Alexis wandered about in the palace gardens.from a distance,she could hear voices raised in laughter and argument,the maids of the castle,going about their day to day tasks,unconcerned with tomorrow and unperturbed by yesterday.she heard Zelda's voice raised,directing someone about what flowers to pluck,and veered sharply down a path to avoid facing that lady.abruptly she came face to face with Andra.
"oh!"gasped Andra,"you startled me!"
Alexis did not say anything,but stood looking closely at her friend.in the past one week,ever since her failed abduction,Andra seemed to have grown quieter and paler.at first Alexis had thought that it was merely the shock,but Andra showed no signs of snapping out of it.
"are you all right?"she asked for the umpteenth time,almost mechanically.
"Actually,i am not"said Andra and then smiled at Alexis'look of surprise"did not expect me to admit it ,did you?"
"no"said Alexis "ready to talk about it?"
Andra moved listlessly by her side"nothing much to talk about"she said.and then after a short silence"who were they,Alexis?will we ever know!"
"Icarus has set up a reward,you know"said Alexis soothingly,"i expect we will find out,sooner or later.and then we will know whether they were targeting you specifically,or if it was just a random accident.and in the meanwhile your security has been doubled,there is really no need for you to be frightened.."
"I am not frightened!"said Andra indignantly"and i did not mean them!i meant..i meant.."she broke off and blushed
"aah"said Alexis smiling slyly"i see.it is the thought of the valiant Damon which brings the roses to your cheek,it is the memory of the forest green of his eyes which is giving you sleepless nights,it is his bravery and strength and charm which has bewitched the princess of Castalia,it is.."
"oh Alexis don't!"cried Andra,and to her surprise,Alexis saw tears gather in her eyes.
"why Andra,i was just teasing"said Alexis contritely"i did not mean to make you cry!"
Andra wiped her tears and said in a bewildered tone"i don't know what is wrong with me..i cant seem to get him out of my mind..oh Alexis,you don't know how wretched i feel!"
Alexis said nothing.the memory of a pair of storm grey eyes seemed to laugh at her,mocking Andra's words.and once again she heard a voice call out"i will come back..."
"Alexis.."said Andra tentatively"do you think we will ever see them again?"
Alexis shrugged casually"who knows?perhaps.."
they both wandered on,lost in dreams,in speculations.turning a corner,they found that they were near the west walls of the castle.Icarus stood,deep in conversation with Cameron.he noticed them and beckoned them to his side.rather unwillingly,they went.
"...preparations to be completed soon"Cameron was saying.
"what preparations?"asked Andra,as Cameron smirked at Alexis.she looked back coolly at him.
"the preparations to welcome the King of Anoia,my dear sister"said Icarus calmly.Andra gasped and Alexis stiffened.
"but..what..we don't even know them!"said Andra
"an oversight which i am striving to correct,my dear"said Icarus wearily."this ridiculous state of affairs has gone on long enough.not being on terms of common courtesy with the Anoians is hardly..wise"
"did Nestor put you up to this?"blurted out Alexis.Icarus looked faintly surprised"Nestor?no indeed..i extended the invitation myself"
"it is very sudden..."Andra looked inquiringly at her brother.he smiled enigmatically"i felt it was time"he said by the way of explanation.then seeing two extremely exasperated faces glare at him he laughed and said"and also i would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the prince of Anoia..."
"thanks?"
"what for?"
"why,didn't i tell you?"asked Icarus in surprise"for rescuing the princess of Castalia from the dastardly attack on her of course!"
"what!"exclaimed Andra as Alexis merely stared at Icarus who was looking at her smiling in his mocking way"Justin!that was Justin Alpetras!"
"Justin Alpetras it was indeed"confirmed Icarus"along with his commander at arms,and cousin Damon Alpetras."
"did you know all along?"asked Alexis in a low voice to Icarus
"i suspected."Icarus shrugged"the kind of skill you spoke of is not very common,and i was fairly certain had it been anyone from Castalia,i would have known of them at least.also there were the names themselves,taken together.."
"why did you not tell me!"asked Alexis
"there was nothing to tell then.it was merely a thought.i am telling you now.i was in the process of making some very delicate inquiries,when i received a elegant missive from the King of Anoia,the great Jupiter Alpetras himself.and to my very great surprise i found,that not only were the heroes Anoians,but the villains of the piece were our neighbours as well!"
"Anoians!"exclaimed Andra"and Jupiter Alpetras told you that himself!?"
"Yes,clever wasn't it"mused Icarus"i admit,it took me by surprise..a man of many layers,Jupiter Alpetras..it will be a pleasure to finally make his acquaintance"
"what exactly did he say?"asked Alexis
"oh,after a lot of flowery language,he said he hoped my sister and her guard were well and not suffering from any ill effects from their recent adventure!and how he had to offer his deepest apologies since the ruffians were Anoians,bent on extracting a ransom for the princess,he believed.he hoped that that piece of mischief would be forgiven as his brother and cousin had taken care of the desperadoes(his word!).he was making full inquiries regarding the matter and would give us the details soon.he remained,sincerely,etc etc"
"do you believe this,this pile of horse dung!?"burst out Alexis
"your language,Alexis,is always lucid albiet colourful,but in this instance,i fail to understand you.which part of the missive are you referring to as equine excreta?my preliminary excursions into the topic were indeed beginning to point towards the Anoians being involved..this communication merely clears up the point"
"and do you really believe that Jupiter Alpetras did not know of this?"asked Alexis in disbelief"are you going to stand there and tell me,that some common thugs from Anoia,dared to enter our kingdom,to abduct the princess for a ransom,with the kind of precision and knowledge which screams of training,knowing full well that the minute they touched her their lives were not worth a farthing,and decided to take her all the way over the border to Anoia?without the knowledge and consent of their King!"
"Yes,it becomes very interesting does it not?"said Icarus,his eyes gleaming"but you are forgetting are you not,the brave and intrepid Anoians who then rescued you,without a thought to their own life?they are princes of the realm too..are accusing them of duplicity as well??"
"No!"said Andra instantly"no,they could not be involved in some dastardly plot"she continued defiantly,as her brother frowned at her
"so"murmured Icarus"Jupiter alpetras can be believed to have sent your attackers...but your heroes are to be excluded from any complicity in the matter..that is ...interesting.do you agree with Andra,Alexis?"
"I am not accusing Jupiter Alpetras!i am merely saying that it is highly unlikely that any common criminal would take such a huge,stupid risk just for a ransom.apart from the fact that they would almost certainly be dead within the day,this is the kind of thing that starts wars!are you asking me to believe that they were that dumb?"
"you did not actually answer my question"said Icarus thoughtfully"though your brilliant insight into the situation is certainly impressive!"
"what would be the purpose of saving us,if they were in the plot as well?"Alexis said meeting Icarus' eyes dead on.
"so you agree with Andra..i thought you would"sighed Icarus"women are so unbearably predictable.and have you considered,my dear Alexis,that the plot may be an entirely different one than the abduction of the princess of Castalia?"
Alexis stared at Icarus for a moment,her heart sinking,as his smile grew brighter still"i see the thought does not sit well with you"he said softly
"who says it was a plot at all?"said Cameron,speaking for the first time."it could be all as the King says,that some Anoians were indeed the attackers and the princes just happened to be there to save her..though if i hadn't left,i am sure we would not have needed them.."
Alexis stared at him contemptuosly but Icarus said at once with great affability"of course,that is perfectly possible!in any case,there was nothing for me to do but to offer my sincere thanks and invite all the princes for a visit to our beautiful kingdom.our dahlias,i mentioned,are blooming particularly well this year!"
Alexis choked on a laugh.
"Icarus,you are incorrigible!"said Andra"you really did not!"
"i really did"assured Icarus"and indeed,he says in this message i received today,that he will be delighted to see the dahlias!he is coming,it appears,a sen night later with five gentleman and three ladies.Andra,you will see to all the arrangements.we must not be behind in showing any courtesy to the king of Anoia,my dear"
with a wave,he walked away with Cameron.Andra turned to look at Alexis and there was a bright,glowing look on her face which made Alexis' heart sink.
"he was a prince.."she breathed happily.
"an Anoian prince"corrected Alexis grimly.And to her mind that had made all the difference in the world.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Chapter 5-The aftermath
"Explain to me please,why you thought it was a good idea to take my sister to that ridiculous affair unguarded?"Icarus voice was deadly in its softness.this was not her friend talking to her,it was her sovereign questioning her and Alexis felt his anger chill her to her bones.
"she was feeling upset and so.."she began.
"upset?'Icarus raised his brows"and so instead of arranging for some innocent form of entertainment,you decided to drag her to some country affair,exposing her to danger and discomfort?"
"she wanted to go and i did not think it would be dangerous!such a thing has never happened before!"
"but it happened today.so your thinking my dear Alexis was wrong,wasn't it,since my sister,the princess of Castalia,and your charge was abducted in front of your eyes!"
"Yes"Alexis looked him right in the eyes."there is no excuse for it,my lord.you are right.it was my fault.i take full responsibility for my failure to guard the princess."
"Indeed,as you should"agreed Icarus cordially,his rage a thing of ice.that part of his disproportionate anger was terror at what could have happened and confusion at the days events,was not lost on Alexis.Castalia had never known much crime,and this sudden attack in a public place was as unprecedented as it was alarming.
"did it seemed that they knew who she was?"asked Icarus abruptly and Alexis frowned.it was a question that had occurred to her as soon as the relief had worn off."i cant be sure."she said slowly"it seems impossible that they should,we were heavily veiled,in ordinary clothes,and we were not the only ones.there were several other women wearing the same attire.they may have thought she is some nobleman's daughter,given the fineness of her clothes.."
"and so they risked a broad daylight abduction of maybe a nobleman's daughter"Icarus began to tap the arm of the cahir he was sitting on"and instead landed a princess.that seems too much of a coincidence..."
"Maybe.."said Alexis hesitantly"maybe that's all it was.but.."
"Exactly"muttered Icarus "but.."
there was a short silence with each of the two busy with their own thoughts."did anyone know who they were?"asked Alexis at last
Icarus appeared to arouse himself from a reverie."hmm.oh,their bodies have been hung in the arena"he said,referring to the huge stadium where games and functions took place"but no one claims to recognise them..yet.the award has been announced,of course"
"they were too well organised"mused Alexis"as if they had already planned it..but then it must have been chance.no one knew we were going to the fair..we did not know ourselves till the last moment..!"there was another silence.
