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.