Once upon a time three boys from a tiny village of Etonville set off on a journey to the great Prophetess of Nix to hear their fortunes told. Many paid homage to the great sorceress to hear oracles of the future that are never wrong. Even better were the tales recited about the famous wizard who protected her inside his magical Haunted Forest. The boys eagerly awaited what the fate goddess had in store for them. One lad was a prince sent away from his capital by his father fearing assassination plots by his mother’s henchman. The assassins killed his father’s uncle and most trusted advisor, but his father’s guard helped him escape. His father fled to the mountains to live an exiled existence. Prince Dracon grew up in a quiet life inside the temple his distant cousin Princess Dyna kept watch as High Priestess. His father came to him as a phantom in the night and assured the insecure prince one day he would go home to rule his country. As the boy approached adolescence, the queen invited her son and heir to the throne for her wedding feast to a general in the palace guard she intended to crown king. This was sad news to his father learning his wife intention to kidnap the boy en route to the capital and hold him prisoner in order to force her husband out of hiding, and finally be killed. Dyna who had raised him since infancy wrote the queen to declare the need to secure a proper guard before sending him off home to the capital. She gave the message to the town weaver who was readying a wagon for a trip there to sell his coveted linen fabrics and unicorn hair embroidery threads.
One of his journey companions was the weaver’s son whom Dracon knew well. He had seen the elfboy Homer playing out in the foothills outside of town and racing rafts down the river before asking to join his friends. His family had been in this village for a thousand years, long before the humans from a distant land came and conquered their home. The humans built a separate town across the river from the elf houses to expand into one village under the charge of an elected chief, or chieftess. The chiefs once inherited the position from an elder relative, but once the humans intermarried with the elves they demanded equal say on the person who ruled over them. The chiefs thereafter were elected by the populace and held councils on both sides of the river. Homer was sent to be educated at the human temple across the river by the High Priest where Dracon lived so he would know his mother’s human world. Dracon joined the elf games and learned to hunt with Homer’s family upon the grasslands. He joined trading excursions to the horse master nomads living in colorful canvas tents raising livestock and to a nearby lake where mermaids come to give birth. The elves and humans living in Etonville have resisted many raids made upon their prosperous village. Anyone who can lift an iron battle axe or pull the string of a bow is enlisted into the village’s militia and take turns at guard duty atop the bell tower. Reaching the age of apprenticeships, Homer was quite insecure of his future occupation. His father expected him to follow the family business of trading in one form or another, but he wanted adventure elsewhere and travel to the ends of the horizon. He was hoping this Prophetess would aid his choice of occupation.
The third boy on the journey was a boy who feared for his future. Valnar had runaway from his peasant village after his father was murdered for poaching fish in the lord’s river. He had begged from house to house and met Prince Dracon while he was waiting for alms to the poor at the temple. Finally he was taken in by a widowed innkeeper who had no children. He treated this boy as if he were his own and one day made an agreement with the High Priestess to educate him in exchange for wood for the temple’s fire. For his journey, the innkeeper bestowed upon his adopted son a new bow and arrows he made and a quiver a peddler exchanged for lodgings. He prayed the Prophetess would tell him the lord he escaped from would never find him.
The Prophetess of Nix foresaw King Dracon would one day be a great hero and his name forever spoken by his people with love. For Homer, the sea would be his future and destiny. And for Valnar, King Dracon would buy his freedom. The lads also discovered the exiled King Jason in disguise of a wolf. They listened to the wizard recite stories of his life and his friends learning much of their country‘s history. On the way back, the boys were escorted home by the High Priestess’s daughter Ophelia who had married the Wizard’s son Aelous. The princeling was found an escort to the capital. The king remained in disguise after hearing of an attack of golden eagles right before the boys entered the magical forest and being saved by the queen of the mermaids. The return party came to town to a usual day in Etonville. The High Priestess welcomed back her daughter and the exiled king into her home until they left for the capital. Dracon was careful to call his pet wolf Greken whenever they walked around town to keep his identity a secret. Many elves knew Greken simply meant person from the north and quite intrigued by this creature. The weaver and his grown sons had already gone to the capital with Dyna’s message so she waited for a reply from the queen. Homer waited for his father’s return to ask for an apprenticeship with the great Wizard. Valnar continued his daily chores without a second thought of the future. The merchants arrived a month later with wagons of dried fruit slices, smoked fish, and pickled vegetables from Litsy, glass vessels from Kara, dried herbs from Aferdia, iron tools from Caledonia, polished silver mirrors from Knosssos, lavender soaps from Helos, wine from Vinland, fancy copper jewelry from Ithaca, nuts from Ashur, cotton blankets from Anaki, salt from Kadacia, and seashell beads from the Mermaid Islands. He sets up his stand in the market place trading most of his wares by the end of the day. Dyna receives the queen’s reply allowing her time to find a bodyguard since a grand parade would attract too much attention of the wrong sort. She will expect his arrival at the winter solstice.
At the evening meal, Homer recites his tale of the Prophetess to his father and his desire for an apprenticeship with the great Wizard. His father is disappointed, but gratified his son wants to be apprenticed to such an admired elf. His son’s desire to sail ships up and down the coast could be valuable to the family business. Then Homer further explained his desire to leave the family business and travel the world as a sailor. His father slammed his fist on the table declaring no child of his is becoming hired help. He had worked too hard for too long to raise them, educate them, and give them a good life to have them toss opportunities to rise in society away. Homer ran from the table out the back door. His mother came outside to find him crying by a tree where horses grazed. She promised to speak to his father, but she must first understand why it was so important to him. He can trade with the nomads by river systems in rafts and canoes. Homer tried to express his need to see the Wizard’s pretty granddaughter again. If he never sees her again, she may get betrothed to someone else. Homer’s mother tried to think up advantages to having a sailor for a son, the marketplaces he could sell their fabrics to and things from far away lands would get excellent prices.
Afraid to irritate his father anymore, Homer walked down to the river where his elder brother lived with his mermaid wife he met during a trading expedition. His brother was taking his turn at guard duty in the bell tower. He ordered him to go back and listen to their father. It was possible to change his mind. A healer who travels everywhere selling herbal medicines is highly respected and sought for cures. His older brothers can take over the family business while he as a sea captain can expand it and see the world at the same time. Besides, The Wizard is known to come to town to trade his magical services and he has sailed all over the seas before he was exiled. He will see this girl again. Homer came home to a worried mother after dark and spoke to his father how the Wizard knows many trades to monopolize into a successful business of his own. At his mother’s coaxing, his father consented to one year apprenticeship with the Wizard when he finishes his time with the High Priest in the winter.
The harvest came soon enough and the harvest games began. The Wizard came peddling his herbs and praying stones. His son Eurick and granddaughters Cassandra and Ishtar were with him. The orphan mermaid Layla who was discovered on a mountain side also came. Ophelia was pleased to see her nieces. Homer sought out Ophelia in how to gain Ishtar’s favor. The wind goddess recommended making her something with his own skills. He thought about it and decided to make a pair of boots for the winter. Homer’s mother had caught a chill and lied in her bed. The Wizard came and gave her bitter powder to drink with her tea to ease her illness. He announced it is only a wrenching cough and will soon pass when the evil spirit leaves. The Wizard met with his father who paid him with shell beads as he gave a pouch of more powder to give the mother later. Homer measured Ishtar’s feet and then Cassandra’s and Layla’s feet when they became jealous. Homer started cutting the soles while Ishtar, Cassandra, and Layla got distracted buying treats from the vendors. Apple fritters, mincemeat pies, cherry tarts, and honey cake. Homer later bought each goddess beaded bracelets many of the other girls were wearing. The High Priest and High Priestess burned offerings to the god of agriculture Daxus in thanks of the bountiful harvest. The village danced next to bonfires and bobbed for apples to have a seer forecast their fortune with the apple peel cut off in one long strand. Ishtar grabbed an apple with her teeth and the High Priestess announced she will have an adventure in the coming year. Homer gave it a try since he already knew his future. “The sea is your future and your destiny” the great Prophetess foretold, but what about the near future. The High Priestess gasps when she drops the peel. Heartache, sadness, and a departure from your family. This coming year will be an unnerving one testing his strength. Homer wasn’t surprised. Ishtar lived away from his home, Dracon was returning to the capital, and his apprenticeship started soon.
Homer walked the goddesses to the inn where Valnar fed them a meal. The tavern was bustling with excitement and stories of the harvest games starting tomorrow. Cassandra also met a boy who asked her to dance with him. His name is Hugi and his father is a carpenter on the human south side of the riverbank. He said he was in the foot race and archery tournament. He promised to take her horse back riding and welcomed her sister to join them. Dracon, Homer, and Valnar did not win any prizes, but enjoyed the food carts. Hugi took Cassandra, Ishtar, Layla, and Homer out horse back riding. Homer gained the trust of a unicorn once hunting in the mountains, but then it disappeared when he got back to his hunting party. Elves do not believe in domesticated animals and all their pets roam free. The wolf dogs they have were once hungry lone wolves and tamed mustangs off the grasslands that were found injured or trapped. The elves saved them from death from starvation and attack. Thus, never left their saviors and multiplied.
The harvest games and New Year celebration came to a close and Dracon gathered supplies for his journey home. Valnar gave him iron-tipped arrows and Homer gave him a obsidian knife that they made for him. King Jason the wolf and Ophelia joined him to say farewell. Dracon looked at the village one last time believing he would never see his home village again. The High Priest and High Priestess sang prayers for a safe journey. Ophelia jumped upon a unicorn and Dracon jumped on a horse pulling a travois holding their supplies. The villagers said farewell to the prince and returned to their chores. Homer and Valnar accompanied them to the edge to the town.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Chapter 1 The Boy King
After Homer’s father delivered the message from High Priestess Dyna declaring she needs to find Grand Prince Dracon an escort before he can come to the palace, Queen Jopria of the Kingdom of Blythe schemes to hold the prince as a prisoner to force her hidden husband to come out of exile to protect him. As the first snow falls, a servant delivers the second message from High Priestess Dyna stating an escort has been found and Grand Prince Dracon will arrive by the winter solstice. King Jason guides his son west to the estate of his sister Princess Tatiana who had been banished to the outer edge of the kingdom by Queen Jopria. Princess Tatiana had married a soldier from the neighboring country of Kadacia. The once Blythan town of Sarai along the bordering Anasazi Mountains was taken by the Kadacian army when Queen Jopria seized control of Blythe and exiled King Jason. Here is where King Jason fled to with his little cousin Prince Oskar after his uncle Prince Linos was murdered. His aunt Princess Mae jumped off a tower in despair and Princess Tatiana promised to raise Prince Oskar for he could not follow where King Jason was going. He also discovered on this escape journey that his former lover had married a peasant in the vicinity. As a young prince, Jason had befriended a maidservant but she was ordered out of the palace by his regent Queen Kia when she claimed to be with child. Fleeing for his life, he visited his son in Sarai, then saw Dracon in Etonville, and went on his way to the Haunted Forest. Thereafter, he visited his sons at night so no one would see him using The Wizard’s magic.
Princess Tatiana welcomed her brother and nephew with open arms into her home. She hosted a grand banquet in honor of the royal guests. A grown Prince Oskar played host since his adoptive father was occupied elsewhere repairing a wall. The next day, Prince Oskar escorted his cousins Jason and Dracon to Jason’s grown son Xander’s home. The peasant man was soon to be married and Dracon wished to be part of the celebrations. Jason and Dracon walked ahead of the groom in the ceremony. The bride Talia was another peasant dressed in a simple linen gown with a hand-full of daises as her bouquet. The couple vowed loyalty to each other and obedience to the lord of the land. After the ceremony, Jason insisted on his sons coming to the capital when he restores his power and live with him. He promised any occupation Xander wished. The man wished only his half-sister Amazon to come with them. King Jason granted his wish. Jason visited the tavern she worked in. The owner refused to let the girl attend her brother’s wedding. He found Amazon and angered the tavern keeper wishing to take her away. Jason drew his sword at the man’s neck and he yielded his servant to the exiled monarch. The pre-adolescent girl thanked her savior and jumped into her half-brother’s embrace.
The party left a week later in good tidings and set off for the capital Illium. Prince Oskar joined them in the royal escort. After a few days of travel, it began to snow and Ophelia began to behave strangely. Her husband Aelous, god of winds, felt much blood being spilled. The princess goddess feared something awful had happened nearby. The party set up camp in the frost and toasted themselves by the fire. During the night, the cold winds of Aelous shook the tents and put out their fire. Ophelia started a magical fire inside their tent. The next morning shone the bright sun melting much of the frigid air. Away from the camp, Oskar notices people coming this way. Time passed to reveal they were peasants carrying nothing but their frost-covered cloaks. At a closer look, many seemed bloodied and terrorized. Jason, Xander, and Oskar leapt on their horses tied to sledges to meet these people. One woman looked as if she were about to topple over into a snow bank. Jason approached the woman and an old man limping beside her with a staff.
“Mistress, you appear to be ready to topple into the snow. May I offer our campfire to rest at.” addressed Jason. The shivering woman did not respond but kept walking without a glance.
“You have to forgive her, lord, we have been walking in the cold for hours. Kiara, the nobleman is speaking to you.” answered the old man.
Kiara looked up with vacant eyes and stared at Jason. Jason slid down his horse to observe this fragile creature with pale blue eyes and tiny features to see a half starved blonde beauty in a cloak white from the snow. He came nearer and grasped her tiny frozen hands.
“Mistress Kiara, you look as if you are about to collapse in the snow. Please come rest by our fire. You may ride upon my horse.” offered Jason. Kiara glanced at the old man.
“Thank you, lord. My daughter is not well. Her husband was murdered yesterday during a raid on our village and she is about to give birth. She has not spoken since.” explains the old man.
Jason smiles and whistles for his horse. He pushes the woman atop his horse and offers the sledge to the old man. He covered the man with a fur blanket and pulls on the reins. Xander and Oskar bring over frozen peasants reeling from head wounds. At the campfire, they feed the peasants warm broth and Ophelia heals them. The old man explains they were heading toward the lord’s estate over yonder.
“We will escort you there. My name is Jason. This is my son Xander with his wife Talia and his sister Amazon. My son Dracon. My cousins Ophelia and Oskar. We are on our way to Illium.” introduces Jason.
“What business have you in Illium, Lord Jason?” asks the old man.
“To recapture my throne,” answers Jason.
“King Jason,” gasps the old man, dropping his bowl. “Our exiled king has returned like the Prophetess of Nix has foretold. May we come with you?” Jason smiles as he blushes.
“I was hoping you would ask that,” replies Jason. They pack up the lodgings and tools to set off towards the next town where the lord’s residence is located. They place Kiara and her father with the other peasants on the sledges bundled in blankets. Near the village, Kiara cries out in pain.
“We are almost there Kiara, hold on.” orders the king.
They reach an inn and take Kiara upstairs. The mistress of the inn gathered towels and boiled water for the delivery. Jason met with the new mother alone in a bed chamber.
“Mistress Kiara, may I ask about your husband you named your son after.” asked Jason. Kiara began to weep and kissed her babe.
“You may ask, Sire. He was a good and kind man loyal to all his villagers. He fed wanderers and travelers when they had nothing to pay him with. He always sacrificed the best lamb to the gods. He farmed the lord’s land from sunrise to sunset and never once complained like other peasants. He played the drums during festivals and wrote songs to honor me. I came from another village on the coast so when we married a year ago I knew no one. He introduced me to all the villagers and encouraged me to sell my garden vegetables in the market. He was a great man loved by all the villagers. Then a man slashed an axe into his face and my father pulled me into the river woods to escape. I wanted to die beside him, but father said I must give our child life to honor Almar. My father came to live with us when mother died soon after I married Almar.” She kissed her son again.
“I am sorry if this pains you. I was curious, mistress.” responds Jason. “May I also be so bold as to ask if you are part-mermaid. Only mermaids of the southern seas have pale blue eyes like yours.”
Stunned, Kiara did not answer. The infant cried and she fed him milk. Jason kissed her forehead and left without a word. He sought out her father and asked his opinion for a potential betrothal. He agreed to speak to his daughter. Another day went by and the royal party set off again leaving the new mother behind. Her father promised to come to Illium once they hear King Jason has returned to the throne. It tore Jason deeply to leave Kiara. Xander voiced his observations of his father to him.
“You look upon Kiara the same way you once looked upon mother. Are you planning to marry her? You know you must be very gentle with her. She has lost her husband and gained a child in two days.”
“I know son. That is why I am leaving her behind to sort her feelings out.” replies Jason.
After a long journey around Blythe, they reach the majestic capital of Illium. Dracon was in awe of the tall whitewashed stone buildings and streets covered in broken sea shells. They rode passed fountains filled with water from the aqueduct and temples with circular columns. He could not wait to tell Homer and Valnar about this city, they would never believe him. Brick bridges crossed the streams leading to the sea and large avenues were covered with carts pulled by oxen carrying every delight imaginable. Oskar, Xander, Talia, and Amazon stay in a nearby inn. Grand Prince Dracon and King Jason as a wolf enter the palace gates with their bodyguard Ophelia. They are guided to the throne room and promptly announced. Queen Jopria embraces her son’s return in her throne room. She thanks Ophelia for the escort, sends her regards to Dyna, and gives thanks for raising him away from the war with Kadacia. When she asks where Dracon found his pet Greken, Dracon answered it is Ophelia’s pet. Ophelia explained the wolf was a companion of her tutor, The Hermit. The queen winced at the sound of the exiled wizard’s new title after the law forbidding his name be spoken was enacted. Dracon further recited his journey to The Prophetess of Nix for an omen for his return to the capital and meeting this great wizard. One day he be a hero recited in song. Displeased at her son consorting with exiles, she orders a magician to sense the identity of this animal. Her fears are to be confirmed. The gray wolf transforms back into King Jason wearing his crown and his drawn bow aimed at Jopria. Shocked at seeing her husband again, Jopria looked helplessly at her son. An arrow struck her heart and the frightened servants bowed to His Majesty. Blubbering, they beg for forgiveness from Jason. The nobles race out of the throne room and magicians make themselves disappear. King Jason announces his return by sitting on Jopria’s throne with the gold-tipped staff his grandfather Emperor Rurick the Conqueror once held. A valet rises to take off Jopria’s fur cape and placed it over Jason’s shoulders.
“Forgive us, King Jason. We had to follow the Queen’s commands to keep our heads.” the valet bows and kisses His Majesty’s ring.
“There is nothing to forgive, please rise.” answers the restored king.
Soldiers scamper in to see their lost king and bow in obedience. He orders the servants to rise and declares forgiveness for those soldiers who took part in the soldier’s riot that murdered his uncle Linos. The leaders of the riot, however, were not forgiven. Palace guards informed the king that Jopria’s favorites were responsible for murdering Linos claiming Jason ordered Linos to torture a general’s brother to death. He ordered the beheading of Jopria’s lover and her head counselors. In a darken dungeon the lover and his young wife were dragged down into a silent room. The wife pled with Jason to spare her life, she knew nothing of her husband’s schemes. Jason pointed out her vengeful heart after he kills her husband, he can not risk her or their sons to revenge the betrayer’s death. As the woman wept, Jason waved his finger downwards to command the execution. At watching her husband’s punishment, the young widow fainted. Not one could wake her. After a minute the woman awoke in terror and shook in fear. King Jason looked into the lady’s horrified eyes and then up at the hallway where prisoners’ arms hanging out of their jails to watch the shadows in the open dungeon. The usually noisy jail stood silent listening to the executions. Jason did not know what to do with this woman and her sons.
The woman froze as she began to realize this king has yet to command her death. On her knees, she begged for her life again. Citing her sons need their mother, beckoned forgiveness of her ignorance of her husband. Jason had a long discussion in his head about this woman. In the end, he decided to exile her to the far reaches of the kingdom. A ship took the widow and her sons to the edge of Kadacia and marched them into the mountains where they were abandoned.
“Liar!” shouts a sailor on Homer’s ship Aphrodite listening to the tale about King Jason returning to power. “You are lying about the whole thing. King Jason would never set free three people who could kill him later. You are full of it, Captain Homer!”
A grown Homer commanding this ship gives up arguing with the sailor and lets someone else tell stories. Later gazing upon a sunset on deck, his boy Ilio asks if he was lying about King Jason.
“No Ilio, my boy. That is what King Dracon told me when he was crowned Blythe’s new monarch.” answers Homer.
“Yes, father. I believe you.” responds Ilio. Homer patted his son’s blond head and looked into his blue eyes freckled with gray. “Can I hear more about King Jason and your friend King Dracon, father?
“Certainly, my boy. Ishtar! May we have some warm drinks up here?”
A royal proclamation soon announces a ball to celebrate the king’s return. At a temple for the wisdom goddess Athena, King Jason addresses his subjects.
“My people. I come back to you with my heir at my side. Many years you have suffered under my Ashur wife Jopria. I am sorry for deserting you in your hour of need. I feared I could not help my people lying in a burial crypt with my son too young to accept responsibilities as a king. From now on, I am your humble servant. I declare a week set aside to hear grievances of any wrongs my wife or her cronies have done. I shall attend ceremonies at the Temple of Athena to hear complaints with my trusted officials. The gods will shall be done. Farewell until tomorrow.”
The gala at the palace lasted all night, but King Jason retired early to get some sleep for the grievance hearings. The next morning, as Prince Oskar visited prisoners and checking over Jopria’s beheaded lover’s records, King Jason rode in a chariot to the Temple of Athena. All day he listened to grievances and tried to right the wrongs he could. After a week, a few subjects came from outside towns whose land was confiscated by Jopria’s generals and court favorites. Jopria’s younger brother living in an estate to the east rode in a fine carriage to see his sister’s wedding to hear rumors of his brother-in-law’s return. Prince Grigor wept briefly for his sister’s passing, then in the great hall forgave his brother-in-law during the Winter Solstice celebration. He vowed to support his brother-in-law and nephew restoration. Jason allowed his brother-in-law to keep his estate instead of escorting him back to his Ashur homeland in the South Seas.
Kiara came with her father to see King Jason. He ordered bed chambers for the pair and proposed marriage at the evening meal. More joy spread throughout the country as King Jason planned his wedding. Queen Simone of Kadacia sent with her sister a chariot for the new queen and a horse for the king. King Jason invited the Kadacian princess to stay in his palace instead of a guest house. He wished deeply of Queen Simone’s position on his return. Her Majesty would flat out refuse any discussion of returning of any city taken during Jopria’s war. Delighted in an ally, he let the issue go for the moment. The King of Ithaca, King of Anaki, King of Helos, King of Nubia, King of Aferdia, King of Vinland, King of Caledonia, and King of Alastair sent gifts with tidings and emissaries arrived in place of the monarchs. The only monarchs attending the ceremony were King Rodric and Queen Persephone of Lotan with their daughter Princess Penelope. Grand Prince Dracon listened intensely to stories of Kadacia and Lotan from the royal visitors.
