Chapter 7 Aura of Iris

Life returned to normal for the people of Illium. Queen Andromeda’s first marriage contract arrived a month later. It was sent back with alterations and thus began two years of negotiations between the two countries on a marriage contract ensuring borders, succession of heirs, the titles of heirs, where they will live, advisor numbers, and Andromeda’s adoption of Demetrius who could rule both countries as first heir. Homer married Ishtar on his ship in Narva Bay and moved her and all the animals to their new house in Litsy. She promptly delivered a baby boy named Ilio. Homer traded all over the North and South Seas making maps of his large world. When Dracon’s marriage contract was agreed upon, the Queen Andromeda packed her things to live in Illium one year. Dracon asked Homer to come to Illium to be his bodyguard. He sold his house to his brother and lived in a guest house provided by Dracon. A grand parade of Andromeda awed the impoverished dwellers and noble guests alike. The entourage arrived at the front gate on camels and descended. The gates opened and King Dracon welcomed his bride to the palace. He offered his arm to her and guided her through the main rooms. Andromeda was amazed he knew every servant by name. She didn’t speak much to servants who were not her handmaidens. He introduced his advisors and commanders of the palace guard in the drawing room. In the great hall, he showed displeasure at viewing a servant boy polishing the silverware, it should have been finished yesterday. The boy stared at the floor explaining the chamberlain demanded the silverware be polished again. Dracon raged that he needed to go do something else to set up the great hall feast. The boy bowed his head and ran out the door. When he met the palace guard commander’s wife carrying a basket of herbs he inquired of her husband’s broken leg and declared he will be by their apartments tomorrow to discuss he knows what. Prince Demetrius following his father on the guided tour blurted out that his father intended to get a puppy for his birthday. Dracon jerked his head around and ordered his son to go to his riding lesson. After Demetrius was gone, Dracon explained he told his son he will get a puppy from the commander’s dog, but not for his birthday because it won’t be weaned yet. He intended a pony for his birthday gift.

On through the throne room, garden balcony, kitchens, storage rooms, treasury, records room, armory, servant quarter staircase, palace guard quarter staircase, guest rooms where courtiers usually sleep, garden, stables and barns, and finally up to Dracon’s private rooms and her private rooms. He showed the corridors to his suites and The Wizard’s room where Ricky and Homer often converse, then the staircase to her personal attendants’ rooms. In her new bedchamber, Andromeda walked around the gilded bedposts and ran her fingers across her fireplace mantle. She sat in her chair and wiped her hand on her writing table. Dracon laid in her bathtub explaining it is big enough for more than one person. The servants were busy bringing up her luggage and placing it in the closet room. Dracon’s closet room was highly organized with hunting, ball, ceremony, and everyday wardrobes set in different sides of the room. Jewelry boxes laid upon shelves above his boots and shoes. A kitten meowed from behind a robe trunk. Dracon explained his cat had kittens in his closet and didn’t bother to kick them out. After the feast in the great hall, Andromeda was guided by the guards to the guest house where she will stay until the wedding. The day after, a concert was performed in the great stone theater to welcome her to Illium. Valnar took on the appearance of a Kadacian servant to hide from Prince Lagos continuously searching for him. Katarina carrying her infant son Aldric ran into her father and the betrothed she ran away from. Valnar greeted his father-in-law and invited him to his house. Katarina’s father had not forgiven her disobedience and running away, but was pleased to hear her husband was friend to the king.

Queen Penelope with her son Prince Eiras arrived also to attend the wedding and settled into a guest room. Messages had arrived before they departed for Illium that Greken raiders had entered Lotan and King Oskar had to stay behind to raise armies to guard their borders. He intended to locate their base and attack it when enough soldiers were collected. Peasants petitioning the king said they had the look of the nomadic Varrick tribes bordering the Amazon Valley to the north of Lotan. In the mean time, little Demetrius was delighted to have a playmate and followed Eiras everywhere. Homer stood guard over the princlings and taught them elfish games. Dracon ordered Ryana to enjoy the festivities with her family instead of standing guard. Nix took the children out to see the entertainments of the city celebrating the pending nuptials. There were jugglers, acrobats, actors, musicians, trained animals, and dancers in masks. Delicious food stands were everywhere. On the eve of the wedding, Dracon requested an omen ceremony of their marriage from The Wizard who was exiled after giving a damning omen to Dracon’s grandfather Emperor Dion. The room hushed into silence at the request and many began to tremble at what The Wizard would say. He refused.

