Chapter 11 Golden Fleece Returns Home

The festival of return of spring began with painted egg shells left at the statue of sun goddess Petrie’s statues. Amariah came to Ilio’s temple to sing praises and light candles. Incense burned and prayers for a good harvest were spoken. On this day, it is forbidden to kill any rabbits since it is the symbol of Petrie. Ships were removed from their winter sheds and repaired for sea voyages. Ilio’s ship The Larissa was fitted and filled with supplies. The women made their farewells to their men ready to set sail. Fourteen ships left the Mermaid Islands and Ilio’s command of five ships sailed to Minos Island where they stayed for a few days to trade in the city Knossos. They continued on to Ithaca and traded with Lord Mishca planning a trade expedition to Horn of Roden. The colonists there have built ships and started their own trade routes. Some ships go down river to the inland mountains where iron, gold, and silver are mined. Other ships follow the coast and visit islands. Colonists from the destroyed Kala Island have visited Nubian ports and have informed Chloe that the subjects she left behind had similar lives than before. The peasants plant their seeds and reap their harvest, following the same restrictive laws the Nubian dynasty had. The Aferdian king Ptah made his capital off the coast and down river at Memphis. He had Nubian peasant slaves build a new palace during the flood season and plant gardens of Aferdian plants. The temple priests that stayed behind are highly regarded and worship Aferdian deities. Inscriptions are written in Nubian since Aferdian is not a written language, but phonetic sounds are translated into the Nubian writing system. Chloe was disappointed her subjects failed to grieve for her lost reign. She came to visit her daughter Crown Princess Hermione and her family in Ithaca for the first day of summer celebration. Ilio stayed with Lord Mishca while his sailors slept their ale off inside brothels. A maidservant entered Ilio’s bed chamber to wake him for the banquet held in his honor. He grabbed her arm and explained he was awake.

“Just let me sleep, Chloe.” whispered Ilio.

“I am not Chloe, Your Highness.” replied the maidservant.

“Sorry, your nose looks like her.” said Ilio as he took a second look. “And you have her eyes.”

“I look like Her Majesty? No one has ever said that before.” responded the maidservant.

“Yes, you look just like Her Majesty. Now get out.” said Ilio turning away from the maidservant.

“I have my orders from Her Majesty to get you up for the banquet in your honor and I cannot disappoint Her Majesty.” answered the maidservant.

“I said, let me sleep!” growled Ilio as he grabbed her hair and pulled her head to his stomach.

“Alright, return to your sleep.” cried the maidservant.

“Thank you,” retorted Ilio.

Ilio relaxed into a lovely dream visiting the palace in Tanis when Queen Chloe ruled with her husband King Rashid. He entered the queen’s bathing chamber by the servants’ door and dismissed the handmaidens. He stepped into Chloe’s warm water stone bathtub and stroked her hair. She moans how Rashid was gone fighting the Aferdians and begged him to stay with her through the night. They went into her bed chamber kissing and held each other until they fell asleep. He woke up with Chloe gone and handmaidens sewing in a circle giggling about the palace guards they daydreamed of marrying. Unsure what to do, he called out her name. Someone started the shake him. He called for Chloe again. The dream faded and he woke up in the guest bed chamber in Mishca’s home.

“Oh, will you wake up. You are missing your own banquet.”

“Chloe,” mumbled Ilio.

“My goodness, you still dream about her. Wake up, stupid.”

“Chloe,” spoke Ilio startling awake.

“Get up you selfish scamp,” ordered Lord Mishca kicking the mattress.

“Oh, my, goodness, I had a wicked dream.” howled Ilio sitting up to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

“Yes, I heard. My guests are waiting for you, Ilio.” declared Mishca.

“You!” shouted Ilio at the maidservant with her eyes downcast in shame. “You caused my dream about Chloe just now. Who are you?”

“I am a maidservant to Her Majesty and she sent me to wake you for the banquet in your honor.” spoke the girl.

“No, where you come from.” said Ilio ripping off her veil to reveal her dark blonde hair. “And why do you look so much like her?”

“I come from Tanis and have been in Her Majesty’s service since I was orphaned at age four. I never met my parents and cannot explain why I look like her. Her Majesty said my father was a prince therefore I must be a relative of hers.” replied the girl.