Prince Oskar took an instant liking to Princess Penelope. Jason also adopted Almar and gave him the title of prince. After the ceremony, Kiara was presented as Queen of Blythe. During this time, Xander, Talia, and Amazon were given titles of prince and princess. He gave Xander and Talia the estate of Adair just outside the city. Amazon was tutored by Dracon’s new teacher, Oskar. Oskar wrote often to Penelope begging for another visit. Penelope responded pleasantly, but she had no cause to return. After sending a betrothal gift to Penelope, she replied that she will come to live in Illium next year and stay until Amazon was grown. Her place was with her father and mother in Lotan. The months pass after Jason and Kiara’s wedding when Jason suddenly became ill. He hunted the day before and seemed in perfect health. A healer was called to give the diagnosis of poison. Prince Oskar sat at his cousin’s side writing his will as he moaned in pain and claimed to hear his father’s voice calling him home. Soon the reinstated king was found dead with his eyes wide open as if he saw horror as he passed to the afterlife. His ashen and unshaven face caused many to look away. The last to view him was Prince Oskar who closed his cousin’s eyes.
The funeral was mourned by the whole city for a month until the crypt was carved and coffins made. A gold plated casket was carried by the palace guards to the Temple of Athena. Dracon, now 12 years of age, is crowned the new King of Blythe by Prince Regent Oskar and The Hermit returning from exile. Homer and Valnar came along with the Hermit to join in the festivities. Homer enjoyed observing the ornate palace. Never before had he imagined such a place outside the godly realm. He delighted Dracon with stories of carving a magic wand out of oak, looking for herbs, making everything he wears and uses, and sailing open ships. Ishtar, Cassandra, and Layla are often with him in his learning sessions. The Wizard’s daughter Lexie often comes to shore and swims up the river to her father’s house. Ophelia’s son Addison arrived one day to receive tutoring from the great wizard. Homer was delighted to have a boy to play with. Next year he will learn to use magic to speak to animals and plants, even the dirt under his feet. After his return from his grandmother’s funeral, his father relented to continue his education from The Wizard when his year of study was up from his mother persuasive tactics.
Valnar’s mother came looking for him when his younger brother died during the winter. The innkeeper took her in and had promised to leave all his possessions to them when he dies. Homer and Valnar were most eager to meet the rest of Dracon’s family. Soon afterward the funeral, Queen Kiara was raped by three palace guards. Prince Oskar found her weeping in the hallway wrapped in a blanket. He offered her to sleep in his bed while he watched the door and questioned every guard and servant who passed. A maidservant confessed she heard screaming in Kiara’s bed chamber, but too afraid to intrude. The next morning, Oskar took Kiara around the castle to identify her assailants. She shriveled up in fear as they approached a table of soldiers playing dice games. Oskar ordered the soldiers arrested and later whipped for their crime. Once it was found that Kiara was pregnant, he signed their death warrants. Dealing with Jason’s murder, Oskar’s blade was swift and vengeance brutal. He also beheaded those he believed ordered the murder of his father Linos many years ago. Opponents of Jason learned quickly to fear Regent Oskar’s irrational rage. Once it was announced Queen Kiara was pregnant by uncertain father, Oskar wanted to protect the child from disinheritance from this dispute and married Kiara in a small ceremony few were invited to. As regent, he declared the unborn child’s paternity was King Jason and proclaimed to adopt both children as his heirs. If Dracon had no heirs, these princes would rightly be in line for the throne with Oskar and Kiara available to be regents. Princess Penelope was shattered hearing the news. Oskar only wrote to her that it was his duty to care for Jason’s family. King Rodric ordered the return of the betrothal gifts. Prince Oskar returned the gold hilted sword and Rodric returned the gold diamond necklace.
Prince Oskar decided to appoint a new tutor for Amazon. He introduced Commander Ryana to 13-year-old Princess Amazon. Ryana is also the wife of the General of the Palace Guards. Amazon was relocated to a different part of the palace where the general and his family lives. She learned all the tasks of running a household and caring for people and animals. After this arrangement, rumors flew around saying the commander was having an affair with Oskar to obtain such a high position. Oskar responded to these rumors with whippings of those believed to have started them. Joy filled the country with the birth of Kiara’s son. Prince Oskar named him Prince Donovan. The boy was given all titles and inheritance Oskar’s true son would have received. King Dracon added more as half-brother to the king. He made in his will that in the event he does not have an heir to entrust his crown, his declared Prince Donovan his half-brother and Prince Almar his adopted brother his heirs giving them estates when they marry. They lived on the estate of Ashleigh to the north of Illium King Jason had given him when he returned to the throne. Once a week, they visited the palace and Dracon took them around in his chariot to temples and theater plays.
Upon hearing of the child’s birth, Princess Penelope rushed to Illium and showed up at court begging to know if Donovan was truly Jason’s son. Promptly, he denied fathering the boy, but felt obliged to protect Kiara and Jason’s sons as Dracon’s regent. Practical anyone could appoint themselves regent on Donovan’s behalf if anything should happened to Dracon or himself. Kiara knows nothing about running a country and he does not trust Prince Grigor. Penelope also inquired about Regent Oskar ruling Blythe like a tyrant. She warned he could be inciting a rebellion against him like his father Linos before him. Stunned at this reflection of his vengeance from losing his father, he listened to her opinion. Penelope also pointed out that Jason was poisoned, opponents supporting Jopria remain. He vowed to Penelope to leave his post when Dracon reached adulthood in a few years and come live with her in Lotan. As proof of his loyalty and devotion, he impregnated Penelope. When King Rodric was told of his daughter’s condition, he was outraged his royal daughter had become a concubine and demanded Oskar’s head.
Princess Penelope pleaded with her father not to murder her beloved whose child she is caring, they were betrothed before Jason’s murder. King Rodric relented slightly to order Regent Oskar dragged into Lotan to marry his daughter. A group of soldiers sneaked into Ashleigh months later to confront Oskar. He asked only to leave his properties with Kiara, Almar, and Donovan and pack a chest of possessions. Oskar was granted his request and the soldiers bound his hands for their escort back to Lotan. Dracon was devastated hearing his rock and guardian left him to fend for himself. Xander and Talia come to comfort the insecure adolescent and vow to watch over him. Queen Jopria’s brother Prince Grigor appointed himself the new regent to the dismay of many. Queen Kiara tried to assert her position to join as regent, but was no match for Grigor. Princess Penelope gave birth to a boy named Prince Eiras. Dracon then decided to get married in order to see Oskar again. After a year, Princess Penelope and Prince Oskar came back to see Prince Dracon marry the young Princess Amazon. To the dismay of many royal enemies, Commander Ryana never lurked far away as her bodyguard.
King Dracon’s wedding was talked about for years. Marrying a born peasant made him popular with the common folk and resented by nobles who wished their daughters marrying the king. Dracon sadly lacked trust in the scheming and vindictive nobles, even if they are distantly related to him. Prince Grigor’s son Prince Lagos made his first appearance to the newly crowned king. His cousin was as cool and calculating as his father. He hardly spoke to the king, but when he did it was all flattery and bragging. On his wedding day, King Dracon rode in a chariot driven by his friend Homer. Prince Oskar, Princess Penelope, Prince Eiras, goddess Ophelia, god of wind Aelous, child god Addison, Prince Grigor, and Prince Lagos rode on horses before them. Princess Dyna who had raised Dracon died the prior winter from a nagging cough that choked her. Princess Tatiana who raised Oskar was too ill to travel and soon after died. Ahead of the family were the palace guards with banners and full armor marching with their shields and spears. Crowds cheered the young king in all his displays. He felt wrenching loneliness realizing Grigor, Lagos and Oskar were his closest relatives that he could have in his wedding parade. His closer family members have been murdered or exiled over power. Deep down he wished to live in Etonville again farming land and feeding animals in a simpler life. But then again, peasant lives are just as unpredictable and unstable as his own life. Xander and Talia rode in a chariot driven by Valnar ahead of Amazon. Ryana drove Amazon’s chariot to the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. Coins were tossed to the city dwellers. The Hermit performed the ceremony.
The groom walked the aisle of the filled temple among the stares of distant strangers. He stood at the altar next to Oskar facing the entrance to the temple. He remembered from the Great Wizard’s tales how unsure of himself when he first stepped into adulthood with all the uncertainties of a happy ending. He also remembered his great-grandfather Rurick the Conqueror in his struggle to be a great Emperor with no example to study. He wished The Hermit would stay and council him in important matters, but he must train his friend Homer to be a warrior. He also is certain that his uncle Grigor really wants favors in power now that he can no longer be regent. At least he received a fine wedding present from Valnar, he bought an inn near the palace, The Regal Eagle. The innkeeper who adopted him had died and he sold the inn. He then moved his mother away from their lord’s estate. Valnar heartily avoided the wedding ceremony and reception in the palace since Prince Grigor was responsible for killing his father. The bride entered with a shiny white gown with a golden crown. She was as beautiful as the day he met her a few years ago. The choir of orphans sang as Amazon walked to the altar and takes Dracon’s hand with a smile. Candles were lit to honor the fertility goddess Amalia. Flowers were placed at the statue of the love goddess Aphrodite.
The Hermit blessed the couple in full pageantry. Music, incense, and voices asked the gods to bless the couple. Songs of celebration and a bard recited a tale of the mermaid goddess Circe looking for a lover since her betrothed left her for another goddess. She challenged all creatures to race her down a valley to the other end. The first to win would be her husband. Many men and immortals tried to pass her in this race and lost. Finally, Aphrodite received a plea from a shepherd to win this contest and Circe’s heart. She gave him three golden apples to drop along the path to slow the goddess down. He ran the Circe race with all his strength and dropped the golden apples whenever he managed to pass her for a moment. The golden apples drew Circe to slow down and pick them up in admiration. When she realized what the man had done to win the race across the valley, she celebrated him a hero and married him that very day. The love goddess Aphrodite blesses all who ask for it.
The vows of loyalty came next:
“I, King Dracon of Blythe, take Princess Amazon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my wife for as long as we live.”
“I, Princess Amazon of Sarai, take King Dracon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my husband for as long as we live.”
The dowry that would have taken place here was missing. Like Kiara, Amazon did not have anything to bring to the marriage. And like Kiara, The Hermit provided the dowry. Twenty chests of treasures appeared out of thin air. Robes, perfume flasks, shoes, jewels, mirrors, animals carved out of stone, iron weapons, and hair combs filled the chests. Amazon heartily thanked her benefactor. The marriage contract was read and the marriage bond was sealed. Next Amazon was crowned queen. Blessed with oil upon her forehead and hands with candles lit for wisdom goddess Athena, the new Queen Amazon walked outside with her king to view the populace trampling each other to view the monarchs. They waved to their admirers and rode off to the palace in a chariot. The reception in the lush green courtyard entertained the wealthy while the commoners celebrated in the streets. Drunken, Prince Grigor demanded a prophecy for the newly wed couple from the great seer. The Hermit refused to give one. He already seen the couple’s future. The king will not like it anymore than Empress Minerva who he predicted doom that came true after he was ordered exiled by Emperor Dion. Shocked at a refusing a princely request, Prince Grigor threw a bottle at the Wizard to have him turn it into the flying flower. Homer stepped up and made an omen potion to view. The marriage will be brief and doom is complete when a baby cries.
As evening came, Dracon, Homer, and The Wizard sneaked out to Valnar’s inn. They were greeted by his mother who is the hostess and bookkeeper for the inn. Valnar welcomed them into the tavern and fed the full visitors. Then he gave his wedding gift of new boots covered in porcupine quill beads. His mother gave the king new velvet gloves with the same bead work. Dracon used the moment to ask when The Wizard knew for sure that he was an adult. Many humans believe when people marry, they are adults. In many ways, Dracon still felt like a child uncertain of anything and small decisions seem difficult. The Wizard replied,
“When you take responsibility for your actions and blame no one for your mistakes, you are an adult. Someday we all leave childhood innocence behind us and face an unforgiving world. Do not fear uncertainty, that is the only assurance anyone can give you.”
Disappointed, Dracon drank his ale and remain quiet the rest of the night. As the Wizard of Nix rose up on his unicorn on his return home with Homer, he promised a decorated general to guide Dracon in his new royal position will be sent immediately. The next morning Prince Grigor appointed himself advisor to the newly wed king. Dracon accepted his appointment to the displeasure of Valnar. As a blessing in disguise, Valnar sought any opportunity to kill Grigor.
Princess Tatiana welcomed her brother and nephew with open arms into her home. She hosted a grand banquet in honor of the royal guests. A grown Prince Oskar played host since his adoptive father was occupied elsewhere repairing a wall. The next day, Prince Oskar escorted his cousins Jason and Dracon to Jason’s grown son Xander’s home. The peasant man was soon to be married and Dracon wished to be part of the celebrations. Jason and Dracon walked ahead of the groom in the ceremony. The bride Talia was another peasant dressed in a simple linen gown with a hand-full of daises as her bouquet. The couple vowed loyalty to each other and obedience to the lord of the land. After the ceremony, Jason insisted on his sons coming to the capital when he restores his power and live with him. He promised any occupation Xander wished. The man wished only his half-sister Amazon to come with them. King Jason granted his wish. Jason visited the tavern she worked in. The owner refused to let the girl attend her brother’s wedding. He found Amazon and angered the tavern keeper wishing to take her away. Jason drew his sword at the man’s neck and he yielded his servant to the exiled monarch. The pre-adolescent girl thanked her savior and jumped into her half-brother’s embrace.
The party left a week later in good tidings and set off for the capital Illium. Prince Oskar joined them in the royal escort. After a few days of travel, it began to snow and Ophelia began to behave strangely. Her husband Aelous, god of winds, felt much blood being spilled. The princess goddess feared something awful had happened nearby. The party set up camp in the frost and toasted themselves by the fire. During the night, the cold winds of Aelous shook the tents and put out their fire. Ophelia started a magical fire inside their tent. The next morning shone the bright sun melting much of the frigid air. Away from the camp, Oskar notices people coming this way. Time passed to reveal they were peasants carrying nothing but their frost-covered cloaks. At a closer look, many seemed bloodied and terrorized. Jason, Xander, and Oskar leapt on their horses tied to sledges to meet these people. One woman looked as if she were about to topple over into a snow bank. Jason approached the woman and an old man limping beside her with a staff.
“Mistress, you appear to be ready to topple into the snow. May I offer our campfire to rest at.” addressed Jason. The shivering woman did not respond but kept walking without a glance.
“You have to forgive her, lord, we have been walking in the cold for hours. Kiara, the nobleman is speaking to you.” answered the old man.
Kiara looked up with vacant eyes and stared at Jason. Jason slid down his horse to observe this fragile creature with pale blue eyes and tiny features to see a half starved blonde beauty in a cloak white from the snow. He came nearer and grasped her tiny frozen hands.
“Mistress Kiara, you look as if you are about to collapse in the snow. Please come rest by our fire. You may ride upon my horse.” offered Jason. Kiara glanced at the old man.
“Thank you, lord. My daughter is not well. Her husband was murdered yesterday during a raid on our village and she is about to give birth. She has not spoken since.” explains the old man.
Jason smiles and whistles for his horse. He pushes the woman atop his horse and offers the sledge to the old man. He covered the man with a fur blanket and pulls on the reins. Xander and Oskar bring over frozen peasants reeling from head wounds. At the campfire, they feed the peasants warm broth and Ophelia heals them. The old man explains they were heading toward the lord’s estate over yonder.
“We will escort you there. My name is Jason. This is my son Xander with his wife Talia and his sister Amazon. My son Dracon. My cousins Ophelia and Oskar. We are on our way to Illium.” introduces Jason.
“What business have you in Illium, Lord Jason?” asks the old man.
“To recapture my throne,” answers Jason.
“King Jason,” gasps the old man, dropping his bowl. “Our exiled king has returned like the Prophetess of Nix has foretold. May we come with you?” Jason smiles as he blushes.
“I was hoping you would ask that,” replies Jason. They pack up the lodgings and tools to set off towards the next town where the lord’s residence is located. They place Kiara and her father with the other peasants on the sledges bundled in blankets. Near the village, Kiara cries out in pain.
“We are almost there Kiara, hold on.” orders the king.
They reach an inn and take Kiara upstairs. The mistress of the inn gathered towels and boiled water for the delivery. Jason met with the new mother alone in a bed chamber.
“Mistress Kiara, may I ask about your husband you named your son after.” asked Jason. Kiara began to weep and kissed her babe.
“You may ask, Sire. He was a good and kind man loyal to all his villagers. He fed wanderers and travelers when they had nothing to pay him with. He always sacrificed the best lamb to the gods. He farmed the lord’s land from sunrise to sunset and never once complained like other peasants. He played the drums during festivals and wrote songs to honor me. I came from another village on the coast so when we married a year ago I knew no one. He introduced me to all the villagers and encouraged me to sell my garden vegetables in the market. He was a great man loved by all the villagers. Then a man slashed an axe into his face and my father pulled me into the river woods to escape. I wanted to die beside him, but father said I must give our child life to honor Almar. My father came to live with us when mother died soon after I married Almar.” She kissed her son again.
“I am sorry if this pains you. I was curious, mistress.” responds Jason. “May I also be so bold as to ask if you are part-mermaid. Only mermaids of the southern seas have pale blue eyes like yours.”
Stunned, Kiara did not answer. The infant cried and she fed him milk. Jason kissed her forehead and left without a word. He sought out her father and asked his opinion for a potential betrothal. He agreed to speak to his daughter. Another day went by and the royal party set off again leaving the new mother behind. Her father promised to come to Illium once they hear King Jason has returned to the throne. It tore Jason deeply to leave Kiara. Xander voiced his observations of his father to him.
“You look upon Kiara the same way you once looked upon mother. Are you planning to marry her? You know you must be very gentle with her. She has lost her husband and gained a child in two days.”
“I know son. That is why I am leaving her behind to sort her feelings out.” replies Jason.
After a long journey around Blythe, they reach the majestic capital of Illium. Dracon was in awe of the tall whitewashed stone buildings and streets covered in broken sea shells. They rode passed fountains filled with water from the aqueduct and temples with circular columns. He could not wait to tell Homer and Valnar about this city, they would never believe him. Brick bridges crossed the streams leading to the sea and large avenues were covered with carts pulled by oxen carrying every delight imaginable. Oskar, Xander, Talia, and Amazon stay in a nearby inn. Grand Prince Dracon and King Jason as a wolf enter the palace gates with their bodyguard Ophelia. They are guided to the throne room and promptly announced. Queen Jopria embraces her son’s return in her throne room. She thanks Ophelia for the escort, sends her regards to Dyna, and gives thanks for raising him away from the war with Kadacia. When she asks where Dracon found his pet Greken, Dracon answered it is Ophelia’s pet. Ophelia explained the wolf was a companion of her tutor, The Hermit. The queen winced at the sound of the exiled wizard’s new title after the law forbidding his name be spoken was enacted. Dracon further recited his journey to The Prophetess of Nix for an omen for his return to the capital and meeting this great wizard. One day he be a hero recited in song. Displeased at her son consorting with exiles, she orders a magician to sense the identity of this animal. Her fears are to be confirmed. The gray wolf transforms back into King Jason wearing his crown and his drawn bow aimed at Jopria. Shocked at seeing her husband again, Jopria looked helplessly at her son. An arrow struck her heart and the frightened servants bowed to His Majesty. Blubbering, they beg for forgiveness from Jason. The nobles race out of the throne room and magicians make themselves disappear. King Jason announces his return by sitting on Jopria’s throne with the gold-tipped staff his grandfather Emperor Rurick the Conqueror once held. A valet rises to take off Jopria’s fur cape and placed it over Jason’s shoulders.
“Forgive us, King Jason. We had to follow the Queen’s commands to keep our heads.” the valet bows and kisses His Majesty’s ring.
“There is nothing to forgive, please rise.” answers the restored king.
Soldiers scamper in to see their lost king and bow in obedience. He orders the servants to rise and declares forgiveness for those soldiers who took part in the soldier’s riot that murdered his uncle Linos. The leaders of the riot, however, were not forgiven. Palace guards informed the king that Jopria’s favorites were responsible for murdering Linos claiming Jason ordered Linos to torture a general’s brother to death. He ordered the beheading of Jopria’s lover and her head counselors. In a darken dungeon the lover and his young wife were dragged down into a silent room. The wife pled with Jason to spare her life, she knew nothing of her husband’s schemes. Jason pointed out her vengeful heart after he kills her husband, he can not risk her or their sons to revenge the betrayer’s death. As the woman wept, Jason waved his finger downwards to command the execution. At watching her husband’s punishment, the young widow fainted. Not one could wake her. After a minute the woman awoke in terror and shook in fear. King Jason looked into the lady’s horrified eyes and then up at the hallway where prisoners’ arms hanging out of their jails to watch the shadows in the open dungeon. The usually noisy jail stood silent listening to the executions. Jason did not know what to do with this woman and her sons.
The woman froze as she began to realize this king has yet to command her death. On her knees, she begged for her life again. Citing her sons need their mother, beckoned forgiveness of her ignorance of her husband. Jason had a long discussion in his head about this woman. In the end, he decided to exile her to the far reaches of the kingdom. A ship took the widow and her sons to the edge of Kadacia and marched them into the mountains where they were abandoned.
“Liar!” shouts a sailor on Homer’s ship Aphrodite listening to the tale about King Jason returning to power. “You are lying about the whole thing. King Jason would never set free three people who could kill him later. You are full of it, Captain Homer!”
A grown Homer commanding this ship gives up arguing with the sailor and lets someone else tell stories. Later gazing upon a sunset on deck, his boy Ilio asks if he was lying about King Jason.
“No Ilio, my boy. That is what King Dracon told me when he was crowned Blythe’s new monarch.” answers Homer.
“Yes, father. I believe you.” responds Ilio. Homer patted his son’s blond head and looked into his blue eyes freckled with gray. “Can I hear more about King Jason and your friend King Dracon, father?
“Certainly, my boy. Ishtar! May we have some warm drinks up here?”
A royal proclamation soon announces a ball to celebrate the king’s return. At a temple for the wisdom goddess Athena, King Jason addresses his subjects.
“My people. I come back to you with my heir at my side. Many years you have suffered under my Ashur wife Jopria. I am sorry for deserting you in your hour of need. I feared I could not help my people lying in a burial crypt with my son too young to accept responsibilities as a king. From now on, I am your humble servant. I declare a week set aside to hear grievances of any wrongs my wife or her cronies have done. I shall attend ceremonies at the Temple of Athena to hear complaints with my trusted officials. The gods will shall be done. Farewell until tomorrow.”
The gala at the palace lasted all night, but King Jason retired early to get some sleep for the grievance hearings. The next morning, as Prince Oskar visited prisoners and checking over Jopria’s beheaded lover’s records, King Jason rode in a chariot to the Temple of Athena. All day he listened to grievances and tried to right the wrongs he could. After a week, a few subjects came from outside towns whose land was confiscated by Jopria’s generals and court favorites. Jopria’s younger brother living in an estate to the east rode in a fine carriage to see his sister’s wedding to hear rumors of his brother-in-law’s return. Prince Grigor wept briefly for his sister’s passing, then in the great hall forgave his brother-in-law during the Winter Solstice celebration. He vowed to support his brother-in-law and nephew restoration. Jason allowed his brother-in-law to keep his estate instead of escorting him back to his Ashur homeland in the South Seas.