Homer came forward to say he will do the omen ceremony. He spoke of their love being tested when people from the north invade Kadacia, but the love goddess Aphrodite will smile upon them and strengthen their bond. It will a mostly happy marriage. Queen Andromeda will never remarry after Dracon’s death and stands by her adopted son Demetrius as he is crowned king. The crowd cheered. The musicians and dancers continued their performances. As the evening progressed and Dracon grew sleepy, he walked up to The Wizard’s favorite turret to look upon the city.

“Why did you refuse my request, did you fear I would banish you too?” asked Dracon.

“No, your future had already be told by Lilia. I felt no need to predict the same future. You seem so insecure tonight, something troubling your mind? You rarely come up here with me.” answered The Wizard as a hawk landed on his shoulder.

“Hello Homer.” said Dracon.

“Hello Dracon. Am I interrupting something important? I just wanted to say Ishtar is pregnant again.” announced Homer.

“You are not interrupting anything of importance. I was just asking the great wizard why he refused the omen ceremony, I requested it so Andromeda could hear it. She has a liking for him.” replied Dracon.

“I see,” said The Wizard.

“And something was troubling me tonight. It was a great humbling experience seeing my city destroyed and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Then I had to see my men who jumped in the magic mirror dead on the fields around the palace where the mermaids took up position. Then when Homer sent me to you, you were so sad about losing your rainbow goddess friend Iris to the underworld. Ever since, there is this bluish aura around you when there is light glowing behind you. I see it as the pale moonlight wraps its magic around you. That is one reason I came up here.” said Dracon.

“Dracon is right, I have noticed it too but thought it better not to ask about Iris. It has been two years now.” observed Homer.

“Let me see. I didn’t think Iris gave me a blessing. I might have to arouse the volcano goddess Maya who married Iris’s former husband with a visit to find out what Iris did. When I left you and traveled to the Palace of Iris, now the Palace of Amalia, I awoke Iris to tell her she had a guest. Nix and my granddaughters never spoke of my also arriving when the battle would begin. She got up and we caught up to what the other was doing. She was so proud of my aide to my daughter and my friend while placed in the middle of their war. Then, she became peculiar looking out of the window. She said it was a beautiful night, the stars sparkled as the moon glowed in tenderness looking upon the battle below. It was a beautiful night to die, she said. She swiftly turned toward me and asked to follow her. She made her crystal glow and brought me down to the dungeons where her children with war god Eris were placed in tiny crypts. She next shocked me by telling me she would no longer be immortal and go to her children in the afterlife. I argued she was a goddess, she can not die. She informed me that they can die when no mortal worships them. Amalia is the new rainbow and fertility goddess. I told her that I worship her. She repeated when no mortals worship her, she can die. She said not to worry about her. Like mortals, her spirit doesn’t truly die but change forms. She had been looking forward to this for a long time and so relieved the time was here.

She took off her crystal and laid it on a tiny crypt. Her hair grew whiter and her face older. I demanded that she stop because I still had her amulet that she gave me to call her when I needed her. She can not die. I still need her. I held the amulet tight in my hand and it disintegrated into dust before my eyes. A small bone was left intact and I knew she had done that on purpose. I looked up and she was gone. A cold wind faintly blew around singing in Iris’s voice. ‘Hush little Alaric, don’t you weep. Iris will give you a parakeep. If that parakeep don’t sing, Iris will give you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don’t shine, Iris will will give you a charm that’s mine.’

