NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: That Which Thrives In Obscurity (Part 2)
The early morning brought with it a soothing breeze that he was always thankful for. It reminded him how much Iliad was alive. The coolness of it on his skin was a comforting feeling that he so desperately savored. Today was meant to be a day of joy, a day of celebration of what was to come. But in his heart, he could not shake the unpleasant feeling that stirred within. From the obsidian steps of castle Xerxes, he gazed down below to see a collection of a dozen gilded carriages all lined up one in front of the other. Each of them were pulled by great war horses, who were covered in the colors of Iliad. Purple and golden embroidery detailed that these horses were of the highest standing and only fit to be used on such special occasions. The majestic beasts were only compared in their brilliance to the carriages themselves. Each one carved of the finest of wood and decorated with the rarest of jewels. Just one of these carriages would be enough to buy one an entire town with money still left over to build a castle. They were a symbol of wealth, of his wealth and the vast riches that his family possessed. The Stygian symbols carved into the fine wood reminded him of a distant memory. One filled with better days. He tried to look for fortune within that thought. But did not have the belief to see it through. Antares took another deep breath and thought about Reza for the first time in several days. He wondered what it was she looked like, and what she thought of him. But as quickly as that idea came to his mind, he pushed it away. There was no need for such childish thoughts. Far more serious matters required his attention, such as why so many were called to follow him south.
"You are aware you are allowed to smile?" Casspien walked up beside him.
Like himself, he also wore royal Stygian attire. The mixture of violet, gold and silver did well to highlight his standing within the Stygian hegemon. The different textile cloths wrapped around him like a cocoon. Antares remembered a time when they were younger and such clothes would drown them. Now it sat upon them well. As though it were their destiny to wear it. He looked at Casspien's face, on his left ear he wore the Stygian symbol of the moon. An intricate geometry of lines that intercrossed and at different angles. The shape never being completely defined, and mending into a circle at times, and then at other moments morphing into three staggered columns. The earring being conjured entirely of ice allowed for such an otherworldly appearance. Although he knew he would never admit to it out loud. But Antares knew Casspien enjoyed displaying his prowess over ice. Especially in the most subtle of ways. He smiled at his Lord Regent.
"Perhaps I would smile more if this procession did not look more a call to arms, than one of celebration." Antares looked on as his soldiers clattered about inspecting each carriage and barking orders to themselves. "I thought I said I would like to travel with a small group?"
Casspien furrowed his brow at the remark, "This is a small group?"
"There are at least a dozen carriages here. And what? Maybe five thousand men?"
"Seven thousand," the Lord Regent corrected. "And when we reach Eirdu, another dozen carriages will join us. And another seven thousand men."
"Casspien..." Antares sighed.
" You are the first King of the Stygians to head that far south in ten thousand years. Forgive me, if I do not want to be remembered as the Lord Regent who allowed him to die."
"You think you will be remembered?" a mischievous grin came across Antares face. "The bards will be far too busy singing about my great deeds and accomplishments."
"That they would. If only because of my great wisdom and divine grace," he smirked.
Antares put his arms around his dear friend and they laughed as they walked down the steps. Both of them enjoying each other's company.
"But fear not," Casspien continued. "Our men will only accompany us to the border. By the time we reach Neith, only a thousand will follow us to Talterra. As for the carriages, most of them are noble humans and Stygians."
Antares perked up, "That many will follow us?"
"As I told you brother, this is a historic occasion. This will alter our world."
For the first time the weight of the crown felt heavy on his head. His actions had always been governed by others. Ever since the day he lost his mother. Everything he had ever done was in service to everyone else. To serve as she would have wanted, as Hyperion had. The responsibility of power and all that came with it. He wielded it with respect and regard. But now this was different. Even though once again the choice to go south was not entirely his. The decision of what may come of it was however all upon his shoulders. For Antares, the power to alter the very world was a different realm from which he was used to. And for the first time in his reign he faltered.
"Don't leave without me!" Cyrus yelled from the top of the stairs.
They both turned to see the young boy run down the stairs with a sack in tow. As he reached them he huffed and puffed. Antares had made sure to give the boy proper clothes to wear. Now that he was his ward, he could not allow him to further embarrass him by dressing like a common beggar. Cyrus was now adorned in royal fabric, once worn by the king when he was that age. Admittedly Antares was unsure if the boy would fit the clothes as he himself was not as thin when he was so young. But from the awkward way Cyrus stood he seemed to fit the clothes well.
"How can we forget?" Casspien did little to hide the hint of disappointment in his voice. He still was not used to Cyrus' presence in the castle.
Cyrus scowled at him.
" Now play nice you two," Antares waved at both of them to calm down.
Of everyone that he had told that Cyrus would be his ward. Casspien had taken it the worst. Antares had still not revealed much about the boy to him and that bothered Casspien. For some street boy to have this much favor with the king was unnatural. Even so, Antares had declared that he would not only take the boy in as a ward but also possibly take him as an apprentice. Casspien was left speechless upon being told all of this by his king. An argument soon erupted that lasted through all manner of the night. One that Casspien eventually lost. And yet ever since that day he had done well to keep young Cyrus out of his way and mind. but every so often the boy would find a way to show up in front of him.
