Chapter 4
2295 Words
His head was still bowed, he was still on his knees. King Rhode had said nothing since he arrived and lord Herman was sweating profusely. Queen Aliya’s eyes were glued on him.
“Will someone tell me what’s going on here?” Aliya asked looking confused.
“Your majesty my name is Adonis son of Hector”, Leon said his head still bowed.
He could hear Rhodes heart pound in his chest threatening to jump right out. He decided to keep his word and ensure the queen did not find out about his claim. Times might have changed, a few things too but his principles were still intact no matter the timeline, he always kept his word.
“Get up soldier!” Rhode ordered getting up from his royal seat to meet him.
“Your majesty, the heads of the rival armie’s generals”, Leon said handing them over.
Lord Herman ran to take the burden off his majesty. He emptied the piece of clothes and there they were. Both the king and queen smirked. The first head to roll on the ground was that of the man in whose hands their four sons perished. The brutal general Pollux.
“You killed him?” Queen Aliya asked.
“Yes your majesty together with all his men”, Leon said.
“You are indeed my son”, King Rhode announced proudly.
“Wait what? Is this the prince you people were talking about?”
“Yes, I asked him to prove himself and he brought me the heads of my enemies, Guards!” Rhode called out.
A couple of guards came running towards him. Despite their heavy silver armors, swords and spears they were too fast.
“Show the prince his chambers, ask the maids to wash and dress him and on your way tell the butler to come as fast as possible!” The king ordered.
Leon was taken away by the two guards, Lord Herman and Queen Aliya just stood there. It was the happiest they had seen in years since the war started.
“So from which hoe is Adonis...”
“Aliya please you won’t ruin this for me. And don’t call his mother a hoe she is just a woman like you”
“Okay, I like him anyway but we are not done here” She announced walking away.
Herman looked at Rhode, he was not scared as usual. Aliya’s threats were not scary enough to wash the smile from his face. Even Herman found himself smiling he could see a promotion to the title of chief advisor. That meant more respect, horses and pieces of land. A fat purse with more shekels of gold and silver. He could build a big house and have many servants.
“You asked for me your majesty”, the butler said bowing to show respect.
“Yes Hector, I asked for you”, King Rhode said happily.
The butler was also confused. His majesty rarely called him by name. He could tell the king’s mood had changed for the better.
“I want you to prepare a feast, a big feast for my son Adonis. I want all the best musicians in the land, all the lords and a few commoners to be invited. Fine wine and good food, security to be beefed up outside the palace. Go!”
“Consider it done your majesty”, hector said walking away briskly.
A few minutes after Hector was gone, Herman asked the musician to leave. His expertise were not needed anymore the king was happy at heart. There was a spark of light at the end of the tunnel. Even though he knew Adonis was not his son, like the oracle Cassandra had said he was their savior. Herman could not wait to pitch his proposal. Now that the king was on a roller coaster of emotions it was the best time to suggest his promotion.
“My king I was thinking and I don’t mean to brag but am the one who brought Adonis, I found him wondering in the woods on my way home last night and gave him a place to sleep...”
“Herman stop hitting around the bush”
“My king your servant will be pleased if you make him the chief advisor of the palace”
“You have it”
“Do you mean it your majesty?" Herman asked happily.
“Yes Herman, you have been a good advisor besides Aliya was telling me she doesn’t like Balius you can be his replacement”, Rhode said.
“It will be my greatest honor you majesty”
“I will make the announcement during the feast as for now go make sure everything is going according to plan”
“Right away your majesty” Herman said,
He bowed and adjusted his stola like garment and walked away.
******
In the outskirts of the market quarters, in what looked like an abandoned castle with smoke coming from the chimney, the oracle Cassandra was seated with her three girls. They had dedicated their lives to serve the gods. That day she was preparing them to meet the king with the official message of her prophecy and also to gloat since she knew her prophecy had already came to pass. The three girls, Gaia, Dahlia and Helen were being taught how to carry themselves out in front of the king and the queen.
“Remember to bow even if you don’t see me bowing”
“Yes mum”, Gaia the team leader said.
“Dahlia you will carry the flowers, bow to the queen before giving them to her and Helen you will carry the basket of fruits”, Cassandra said.
“And what about me?” Gaia asked.
“You my dear will look pretty and just smile when you see the prince”
She was the fairest of them. The role was perfect for her. Despite dedicating her life to the gods’ boys still approached her with gifts to ask for her hand in marriage. Her beauty was known all over the kingdom.
“You are all ready I presume”, Cassandra said.
“Yes” the girls said in a chorus.
