She pointed down into the center of the seating area. “Look! There is my friend, Adamarcus!” she said excitedly as he waved back to her. “He is standing next to the Chiron. Tell me, Father, why does the Chiron not play? He looks plenty strong and young enough.”
“Years ago, a Chiron was badly hurt in a Harpastum game. From that day forth, the Alpha Centauri declared that a sitting Chiron could not play. Now, those who make up the council Alexander relies on cannot make law, but they can be forceful. Since that day, none of their leaders has played. I believe this applies to historians and generals as well.”
“Thankfully,” said a familiar voice from above, “Gryphons refuse to cower in such fear.” Evagoria looked up at the one who was more a god in her eyes than a mother. “Judiascar and Xavier are not so young anymore, but will play until they no longer can because that is what grand Gryphons do. Never forget the greatness of the kind you were molded from, Evagoria … never forget the unlimited courage of our eternal allies to the south.”
“Yes, Mother, I promise to always remember,” Evagoria pledged in a soft voice. As she hugged her mother, she caught sight of the other Mermaids behind her. Each nodded approvingly at what Diedrika had said – Cassiopeia especially.
Mermaids ARE their world’s superior species and Evagoria would never believe otherwise!
Facing the pitch and looking down again, she saw Persepolis and Taharqa and waved.
The sweet smell of roasted meat sold by vendors beckoned Evagoria to try some. And she happily obliged. Her belly stuffed and throat soaked by her favorite berry juice; as if the players below were waiting for her to finish these delights, horns now blared throughout the stadium. The doors finally open, armored Gryphons, Centaurs, and Arachna carrying their xisteras streamed onto the field and the game began.
As if every hit came straight at her, Evagoria cringed with each one. Nothing she had ever heard or seen prepared her for what bulging eyes barely believed they saw. Her father having to push her lower jaw back into her face more than once – how many bugs flew into her gaping mouth as she just stared at the carnage below was anyone’s guess. Evagoria trained often with Orcas and had many times seen them tear sea lions, seals, and penguins apart, but that was for eating.
THIS was for fun!
At first, it was near impossible for Evagoria to tell who played on which team. All except for Zacharias. Just for her, he had tied a red ribbon onto the end of his xistera. After an initial 20-point score by the blackened bronze team, Judiascar in his gleaming armor scored next. Penelope having told her that the crowd cheered loudest for when a regent scored than they did for any other, cheers and stomps Evagoria feared might collapse the stadium made it obvious that the Gryphon king had scored this 70-point goal.
With the end of the first period came the start of more berry juice sliding down her throat – watching Harpastum was hard work!
The second period led to a loaf of fresh bread and a few more scores. Even Zacharias scored his first ever goal. In the same shiny armor and with a gallop few could mimic, he looked so much like his father. Just not quite as burly. Despite these goals by father and son, a 100-point goal and rare 150-point goal toward the end of the second period scored by the blackened bronze team gave them a sizeable lead. As the players walked off the pitch once the second period ended, Evagoria noticed a Gryphon from the blackened team approach and taunt Zacharias. Removing his badly scratched helmet upon doing so, Evagoria now knew which one was Xavier.
The third period well underway, Evagoria took a few moments to spy on the other Mermaids close to her. Her parents deep in conversation with Andromeda and Cassiopeia over by Hezekiah, she noticed Penelope by herself. She then sneakily sat next to the Mermaid she thought she knew, but now barely recognized.
“Get him, get him, get him!” the usually calm historian growled. “AHHHHH! You should have hit him harder!”
For many moments, Evagoria just watched Penelope. How she acted stunned her as much as the savagery on the pitch. She then focused on others throughout the crowd.
The females loved the brutality of this game even more than the males!
“This game is insane!” Evagoria screamed.
“Oh … hello, Princess!” Penelope pulled her frazzled hair behind her ears and straightened up. “I did not see you there!”
Of course, you didn’t see me sitting right next to you, sweet Penelope. You were too busy acting like a crazed lunatic!