"I am going to my carriage when you are ready to depart and give the signal." He bowed towards Antares. And left without acknowledging Cyrus again.
"I don't like him," Cyrus concluded.
"Casspien can be... an acquired taste," Antares searched for the right words to use.
"I don't think I have the palette for him," Cyrus mused.
Antares turned to his little ward, "Who taught you that word?" The boy had for just a moment sounded like him. Perhaps his lessons with Lady Alena were going too well.
"Will you leave without saying goodbye?" Lady Alena called out, with the rest of his family with her.
Along with Lady Alena, Samara, Loukas and Cirella approached. Antares had thought of bringing them along. No doubt the children would have enjoyed seeing distant realms that they had only read about in their books. But through the council of Lady Alena she had urged that they remain. The quietness that would follow in the coming weeks with the absence of the king would do well to return things to a semblance of normalcy. But the truth was, Antares had no desire to include Daimion in their travels south. So he sought no reason to fight against what his Lady mother told him. She too would remain and watch over them. Of course, no word was sent to White Mountain to ask if Princess Anastasia would journey south. Her hatred for her brother had still not relented. Which only left Princess Guinevere of his three siblings that would come south with him. Something he was more than content with.
"Is there truly nothing I can say to convince you to come?" Antares pleaded as he embraced the woman that raised him.
"The south does not agree with me. I am needed here," Alena chuckled.
"I will see you soon, mother." Antares hugged her again.
Lady Alena was slightly surprised by the warm embrace. Antares was usually calm and collected. Such a display of emotion further proved to confirm what she doubted. That this journey south was not entirely made of her king's own volition. There were forces at play and she detested that they influenced her child in such a manner.
"Of that I am sure. I look forward to meeting your new wife," she rubbed his cheek. "But I am not the only one who has come to wish you well. Samara, Loukas come here."
Samara and Loukas cautiously looked towards their mother for approval and she nodded reassuringly. They approached their uncle and Antares knelt down to greet them.
"May the fates... guide you uncle..." Samara blushed as she spoke. This was the first time she properly looked at her uncle.
"I wanna come along, why does Cyrus get to go?" Loukas grumbled.
Antares laughed and patted both their heads. He turned to his niece first, "Thank you Crown Princess Samara. I will hold your kind words dear." Antares offered her the respect a Crown Princess deserves. He turned to Loukas, "You must stay and protect your big sister Prince Loukas. Is it not your duty?" Antares challenged the young boy.
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He took a moment to think about it, and realizing the weight of responsibility he nodded triumphantly. Finally seeming to understand his role.
"And Samara?" he turned to her again.
She nodded in acknowledgement.
Antares pulled out from his attire an obsidian orb.
"Do you know what this is?"
She shook her head.
In the morning light its reflective surface shined bright. Antares rolled it around in his hand. In the center frozen in the shape of a snake's eye–a crystalline shard that glowed white with a purple hue. Samara had never seen anything like it. She was sure it was something that held great significance and power. She did well to stop herself from reaching for it.
"This is one of seven orbs required to enter the king's council room. This one belongs to the ruler of Iliad, the monarch of the Stygians." He looked at her to see if she followed.
Samara nodded.
"Show me your hand."
She did as she was instructed and extended her hand.
"I leave this in your care. As Crown Princess, let this be proof that if anything were to befall me. The throne of Iliad is yours, my little niece. May you lead them in ways I could not." The King of the Stygians decreed.
As it fell into her small hands, she felt the tremendous power that lived within the orb. It was as though she could feel the emotions of a million souls all calling out to her for safety. Samara felt the weight of Iliad. She thought she would drop it, but soon the power went dormant, and it became easy to carry. She had not understood when her mother had told her that she would be now called a crown princess instead of a normal princess. She did not understand the difference between them either. She thought a great many things would change but everything stayed as it was. It was not until she held this orb in her hand did she begin to understand the difference between the titles. She looked into the orb and then turned her attention back to her king. Samara could not explain it, but she knew she never wanted to fail him. Not once.
"Thank you," her words carried the weight of a future queen for the first time.
Antares smiled and nodded.
"I wanna see!" Loukas yelled crowding his big sister, " I want one too!"
"Now both of you run along to your mother," Antares hurried them.
They did as they commanded and returned to Cirella. Antares caught her eye and she bowed. There was no need for words between them. She more than said enough with her eyes and he responded in kind. It would take some time but perhaps now their relationship could bloom into something more positive. He turned towards his mother for the final time.
"It is time we depart."
"I know whatever is waiting for you south you will handle it. She kissed his forehead. "And you Cyrus do well to take care." She did the same for him too.
Cyrus nodded and hugged her before entering the carriage.