"who were they?"asked Icarus softly,and this time she knew he was asking about their rescuers.she looked up to find his eyes fixed on her face with no expression on his own.absurdly,she felt nervous,and annoyed with herself,answered more curtly than she had intended"i don't know"
Icarus seemed to grow stiller.she turned and paced restlessly around the room,as much as to avoid his gaze as to compose herself"i don't know"she said more calmly"they appeared to be of noble birth.it is possible that they are the sons' of some nobleman of our kingdom.they were certainly both skilled,and courageous"
"high tribute,coming from you Alexis"said Icarus,watching her intently."but which nobleman has sons' so modest who would not come forward to claim a hero's welcome for saving their princess in so dramatic a fashion.none belonging to my court,I'm sure.most of them weary me with ill thought out lies of their past bravery.if any one of them had managed to have paragons which these men seem to be,i am sure i would have known all about them."
"then who?"burst out Alexis"who in God's name were they?"
"Does it matter so much?"Icarus asked mockingly"unknown foes bested by unknown friends..seems very..fitting,somehow"
"i don't like it"said Alexis"i don't understand it"
"there is no point in discussing the matter further"said Icarus brusquely, getting up form his chair"we do not have sufficient knowledge yet"
"Icarus"whispered Alexis as he started to walk away.he turned his eyebrows raised in question"i am sorry.it was unpardonable and irresponsible and .."
"yes,i believe we have covered that"murmured Icarus."there is no more to be said.do you think i don't know that you were going to take on five men single handed?your foolhardiness is equalled only by your courage,and both make up a large part of who you are,Alexis..but yes..i am indebted to those two men,even more deeply than they can imagine..."
For a moment Alexis stared at him,tears so ruthlessly held in check so long threatening to flood her eyes now."i was so scared!"she said and then he was holding her and she was crying while he continued to rock her gently,smiling a little as she sobbed stormily against his robe.finally when she had quietened down,he let go and took her chin in his hand and lifted her face up wards.she smiled at him,tears still glistening on her lashes,but calmer for them.he smiled back and let go of her "you are exhausted,go and sleep now".Alexis nodded and rubbed her eyes.
"by the way"Icarus said as he strolled to the door"i believe one of them bested you rather spectacularly today"he smiled at her startled face"my dear Alexis,inspite of your low opinion of my powers of being a sufficiently,er,kingly king,i still manage to keep a certain amount of knowledge of what goes on in my kingdom,you know"
Alexis laughed"he was splendid,indeed!i have lost my chain to him,you know,thanks to your odious Cameron.he promised to come back and claim it.i shall be in a real fix if he does so!"
Icarus looked at her strangely for a moment and then smiled faintly"are you sure that is all that you have lost?"for a moment their eyes met and held and then Icarus gave a low laugh at the confusion he saw in hers,and left the room.
"she was feeling upset and so.."she began.
"upset?'Icarus raised his brows"and so instead of arranging for some innocent form of entertainment,you decided to drag her to some country affair,exposing her to danger and discomfort?"
"she wanted to go and i did not think it would be dangerous!such a thing has never happened before!"
"but it happened today.so your thinking my dear Alexis was wrong,wasn't it,since my sister,the princess of Castalia,and your charge was abducted in front of your eyes!"
"Yes"Alexis looked him right in the eyes."there is no excuse for it,my lord.you are right.it was my fault.i take full responsibility for my failure to guard the princess."
"Indeed,as you should"agreed Icarus cordially,his rage a thing of ice.that part of his disproportionate anger was terror at what could have happened and confusion at the days events,was not lost on Alexis.Castalia had never known much crime,and this sudden attack in a public place was as unprecedented as it was alarming.
"did it seemed that they knew who she was?"asked Icarus abruptly and Alexis frowned.it was a question that had occurred to her as soon as the relief had worn off."i cant be sure."she said slowly"it seems impossible that they should,we were heavily veiled,in ordinary clothes,and we were not the only ones.there were several other women wearing the same attire.they may have thought she is some nobleman's daughter,given the fineness of her clothes.."
"and so they risked a broad daylight abduction of maybe a nobleman's daughter"Icarus began to tap the arm of the cahir he was sitting on"and instead landed a princess.that seems too much of a coincidence..."
"Maybe.."said Alexis hesitantly"maybe that's all it was.but.."
"Exactly"muttered Icarus "but.."
there was a short silence with each of the two busy with their own thoughts."did anyone know who they were?"asked Alexis at last
Icarus appeared to arouse himself from a reverie."hmm.oh,their bodies have been hung in the arena"he said,referring to the huge stadium where games and functions took place"but no one claims to recognise them..yet.the award has been announced,of course"
"they were too well organised"mused Alexis"as if they had already planned it..but then it must have been chance.no one knew we were going to the fair..we did not know ourselves till the last moment..!"there was another silence.
"who were they?"asked Icarus softly,and this time she knew he was asking about their rescuers.she looked up to find his eyes fixed on her face with no expression on his own.absurdly,she felt nervous,and annoyed with herself,answered more curtly than she had intended"i don't know"
Icarus seemed to grow stiller.she turned and paced restlessly around the room,as much as to avoid his gaze as to compose herself"i don't know"she said more calmly"they appeared to be of noble birth.it is possible that they are the sons' of some nobleman of our kingdom.they were certainly both skilled,and courageous"
"high tribute,coming from you Alexis"said Icarus,watching her intently."but which nobleman has sons' so modest who would not come forward to claim a hero's welcome for saving their princess in so dramatic a fashion.none belonging to my court,I'm sure.most of them weary me with ill thought out lies of their past bravery.if any one of them had managed to have paragons which these men seem to be,i am sure i would have known all about them."
"then who?"burst out Alexis"who in God's name were they?"
"Does it matter so much?"Icarus asked mockingly"unknown foes bested by unknown friends..seems very..fitting,somehow"
"i don't like it"said Alexis"i don't understand it"
"there is no point in discussing the matter further"said Icarus brusquely, getting up form his chair"we do not have sufficient knowledge yet"
"Icarus"whispered Alexis as he started to walk away.he turned his eyebrows raised in question"i am sorry.it was unpardonable and irresponsible and .."
"yes,i believe we have covered that"murmured Icarus."there is no more to be said.do you think i don't know that you were going to take on five men single handed?your foolhardiness is equalled only by your courage,and both make up a large part of who you are,Alexis..but yes..i am indebted to those two men,even more deeply than they can imagine..."
For a moment Alexis stared at him,tears so ruthlessly held in check so long threatening to flood her eyes now."i was so scared!"she said and then he was holding her and she was crying while he continued to rock her gently,smiling a little as she sobbed stormily against his robe.finally when she had quietened down,he let go and took her chin in his hand and lifted her face up wards.she smiled at him,tears still glistening on her lashes,but calmer for them.he smiled back and let go of her "you are exhausted,go and sleep now".Alexis nodded and rubbed her eyes.
"by the way"Icarus said as he strolled to the door"i believe one of them bested you rather spectacularly today"he smiled at her startled face"my dear Alexis,inspite of your low opinion of my powers of being a sufficiently,er,kingly king,i still manage to keep a certain amount of knowledge of what goes on in my kingdom,you know"
Alexis laughed"he was splendid,indeed!i have lost my chain to him,you know,thanks to your odious Cameron.he promised to come back and claim it.i shall be in a real fix if he does so!"
Icarus looked at her strangely for a moment and then smiled faintly"are you sure that is all that you have lost?"for a moment their eyes met and held and then Icarus gave a low laugh at the confusion he saw in hers,and left the room.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Chapter 4-The Festival
"Careful Andra"murmured Alexis as she gently steered Andra through the boisterous crowds at the fair.She and Andra were both veiled and while a part of Alexis reveled in the freedom that anonymity brought,another part of her was anxious and constantly on alert for any sign of danger to her friend.But she needn't have worried.no on was paying them the smallest bit of attention.The harvest had been good and the crowds were in a celebratory mood.the various stalls which had been put up to sell all manner of things were seeing brisk business.Beside her Andra was humming joyfully and Alexis could not help being glad that they had come after all.
Andra wished to buy some trinkets from the stalls so Alexis accompanied her.while Andra asked the price of a cloth of silk,the colour of buttercups,Alexis felt the unmistakable prickling at the back of her neck which warned her that she was under observation.Casually,as if merely bored she shifted her stance to place herself between Andra and the crowd and slowly let her gaze wander.
She saw him almost at once.Indeed,she later wondered if anyone in the fair could have remained unaware of him.he was standing under a tree,a tall figure,wearing a grey cloak,standing very still and watching her.his face was too far away for her to make out his features,but there was a kind of lazy confidence about his stance which unnerved Alexis,and made her wonder who he was.he was watching her intently and she returned his gaze,curiously.then he grinned and she felt the power of it jolt through her.very deliberately she broke eye contact and turned away.
"Alexis,what do you think?"Andra asked.Alexis turned around,distracted,and found her friend holding up the buttercup yellow silk and looking at her questioningly."its fine"replied Alexis curtly.Andra frowned"are you all right?"she asked and Alexis smiled at her"yes,of course".reassured,Andra turned to finish her purchase and Alexis glanced casually at the tree.there was no one there.
Andra had finished her purchase by now and asked Alexis if she wanted to go home"you don't look well dearest"she said hesitantly.
Alexis pulled herself together and pushed aside the ridiculous sense of disappointment.she took hold of herself and said mildly to Andra "No i want to to see the archery competition.Lets go!"
Together they wandered to the end of the great field,where the competitions were being held.There was archery,and sword fighting and wrestling,along with less serious games.mainly it was the common folk of Castalia who participated in these events,and they were more for fun than as demonstration of any serious skill and Alexis had merely expressed the desire to watch to avoid Andra's questioning.
There was a huge crowd building up and with shouts of merriment and much encouragement,the contestants were lining up.all at once,Alexis felt that prickle once again and sharply looked around.The stranger in grey was standing in the line with the rest of the archers,taller than the rest,and with the stance of a warrior.he was looking straight at her and Alexis felt a sudden rush of awareness,as confusing as it was exhilarating.then the stranger grinned slightly and cocked his head as if in challenge.without a thought in her head,Alexis walked up to the man handing out bows and arrows and held out her hand"Bow and arrow ,please"she commanded.
The elderly wizened man cackled at her"Whats a pretty young thing like you want with weapons then,eh?your beauty be your weapon missy,and if ye use it right,you wont need no others,mark my words!"Alexis waited for the laughter and catcalling to die down.she did not take her eyes off the old man and slowly his grin faded."The competition be for lads only"he grumbled.
"where is it written in the rules?"demanded Alexis and for a moment,the man looked nonplussed."but,but but twere always so.."he stuttered.
"What seems to be the problem here?"a voice drawled and with jolt,Alexis recognised Cameron's voice.Fighting an instinctive desire to turn away,she slowly turned to face him.Cameron's eyes locked into hers and a slow smile spread over his face as the old man babbled out his story.his gaze raked her head to foot and she stiffened in insult.