Loud cheers suddenly turned into a feverish pitch. Every creature in the stadium, including Evagoria and Penelope, now rose and focused on the field. A huge skirmish had erupted between Centaurs and Gryphons from the opposite teams.
Although there was so much to see, Evagoria watched a single Centaur and Gryphon fight as if they were the only two who did so. This Olmec wore shiny armor and the scratched up helmet worn by the Gryphon told Evagoria that it was Xavier on the other side of this scrap.
A fool against a cunning general – NOT a good matchup!
A Mermaid umpire atop his Gryphon landed and tried to separate them. This umpire waving his arms wildly for them to stop, in doing so, his own helmet fell from his head. Penelope gasped the moment it did so. She then grabbed Evagoria’s arm with both hands and ten sharp daggers disguised as fingernails pressed into her flesh.
Xavier reached around the Mermaid umpire and plowed his talons into the side of the Olmec Centaur. With a scream that Evagoria could hear even amidst all the cheers, the Olmec spun around. As he did so, he swung the blunt end of his xistera straight for Xavier’s head. It most certainly smashed into a head, just not the one the Centaur had intended. As if a sleeping Mermaid shot with an arrow, the umpire slumped over at the waist and now hung by just his tail over the side of the Gryphon carrying him.
“EUMELUS!” Penelope screeched.
Diedrika and Theodoric spun around. Both of their faces quickly turned more white than blue.
Each round of tears and shrill screams shook Evagoria more and more. Penelope then gasped for breath repeatedly before she finally keeled over and vomited. Concerned Gryphons then hurriedly led the distraught Mermaid away as Evagoria watched on in horror.
“I don’t understand, Mother. Who is he?” Evagoria begged. Theodoric picked her up and set her in between him and her mother.
“Eumelus,” Diedrika replied with a cracked voice and quivering lip, “… is her brother. The only family she has left.” The stadium now as eerily quiet as Elkabydos, no one dared say another word.
Evagoria’s own eyes filled with tears in empathy for Penelope. The tender meat and fresh bread she had so enjoyed now turned her stomach rancid.
Arachna medics left the wounded and maimed they were attending to and rushed for the fallen Mermaid. Once pulled from his saddle, they laid Eumelus in the grass and tried to revive him, but the sheets of blood that covered both his face and the side of the Gryphon told them all he was gone.
Evagoria had already seen a handful of Centaurs drag away the Olmec that had struck Eumelus down. She now watched through blurred eyes as the Gryphon who carried Penelope landed on the field. The historian leapt off, collapsed by her brother’s side, and laid her head atop the dead Mermaid’s chest.
Howled sobs and hurtful moans took turns breaking Evagoria’s heart. As if the heavens wept with the grieving Mermaid, rain now fell from the sky. When this day began, Eumelus was Penelope’s brother. Every day forever after, he would be just one more servant of the Grim.
The players had played a little more than two-thirds through, but would do so no longer. Deaths that happened during a Harpastum game were rarely so sudden. While Evagoria’s parents departed to comfort Penelope as best they could, Cassiopeia stayed with her.
*****
The summer conference was a time for business as well as games and festivals. “We historians just sit around a large table with our copper codices bound in gold and bicker for days on end,” Penelope complained more than once when describing her duties during
the conference.
Evagoria imagined that this was probably even more boring than it sounded.
As each nation’s historians gathered, the leaders of the five nations would meet as well, but usually only two at a time. In the past, Evagoria had paid little attention to such things, but her queenship within sight and new friendships now demanded she do so. A vengeful Centaur having just struck down a defenseless Mermaid, she was suddenly fearful over what might happen when her Queen Mother and Alexander met. And as luck would have it, they would do so the evening after next.
Chapter Twenty-One
IT’S COMPLICATED
There was a day when I fancied him, but the witch would not cooperate. A weak excuse here, a pathetic reason there – the truth was obvious: Marseea did not have the courage to try. With all my heart, I do love my Theodoric; alas, this does not convince my insides not to quiver nor prevent a sparkle from twinkling in my eye as I gaze upon what might have been. In regards to the relationship between Alexander and me, most know less than half the story. Still, this is more than enough for spry minds to come to the obvious conclusion: ‘It’s complicated’.