"I will not fail you," Antares reassured her.
With a determined look he turned and entered the carriage along with Cyrus. It was quite spacious. More than enough room for two people. In fact you could fit three times as much and still feel quite relaxed. The exterior of the carriage was a deep brown. The interior was covered in red linen and hand crafted with jewels everywhere. They glittered against the morning sun and sparkled with beauty. The craftmanship applied inside the carriage was of the highest quality. Careful hands were used to craft such a luxury interior. The softness of the cushions, the miniature curtains that hung on the windows. It was a carriage fit for a king.
"This is amazing!" Cyrus exclaimed.
"Is this your first time in a carriage?" Antares enquired.
"Why do you sound so shocked?" Cyrus grumbled.
Cyrus sat down opposite the king, an entire couch to himself.
"What now?" he asked.
"Watch," Antares responded.
The king clasped his hands together, and in one swift motion moved to have them on top of each other. The air went still if only for a moment, and then it began to pull. It was only the softest of tugs, but he could feel the power that began growing in between Antares' flat hands. Traces of blue mana started to become visible and their little sparks grew in great numbers. Not long after that Antares pulled his hands apart and in the middle a spherical mass of mana. Its dimensions and proportions were perfect. There was no fault or any weakness. Such a simple thing, and yet it told so much about the man who created it. They spun around faster with renewed vigor. Soon after the king exerted another force and the mana began to freeze over. Softly and with a delicate touch. In a mere moment, what formed in between the king's hands was a perfect frozen sphere.
It landed softly in Antares hand and he inspected his work. The coolness of its touch was familiar. It had been some time since he used his abilities. He had almost forgotten how it felt. He watched as Cyrus was mesmerized by the display of such basic skill. It made him appreciate Cyrus even more. Antares then made the sphere float again on his palm, and then flung it outside. Cyrus followed its path and stuck his head out of the carriage. He watched as the orb flew high into the sky. He nearly lost track of it several times, but managed to keep his eye on it.
"Do not blink," Antares warned. And then he snapped his fingers.
The orb burst with a loud shatter and rained down shards. The light of the sun reflected iridescent lights through the shards as they shimmered in the air. It was as though the very snow hand became a rainbow of colors. There was a loud cheer and the carriage lurched forward. Only when they had begun to move did Cyrus remember himself. He called out to Cirella before she was out of sight.
"Ciri, I'll bring back sweets!" he yelled, waving.
"I look forward to it!" she called back laughing.
The boy sat back in the carriage, and locked eyes with a grinning Antares.
"What?" he asked, blushing.
"Nothing. I am merely observing," mused Antares.
"Where is Princess Guinevere and her friends? I thought they were coming along?"
"I am sure you were looking forward to seeing them," Antares smirked. "But they have already gone on ahead to Eirdu."
"What's it like?"
Cyrus was anxious. He had never left Akkad before. This was the only city he had known. There was still so much of it that he had never explored. And already he was leaving for new lands. He wondered if his father had ever left Akkad and he chastised himself for never asking him the question. But as he was doing so. Slowly a thought crept into his head. One he had avoided having for many years. He knew it was foolish to have, childish even. But for the briefest of moments even already knowing the answer he wondered if his mother was in Eirdu.
"You will like Eirdu," Antares reassured him. "It is a far more livelier city than Akkad. Now, whether you will like Xenon? That I cannot say."
Xenon Xerxes. He repeated the name. He was the first of the two trials that Cyrus needed to complete for Antares to teach him. The king did not elaborate on what it was he would be doing with Xenon but he knew that if he failed it that would be that. Antares would turn him away. It was the first time in some time that Cyrus was scared. But he continued to believe in himself. No matter what Xenon demanded of him. He would not fail.
"I won't disappoint you," Cyrus promised.
Antares smiled, he turned to watch as the people cheered and called out his name. "I have all the confidence that you will succeed."
And with that Antares watched on as they left the city behind. How long had it been since he had traveled this far south? So much of his time had been spent north, even before his exile. His destiny kept him here. But now its winds blew to the southern region and her realms. With it came a great uncertainty. For one hundred years King Barranagan Xerxes, had held back the tides of change. His very being was all that stood between time and progress—an act he did for peace. For that is what he believed. But no longer did he live. With his death progress had returned, change has begun to take root. And now the destiny of his son took him in a different path.
Antares pondered the outcome of all that would come from his journey. All of Aurum would know of his trek to Talterra. He thought of Enrieta and what she wanted from him. Nero too crossed his mind and what that would entail. The other monarchs he would meet, those he looked forward to seeing and those he did not. He thought of Reza. And of Faye, of seeing her again. He did not allow his mind to linger too long on her, he could not bear the pain. Not now. Instead Antares refocused himself on his true mission for going south; the grimoires. It was what he had always been after. It had been all he ever desired since his return. He would atone for his sin of slaying Nykolas. He would carry on the legacy of Hyperion. He would alter the very fate of his people himself. He would lead the way.