Kiara came with her father to see King Jason. He ordered bed chambers for the pair and proposed marriage at the evening meal. More joy spread throughout the country as King Jason planned his wedding. Queen Simone of Kadacia sent with her sister a chariot for the new queen and a horse for the king. King Jason invited the Kadacian princess to stay in his palace instead of a guest house. He wished deeply of Queen Simone’s position on his return. Her Majesty would flat out refuse any discussion of returning of any city taken during Jopria’s war. Delighted in an ally, he let the issue go for the moment. The King of Ithaca, King of Anaki, King of Helos, King of Nubia, King of Aferdia, King of Vinland, King of Caledonia, and King of Alastair sent gifts with tidings and emissaries arrived in place of the monarchs. The only monarchs attending the ceremony were King Rodric and Queen Persephone of Lotan with their daughter Princess Penelope. Grand Prince Dracon listened intensely to stories of Kadacia and Lotan from the royal visitors.
Prince Oskar took an instant liking to Princess Penelope. Jason also adopted Almar and gave him the title of prince. After the ceremony, Kiara was presented as Queen of Blythe. During this time, Xander, Talia, and Amazon were given titles of prince and princess. He gave Xander and Talia the estate of Adair just outside the city. Amazon was tutored by Dracon’s new teacher, Oskar. Oskar wrote often to Penelope begging for another visit. Penelope responded pleasantly, but she had no cause to return. After sending a betrothal gift to Penelope, she replied that she will come to live in Illium next year and stay until Amazon was grown. Her place was with her father and mother in Lotan. The months pass after Jason and Kiara’s wedding when Jason suddenly became ill. He hunted the day before and seemed in perfect health. A healer was called to give the diagnosis of poison. Prince Oskar sat at his cousin’s side writing his will as he moaned in pain and claimed to hear his father’s voice calling him home. Soon the reinstated king was found dead with his eyes wide open as if he saw horror as he passed to the afterlife. His ashen and unshaven face caused many to look away. The last to view him was Prince Oskar who closed his cousin’s eyes.
The funeral was mourned by the whole city for a month until the crypt was carved and coffins made. A gold plated casket was carried by the palace guards to the Temple of Athena. Dracon, now 12 years of age, is crowned the new King of Blythe by Prince Regent Oskar and The Hermit returning from exile. Homer and Valnar came along with the Hermit to join in the festivities. Homer enjoyed observing the ornate palace. Never before had he imagined such a place outside the godly realm. He delighted Dracon with stories of carving a magic wand out of oak, looking for herbs, making everything he wears and uses, and sailing open ships. Ishtar, Cassandra, and Layla are often with him in his learning sessions. The Wizard’s daughter Lexie often comes to shore and swims up the river to her father’s house. Ophelia’s son Addison arrived one day to receive tutoring from the great wizard. Homer was delighted to have a boy to play with. Next year he will learn to use magic to speak to animals and plants, even the dirt under his feet. After his return from his grandmother’s funeral, his father relented to continue his education from The Wizard when his year of study was up from his mother persuasive tactics.
Valnar’s mother came looking for him when his younger brother died during the winter. The innkeeper took her in and had promised to leave all his possessions to them when he dies. Homer and Valnar were most eager to meet the rest of Dracon’s family. Soon afterward the funeral, Queen Kiara was raped by three palace guards. Prince Oskar found her weeping in the hallway wrapped in a blanket. He offered her to sleep in his bed while he watched the door and questioned every guard and servant who passed. A maidservant confessed she heard screaming in Kiara’s bed chamber, but too afraid to intrude. The next morning, Oskar took Kiara around the castle to identify her assailants. She shriveled up in fear as they approached a table of soldiers playing dice games. Oskar ordered the soldiers arrested and later whipped for their crime. Once it was found that Kiara was pregnant, he signed their death warrants. Dealing with Jason’s murder, Oskar’s blade was swift and vengeance brutal. He also beheaded those he believed ordered the murder of his father Linos many years ago. Opponents of Jason learned quickly to fear Regent Oskar’s irrational rage. Once it was announced Queen Kiara was pregnant by uncertain father, Oskar wanted to protect the child from disinheritance from this dispute and married Kiara in a small ceremony few were invited to. As regent, he declared the unborn child’s paternity was King Jason and proclaimed to adopt both children as his heirs. If Dracon had no heirs, these princes would rightly be in line for the throne with Oskar and Kiara available to be regents. Princess Penelope was shattered hearing the news. Oskar only wrote to her that it was his duty to care for Jason’s family. King Rodric ordered the return of the betrothal gifts. Prince Oskar returned the gold hilted sword and Rodric returned the gold diamond necklace.
Prince Oskar decided to appoint a new tutor for Amazon. He introduced Commander Ryana to 13-year-old Princess Amazon. Ryana is also the wife of the General of the Palace Guards. Amazon was relocated to a different part of the palace where the general and his family lives. She learned all the tasks of running a household and caring for people and animals. After this arrangement, rumors flew around saying the commander was having an affair with Oskar to obtain such a high position. Oskar responded to these rumors with whippings of those believed to have started them. Joy filled the country with the birth of Kiara’s son. Prince Oskar named him Prince Donovan. The boy was given all titles and inheritance Oskar’s true son would have received. King Dracon added more as half-brother to the king. He made in his will that in the event he does not have an heir to entrust his crown, his declared Prince Donovan his half-brother and Prince Almar his adopted brother his heirs giving them estates when they marry. They lived on the estate of Ashleigh to the north of Illium King Jason had given him when he returned to the throne. Once a week, they visited the palace and Dracon took them around in his chariot to temples and theater plays.
Upon hearing of the child’s birth, Princess Penelope rushed to Illium and showed up at court begging to know if Donovan was truly Jason’s son. Promptly, he denied fathering the boy, but felt obliged to protect Kiara and Jason’s sons as Dracon’s regent. Practical anyone could appoint themselves regent on Donovan’s behalf if anything should happened to Dracon or himself. Kiara knows nothing about running a country and he does not trust Prince Grigor. Penelope also inquired about Regent Oskar ruling Blythe like a tyrant. She warned he could be inciting a rebellion against him like his father Linos before him. Stunned at this reflection of his vengeance from losing his father, he listened to her opinion. Penelope also pointed out that Jason was poisoned, opponents supporting Jopria remain. He vowed to Penelope to leave his post when Dracon reached adulthood in a few years and come live with her in Lotan. As proof of his loyalty and devotion, he impregnated Penelope. When King Rodric was told of his daughter’s condition, he was outraged his royal daughter had become a concubine and demanded Oskar’s head.
Princess Penelope pleaded with her father not to murder her beloved whose child she is caring, they were betrothed before Jason’s murder. King Rodric relented slightly to order Regent Oskar dragged into Lotan to marry his daughter. A group of soldiers sneaked into Ashleigh months later to confront Oskar. He asked only to leave his properties with Kiara, Almar, and Donovan and pack a chest of possessions. Oskar was granted his request and the soldiers bound his hands for their escort back to Lotan. Dracon was devastated hearing his rock and guardian left him to fend for himself. Xander and Talia come to comfort the insecure adolescent and vow to watch over him. Queen Jopria’s brother Prince Grigor appointed himself the new regent to the dismay of many. Queen Kiara tried to assert her position to join as regent, but was no match for Grigor. Princess Penelope gave birth to a boy named Prince Eiras. Dracon then decided to get married in order to see Oskar again. After a year, Princess Penelope and Prince Oskar came back to see Prince Dracon marry the young Princess Amazon. To the dismay of many royal enemies, Commander Ryana never lurked far away as her bodyguard.
King Dracon’s wedding was talked about for years. Marrying a born peasant made him popular with the common folk and resented by nobles who wished their daughters marrying the king. Dracon sadly lacked trust in the scheming and vindictive nobles, even if they are distantly related to him. Prince Grigor’s son Prince Lagos made his first appearance to the newly crowned king. His cousin was as cool and calculating as his father. He hardly spoke to the king, but when he did it was all flattery and bragging. On his wedding day, King Dracon rode in a chariot driven by his friend Homer. Prince Oskar, Princess Penelope, Prince Eiras, goddess Ophelia, god of wind Aelous, child god Addison, Prince Grigor, and Prince Lagos rode on horses before them. Princess Dyna who had raised Dracon died the prior winter from a nagging cough that choked her. Princess Tatiana who raised Oskar was too ill to travel and soon after died. Ahead of the family were the palace guards with banners and full armor marching with their shields and spears. Crowds cheered the young king in all his displays. He felt wrenching loneliness realizing Grigor, Lagos and Oskar were his closest relatives that he could have in his wedding parade. His closer family members have been murdered or exiled over power. Deep down he wished to live in Etonville again farming land and feeding animals in a simpler life. But then again, peasant lives are just as unpredictable and unstable as his own life. Xander and Talia rode in a chariot driven by Valnar ahead of Amazon. Ryana drove Amazon’s chariot to the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. Coins were tossed to the city dwellers. The Hermit performed the ceremony.
The groom walked the aisle of the filled temple among the stares of distant strangers. He stood at the altar next to Oskar facing the entrance to the temple. He remembered from the Great Wizard’s tales how unsure of himself when he first stepped into adulthood with all the uncertainties of a happy ending. He also remembered his great-grandfather Rurick the Conqueror in his struggle to be a great Emperor with no example to study. He wished The Hermit would stay and council him in important matters, but he must train his friend Homer to be a warrior. He also is certain that his uncle Grigor really wants favors in power now that he can no longer be regent. At least he received a fine wedding present from Valnar, he bought an inn near the palace, The Regal Eagle. The innkeeper who adopted him had died and he sold the inn. He then moved his mother away from their lord’s estate. Valnar heartily avoided the wedding ceremony and reception in the palace since Prince Grigor was responsible for killing his father. The bride entered with a shiny white gown with a golden crown. She was as beautiful as the day he met her a few years ago. The choir of orphans sang as Amazon walked to the altar and takes Dracon’s hand with a smile. Candles were lit to honor the fertility goddess Amalia. Flowers were placed at the statue of the love goddess Aphrodite.
The Hermit blessed the couple in full pageantry. Music, incense, and voices asked the gods to bless the couple. Songs of celebration and a bard recited a tale of the mermaid goddess Circe looking for a lover since her betrothed left her for another goddess. She challenged all creatures to race her down a valley to the other end. The first to win would be her husband. Many men and immortals tried to pass her in this race and lost. Finally, Aphrodite received a plea from a shepherd to win this contest and Circe’s heart. She gave him three golden apples to drop along the path to slow the goddess down. He ran the Circe race with all his strength and dropped the golden apples whenever he managed to pass her for a moment. The golden apples drew Circe to slow down and pick them up in admiration. When she realized what the man had done to win the race across the valley, she celebrated him a hero and married him that very day. The love goddess Aphrodite blesses all who ask for it.
The vows of loyalty came next:
“I, King Dracon of Blythe, take Princess Amazon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my wife for as long as we live.”
“I, Princess Amazon of Sarai, take King Dracon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my husband for as long as we live.”
The dowry that would have taken place here was missing. Like Kiara, Amazon did not have anything to bring to the marriage. And like Kiara, The Hermit provided the dowry. Twenty chests of treasures appeared out of thin air. Robes, perfume flasks, shoes, jewels, mirrors, animals carved out of stone, iron weapons, and hair combs filled the chests. Amazon heartily thanked her benefactor. The marriage contract was read and the marriage bond was sealed. Next Amazon was crowned queen. Blessed with oil upon her forehead and hands with candles lit for wisdom goddess Athena, the new Queen Amazon walked outside with her king to view the populace trampling each other to view the monarchs. They waved to their admirers and rode off to the palace in a chariot. The reception in the lush green courtyard entertained the wealthy while the commoners celebrated in the streets. Drunken, Prince Grigor demanded a prophecy for the newly wed couple from the great seer. The Hermit refused to give one. He already seen the couple’s future. The king will not like it anymore than Empress Minerva who he predicted doom that came true after he was ordered exiled by Emperor Dion. Shocked at a refusing a princely request, Prince Grigor threw a bottle at the Wizard to have him turn it into the flying flower. Homer stepped up and made an omen potion to view. The marriage will be brief and doom is complete when a baby cries.
As evening came, Dracon, Homer, and The Wizard sneaked out to Valnar’s inn. They were greeted by his mother who is the hostess and bookkeeper for the inn. Valnar welcomed them into the tavern and fed the full visitors. Then he gave his wedding gift of new boots covered in porcupine quill beads. His mother gave the king new velvet gloves with the same bead work. Dracon used the moment to ask when The Wizard knew for sure that he was an adult. Many humans believe when people marry, they are adults. In many ways, Dracon still felt like a child uncertain of anything and small decisions seem difficult. The Wizard replied,
“When you take responsibility for your actions and blame no one for your mistakes, you are an adult. Someday we all leave childhood innocence behind us and face an unforgiving world. Do not fear uncertainty, that is the only assurance anyone can give you.”
Disappointed, Dracon drank his ale and remain quiet the rest of the night. As the Wizard of Nix rose up on his unicorn on his return home with Homer, he promised a decorated general to guide Dracon in his new royal position will be sent immediately. The next morning Prince Grigor appointed himself advisor to the newly wed king. Dracon accepted his appointment to the displeasure of Valnar. As a blessing in disguise, Valnar sought any opportunity to kill Grigor.
Chapter 2 The Stranger
Valnar walked off the gangplank of his ship Revenge to the waiting arms of ladies eager to hear his adventures in Ithaca. Word has it a wealthy young woman came to rest inside Valnar’s inn. Valnar’s mother took pity on the girl fearful of revealing her face. She spoke to few entering her path and kept her hood up. She slept in Valnar’s bed chamber when the other rooms were occupied. She tried to pay her rent by being a barmaid, but she was useless in this capacity so found a job as a seamstress with the regal tailor. She had tales to recite as she visited Queen Kiara to measure robes for her boys. She unrolled fabrics while the head tailor did the measuring. She unloaded a chest of feathers, linen ribbons, and fans for Queen Kiara to choose from while the tailor unrolled lace his lace tatters made. She even visited the palace as the head tailor measured King Dracon for his new robes and hunting attire. She unrolled the fabrics for the king to choose from and spread out a finished cloak trimmed with beadwork. Many patrons and barmaids of the inn began to wonder who this maiden was. No one said it out loud, but the idea of a reward in revealing this maiden to her pursuer was appetizing. Valnar brushed off this news and walked to his inn with his ladies. He thought he caught a glimpse of the stranger looking out his window.
His mother informed him a lady was in his room since the other rooms were occupied with sailors on shore leave. Valnar stated he will sleep in the stable hayloft and invited his ladies to keep him warm. One patron laughed stating his barmaids can keep him warm in their beds. He smirked and went straight upstairs to fetch some coins to trade with. The stranger was gazing into his bronze mirror when he entered the room. He spoke no words but went straight to the wall and moved a board to reveal his money stash. He took what he needed buy a new cloak. He left the stranger now gazing at him. She was very beautiful and obviously out of place in his cheap inn mostly occupied by wharf rats and arduous sailors. He went on his way with his ladies and walked to the marketplace. His ladies left him as he visited his ill stable boy inside the temple. He gave the stable boy an ivory seal from Ithaca. He then returned to his ship to count trading his first mate did and assigned the watches. He returned to his inn to eat his evening meal of lobster, peas, and bread. He picked up his dishes, clapped for the band playing across the room, and noticed the stranger staring at him. He walked out into the rain and rounded the corner towards the stables from his lack of a stable boy. The stranger had followed him and then lost sight of him. From the back porch, he peeked around the corner and asked if she was looking for someone.
“Yes, I was wondering if it bothered you that I occupied your bed chamber, Master Innkeeper?” asked the maiden.
“Valnar. It’s Captain Valnar, maiden.” corrected Valnar as another lady entered the clearing.
“And no, many women have slept in it before you”.
“Captain Valnar, I brought a wool blanket to keep you warm in the hayloft. We can not have you catch cold.” spoke the maiden.
“Thank you, Jacey. Mind if I smoke a pipe first before feeding the horses.” replied Valnar.
“Yes I do mind, it’s cold out here.” answered Jacey.
They entered the open stable and closed the doors. Valnar smoked his pipe as Jacey chatted forever on his mother’s dealings with their laundry customers. Some complain of stains leftover and other refute their prices. His inn had a brawl with two drunk sailors competing for the same barmaid. Katarina grew tired of Jacey and asked if she may feed the horses. Valnar nodded his head. The horses soon grew restless as Valnar brushed them. An old leprechaun then rapped his cane upon the inside of the stable door.
“Is this The Royal Eagle stable?” asked the leprechaun.
“Yes, Master Leprechaun, may I take your pony. We have fresh oats today. My name Captain Valnar, the innkeeper.” welcomed Valnar.
“Thank you, Captain Valnar. I am Viminaski, High Priest of Rosewood Ravine. This is Rosebelle and my other pet is Hari.” introduced Viminaski as his wolf entered the stable.
The horses remained calm as Valnar fed Rosebelle. Valnar refused the wolf. Viminaski assured that this wolf is a god. Reluctantly, he allowed Hari to stay in the barn. Viminaski asked for lodgings for himself and his pets for he has an important appointment with the king the next morning. Valnar has all his rooms occupied, but offered his absent stable boy’s room. Viminaski accepted the offer and paid for the room and stable stall. The wolf settled down in the straw next to the pony as Valnar brushed it and tossed a blanket over it on this cold night. Katarina took the leprechaun to the inn. The evening meal had been finished, but Valnar’s mother gave the new boarder a leftover plate of food and offered the stable boy’s clean clothes . The inn patrons glanced over their shoulders at Viminaski the Wise. Many have heard the tales from returning soldiers of the leprechaun general speaking of wondrous courage and devotion to his friend Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. Now an old man with a tuft of gray hair, wrinkled round face, and protruding bat ears. He asks for meat to feed his pet wolf and the patrons turn away. Many are afraid of wolves because vampires take their shape and werewolves often keep them as pets. The small man hobbles with his cane, beautifully carved with a braided knot at the top back out into the rain and returns. The man wore a ragged tunic, pants, leather shoes, long dangling bead necklace, and a long, torn cloak over it all. He changes clothes and claps along with the dancing barmaids as Valnar’s mother dries his wet clothes in the kitchen. Katarina listened to the music until Valnar’s mother kicked everyone out at the bell peal of the night guard switch. The next morning as the inn patrons come together for the morning meal, Valnar entered with Jacey. For a chatting chipmunk who looked no more than 16-years-old, he was awful quiet eating his mush as Jacey yawned claiming she has to return to her father’s laundry. Katarina sat by the lone priest with newly patched clothes to request an omen when he finished his tea. He provided a remarkable future. The girl from a faraway estate hiding from her betrothed will be caught, but alas, already married to an honorable man she has just met. Finishing his meal, the humble priest walked out with bacon strips to feed Hari. The wolf ate the leftovers and lapped up a cup of tea. The wolf changed forms into a godly creature in the same dress as Viminaski.
“Be good, Hari. You are around people who have never seen a banshee before.” ordered the general. A bump in the foggy air told him someone was spying on him.
“Katarina! Come in here child.” Katarina entered the barn. “And just what do you think you are doing?”
“I wanted to see the god. Who are you, Hari?” replies Katarina.
“I was a banshee, but the chaos god Ryan changed me one day after I came by to warn of his wife’s demise. He refuses to undo the spell so here I am. Vim can only change me back temporarily with his potion.” explains Hari.
“I see. Is this the handsome man I will marry?” asks Katarina.
“No, your future husband inside.” answers Viminaski.
Viminaski and Katarina return to the inn to listen to patrons chatting with each other. Soon the barmaids came to pick up the dishes. Guards came by to announce a ball in honor of the return of Captain Valnar. Katarina came over to ask how he knows the king and captains a ship, he can’t be more than 16 years old . Valnar explained to the bewildered girl that the king and two nobles are partners in his ship and receive an equal share each voyage. He met the king waiting for alms outside the temple he lived in as a boy with his distant cousin, the high priestess. He worked for an innkeeper and the childless widower adopted him. He was sent to the temple to learn with the High Priest and the prince. His schoolmate Homer whose family traded with moving nomads following trails and river systems taught him navigation, sailing, and negotiating. He practiced his fighting skills with his friends at the temple. When he inherited widower’s inn, he sold it to move closer to his regal friend who had become king. The Blue Ogre needed repairs so his regal friend gave him money to fix it up. He was first mate to his first ship bought by the nobles and king. After two years he bought a new ship renamed Revenge and took over as captain. The king comes The Royal Eagle Inn occasionally late at night to dine with the drunk patrons whom do not seem to notice his presence. He further explained that Katarina has viewed the king silently smoking a pipe in a dark corner last night. Katarina was surprised she didn’t recognize him, she showed him fabrics at the palace.
She rushed to her seamstress job to borrow a fine gown to wear to the gala being held that night. Much like court sessions in the early morning where administrators give reports to the king and nobles bring concerns to His Majesty, anyone looking wealthy can walk past the guards. She finds a green and red quetzal feather fan with a silver handle in the marketplace and silver combs with embedded sapphires at a jeweler. While she was upstairs tidying herself for the party, she heard much commotion downstairs and assumed the charming Valnar arrived with an armful of ladies hanging on his every word as usual. Valnar entered his room to discover the mystery maiden applying red ocher to her cheeks. He nods his head as he walks past her to his wash stand. He grabs a fresh towel from the cupboard and shaves his face. Katarina finishes by placing jeweled combs in her hair. She asks if he has any jewelry she may borrow.
“Yes, they are in the red box. We can’t have a fine noble woman look drab at galas in the palace.” answered Valnar.
“What makes you think I’m noble, I work as a seamstress and pay rent to live in this rat infested brothel you call an inn? I’m a poor worker.” asserted Katarina.
“Do I seem like a simpleton to you? You are not fooling anyone, little lady.” replied Valnar. “Now what I get in exchange for this loan?”
“What do you want?” Katarina asks.
“If you really do not know the answer already, I’m not asking it. But I will settle for knowing who you are and what you are doing here on the wrong side of the river.”
“Alright so I’m a noblewoman. I didn’t like my betrothal my father insisted I marry so I ran away with help from my sister. I sold all my jewels and eventually ran out of money. Ragamuffins begging at the temple said your mother is generous with table scraps and you give people jobs who have nothing so I choose to stay at your inn. Your sick stable boy Hathor said he was an orphan from a Kadacian port and met you stealing your money pouch. Instead of whipping him, you took him to a tavern and fed him. I tried to be a barmaid to pay for my room, but I do not know how to be a servant for I always been the served. You will not tell anyone my secret, correct? I will find another city to hide in if you do.” finished Katarina.
“And loose your rent, I wouldn’t dream of it.” answered Valnar. “Do you have a name or shall I call you Lady?” Katarina stiffened.
“Katarina,” she squeaked.
