Silence drifted over them as Evagoria digested yet another legendary tale of her mother.
Chapter Fifteen
AN ENCHANTED WARINESS
My queen doing her best to cast a trusting spell around Evagoria – the will to resist is strong with this one. That I have no skill with magic gives me a power many Sapiens have forgotten: I can perceive the subtle clues Evagoria’s mind begs her body not to reveal. She is enchanted with Marseea’s words, but wary of her presence. She smiles back when smiled upon, but those darting eyes and thin lips return once the queen looks away – quickly, every time, without fail. From this day forth, Marseea and I must be watchful when around the Gift from Poseidon, must be careful not to reveal our plans.
– Komnena, Sapien Historian
– Mid-Spring, Year 4,253 KT[18]
Komnena’s gaze never far from her queen, she had seen Marseea join Evagoria at the fountain, of course. Sensing a conversation of great interest – or of greatness itself – was on its way, she snuck into action. Komnena wandered over unseen and planted her bottom atop the garden’s lush green grass – not even a mouse could hope to be so quiet. She then pulled out her stylus, some charcoal, a couple of bamboo strips, and scribed every word.
The story at its end and Evagoria properly wowed, Komnena revealed herself.
“I suppose you were listening the entire time, my dear friend,” Marseea said slyly.
With a smile and a nod, Komnena held up her stylus in one hand and a handful of bamboo strips in the other.
“Did you hear, Historian?” Evagoria begged. “Did you hear the grand story my headmistress told me?”
Another smile and nod answered back. Suddenly, the Mermaid princess scrunched up her face as if deep in thought.
“This ‘Viracocha’ – he is the Centaur historian, yes? Dark haired with a beard and often seen smoking a pipe?” Queen Marseea nodded. “Headmistress, you say he gave Seneferre a dirty look after handing Alexander his weapons. Strain between this Olmec and Alexander, I do not understand. Having seen the Chiron a couple of times and this pipe giving Viracocha away, he is always by Alexander’s side.”
Marseea’s eyes lit up. “Right you are, Princess! The Olmec High Priestess, Carolinica, is not only Alexander’s wife, but Viracocha’s sister as well. You do not need me to explain that!” With a hand on her queen’s shoulder, Komnena finally spoke up.
“Even before Carolinica drifted into the picture, oh, how he hated the Chiron! If looks could kill and insults brought the dead back to life, Viracocha would have spent every waking moment doing nothing else. Day after day, night after night, he would have done so until Alexander either went blind or lost the ability to speak!”
The three of them howled loudly. Komnena finally caught her breath after a few moments and continued:
“Viracocha’s family became part of the Centaur nobility only recently. Sizeable wealth needed to do so – this is no easy task and he was the first of his family to partake of our teachings. Alexander’s family, on the other hand, is if not the richest family in all of Lacanesia, close to it. After more than two centuries walking about our world, I can remember no different. They have always been nobles, always will be.
“Back then, Viracocha saw Alexander as nothing more than a pampered pretty boy. He could not stand that, despite such wealth, Alexander never flaunted these riches. He always took the time to help others no matter their social standing and carried himself humbly. This Centaur spoiled to no end – every day he refused to show it angered Viracocha more and more.”
Evagoria nodded her head and then turned back to Marseea. Perhaps bored of talk concerning Centaurs, she changed the subject.
“Is it true, Headmistress? My protector, the next Gryphon king, will he be with me during my studies even after he has finished and I have not?”
“Yes, it is true.” Marseea took in a deep breath. “He will not officially be your protector until you are a bit closer to queenship, but we both know Zacharias will be given that title someday. He is a good Gryphon, Princess. The strength of his father, a controlled savagery well hidden until needed, he is even somewhat tolerant of Arachna.” Marseea threw a darting look in Komnena’s direction before letting out a quick smirk. “At least for now. The coming years will be very exciting, I think.”
Evagoria sighed and her shoulders slouched, but Marseea swiftly dismissed any worries.
“This is really not so bad. More than anything, Diedrika and Judiascar look at each other as one would a trophy that is a joy to possess.”