"i think,grandfather,that since the young lady wants to challenge our lads,we should appreciate her courage and let her do so.however since we are altering the rules for her,she must give a prize,should she lose"
"What prize?"asked someone from the crowd.
"Hmm"Cameron pretended to think,his face alight with laughter"since this is an important occasion,surely it should be a valued item"his gaze fastened on her neck and Alexis knew what was coming"how about the chain the lady is wearing?"
The crowd gave its roaring approval and Alexis cursed herself for being a fool.Cameron had certainly recognised her and now Icarus would know about today's little jaunt.The thought of his rage at having his sister insufficiently guarded which would be almost as great at his disgust at knowing that she had mingled with'commomers',dismayed Alexis.Damn Cameron!she saw him eyeing her chain amd smiled sweetly at him"you will not get your hands on it this time Cameron"she said"it pains me to say this,but a donkey is more skilled with a bow than you are!"
Cameron merely grinned at her,entirely unaffected by her insult.he had had his eye on the chain for a long time now.it was of simple gold,with a deep ruby,set in an intricate and unusual design.but it was not the beauty of the piece which had captured Cameron's interest.it was the legend surrounding it.it was said to belong to a great warrior queen,and to give its wearer invincibility in battle.Alexis had never set much store by its supposed powers but it was a gift to her from Juno and Alexis treasured the mark of her Queen's affection and regard.
"Scared Alexis?"he asked her softly"whats the matter ?do you think you will lose?famous Alexis with her famous skill?"
Alexis knew that Cameron was merely trying to rile her,to pay her back for cautioning Icarus against him repeatedly.he would like nothing better than to best Alexis and humiliate her publicly and she knew that she should walk away from his challenge now.only Cameron would know,and some day she could pay him back for this.but someday was just a myth and today and here and now were the only things real.Alexis looked at Cameron with a glint in her eye and took the bow and arrows from the old man.
"Bravo!"applauded Cameron softly as the crowd gave another cheer.
Alexis had almost forgotten the stranger in grey who had started this mess in the first place.he grinned at her and she stared at him coldly.cursing his impudence and her own impulsiveness,she turned to face her target.she was not much afraid of losing.not to Cameron ,whose skill was moderate at best and certainly not to any local labourer.only Icarus,on his really good days,had ever been able to beat Alexis.
The competition started.one by one the archers kept getting eliminated.it was quickly becoming apparent to the crowd that the only serious competition was between the veiled lady,the captain of arms,and a stranger in grey.the crowd which had started out by booing Alexis as she let arrow after arrow loose from her bow,ended up cheering her skill after a few rounds.
Finally only three archers were left.Cameron had been shooting angry looks to the stranger for the past some rounds and muttering.the stranger paid no attention to him.in the next round,Cameron's arrows were nowhere close to the bulls eye and with a very bad grace he stormed away after chucking his bow down and stomping on it.the crowd parted respectfully to let him pass.you did not laugh at the captain of the guards..at least not to his face,a fact Cameron was well aware of.
and now only Alexis and the stranger were left.by the whole crowd knew that neither of the contestants was a commoner and there was a expectant hush in the air.Blood humming in her head, Alexis shot six arrows,one after another into a bulls eyes six inches wide.the crowd gasped and the stranger smiled at her.then he did a strange thing.instead of turning towards his own target,he walked up to her and turned to face her target.six arrows flew out from his bow,with a kind of controlled grace,and mesmerised ,Alexis watched each of her arrows being split into two.
for a moment there was a stunned silence and then there was an instant uproar.the stranger turned to face her and she found herself drowning in eyes the colour of storm clouds."my win,i believe,my lady"he drawled,his face breaking into a lazy smile.Alexis could only stare at him as the crowd roared his approval around her.
And then from the corner of her eyes she saw a flash of movement.instinct as well as training made her whirl around to where Andra was.she was just in time to see Andra being plucked up bodily by two men who plunged into the crowd.Terror grasped her for an instant.then she ran ,straight towards her friend,but the crowd was already milling about,confused and Andra was lost..
"This way"someone shouted and she turned to find the stranger in grey with her.He jostled and shouldered his way through the crowd and suddenly she caught sight of her friend again.she was struggling,and Alexis felt rage fill her as she increased her speed.to her horror,she saw three other men with the two others and saw two of them turn and raise their bows.the stranger simply caught her and pushed her to the ground and covered her body with hers while arrows rained around them.Alexis shoved him furiously out of the way as they both staggered up.she turned around wildly and her heart sank as she saw Andra being thrown up on a horse and her captors riding away.she started to leap after them when the stranger caught her arm"no"he said firmly"we cant catch them,nor without horses.you need to calm down and think where that road leads"
Alexis stared at him and tried to think above the terror."the forests.they will head for the forests,because the only other way is straight to the castle.horse!i need to get to my horse!"
Even as she spoke,she heard the sounds of cantering and turned around to see two big powerful looking horses racing towards them.one was being ridden by a man quite as tall as the stranger.he threw the reins of the other horse towards the stranger who shouted"the forest,Damon".before she knew what was happening,Alexis found herself up on the horse with the stranger behind her.then the horsed were racing.Alexis gasped as she felt the wind roar in her ears and tear the veil away from her face.the ground sped away and almost within minutes they caught sight of the horses ahead.Damon shouted at the stranger"The bow,Justin?"
"No"the stranger shouted back,"the horses might panic!the lady is with them"
"Have to risk it!we have no idea where they may be going!they could lead us straight to an ambush!"shouted Damon and Alexis felt Justin hesitate.
"No,please"said Alexis"don't do anything to place her in danger.."
Justin was silent for a moment and then turned and shouted at Damon" I'll wait till you are near the horses and then shoot them down!"
"What,are you mad?!!"shouted Alexis and then suddenly found herself being bodily lifted and lowered to the ground.the horse slowed for a fraction of a second and she found herself being thrown unceremoniously on the ground.Storm grey eyes laughed into hers as he heard him say,"sorry,but you will be abominably in the way ,you know!"
And then she was left,standing in the middle of the road,gripped in rage and helplessness and a strong desire to kick something.she doggedly started to walk forwards when the sound of horses' hooves made her turn around.within minutes a familiar shape appeared on the horizon"Lady!"exclaimed Alexis with sheer delight,and Lady neighed as she cantered to a stop near Alexis.she mounted in an instant and Lady immediately broke into a gallop.she urged her horse on faster and soon saw Damon and Justin.
Damon had almost reached the captors and she saw Justin raise his bow.even as a scream tore from her,she saw two men brought down.their horses reared as both men were thrown off.of the other three,one drew out his sword,but before he could get it fully clear of its sheath,Damon had thrown a loop around his neck and dragged him from his horse.meanwhile the fourth horseman had let loose an arrow and in horror Alexis watched it strike Damon in the arm.Even at a distance she heard Justin's roar of rage and then both the horse and the rider were coming down,with half a dozen arrows stuck into them.
and now it was only Andra's captor who was speeding ahead.Damon was riding neck to neck with him now and she saw him shout something.then he had thrown another loop around the man's neck and was dragging at him.the man was for a moment flailing and then suddenly he was falling from the horse,and Andra was falling with him.Alexis urged Lady to go even faster,but even before she reached them,she saw Andra get up,supported by Damon and felt relief flood her.she cantered to a stop near them and jumped down form her horse.
in a second she was hugging Andra who was in tears"im sorry,im sorry"Alexis said"Andra ,this is all my fault!we should never have come.are you all right?have you been hurt?"Andra shook her head as she tried to smile through her tears.
A groan made them look around.Justin had just plucked the arrow out of his friends' arm and Alexis saw a gush of blood from the wound.Andra gasped and immediately went upto them."oh you are hurt!"she said in distress.she took out her reticule from her waist and drew out the silk she had purchased from the fair.as Alexis watched with round eyed fascination,Andra bound Damon's arm.she saw Damon's gaze fix on Andra's face like a man who is seeing a vision.Andra glanced up at him smiling and then she gazed into the deep green of his eyes and suddenly blushed.
"uh hum"Justin cleared his throat in amusement and both Andra and Damon looked away guiltily.Andra gathered herself and said in her soft voice"i will forever be in your debt.thank you"
"Yes,but who are you in debt to?"asked Alexis,a challenge in her voice."who are you?where are you from?i have never seen either of you around here"
Justin,who was looking at the dead man near them with a grim look on his face exchanged a glance with Damon
there was a moment of silence and then Justin shrugged"let us say,we are..friends.nameless friends,if you will,for the moment at least!"
"Why?"countered Alexis"have you escaped from the gallows somewhere?"
"Alexis!"exclaimed Andra
Justin broke into low laughter"Anything is possible,my lady,that's what gives life its charm"
"we need to get back"Damon spoke in a calm voice"we will drop you back to the castle and be on our way"
"Thank you"said Andra,forestalling any of Alexis' objections.
The ride back seemed very short.Andra rode with Alexis on Lady and justin and Damon formed a kind of guard in front and behind them.near the castle,Damon stopped and said to them,"we must leave you here.you will be safe now!"
"are you sure you wont come in and have that wound seen to?"asked Andra and Damon shook his head"my lady is very kind"he grinned,a lightening bolt of charm and humour"but we must not stay any longer.goodbye!"
Alexis looked at the stranger in blue and he grinned at her"i will come back to claim my prize"he promised,as both horses turned away,and the riders were soon lost in a cloud of dust.
Andra wished to buy some trinkets from the stalls so Alexis accompanied her.while Andra asked the price of a cloth of silk,the colour of buttercups,Alexis felt the unmistakable prickling at the back of her neck which warned her that she was under observation.Casually,as if merely bored she shifted her stance to place herself between Andra and the crowd and slowly let her gaze wander.
She saw him almost at once.Indeed,she later wondered if anyone in the fair could have remained unaware of him.he was standing under a tree,a tall figure,wearing a grey cloak,standing very still and watching her.his face was too far away for her to make out his features,but there was a kind of lazy confidence about his stance which unnerved Alexis,and made her wonder who he was.he was watching her intently and she returned his gaze,curiously.then he grinned and she felt the power of it jolt through her.very deliberately she broke eye contact and turned away.
"Alexis,what do you think?"Andra asked.Alexis turned around,distracted,and found her friend holding up the buttercup yellow silk and looking at her questioningly."its fine"replied Alexis curtly.Andra frowned"are you all right?"she asked and Alexis smiled at her"yes,of course".reassured,Andra turned to finish her purchase and Alexis glanced casually at the tree.there was no one there.
Andra had finished her purchase by now and asked Alexis if she wanted to go home"you don't look well dearest"she said hesitantly.
