by Casey Phelps
****
Chelle
In the panic that ensued Artileon and I were separated, only to find ourselves bound tightly together. We were taken to the palace dungeon, and in this place magic was dampened, so for the time we were stuck, our freedom was so short lived, but at least it was a change of scenery. The prince was fuming as he was supposed to be released and wished he knew what was happening. The fact that my blood had an unexpected reaction was warring on both of our minds, but it made me remember something I missed before.
“The prophecy and the declaration, the prophecy says the shell will go through blood, and the declaration I can see it, so maybe my blood has some magical component to it matching what yours must have to bind you as the heir of the throne.”
“That’s an interesting thought, I am amazed that is what you are thinking through this whole debacle, I have known only few women in my days upon this world, and few would be plotting an escape or riddling a prophecy to save the world. It is truly amazing the depths of your soul.” He said more to himself than to me, though how he could forget we were tied together was beyond me. Chagrined he must’ve realized he spoke aloud. I smiled back at him, who knew his praise would boost my ego so much; I finally felt like something more than just another problem or obstacle, and felt a part of this whole mess.
“Depths of my soul, huh…What exactly do the Anshan believe about souls and what comes after this life?” I questioned him.
“Souls, well as the Ladisians are our most followed religious leaders; they say all of creation was given three forms. However, it all depended on what kind of creature you are; the humans were body, soul, and spirit. The animals were given the body, the spirit, and a natural instinct. Since the Anshan was formed of the man and the beast, they were given their bodies, spirit, and their animal. So you could say we lost our soul and were given a beast, and with it came the ferocity of my people.”
“I can’t imagine losing my soul, even to get an animal form, that’s horrible,” I said. He laughed, and I immediately apologized, thinking how rude that had been.
“It is true, and it is said that we will mourn the loss of our soul until our mate is found and then we can be whole.”
As he said this the door to our cell opened and in strode the guardians. They were heavily armored and walked with an air of strict discipline. They informed us brusquely that we were summoned before the king.
We were untied but you could still feel the dampening of the magic around us as we were led through the palace walls. As we walked I glimpsed all that I could of our surroundings, the halls were all white, everywhere white like in the visions, but the light was wrong, it seemed shadowed and dull, as if the life was being bleached from the walls. I looked up and saw the declaration on the ceiling; this marked the passage to the throne room. We were told to wait outside of heavy looking metal doors. I saw that I could still read and frantically searched for the place about the prophecy, but as those great doors swung open, we were pushed along into the great throne room.
The walls were, you guessed it white, everything again was white, the walls were marble, and the grains were silver and crystalline. The dais to the left was empty but it was graced with a white fur-lined pillow and scattered white leather rugs. The throne was a white crystalline masterpiece, carved in the image of a great lion leaping from his haunches and shadowing the King sitting upon it.
The King from far away looked grand in his white robes with silver so bright you could see it from the entrance fur that encompassed his broad shoulders gave him a menacing presence, and his white beard, and head of silvery, and white hair glistened. As we neared, I started to notice the age in the King’s eyes, the gaunt feature of his face, the way his skin sat sallow upon his bones, as if he was wasting away in front of your very eyes.
Artileon bowed himself on the ground, when we reached the steps before the throne. I ungracefully, fell forward and prostrated myself before the king. I glanced to see what was going on, and the king not even addressing me as worthy of attention spoke softly to his son.
“Rise, my son, and allow your father King to gaze upon your face, these years have been unkind to such an old man as I, and I wish to see you.”
Unsure of what I was supposed to be doing I looked in askance to the Prince, he nodded, and I slowly rose to my feet as well. I stood to the left and slightly behind the Prince but I could see both his and the King’s faces as they spoke.
The Prince’s eyes matched to steel orbs his father had, just younger in presence. Their features were very similar and you could see the feline grace that gave them both such a handsome visage. From there the similarities lessened, showing the healthy countenance of the son, and the ailing father.
“Father King, these are troubled times, but I am glad to see you alive and... on your throne,” said Artileon.
“I noticed your slip of the tongue there my son, and I assure you, that I am alive and well, and will remain so, I have an ailment today and that is all,“ stated the King imperiously.
“Yes, my Lord King, of course,” said the Prince.
“I have heard of the circumstances of today’s ceremony, as your brother was attending in my honor, and I am quite afraid for your safety as the council discusses the fate of our ruling.” The King said accepting Artileon’s words as apology.
“That’s impossible, they do not have the power…” trailed the Prince.
“That is where you are wrong, my young prince, these years have brought many changes during your captivity, they indeed have the power to do almost anything they wish to,” declared the King.
Before the Prince could reply to his outrage, he remembered that his father must’ve passed the rulings to allow for this change in the seat of power and kept his own council on the matter.
“So what is there to be done, my father King?” Artileon bowed as he said showing his concession of power to the King.
