NINETEEN
Today was the day that I would meet Dyos in Arwid. I’d spent two days in the palace trying to act as everything was ordinary. My father didn’t have much time to keep a watchful eye on me like normal since he spent those two days locked in his study. There were times I wanted to visit him in his study, but I knew he did not fully trust me in there anymore. The times he spent in the study also made me wonder if it was because he was trying to come up with another way to protect the room. I wouldn’t be getting in the room anytime soon to find out. So I spent the majority of my two days with Kiowa. The venom was a true mystery to the medic. My father had summoned for every medic in Pearu to come to the aide to the Queen. Yet no one could rid my mother of the powerful venom in her body. The venom would often appear and disappear as if it was playing with her. Just as we would think she would heal, the venom would reappear spreading worse than before. It was another reason I was going to Arwid. Maybe I could find some kind of cure that the medics overlooked.
Standing outside of her bedroom door, I turned the handle and entered. The curtains were drawn and there was a slight smell of sickness in the air. One of her servants sat next to her bed patted the sweat off her head. That was another thing that bothered me about this venom. Her symptoms were like symptoms mortals sometimes got when they were stricken with colds and flus.
“Give us a moment.”
The servant nodded and vacated her seat, leaving me alone with my mother. I walked over towards her bed and sat down in the chair beside it. I grabbed the cloth the servant had been using, and dipped it into the water in the bowl on the stand. Wringing it out, I dabbed it against her forehead.
“Aristaeus?”
“Shh” I said to her. “Don’t try to speak. Save your energy.”
“I want water.”
“Okay.” I put the cloth away and grabbed the glass and pitcher off the stand. I filled it with water and turned to let her drink some. She took deep gulps before lying back on the pillow.
“Does the water seem to help?”
“Yes. It soothes the heat in my throat. Aristaeus, I want you to know something.”
I waved my hand. “Don’t! Whatever you’re about to say save it for when you get out of bed. I’m going to Arwid to find you a cure so you won’t be able to lounge around much longer.”
“You’re going to Arwid, when?”
“Today.”
Kiowa stared at me as if she knew the real reason. “Be careful Aristaeus. I do not want you turning into your father with this mission. If you don’t find the answers that you are looking for, I want you to return home and just leave it alone. I’m happy with who you are despite your changes. You’re still my son, and in time your father will agree with me that it does not matter.”
“No worries mother. I won’t turn into father.”
I stayed there for a few more minutes with her until she fell asleep. Standing over, I stared down at her frail figure and knew that it was more evident that I find a cure. Leaving the room, I told the servants to check on her every few minutes and to keep her pitcher filled with cool water. Leaving her quarters, I headed towards the main entrance of the palace. Stepping out the doors, I saw the carriage I’d requested waiting in front of the steps. Guards moved back and forth filling it with different items that I’d requested along for my journey.
“Is everything accounted for?”
“Yes, your highness. Are you sure you do not need a guard detail?”
“I will be fine. Do you have my weapons?”
“Yes, your highness.”
The guard went to the cart that he’d brought along to load my bags. He removed my demos and jugest and handed the items to me. I wrapped the jugest around my shoulder and the demos around my left shoulder.
“I shall return soon”
The guard helped me into the carriage and closed the door. The carriage pulled to a start moving away from the front of the palace. The bridge lowered and the carriage moved across it rocking against the dents and stumbles on the bridge. Glancing out the window, we’d crossed the bridge as it lifted into the air erasing the palace out of view. Sitting back in the carriage, I removed one of the blue journals I’d requested from the brown bag. Opening the book, there was a pen inside. Like my father, this book would be used to document my journey and my findings. Unlatching the pen, I began to fill the pages, becoming lost in my memories.
The journey to Arwid was a long one. I’d stopped writing in my journal to take a lunch break. I enjoyed the servant’s different dishes of prime meats they’d sent me. Now that I was full, sleep was starting to creep up on me. I reached up to close the curtains to the windows. Stretching out on the seat, I closed my eyes and waited to arrive in Arwid.
“He sure is pretty isn’t he?”
My eyes opened as I gripped my demos. Sitting up quickly, I turned to face the intruder. Dyos grinned peeping through my window, the blade facing him not bothering him at all.
“Dyos, what are you doing?”
“Rise and shine young Prince. You’re in Arwid.”
I placed my demos back in my sheath as Dyos opened the door to the carriage. I stepped out and immediately smell the scent of barbecuing meat. The land of Arwid was known for its savageness despite the new rules brought by the King. The citizens in Arwid preferred to keep to the old way of the late Queen despite their dislike of her. They enjoyed barbecuing outside and sharing the meat with their neighbors. They enjoyed bartering for goods in the day and having wild parties at night. It was a land for many runaways and wild creatures. It was one of Dyos favorite places.