Alexis pulled herself together and pushed aside the ridiculous sense of disappointment.she took hold of herself and said mildly to Andra "No i want to to see the archery competition.Lets go!"
Together they wandered to the end of the great field,where the competitions were being held.There was archery,and sword fighting and wrestling,along with less serious games.mainly it was the common folk of Castalia who participated in these events,and they were more for fun than as demonstration of any serious skill and Alexis had merely expressed the desire to watch to avoid Andra's questioning.
There was a huge crowd building up and with shouts of merriment and much encouragement,the contestants were lining up.all at once,Alexis felt that prickle once again and sharply looked around.The stranger in grey was standing in the line with the rest of the archers,taller than the rest,and with the stance of a warrior.he was looking straight at her and Alexis felt a sudden rush of awareness,as confusing as it was exhilarating.then the stranger grinned slightly and cocked his head as if in challenge.without a thought in her head,Alexis walked up to the man handing out bows and arrows and held out her hand"Bow and arrow ,please"she commanded.
The elderly wizened man cackled at her"Whats a pretty young thing like you want with weapons then,eh?your beauty be your weapon missy,and if ye use it right,you wont need no others,mark my words!"Alexis waited for the laughter and catcalling to die down.she did not take her eyes off the old man and slowly his grin faded."The competition be for lads only"he grumbled.
"where is it written in the rules?"demanded Alexis and for a moment,the man looked nonplussed."but,but but twere always so.."he stuttered.
"What seems to be the problem here?"a voice drawled and with jolt,Alexis recognised Cameron's voice.Fighting an instinctive desire to turn away,she slowly turned to face him.Cameron's eyes locked into hers and a slow smile spread over his face as the old man babbled out his story.his gaze raked her head to foot and she stiffened in insult.
"i think,grandfather,that since the young lady wants to challenge our lads,we should appreciate her courage and let her do so.however since we are altering the rules for her,she must give a prize,should she lose"
"What prize?"asked someone from the crowd.
"Hmm"Cameron pretended to think,his face alight with laughter"since this is an important occasion,surely it should be a valued item"his gaze fastened on her neck and Alexis knew what was coming"how about the chain the lady is wearing?"
The crowd gave its roaring approval and Alexis cursed herself for being a fool.Cameron had certainly recognised her and now Icarus would know about today's little jaunt.The thought of his rage at having his sister insufficiently guarded which would be almost as great at his disgust at knowing that she had mingled with'commomers',dismayed Alexis.Damn Cameron!she saw him eyeing her chain amd smiled sweetly at him"you will not get your hands on it this time Cameron"she said"it pains me to say this,but a donkey is more skilled with a bow than you are!"
Cameron merely grinned at her,entirely unaffected by her insult.he had had his eye on the chain for a long time now.it was of simple gold,with a deep ruby,set in an intricate and unusual design.but it was not the beauty of the piece which had captured Cameron's interest.it was the legend surrounding it.it was said to belong to a great warrior queen,and to give its wearer invincibility in battle.Alexis had never set much store by its supposed powers but it was a gift to her from Juno and Alexis treasured the mark of her Queen's affection and regard.
"Scared Alexis?"he asked her softly"whats the matter ?do you think you will lose?famous Alexis with her famous skill?"
Alexis knew that Cameron was merely trying to rile her,to pay her back for cautioning Icarus against him repeatedly.he would like nothing better than to best Alexis and humiliate her publicly and she knew that she should walk away from his challenge now.only Cameron would know,and some day she could pay him back for this.but someday was just a myth and today and here and now were the only things real.Alexis looked at Cameron with a glint in her eye and took the bow and arrows from the old man.
"Bravo!"applauded Cameron softly as the crowd gave another cheer.
Alexis had almost forgotten the stranger in grey who had started this mess in the first place.he grinned at her and she stared at him coldly.cursing his impudence and her own impulsiveness,she turned to face her target.she was not much afraid of losing.not to Cameron ,whose skill was moderate at best and certainly not to any local labourer.only Icarus,on his really good days,had ever been able to beat Alexis.
The competition started.one by one the archers kept getting eliminated.it was quickly becoming apparent to the crowd that the only serious competition was between the veiled lady,the captain of arms,and a stranger in grey.the crowd which had started out by booing Alexis as she let arrow after arrow loose from her bow,ended up cheering her skill after a few rounds.
Finally only three archers were left.Cameron had been shooting angry looks to the stranger for the past some rounds and muttering.the stranger paid no attention to him.in the next round,Cameron's arrows were nowhere close to the bulls eye and with a very bad grace he stormed away after chucking his bow down and stomping on it.the crowd parted respectfully to let him pass.you did not laugh at the captain of the guards..at least not to his face,a fact Cameron was well aware of.
and now only Alexis and the stranger were left.by the whole crowd knew that neither of the contestants was a commoner and there was a expectant hush in the air.Blood humming in her head, Alexis shot six arrows,one after another into a bulls eyes six inches wide.the crowd gasped and the stranger smiled at her.then he did a strange thing.instead of turning towards his own target,he walked up to her and turned to face her target.six arrows flew out from his bow,with a kind of controlled grace,and mesmerised ,Alexis watched each of her arrows being split into two.
for a moment there was a stunned silence and then there was an instant uproar.the stranger turned to face her and she found herself drowning in eyes the colour of storm clouds."my win,i believe,my lady"he drawled,his face breaking into a lazy smile.Alexis could only stare at him as the crowd roared his approval around her.
And then from the corner of her eyes she saw a flash of movement.instinct as well as training made her whirl around to where Andra was.she was just in time to see Andra being plucked up bodily by two men who plunged into the crowd.Terror grasped her for an instant.then she ran ,straight towards her friend,but the crowd was already milling about,confused and Andra was lost..
"This way"someone shouted and she turned to find the stranger in grey with her.He jostled and shouldered his way through the crowd and suddenly she caught sight of her friend again.she was struggling,and Alexis felt rage fill her as she increased her speed.to her horror,she saw three other men with the two others and saw two of them turn and raise their bows.the stranger simply caught her and pushed her to the ground and covered her body with hers while arrows rained around them.Alexis shoved him furiously out of the way as they both staggered up.she turned around wildly and her heart sank as she saw Andra being thrown up on a horse and her captors riding away.she started to leap after them when the stranger caught her arm"no"he said firmly"we cant catch them,nor without horses.you need to calm down and think where that road leads"
Alexis stared at him and tried to think above the terror."the forests.they will head for the forests,because the only other way is straight to the castle.horse!i need to get to my horse!"
Even as she spoke,she heard the sounds of cantering and turned around to see two big powerful looking horses racing towards them.one was being ridden by a man quite as tall as the stranger.he threw the reins of the other horse towards the stranger who shouted"the forest,Damon".before she knew what was happening,Alexis found herself up on the horse with the stranger behind her.then the horsed were racing.Alexis gasped as she felt the wind roar in her ears and tear the veil away from her face.the ground sped away and almost within minutes they caught sight of the horses ahead.Damon shouted at the stranger"The bow,Justin?"
"No"the stranger shouted back,"the horses might panic!the lady is with them"
"Have to risk it!we have no idea where they may be going!they could lead us straight to an ambush!"shouted Damon and Alexis felt Justin hesitate.
"No,please"said Alexis"don't do anything to place her in danger.."
Justin was silent for a moment and then turned and shouted at Damon" I'll wait till you are near the horses and then shoot them down!"
"What,are you mad?!!"shouted Alexis and then suddenly found herself being bodily lifted and lowered to the ground.the horse slowed for a fraction of a second and she found herself being thrown unceremoniously on the ground.Storm grey eyes laughed into hers as he heard him say,"sorry,but you will be abominably in the way ,you know!"
And then she was left,standing in the middle of the road,gripped in rage and helplessness and a strong desire to kick something.she doggedly started to walk forwards when the sound of horses' hooves made her turn around.within minutes a familiar shape appeared on the horizon"Lady!"exclaimed Alexis with sheer delight,and Lady neighed as she cantered to a stop near Alexis.she mounted in an instant and Lady immediately broke into a gallop.she urged her horse on faster and soon saw Damon and Justin.
Damon had almost reached the captors and she saw Justin raise his bow.even as a scream tore from her,she saw two men brought down.their horses reared as both men were thrown off.of the other three,one drew out his sword,but before he could get it fully clear of its sheath,Damon had thrown a loop around his neck and dragged him from his horse.meanwhile the fourth horseman had let loose an arrow and in horror Alexis watched it strike Damon in the arm.Even at a distance she heard Justin's roar of rage and then both the horse and the rider were coming down,with half a dozen arrows stuck into them.
and now it was only Andra's captor who was speeding ahead.Damon was riding neck to neck with him now and she saw him shout something.then he had thrown another loop around the man's neck and was dragging at him.the man was for a moment flailing and then suddenly he was falling from the horse,and Andra was falling with him.Alexis urged Lady to go even faster,but even before she reached them,she saw Andra get up,supported by Damon and felt relief flood her.she cantered to a stop near them and jumped down form her horse.
in a second she was hugging Andra who was in tears"im sorry,im sorry"Alexis said"Andra ,this is all my fault!we should never have come.are you all right?have you been hurt?"Andra shook her head as she tried to smile through her tears.
A groan made them look around.Justin had just plucked the arrow out of his friends' arm and Alexis saw a gush of blood from the wound.Andra gasped and immediately went upto them."oh you are hurt!"she said in distress.she took out her reticule from her waist and drew out the silk she had purchased from the fair.as Alexis watched with round eyed fascination,Andra bound Damon's arm.she saw Damon's gaze fix on Andra's face like a man who is seeing a vision.Andra glanced up at him smiling and then she gazed into the deep green of his eyes and suddenly blushed.
"uh hum"Justin cleared his throat in amusement and both Andra and Damon looked away guiltily.Andra gathered herself and said in her soft voice"i will forever be in your debt.thank you"
"Yes,but who are you in debt to?"asked Alexis,a challenge in her voice."who are you?where are you from?i have never seen either of you around here"
Justin,who was looking at the dead man near them with a grim look on his face exchanged a glance with Damon
there was a moment of silence and then Justin shrugged"let us say,we are..friends.nameless friends,if you will,for the moment at least!"
"Why?"countered Alexis"have you escaped from the gallows somewhere?"
"Alexis!"exclaimed Andra
Justin broke into low laughter"Anything is possible,my lady,that's what gives life its charm"
"we need to get back"Damon spoke in a calm voice"we will drop you back to the castle and be on our way"
"Thank you"said Andra,forestalling any of Alexis' objections.