A small smile leaked out more through her eyes than through her lips. Komnena ready to depart and let them be, Evagoria asked yet another question.
“Whatever happened to the bully and her friends?”
Marseea snickered wickedly, appearing almost pleased to recall their fate. Komnena knew of their fate as well. Perhaps they did not fully deserve what became of them, but lessons learned by all at the expense of a few are always worth teaching. And the lesson learned was this: There are some you just DO NOT taunt.
“Oh, if only you could have seen it, Evagoria,” Marseea drawled as she shook her head. “For the rest of the year, the bully and her friends were little more than Diedrika’s bondservants. Day after day, the three satisfied her every whim. With whiny, pleading voices, they pestered her to allow them to do this for her, to do that, and on and on and on. Desperate to rid herself of them, she would sometimes send each one off in a different direction to find objects that did not exist.” Evagoria chuckled. “But once that year ended and ever since, I never saw a single one of them again. Perhaps the bully’s head – and those of her friends – really are at the bottom of the sea.”
Marseea’s casual tone in regards to what might have become of this Mermaid and her friends turned Evagoria’s face sad. This pity did not last long; a comforting sight soon returned her face to its wondrous glow. Proudly atop Judiascar, Queen Diedrika now approached from the other side of the gardens to collect her overjoyed daughter. Just as Andromeda had done for Diedrika on her very first day of studies.
“Oh, Mother, you are here, you are here!” Evagoria squealed. “You have come for me at last!”
Diedrika dismounted and slowly made her way toward them. With her walking sticks, the princess bolted for her mother. As Komnena watched them share a hug, she thought back to when her daughters were Evagoria’s age. This was, of course, decades earlier, but to Half-Saps[19], Gryphons, and Arachna, her twins – two years shy of finishing their ninth decade – looked only a handful of years older than Evagoria.
“Stay by Judiascar, dear daughter,” Diedrika said kindly. “I wish to have a few words with Queen Marseea.” Evagoria did as told.
“Thank you for your teachings today, Headmistress – and the story!” Evagoria called back after receiving a few friendly nuzzles from Judiascar.
Flipping through the memories in her mind, Komnena could not remember seeing Diedrika use walking sticks since crowned. Not even once. She either slithered without them or rode atop the Gryphon king. Few things impressed Diedrika, but she made it known to all that Sapien magic and uncommon long life were two of them. And in much the same way, how Diedrika’s beauty swaddled her prowess just right awed Komnena. This Mermaid owned but two speeds – purposely methodical and lightning quick. The first, slower speed was to ensure you knew who sought to dominate you. The second, faster speed served to impose this overbearing will before you even realized it.
“Telling stories again I see?” Diedrika asked to Marseea’s wide grin.
“Somehow, someway, despite my best efforts to consider others, they are always of you, Great Queen.”
With an appreciative look and a polite nod, she turned back to Judiascar.
“She took a liking to Alexander’s son!” Marseea blurted.
Diedrika stopped suddenly, turned only at the waist to her right, and offered a pleasing grin. An obvious glint lit the only eye visible to Komnena.
“Like mother, li
ke daughter?” Marseea suggested in a hopeful tone.
“We can only hope!” Diedrika crowed. With these last words, she bid a thankful farewell to Marseea. Safely strapped in atop Judiascar, mother and daughter flew off for the Mermaid prefecture. And just in time too, as spring rains came soon after.
*****
Studies the next day and for weeks thereafter began and ended much as the first day had, but minus one student. The colorful scorpion Yishuo had picked up and stung Fu Xi was, just as Melanippe suggested, the most poisonous of them all. Awash in bravery to rinse away Yishuo’s foolishness, the young Centaur’s selfless act saved her life and nearly ended his. Despite Arachna medics, his mother’s doting presence, Penthesilea’s potions, and Marseea’s assistance, death looked just as likely as life over the first five or six days.
Yishuo helped to nurse Fu Xi back to health as well. As the days passed, Nüwa confided ever more in Komnena. Despite almost killing her only son, Nüwa told her that she began to look quite fondly upon Yishuo. So much so, she would often refer to the young Centauress as a ‘delicate flower’.
