Chapter 6-The Visit

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.