“Good let me organize a chariot for us”
Cassandra felt it the moment Leon got lost and found himself in their timeline. Her great grandmother who was also an oracle had already showed her a prince from the future coming to save the kingdom long even before the war started. But after ruining her relationship with king Rhode with constant news of doom she did not want to tell him unless she was sure. And now that she was it was the best time to give the king the whole prophecy. Why Leon was back in 1823 was also a mystery to Cassandra herself. No oracle or wizard or witch in her time or before her time was strong enough to go to the future and leave alone back in time. All she was hoping was Leon had some answers. Because with the savior also came a disadvantage, the more he stayed and knocked history off its course the more he damaged the timeline meaning mother nature was going to find a way to balance. And it was not always going to be good.
“Prepare the chariot will you?” She said to one of her servants.
“Yes mum” He said walking towards the horses.
She went back in to check on the girls. They were waiting patiently for him in the room full of skulls and jars of ash. Its walls were graced by portraits, fine art and skins of various animals. A chandelier made of candles was lighting up the room that was dark during midday. They all bordered the chariot and their journey started. Along the way once in a while they had to stop and listen to the people. They were also carrying extra fruits for the people and flour too. Even though they could not feed all of them, the few that they could were grateful. Cassandra was also carrying medicine for the sick. Basically a journey from her castle to the palace took hours. One thing she couldn’t do was leave them standing there looking lost without hope. She tried the best she could to give them hope and the chariot driver knew when and when not to stop.
“The oracle, May the gods smile upon you”, A man said bowing in respect.
“May the gods bless you how can the oracle be of help you?” she said.
“My daughter, she has a rare diseases she is convulsing and speaking to herself”, the desperate man said looking sad.
Cassandra looked even more attentive than she was at the beginning of the conversation.
“When did it start?” She asked.
“A few days ago, I have tried every medicine man they can’t help her. You re my last resort oracle”
The sadness and fear in his eyes was enough to make Cassandra get out of the chariot. He instructed the girls to remain inside.
“Where is she?”
“Back in my house”
“Take me to her, take the girls to the palace”, She instructed the rider.
“But mistress...”Gaia complained.
“You will be fine, you girls got this he will come for me later I have to help this man his daughter might be in big trouble”, she said.
They nodded and left while Cassandra walked with the man to his house. She had a long green dusty rob with a hood. She also had a long wooden stick, she did not need it though. Most people thought she was blind, her eyes were all white like no black iris but she saw more than those who thought they had the normal eyes. They were met by a devastated wife with the other children.
“The oracle!” she said going on her knees.
“Get up am here to help”, Cassandra said helping her to get back up.
“She is inside, she can’t eat the fruits, the bread even goat meat”
“Take me to her”
They found the girl tied on the bed, her legs with hands extrapolated to the four corners of the bed, her head was hanging as though her neck was snapped by a vampire. The moment Cassandra got in the room she started screaming and wheezing like a possessed girl. She was indeed possessed. The oracle could feel an unknown dark power in the room.
“She has been like that the whole day”, the mother said.
“Let me get her some medication that can help”, Casandra said looking though her sling bag.
She poured all the contents out. Most of them were ash like tied in pieces of cloth, others were in liquid form kept in bottles. She settled for one bottle. Looked at it and then looked at the girl. It was the best one. She was better of asleep. Now the problem was getting her to drink it. With all the kicking and fizzing and violence. When she got to her the girl stopped, her eyes rolled and became all white like Cassandra’s eyes.
“Ask them to leave” a voice said.
She moved back.
“Did you hear that?” She asked looking at the two parents.
“No, hear what?” the father said.
“Neither did I” the woman said.
“They can’t hear you now let them go or I will kill them all and you will save no one” the voice threatened.
She did ignore it and moved closer again. The result of her ignorance, one hand was set free and the girl raised her father high up in the air. Cassandra was scared, she dropped the bottle spilling its contents.
“I can do more trust me”, the voice warned.
“Okay!” She shouted, “Let him go”
The girl’s father was dropped on the ground with a thud.
“Please leave the room”, Cassandra said to them.
They did not hesitate. From what they had seen whatever was making their daughter become something else was more powerful than they thought.
“Show yourself!” she said.
“Bad news I can’t but it listen to me”, the voice said. The girl broke free and stood in front of Cassandra except she was floating on air, ”there is something I need you to do for me and am not asking am ordering you”
“And why should I do what you say?”
“You don’t want me to get to that, kill the prince. I will leave the girl for now but when I come back I will kill her”
After it was done the girl collapsed, Cassandra held her before she hit the ground. The innocent girl opened her eyes as Cassandra lay her on the floor. She reached for an enchanted bracelet and tied her around her arm.
“You are safe now”, she assured.
“Thank you”, the girl mumbled.
Her parents came in. they were glad to see her okay. Both of them gave her one big family hug. They couldn’t thank the oracle enough but as she walked away she was thinking of what just happened and was the prince saving them or killing them? It was time she met the prince.
- Writer