“Beautiful name,” said Valnar and changed into fresh clothes for the party.
The gala in honor of Valnar was an amazing sight for Katarina. Valnar took her arm as they entered the great hall and released her to step up next to the king. King Dracon toasted his friend announcing that the Blythan men must keep their ladies looking pretty. Valnar announced how the Caledonians have developed a stronger iron that rusts much less. That set off visitors into discussions of their own. Valnar danced a jig with Katarina and ignored the women competing for his attention. He greeted Queen Kiara as the dance ended. Katarina noticed Queen Kiara uncomfortable when Valnar asked her if she was a mermaid and pointed out the beaded necklace she claims from her mother as a mermaid decoration. Only mermaids of the south seas make necklaces like that. How else would a poor peasant woman inland receive such a unique treasure? Katarina tuned into the conversation and Kiara admitting her father found her mother along a beach digging for turtle eggs. Her mother fully left her mermaid life behind her to become a hardworking gardener and shepherdess. Katarina continued to watch Valnar occupied all night with ladies begging him for dances. She briefly curtsied to the king and his new finance administrator General Viminaski. The general touched her chin with a smile as they walked passed her curtsy. Queen Amazon walked past Katarina’s curtsy and conversed with Valnar on her beautiful robes made with fabric he brought on his last trip. The evening grew late and the stars gleamed in delight. Katarina followed Valnar out of the palace with the king in a dark cloak. Hari barked at her and Valnar shushed him declaring the follower intended to arrive at the same place they were. He then asked if she would mind sleeping on the floor of his room cause his bed will be occupied. In tears, she ran away. Valnar chased her down the hill and tackled the girl near the gate. Holding her arms down, he demanded to know why she had been following him all night. Tears flooded out and her lip began to quiver.
“I think she likes you, Valnar.” said Dracon. The fear subsided in her eyes.
“Is that true?” asked the innkeeper. Katarina nodded her head. Valnar got off her and helped her up. “You can come drink with us. What was your name again?”
“Katarina,” said the girl wiping her tears away.
They walked out of the palace gates to The Royal Eagle. Valnar’s mother provided dishes of warm food and drink. Valnar recited to Katarina his escape from certain death after the lord hung his father. Dracon’s uncle Grigor claimed peasants were fishing in his forbidden streams and hung the lawbreakers. Valnar heard the horses of noble men coming towards their fishing spot and hid in the bushes. There he came face to face with a cougar. Both surprised, they remained stiff until the horses came nearer. The animal climbed on top of Valnar and hissed at the passing horses. Valnar heard a man say something about a killed deer under the cougar. Safe, the mother cougar grabbed her kitten and carried it to a cave. Valnar picked up the other kitten by the scruff of its neck and carried it to the cave. Hearing a scream in the distance, Valnar ducked down. A tiny voice from the darkness said not to worry because Bathsheba will protect him. Searching for the speaker, a fairy landed on his knee.
“Greetings human, I am Bathsheba. And you are?” said the pixie.
“Valnar, Mistress Bathsheba. Can you tell me if that was my father’s scream I just heard?”
“It was, Valnar. I could not save him too. Just Lissa and you.”
“Lissa?” asked Valnar. Bathsheba pointed to the cougar licking her kittens.
Then five horsemen rode passed as Valnar hid in the bush guarding the cave opening. They were laughing at the peasant they hung nearby who begged for his life to be spared because his village was hungry from the bleak harvest. The noblemen flattered Prince Grigor for rejecting the poor man’s pleas and ordered his hanging. They also referenced shooting a young lad up in a tree claiming to be gathering bird eggs the day before near a village further north. As the sun set, Valnar’s stomach began to growl.
“Come with me human Valnar. I will take you home.” requested Bathsheba.
Arriving at the peasant village with a bright fairy guiding his dark path was quite a sight to the peasants. Valnar’s family asked where his father was. Valnar confessed to the scream in the woods and assumed his father was dead. In the moonlight, Valnar and his younger brother cut down his father hanging from a tree near the river and buried him nearby. Valnar vowed to avenge his father and fled with only the clothes on his back. He stopped to beg for food, which he was very accustomed to doing. The young boy Valnar changed his name often and settled in a small village to the north. This is where he met the Grand Prince Dracon. After his brother died of fever did his mother come looking for him. Katarina was in awe of his courage and cunning. Without thinking, Katarina asked to sail with Valnar on his next voyage. Dracon and Valnar burst out laughing. Katarina’s hopeful smile faded as she hung her head.
“Sorry my fair lady, every maiden in this city wants to go with Valnar.” giggled Dracon. “You will have to wait for him like all the others.”
The hours passed with more tales of childhood and more current events. King Dracon leaves for the palace and Valnar walks Katarina to his room. Two barmaids call for him to come into their room.
“Do you really want to sail on my ship or just see me not surrounded by women?” asked Valnar.
“Both,” answered Katarina as she shut the door. Valnar strutted downstairs to help his mother clean up grinning from ear to ear. The next day Katarina was moved into another room and Valnar got his back.
The next months saw Valnar warming up to Katarina as she helped out the innkeeper and his mother. The well stable boy returning was a big help fitting into low society. Hathor taught her to wash dishes, wash clothes, oiling shoes, and trade in the marketplace. She even learned to care for the horses. They left the city walls to collect berries and mushrooms along the roads. Then they traded with mermaids along the beach. Valnar was right. The northern seas mermaids have gray eyes and black colored beads on their seaweed necklaces. Mermaids from the southern seas have pale blue eyes and necklaces of red colored beads. After patching clothes for the inn patrons, Valnar asked Katarina accompany him to Kadacian city of Noor as assistant sail maker. Finding another stable boy at the temple waiting for alms, Hathor was invited to come as cabin boy. There met Queen Simone returning to her winter palace. Covered from head to toe in jewels and bright cloth, she shined like the sun on her camel. The queen glanced at Katarina and Valnar to continue on her tour of her lands. The queen often comes to the coast during the dry season. On the journey, Valnar decided to ruin her innocence and open her eyes to a larger world she never knew existed. But his ward Hathor beat him to it when they took a trip to Ithaca. While sleeping in a brothel between two women, Katarina came into his room worried over Hathor’s fever, boils, and cries for his dead parents. She did not know anything about healing sickness like he did.
Valnar ordered one woman to obtain ice and the other to light a lamp. He dressed himself and looked at Hathor lying in the hallway. He gave the boy a powder in a cup of water and carried the boy to the bathing pool to break his fever. The skylight shown a bright starry night and a full moon casting a little light. Valnar held the boy with one arm while sponging the cold water all over his hot sweaty body. The woman holding the lamp said he has the measles. The other woman brought a bag of ice. All three women took turns holding the ice to his head and Valnar continued the sponging. As the dawn appeared above the skylight, the boy awoke and Valnar was relieved. Katarina pointed out his concern for this cabin boy and how endearing it was. No matter how strong and unfeeling he tries to display, he has a warm heart. She kissed him on the cheek and then kissed Hathor’s forehead. He let go of the boy to grab hold of Katarina’s arm and kissed her lips to watch her leave the room. Hathor told him to marry Katarina cause he likes her. Valnar promised that he will show her the love she yearned from him. Noticing Katarina’s attention towards their captain, his crew attempted to have their turn with her to hear Valnar order that the woman was his and his alone.
In Anaki, she bought a pair of white horses and a pair of green songbirds. She rode her horses around Illium and kept the songbirds caged in her bed chamber at the Royal Eagle. Katarina spent every day with Hathor and the night with Valnar. On their travels, she helped sell the cargo at the docks to the shopkeepers. Unknown to Katarina, her bargaining and respect for the customers impressed Valnar a great deal. Perhaps, she is not like all the other girls smiling pretty for the sailor friend of the king. Animals love her and they always spot an evil soul. He had Dracon’s jeweler make a silver and ruby necklace as an engagement gift. During a feast, he announced his betrothal to the kingdom. Then he received the most pleasant surprise: Homer. On a ship named Aphrodite, Captain Homer arrived in Illium with treasures of the Haunted Forest. Many inquired about the ghosts, banshees, goblins, fairies, and unicorns. He proudly recited tales of rumored creatures and his training with The Wizard. Many of the tales included his struggle to woo the goddess Ishtar. After years of studying with the wizard, he finally received a kiss on his cheek. Right before he left for Illium, they spent the night in a cave to watch the sunrise together. She was fearful he would leave and not come back as her father did to her mother, but his heart rang of love so she believed he would return to her. As a gift for the end of his apprenticeship and adulthood ceremony, The Wizard raised a ship from the bottom of the sea for him. He requested his inheritance from his father for he intended to marry Ishtar in two years and wished to prove his sincerity. His father gave him ten cows with two calves, 8 sheep with 4 lambs, six goats, six rabbits, six geese, five pigs with 7 piglets, four horses with two colts, and two wolf dogs. His family helped guide all the animals to the forest. His father then gave him a small bag of silver coins he had be saving for his next trip. He will need these coins when traveling to other lands. Ishtar’s parents consented to the betrothal. Ishtar had dream of getting married on a ship with her sister and Hugi holding infants right before he left so she promised to tend his animals and guard his treasure while he is away. Cassandra got betrothed to Hugi receiving a brass and ceramic bead necklace. Layla longed for a betrothal, but no one could find a proper husband for an orphaned mermaid raised by strangers.
Ishtar then grew irritable after his family left. Homer took her on long walks up the mountain to discover her fear of being left behind like her father deserted her mother. She walked around picking flowers in silence. Homer finally could not handle the serenity any longer and demanded she look at him. He kissed her lips and wrapped his arms around her with a promise to marry her someday. He did not come here to be an apprentice and drag loads of animals over here to leave her. He invited her to come with him but her mother refused the offer. He set sail with his crew from Laurel to Ithaca, Nubia, Sheba, and Minos in the South Seas. Much time had passed before he saw Ishtar again and it was nearing time for her adult ceremony. He told her to plan her dream wedding and he will just show up. He stays in the forest for three months and is off to Caledonia and Varrika to the north. He took a side trip to Litsy to look at houses for sale. His brother and his family moved in to fix up the place. As he walked around the newly planted courtyard garden, Lexie arose from the central cistern to slap his face. She had a message from Ishtar: His son has been born and has died. He returned immediately to find Ishtar still in her bed. Homer apologizes for her pain and tells her to start making her wedding dress cause they are getting married on the spring equinox. He promised to see Dracon for investment into his shipping business, that’s why he is here in Illium. Katarina enjoyed hearing about the three lads from Etonville searching for The Prophetess of Nix. She felt fortunate to know heroic young lads looking for adventure. Life as Valnar’s friend is rarely dull.
King Dracon comes to the inn and eats a meal with Homer. He told the king about a shipwreck off the Narva pearl coast next to the Haunted Forest and The Wizard helped patch the ship to give to Homer. He named it the Blythan word for his love, The Aphrodite. His ladylove gave him a golden sail that outlast any storm. Princess Lexie came for a visit and spoke with him about all his promises yet to be filled. His love for Ishtar is strong and grows each day. He wants her to have a fine house and lots of children. He stayed for four months trading with mermaids, colonists along the coast, and working on his house. Ishtar and Cassandra came to visit the new house with flower seeds. Homer had them paint forest scenes on the walls of the courtyard. One night before another journey they climbed into a cave in the Haunted Forest and watched the sun set. They slept in the dark cave to watch the bats return home. Soon Homer had no more stories to recite.
His mother informed him a lady was in his room since the other rooms were occupied with sailors on shore leave. Valnar stated he will sleep in the stable hayloft and invited his ladies to keep him warm. One patron laughed stating his barmaids can keep him warm in their beds. He smirked and went straight upstairs to fetch some coins to trade with. The stranger was gazing into his bronze mirror when he entered the room. He spoke no words but went straight to the wall and moved a board to reveal his money stash. He took what he needed buy a new cloak. He left the stranger now gazing at him. She was very beautiful and obviously out of place in his cheap inn mostly occupied by wharf rats and arduous sailors. He went on his way with his ladies and walked to the marketplace. His ladies left him as he visited his ill stable boy inside the temple. He gave the stable boy an ivory seal from Ithaca. He then returned to his ship to count trading his first mate did and assigned the watches. He returned to his inn to eat his evening meal of lobster, peas, and bread. He picked up his dishes, clapped for the band playing across the room, and noticed the stranger staring at him. He walked out into the rain and rounded the corner towards the stables from his lack of a stable boy. The stranger had followed him and then lost sight of him. From the back porch, he peeked around the corner and asked if she was looking for someone.
“Yes, I was wondering if it bothered you that I occupied your bed chamber, Master Innkeeper?” asked the maiden.
“Valnar. It’s Captain Valnar, maiden.” corrected Valnar as another lady entered the clearing.
“And no, many women have slept in it before you”.
“Captain Valnar, I brought a wool blanket to keep you warm in the hayloft. We can not have you catch cold.” spoke the maiden.
“Thank you, Jacey. Mind if I smoke a pipe first before feeding the horses.” replied Valnar.
“Yes I do mind, it’s cold out here.” answered Jacey.
They entered the open stable and closed the doors. Valnar smoked his pipe as Jacey chatted forever on his mother’s dealings with their laundry customers. Some complain of stains leftover and other refute their prices. His inn had a brawl with two drunk sailors competing for the same barmaid. Katarina grew tired of Jacey and asked if she may feed the horses. Valnar nodded his head. The horses soon grew restless as Valnar brushed them. An old leprechaun then rapped his cane upon the inside of the stable door.
“Is this The Royal Eagle stable?” asked the leprechaun.
“Yes, Master Leprechaun, may I take your pony. We have fresh oats today. My name Captain Valnar, the innkeeper.” welcomed Valnar.
“Thank you, Captain Valnar. I am Viminaski, High Priest of Rosewood Ravine. This is Rosebelle and my other pet is Hari.” introduced Viminaski as his wolf entered the stable.
The horses remained calm as Valnar fed Rosebelle. Valnar refused the wolf. Viminaski assured that this wolf is a god. Reluctantly, he allowed Hari to stay in the barn. Viminaski asked for lodgings for himself and his pets for he has an important appointment with the king the next morning. Valnar has all his rooms occupied, but offered his absent stable boy’s room. Viminaski accepted the offer and paid for the room and stable stall. The wolf settled down in the straw next to the pony as Valnar brushed it and tossed a blanket over it on this cold night. Katarina took the leprechaun to the inn. The evening meal had been finished, but Valnar’s mother gave the new boarder a leftover plate of food and offered the stable boy’s clean clothes . The inn patrons glanced over their shoulders at Viminaski the Wise. Many have heard the tales from returning soldiers of the leprechaun general speaking of wondrous courage and devotion to his friend Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. Now an old man with a tuft of gray hair, wrinkled round face, and protruding bat ears. He asks for meat to feed his pet wolf and the patrons turn away. Many are afraid of wolves because vampires take their shape and werewolves often keep them as pets. The small man hobbles with his cane, beautifully carved with a braided knot at the top back out into the rain and returns. The man wore a ragged tunic, pants, leather shoes, long dangling bead necklace, and a long, torn cloak over it all. He changes clothes and claps along with the dancing barmaids as Valnar’s mother dries his wet clothes in the kitchen. Katarina listened to the music until Valnar’s mother kicked everyone out at the bell peal of the night guard switch. The next morning as the inn patrons come together for the morning meal, Valnar entered with Jacey. For a chatting chipmunk who looked no more than 16-years-old, he was awful quiet eating his mush as Jacey yawned claiming she has to return to her father’s laundry. Katarina sat by the lone priest with newly patched clothes to request an omen when he finished his tea. He provided a remarkable future. The girl from a faraway estate hiding from her betrothed will be caught, but alas, already married to an honorable man she has just met. Finishing his meal, the humble priest walked out with bacon strips to feed Hari. The wolf ate the leftovers and lapped up a cup of tea. The wolf changed forms into a godly creature in the same dress as Viminaski.
“Be good, Hari. You are around people who have never seen a banshee before.” ordered the general. A bump in the foggy air told him someone was spying on him.
“Katarina! Come in here child.” Katarina entered the barn. “And just what do you think you are doing?”
“I wanted to see the god. Who are you, Hari?” replies Katarina.
“I was a banshee, but the chaos god Ryan changed me one day after I came by to warn of his wife’s demise. He refuses to undo the spell so here I am. Vim can only change me back temporarily with his potion.” explains Hari.
“I see. Is this the handsome man I will marry?” asks Katarina.
“No, your future husband inside.” answers Viminaski.
Viminaski and Katarina return to the inn to listen to patrons chatting with each other. Soon the barmaids came to pick up the dishes. Guards came by to announce a ball in honor of the return of Captain Valnar. Katarina came over to ask how he knows the king and captains a ship, he can’t be more than 16 years old . Valnar explained to the bewildered girl that the king and two nobles are partners in his ship and receive an equal share each voyage. He met the king waiting for alms outside the temple he lived in as a boy with his distant cousin, the high priestess. He worked for an innkeeper and the childless widower adopted him. He was sent to the temple to learn with the High Priest and the prince. His schoolmate Homer whose family traded with moving nomads following trails and river systems taught him navigation, sailing, and negotiating. He practiced his fighting skills with his friends at the temple. When he inherited widower’s inn, he sold it to move closer to his regal friend who had become king. The Blue Ogre needed repairs so his regal friend gave him money to fix it up. He was first mate to his first ship bought by the nobles and king. After two years he bought a new ship renamed Revenge and took over as captain. The king comes The Royal Eagle Inn occasionally late at night to dine with the drunk patrons whom do not seem to notice his presence. He further explained that Katarina has viewed the king silently smoking a pipe in a dark corner last night. Katarina was surprised she didn’t recognize him, she showed him fabrics at the palace.
She rushed to her seamstress job to borrow a fine gown to wear to the gala being held that night. Much like court sessions in the early morning where administrators give reports to the king and nobles bring concerns to His Majesty, anyone looking wealthy can walk past the guards. She finds a green and red quetzal feather fan with a silver handle in the marketplace and silver combs with embedded sapphires at a jeweler. While she was upstairs tidying herself for the party, she heard much commotion downstairs and assumed the charming Valnar arrived with an armful of ladies hanging on his every word as usual. Valnar entered his room to discover the mystery maiden applying red ocher to her cheeks. He nods his head as he walks past her to his wash stand. He grabs a fresh towel from the cupboard and shaves his face. Katarina finishes by placing jeweled combs in her hair. She asks if he has any jewelry she may borrow.
“Yes, they are in the red box. We can’t have a fine noble woman look drab at galas in the palace.” answered Valnar.
“What makes you think I’m noble, I work as a seamstress and pay rent to live in this rat infested brothel you call an inn? I’m a poor worker.” asserted Katarina.
“Do I seem like a simpleton to you? You are not fooling anyone, little lady.” replied Valnar. “Now what I get in exchange for this loan?”
“What do you want?” Katarina asks.
“If you really do not know the answer already, I’m not asking it. But I will settle for knowing who you are and what you are doing here on the wrong side of the river.”
“Alright so I’m a noblewoman. I didn’t like my betrothal my father insisted I marry so I ran away with help from my sister. I sold all my jewels and eventually ran out of money. Ragamuffins begging at the temple said your mother is generous with table scraps and you give people jobs who have nothing so I choose to stay at your inn. Your sick stable boy Hathor said he was an orphan from a Kadacian port and met you stealing your money pouch. Instead of whipping him, you took him to a tavern and fed him. I tried to be a barmaid to pay for my room, but I do not know how to be a servant for I always been the served. You will not tell anyone my secret, correct? I will find another city to hide in if you do.” finished Katarina.
“And loose your rent, I wouldn’t dream of it.” answered Valnar. “Do you have a name or shall I call you Lady?” Katarina stiffened.
“Katarina,” she squeaked.
“Beautiful name,” said Valnar and changed into fresh clothes for the party.
The gala in honor of Valnar was an amazing sight for Katarina. Valnar took her arm as they entered the great hall and released her to step up next to the king. King Dracon toasted his friend announcing that the Blythan men must keep their ladies looking pretty. Valnar announced how the Caledonians have developed a stronger iron that rusts much less. That set off visitors into discussions of their own. Valnar danced a jig with Katarina and ignored the women competing for his attention. He greeted Queen Kiara as the dance ended. Katarina noticed Queen Kiara uncomfortable when Valnar asked her if she was a mermaid and pointed out the beaded necklace she claims from her mother as a mermaid decoration. Only mermaids of the south seas make necklaces like that. How else would a poor peasant woman inland receive such a unique treasure? Katarina tuned into the conversation and Kiara admitting her father found her mother along a beach digging for turtle eggs. Her mother fully left her mermaid life behind her to become a hardworking gardener and shepherdess. Katarina continued to watch Valnar occupied all night with ladies begging him for dances. She briefly curtsied to the king and his new finance administrator General Viminaski. The general touched her chin with a smile as they walked passed her curtsy. Queen Amazon walked past Katarina’s curtsy and conversed with Valnar on her beautiful robes made with fabric he brought on his last trip. The evening grew late and the stars gleamed in delight. Katarina followed Valnar out of the palace with the king in a dark cloak. Hari barked at her and Valnar shushed him declaring the follower intended to arrive at the same place they were. He then asked if she would mind sleeping on the floor of his room cause his bed will be occupied. In tears, she ran away. Valnar chased her down the hill and tackled the girl near the gate. Holding her arms down, he demanded to know why she had been following him all night. Tears flooded out and her lip began to quiver.
“I think she likes you, Valnar.” said Dracon. The fear subsided in her eyes.
“Is that true?” asked the innkeeper. Katarina nodded her head. Valnar got off her and helped her up. “You can come drink with us. What was your name again?”
“Katarina,” said the girl wiping her tears away.
They walked out of the palace gates to The Royal Eagle. Valnar’s mother provided dishes of warm food and drink. Valnar recited to Katarina his escape from certain death after the lord hung his father. Dracon’s uncle Grigor claimed peasants were fishing in his forbidden streams and hung the lawbreakers. Valnar heard the horses of noble men coming towards their fishing spot and hid in the bushes. There he came face to face with a cougar. Both surprised, they remained stiff until the horses came nearer. The animal climbed on top of Valnar and hissed at the passing horses. Valnar heard a man say something about a killed deer under the cougar. Safe, the mother cougar grabbed her kitten and carried it to a cave. Valnar picked up the other kitten by the scruff of its neck and carried it to the cave. Hearing a scream in the distance, Valnar ducked down. A tiny voice from the darkness said not to worry because Bathsheba will protect him. Searching for the speaker, a fairy landed on his knee.
“Greetings human, I am Bathsheba. And you are?” said the pixie.
“Valnar, Mistress Bathsheba. Can you tell me if that was my father’s scream I just heard?”
“It was, Valnar. I could not save him too. Just Lissa and you.”
“Lissa?” asked Valnar. Bathsheba pointed to the cougar licking her kittens.