– Diedrika, Mermaid Queen
– Mid-Summer, Year 4,253 KT[25]
The palace inside the Sapien prefecture owned nine floors. A sprawling structure – aside for during the summer conferences – most of it went unused. This made it the perfect location inside the shared city to hold meetings between regents. Mermaids, of course, lorded over the largest room in the palace: the ‘Celebration Hall’. This cavernous space on the sixth level horribly misnamed – there had been little to celebrate for centuries and nothing to speak of the last two decades. Such was the nature of forthcoming extinction.
And it was in this great room where Queen Diedrika now sat in a makeshift throne, ready to receive Alexander. She would soon do so, just not yet.
The shocking death of her brother, Eumelus, having thrown Penelope deep into the abyss of mourning, she would not attend. In Penelope’s place, one of her scribes now shadowed Diedrika. Opposite from this scribe and on the other side of the throne, Theodoric and Evagoria looked on. Her daughter soon to be fourteen, it was time for the Gift from Poseidon to learn the ways of a willful queen.
“Regarding the fall harvest,” a messenger began, “the Centaurs have once again asked us to provide them with more food than last year. The Chiron has said they will pay whatever ––”
“And was some of their freedom part of this payment of ‘whatever’?” Diedrika interrupted curtly. She stayed seated, but now leaned forward.
The messenger shook his head weakly. “No, my queen,” he said even more weakly. “I do not think so.”
She motioned for him to come close. He was now less than half a pike length away.
“At least some of their lands then, yes?”
The messenger shook his head. “No.”
“I thought not.”
Diedrika leaned back again in her throne. Deep in thought, she held her palms close and a faint glow came about between them, but she bronze-made nothing.
“Year after year, what Centaurs give in return for so much food taken from our seas is near worthless,” she announced in a forceful tone. “The time has come for them to put more skin in the game. With Gryphons, we together rule the skies. Orcas tamed years ago, we rule the seas. Why should we not rule the land as well? And everything that crawls and walks it!”
The room turned silent. Even the echoes had found their way out. In truth, Diedrika never liked this part of the palace. Grand artifacts and sculptures strewn throughout nearly every hall and room she had ever set her eyes on, this room barely had any ––
And what was that musty smell?
The messenger retreated a bit. As to why he was here and Alexander was not, it was tradition for messengers to ‘prepare’ the other regent for what might be discussed. But Diedrika never played this game.
To give Alexander, Achaemenes – even Marseea – fair warning of what willful words were on their way … what fun was that?
“Would Mermaid driven chariots and Gryphon cavalry be enough to take positions on land?” Theodoric asked slowly. “I would think a standing army would be needed.”
Diedrika smiled at this pun. She then lifted the flukes on the end of her tail from the floor and looked at them in wonder. Alas, a Mermaid owned not legs, but a tail.
“Very good, my clever husband, very good. I have not exactly figured out that part yet.”
The five Mermaids chuckled at this – even Evagoria did so. And even better….
“But a siege,” Evagoria blurted, “requires no standing army.” Although wisps of worry now sewed themselves into her face, her tone was confident. “Three layers of granite walls to the west of Lacanesia defended by archer and ballista towers and the other half of the city protected by the Guardian Mountains in the east – a direct assault is near impossible. And wholly unnecessary. A combined force of Mermaids and Gryphons could easily hold Centaurs behind their walls or Arachna inside the Agathis for a long time. With no way for them to challenge our air power – with shielded strikers especially – forever if need be. But this all just talk, just hypothetical, yes, Mother?”
“Of course, darling,” Diedrika answered in her most pleasant voice. “Of course.” A small smile returned to Evagoria’s face and her worried look faded away.