The ride back seemed very short.Andra rode with Alexis on Lady and justin and Damon formed a kind of guard in front and behind them.near the castle,Damon stopped and said to them,"we must leave you here.you will be safe now!"
"are you sure you wont come in and have that wound seen to?"asked Andra and Damon shook his head"my lady is very kind"he grinned,a lightening bolt of charm and humour"but we must not stay any longer.goodbye!"
Alexis looked at the stranger in blue and he grinned at her"i will come back to claim my prize"he promised,as both horses turned away,and the riders were soon lost in a cloud of dust.
Chapter 3-The Legend of the Dagger
Alexis walked down to breakfast a week later to find Lady Zelda holding forth a monologue on how young ladies used to behave in her time,in sharp contradiction to the ones today.Alexis raised an eyebrow at Andra who merely gave her a wan smile before muttering "Yes,Aunt Zelda".
"Good Morning,Lady Zelda"said Alexis formally as she sat down.Lady Zelda merely nodded at her coldly and pointedly turned to her niece again"as i was saying my dear.."
Alexis helped herself to her meal in unconcerned silence.Zelda Castaleno's rudeness and disdain had never really bothered her much,since she considered the woman brainless and decorative,without a single original thought to her head.the fact that she thoroughly disapproved of Alexis joining Andra for meals because she was a mere servant was just one more slight she had heaped on Alexis all her life.however Andra,in general biddable,had put her foot down firmly ,when ,after the Queen"s death,Zelda had tried to relegate Alexis to the kitchens.But to Alexis' mild surprise,Andra had refused to consider the idea,even in the face of hysterics,temper,disdain and outright blackmail.
Alexis,becoming tired of all the drama,had indeed suggested that for the sake of peace she should retire to the kitchens,when Icarus,getting wind of the matter,had in his peremptory way decreed that Alexis should continue to hold her place at the table.Zelda was too much used to bowing to the wishes of the head of the house,whoever it was at the moment, all her life to consider raising any further objections.but it was Andra who helped her put a decent face on it by saying in her soft voice,"Dear Aunt Zelda,you know that Mother would have wished it.she loved and trusted Alexis so".That had settled the matter,because Zelda had held Juno in very sincere affection.
So now there was uneasy peace between them,Zelda confining herself to snide remarks which Alexis was able to easily ignore.Zelda was droning on .a stray word caught Alexis' attention."who is getting married?"she asked and was stared at balefully by Zelda.Andra explained wearily"aunt thinks i should be getting married now"
"It is time",pronounced Zelda majestically"if your dear mother had been alive she would have taken care of the matter by now.as your aunt who is in loco parentis to you in a way,i consider it my duty to begin to seriously finalise a groom for you.now,the prince of Agaeator is quite good looking..."
"The prince of Agaeator..you mean Peleus?but he is a reptile"Alexis exclaimed involuntarily.
"Indeed?an pray what may you be meaning by that?"asked Zelda in chilly accents
"I should have said a pig"said Alexis thoughtfully"not only in the way he eats,but also a certain piggish look near the eyes.but most importantly"she continued as Andra giggled"He has the courage of a wet hen and the honour of a rat"
Zelda swelled up majestically"He is the Desecdant of Anatolians.They have ruled Agaeator for nine hundred years!Do you know what that means?"
"Too much inbreeding?"asked Alexis with a kind of bright interest and Zelda went crimson
"What would you know about breeding,you dirt!"she hissed"your parents were common farm labourers!if it hadn't been for my poor dear sister you would not have been sitting here,at the table with a princess,giving yourself airs,talking like that about your betters!you would have been raised in some hovel and would have been a maid at some inn... or worse!"
Andra got up hastily and said "we have a lot of work today,so we will just leave.Come Alexis,please"
The please was said very pleadingly indeed,so Alexis who had been about to retaliate,bit back angry words and allowed herself to be led away.after a short silence in which Andra looked ready to burst into tears,Alexis asked thoughtfully"Do you think i should have asked her to elaborate on the worse?"
Andra broke into laughter and hugged Alexis"thank god you didnt!".
"it was probably for the beat,although she is quite fascinating when she gets going you know.what brought on the attack?"
"You mean the marriage thing?"Andra asked despondently"well i said i wanted to go to the festival today and that set her off.from being a bad daughter who wouldn't even mourn her mother for a full year,to being fast,and being headstrong for not marrying some twit in a imperial,i ran the entire gamut"
"I thought you dint want to go this year"Alexis said hesitantly
Andra turned away from her in impatience.they had reached the castle gardens by then and were walking down a path lined with tall trees an either side."Im tired of everything"she said with a petulance unusual in her"Tired of all these restrictions,tired of being born in a family which binds me down from doing normal things,tired of always always having to do the right things,tired of convention,tired,tired,tired!"
Alexis was silent for a moment"what normal things?"she asked hesitantly at last
"Dancing around the fire at night"responded Andra immediately"and swimming in the river alone,and being able to curse when someone makes me angry,and walking to the market place without the guards,and kicking the ..the backside of that idiot Peleus when he looks at me...and oh Alexis,all manner of things!"
"Oh kay"said Alexis"well you have evidently given this some thought.lets make a list of all the things you want to do and then do them one at a time.we need to teach you some proper swear words though.for example,instead of back side you should say.."
"Oh hush"said Andra laughing as Alexis grinned at her.then she sighed"i know its all impossible.No Alexis"she said as Alexis started to protest"oh maybe we can do all those things once,and it would be like a great adventure but it will never be a part of normal life for me"
Alexis was quiet for a moment and then said "maybe not.but maybe if you do those things only once in a while then it can always be like an adventure,they will never be mundane things for you.that is an idea to consider...anyway,we are definitely going to the festival today!"
"Cant Alexis"sighed Andra"Aunt Zelda is right,people will talk.And with Icarus already causing so much disapproval..."
"So we will go incognito"said Alexis with her eyes sparkling"it will be so much fun Andra.we can wear veils and no one will recognise us.and it will show how much fun being jostled about in a common crowd really is!"
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There was a famous legend regarding the kingdom of Castalia.A thousand years ago,when Castalia was merely a vast wasteland,made up of deserts and barren mountains,the Goddess Diane fell in love with a mortal.She tried to woo him with her wiles and beauty,but he was happily married and he spurned her love.Enraged and insulted by this slight,she killed the mortal's wife and separated his spirit from his body.Then she left his body chained to the highest mountain peak of Castalia and his spirit to roam about the desolate deserts.The only way the chains could be broken to free the body and reunite the spirit with it would be to sever the chains with Diane's own dagger.The dagger was a gift to her from Zeus,and was said to be imbibed with the essence of his thunderbolts.
For several years the spirit of the mortal roamed the wasteland,lost and angry.And then one day came a young man.He was the son of the mortal man and had come to free his father from the curse.He dug an enormous hole and filled it with wood.Then he spread a sheet of iron over the hole and covered it with the fine desert sand.he lit a fire underneath and stoked it until it was red hot.For seven days and six nights he kept the fire going and on the seventh night,when Diane was sailing across the skies she caught site of the red glow and sailed closer in curiousity.And as soon as she was right above the glow,the young man doused the fire.The sand cooled and became glass and Diane's reflection was trapped inside.The Goddess was very angry and raged and cursed him but to no avail.she could not break free of the glass.Then she begged and pleaded with the young man to set her free,offering all kinds of immortal delights.But he held firm and demanded his father freedom.So in the end,Diane had to give up her precious dagger and the young man rescued his father's body and reunited it with his spirit.
Then Diane owned herself to be defeated,and offered to make the wasteland a land of rich,fertile beauty and to make them its Kings.In addition she said"The Dagger now belongs to your family.As long as it is handed down father to son,generation after generation,nothing and no one can defeat Castalia.The dagger cannot be used against your family but will be deadly against all your enemies.However,if it is ever stolen,or is lost,then its protection will be withdrawn,and Castalia will be vulnerable once more"
The mortal man's name was Andreas Castaleno and he was the first King of Castalia.
To celebrate the harvest and the Legend,every year a festival was held in Castalia which lasted seven days and seven nights.It was to this festival that Alexis and Andra were going.
"Good Morning,Lady Zelda"said Alexis formally as she sat down.Lady Zelda merely nodded at her coldly and pointedly turned to her niece again"as i was saying my dear.."
Alexis helped herself to her meal in unconcerned silence.Zelda Castaleno's rudeness and disdain had never really bothered her much,since she considered the woman brainless and decorative,without a single original thought to her head.the fact that she thoroughly disapproved of Alexis joining Andra for meals because she was a mere servant was just one more slight she had heaped on Alexis all her life.however Andra,in general biddable,had put her foot down firmly ,when ,after the Queen"s death,Zelda had tried to relegate Alexis to the kitchens.But to Alexis' mild surprise,Andra had refused to consider the idea,even in the face of hysterics,temper,disdain and outright blackmail.
Alexis,becoming tired of all the drama,had indeed suggested that for the sake of peace she should retire to the kitchens,when Icarus,getting wind of the matter,had in his peremptory way decreed that Alexis should continue to hold her place at the table.Zelda was too much used to bowing to the wishes of the head of the house,whoever it was at the moment, all her life to consider raising any further objections.but it was Andra who helped her put a decent face on it by saying in her soft voice,"Dear Aunt Zelda,you know that Mother would have wished it.she loved and trusted Alexis so".That had settled the matter,because Zelda had held Juno in very sincere affection.
So now there was uneasy peace between them,Zelda confining herself to snide remarks which Alexis was able to easily ignore.Zelda was droning on .a stray word caught Alexis' attention."who is getting married?"she asked and was stared at balefully by Zelda.Andra explained wearily"aunt thinks i should be getting married now"
"It is time",pronounced Zelda majestically"if your dear mother had been alive she would have taken care of the matter by now.as your aunt who is in loco parentis to you in a way,i consider it my duty to begin to seriously finalise a groom for you.now,the prince of Agaeator is quite good looking..."
"The prince of Agaeator..you mean Peleus?but he is a reptile"Alexis exclaimed involuntarily.
"Indeed?an pray what may you be meaning by that?"asked Zelda in chilly accents
"I should have said a pig"said Alexis thoughtfully"not only in the way he eats,but also a certain piggish look near the eyes.but most importantly"she continued as Andra giggled"He has the courage of a wet hen and the honour of a rat"
Zelda swelled up majestically"He is the Desecdant of Anatolians.They have ruled Agaeator for nine hundred years!Do you know what that means?"
"Too much inbreeding?"asked Alexis with a kind of bright interest and Zelda went crimson
"What would you know about breeding,you dirt!"she hissed"your parents were common farm labourers!if it hadn't been for my poor dear sister you would not have been sitting here,at the table with a princess,giving yourself airs,talking like that about your betters!you would have been raised in some hovel and would have been a maid at some inn... or worse!"