Then five horsemen rode passed as Valnar hid in the bush guarding the cave opening. They were laughing at the peasant they hung nearby who begged for his life to be spared because his village was hungry from the bleak harvest. The noblemen flattered Prince Grigor for rejecting the poor man’s pleas and ordered his hanging. They also referenced shooting a young lad up in a tree claiming to be gathering bird eggs the day before near a village further north. As the sun set, Valnar’s stomach began to growl.
“Come with me human Valnar. I will take you home.” requested Bathsheba.
Arriving at the peasant village with a bright fairy guiding his dark path was quite a sight to the peasants. Valnar’s family asked where his father was. Valnar confessed to the scream in the woods and assumed his father was dead. In the moonlight, Valnar and his younger brother cut down his father hanging from a tree near the river and buried him nearby. Valnar vowed to avenge his father and fled with only the clothes on his back. He stopped to beg for food, which he was very accustomed to doing. The young boy Valnar changed his name often and settled in a small village to the north. This is where he met the Grand Prince Dracon. After his brother died of fever did his mother come looking for him. Katarina was in awe of his courage and cunning. Without thinking, Katarina asked to sail with Valnar on his next voyage. Dracon and Valnar burst out laughing. Katarina’s hopeful smile faded as she hung her head.
“Sorry my fair lady, every maiden in this city wants to go with Valnar.” giggled Dracon. “You will have to wait for him like all the others.”
The hours passed with more tales of childhood and more current events. King Dracon leaves for the palace and Valnar walks Katarina to his room. Two barmaids call for him to come into their room.
“Do you really want to sail on my ship or just see me not surrounded by women?” asked Valnar.
“Both,” answered Katarina as she shut the door. Valnar strutted downstairs to help his mother clean up grinning from ear to ear. The next day Katarina was moved into another room and Valnar got his back.
The next months saw Valnar warming up to Katarina as she helped out the innkeeper and his mother. The well stable boy returning was a big help fitting into low society. Hathor taught her to wash dishes, wash clothes, oiling shoes, and trade in the marketplace. She even learned to care for the horses. They left the city walls to collect berries and mushrooms along the roads. Then they traded with mermaids along the beach. Valnar was right. The northern seas mermaids have gray eyes and black colored beads on their seaweed necklaces. Mermaids from the southern seas have pale blue eyes and necklaces of red colored beads. After patching clothes for the inn patrons, Valnar asked Katarina accompany him to Kadacian city of Noor as assistant sail maker. Finding another stable boy at the temple waiting for alms, Hathor was invited to come as cabin boy. There met Queen Simone returning to her winter palace. Covered from head to toe in jewels and bright cloth, she shined like the sun on her camel. The queen glanced at Katarina and Valnar to continue on her tour of her lands. The queen often comes to the coast during the dry season. On the journey, Valnar decided to ruin her innocence and open her eyes to a larger world she never knew existed. But his ward Hathor beat him to it when they took a trip to Ithaca. While sleeping in a brothel between two women, Katarina came into his room worried over Hathor’s fever, boils, and cries for his dead parents. She did not know anything about healing sickness like he did.
Valnar ordered one woman to obtain ice and the other to light a lamp. He dressed himself and looked at Hathor lying in the hallway. He gave the boy a powder in a cup of water and carried the boy to the bathing pool to break his fever. The skylight shown a bright starry night and a full moon casting a little light. Valnar held the boy with one arm while sponging the cold water all over his hot sweaty body. The woman holding the lamp said he has the measles. The other woman brought a bag of ice. All three women took turns holding the ice to his head and Valnar continued the sponging. As the dawn appeared above the skylight, the boy awoke and Valnar was relieved. Katarina pointed out his concern for this cabin boy and how endearing it was. No matter how strong and unfeeling he tries to display, he has a warm heart. She kissed him on the cheek and then kissed Hathor’s forehead. He let go of the boy to grab hold of Katarina’s arm and kissed her lips to watch her leave the room. Hathor told him to marry Katarina cause he likes her. Valnar promised that he will show her the love she yearned from him. Noticing Katarina’s attention towards their captain, his crew attempted to have their turn with her to hear Valnar order that the woman was his and his alone.
In Anaki, she bought a pair of white horses and a pair of green songbirds. She rode her horses around Illium and kept the songbirds caged in her bed chamber at the Royal Eagle. Katarina spent every day with Hathor and the night with Valnar. On their travels, she helped sell the cargo at the docks to the shopkeepers. Unknown to Katarina, her bargaining and respect for the customers impressed Valnar a great deal. Perhaps, she is not like all the other girls smiling pretty for the sailor friend of the king. Animals love her and they always spot an evil soul. He had Dracon’s jeweler make a silver and ruby necklace as an engagement gift. During a feast, he announced his betrothal to the kingdom. Then he received the most pleasant surprise: Homer. On a ship named Aphrodite, Captain Homer arrived in Illium with treasures of the Haunted Forest. Many inquired about the ghosts, banshees, goblins, fairies, and unicorns. He proudly recited tales of rumored creatures and his training with The Wizard. Many of the tales included his struggle to woo the goddess Ishtar. After years of studying with the wizard, he finally received a kiss on his cheek. Right before he left for Illium, they spent the night in a cave to watch the sunrise together. She was fearful he would leave and not come back as her father did to her mother, but his heart rang of love so she believed he would return to her. As a gift for the end of his apprenticeship and adulthood ceremony, The Wizard raised a ship from the bottom of the sea for him. He requested his inheritance from his father for he intended to marry Ishtar in two years and wished to prove his sincerity. His father gave him ten cows with two calves, 8 sheep with 4 lambs, six goats, six rabbits, six geese, five pigs with 7 piglets, four horses with two colts, and two wolf dogs. His family helped guide all the animals to the forest. His father then gave him a small bag of silver coins he had be saving for his next trip. He will need these coins when traveling to other lands. Ishtar’s parents consented to the betrothal. Ishtar had dream of getting married on a ship with her sister and Hugi holding infants right before he left so she promised to tend his animals and guard his treasure while he is away. Cassandra got betrothed to Hugi receiving a brass and ceramic bead necklace. Layla longed for a betrothal, but no one could find a proper husband for an orphaned mermaid raised by strangers.
Ishtar then grew irritable after his family left. Homer took her on long walks up the mountain to discover her fear of being left behind like her father deserted her mother. She walked around picking flowers in silence. Homer finally could not handle the serenity any longer and demanded she look at him. He kissed her lips and wrapped his arms around her with a promise to marry her someday. He did not come here to be an apprentice and drag loads of animals over here to leave her. He invited her to come with him but her mother refused the offer. He set sail with his crew from Laurel to Ithaca, Nubia, Sheba, and Minos in the South Seas. Much time had passed before he saw Ishtar again and it was nearing time for her adult ceremony. He told her to plan her dream wedding and he will just show up. He stays in the forest for three months and is off to Caledonia and Varrika to the north. He took a side trip to Litsy to look at houses for sale. His brother and his family moved in to fix up the place. As he walked around the newly planted courtyard garden, Lexie arose from the central cistern to slap his face. She had a message from Ishtar: His son has been born and has died. He returned immediately to find Ishtar still in her bed. Homer apologizes for her pain and tells her to start making her wedding dress cause they are getting married on the spring equinox. He promised to see Dracon for investment into his shipping business, that’s why he is here in Illium. Katarina enjoyed hearing about the three lads from Etonville searching for The Prophetess of Nix. She felt fortunate to know heroic young lads looking for adventure. Life as Valnar’s friend is rarely dull.
King Dracon comes to the inn and eats a meal with Homer. He told the king about a shipwreck off the Narva pearl coast next to the Haunted Forest and The Wizard helped patch the ship to give to Homer. He named it the Blythan word for his love, The Aphrodite. His ladylove gave him a golden sail that outlast any storm. Princess Lexie came for a visit and spoke with him about all his promises yet to be filled. His love for Ishtar is strong and grows each day. He wants her to have a fine house and lots of children. He stayed for four months trading with mermaids, colonists along the coast, and working on his house. Ishtar and Cassandra came to visit the new house with flower seeds. Homer had them paint forest scenes on the walls of the courtyard. One night before another journey they climbed into a cave in the Haunted Forest and watched the sun set. They slept in the dark cave to watch the bats return home. Soon Homer had no more stories to recite.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Chapter 3 Dove of Peace
One morning, King Dracon greeted Valnar inside the palace with a haggard man leaning on his wooden staff with wretched clothing poor people would have tossed away. Valnar assured his friend that this man was very important for him to see.
“Sire, I have a message from King Triton of the Northern Seas. He begs you to discover why many of his mermaid subjects are disappearing from the sea. They leave for the surface to give birth with the seals, but they do not come back to their husbands. He has sent out patrols to find no trace of them or the new mothers who had just left for the surface. He pleads for aide in finding his mermaids.” says the man wobbling on his staff.
“You are a merman. Come sit at my table and rest yourself. Maris! Fetch a meal for our guest.” commands Dracon. “Itza!” A white bird flies down to land on Dracon’s arm. “Take this bird for His Majesty King Triton. It was given to my great-grandfather Rurick by the elf wizard Alaric. It sends a message to whomever you wish. Your king may use it in his quest.”
“Thank you, Sire. Bird, tell King Triton that his has gained aide from King Dracon.” ordered the servant and the bird flew out the door.
King Dracon inquired about the missing mermaids and heard the most tragic of news. King Triton’s son Prince Wilz frantically searches for his pregnant wife Princess Lexie. Dracon recalls the mermaid princess’s name from listening to the tales of The Wizard, this princess is his daughter. Homer leaves Illium with Triton’s servant immediately for the Haunted Forest to find out if this tale is true. Homer then continues sailing north to the Black Forest to ask for the assistance from The Wizard’s sister goddess Queen Gilda’s magic mirror to find Princess Lexie. Meanwhile, King Dracon in Illium bans mermaid hunting in his kingdom. Mermaids still remain missing. He soon feels the merfish pangs of worry and anger when Queen Amazon gives birth to a son named Demetrius. Great celebration echoes all the way to The Wizard. Days later, Queen Amazon dies of fever and is buried in full royal regalia in the Temple of Aphrodite. Dracon receives a wonderful gift from The Wizard, an amulet to call upon the healer when Dracon needs him. Soon he uses it when the great General Viminaski dies three months later. Dracon ordered a funeral fit for a king. Many humans came to drop flowers along the path and stairs of the temple. Soldiers and musicians marched in front of the royal family. The palace guards carried the decorated wooden coffin to the Temple of Athena to be placed inside the crypt of Emperor Rurick. King Dracon spoke to the crowd on the temple steps.
“General Viminaski was born to a poor leprechaun family in Devon along the Anasazi River. He was taken a slave by cliff dwellers of Dragon’s Pass and traded to live in Brightsburg. There the great hero Alaric the Great saved little Viminaski from further suffering of the destruction of Brightsburg and adopted him as a son. Alaric the Great sent him to school, but my great-grandfather Emperor Rurick the Conqueror needed his friend in peacetime as he did in war. They remained best friends until my great-grandfather was murdered by rebels of Anaki. General Viminaski returned a hero to be placed in a wretched town as a priest. He faithfully served his human followers in Rosewood Ravine for many years until I asked for his appointment as financial advisor. General Viminaski shall be laid to rest with his good friend and admirer where he belongs. The great leprechaun general will forever be remembered best by the epic tales told by his loyal soldiers.”
Alone in his bed chamber, he prayed for The Wizard’s return. He was viewed as a man by his subjects, but still felt insecure as a child. His advisor uncle Grigor was self-serving and spent gold as if there will be no tomorrow. In a puff of smoke, The Wizard appears. He asks if His Majesty truly desires his council. When he disagrees with His Majesty, he will affirm it. He will do what he believes is best, whether His Majesty likes it or not. The Wizard will never follow His Majesty’s command nor desire to gain his favor like the servants he is surrounded by inside his palace. And The Wizard will never fight against anyone he loves and shall only serve to protect the royal family who wish it. King Dracon nods his head with tearful eyes of hope. The Wizard promises to come back to Illium after he settles his affairs at home. Then disappears. Relieved, Dracon waits for his hero’s return. In his grief, an official announces the death of Queen Simone of Kadacia. Her heiress Kazaria Andromeda has no husband. Dracon sends a letter of condolence to the new Queen of Kadacia with implications of a shared sympathy from losing his wife that could be resolved upon a visit to Her Majesty. An invitation to Kadacia arrives a month later along with a gift to the year old prince, a rattle.
Homer returns months later reciting fantastic stories of searching for mermaids and rescuing a few from human hunters. The most fabulous was the rescue of Princess Lexie. He met with The Wizard in the Haunted Forest who traveled village to village selling herbs and inquiring about any mermaids gone missing. It was The Wizard’s son Eurick who made a grossly discovery about the missing mermaids. Eurick is a darman, half deer and half elf with an elf body but with tail and horns of a stag. Peddlers in the marketplace of Litsy along the eastern coast displayed medicines of mermaid hair, mermaid charms, mermaid scales, mermaid bones, and mermaid eyes. Abhorred at the peddlers, he jerked away to tell his father.
“Father, I would not look over those stalls.” was all Eurick had to say to set his father into a frenzy digging around the body parts for any sign of his daughter.
“Father, remember Lexie is immortal. She can not be here.” whispered Eurick.
He then picks up Lexie’s necklace of coral and whelk shells.
“That will be two gold coins for the mermaid charm,” demanded the merchant.
The Wizard snatches it out of his son’s hand and weeps in sorrow.
“My daughter, my poor daughter is gone.” The Wizard cries clinging to the necklace.
“Two gold coins please,” repeated the merchant.
Eurick turns his head with unimaginable hatred gleaming in his dark deer eyes.
“I made that mermaid charm for my sister. We will give you nothing for it.” replied Eurick.
“Now see here, darman!” shouted the merchant.
Sparks exploded from Eurick’s staff and the merchant’s stall was on fire.
“Come, father. Time for us to go.” pled Eurick as he clutched his father’s arm.
The darman and the elf walk out of the village unchallenged by the helpless villagers rushing to put out the fire. The Wizard weeps an inconsolable cry holding his daughter’s necklace. On the way back to the Haunted Forest, they discover a half eaten, half decomposed body with missing head and hands. Eurick prays it was not a missing mermaid. Then a thought of dread engulfed Eurick, maybe the baby Layla that Prophetess Lilia found abandoned was the result of mermaid hunters. The Wizard’s wife Nix fixed the pair a meal upon their return to Aurora Falls. Eurick relayed the sad discovery to the family. He asked Lilia, The Prophetess of Nix, to concoct a potion to see if Layla’s mother was a murdered mermaid leaving her baby behind the massacre. Lilia’s potion revealed a stunning truth, Layla’s mother is alive. She is hiding in the mountain caves with other mermaids. Homer sought help from the goddess Gilda’s magic black mirror. Upon his return, he found Lexie’s magic crystal in the sand of a turtle nesting spot and tried to follow the ambush trail inland. The next morning as The Wizard picked mushrooms, he felt a cold knife touch his heart and knew someone he missed a great deal was coming back to him. His heart filled with joy, he smiled and announced to his granddaughter Cassandra picking mint berries covered in dew that Ricky was coming.
“Ricky who?” asked the child goddess.
“My giant friend Ricky who left me behind at the beginning of the Elf War.” answered The Wizard.
“Oh, that Ricky. I don’t see him, Grandfather.” gazes Cassandra around the mountainside.
“That is because the mystic Cup of Hades forbids the drinker to return to life in the same form.” answers The Wizard.
“Like Grandmother Nix,” observes Cassandra.
“Yes, child. Like Nix.” responds The Wizard.
An elf lad appears over the bushes looking about 12 years of age wearing human clothing. He stops upon glancing at The Wizard with a large grin. The Wizard embraces the elf lad to ask on his appearance. He looks exactly like he did when he was that age. Ricky the Elf states how he admired his friend’s courage and strength. The love goddess Ishtar came to him in the afterlife to inform him of his friend’s nostalgia of their friendship lost in the sands of time. He asked the goddess to return to life as his heroic friend at an age he could be apprenticed to such a beloved warrior.
“For many years I want to be just like you, Alaric the Great. I envy your courage.” asserts Ricky.
“That is most amusing because for many years I wanted to be just like you until I found the courage to be me. There is only one Alaric the Great, Ricky, and he now only exists in epic sagas sung by peasants. Today, they call me The Wizard or The Hermit.”
“Just like your mother The Sorceress. Speaking of The Sorceress, can you make me immortal like she did to you and your sisters.” requests Ricky.
“Certainly,” replies The Wizard.
“Wonderful,” gleams Ricky. “Tell me how we get to the Atlantis Mountains to be submerged in the Pool of Immortality.” asks Ricky.
“We fly,” answers The Wizard. “Oden! Yutzi!” A fairy and sprite flew down from the treetops.
“Take us to Atlantis, please.”
The sprite and fairy alter into giant eagles and grab the pair on their way up to the skies. After much time flying over the Plains of Julia, they rest upon a hill. One eagle bows its head at a patch of grass and scratches up dirt. Large red crocus flowers bloom sending off a pleasant aroma.
“That is my father Leander’s resting place. I must beautify his grave and mourn him for a moment. I was a small sprite when he left to fight the Elf War with cousin Alaric.” explains Yutzi.
The eagle sheds a few tears with his head lowered in salute. Ricky pulled on blades of grass waiting for the mourning to pass over. The crocus flowers died and Yutzi straightened up to take off again. The eagles flew day and night across the fruitful and barren landscape for four days when they reached the border of the Atlantis Mountains. A dragon greeted them with a spit of fire. The eagles landed and bowed their heads. The Wizard and Ricky followed suit.
“We desire for this elf child Ricky to be blessed in the Pool of Immortality, Almighty Alano.” declares The Wizard.
“Follow me, Alaric.” replies the dragon.
In the great hall of Atlantis, the creator god Alano welcomed his visitors changing into an old elf. He cast a fortune spell over Ricky and observed the misty fog hanging over his head. Alano did not speak of what he saw, but brushed away the mist.
“Blessed by my granddaughter Ishtar, have you. A loving heart for your aching friend. An enigma difficult to solve, were you. Left your friend Alaric in grief and returned after many years. Cursed by Maya, have you. Drank from the Cup of Hades, yet tried to steal it. Desire adventure and heroics told for generations, are you. Was a boastful fiend, yet earned the heart of humble Alaric here beside you.” Alano paused a moment. “Immortality shall I give thee.” finished Alano.
Ricky jumped with delight. He was promptly submerged in the boiling Pool of Immortality and given a crystal. Alaric tied it to a string and attached it to his belt. Once the visitors slept off their meal, they bowed farewell. In five days, they were home again.
Now Ricky the elf needed the proper weapons for learning to fight like a true warrior. Eurick presented arms that used to practice with Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Addison. Homer bid farewell to rescue Lexie. The Wizard soon had Ricky chop wood to build strength. Then the went berry picking to learn patience in time consuming tasks, observance of small objects, endurance from all the walking around, and learn to look in the right place. They each returned with a basket of blackberries and cherries. A meal was enjoyed before further training. Ricky learned to maintain the luster of his gifted knife and sword. He practiced stabs and thrusts with the wood pile he created. He learned to parry with his idol towards the end of the day. The evening meal passed with cooking lessons. The stars appeared to a navigation lesson. Ricky played games with his fellow students into the night. A bed was made for the elf lad and he fell fast asleep. Sweet dreams of becoming a great warrior were interrupted by the crow of the rooster.
The Wizard arrives at Alexis’s home in Laurel to say farewell to find it locked up. His boat was ashore, but his crew did not know where his was. Alexis received a visitor named Homer who said Gilda would aid him in his quest so the pair took off. Why would she choose Alexis and Homer to rescue Lexie? What exactly was Gilda up to? The Wizard walks home confused. He continues the preparations to leave Aurora Falls once again. Next came another issue, Ishtar wants to come to Illium.
“Homer sails on his boat around the northern and southern seas, he rarely touches Illium to see you.” interjects The Wizard.
“I still want to go. I want to see a human city, Grandfather.” answers Ishtar.
“Why does Ishtar get to live in a human city and I have to stay here in the forest?” asks Cassandra.
“Ishtar is not going to Illium. You can not use your goddess powers there. You will not like it at all.” responds The Wizard.
Nonetheless, his granddaughters persist.
“Sire, I have a message from King Triton of the Northern Seas. He begs you to discover why many of his mermaid subjects are disappearing from the sea. They leave for the surface to give birth with the seals, but they do not come back to their husbands. He has sent out patrols to find no trace of them or the new mothers who had just left for the surface. He pleads for aide in finding his mermaids.” says the man wobbling on his staff.
“You are a merman. Come sit at my table and rest yourself. Maris! Fetch a meal for our guest.” commands Dracon. “Itza!” A white bird flies down to land on Dracon’s arm. “Take this bird for His Majesty King Triton. It was given to my great-grandfather Rurick by the elf wizard Alaric. It sends a message to whomever you wish. Your king may use it in his quest.”
“Thank you, Sire. Bird, tell King Triton that his has gained aide from King Dracon.” ordered the servant and the bird flew out the door.
King Dracon inquired about the missing mermaids and heard the most tragic of news. King Triton’s son Prince Wilz frantically searches for his pregnant wife Princess Lexie. Dracon recalls the mermaid princess’s name from listening to the tales of The Wizard, this princess is his daughter. Homer leaves Illium with Triton’s servant immediately for the Haunted Forest to find out if this tale is true. Homer then continues sailing north to the Black Forest to ask for the assistance from The Wizard’s sister goddess Queen Gilda’s magic mirror to find Princess Lexie. Meanwhile, King Dracon in Illium bans mermaid hunting in his kingdom. Mermaids still remain missing. He soon feels the merfish pangs of worry and anger when Queen Amazon gives birth to a son named Demetrius. Great celebration echoes all the way to The Wizard. Days later, Queen Amazon dies of fever and is buried in full royal regalia in the Temple of Aphrodite. Dracon receives a wonderful gift from The Wizard, an amulet to call upon the healer when Dracon needs him. Soon he uses it when the great General Viminaski dies three months later. Dracon ordered a funeral fit for a king. Many humans came to drop flowers along the path and stairs of the temple. Soldiers and musicians marched in front of the royal family. The palace guards carried the decorated wooden coffin to the Temple of Athena to be placed inside the crypt of Emperor Rurick. King Dracon spoke to the crowd on the temple steps.
“General Viminaski was born to a poor leprechaun family in Devon along the Anasazi River. He was taken a slave by cliff dwellers of Dragon’s Pass and traded to live in Brightsburg. There the great hero Alaric the Great saved little Viminaski from further suffering of the destruction of Brightsburg and adopted him as a son. Alaric the Great sent him to school, but my great-grandfather Emperor Rurick the Conqueror needed his friend in peacetime as he did in war. They remained best friends until my great-grandfather was murdered by rebels of Anaki. General Viminaski returned a hero to be placed in a wretched town as a priest. He faithfully served his human followers in Rosewood Ravine for many years until I asked for his appointment as financial advisor. General Viminaski shall be laid to rest with his good friend and admirer where he belongs. The great leprechaun general will forever be remembered best by the epic tales told by his loyal soldiers.”