I could feel her cold hands touching me and her cold lips kissing me. Her crystal burst into a flame and melted away. I put the bone into my leather pouch where I keep former wife Empress Athena’s coin and wife Nix’s hair close to my heart. It finally hit me that she was gone. I walked back upstairs to her bed chamber all dazed and confused. I never been to her palace before and she leaves me. Inside her bed chamber, I touched every object she ever held and grabbed one of her rings to wear. I was going to check on the girls before turning into bed with Nix when you arrived. I am sorry I failed to show much compassion in your hour of need. I had my own loss to deal with.”

“It is alright, great wizard. Heroes can’t always be strong.” commented Dracon.

“What’s the charm she said she will give you in her song do, that bone she left behind?” asked Homer.

“It doesn’t do anything. I prayed with it and Iris never comes, but I hear her voice inside my head speaking to me.” replied The Wizard.

“I think you should go visit Eris, he knew Iris the best. I can guard Dracon.” said Homer.

“I think I will after the wedding.” decides The Wizard.

Dracon stretches out his arms and yawns. Homer and The Wizard bid him good night. He descends the stairs and changes his clothes. Ricky found out that Layla was appointed ambassador for Queen Lexie and rushed to meet with her. Ricky had his costume and mask laid out for him to put on. He pinned on Homer’s disappearing cloak and disappeared into the night festivities. He found a room at an inn and danced with the barmaids before leaving to retrieve Andromeda. He appeared inside her bed chamber and dismissed the maidservant laying out her costume. He stirred the queen and announced that he was dressing her. He insisted that no one will know who they are because the celebrations are masked. He dresses her following Nix’s instructions and even braided her hair in tresses as many common women do. Andromeda disagreed looking like a commoner, but it was the only way so she would not stand out in the crowds. He pinned on her cloak and tied on her mask of a goblin. He took off Homer’s cloak and made her appear inside his rented tavern room. He arrived soon after to guide the nervous queen to the joyous subjects celebrating their nuptials. Andromeda was unnerved when a stumbling drunk man approach her to ask where she was from. Dracon answered that she is a maidservant of Queen Andromeda and does not speak Blythan. Many questions pursued after that about what the queen is like. Dracon replied that the queen was kind and attentive to her subjects’ needs.

The queen delighted herself at the food boothes tasting everything possible. The servers gladly gave her samples to give to the queen in the occasion of a ball when extra help was summoned outside the palace. Dracon bought the queen a basket to place the samples in. They watched musicians play on a stage as dancers entertained the onlookers. They joined a snake dance near the piers and laughed at a man splashing into the harbor. He taught her a Blythan dance with steps, skips, claps, and turns to tell a story of a boy in love. Touring the city, Dracon found Ricky outside Layla’s residence with an ogre mask covering his elfish face. She had gone swimming, but will return soon with lobsters so they can have a candle lit dinner. Ricky showed them the sapphire bracelet he intended to give Layla as an engagement present. A party was heard next door and they wished Ricky the best of luck. Dracon showed Andromeda another dance in the courtyard of the gala telling the story of a hero returning home. She wavered through the dance steps, but enjoyed his gentleness and patience. They stepped onto the balcony surrounding the courtyard to gaze upon the moonlight dancing upon the waves of the harbor. Dracon kissed her hand and hoped she enjoys her year in Blythe. He also hoped she enjoys their marriage as well. He asked if his friend Homer could look after her safety when he is away inspecting his kingdom. News from Lotan came that day of Grekens from the north invading parts of Lotan and Kadacia. Whole villages had been wiped out or taken over. King Oskar is raising armies to expel them and feared for his family’s safety. His cousin Oskar can not fight a war on his own, he needs alliances. Queen Penelope had asked for an audience with Queen Lexie for mercenary soldiers and be a guest of Illium until the fighting was over. She believed the raids were caused by the Varrick tribes expanding their borders or simply being pushed south from a bordering tribe to the north of them. For once, Andromeda took his arm before he offered it when they descended the stairs.
As they walked back to the tavern, Dracon found Ricky weeping along Layla’s hedges. He wiped his tears away and said only he had to get back to the palace on urgent business. Dracon guided Andromeda back to the tavern with people sleeping in the streets waiting for the parade to begin in the morning. He took off their masks and cloaks. He unpinned her hair tresses and untied her shoes. He kissed her good night as he held her close. Andromeda pulled away stating it was improper to accept such attention before the marriage ceremony. Everyone will know she lost her virtue and not follow her leadership if they have no respect for her. He assured her no one will know for he is marrying her in the morning and one night will not reveal any loss of virtue. She started to second guess her decision on agreeing to this marriage, but few kings were making such offers to her.