Andra got up hastily and said "we have a lot of work today,so we will just leave.Come Alexis,please"
The please was said very pleadingly indeed,so Alexis who had been about to retaliate,bit back angry words and allowed herself to be led away.after a short silence in which Andra looked ready to burst into tears,Alexis asked thoughtfully"Do you think i should have asked her to elaborate on the worse?"
Andra broke into laughter and hugged Alexis"thank god you didnt!".
"it was probably for the beat,although she is quite fascinating when she gets going you know.what brought on the attack?"
"You mean the marriage thing?"Andra asked despondently"well i said i wanted to go to the festival today and that set her off.from being a bad daughter who wouldn't even mourn her mother for a full year,to being fast,and being headstrong for not marrying some twit in a imperial,i ran the entire gamut"
"I thought you dint want to go this year"Alexis said hesitantly
Andra turned away from her in impatience.they had reached the castle gardens by then and were walking down a path lined with tall trees an either side."Im tired of everything"she said with a petulance unusual in her"Tired of all these restrictions,tired of being born in a family which binds me down from doing normal things,tired of always always having to do the right things,tired of convention,tired,tired,tired!"
Alexis was silent for a moment"what normal things?"she asked hesitantly at last
"Dancing around the fire at night"responded Andra immediately"and swimming in the river alone,and being able to curse when someone makes me angry,and walking to the market place without the guards,and kicking the ..the backside of that idiot Peleus when he looks at me...and oh Alexis,all manner of things!"
"Oh kay"said Alexis"well you have evidently given this some thought.lets make a list of all the things you want to do and then do them one at a time.we need to teach you some proper swear words though.for example,instead of back side you should say.."
"Oh hush"said Andra laughing as Alexis grinned at her.then she sighed"i know its all impossible.No Alexis"she said as Alexis started to protest"oh maybe we can do all those things once,and it would be like a great adventure but it will never be a part of normal life for me"
Alexis was quiet for a moment and then said "maybe not.but maybe if you do those things only once in a while then it can always be like an adventure,they will never be mundane things for you.that is an idea to consider...anyway,we are definitely going to the festival today!"
"Cant Alexis"sighed Andra"Aunt Zelda is right,people will talk.And with Icarus already causing so much disapproval..."
"So we will go incognito"said Alexis with her eyes sparkling"it will be so much fun Andra.we can wear veils and no one will recognise us.and it will show how much fun being jostled about in a common crowd really is!"
*************************************************************************************
There was a famous legend regarding the kingdom of Castalia.A thousand years ago,when Castalia was merely a vast wasteland,made up of deserts and barren mountains,the Goddess Diane fell in love with a mortal.She tried to woo him with her wiles and beauty,but he was happily married and he spurned her love.Enraged and insulted by this slight,she killed the mortal's wife and separated his spirit from his body.Then she left his body chained to the highest mountain peak of Castalia and his spirit to roam about the desolate deserts.The only way the chains could be broken to free the body and reunite the spirit with it would be to sever the chains with Diane's own dagger.The dagger was a gift to her from Zeus,and was said to be imbibed with the essence of his thunderbolts.
For several years the spirit of the mortal roamed the wasteland,lost and angry.And then one day came a young man.He was the son of the mortal man and had come to free his father from the curse.He dug an enormous hole and filled it with wood.Then he spread a sheet of iron over the hole and covered it with the fine desert sand.he lit a fire underneath and stoked it until it was red hot.For seven days and six nights he kept the fire going and on the seventh night,when Diane was sailing across the skies she caught site of the red glow and sailed closer in curiousity.And as soon as she was right above the glow,the young man doused the fire.The sand cooled and became glass and Diane's reflection was trapped inside.The Goddess was very angry and raged and cursed him but to no avail.she could not break free of the glass.Then she begged and pleaded with the young man to set her free,offering all kinds of immortal delights.But he held firm and demanded his father freedom.So in the end,Diane had to give up her precious dagger and the young man rescued his father's body and reunited it with his spirit.
Then Diane owned herself to be defeated,and offered to make the wasteland a land of rich,fertile beauty and to make them its Kings.In addition she said"The Dagger now belongs to your family.As long as it is handed down father to son,generation after generation,nothing and no one can defeat Castalia.The dagger cannot be used against your family but will be deadly against all your enemies.However,if it is ever stolen,or is lost,then its protection will be withdrawn,and Castalia will be vulnerable once more"
The mortal man's name was Andreas Castaleno and he was the first King of Castalia.
To celebrate the harvest and the Legend,every year a festival was held in Castalia which lasted seven days and seven nights.It was to this festival that Alexis and Andra were going.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
chapter 2-Leia
Alexis walked down the green grassy slopes towards the white stone temple.it was a fine day,with clouds lining the horizon and a hint of thunder in the air.the air was oppressive and far away,the lines of the temple blurred in the heat haze.it was late afternoon and Alexis was going to meet Leia,the high priestess of Castalia and her childhood friend.as children she Andra and Leia,and for a while Icarus,had run wild in the forests and meadows of Castalia.she smiled a little,remembering the pranks she and Icarus had instigated between them,and how timid little Andra had joined in,frightened and pleading them to come home,but refusing to leave without them,and how Leia had joined in calmly,smiling happily,without question,her serene little face glowing even then with a kind of inner peace.
Alexis was smiling to herself,lost in the golden days of long ago,when life was so simple and every night she had gone to sleep with the sound of her parents talking and laughing in the next room.she had not known then that that safe and secure world would vanish one day like a bubble burst by a careless god.
Leia watched her coming from the gardens surrounding the temple.she had known when she woken up in the morning that one of her friends would be visiting her.not one of her famous visions,it had merely been a feeling of warm contentment which had made her look forward to the rest of the day with a sense of anticipation.
"Leia,you are working again in this heat,do you want to be laid up with the touch of the sun again?"demanded Alexis as she let herself in the garden gates
"i like working in the garden"said Leia simply as she stood up,her arms full of flowers,the hem of her azure robe stained with mud and grass.Leia was beautiful.there had never been any other word to describe her.her eyes were deeply blue,her mouth a perfect bow.her silky black hair brushed against sharp cheekbones the colour of peaches and she walked like an angel floating through clouds.
"By Zeus,Leia,sometimes i hate you"Alexis said with feeling as she took in the perfection that was her friend.one got almost used to Leia's beauty,and then one day suddenly it would dazzle her,like the sun suddenly breaking out of the clouds.
"i wish i looked half as good as you!do you ever sweat?"she enquired as Leia laughed and shook her head"Alexis,have you any idea how beautiful you are"she asked as she took her friend inside the cool sanctuary of the temple.
"Ha yes,so you always say"grumbled Alexis.Leia sighed and shook her head,knowing full well that Alexis was and had always been completely un aware of her attraction.she looked at her friend as Alexis paced the room,clearly restless and worried.she saw the masses of riotously curly black hair tumbling around a face dominated by a pair of large golden eyes,which could never hide any emotion.her mobile face was filled with a kind of charm which made it difficult to look away from her when she was animated,a gift that would outlast mere beauty.she radiated purpose and light and a kind of innate goodness which drew people to her like moths to a flame.Alexis,Leia decided,made people want to be more.
"what is worrying you,Alexis?"she asked finally.
"Everything!"Alexis said as she sank down on the elegant couch.she
looked accusingly at Leia." And don't pretend you don't know what i am
talking about!"
"it is true that things are..somewhat difficult at present"Leia said
slowly
"Difficult!"Alexis exclaimed"that's an understatement if there ever was
one.Leia,we are on the verge of a disaster.people are restless,and
..and Icarus has not found his feet yet..sometimes I'm not sure if he
even wants to..the
court is taking his defections mildly,too mildly if you ask me..the
people are losing faith in the governance,and no wonder!Queen mother
used to know everything that was going on in the kingdom and
Icarus..Icarus only knows the way to the whore houses!"
"That's not true and you know it"said Leia with her usual
calmness"Icarus will be a very able king..when he chooses to"
"chooses to!Leia,he doesn't have a choice!he has been born to it"
"i know"Leia said softly"poor Icarus..he hates not having choices"
"That is no excuse to let an entire kingdom go to rack and ruin!for
god's sake what kind of man abandons his own kingdom?!!"
"Sometimes i think"said Leia tentatively after a brief silence during
which Alexis visibly tried to control herself"that this world has
proved to be both too much and too little for Icarus.do you remember
how idealistic he used to be when we were all young?he lived in worlds
not quite real,and he believed in them Alexis,as passionately as he did
in tomorrow then"she looked across at her friend"you remember how he
used to say,always at the end of the day'there is always tomorrow!'.i
think somewhere along the way the real world failed him so badly that
he began to be scared of his tomorrows"
"i remember"Alexis said in a low voice"we all believed in dreams
then,Leia,we all woke up!it happens ,life happens.you grow up and
realise that the world is not a perfect place,that you are not a perfect person
but maybe ,just maybe,you can make the effort to make it so!you
fight!you don't get scared of tomorrow's!you fight,so that maybe tomorrow
can be better than today,you fight so that maybe some other child does
not have his illusions shattered by the world!"
Leia looked at her friend,saw the certainty and strenght radiating
from her and sighed"its not always so simple for everyone as it is for
you Alexis.you are lucky"
"Am i?"Alexis turned to walk upto the windows.there was a short
silence,then she said more calmly"thank gods at least the rains have
been sufficient this year..another bad harvest and im not sure what we
would have to face.what do you think about young Nestor?"
"Nestor..the son of Vulcan the wise"said Leia"he seems very polished"
"Hah yes!"Alexis said bitterly"slick as slime,and just about as
reliable.if that man turns out to be a informer,i wont be in the least
surprised!"
"An informer"Leia looked startled"for who?the Anoians?"
"Maybe"Alexis wandered around the room,restlessly"Cameron and his men
caught some Anoians sneaking into the forests miles inside the
border.they claimed that had been lost,and maybe they had..but..i dont
like it Leia.the other day,i was in the market place and i heard a
rumors of very rigorous training that the Anoian soldiers are
undergoing.i asked Cameron and he hummed and hawed but finally agreed
that he had heard the same,but reassured me that it meant nothing! that
Jupiter Alpetras was just trying to tighten up the regime,that it meant
nothing significant!"
"I have never met either Jupiter or Anteros Alpetras"said Leia"but i
remember meeting their father at the Ritual of the Banding .Demetrius
Alpetras was a very striking man.and a very wise one.i have often
wondered why we were not friendly with Anoia.it seems strange when you
think of it.we are neighbouring Kingdoms and we have always lived
amicably.and yet they dont visit on important occasions and we are
never invited to visit either.we dont even know the reigning king."