Alone in his bed chamber, he prayed for The Wizard’s return. He was viewed as a man by his subjects, but still felt insecure as a child. His advisor uncle Grigor was self-serving and spent gold as if there will be no tomorrow. In a puff of smoke, The Wizard appears. He asks if His Majesty truly desires his council. When he disagrees with His Majesty, he will affirm it. He will do what he believes is best, whether His Majesty likes it or not. The Wizard will never follow His Majesty’s command nor desire to gain his favor like the servants he is surrounded by inside his palace. And The Wizard will never fight against anyone he loves and shall only serve to protect the royal family who wish it. King Dracon nods his head with tearful eyes of hope. The Wizard promises to come back to Illium after he settles his affairs at home. Then disappears. Relieved, Dracon waits for his hero’s return. In his grief, an official announces the death of Queen Simone of Kadacia. Her heiress Kazaria Andromeda has no husband. Dracon sends a letter of condolence to the new Queen of Kadacia with implications of a shared sympathy from losing his wife that could be resolved upon a visit to Her Majesty. An invitation to Kadacia arrives a month later along with a gift to the year old prince, a rattle.
Homer returns months later reciting fantastic stories of searching for mermaids and rescuing a few from human hunters. The most fabulous was the rescue of Princess Lexie. He met with The Wizard in the Haunted Forest who traveled village to village selling herbs and inquiring about any mermaids gone missing. It was The Wizard’s son Eurick who made a grossly discovery about the missing mermaids. Eurick is a darman, half deer and half elf with an elf body but with tail and horns of a stag. Peddlers in the marketplace of Litsy along the eastern coast displayed medicines of mermaid hair, mermaid charms, mermaid scales, mermaid bones, and mermaid eyes. Abhorred at the peddlers, he jerked away to tell his father.
“Father, I would not look over those stalls.” was all Eurick had to say to set his father into a frenzy digging around the body parts for any sign of his daughter.
“Father, remember Lexie is immortal. She can not be here.” whispered Eurick.
He then picks up Lexie’s necklace of coral and whelk shells.
“That will be two gold coins for the mermaid charm,” demanded the merchant.
The Wizard snatches it out of his son’s hand and weeps in sorrow.
“My daughter, my poor daughter is gone.” The Wizard cries clinging to the necklace.
“Two gold coins please,” repeated the merchant.
Eurick turns his head with unimaginable hatred gleaming in his dark deer eyes.
“I made that mermaid charm for my sister. We will give you nothing for it.” replied Eurick.
“Now see here, darman!” shouted the merchant.
Sparks exploded from Eurick’s staff and the merchant’s stall was on fire.
“Come, father. Time for us to go.” pled Eurick as he clutched his father’s arm.
The darman and the elf walk out of the village unchallenged by the helpless villagers rushing to put out the fire. The Wizard weeps an inconsolable cry holding his daughter’s necklace. On the way back to the Haunted Forest, they discover a half eaten, half decomposed body with missing head and hands. Eurick prays it was not a missing mermaid. Then a thought of dread engulfed Eurick, maybe the baby Layla that Prophetess Lilia found abandoned was the result of mermaid hunters. The Wizard’s wife Nix fixed the pair a meal upon their return to Aurora Falls. Eurick relayed the sad discovery to the family. He asked Lilia, The Prophetess of Nix, to concoct a potion to see if Layla’s mother was a murdered mermaid leaving her baby behind the massacre. Lilia’s potion revealed a stunning truth, Layla’s mother is alive. She is hiding in the mountain caves with other mermaids. Homer sought help from the goddess Gilda’s magic black mirror. Upon his return, he found Lexie’s magic crystal in the sand of a turtle nesting spot and tried to follow the ambush trail inland. The next morning as The Wizard picked mushrooms, he felt a cold knife touch his heart and knew someone he missed a great deal was coming back to him. His heart filled with joy, he smiled and announced to his granddaughter Cassandra picking mint berries covered in dew that Ricky was coming.
“Ricky who?” asked the child goddess.
“My giant friend Ricky who left me behind at the beginning of the Elf War.” answered The Wizard.
“Oh, that Ricky. I don’t see him, Grandfather.” gazes Cassandra around the mountainside.
“That is because the mystic Cup of Hades forbids the drinker to return to life in the same form.” answers The Wizard.
“Like Grandmother Nix,” observes Cassandra.
“Yes, child. Like Nix.” responds The Wizard.
An elf lad appears over the bushes looking about 12 years of age wearing human clothing. He stops upon glancing at The Wizard with a large grin. The Wizard embraces the elf lad to ask on his appearance. He looks exactly like he did when he was that age. Ricky the Elf states how he admired his friend’s courage and strength. The love goddess Ishtar came to him in the afterlife to inform him of his friend’s nostalgia of their friendship lost in the sands of time. He asked the goddess to return to life as his heroic friend at an age he could be apprenticed to such a beloved warrior.
“For many years I want to be just like you, Alaric the Great. I envy your courage.” asserts Ricky.
“That is most amusing because for many years I wanted to be just like you until I found the courage to be me. There is only one Alaric the Great, Ricky, and he now only exists in epic sagas sung by peasants. Today, they call me The Wizard or The Hermit.”
“Just like your mother The Sorceress. Speaking of The Sorceress, can you make me immortal like she did to you and your sisters.” requests Ricky.
“Certainly,” replies The Wizard.
“Wonderful,” gleams Ricky. “Tell me how we get to the Atlantis Mountains to be submerged in the Pool of Immortality.” asks Ricky.
“We fly,” answers The Wizard. “Oden! Yutzi!” A fairy and sprite flew down from the treetops.
“Take us to Atlantis, please.”
The sprite and fairy alter into giant eagles and grab the pair on their way up to the skies. After much time flying over the Plains of Julia, they rest upon a hill. One eagle bows its head at a patch of grass and scratches up dirt. Large red crocus flowers bloom sending off a pleasant aroma.
“That is my father Leander’s resting place. I must beautify his grave and mourn him for a moment. I was a small sprite when he left to fight the Elf War with cousin Alaric.” explains Yutzi.
The eagle sheds a few tears with his head lowered in salute. Ricky pulled on blades of grass waiting for the mourning to pass over. The crocus flowers died and Yutzi straightened up to take off again. The eagles flew day and night across the fruitful and barren landscape for four days when they reached the border of the Atlantis Mountains. A dragon greeted them with a spit of fire. The eagles landed and bowed their heads. The Wizard and Ricky followed suit.
“We desire for this elf child Ricky to be blessed in the Pool of Immortality, Almighty Alano.” declares The Wizard.
“Follow me, Alaric.” replies the dragon.
In the great hall of Atlantis, the creator god Alano welcomed his visitors changing into an old elf. He cast a fortune spell over Ricky and observed the misty fog hanging over his head. Alano did not speak of what he saw, but brushed away the mist.
“Blessed by my granddaughter Ishtar, have you. A loving heart for your aching friend. An enigma difficult to solve, were you. Left your friend Alaric in grief and returned after many years. Cursed by Maya, have you. Drank from the Cup of Hades, yet tried to steal it. Desire adventure and heroics told for generations, are you. Was a boastful fiend, yet earned the heart of humble Alaric here beside you.” Alano paused a moment. “Immortality shall I give thee.” finished Alano.
Ricky jumped with delight. He was promptly submerged in the boiling Pool of Immortality and given a crystal. Alaric tied it to a string and attached it to his belt. Once the visitors slept off their meal, they bowed farewell. In five days, they were home again.
Now Ricky the elf needed the proper weapons for learning to fight like a true warrior. Eurick presented arms that used to practice with Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Addison. Homer bid farewell to rescue Lexie. The Wizard soon had Ricky chop wood to build strength. Then the went berry picking to learn patience in time consuming tasks, observance of small objects, endurance from all the walking around, and learn to look in the right place. They each returned with a basket of blackberries and cherries. A meal was enjoyed before further training. Ricky learned to maintain the luster of his gifted knife and sword. He practiced stabs and thrusts with the wood pile he created. He learned to parry with his idol towards the end of the day. The evening meal passed with cooking lessons. The stars appeared to a navigation lesson. Ricky played games with his fellow students into the night. A bed was made for the elf lad and he fell fast asleep. Sweet dreams of becoming a great warrior were interrupted by the crow of the rooster.
The Wizard arrives at Alexis’s home in Laurel to say farewell to find it locked up. His boat was ashore, but his crew did not know where his was. Alexis received a visitor named Homer who said Gilda would aid him in his quest so the pair took off. Why would she choose Alexis and Homer to rescue Lexie? What exactly was Gilda up to? The Wizard walks home confused. He continues the preparations to leave Aurora Falls once again. Next came another issue, Ishtar wants to come to Illium.
“Homer sails on his boat around the northern and southern seas, he rarely touches Illium to see you.” interjects The Wizard.
“I still want to go. I want to see a human city, Grandfather.” answers Ishtar.
“Why does Ishtar get to live in a human city and I have to stay here in the forest?” asks Cassandra.
“Ishtar is not going to Illium. You can not use your goddess powers there. You will not like it at all.” responds The Wizard.
Nonetheless, his granddaughters persist.
Chapter 4 The Heir Apparent
Lexie sat in a cellar weeping over her shortened hair. She felt much guilt being left alive while her friends were butchered on the beach weeks ago. She allowed a child mermaid to wear her magic crystal for only a moment and then they were ambushed. Her starfish tattoo etched in her arm declared her a member of the royal family of the northern seas. King Triton must be furious over his missing daughter-in-law about to give him his first grandchild. Every day she looked for signs of her husband Prince Wilz seeking her. A magic bird visited but she knew not where she was to aid her own rescue. Having lost her magic crystal, she can not use magic and reverts to a mortal being slowed down as her child grows inside her. Her captor descended the cellar steps in a joyous mood. A raven flew in behind him to land behind a group of barrels to rise as a dark figure.
“King Triton promises any ransom I want to get his daughter back, but you are not leaving when I have it. No, you are making too much money my sweet mermaid princess, even more when you give birth.” gloats the captor.
Lexie dreads every morning when he forces her into a cage to be dragged around villages inland to have him throw buckets of water on her to make her change into a mermaid. She hoped every morning her child would not be born in front of an audience of paid onlookers.
“Now where did that raven go with Triton’s message?” ponders the man.
He brushes off the confusion and returns upstairs forgetting what he came down to the cellar for. Princess Lexie leans over the barrels.
“Hello, my love. It is about time you found me.”
The cloaked figure extends his arms in an embrace and hearty kiss. Prince Wilz caresses her worried face and assures her of Alexis coming at nightfall. He wraps his cloak around his wife.
Hours later, the captor descends again in another joyous mood wielding a dagger.
“Come here, my sweet mermaid. I have a gift for you. Money from a customer wanting some of your hair. This won’t hurt a bit, princess.”
Where Lexie always sat was a jar of rotting fish. Searching for his prize, he found a man under a dark hooded cloak holding a golden harpoon. The man froze into stone. Alexis running down the stairs flicks his finger at the stone masterpiece Prince Wilz created.
“Alaric the Great could do no better.” gleams Alexis. “I’ll take those coins back now statue. You won’t need them where you are going.” Alexis makes the stone explode into fragmented stones.
“Alexis, I am so glad to see you.” embraced Lexie changing out of her rotting fish jar costume.
The trio left the stone rubbish behind in the cellar. They changed into human clothing in Alexis’s bag and slipped quietly into the night under the hazy moonlight. They snuck into the next village on the other side of the forest. They hide in a cellar near a barn where Homer stands guards while feeding horses resembling unicorns. Alexis paid a woman for the shelter and assured her repayment for her kindness. The escapees sleep soundly until an earthquake awakes them. Aroused from a dream, Homer realizes it is Lexie shaking the pair in great pain of labor. Lexie bites down on a piece of wood as Homer delivers her child in the cellar with Alexis standing guard in the barn. A proud papa, Wilz holds the babe first. Exhausted, Lexie barely clings to her child as she tries to feed him. She swears to Homer a life debt for saving her child after a difficult birth and whenever he needs something of her to just ask for it. Time passes and the sunrays peek into the cracks of the cellar door. Alexis quietly slips into the cellar. Soon voices are heard outside.
“Four of them. There are four of them.” whispers a woman.
“Thank you madam. Here is your reward.” whispers a man jiggling coins in his hand.
The cellar door creeks open and soldiers charge in with swords drawn. Screams arise from the dark cellar. Smoke drifts up to the treetops. Inside the cellar, the woman observed charred ashes lying beside shiny iron swords like scorched shadows of past bravery. Alexis appeared from the smoky haze to point his crystal at the shocked woman to turn her into a tree. The released captives raced up the cellar steps to hide in the barn. Unsaddled horses were ridden to a river gateway descending into the underworld. Horse archers chasing the magical creatures witnessed their targets vanish into the waves as they shoot arrows into the river. The bewildered pursuers waded along the shore to view no sight of their prey. Giving up, the soldiers returned to their village. The underworld gate had been sealed.
The quartet ride their horses to the River Styx. The horses melt into wicked demons and leave. They step into the boat of the sullen creature rowing across the river to meet the three head dog barking at passing souls on the other side. Lexie, Jax, Wilz, Homer, and Alexis ride the death boat to the fortress of Roanoke. Isis greets her guests and her husband Hato coos at the baby. Demons show Lexie to her room. She rests and Wilz cradles Jax to sleep. A servant brings meal trays for the guests. Soon they are guided to a nearby guest room where The Wizard’s wife Nix, sister Gilda, and sister Lixi give the new mother gifts. Nix gives her daughter a wool blanket she knitted. Gilda hands Lexie a cradle. Lixi gives Lexie tunics with her jewelry back that Eurick found, including the magic crystal Homer found. Alexis notices a moving animal under Lixi’s cloak. Eyeing Lixi smirking, she steps aside to reveal her daughter Lanie. Alexis stares in horror at his former wife. The women leave the couple alone.
“Still the hero, are we not.” speaks Lanie breaking the silence.
Alexis turns to the door. Lanie lifts her hand to release golden rays of light binding the hero Alexis.
“Oh, we are not finished here.” asserts Lanie.
“Lanie,” begins Alexis.
Lanie snaps her arm back.
“Silence!” shouts the scorned lover. “You made a nice poetic speech back when you deserted me.” Quoting Alexis,
“I came back a hero and you only saw me as an elf. When you gazed into my eyes when I returned from war to marry you, it was not of longing or joy. You remained still as the forest creatures embraced me as their long lost son. I tried to love you all I could, but never received any back from you.”
“Now it is my turn to speak, you wrenched excuse for an immortal!” begins Lanie.
Alexis patiently waits for the rage of Lanie to cease.
“Are you aware how difficult you are to love? I used Gilda’s magic mirror to find you and Lilia. Am I not to feel insulted at you claiming me as a heartless witch when it was you who stole our child Lilia from me? If there is a conceited one here, it is you. Can you imagine the pain I felt being called selfish, demanding, and vain? You tricked me into marrying you by rescuing me from the sky god Andos. What you were hoping for were god powers, were you not? Be the most powerful elf of Leesville, better than your upstanding brothers. Too bad you no longer have a village to rule over. Then on top of missing you for 10 years during the Elf War without a single note from your heart, you suddenly appear begging to get married. How dare you expect my love when you abandoned me? I looked at you in shock from presuming our relationship was over to see you appear smiling at me. Sorry no joy or admiration came your way. I only married you because I missed the elf you used to be. And you accuse me of thinking of you as an elf instead of a hero. I hate to tell you this, Alexis, but you are an elf. A sniveling, cruel, pathetic, gloating elf. You proudly recite glorious tales to vast audiences by firelight, but never reveal your battle scars to me when we are alone. Next during our marriage, you flaunt your female admirers in my face and expect me not to be jealous of all the attention you spread onto them. You spend more time playing with that fairy Abbykins than you do with me. Do I not have the right to be enraged about that? By the way, do not be fooled that I never saw our daughter Lilia again. Remember Eurick once had a purple salamander as a pet. You did not really think my uncle and cousin would deny Lilia contact with me. I was most disappointed to watch you abandon our daughter to run amok on the northern seas with your unruly crew to leave our baby with Uncle Alaric. I do give you credit for helping her escape Empress Minerva after those bad omens Uncle Alaric predicted though.
So why did I let you go? Because I love you enough to let you be happy without me. I do not desire to fight you over Lilia nor wish to harm you in any way, though you deserve it. Scoff and roll your eyes at me, I can still see through your emotional armor you hold up to protect your fragile spirit from pain. I will always think of you as the ambitious boy I used to know, the warrior I used to cheer, the father I had faith in, and the coward I see before me now. You may fool those whores you bed with, but you do not fool me. I see much of myself reflecting in your eyes, but one thing separating us is that I am brave enough to forgive you. Have a nice life, I will continue missing the elf you used to be. You may go now.” Lanie finishes with a wave of her hand.
Alexis drops to the ground most apologetic and humble before his former love. He gets up to grasp her hands.
“I am very sorry I hurt you, Lanie. I should not have taken Lilia from you or abandoned you like that. I did not know how to work out our problems any other way than to leave you behind and find another woman to love. I am sorry.” Alexis apologizes.
“You have already been forgiven, Alexis, a very long time ago.” answers Lanie.
The couple enters the hallway down to the banquet hall where Prince Wilz recites their rescue. Homer clings to Alexis gazing upon the mighty godly palace watching dead souls be judged on the scales of truth. Alexis sits next to Lanie at the table to catch up to what she has done since he left the Black Forest. Lanie was full of stories that bored Alexis, but he listens anyway. Gilda seemed proud forcing the former lovebirds back together. But will the pleasant feeling last? Alexis invited Lanie to his home in Laurel for a visit. Ishtar and Cassandra will be delighted to see their grandmother before moving to Illium. Lanie accepts the invitation.
“I can tolerate your presence if you do not ask me to simply forget your past behavior as if nothing happened.” speaks Lanie. “I no longer curse your name nor wish to reopen old wounds.”
Alexis agrees.
“King Triton promises any ransom I want to get his daughter back, but you are not leaving when I have it. No, you are making too much money my sweet mermaid princess, even more when you give birth.” gloats the captor.
Lexie dreads every morning when he forces her into a cage to be dragged around villages inland to have him throw buckets of water on her to make her change into a mermaid. She hoped every morning her child would not be born in front of an audience of paid onlookers.
“Now where did that raven go with Triton’s message?” ponders the man.
He brushes off the confusion and returns upstairs forgetting what he came down to the cellar for. Princess Lexie leans over the barrels.
“Hello, my love. It is about time you found me.”
The cloaked figure extends his arms in an embrace and hearty kiss. Prince Wilz caresses her worried face and assures her of Alexis coming at nightfall. He wraps his cloak around his wife.
Hours later, the captor descends again in another joyous mood wielding a dagger.
“Come here, my sweet mermaid. I have a gift for you. Money from a customer wanting some of your hair. This won’t hurt a bit, princess.”
Where Lexie always sat was a jar of rotting fish. Searching for his prize, he found a man under a dark hooded cloak holding a golden harpoon. The man froze into stone. Alexis running down the stairs flicks his finger at the stone masterpiece Prince Wilz created.
“Alaric the Great could do no better.” gleams Alexis. “I’ll take those coins back now statue. You won’t need them where you are going.” Alexis makes the stone explode into fragmented stones.
“Alexis, I am so glad to see you.” embraced Lexie changing out of her rotting fish jar costume.
The trio left the stone rubbish behind in the cellar. They changed into human clothing in Alexis’s bag and slipped quietly into the night under the hazy moonlight. They snuck into the next village on the other side of the forest. They hide in a cellar near a barn where Homer stands guards while feeding horses resembling unicorns. Alexis paid a woman for the shelter and assured her repayment for her kindness. The escapees sleep soundly until an earthquake awakes them. Aroused from a dream, Homer realizes it is Lexie shaking the pair in great pain of labor. Lexie bites down on a piece of wood as Homer delivers her child in the cellar with Alexis standing guard in the barn. A proud papa, Wilz holds the babe first. Exhausted, Lexie barely clings to her child as she tries to feed him. She swears to Homer a life debt for saving her child after a difficult birth and whenever he needs something of her to just ask for it. Time passes and the sunrays peek into the cracks of the cellar door. Alexis quietly slips into the cellar. Soon voices are heard outside.
“Four of them. There are four of them.” whispers a woman.
“Thank you madam. Here is your reward.” whispers a man jiggling coins in his hand.
The cellar door creeks open and soldiers charge in with swords drawn. Screams arise from the dark cellar. Smoke drifts up to the treetops. Inside the cellar, the woman observed charred ashes lying beside shiny iron swords like scorched shadows of past bravery. Alexis appeared from the smoky haze to point his crystal at the shocked woman to turn her into a tree. The released captives raced up the cellar steps to hide in the barn. Unsaddled horses were ridden to a river gateway descending into the underworld. Horse archers chasing the magical creatures witnessed their targets vanish into the waves as they shoot arrows into the river. The bewildered pursuers waded along the shore to view no sight of their prey. Giving up, the soldiers returned to their village. The underworld gate had been sealed.
The quartet ride their horses to the River Styx. The horses melt into wicked demons and leave. They step into the boat of the sullen creature rowing across the river to meet the three head dog barking at passing souls on the other side. Lexie, Jax, Wilz, Homer, and Alexis ride the death boat to the fortress of Roanoke. Isis greets her guests and her husband Hato coos at the baby. Demons show Lexie to her room. She rests and Wilz cradles Jax to sleep. A servant brings meal trays for the guests. Soon they are guided to a nearby guest room where The Wizard’s wife Nix, sister Gilda, and sister Lixi give the new mother gifts. Nix gives her daughter a wool blanket she knitted. Gilda hands Lexie a cradle. Lixi gives Lexie tunics with her jewelry back that Eurick found, including the magic crystal Homer found. Alexis notices a moving animal under Lixi’s cloak. Eyeing Lixi smirking, she steps aside to reveal her daughter Lanie. Alexis stares in horror at his former wife. The women leave the couple alone.
“Still the hero, are we not.” speaks Lanie breaking the silence.
Alexis turns to the door. Lanie lifts her hand to release golden rays of light binding the hero Alexis.
“Oh, we are not finished here.” asserts Lanie.
“Lanie,” begins Alexis.
Lanie snaps her arm back.
“Silence!” shouts the scorned lover. “You made a nice poetic speech back when you deserted me.” Quoting Alexis,
“I came back a hero and you only saw me as an elf. When you gazed into my eyes when I returned from war to marry you, it was not of longing or joy. You remained still as the forest creatures embraced me as their long lost son. I tried to love you all I could, but never received any back from you.”
“Now it is my turn to speak, you wrenched excuse for an immortal!” begins Lanie.
Alexis patiently waits for the rage of Lanie to cease.