“Do you know why I chose you to be my wife?” Dracon asks.

“To multiply the size of your kingdom?” replies Andromeda.

“Is that what you think? I chose you because you are the one I can trust to raise my son if I should die in battle. That is why I was insistant on you adopting him as heir to your kingdom as well as mine. My son lost his mother and I lost my wife. I must be certain to chose a bride who could love him as her own. That is why I chose you.”

“And I chose you because you facinate me.” replied Andromeda.

“Then let me fascinate you with another new experience.” finished Dracon as he kissed her again holding her more tightly this time.

He woke up in the inn as the rooster crowed to stroke Andromeda’s hair sprawled over his chest. He reached for Homer’s cloak and took them to Andromeda’s guest house. A maidservant entered to start a fire and quite startled to see an undressed king. He told her to take the food sample basket to the kitchen for the servants to eat. She curtsied and ran out covering her eyes.

“Alakazam,” said Dracon and a fire sparked in the fireplace.

Time passed with Andromeda awaking and a kiss good morning. The maidservant interrupted with an apology for not making the fire and not grabbing the sample basket when she last entered. After seeing the fire was made, she grabbed the basket looking at the floor and announced a second breakfast tray is being made for His Majesty. Andromeda was mortified her servants knew he was here and covered herself with the bed sheet. She wept in shame while Dracon tried to comfort her. The breakfast trays arrived with Andromeda in her dressing robe and Dracon wearing his costume. Ricky suddenly appeared stating he ate the king’s breakfast tray, Homer wants his cloak back, and the maidservants want to know if His Majesty will be returning to bathe and dress in his own palace. Dracon excused himself to get ready for his wedding parade. Maidservants entered to bathe and dress the bride for the ceremony as Dracon kissed Andromeda good bye.

Dracon received his morning reports from Homer and The Wizard while Ricky changed him into his dressing gown. King Oskar’s wife Queen Penelope came by with her son Prince Eiras to visit Prince Demetrius. She asked when The Wizard would take her to Queen Lexie. A messenger came with a report to stay where she was because King Oskar had been captured by the Varricks in an ambush by a river. The tribal chief demands access to trade routes and territory for the king’s return. The Wizard believes the Varricks are attacking by rivers and burning tar floating on the drifting water would prove useful against them. Dracon sends out word for new recruits in his army and navy conscripted. He then writes out a request for Queen Kiara’s son Almar to be appointed his valet since Ricky has been occupied too greatly to attend his needs.

Then Dracon kicks everyone out and relaxes in his stone bathtub dreaming of his wedding night. A woman comes in the servant’s door to ask for a word with His Majesty. She is disturbed by the maidservants reciting tales of finding him in her queen’s bed chamber and her virtue has being lost before the proper time. She further condemns him in his scoundrel ways taking her queen around the city without any guards and consorting with common people as if they were noble. She finishes affirming she has been in the service of her queen since birth and has no desire in seeing her scandalized over his unruly behavior.

“Your queen is modest. I am not.” declares Dracon as he rises out of the tub and wraps a towel around himself. “Now that we have that straightened out, I will just say that if you ever speak to me like a common man again I will have you stripped and beaten to remind you who is king around here.”

