We Have the Power!
Copyright© 2026 by Carlos Santiago
Chapter 5: Venturing Out
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to...”
— Frodo Baggins, quoting Bilbo Baggins, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book I). First published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, on July 29, 1954. Copyright © 1954 by J. R. R. Tolkien. Copyright renewed and now administered by the Tolkien Estate. All rights reserved.
The afternoon sun filtered through the high up glass windows of the royal audience chamber across the polished floor. Though the palace had largely been restored after Skeletor’s assault, there remained a strange stillness within its halls. This was to be expected from a people who had not known suffering in decades only to have their very core identity stolen from them.
In a way, in Duncan’s opinion, this was good, for it reminded everyone that peace was a gift that one borrowed.
King Randor stood beside a great window overlooking Eternos. His hands rested behind his back as a soilder might when they were at ease.
Queen Marlena sat upon the smaller chair beside the throne rather than the throne itself. Since she was not expecting an audience just yet, she was casually dressed. She had exchanged the ceremonial gown of court for a simpler white dress trimmed in burgundy.
Duncan knew that she was prepared to talk to Man-at-Arms about the status of her son and his training and preparation for some conceivable probings into the Dark Hemisphere. As such, Adam would be expected to go to Grayskull soon.
Because she had appeared less regal, there was a certain approach-ability to her, but that made Duncan feel all the more guilty.
“My King. Your Majesty,” Duncan said to announce himself.
Randor turned and recognized his own–time companion.
“Ah! Man-at-Arms. You wished to speak with us?”
“I did.”
Duncan removed his helmet before approaching.
“It concerns Prince Adam ... and He-Man.”
Marlena’s attention sharpened immediately.
“Has something happened?”
“No, and yes,” he said hesitantly. “At least ... nothing has happened in the traditional sense.”
Randor folded his arms in annoyance at how Duncan phrased his statement. The king had never completely stopped being a soldier, so he enjoyed a direct answer to anything that he considered a hedge.
“Then tell us.”
Duncan drew a measured breath. There was no point in putting this off any longer. He was before Adam’s parents, not the king and queen. That should be the saving grace.
“Adam believes the best way to end this war is to stop waiting for Skeletor to attack.”
Randor slowly nodded.
“Not an unreasonable conclusion.”
“After last night, he has expressed his wishes to travel regularly to Castle Grayskull.”
Surprisingly, Marlena smiled faintly to the news.
“To summon He-Man?”
“Yes,” Duncan said. “But that is not all.”
“Once there, Sorceress will keep Adam under Grayskull’s protection while He-Man ventures into the Dark Hemisphere and hunts Skeletor’s forces before they can strike at us again.”
The two seemed to understand.
“Then, He-Man wishes to carry the war to our enemy, and Adam is content to stay within Castle Grayskull?”
“He does.”
“And He-Man agrees?”
“He suggested it himself,” Duncan answered.
Technically, he was not lying. While the deception was necessary, the way he and Adam were so casual about the practice bothered Duncan.
The King rubbed thoughtfully at his beard.
“I cannot deny the wisdom of the strategy.”
“There is a portion to this that you do not seem to be grasping, Your Majesty,” Duncan said carefully.
“Oh? Go on then, Man-at-Arms,” Randor said.
“The strategy will require that He-Man is deep in the enemy territory for an extended period of time, so Prince Adam will not be able to leave Castle Grayskull.”
“I do not understand, Man-at-Arms,” Randor said. “Is not Castle Grayskull safe?”
“Well, yes, Your Majesty, and remote.”
“Then, what is there to worry about?” Randor asked rhetorically. “He remains protected in a location while He-Man does what most of us cannot.”
Duncan let out a sigh. That went better than he could have hoped.
“And how long would Adam remain there?” Queen Marlena asked.
Man-at-Arms almost cursed.
“I am not sure, Majesty. As long as necessary. I am sure when He-Man returns to the palace, he would be willing to pass on a message or maybe he will take a break, and return to Preternia so you can see your son. This arrangement is new, and I cannot pretend to know how it will all work.”
She frowned in disapproval.
“It sounds as though you are telling us that our son is gone, and might be gone for days, weeks, or months without returning if this task proves difficult for this He-Man.”