"They sent condolences at Queen mother's death and we did the same"said
Alexis"but you are right,there has never been any personal contact
between monarchs.we go for years without hearing of them and now
suddenly there is mention of them everywhere!it makes me
uneasy,Leia.they say Jupiter Alpetras is more ruthless and devious than
Demetrius,and ten times more ambitious!and Icarus will not wake up!"
Leia was silent for a few minutes.it was evident that her friend was
seriously worried but Leia was not still very certain that there was
any real cause for worry.Alexis sometimes let her imagination take
unjustified leaps to nightmare scenarios.
"you haven't had any visions or anything have you,Leia?"Alexis asked
hopefully,turning once more to her.
Leia laughed and shook her head no."you know it does not work that way"
Alexis sighed and prepared to leave"i know.take care of yourself"
"you too dearest"said Leia gently"by way,how is Andra?"
"Worrying herself sick over Icarus"Alexis said bluntly"you had better
go and see her sometime"
"Tell her i will come soon"promised Leia and watched as the slight
figure walked away.
Alexis had just reached the top of the knoll from which the meadow
dipped down when she heard the sound of a horses hoofs.she turned,her
hand at her dagger,when she recognised the big grey horse,cantering
idly towards her.Icarus drew the reins when he reached her and the big
grey whinnied.
"Hello,Blue"she softly stroked the horse and then looked up at its
rider"Icarus"
"Alexis"said Icarus"where is your horse?"
"Lady is in her stables,resting.she sprained a hock yesterday,if it is
any of your business"
"And so you decided that its perfectly acceptable to walk miles in this
weather to see Leia"asked Icarus in the tone of intelligent interest he
used to conceal biting anger
"as a matter of fact,i did"Alexis replied coolly"now if you will excuse
me,i have all those miles to walk back"
"i don't think so"said Icarus and in one smooth move he got off Blue and
stood in front of her.Alexis looked up into those dark eyes and stood
as though rooted.His smell,that of forests assaulted her senses and for
one moment she was transported back to that time so long ago,when he
had claimed to love her,when she had allowed herself to believe in
dreams because she had believed in him,unquestioningly.
"get out of my way"Alexis said calmly
"or else?"Icarus lifted his eyebrows mockingly
As an answer Alexis placed her hand on her dagger very
suggestively.Icarus broke into laughter"Alexis you wouldn't!"
"i would"Alexis affirmed and shoved him out of her way angrily,feeling
perilously close to tears.
"Lexi"Icarus said softly and turned her gently towards him.Alexis
froze,so long had it been since anyone had used that childhood
endearment and searched his face.she saw tenderness and amusement and
love and felt her resistance melt."Damn you to hell Icarus"she said but
her anger was gone and he was her childhood friend again"one day you
will fly too close to the sun!"
He chuckled at the warning which was as old as their friendship and
helped her mount Blue.He threw himself behind her and at a light touch
of the reins blue was speeding away towards the horizon.
"where are we going?"asked Alexis"the castle is back there"
"You will see!"
And within a few moments she did see.her face broke into a smile as she
recognised the path to the ridge which overlooked the valley through
which ran the river Ames,springing from the mountains which surrounded
three quarters of Castalia.they used to come here often,especially to
watch the sunset.Blue slowed down to a trot and then stopped close to
the ridge and began to graze.Alexis sat,wrapped in Icarus' arms and
watched the sun go down in a blazing riot of colour and glory.The peace
of the moment enveloped them and they sat together,silent,friends for
too long to need words to communicate.Suddenly in the last moments of
the setting sun,Icarus leaned forward and asked Alexis urgently"Are you
happy Lexi,right now,right at this moment,are you happy?"
and almost in a trance she answered with the truth"yes.."
There was a broken sigh from behind her as Icarus whispered with wonder in his voice"So am i.."
Alexis was smiling to herself,lost in the golden days of long ago,when life was so simple and every night she had gone to sleep with the sound of her parents talking and laughing in the next room.she had not known then that that safe and secure world would vanish one day like a bubble burst by a careless god.
Leia watched her coming from the gardens surrounding the temple.she had known when she woken up in the morning that one of her friends would be visiting her.not one of her famous visions,it had merely been a feeling of warm contentment which had made her look forward to the rest of the day with a sense of anticipation.
"Leia,you are working again in this heat,do you want to be laid up with the touch of the sun again?"demanded Alexis as she let herself in the garden gates
"i like working in the garden"said Leia simply as she stood up,her arms full of flowers,the hem of her azure robe stained with mud and grass.Leia was beautiful.there had never been any other word to describe her.her eyes were deeply blue,her mouth a perfect bow.her silky black hair brushed against sharp cheekbones the colour of peaches and she walked like an angel floating through clouds.
"By Zeus,Leia,sometimes i hate you"Alexis said with feeling as she took in the perfection that was her friend.one got almost used to Leia's beauty,and then one day suddenly it would dazzle her,like the sun suddenly breaking out of the clouds.
"i wish i looked half as good as you!do you ever sweat?"she enquired as Leia laughed and shook her head"Alexis,have you any idea how beautiful you are"she asked as she took her friend inside the cool sanctuary of the temple.
"Ha yes,so you always say"grumbled Alexis.Leia sighed and shook her head,knowing full well that Alexis was and had always been completely un aware of her attraction.she looked at her friend as Alexis paced the room,clearly restless and worried.she saw the masses of riotously curly black hair tumbling around a face dominated by a pair of large golden eyes,which could never hide any emotion.her mobile face was filled with a kind of charm which made it difficult to look away from her when she was animated,a gift that would outlast mere beauty.she radiated purpose and light and a kind of innate goodness which drew people to her like moths to a flame.Alexis,Leia decided,made people want to be more.
"what is worrying you,Alexis?"she asked finally.
"Everything!"Alexis said as she sank down on the elegant couch.she
looked accusingly at Leia." And don't pretend you don't know what i am
talking about!"
"it is true that things are..somewhat difficult at present"Leia said
slowly
"Difficult!"Alexis exclaimed"that's an understatement if there ever was
one.Leia,we are on the verge of a disaster.people are restless,and
..and Icarus has not found his feet yet..sometimes I'm not sure if he
even wants to..the
court is taking his defections mildly,too mildly if you ask me..the
people are losing faith in the governance,and no wonder!Queen mother
used to know everything that was going on in the kingdom and
Icarus..Icarus only knows the way to the whore houses!"
"That's not true and you know it"said Leia with her usual
calmness"Icarus will be a very able king..when he chooses to"
"chooses to!Leia,he doesn't have a choice!he has been born to it"
"i know"Leia said softly"poor Icarus..he hates not having choices"
"That is no excuse to let an entire kingdom go to rack and ruin!for
god's sake what kind of man abandons his own kingdom?!!"
"Sometimes i think"said Leia tentatively after a brief silence during
which Alexis visibly tried to control herself"that this world has
proved to be both too much and too little for Icarus.do you remember
how idealistic he used to be when we were all young?he lived in worlds
not quite real,and he believed in them Alexis,as passionately as he did
in tomorrow then"she looked across at her friend"you remember how he
used to say,always at the end of the day'there is always tomorrow!'.i
think somewhere along the way the real world failed him so badly that
he began to be scared of his tomorrows"
"i remember"Alexis said in a low voice"we all believed in dreams
then,Leia,we all woke up!it happens ,life happens.you grow up and
realise that the world is not a perfect place,that you are not a perfect person
but maybe ,just maybe,you can make the effort to make it so!you
fight!you don't get scared of tomorrow's!you fight,so that maybe tomorrow
can be better than today,you fight so that maybe some other child does
not have his illusions shattered by the world!"
Leia looked at her friend,saw the certainty and strenght radiating
from her and sighed"its not always so simple for everyone as it is for
you Alexis.you are lucky"
"Am i?"Alexis turned to walk upto the windows.there was a short
silence,then she said more calmly"thank gods at least the rains have
been sufficient this year..another bad harvest and im not sure what we
would have to face.what do you think about young Nestor?"
"Nestor..the son of Vulcan the wise"said Leia"he seems very polished"
"Hah yes!"Alexis said bitterly"slick as slime,and just about as
reliable.if that man turns out to be a informer,i wont be in the least
surprised!"
"An informer"Leia looked startled"for who?the Anoians?"
"Maybe"Alexis wandered around the room,restlessly"Cameron and his men
caught some Anoians sneaking into the forests miles inside the
border.they claimed that had been lost,and maybe they had..but..i dont
like it Leia.the other day,i was in the market place and i heard a
rumors of very rigorous training that the Anoian soldiers are
undergoing.i asked Cameron and he hummed and hawed but finally agreed
that he had heard the same,but reassured me that it meant nothing! that
Jupiter Alpetras was just trying to tighten up the regime,that it meant
nothing significant!"
"I have never met either Jupiter or Anteros Alpetras"said Leia"but i
remember meeting their father at the Ritual of the Banding .Demetrius
Alpetras was a very striking man.and a very wise one.i have often
wondered why we were not friendly with Anoia.it seems strange when you
think of it.we are neighbouring Kingdoms and we have always lived
amicably.and yet they dont visit on important occasions and we are
never invited to visit either.we dont even know the reigning king."
"They sent condolences at Queen mother's death and we did the same"said
Alexis"but you are right,there has never been any personal contact
between monarchs.we go for years without hearing of them and now
suddenly there is mention of them everywhere!it makes me
uneasy,Leia.they say Jupiter Alpetras is more ruthless and devious than
Demetrius,and ten times more ambitious!and Icarus will not wake up!"
Leia was silent for a few minutes.it was evident that her friend was
seriously worried but Leia was not still very certain that there was
any real cause for worry.Alexis sometimes let her imagination take
unjustified leaps to nightmare scenarios.
"you haven't had any visions or anything have you,Leia?"Alexis asked
hopefully,turning once more to her.
Leia laughed and shook her head no."you know it does not work that way"
Alexis sighed and prepared to leave"i know.take care of yourself"
"you too dearest"said Leia gently"by way,how is Andra?"
"Worrying herself sick over Icarus"Alexis said bluntly"you had better
go and see her sometime"
"Tell her i will come soon"promised Leia and watched as the slight
figure walked away.
Alexis had just reached the top of the knoll from which the meadow
dipped down when she heard the sound of a horses hoofs.she turned,her
hand at her dagger,when she recognised the big grey horse,cantering
idly towards her.Icarus drew the reins when he reached her and the big
grey whinnied.
"Hello,Blue"she softly stroked the horse and then looked up at its
rider"Icarus"
"Alexis"said Icarus"where is your horse?"