Looks of fondness aside, there were quirky, but mostly cheerless oddities with this one. Yishuo only smiled once another smiled first and never openly laughed. As night approached, she grew skittish … as if afraid of sleep when it came near. A haunting dream waiting to ensnare her; a hurtful burden to bear; a terrible tragedy she saw long ago; a loved one lost – whether some, all, or none of these, Komnena did not know for sure. She had heard rumors in regards to Yishuo, but protective Centaurs in the know kept her in the dark as to why sadness fitted this one as if a second skin.
Komnena often spied on Fu Xi and his nurse when they were together. Innocent touches often turned into endearing gazes. More often than not, they spoke in giggles – his loud, hers soft – and whispers instead of their usual voices. Yishuo’s eyes were always sad – this never changed – but they owned a faint sparkle whenever he was near. Once the Grim had passed on Fu Xi’s soul, his beaming smiles helped this sparkle grow with each new day. And these brighter days finally turned into the brightest one of all: The day Fu Xi’s family and friends could take him home.
“You don’t look half bad for having almost died,” Taharqa joked. A heartfelt hug and bright smile for his friend blunted the sting of this comment Komnena thought was somewhat rude. Yishuo turned her head away and looked to the ground as if ashamed another reminded them of her foolishness.
“I think he just liked having Yishuo and the twins take such good care of him the last few weeks,” Adamarcus added. “We all know how the females love Fu Xi!” No doubt proud to hear others speak of his son in such a way, his father, Buzhou, laughed aloud.
Komnena watched closely as Yishuo looked upon Adamarcus, and then swept her hair behind one ear. Before Fu Xi could sigh at this, she moved closer to him. The sigh never came, but instead a thankful smile for having his friends near.
“When it comes to wooing the females, I think you mean Taharqa!” Fu Xi said cheerfully.
“Well, I don’t want to brag and all,” Taharqa drawled.
“Then don’t!” Nüwa’s face appeared serious as always, but her tone was playful. She wrapped her arms around Fu Xi’s right arm. She then stared long and hard at Yishuo – who still gazed dreamily at Adamarcus – before the young Centauress finally noticed this stare and did the same to Fu Xi’s other arm. At least for the next moment or two.
“Ixchelene!” As if an arrow shot out of a bow, Yishuo ran into the waiting arms of Adamarcus’ younger sister.
Once Alexander finished speaking with Queen Marseea, he caught up to Ixchelene, hugged Yishuo as well, and then led them back to the waiting Centaurs and Komnena. Goodbyes exchanged, Marseea led the twins back into the palace.
“Strong and strapping once again,” Alexander bellowed. “‘Tis great to see!”
“I am, Chiron. And I had a lot of help.” Fu Xi looked at Yishuo and smiled. She shyly smiled back.
Alexander then turned to Yishuo. “I have indeed heard of your excellent nursing skills. We all make mistakes, young one, but how we work to make up for them is the truest judge of character. And with this in mind, as Ixchelene is now eleven and requires a lady-in-waiting, I can think of no one better to fill this position. If you choose to accept, of course ––”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Yishuo shouted as she hopped up and down. For just a moment, Komnena saw those sad eyes show complete joy. Even for a noble – of whom Yishuo was nowhere close – there was no more desired role for a young Centauress.
“But you must finish your studies for this year before you can do so, Yishuo. Isn’t that right, Chiron?” Komnena’s tone was terse with a sprinkling of fake cheer thrown in.
“Oh, yes, um – absolutely!” Alexander stammered. “But come fall, your training will begin. Will you be ready, Yishuo?”
“Yes, Chiron, I most certainly will!” Yishuo gushed as Ixchelene giggled.
“Speaking of ready, are you ready to go home, son?” Buzhou asked.
“Yes, Father. I am so ready!”
Already on the main avenue, the gaggle of Centaurs began to make their way south toward their prefecture. As Komnena watched them curve around the bend and disappear, she could not help but think of Fu Xi and Yishuo. Her smile turned into a long, drawn out sigh. Short, painful breaths came next. She then looked all around to ensure she was alone. No one in sight, Komnena plunged her head into open hands that now shook wildly. Hurtful tears flowed as if bursting dikes.