“Are you aware how difficult you are to love? I used Gilda’s magic mirror to find you and Lilia. Am I not to feel insulted at you claiming me as a heartless witch when it was you who stole our child Lilia from me? If there is a conceited one here, it is you. Can you imagine the pain I felt being called selfish, demanding, and vain? You tricked me into marrying you by rescuing me from the sky god Andos. What you were hoping for were god powers, were you not? Be the most powerful elf of Leesville, better than your upstanding brothers. Too bad you no longer have a village to rule over. Then on top of missing you for 10 years during the Elf War without a single note from your heart, you suddenly appear begging to get married. How dare you expect my love when you abandoned me? I looked at you in shock from presuming our relationship was over to see you appear smiling at me. Sorry no joy or admiration came your way. I only married you because I missed the elf you used to be. And you accuse me of thinking of you as an elf instead of a hero. I hate to tell you this, Alexis, but you are an elf. A sniveling, cruel, pathetic, gloating elf. You proudly recite glorious tales to vast audiences by firelight, but never reveal your battle scars to me when we are alone. Next during our marriage, you flaunt your female admirers in my face and expect me not to be jealous of all the attention you spread onto them. You spend more time playing with that fairy Abbykins than you do with me. Do I not have the right to be enraged about that? By the way, do not be fooled that I never saw our daughter Lilia again. Remember Eurick once had a purple salamander as a pet. You did not really think my uncle and cousin would deny Lilia contact with me. I was most disappointed to watch you abandon our daughter to run amok on the northern seas with your unruly crew to leave our baby with Uncle Alaric. I do give you credit for helping her escape Empress Minerva after those bad omens Uncle Alaric predicted though.
So why did I let you go? Because I love you enough to let you be happy without me. I do not desire to fight you over Lilia nor wish to harm you in any way, though you deserve it. Scoff and roll your eyes at me, I can still see through your emotional armor you hold up to protect your fragile spirit from pain. I will always think of you as the ambitious boy I used to know, the warrior I used to cheer, the father I had faith in, and the coward I see before me now. You may fool those whores you bed with, but you do not fool me. I see much of myself reflecting in your eyes, but one thing separating us is that I am brave enough to forgive you. Have a nice life, I will continue missing the elf you used to be. You may go now.” Lanie finishes with a wave of her hand.
Alexis drops to the ground most apologetic and humble before his former love. He gets up to grasp her hands.
“I am very sorry I hurt you, Lanie. I should not have taken Lilia from you or abandoned you like that. I did not know how to work out our problems any other way than to leave you behind and find another woman to love. I am sorry.” Alexis apologizes.
“You have already been forgiven, Alexis, a very long time ago.” answers Lanie.
The couple enters the hallway down to the banquet hall where Prince Wilz recites their rescue. Homer clings to Alexis gazing upon the mighty godly palace watching dead souls be judged on the scales of truth. Alexis sits next to Lanie at the table to catch up to what she has done since he left the Black Forest. Lanie was full of stories that bored Alexis, but he listens anyway. Gilda seemed proud forcing the former lovebirds back together. But will the pleasant feeling last? Alexis invited Lanie to his home in Laurel for a visit. Ishtar and Cassandra will be delighted to see their grandmother before moving to Illium. Lanie accepts the invitation.
“I can tolerate your presence if you do not ask me to simply forget your past behavior as if nothing happened.” speaks Lanie. “I no longer curse your name nor wish to reopen old wounds.”
Alexis agrees.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Chapter 5 A Gilded Cage
“What is wrong with a simple life? It is predictable with passing seasons and harvests. Terrible wars and famines are quickly healed in time. Do you not enjoy the aromas of flowers blooming in spring and sledging in winter? Why must we complicate life with haughty rituals, impossible rules to follow, and snobby friends who would stab us in the back as the opportunity arises? Criticism and rumors are unstoppable and undefendible? Must we really live in Illium, Nix? It is a gilded cage to me. I like it here.” complains The Wizard to his wife eager to live in the royal palace of King Dracon.
“At least it is a golden cage, dear songbird.” answers Nix.
Sensing he will not win this protest, he delayed his reentrance into Illium long enough. Homer returned with Lexie rescued who made a home with her husband and newborn son on uncultivated islands to the south of Blythe called The Mermaid Islands. He reads Dracon’s letter to The Wizard insisting that needs him as an advisor on his journey to Kadacia. Longing to expand his country, he needs this marriage to the queen. The Wizard is viewed as the wisest living being around whom Dracon trusts. After Homer sends word of his ship’s return to Illium and Dracon departing for Kadacia tomorrow, The Wizard collecting Nix, Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Ricky after Eurick and Lilia’s wedding reception in the forest celebrated by sprites, mermaids, and fairies alike, the group departs to Illium by way of the Mirror of Amalia. Addison stayed behind in the Haunted Forest to further his education with Eurick since Ophelia believed he was too young to live among mortals. He can barely control the magic he is in possession of now. King Dracon is gleeful at his arrival. Prince Demetrius has been ill like his mother. A potion from The Wizard calms the babe’s cries and Nix takes ahold of the baby. An exhausted Dracon confides his fears of losing his son. The Wizard foresees the future King Demetrius. He promises to help convince the new Queen Andromeda of Kadacia into accepting this young king as her husband.
Soon after the reception welcoming The Wizard back, an entourage is formed to escort His Majesty to Kadacia. It has been agreed upon to meet the queen in her summer home along the coast when the dry season winds bring in trading ships. A parade sets off positive vibes upon the evening tide. Six days of sailing casts them into the Kadacian borderlands and another three to reach the cliffs of the queen’s summer palace in the city Noor. Camels and horses are ready to escort the entourage. King Dracon flaunts his finest jewelry and robes for the public dressed in rags. Amazingly, the queen did not greet them at the front gate. They were guided into the entry hall where the servants offered refreshments. Then the king and his bodyguard were asked to wait in a bright courtyard full of murals and statues. Gazing upon the works of art, Dracon thought a dark room behind a balcony held a person staring at them. The king was then announced to the queen behind the large double doors in the courtyard. He must have met her approval. A grand feast followed the introductions to the guest bed chambers. The Wizard the queen heard about was nowhere to be found. Disappointed, she asked King Dracon during the feast where his vizier was.
“You are speaking to him, Your Majesty. Look at my bodyguard over there a little closer.” replies The Wizard.
Queen Andromeda turned her head around to view a very young man standing guard behind her looking just like the king beside her. Delighted at this deception ensured a handsome king hidden as a bodyguard an invitation to ride Kadacian horses with her the next morning. The hidden king nodded and disappeared behind a door to return with a large clay tile with Illium glazed on it as a gift for Her Majesty. Music filled the night air as dancers entertained the foreign guests. The real king slept soundly as his bodyguard wizard paced around the quiet residence without being noticed. A maidservant awoke the king in his bed chamber stoking the logs in the fireplace. His morning meal tray was brought up and the king dressed himself for his ride with Andromeda. His valet Ricky was no where to be found. The Wizard followed the king’s shadow down to the stables after finding Ricky behind a bush with Layla. The horses stirred at these new creatures entering their sanctuary. King Dracon selected the queen’s favorite horse and befriended it immediately. Growing impatient of waiting for Her Majesty to appear, Dracon releases the queen’s horse.
Suddenly, Dracon marched up the hill and up the servant stairs to Queen Andromeda’s bed chamber where she was in a bath signing orders on clay tablets and parchment paper. Shocked and appalled at the intrusion, most of the orders were flipped into the bathwater. A maidservant covered her mistress with a robe as Andromeda arose from the brass tub blocking Dracon’s view. Irritated, Dracon sits down in a chair.
“I have been more than patient waiting for you in the stables. Now are you coming down to ride with me or not?” begins Dracon.
“You can not speak to Her Majesty that way,” responds her maidservant.
Dracon lifts his flaming eyes to the servant.
“Servant, you are not part of this conversation. But since you spoke out, let me inform you that not only am I an invited guest of your queen, but also a king who is not your queen’s ally. I will address Her Majesty however I wish.” answers Dracon turning back to Andromeda wrapped in a wet robe. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but if I may be blunt as to say that you are a rude hostess. You neglect to greet me when I arrive and now neglect your guests waiting to ride with you. I am inclined to take back my proposal. Now excuse me, you invited me to ride your fine horses around town and I intend to with or without your guidance.” scolds Dracon.
“My apologies, Your Majesty, I will ready myself for the ride immediately. It is Your Majesty this time?” replies Andromeda.
“Yes it is Your Majesty this time. I will be waiting in the stables again when you are ready.” responds Dracon before rushing down the stairs again.
Down at the stables, The Wizard spots the king huffing down the hill to assure his bodyguard of the queen joining them sometime today. They saddlecloth two horses and prance around the practice green next to the stable. Ricky clings to The Wizard’s shoulder in the form of a falcon and apologizes for not dressing his charge. The Wizard understands his distraction. The queen comes momentarily to watch the two guests show off to the stable hands.
“That is my favorite horse, Your Majesty.” observes Andromeda.
“It is a beautiful animal, Your Majesty.” replies Dracon.
“I meant to remove yourself from my horse,” answers Andromeda.
“After making me wait for so long, I deserve your best horse, Your Majesty.” declares Dracon.
“Very well, then I shall ride behind you on the saddle.” responds Andromeda not wishing to anger her suitor anymore.
“In those robes, I think a queen should ride in front of her escort. Come, give me your hand.” counters Dracon stopping in front of a tree stump.
Extending his hand, Dracon lifts his hostess in front of him. Riding into town with The Wizard following them, Andromeda points out the guard towers and embankments along the shore. She tenses as they come closer to the blacksmith shop.
“Something wrong, Your Majesty?” inquires Dracon.
“Nothing of your concern, Your Majesty,” replies Andromeda.
“Then why do you tremble? You can’t hide under your robes you know.” observes Dracon.
“You will laugh at me for being silly, Sire.” answers Andromeda.
“I swear on my wife’s grave I will not laugh at you, Majesty” replies Dracon.
“I do not address my subjects much, except letting them kiss my ring during parades. My servants retrieve things I need in town. I do not know how to speak to them as a customer. You said you wanted to visit the marketplaces and shops on our ride to town. And I can feel you smirking behind my ear.” confesses Andromeda.
“Then I will give you an adventure, Andromeda. If I may call you that, Madam Damsel in Distress.” answers Dracon.
They come to a halt at the blacksmith’s forge. They are greeted by the wife of the blacksmith pounding on his latest creation in the back. The wife curtsies to Their Majesties. The Wizard descends first from his horse.
“Good Morning Madam. The weather has been quite calm since our arrival. Whereas, His Majesty requests to speak to your husband on an urgent matter of importance.” requests The Wizard.
“I will retrieve him immediately,” replies the woman with a sprint to the forge.
“May I be of some urgent service, Your Majesty?” arrives the blacksmith covered in dirt and sweat.
“Yes, Master Blacksmith. I heard from the guards that you make the top general’s swords and shields. I request the finest sword you can make for my trip home to show the best of Kadacian craftsmanship to my people.” orders King Dracon.
“It will be my honor, Sire. Do you request any special jewels for the hilt?” the flattered blacksmith asks.
“No special jewels necessary. I hope to use this sword in battle, not in a temple.” answers the king.
“Whatever you request, Sire. How much payment is in this offer?” begs the man.
“Thirty gold coins of Blythan money. Do you accept?” offers Dracon pulling out a pouch of coins.
The wife grabs the bag and begins counting.
“I accept, Sire.” replies the blacksmith.
“Here is a hankerchief with my symbol to prove to the guards that you are on an errand on my behalf when you arrive with my sword.” recites Dracon.
“Thank you, Sire. And Good Morning to you also Your Majesty.” answers the blacksmith bowing to both monarchs.
“Good Morning to you, Master Blacksmith,” responds Andromeda.
They jump back upon their horses and ride further into town. They stop by stalls and wagons in the marketplace. They send fruits and breads up to the guest house of King Dracon’s entourage. They enter a tailor’s shop to request new robes for the departing banquet to be held when Dracon leaves Kadacia. Queen Andromeda impressed the king by requesting the tailor to fit her with special robes at the palace. King Dracon knew then that she was accepting his proposal. At the pottery stall, the potter commented to The Wizard that his wife Nix had been by earlier in the day buying perfume flasks and jars with Prince Demetrius. The Wizard simply grinned affirming that Nix loves perfume. At mid-day they stopped at an inn after visiting the jeweler for a meal. Andromeda refused to eat in front of commoners. What will they think of her table manners? Dracon pulled on her arm towards the inn. The trio were seated by the fireplace among the noisy patrons. The corner tables were taken. Musicans played as the patrons filled their stomachs. The skittish queen soon relaxed around the patrons not noticing her presence. The king was grabbing all the attention with his thunderous applause when the musicians completed a song and talking to the host how wonderful the food was. One man asked the king what Illium was like.
“It is a beautiful city with gigantic guard towers welcoming you into the harbor. Stone and brick houses atop every hill with luscious gardens of roses and willows. Shops and inns align the harbor with wooden boardwalks reaching the piers. Our temples are of white limestone with statues carefully carved of our gods and kings. My great-great-great grandfather Emperor Olic once prayed to the wisdom goddess Athena to find a perfect empress to rule his territories with. The goddess appeared in human form with her centaur husband Talin to give the emperor the most beautiful empress of the land, herself. Athena’s daughter Aphrodite, the goddess of love, cursed the first-born son when she found out her mother betrayed her father. The second-born son died in infancy because of this curse. Athena’s other daughter Callisto, goddess of music, came to the emperor in prayer to give him an heir who will be forever be praised in song since his only son is cursed by a disease no wizard could cure. Callisto granted his wish and a daughter was born who gave Emperor Olic his cherish heir, Emperor Rurick the Conqueror, my great-grandfather. He made Illium the great city it is today. When he was old enough to marry did Athena return to her husband Talin after leading a great war of conquest in Lotan to train Rurick in to win wars.” recited King Dracon settling the curious patrons’ questions about his capital.
Trying not to burst out laughing at Dracon’s tall tale, The Wizard kept his mug of mead to his face most of the time. Queen Andromeda took in every word like the patrons. After the meal, they rode around the harbor and down a beach towards the palace.
“You are so quiet, Andromeda. Something troubling your mind.” inquired King Dracon as they reached the sandy beach outside the palace.
“I was thinking, Sire, about the crown your ordered from the jeweler. Was it for me or for yourself. A gold and silver crown intertwined into a headband encrusted with gems in the grooves and only the symbol of a dragon with its wings stretched out. Kadacian crowns are made that way, not Blythan crowns I see on your brow. I was playing a guessing game for myself.” answered Queen Andromeda.
“Then I will let you keep guessing my intentions, Andromeda.” reacted Dracon.
Andromeda did not have to wait long for her answer. When the sword and crown were finished, the morning meal buzzed with excitement. King Dracon presented the sword and crown to the queen as a farewell gift for he shall return home the following day. Queen Andromeda made her own announcement. She declared to accept the king’s marriage proposal and begin a prayer of the fusion of the two empires is smooth from much trade and peaceful relations between the two regions. A farewell banquet was planned for tomorrow. Queen Andromeda kissed her soon-to-be stepson in front of her subjects pledging to raise the young prince to be a great king. In secret, King Dracon confided to his entourage of a detour to search the perfect place for a new capital of his combined empire. Great celebration filled the air and many well wishers approached the royal couple with congratulations. The wedding ceremony and procession will be negotiated in one year. In two years they will marry.
The ship set sail on the evening tide back the Illium. The waves were calm and sunset amazing. The crew stopped at a Kadacian island to buy food supplies and trade for little luxuries. King Dracon bought cloth to have the seamstress make clothes for Almar and Donovan along with jewelry for Kiara. They set sail two days later and met a storm the following morning. The sun was a sight unseen as wave after wave slapped reality into the faces of the dreamy crew. Soon the Wizard became edgy with concern as the ship strayed off course. Sirens haunt the deep sea surrounding Circe’s island. After the Wizard’s son betrayed Circe and she married a shepherd who tricked her into slowing down by tossing golden fruit in her path during a race. She gave birth to the mermaid princess Vida. The shepherd also betrayed Circe was transformed into a boulder overlooking the waterfall cove of Circe’s island. Years later, she married his friend Iris’s foster son Treynor who was orphaned by The Wizard. Many sirens seduce men into swimming to their island and are turned into hogs by Circe. Few escape to tell what occurs there. The daughter Vida will often take pity on a sailor and help him leave the island to return home. Treynor is thought to soften Circe into not killing all the sailors she finds, but to all else she is unpredictable. The storm raged on for another day and the shore of a welcoming island haven appeared. Then sirens began to sing. One crewman after another jumped into the sea. The Wizard steered the tiller as other crewmen held their hands to their ears. At watching Ricky and Homer take the plunge, King Dracon hides below deck. Then with the crew all gone, the seductive song is irresistible and The Wizard loses the king to the sea.
The Wizard steers ashore and leaves Nix behind with Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Demetrius. He swims to the mermaid cove. He finds Princess Vida sunning on the rocks with King Dracon. Ricky and Homer were nowhere to be found. Mermaids just adored The Wizard decorating him with water lilies. Vida welcomed her uncle to supper at the palace. Sadly, King Dracon under Vida’s charms did not recgonize his hero. The day was warm and mermaids delightful. One asked why The Wizard is unaffected by their singing as others are. He told the tale of falling under enchanting singing once on a journey the find the mystic Cup of Hades and his friend, god of chaos Ryan, saved him with a bracelet of woven unicorn hair to absorb the hex. He continued reciting the tale of searching for the Cup of Hades that gives one rebirth in another form and asked for his friend Ricky who is in yet another form. Vida moved willow tree branches to reveal an elf boy fast asleep. Soon evening fell and the feast began in Circe’s Palace. Scores of pigs aligned the path to the palace. The Wizard asked where all his crewmen were. The mermaids refused to answer. Finally, Vida broke the silence.
“Do not drink the wine or you will fall under mother’s spell and be like these swine.” she answered.
“I won’t,” replied The Wizard with a smile.
Up the hill they walked to reach the gate of Circe’s Palace. Two giant stone boars stood on both sides of the gate causing shivers up Ricky’s spine. Dracon paced along with amnesia fascinated at every sight, sound, and clung to Vida’s arm. Darkness fell over the castle though the sun remained shining bright in the sky. Shadows haunted every corner with cold air and silent fingers reach out towards the living beings. Alarmed of the invisible hands touching his face, Dracon trembles and tries to hide behind Vida. The Wizard walked erect and calm greeting all the ghosts they passed.
“You can see her enchanted spirits, but how, no one can.” claimed a mermaid.
“Yes, I can see all the prisoners longing to escape Circe’s spell. People don’t call me The Wizard because of my dashing good looks.” answers The Wizard.
“I guess you’re right. What are they saying?” asks the mermaid.
“They say, ‘Greetings Wizard’,” answers The Wizard. “They are attracted to the warmth of our bodies and the torch Vida is carrying. All ghosts are.”
“Oh,” responds the mermaid.
Trumpets sounded as they enter the dining hall. Queen Circe sat on her golden throne with huge crown of gold. A man he recognized as Treynor sat at a throne beside her. Ladies aligned the walls at short tables sitting upon cushions. Dracon sat next to Vida and Ricky was nearby. The Wizard approached the queen with extended arms.
“Greetings niece, it has been too long.”
Circe rises from her throne to embrace her uncle and father of the sweetheart who broke her heart years ago.
“Greetings Treynor. You have certainly have grown since I saw you last.”
Treynor glared at the guest, but no word was spoken.
“It is glad to see you, Uncle Alaric. I have missed your stories fighting dragons and vampires.
Tell me a story while we eat our dinner.” replies Circe.
“I imagine you wish to hear what happened to Eurick. My tale might surprise you fair queen.” offers The Wizard.
Inhaling, the queen nods in agreement.
“Eurick the Bravehorn rescued Jason, the King of Blythe from certain death as the screams of his uncle Prince Linos echo in the halls. He changes the king into a wolf to barely escape flames of anger raging in their home. They hide in the shadows of an inn until the fire ceases. Eurick changed into a dove to find Prince Linos’s wife Mae and young son Oskar in the dungeon. He picked the lock with his beak and changed them into doves to escape the grungy jail. Not a soldier noticed they were gone. They made it all the way to the Anasazi Mountains to drop the prince and princess at Linos’s sister’s home. There the princess Mae leaped off the tallest tower in grief. The princeling Oskar was raised by Linos’s sister Tatiana and her husband until duty called him back to the palace. King Jason traveled to see his little son Dracon hidden before the riot to be raised away from the spectacle of royalty. Eurick took Jason to Aurora Falls where no one would dare look for the king there. Unbeknowest to him, Eurick’s mother Nix had returned to life and asleep in bed when he arrived. He went out hunting for breakfast and came back to notice a visitor staring at him. Unnerved by her gazes, he snaps at her to finish cutting apart of his prey away from her watchful eyes. Then suddenly, one of Eurick’s twins comes out to greet the visitor. Eurick drops his knife to look upon his mother alive for the first time. The first and last he saw her was in the form of a vampire. He had set her soul free to go the afterlife with a sunlight spell to kill the vampire curse. Now he guards Lilia, The Prophetess of Nix inside the Haunted Forest after King Jason’s return to Blythe’s capital with his sons. A great hero Eurick has become since you saw him last at Lexie’s wedding. Now married to Lilia finally, he rides his unicorn Enki in the Olin Mountains.”
“That was a beautiful story, Uncle Alaric.” says Circe in tears.
“Since I have entertained your curiosities, may I have my crewman back and the king?” asks The Wizard.
“That’s me. I thought that story sounded familiar. My father visited me as a dark shadow and kissed me good night before he vanished into thin air.” states Dracon startled from his amnesia.
“Alright, you may have your crewmen, except one. One must be sacrificed to our dinner. You may choose which dies.” declares Circe.
“No, I will not choose which crewmen dies. They all have families to go home to. I will not have their blood on my hands. I say we let your father, my nephew Elmo, the sailor god, choose fair queen.” replies The Wizard.
“No, not father!” cries Circe.
With a starfish dropped in a wine goblet, the sailor god Elmo arises.
“Circe! What do you want now?” demands Elmo. “Uncle Alaric, what are you doing here?”
“Circe has been naughty. She asks you to choose which of my crewmen dies so the others can come back with me.” declares The Wizard.
“What? Alright. Circe, I choose your daughter to be sacrificed for all the mermaids’ eating. Are you satisfied, Alaric?” answers Elmo.
“My daughter was not part of the deal,” replies Circe.
“You wanted me to choose. I chose. Vida will come to live with me and you have your pig roast.”
Elmo altered a candle into a hog and slain it with a flash of lightening. As requested, The Wizard lit the pig roast timbers. The mermaids rejoiced and played music as they danced around the hall.
“Time to leave this party,” said The Wizard grabbing Ricky and Dracon.
As the bonfire was lit, the crewmen reappeared as men in the stockyards outside the palace. Racing off the island, Homer pointed a spell at one of the mermaids raising the alarm. The mermaids chased the crew down the hill to be stop by a rainbow arc of light Homer created.
“I taught you well, Homer.” gleamed The Wizard.