"Lady is in her stables,resting.she sprained a hock yesterday,if it is
any of your business"
"And so you decided that its perfectly acceptable to walk miles in this
weather to see Leia"asked Icarus in the tone of intelligent interest he
used to conceal biting anger
"as a matter of fact,i did"Alexis replied coolly"now if you will excuse
me,i have all those miles to walk back"
"i don't think so"said Icarus and in one smooth move he got off Blue and
stood in front of her.Alexis looked up into those dark eyes and stood
as though rooted.His smell,that of forests assaulted her senses and for
one moment she was transported back to that time so long ago,when he
had claimed to love her,when she had allowed herself to believe in
dreams because she had believed in him,unquestioningly.
"get out of my way"Alexis said calmly
"or else?"Icarus lifted his eyebrows mockingly
As an answer Alexis placed her hand on her dagger very
suggestively.Icarus broke into laughter"Alexis you wouldn't!"
"i would"Alexis affirmed and shoved him out of her way angrily,feeling
perilously close to tears.
"Lexi"Icarus said softly and turned her gently towards him.Alexis
froze,so long had it been since anyone had used that childhood
endearment and searched his face.she saw tenderness and amusement and
love and felt her resistance melt."Damn you to hell Icarus"she said but
her anger was gone and he was her childhood friend again"one day you
will fly too close to the sun!"
He chuckled at the warning which was as old as their friendship and
helped her mount Blue.He threw himself behind her and at a light touch
of the reins blue was speeding away towards the horizon.
"where are we going?"asked Alexis"the castle is back there"
"You will see!"
And within a few moments she did see.her face broke into a smile as she
recognised the path to the ridge which overlooked the valley through
which ran the river Ames,springing from the mountains which surrounded
three quarters of Castalia.they used to come here often,especially to
watch the sunset.Blue slowed down to a trot and then stopped close to
the ridge and began to graze.Alexis sat,wrapped in Icarus' arms and
watched the sun go down in a blazing riot of colour and glory.The peace
of the moment enveloped them and they sat together,silent,friends for
too long to need words to communicate.Suddenly in the last moments of
the setting sun,Icarus leaned forward and asked Alexis urgently"Are you
happy Lexi,right now,right at this moment,are you happy?"
and almost in a trance she answered with the truth"yes.."
There was a broken sigh from behind her as Icarus whispered with wonder in his voice"So am i.."
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Dagger of Diane-chapter one.Andra,Alexis and Icarus
Before they lived happily ever after,they didn't.This is the story of the time before..
Andra stood looking out of the windows of her room.The fire crackled in the huge stone hearth behind her,which almost took up the whole of one wall of the room.as the shadows danced and flickered in a way almost cheerful,Andra felt momentarily angry at the illusion.The Kingdom of Castalia had not seen cheer for a very long time,ever since the death of her mother.Juno had been a strong queen,some had said hard.But she had been just,and had done what had needed doing,regardless of consequences and costs.she had commanded respect and fear and had held together her country against invaders from without and treachery from within.Andra remembered her childhood,which had been spent with nurses and maids.she could remember the pride she felt for the mother who she had rarely seen and the fear.and the longing and resentment as well.she had loved her mother and revered her and hated her too.had her mother felt anything other than tepid affection for her.had she felt disdain for a daughter who would never equal her in beauty and courage and cunning?the last words her mother had said to her had not been of love or wisdom,but warning.."trust no one" she had said moments before she had lost consciousness,never to regain it again.the only other thing she had said had been a name,which she had called out repeatedly,in agitation ,in despair and at the very last ,in welcome.Hector.
who was Hector?what had he been to her?questions had assaulted her like spikes afterwards.she had never told Icarus.one never knew what Icarus would have made of it.or felt about it.instinct as well as caution had made her hold her tongue,untill she could find out more.she hadn't found answers in the eight months since her mother's death.it seemed unlikely that she ever would.she turned sharply at a sound behind her,and then relaxed as she recognised the tall,straight figure of her best friend and the head of her personal guard.Alexis crossed the room towards Andra and joined her at the window."still no sign of him?"she asked in her calm voice.Andra shook her head no.words were not needed to convey the sense of anxiety they both felt.Icarus,her brother and now the king, had not returned home.she knew where he must be and could only hope that once again she would not have to be mortified at the sight of the new king returning home,drunk,in the arms of some harlot
"He should never had hired Cameron.That man has done nothing but encourage him in debauchery"said Alexis bitingly.At the mention of his brother's man at arms,Andra shivered."Icarus says that he is brave and very skilled as an archer.And that his loyalty is certainly beyond question"she said.
"Icarus knows nothing about loyalty"Alexis said bluntly and immediately regretted it when she saw Andra's eyes cloud with grief.
She was about to pass of the comment as a joke,when the sound of horses came clattering to their ears.Both of them leaned out as one and saw the royal coach come to a shuddering halt in front the huge castle doors.Dismayed Andra watched a short heavily built man she recognised as Cameron help her brother out of the coach.Icarus was undoubtedly drunk.The lyrics of a bawdy song came floating in the air and Andra shrank back in embarrassment.Beside her Alexis gave a low chuckle and leaned out for a better look.Andra was just about to berate her friend for laughing when the amusement died out of Alexis' face.A shrill,unrefined voice had joined the song and in the bright light of the moon,they saw a woman clinging to the king's arm and giggling.Cameron appeared to be expostulating with Icarus.Icarus stood shaking his head,whether in disagreement or to clear it,Andra couldn't say.Suddenly,as if aware he was being watched,Icarus turned his head and looked directly at her window.
Alexis felt,rather than saw his eyes latch onto her.He must have recognised her ,she knew and stood still,looking right back at him,heedless of Andra's pleas to her to get back.Andra did not want the brother she loved to feel awkward or mortified being caught in an undignified and ridiculous scene.But Alexis who knew Icarus better than Andra did ,knew that for Icarus there would be no shame at being caught like this.Not for Icarus regret and mortification.The day Icarus had surrendered his soul to the demons he had so long fought to conquer,he had abandoned all pretenses.Now she watched without surprise,but with a little quiver of pain in her heart,as he sent her a long slow grin,his teeth flashing white against the dark of the night and pulled the woman close to him,crushing her mouth with his.Beside her Andra gave a little sob.Alexis stood,eyes dry and burning,till Icarus had finished kissing the woman.Then without a backward glance to either his inamorata or to her,dismissing them both as of no account,he stumbled back up the steps of the castle and was lost to sight.
Alexis turned back from the window and realised that Andra was looking at her sadly."Still,Alexis?" she whispered,her beautiful eyes bruised."Always" answered Alexis, as she turned and walked out of the room.
Andra stood looking out of the windows of her room.The fire crackled in the huge stone hearth behind her,which almost took up the whole of one wall of the room.as the shadows danced and flickered in a way almost cheerful,Andra felt momentarily angry at the illusion.The Kingdom of Castalia had not seen cheer for a very long time,ever since the death of her mother.Juno had been a strong queen,some had said hard.But she had been just,and had done what had needed doing,regardless of consequences and costs.she had commanded respect and fear and had held together her country against invaders from without and treachery from within.Andra remembered her childhood,which had been spent with nurses and maids.she could remember the pride she felt for the mother who she had rarely seen and the fear.and the longing and resentment as well.she had loved her mother and revered her and hated her too.had her mother felt anything other than tepid affection for her.had she felt disdain for a daughter who would never equal her in beauty and courage and cunning?the last words her mother had said to her had not been of love or wisdom,but warning.."trust no one" she had said moments before she had lost consciousness,never to regain it again.the only other thing she had said had been a name,which she had called out repeatedly,in agitation ,in despair and at the very last ,in welcome.Hector.
who was Hector?what had he been to her?questions had assaulted her like spikes afterwards.she had never told Icarus.one never knew what Icarus would have made of it.or felt about it.instinct as well as caution had made her hold her tongue,untill she could find out more.she hadn't found answers in the eight months since her mother's death.it seemed unlikely that she ever would.she turned sharply at a sound behind her,and then relaxed as she recognised the tall,straight figure of her best friend and the head of her personal guard.Alexis crossed the room towards Andra and joined her at the window."still no sign of him?"she asked in her calm voice.Andra shook her head no.words were not needed to convey the sense of anxiety they both felt.Icarus,her brother and now the king, had not returned home.she knew where he must be and could only hope that once again she would not have to be mortified at the sight of the new king returning home,drunk,in the arms of some harlot
"He should never had hired Cameron.That man has done nothing but encourage him in debauchery"said Alexis bitingly.At the mention of his brother's man at arms,Andra shivered."Icarus says that he is brave and very skilled as an archer.And that his loyalty is certainly beyond question"she said.
"Icarus knows nothing about loyalty"Alexis said bluntly and immediately regretted it when she saw Andra's eyes cloud with grief.
She was about to pass of the comment as a joke,when the sound of horses came clattering to their ears.Both of them leaned out as one and saw the royal coach come to a shuddering halt in front the huge castle doors.Dismayed Andra watched a short heavily built man she recognised as Cameron help her brother out of the coach.Icarus was undoubtedly drunk.The lyrics of a bawdy song came floating in the air and Andra shrank back in embarrassment.Beside her Alexis gave a low chuckle and leaned out for a better look.Andra was just about to berate her friend for laughing when the amusement died out of Alexis' face.A shrill,unrefined voice had joined the song and in the bright light of the moon,they saw a woman clinging to the king's arm and giggling.Cameron appeared to be expostulating with Icarus.Icarus stood shaking his head,whether in disagreement or to clear it,Andra couldn't say.Suddenly,as if aware he was being watched,Icarus turned his head and looked directly at her window.
Alexis felt,rather than saw his eyes latch onto her.He must have recognised her ,she knew and stood still,looking right back at him,heedless of Andra's pleas to her to get back.Andra did not want the brother she loved to feel awkward or mortified being caught in an undignified and ridiculous scene.But Alexis who knew Icarus better than Andra did ,knew that for Icarus there would be no shame at being caught like this.Not for Icarus regret and mortification.The day Icarus had surrendered his soul to the demons he had so long fought to conquer,he had abandoned all pretenses.Now she watched without surprise,but with a little quiver of pain in her heart,as he sent her a long slow grin,his teeth flashing white against the dark of the night and pulled the woman close to him,crushing her mouth with his.Beside her Andra gave a little sob.Alexis stood,eyes dry and burning,till Icarus had finished kissing the woman.Then without a backward glance to either his inamorata or to her,dismissing them both as of no account,he stumbled back up the steps of the castle and was lost to sight.
Alexis turned back from the window and realised that Andra was looking at her sadly."Still,Alexis?" she whispered,her beautiful eyes bruised."Always" answered Alexis, as she turned and walked out of the room.
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