When around others, Komnena tried to enjoy seeing such affections take hold. In private, however, her sobs knew no end. Although it had been seventeen years since her beloved Nicephorus fell, these years felt as if but a day. If not for her loving daughters, Komnena often wondered if she too would have followed Scutaria’s mother into madness. Only a few months after that horrid day, the heartbroken widow had thrown herself off the same dam that took Scutaria’s father.
The last Sapien ever born had wandered alone ever since. On this day still a child, Scutaria had barely aged in the same time a Mermaid or Centaur would have been born and entered adulthood. Non-Sapiens who saw Scutaria light her father’s funeral pyre seventeen years ago saw a four-year-old girl. Today, she would still look only seven or eight to these aged eyes. Every five years in the life of a Mermaid, Centaur, Gryphon, or Arachna was but one year for a Sapien child. And once the skin of childhood was shed, the years only turned slower from there.
Scutaria was, of course, a good deal smarter than any seven or eight-year-old Mermaid or Centaur; physically and emotionally, however, they would be equals. Long life seen by so many as the greatest of gifts to envy, for this lonely little one, it must have seemed the cruelest of curses. A spot of charity given here and there during the harsh winters, as for the other seasons, the orphan girl was on her own.
Chapter Sixteen
A TINY TREASURE
There are three pieces of history every Gryphon cub learns of once old enough to do more than babble. Semitius’ golden battle helmet gifted to him by the Arachna king, Nowzar, is the first. The Golden Clepsydra is the second. The third is a wooden trinket. It is detailed and colorful, but simple enough for another to copy easily. It is small, but its meaning is near boundless. This piece of history BY FAR the most important of the three; as is so often the case, the simplest symbols are the most powerful.
– Komnena, Sapien Historian
– Late Spring, Year 4,253 KT[20]
Despite Marseea’s and Komnena’s best efforts to be sneaky, many noticed the comings and goings of King Judiascar, Hezekiah, and King Achaemenes over the previous two weeks. Some older students had even caught wind of what was coming, but wisely did not tell others. Imagined consequences at the hands of their headmistress, no doubt, kept these mouths shut.
This day an especially grand one, Marseea had invited not only every student, but also the parents of students and siblings not yet old enough for teachings. Under the sun’s bright rays, beaming
mothers and fathers now escorted their wide-eyed younglings into the gardens. Luckily, there was no chance of rain.
Queen Diedrika and Theodoric led Evagoria. With every day, the princess appeared to grow wiser, more mature, yet still owned an innocence Komnena cherished. Sadly, this would not last long. Each time she recalled what Marseea had told her of the budding tempest that dwelled deep inside Evagoria, a sharp pain knifed through her heart.
“Come this way, Great Queen,” Penthesilea called kindly as Komnena watched her daughter motion for the trio to follow her. “I have already chosen a spot close to the front just for you.” The young witch pointed to layers of brilliantly colored blankets on the ground and then sped off to seat others.
Bookended by Ahuram and Ahriman, Zacharias led his mother, Eeshaya, into the gardens. The parents of the Gryphon twins having died when they were young, Judiascar adopted them soon after.
Komnena looked on as important Centaurs and Arachna began to arrive. Adamarcus, Fu Xi, and Taharqa leading their parents, Persepolis and King Achaemenes followed just behind. The Centaur and Arachna families in their proper places just a few pike lengths away from where Komnena stood, Achaemenes slipped away. He too had a part to play in the performance. A few moments later, she noticed Melanippe wander over to them.
“Hello, Taharqa! Hello, little one!” the elder twin chimed excitedly.
Seneferre and his Nubian wife, Abarah, smiled kindly. Their younglings playing quietly atop a goldenrod blanket trimmed in emerald green, Taharqa peeked up and returned this greeting as his younger sister, Shepenupet, giggled. Melanippe winked at them and then joined her mother.
Abarah could not lay down with the others because the Centaur chariot attached to where her rear legs once were did not allow it, but this mattered not. Her wide smile burned with the brightness of white flame lit by the sun. Just as always.
The Gift From Poseidon: When Gods Walked Among Us (Volume 2) Page 18