At the sight of me stepping out of the carriage, a few passersby’s shot me confused glances. I wasn’t dressed in the King’s colors and I wasn’t riding in the normal carriage of kingdom. My carriage wasn’t poor, but it wasn’t rich either. I guess their confused glances were because they’d never seen me in this land, while Dyos was a known customer.
Dyos led me away from the carriage as some creatures came over to unload the carriage. I almost withdrew my demos again, but Dyos assured me they would take my bags up to room he’d got for me. Grabbing my arm, he led me away from the carriage and down the dirt road.
“When did you get here?” I asked.
“I came as soon as I sent the scroll. I couldn’t chance my father thinking I’d taken it so I escaped here. I’ve got an alibi that I’ve been here for the past week. My mother agreed to cover for me just as long as I bring back trinkets.”
We passed by different booths as creatures called us to come and try their goods. The booths carried things from books, food, ribbons, and other things that creatures of Pearu would have used for. Dyos stopped at one of the tables and picked up an orange. He tossed the attendant a dragon scale and bit into the orange, peel and all.
“So, where do we start boss?”
“First we need to find the place where moonstone rings were sold. If we go to the spot, we may see the woman, and if not we can ask the people around if they’d remember her.”
“Do you think they would remember someone from that far ago?”
“I know it’s a long shot, but it is the only chance that we’ve got.” I said.
We moved through the crowd, Dyos stopping every minute to check out the selection. I would have gotten annoyed but Dyos assured me it was necessary. If we just marched through the lands, the citizens would get suspicious and turn on us. The citizens in Arwid did not like spies no matter if they were of the King’s palace. So keeping with his rules, I browsed the booths and picked up a bracelet for Kiowa and a couple of books for her. I also found some for myself to read, that is if I ever got the chance to have peace again.
We finally made it to the part of the land where Kiowa had stated the woman had settled her booth. However, it was clear that this woman was no longer here. In the place where her booth was once located, a bread booth was in its place. An Orc stood behind the b
ooth slicing a loaf of bread with a sharp knife. At the sight of us approaching him, he took in our clothing and smiled. The only thought that was going through his mind was that we had money. He was the right guy to question.
“Welcome to Aster’s Bread Shop. We have a variety of breads in today. Would you like to try a piece of unicorn loaf, or how about a turtle loaf?
“Yes, I’ll take a loaf of each.” Dyos said leaning on the counter smiling.
The Orc grinned and begin to fill a bag full of the bread Dyos requested.
“You picked a good one you did. The unicorn loaves are selling out a lot today. The turtle loaf not so much. Creatures just don’t appreciate the good taste of turtle loaf anymore.”
“Well I can never turn down turtle loaves, especially with a side of Kampe stew.”
The Orc clapped in agreement. Dyos was succeeding in gaining the trust of the Orc by having the same likes as he did.
“How long have you been in Arwid selling this bread?” I asked.
The Orc glanced at me uncertain, but then he remembered I was with Dyos. “I’ve been here for only a couple of months. I use to own a bakery in Mayur, but with the recent attacks, I decided to move on to a safer place.”
“You really should move to the City of Pearu.” I said trying my hand at one of Dyos smiles. “You would make a killing in dragon scales if you sell this in the City. The elite love to eat bread. I don’t think they have unicorn bread there.”
“Really?” The Orc said in excitement.
“Really. I know a few people in the City. I could put in a good word for you. Maybe even get you a place where you can live above your business.”
Dyos added. “You should take him up on his offer. He got me a real good place to open up a bar. My business is doing really well.”
The Orc stared at us. There was a part of him that did not full believe us. We were Hell Demons, but we talked as if we’d lived somewhere else besides the main City of Pearu. If it wasn’t for a fellow barter walking by speaking to Dyos, I think the Orc would have ratted us out to the rest of the barters.
“If you can put in a word for me that would be excellent.” The Orc said deciding he could trust us. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“You could give us some information.” Dyos said.
“What kind of information?”
“Have you seen a woman around here that sells moonstone rings? My mother bought one for me when I was young, and I would like to return the favor by purchasing one for her as a gift.”
“I don’t know anything about a woman selling moonstone rings, but there’s a guy around here that sells them.”
“A guy?” I asked.
The Orc nodded. “He’s a demon like you. He sells moonstone rings, but he only gives certain creatures specific types of rings. Some say they are filled with power.”
Dyos and I glanced over at each other. Was it a coincidence that a demon was selling moonstone rings that housed powers like mine? No, it couldn’t be.
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“Over there” The Orc pointed. We followed his hand to a demon across the road. He sat behind a booth that was covered in books. “Hey Grethen!”
At the sound of that name a chill went through me. The demon glanced up from the book he was reading. At the sight of us, he jumped up and took off running knocking creatures to the side.
Dyos and I chased after him as the Orc shouted at us “Hey what about the bread?”
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