudicator and answers to the Phoenixes. He serves as their judge and jury on Tantalus.

The oceans of Tantalus are teaming with Aquarians, the dangerous, predatory mammals that feed off anything that lands in their territory. What is strange is that they are avoiding part of the ocean closest to the shoreline where Trysuil is planning to build the city of learning. His question is, why this area? What is keeping them at bay? He is determined to find out, and to do this, he needs the help of their new allies.

Kyllan, the Tribunal Elder, is not happy with the idea of taking the mothership to Earth to save the remaining Sirens that have asked for help. There is no help for it. He has given his word to the Siren Queen and she will hold him to it. First, they must make a few stops along to way, to right some wrongs. Kyllan couldn't have foreseen the trouble a simple trip that should have only taken a couple days could cause, but then again the people on Earth had never been easy to deal with.