The crew were all present and accounted for. Grateful at the The Wizard for saving them, the crewmen took him to a luscious mountain valley along the Anasazi Mountians. King Dracon wanted to look for a place for his new capital and the crew chose the place for him. They knew mountain fortresses withstand sieges better, so they chose a beautiful mountain full of caves and underground rivers for him. Atop of a nearby waterfall river was a stone bridge with a statue of Prince Hadrian the Great with his kitten Iris statue on the other side. It is said anyone kissing the kitten statue will have their wish granted. Anyone kissing the Prince Hadrian the Great statue will have a dream of their future spouse. Construction plans of the new capital commence immediately. Dracon decided much of the majestic palace built into the mountain to save time. Aqueducts to bring water in from the mountain streams were planned. Dracon assigned spots for temples, docks, guard towers, and a lighthouse. Hired villagers drew out Dracon’s ideal capital and marked building corners with stone piles. An emissary was sent to the Kadacian city Noor to deliever a message to Queen Andromeda about the new capital.
Days later, Illium appeared in their vision. A grand parade showing their captured treasures was in order. Homer was given the pleasure of driving His Majesty’s chariot. At the palace, Valnar was sent to the new capital Rikia, combining morning star god Rurick and rain goddess Kia names together. The morning star peeking out of rain clouds was a good omen of an important birth. The Wizard married Valnar and Katarina before they departed. Dracon held the reception in his great hall to honor his friend. As in the past, The Wizard gave Katarina her dowry. Valnar sold his inn to a fish mongrel and packed up everything in one bag. The Wizard always taught to travel light. After the return to Illium, The Wizard held his granddaughters’ adult ceremony in the gardens of Dracon’s palace. Homer was most eager to complete this ritual so he could finally marry Ishtar. Layla soon wished to leave this human city after nearly being killed as she swam with Ricky along the coast. She was sent to Lexie’s Mermaid Islands to learn how to be a mermaid since she had lived on land all her life. Ishtar and Cassandra wept at the loss of their friend, but heard from Lexie she was doing fine and found the identities of her parents.
“At least it is a golden cage, dear songbird.” answers Nix.
Sensing he will not win this protest, he delayed his reentrance into Illium long enough. Homer returned with Lexie rescued who made a home with her husband and newborn son on uncultivated islands to the south of Blythe called The Mermaid Islands. He reads Dracon’s letter to The Wizard insisting that needs him as an advisor on his journey to Kadacia. Longing to expand his country, he needs this marriage to the queen. The Wizard is viewed as the wisest living being around whom Dracon trusts. After Homer sends word of his ship’s return to Illium and Dracon departing for Kadacia tomorrow, The Wizard collecting Nix, Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Ricky after Eurick and Lilia’s wedding reception in the forest celebrated by sprites, mermaids, and fairies alike, the group departs to Illium by way of the Mirror of Amalia. Addison stayed behind in the Haunted Forest to further his education with Eurick since Ophelia believed he was too young to live among mortals. He can barely control the magic he is in possession of now. King Dracon is gleeful at his arrival. Prince Demetrius has been ill like his mother. A potion from The Wizard calms the babe’s cries and Nix takes ahold of the baby. An exhausted Dracon confides his fears of losing his son. The Wizard foresees the future King Demetrius. He promises to help convince the new Queen Andromeda of Kadacia into accepting this young king as her husband.
Soon after the reception welcoming The Wizard back, an entourage is formed to escort His Majesty to Kadacia. It has been agreed upon to meet the queen in her summer home along the coast when the dry season winds bring in trading ships. A parade sets off positive vibes upon the evening tide. Six days of sailing casts them into the Kadacian borderlands and another three to reach the cliffs of the queen’s summer palace in the city Noor. Camels and horses are ready to escort the entourage. King Dracon flaunts his finest jewelry and robes for the public dressed in rags. Amazingly, the queen did not greet them at the front gate. They were guided into the entry hall where the servants offered refreshments. Then the king and his bodyguard were asked to wait in a bright courtyard full of murals and statues. Gazing upon the works of art, Dracon thought a dark room behind a balcony held a person staring at them. The king was then announced to the queen behind the large double doors in the courtyard. He must have met her approval. A grand feast followed the introductions to the guest bed chambers. The Wizard the queen heard about was nowhere to be found. Disappointed, she asked King Dracon during the feast where his vizier was.
“You are speaking to him, Your Majesty. Look at my bodyguard over there a little closer.” replies The Wizard.
Queen Andromeda turned her head around to view a very young man standing guard behind her looking just like the king beside her. Delighted at this deception ensured a handsome king hidden as a bodyguard an invitation to ride Kadacian horses with her the next morning. The hidden king nodded and disappeared behind a door to return with a large clay tile with Illium glazed on it as a gift for Her Majesty. Music filled the night air as dancers entertained the foreign guests. The real king slept soundly as his bodyguard wizard paced around the quiet residence without being noticed. A maidservant awoke the king in his bed chamber stoking the logs in the fireplace. His morning meal tray was brought up and the king dressed himself for his ride with Andromeda. His valet Ricky was no where to be found. The Wizard followed the king’s shadow down to the stables after finding Ricky behind a bush with Layla. The horses stirred at these new creatures entering their sanctuary. King Dracon selected the queen’s favorite horse and befriended it immediately. Growing impatient of waiting for Her Majesty to appear, Dracon releases the queen’s horse.
Suddenly, Dracon marched up the hill and up the servant stairs to Queen Andromeda’s bed chamber where she was in a bath signing orders on clay tablets and parchment paper. Shocked and appalled at the intrusion, most of the orders were flipped into the bathwater. A maidservant covered her mistress with a robe as Andromeda arose from the brass tub blocking Dracon’s view. Irritated, Dracon sits down in a chair.
“I have been more than patient waiting for you in the stables. Now are you coming down to ride with me or not?” begins Dracon.
“You can not speak to Her Majesty that way,” responds her maidservant.
Dracon lifts his flaming eyes to the servant.
“Servant, you are not part of this conversation. But since you spoke out, let me inform you that not only am I an invited guest of your queen, but also a king who is not your queen’s ally. I will address Her Majesty however I wish.” answers Dracon turning back to Andromeda wrapped in a wet robe. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but if I may be blunt as to say that you are a rude hostess. You neglect to greet me when I arrive and now neglect your guests waiting to ride with you. I am inclined to take back my proposal. Now excuse me, you invited me to ride your fine horses around town and I intend to with or without your guidance.” scolds Dracon.
“My apologies, Your Majesty, I will ready myself for the ride immediately. It is Your Majesty this time?” replies Andromeda.
“Yes it is Your Majesty this time. I will be waiting in the stables again when you are ready.” responds Dracon before rushing down the stairs again.
Down at the stables, The Wizard spots the king huffing down the hill to assure his bodyguard of the queen joining them sometime today. They saddlecloth two horses and prance around the practice green next to the stable. Ricky clings to The Wizard’s shoulder in the form of a falcon and apologizes for not dressing his charge. The Wizard understands his distraction. The queen comes momentarily to watch the two guests show off to the stable hands.
“That is my favorite horse, Your Majesty.” observes Andromeda.
“It is a beautiful animal, Your Majesty.” replies Dracon.
“I meant to remove yourself from my horse,” answers Andromeda.
“After making me wait for so long, I deserve your best horse, Your Majesty.” declares Dracon.
“Very well, then I shall ride behind you on the saddle.” responds Andromeda not wishing to anger her suitor anymore.
“In those robes, I think a queen should ride in front of her escort. Come, give me your hand.” counters Dracon stopping in front of a tree stump.
Extending his hand, Dracon lifts his hostess in front of him. Riding into town with The Wizard following them, Andromeda points out the guard towers and embankments along the shore. She tenses as they come closer to the blacksmith shop.
“Something wrong, Your Majesty?” inquires Dracon.
“Nothing of your concern, Your Majesty,” replies Andromeda.
“Then why do you tremble? You can’t hide under your robes you know.” observes Dracon.
“You will laugh at me for being silly, Sire.” answers Andromeda.
“I swear on my wife’s grave I will not laugh at you, Majesty” replies Dracon.
“I do not address my subjects much, except letting them kiss my ring during parades. My servants retrieve things I need in town. I do not know how to speak to them as a customer. You said you wanted to visit the marketplaces and shops on our ride to town. And I can feel you smirking behind my ear.” confesses Andromeda.
“Then I will give you an adventure, Andromeda. If I may call you that, Madam Damsel in Distress.” answers Dracon.
They come to a halt at the blacksmith’s forge. They are greeted by the wife of the blacksmith pounding on his latest creation in the back. The wife curtsies to Their Majesties. The Wizard descends first from his horse.
“Good Morning Madam. The weather has been quite calm since our arrival. Whereas, His Majesty requests to speak to your husband on an urgent matter of importance.” requests The Wizard.
“I will retrieve him immediately,” replies the woman with a sprint to the forge.
“May I be of some urgent service, Your Majesty?” arrives the blacksmith covered in dirt and sweat.
“Yes, Master Blacksmith. I heard from the guards that you make the top general’s swords and shields. I request the finest sword you can make for my trip home to show the best of Kadacian craftsmanship to my people.” orders King Dracon.
“It will be my honor, Sire. Do you request any special jewels for the hilt?” the flattered blacksmith asks.
“No special jewels necessary. I hope to use this sword in battle, not in a temple.” answers the king.
“Whatever you request, Sire. How much payment is in this offer?” begs the man.
“Thirty gold coins of Blythan money. Do you accept?” offers Dracon pulling out a pouch of coins.
The wife grabs the bag and begins counting.
“I accept, Sire.” replies the blacksmith.
“Here is a hankerchief with my symbol to prove to the guards that you are on an errand on my behalf when you arrive with my sword.” recites Dracon.
“Thank you, Sire. And Good Morning to you also Your Majesty.” answers the blacksmith bowing to both monarchs.
“Good Morning to you, Master Blacksmith,” responds Andromeda.
They jump back upon their horses and ride further into town. They stop by stalls and wagons in the marketplace. They send fruits and breads up to the guest house of King Dracon’s entourage. They enter a tailor’s shop to request new robes for the departing banquet to be held when Dracon leaves Kadacia. Queen Andromeda impressed the king by requesting the tailor to fit her with special robes at the palace. King Dracon knew then that she was accepting his proposal. At the pottery stall, the potter commented to The Wizard that his wife Nix had been by earlier in the day buying perfume flasks and jars with Prince Demetrius. The Wizard simply grinned affirming that Nix loves perfume. At mid-day they stopped at an inn after visiting the jeweler for a meal. Andromeda refused to eat in front of commoners. What will they think of her table manners? Dracon pulled on her arm towards the inn. The trio were seated by the fireplace among the noisy patrons. The corner tables were taken. Musicans played as the patrons filled their stomachs. The skittish queen soon relaxed around the patrons not noticing her presence. The king was grabbing all the attention with his thunderous applause when the musicians completed a song and talking to the host how wonderful the food was. One man asked the king what Illium was like.
“It is a beautiful city with gigantic guard towers welcoming you into the harbor. Stone and brick houses atop every hill with luscious gardens of roses and willows. Shops and inns align the harbor with wooden boardwalks reaching the piers. Our temples are of white limestone with statues carefully carved of our gods and kings. My great-great-great grandfather Emperor Olic once prayed to the wisdom goddess Athena to find a perfect empress to rule his territories with. The goddess appeared in human form with her centaur husband Talin to give the emperor the most beautiful empress of the land, herself. Athena’s daughter Aphrodite, the goddess of love, cursed the first-born son when she found out her mother betrayed her father. The second-born son died in infancy because of this curse. Athena’s other daughter Callisto, goddess of music, came to the emperor in prayer to give him an heir who will be forever be praised in song since his only son is cursed by a disease no wizard could cure. Callisto granted his wish and a daughter was born who gave Emperor Olic his cherish heir, Emperor Rurick the Conqueror, my great-grandfather. He made Illium the great city it is today. When he was old enough to marry did Athena return to her husband Talin after leading a great war of conquest in Lotan to train Rurick in to win wars.” recited King Dracon settling the curious patrons’ questions about his capital.
Trying not to burst out laughing at Dracon’s tall tale, The Wizard kept his mug of mead to his face most of the time. Queen Andromeda took in every word like the patrons. After the meal, they rode around the harbor and down a beach towards the palace.
“You are so quiet, Andromeda. Something troubling your mind.” inquired King Dracon as they reached the sandy beach outside the palace.
“I was thinking, Sire, about the crown your ordered from the jeweler. Was it for me or for yourself. A gold and silver crown intertwined into a headband encrusted with gems in the grooves and only the symbol of a dragon with its wings stretched out. Kadacian crowns are made that way, not Blythan crowns I see on your brow. I was playing a guessing game for myself.” answered Queen Andromeda.
“Then I will let you keep guessing my intentions, Andromeda.” reacted Dracon.
Andromeda did not have to wait long for her answer. When the sword and crown were finished, the morning meal buzzed with excitement. King Dracon presented the sword and crown to the queen as a farewell gift for he shall return home the following day. Queen Andromeda made her own announcement. She declared to accept the king’s marriage proposal and begin a prayer of the fusion of the two empires is smooth from much trade and peaceful relations between the two regions. A farewell banquet was planned for tomorrow. Queen Andromeda kissed her soon-to-be stepson in front of her subjects pledging to raise the young prince to be a great king. In secret, King Dracon confided to his entourage of a detour to search the perfect place for a new capital of his combined empire. Great celebration filled the air and many well wishers approached the royal couple with congratulations. The wedding ceremony and procession will be negotiated in one year. In two years they will marry.
The ship set sail on the evening tide back the Illium. The waves were calm and sunset amazing. The crew stopped at a Kadacian island to buy food supplies and trade for little luxuries. King Dracon bought cloth to have the seamstress make clothes for Almar and Donovan along with jewelry for Kiara. They set sail two days later and met a storm the following morning. The sun was a sight unseen as wave after wave slapped reality into the faces of the dreamy crew. Soon the Wizard became edgy with concern as the ship strayed off course. Sirens haunt the deep sea surrounding Circe’s island. After the Wizard’s son betrayed Circe and she married a shepherd who tricked her into slowing down by tossing golden fruit in her path during a race. She gave birth to the mermaid princess Vida. The shepherd also betrayed Circe was transformed into a boulder overlooking the waterfall cove of Circe’s island. Years later, she married his friend Iris’s foster son Treynor who was orphaned by The Wizard. Many sirens seduce men into swimming to their island and are turned into hogs by Circe. Few escape to tell what occurs there. The daughter Vida will often take pity on a sailor and help him leave the island to return home. Treynor is thought to soften Circe into not killing all the sailors she finds, but to all else she is unpredictable. The storm raged on for another day and the shore of a welcoming island haven appeared. Then sirens began to sing. One crewman after another jumped into the sea. The Wizard steered the tiller as other crewmen held their hands to their ears. At watching Ricky and Homer take the plunge, King Dracon hides below deck. Then with the crew all gone, the seductive song is irresistible and The Wizard loses the king to the sea.
The Wizard steers ashore and leaves Nix behind with Ishtar, Cassandra, Layla, and Demetrius. He swims to the mermaid cove. He finds Princess Vida sunning on the rocks with King Dracon. Ricky and Homer were nowhere to be found. Mermaids just adored The Wizard decorating him with water lilies. Vida welcomed her uncle to supper at the palace. Sadly, King Dracon under Vida’s charms did not recgonize his hero. The day was warm and mermaids delightful. One asked why The Wizard is unaffected by their singing as others are. He told the tale of falling under enchanting singing once on a journey the find the mystic Cup of Hades and his friend, god of chaos Ryan, saved him with a bracelet of woven unicorn hair to absorb the hex. He continued reciting the tale of searching for the Cup of Hades that gives one rebirth in another form and asked for his friend Ricky who is in yet another form. Vida moved willow tree branches to reveal an elf boy fast asleep. Soon evening fell and the feast began in Circe’s Palace. Scores of pigs aligned the path to the palace. The Wizard asked where all his crewmen were. The mermaids refused to answer. Finally, Vida broke the silence.
“Do not drink the wine or you will fall under mother’s spell and be like these swine.” she answered.
“I won’t,” replied The Wizard with a smile.
Up the hill they walked to reach the gate of Circe’s Palace. Two giant stone boars stood on both sides of the gate causing shivers up Ricky’s spine. Dracon paced along with amnesia fascinated at every sight, sound, and clung to Vida’s arm. Darkness fell over the castle though the sun remained shining bright in the sky. Shadows haunted every corner with cold air and silent fingers reach out towards the living beings. Alarmed of the invisible hands touching his face, Dracon trembles and tries to hide behind Vida. The Wizard walked erect and calm greeting all the ghosts they passed.
“You can see her enchanted spirits, but how, no one can.” claimed a mermaid.
“Yes, I can see all the prisoners longing to escape Circe’s spell. People don’t call me The Wizard because of my dashing good looks.” answers The Wizard.
“I guess you’re right. What are they saying?” asks the mermaid.
“They say, ‘Greetings Wizard’,” answers The Wizard. “They are attracted to the warmth of our bodies and the torch Vida is carrying. All ghosts are.”
“Oh,” responds the mermaid.
Trumpets sounded as they enter the dining hall. Queen Circe sat on her golden throne with huge crown of gold. A man he recognized as Treynor sat at a throne beside her. Ladies aligned the walls at short tables sitting upon cushions. Dracon sat next to Vida and Ricky was nearby. The Wizard approached the queen with extended arms.
“Greetings niece, it has been too long.”
Circe rises from her throne to embrace her uncle and father of the sweetheart who broke her heart years ago.
“Greetings Treynor. You have certainly have grown since I saw you last.”
Treynor glared at the guest, but no word was spoken.
“It is glad to see you, Uncle Alaric. I have missed your stories fighting dragons and vampires.
Tell me a story while we eat our dinner.” replies Circe.
“I imagine you wish to hear what happened to Eurick. My tale might surprise you fair queen.” offers The Wizard.
Inhaling, the queen nods in agreement.
“Eurick the Bravehorn rescued Jason, the King of Blythe from certain death as the screams of his uncle Prince Linos echo in the halls. He changes the king into a wolf to barely escape flames of anger raging in their home. They hide in the shadows of an inn until the fire ceases. Eurick changed into a dove to find Prince Linos’s wife Mae and young son Oskar in the dungeon. He picked the lock with his beak and changed them into doves to escape the grungy jail. Not a soldier noticed they were gone. They made it all the way to the Anasazi Mountains to drop the prince and princess at Linos’s sister’s home. There the princess Mae leaped off the tallest tower in grief. The princeling Oskar was raised by Linos’s sister Tatiana and her husband until duty called him back to the palace. King Jason traveled to see his little son Dracon hidden before the riot to be raised away from the spectacle of royalty. Eurick took Jason to Aurora Falls where no one would dare look for the king there. Unbeknowest to him, Eurick’s mother Nix had returned to life and asleep in bed when he arrived. He went out hunting for breakfast and came back to notice a visitor staring at him. Unnerved by her gazes, he snaps at her to finish cutting apart of his prey away from her watchful eyes. Then suddenly, one of Eurick’s twins comes out to greet the visitor. Eurick drops his knife to look upon his mother alive for the first time. The first and last he saw her was in the form of a vampire. He had set her soul free to go the afterlife with a sunlight spell to kill the vampire curse. Now he guards Lilia, The Prophetess of Nix inside the Haunted Forest after King Jason’s return to Blythe’s capital with his sons. A great hero Eurick has become since you saw him last at Lexie’s wedding. Now married to Lilia finally, he rides his unicorn Enki in the Olin Mountains.”
“That was a beautiful story, Uncle Alaric.” says Circe in tears.
“Since I have entertained your curiosities, may I have my crewman back and the king?” asks The Wizard.
“That’s me. I thought that story sounded familiar. My father visited me as a dark shadow and kissed me good night before he vanished into thin air.” states Dracon startled from his amnesia.
“Alright, you may have your crewmen, except one. One must be sacrificed to our dinner. You may choose which dies.” declares Circe.
“No, I will not choose which crewmen dies. They all have families to go home to. I will not have their blood on my hands. I say we let your father, my nephew Elmo, the sailor god, choose fair queen.” replies The Wizard.
“No, not father!” cries Circe.
With a starfish dropped in a wine goblet, the sailor god Elmo arises.
“Circe! What do you want now?” demands Elmo. “Uncle Alaric, what are you doing here?”
“Circe has been naughty. She asks you to choose which of my crewmen dies so the others can come back with me.” declares The Wizard.
“What? Alright. Circe, I choose your daughter to be sacrificed for all the mermaids’ eating. Are you satisfied, Alaric?” answers Elmo.
“My daughter was not part of the deal,” replies Circe.
“You wanted me to choose. I chose. Vida will come to live with me and you have your pig roast.”
Elmo altered a candle into a hog and slain it with a flash of lightening. As requested, The Wizard lit the pig roast timbers. The mermaids rejoiced and played music as they danced around the hall.
“Time to leave this party,” said The Wizard grabbing Ricky and Dracon.
As the bonfire was lit, the crewmen reappeared as men in the stockyards outside the palace. Racing off the island, Homer pointed a spell at one of the mermaids raising the alarm. The mermaids chased the crew down the hill to be stop by a rainbow arc of light Homer created.
“I taught you well, Homer.” gleamed The Wizard.
The crew were all present and accounted for. Grateful at the The Wizard for saving them, the crewmen took him to a luscious mountain valley along the Anasazi Mountians. King Dracon wanted to look for a place for his new capital and the crew chose the place for him. They knew mountain fortresses withstand sieges better, so they chose a beautiful mountain full of caves and underground rivers for him. Atop of a nearby waterfall river was a stone bridge with a statue of Prince Hadrian the Great with his kitten Iris statue on the other side. It is said anyone kissing the kitten statue will have their wish granted. Anyone kissing the Prince Hadrian the Great statue will have a dream of their future spouse. Construction plans of the new capital commence immediately. Dracon decided much of the majestic palace built into the mountain to save time. Aqueducts to bring water in from the mountain streams were planned. Dracon assigned spots for temples, docks, guard towers, and a lighthouse. Hired villagers drew out Dracon’s ideal capital and marked building corners with stone piles. An emissary was sent to the Kadacian city Noor to deliever a message to Queen Andromeda about the new capital.
Days later, Illium appeared in their vision. A grand parade showing their captured treasures was in order. Homer was given the pleasure of driving His Majesty’s chariot. At the palace, Valnar was sent to the new capital Rikia, combining morning star god Rurick and rain goddess Kia names together. The morning star peeking out of rain clouds was a good omen of an important birth. The Wizard married Valnar and Katarina before they departed. Dracon held the reception in his great hall to honor his friend. As in the past, The Wizard gave Katarina her dowry. Valnar sold his inn to a fish mongrel and packed up everything in one bag. The Wizard always taught to travel light. After the return to Illium, The Wizard held his granddaughters’ adult ceremony in the gardens of Dracon’s palace. Homer was most eager to complete this ritual so he could finally marry Ishtar. Layla soon wished to leave this human city after nearly being killed as she swam with Ricky along the coast. She was sent to Lexie’s Mermaid Islands to learn how to be a mermaid since she had lived on land all her life. Ishtar and Cassandra wept at the loss of their friend, but heard from Lexie she was doing fine and found the identities of her parents.
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