Evagoria possessed a kind heart for friends, but a ruthless mind for enemies. And if these friends became enemies, then so be it. To be a Mermaid meant an unwavering allegiance to the West. Not even the Gift from Poseidon had a choice in the matter. As far as Diedrika knew, Evagoria had never harmed even the slimiest of bugs, yet here she had just laid out plans to dominate them all – brilliant! The princess spent more time with Perseos than she did any other and he often bragged that she was already a better tactician than some of his officers. Yet to do so to this point, it was time for Diedrika to start believing it.
As for a siege, this was an interesting idea, but much too subtle. And subtle was not this Mermaid queen’s style.
But learned tactics aside, there was much more to this than met the eye. More to the point, the soul. Even more specifically, the battle for it:
“The conflict that dwells deep inside Evagoria will soon begin,” Cassiopeia told Diedrika a little more than a year ago. “A mind for war, a heart that craves to offer unlimited mercy – no stalemate, no truce to this conflict possible – one will triumph over the other. A battle for one to determine the outcome of a battle for all on its way … there is nothing we can do to stop it.”
And thank the gods we cannot, Grandmother, for NOTHING will be more glorious!
Diedrika slid off her throne and moved close to the messenger. “Bring Alexander to me,” she commanded firmly. The messenger pulled out his walking sticks, turned, and departed to do so.
The Centaur Chiron soon marched through the open Kauri wood doors. His flowing dark green caparison matched his black tunic and dark grey cloak, but did appear a bit drab. Alexander’s beard could have used a trim and his long hair was a bit messy, but these just added to his rugged good looks. Despite Alexander’s wealth and station, no one else could play the part of the humble Centaur better. Even when in full hobo mode, few Centaurs were as handsome. A far better dressed Nubian followed just behind his Chiron.
Diedrika wore her crown, a deep purple stola, and silver palla; the front lip of the palla was pinned to the back edge of her crown. A gold belt tied tight showed off her curvy waist that led to hips that became the top of her tail. She rarely wore this regal ensemble for others, but always had and always would when in Alexander’s presence. After he knelt and kissed her hand, she hugged him. As Theodoric was watching, she did this quickly.
“Good evening, my friend,” Diedrika said kindly.
“A very good evening to you, Great Queen,” he returned.
With a smile, Diedrika looked eagerly at the fine wooden chest the Nubian held. “You bring a gift I see!”<
br />
“It is for Penelope,” Alexander returned quietly. “I am so sorry for her loss. Please tell her this when you give it to her.” The Chiron taking a moment to pause, this brief silence stole away Diedrika’s smile. “How is she?”
Diedrika stayed motionless for a few moments and simply looked at him.
“Oh yes – that,” she said finally. She then glided about the room with her back to Alexander. Diedrika turned only at the waist when ready to speak again. “Just who was it that killed Eumelus?”
“His name is Tonactec,” the Chiron answered with a sigh. “His actions were wholly accidental, but he still feels horrible about what happened.”
“Tonactec … Tonactec …” Diedrika whispered as she turned around fully to face Alexander. “This name, this Tonactec,” she said in a raised voice, “has indeed reached my ears. You both share a rare something in common, Alexander, yet are wholly different. He has done little with his life, you have done much with yours, but both of you have brought forth a grand another. His son is not a polymath, but a champion archer – the great hunter.”
“Yes. Orion is his son. As for what he has done with his life, Tonactec is a friend and has become one of our best mariners. He … he.…”
Diedrika’s annoyed look at this babbling silenced him.
“Much more because of the son he fathered than his muddled innocence, I will not charge this Olmec with any crime.”
The Chiron let out a grateful sigh.
“But be forewarned, Alexander,” Diedrika continued in a tone turning dark and rightly so. “If a Mermaid or Gryphon ever finds him on the wrong side of Elkabydos – no matter if on land or sea – I cannot guarantee his safety. In fact, I can only guarantee outright danger.”
“I understand,” he said quietly with a nod.
Diedrika found it curious that the Chiron did not continue to defend someone he referred to as a ‘friend’, but this thought was fleeting. She had already wasted enough words on this irrelevant Olmec she could not care less for.
The Gift From Poseidon: When Gods Walked Among Us (Volume 2) Page 23