Dracon enters his bed chamber and calls for Ricky. His wedding robes are placed on and his boots are tied. He greets his guests sitting for the wedding morning meal and accepts their gifts to him. They meet Demetrius with Penelope and Eiras to begin the wedding parade. Trumpets sounded and the crowds cheered as the palace gates opened. Drummers, pipers, and flag bearers came marching out first. Soldiers with spears and shields marched second. Horse guards came third. Prince Lagos lead the wedding party upon a white stallion. Next, Queen Kiara and Prince Almar rode brown horses beside Queen Penelope and Prince Eiras. All the family’s bows were raised in salute. Ricky drove Prince Demetrius in a chariot ahead of his father. Homer again had the pleasure of driving the king’s chariot. As the king’s half-brother, Prince Donovan also rode in Dracon’s chariot. The ever present Wizard rode a black horse behind the king. Valnar was keeping watch over the queen’s parade. People lining the street tossed flowers in front of thie king’s chariot. More soldiers and horse gurards brought up the rear to end the parade. At the Temple of Aphrodite, the king made the rare gesture of bowing his head to his subjects waiting to see the queen’s wedding party. He tossed coins to the subjects in a shimmer of gold and silver. Drummers pounding down the street told the guests the queen was nearing the temple. The guests separated to make an aisle for the wedding party. Dracon marched to the statue of Aphrodite where an altar stood. Beside him were Lagos, Homer and Ricky as the groomsmen. Demetrius, Almar, Donovan stood by with the prayer offerings for Aphrodite.

Queen Andromeda entered in robes of white with a gold belt carrying a bouquet of white roses and pink feathers. Her large Kadacian necklace covering her shoulders and diamond ear bobs could be seen from across the room. A crown with a veil caressed her twisted braids pinned back. Her white leather slippers made no noise stepping across the marble floor. The High Priest blessed the couple lighting candles for marriage goddess Amalia and High Priestess burned incense to carry the prayers to the goddess. A song of celebration came next. The offerings for Aphrodite were presented and songs of praise were sung by the Blythan choir. Wooden coins were burned to appease the money god Pisos to bless the couple with riches. King Dracon gave his bride a bracelet of gold in the shape of a snake biting his tail to symbolize eternity. Prince Demetrius gave his new stepmother a golden necklace with a dragon pendant, Dracon’s chosen symbol. Since the two rulers were combining their kingdoms, no dowry was presented, but a crown was given to Demetrius by Andromeda formalizing her adoption of her stepson as her heir as ruler of Kadacia as the couple recited their vows to each other. In a surprising step, the queen recited her vows to the king both in Blythan and Kadacian. The Kadacian choir then sang songs of love and country. The marriage contract was read to the guests and the marriage bond was announced sealed. Finally, a Kadacian priest anointed Dracon and Demetrius with milk and honey while the High Priest anointed Andromeda to crown them as King and Queen of Blythe and Kadacia with Demetrius as the Grand Prince. The couple left the temple to the cheers of the crowd. Dracon drove his bride back to the palace in his chariot followed by their wedding parties and guests.

The reception took place in the great hall and courtyard. Andromeda was introduced to all of Dracon’s friends and relatives. Then Dracon greeted Andromeda’s younger sisters and brothers he met in Kadacia. Queen Penelope left the party to receive her audience with Queen Lexie on rescuing her husband while the music and dance carried into the night. Dracon appointed Homer as his wife’s new guard and keeper as she is expected to swell in pregnancy in the coming months. He trusted no one else to deliver his future heir, or heiress. The Wizard was needed in the rescue mission and guard the king because he discovered the Aura of Iris gave him godlike powers that made him the new god of justice. Ricky had jumped into a mirror in his grief over Layla once his wedding duties were finished and refuses to come back out. Valnar left with his ship to finish building the new capital of Rikia. Dracon knew no one better to watch over his new wife while he aroused troops and sailors to Oskar’s rescue, perhaps gain a new province to his little empire. Homer slept most of the day in his guest house and patrolled the palace at night. He said to the queen that she is surrounded by palace guards during her routines so he was not needed all day, besides most plot at night in quiet corners. She knew he was avoiding much contact with her so she let it go the first days being newly married.