“I am weary, I have believed the council, and the Ladisians and listened to their counsel and approved their rulings. It is as though I am unable to go against their wishes in anything they request. I have failed to protect my people and have allowed your brother to be tainted by them, what I am speaking is truly treason, but I’ll not have you killed and the power of this throne leave from this place. You are the rightful king to come; you had the presence of mind and strength of will to do the duty of the throne that I have conceded to our enemies in sheep’s clothing posing as our friends. I have come to realize that I am failing and I do not possess the strength to continue.”
“I lied when I said this is some malady, I do believe that the scheming brother of yours has poisoned me and has set the wheel in motion of my death and his ascension to the throne.”
“He is not in line for the throne, how does he see that it is his to ascend?” Demanded Artileon.
“You were not supposed have come out favorably in the Ceremony today my informants tell me that you were to meet an untimely death upon your release. This human you have at your side, she definitely caused a riot, and how I wished to have seen that. Come closer my dear and let me see you.”
I was shocked he was speaking about me, to me. I stepped forward cautiously.
“Do not be afraid, and come closer give me your hand,” Said the King gently.
I did as he said and when I touched him, I immediately fell into a trance reliving the scenes from today’s escapade. When he released me Artileon, stepped forward and caught me, with an angry glare towards his father he said “You could have warned her, she is not accustomed to magic and had no idea what you were going to do to her!”
The King looked surprised at the vehemence of his son, and smiled wryly.
“My son has truly spoken, I apologize Princess, I should have asked your permission before reliving your memories, and most humans here know of my gift and are servants to be commanded. I have not met a free human in eighty years. All the others are gone, and before that they were not as radiant and strong minded
as you, they were barely more than scared cattle.”
Turning to his son, “Better, my beloved son.”
Prince Artileon was shocked at the apology from his father, and wasn’t sure what exactly brought it about. Before he could ask however the king spoke to me again.
“May I have your name child?” I looked to Artileon before I answered, he nodded knowing of no other way to withhold this information and not knowing if it would matter anyways, long since anyone had thought of or read the prophecies.
“Raechelle L’eonis Mahon,” I stated for the king.
“Curious indeed, I can see why other than the obvious of course that you are protective over her, she is the Mahon, she is the answer to our problems and yet she creates so many more. Curious, still she is titled as L’eonis,” he said.
****
Chapter 10
L’eonis
The chosen or mate of the male heir to the throne of Dalthimus. As his mate she will be called and titled as the L’eonis, as he is titled the Leon. This a lifetime position and its only annulment is through death, the L’eonis should she outlive the prince, will keep her title but have no ruling power, and the next in the line will take the throne.
Excerpt of ‘The Naming’ from The Declaration
“Well as I am still the ultimate authority and you are my appointed heir, and named as such. You both have passed your trials, which is a feat to be commended. I declare your freedom. It will not ensure the life you once had in these walls, as I must also send you on a quest.”
“I know that when you were younger you studied the prophecy, it has come to my attention that now is the auspicious timing to reach its fruition and I so declare it your right to the throne upon completion.”
“So be it my father king,” said Artileon soberly.
“The quest will take you from this court and throughout the lands of Dalthimus. There is a scholar named Brothimus. He has agreed to help aid you, you’ll find him at the great Library, and that is the first step of the quest. The leaving of the vicinity will also lessen the proximity to the council and their goals to wrestle the throne from your dead fingers.”
“Go quickly and make haste, before the council has knowledge of what is done. You will have escort to the bridge and from there you’ll be given horses and provisions for this leg of your journey.”
“Lord King, what of you…” I started.
“Such compassion, but have no worry for me as I will be dead before they can pronounce any punishment on my head. This poison hastens it even as we speak. I hope my son, that you will mourn my loss. My iniquities are being accounted for, but I was your ally now when your need is greatest. I am sorry for my past sins for failing my duty and not protecting what should have been protected, but know that my death’s wish is that you return the peace of the Lord Sun upon our people and our throne will be reborn to its rightful power.”
“The sun has marked you both and your blessing will aid you in your journey, not all have left the ways of the Sun.” he quietly added.
We were dismissed, and the guards marched us out the castle halls to the stone battlements that ran the length of the front of the palace, there we reached the bridge which spanned across the chasm that separated the palace from the rest of the kingdom. Awaiting us was a set of fresh horses, packed for a journey. Good thing I knew how to ride a horse I thought wryly to myself. I wondered aloud how far away it was to where we are going, but the prince caught my eye, and said, “We do not speak until we are a safe distance to ensure the safety of our speech and those who aid us.”
As we mounted the horses, the guards withdrew and marched back to the palace proper. We rode forward, and out into the coming day.
The chasm was about a mile wide, and the bridge loomed over it as the last defense to ward off an unseen foe. The bridge was wide enough for five horses with riders to walk abreast. We rode quickly, and before long we were on the other side. The Prince started going off to the west, and I followed.
“We are going west for the better part of the day; we will have to make camp under the stars this first night as we will not clear the forest before dark.” He said.
“Oh, I love camping; one of my most favorite activities, me and Elaine always used to take a few novels and just disappear for days in the woods behind my house…” I said conversationally.
I stopped as he came to a halt in front of me.