Duncan did not answer immediately because he was not sure what answer he could provide that the queen would accept.
“You have explained that Adam’s body cannot leave the castle while He-Man walks Eternia.”
“That is correct.”
“So while this is all going on, I, his mother and your queen, am simply expected to wait.”
Randor stepped beside her.
“Marlena. Our son became a man under Eternian law two years ago.”
“I am aware of his age,” she snipped.
“Nevertheless, he is his own man and can make his own decisions. He is making a selfless choice that helps us. Besides, he is more of a detriment on the battlefield as opposed to He-Man.”
“I don’t care,” Marlena retorted quickly to her husband. “Legality doesn’t mean anything to a mother when it comes to the safety of her child.”
“Marlena, be reasonable. I know you’re worried about Adam, especially after what happened to Adora, but don’t you see?”
Randor spoke as if he were the one who had a monopoly on sanity.
“Grayskull is the safest place for him. No one can overpower the Sorceress,” he finished.
“What of you, Duncan? What did you say to my son when he ran off to do this?”
“I advised caution and went so far as to say we should not rely on He-Man even if he is a hero from Preternia. The Defenders have done good work, and they will continue to do so if we give them the chance.”
“But you allowed him to go?”
“Queen Marlena, he is his own person. The prince must be free to make some of his own decisions.”
She gave a slow, almost disbelieving laugh.
“I seem to be outvoted,” she said. “Not when all three of you gang up on me.”
Randor looked confused.
“Majesty?”
“It would appear the men of Eternia have already decided what is best.”
Randor gave his wife a look.
“Tell me something, Duncan,” Marlena said.
“Yes, Majesty?” Duncan said, looking to the Queen.
“When He-Man spoke of this arrangement...”
She smiled sadly.
“ ... did Adam sound lonely?”
The old soldier froze. The way she said it. Could she have seen through the deception. Duncan recovered quickly; hopefully, quickly enough.
“I ... could not say.”
“No,” Marlena said, flashing a knowing smile. “I imagine not.”
She walked toward the great window overlooking Eternos.
“Well, I hope that someone remembers to bring my son home while you’re all worried about saving a planet.”
While he did not know what he should have expected, the Dark Hemisphere was unlike anything Adam had imagined. There were swamps, caves, sections of lava, sure, but for some reason, part of him thought it would have had a large shadow over the lands.
The truth was that it was just mostly not domesticated.
Even as He-Man, mounted upon Battle Cat, the land felt hostile. However, he did not worry, for being He-Man made Adam feel safe. He had the strength of many men and was more durable than steel.
One of the biggest differences was that nothing grew the same way it did by Eternos. The distant rumble of volcanoes actually provided him with a mild calm.
He-Man guided Battle Cat along a narrow ridge overlooking Snake Mountain in the distance.
The fortress rose from the volcanic plain like the skull of some ancient giant.
“So...” He-Man muttered to himself, unsure.
Battle Cat looked back at him.
“ ... now what?”
The great tiger merely growled.
He-Man smiled weakly. While he was not insane in believing that the animal spoke to him, he would assume meaning based on his own doubts.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
He had prepared provisions for five days. He did not need much. Dried meat, bread, some cheese, water in a skin, blankets, rope, and fire-starting supplies were more than enough to keep him going on this mission. He needed to be like Mekaneck and survey first and foremost by monitoring Skeletor’s movements.
The idea had seemed like a brilliant strategy inside Duncan’s workshop, but when actually implementing his plan, he could not help but think Man-at-Arms had a point. The problem was that he was in the area. There was no point in going back; he would look more like a failure.
The simplest truth that no one wanted to admit to was that he had no idea what he was doing.
“I should’ve asked more questions,” he confessed to the void...
Battle Cat huffed in agreement.
They eventually found a narrow cave overlooking one of the winding volcanic roads leading toward Snake Mountain.
That could be far enough away to avoid notice but close enough to monitor. As starts went, that was not too bad.
He rode his beast to the place. Once inside, Adam gathered loose stones into a small ring before striking flint. Soon a modest fire crackled softly against the cave walls.
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