“We are not on a pleasure trip, and you should remember that we are not friends. We are on a quest from my father as his dying wish; you will keep you rambling and questions to yourself and show yourself worthy of the honor you were lucky to find today.”
I was taken aback at the harshness. I couldn’t just have kept my mouth closed though that would’ve been smart.
“Oh, your most gracious highness, that you would stoop to such lowly traveling companions as I, I will endeavor to please you by keeping my mouth shut!” I uttered furiously!
The horses chose this to be excellent timing to spook, and I did all that I could to keep from losing my seat as my horse reared and then charged into the heavily wooded forest and away from the path we were on. I was just about to gain control or so I thought when I suddenly pitched forward and landed in a swift flowing river. The current swept me off my feet and my jeans and shoes weighed me down. I am usually an excellent swimmer but this current was too strong and it pulled me along as I struggled to keep my head above the water and watch for rocks or anything I could get hurt on or could grab hold of. I felt a great surge of water rise from underneath me, propelling me as I screamed. The force of water rushed me to the bank, roughly splashing over me as I was deposited on the sandy shore. I looked up to find the Prince staring down at me.
****
Chapter 11
“…Young prince you’ve reached the long awaited day, you’ve been the bane of my existence and rarely the one for study, I am not sure the halls would hold you for much longer. The beast that reins you will find solace and when it does you’ll find your way back here and I’ll be there to see the day you need the halls of learning and stop seeing them as the halls of torture.”
The graduation ceremony of the Prince Artileon, parting words from his mentor Master Brothimus
I sputtering looked down at my once again wet clothes, as they miraculously dried before my eyes. Remembering the prince’s gift was with water.
“You saved me, thank you.” I said breathlessly. I sat a moment catching my breath and then said.
“I do not know what spooked my horse; it was as if a wild animal was attacking her. I’ve never seen a horse so scared, and I have been around horses my whole life.”
The Prince’s eyes went wide, and then said roughly, “That was because they believed that were.”
“Huh?” I said eloquently.
“I was sifting, in my anger my beast is always barely contained and your prodding furthered it past my best to subdue it. The animals sensed a predator and spooked.” He said.
“Oh, well that makes more sense,” I waived his obvious discomfort at the subject away. “You didn’t happen to find my horse, while I went swimming did you? Otherwise this might be a very long trip.”
The prince laughed, the sound was a strangled gravelly noise, as if his throat was unused to the sensation.
“Went swimming, that’s an interesting way to put it, and yes, the horses are grazing, yours anxiously followed you as it was magicked to find you. That is how I knew where you were to pull you from the river. I hope you are not injured I see no obvious signs, are you well?” he asked.
“Yes, I am fine, and again thank you.” I replied.
“I am supposing we are far enough from the palace to speak of our travel plans,” I ventured.
“Yes, and we should probably rest after the excitement my anger caused.” He looked away to hide some unnamed emotion on his face, and then continued. “We are going to the Library. It is a place of great learning. It holds every piece of literature our wor
ld has ever produced, it is a city unto itself, and it houses the scribes, and others who protect the words and chronicles of our people. It is there that we will find the scholar Brothimus, find our help, and discover the next step in our plans.”
“Brothimus is a very well-known scholar and he studied the prophecies in the days before the council, though it is forbidden now there are still ways and no one views this world of knowledge as a seat of power, so they leave it be and rarely enforce any outsider laws inside.”
“The building itself is a round structure, with five wings jutting from its sides, they say from the aerial view that it is like a sun, with five rays pointing out. Each floor houses a certain set of knowledge and learning, on the ground floor is the school, this is for all the ruling class and the common. All children are required seven years of study at the academy. Then the second story is the adepts, those wishing to study to be a scribe or a scholar. Third, is where the scholars and scribes live and work unless they are teaching in the lower levels, and the fourth, is the library proper holding every scroll, parchment, and book you could imagine.”
I tried imagining over the next few days the marvel that he described, and it never came close to the real thing.
Day two of traveling we found an inn, and in searching our bags I found a dress and robe. A robe with a hood to cover my flaming head of hair, Artileon felt he should explain my garments. My usual garments were ‘not acceptable’ said Artileon. I put on the dress and was not sure how this was more acceptable. It fit snug and cinched in my waist, pulling my small waist into display. It added more curves than I was used to seeing on myself,
I was pleasantly surprised that the long skirts did not twist around my legs and trip me up or hinder me as I rode. I think the Prince found me very unladylike; but he did not seem to like the change in attire any more than he had liked my men’s clothing. His scowl only deepened, but at least he hadn’t made any further comments so I could pretend to ride in companionable silence.
We came in at nightfall, and left before the sun came up to avoid notice. The next night we were under the stars again, it was warm enough even at night you needed no fire, just a light blanket. My favorite part of our travels became the unusual feeling of the cleansing water flowing around me, whisking the dust and completely feeling refreshed. I am sure that Artileon thought my laughter and joy at the daily ritual was strange and childish. We had our stores of food, more of that bread, and cheeses and dried fruit, and skins that refilled themselves thanks to Artileon’s gift.