“Then your mother must be an elf, you have an elf forehead and ears.” observed Ilio holding her chin in his hand. “Tell Her Majesty I want an explanation why you have my mother’s stature, now go.”

“Who was that girl?” asked Ilio when the maidservant left and heard crying down the hall.

“Just a maidservant that came with Queen Chloe for the coming of summer celebration. She has been staying at the palace with Princess Hermione.” answered Mishca placing dress robes on Ilio. “Get your slippers on, my guests are waiting.”

Ilio slipped on fur shoes and Mishca tied on a tasseled sash. Ilio finished with tying his sword belt and slipping on gold necklaces. Mishca declared he was good enough and the pair walked to the banquet hall next to the opened courtyard full of guests sitting at tables and conversing in the garden. Dancers and musicians were performing when a loud horn sounded to announce Lord Mishca’s entrance.

“Make welcome the guest of honor, Prince Ilio, Lord of Blue Island and my friend!” shouted Mishca.

The crowd applauded and his sailors tapped their ale mugs against their tables. Someone shouted “Hail to the Pirate King of Vassily!” and Ilio smirked at the attention. He always hated being called by his father’s titles. He spotted Chloe and her maidservants walking through the hall accepting courtesies of well-wishers. Chloe calmly glanced at him acknowledging Mishca’s business partners and relatives. Then she turned away and paid attention to her ladies from Carthage. Ilio sat at the main table with Mishca’s family. Servants brought out trays of food and set them on the tables. Dancers and musicians entertained as the guests ate. Then acrobats and jugglers entered for their turn to entertain the wealthy clients. When their act was done, singers and actors in masks demonstrated a story of a goddess and fairies returning life to the world after a long winter sleep. Once the meal was finished, the musicians changed and it was the guests who danced to the music. Ilio saw the maidservant who awoke him dancing with Mishca’s grandson. He had another daydream of kissing Chloe in Tanis. Who was this girl that made him dream of Chloe, while he was awake and trying to listen to Mishca discuss going to Sheba with him? He shook it off and continued bewildered through the banquet toasts, announcements to Sheba, and applauds.

“Mishca, may I go back to bed now. I made my appearance, ate the meal, and watched the guests dance badly.” inquired Ilio.

“Go right ahead, I know you what you want to do with Chloe. You talk in your sleep.” answered Mishca.

“Amusing,” sneered Ilio.

He grabbed Chloe’s arm and asked to speak with her alone. They walked to her bed chamber where the maidservant was preparing for Her Majesty to retire. Ilio asked Chloe why this girl who woke him resembled his mother and gave him dreams of Chloe every time he saw her. Chloe excused the girl. Ilio refused to let her leave. She said she was an orphan and never met her parents, Ilio thought she deserves an explanation as well. Chloe sighed and whispered that the girl was Ilio’s daughter. She had to be hidden from King Rashid or he would have evidence of adultery against him. He would have killed her and their daughter. The wet nurse who raised her informed the girl that she was the daughter of a prince who lived outside the city and then later an orphaned ward to Her Majesty after turning four, who took her into service to keep her from the sight of Rashid. When they suddenly left Nubia, she blended in with the other servant refugees and Rashid never noticed her.

“Leave us,” ordered Ilio and the maidservant left in shock. “How could you never tell me this, I would have protected her with my magic? Have you anything else to tell me before I go to Sheba?”

“We had a son. He was born blind and I sent him to the temple. He died at age three from winter sickness. I visited him when I could. I had him buried near the tombs of royalty that were said to be smashed up when the Aferdians invaded. A priest told a colonist sailor that he places a flower on the floor stones marking his grave. Please forgive me for not telling you.” replied Chloe.

“How could you keep all this from me?” begged Ilio.

“I’m sorry. You were broken hearted over Tixi and I was married to Rashid who was constantly gone fighting or hunting. And he was a much better king than any of my brothers.” answered Chloe.

“Oh, listen to you. You hide our son and daughter from everyone and all you can say is Rashid was a better than your brothers.” reacted Ilio.

“Well, you got married to Edwina and then got that Dacian queen pregnant. How could trust you with our children when you are sailing the seas most of the year, now you’re going to Sheba.” replied Chloe.

“Alright, you have a point. I am known for being a pirate, scoundrel, unscrupulous merchant, and therefore leave my children to be raised by Edwina who had died last winter.” retorted Ilio.

“What, Edwina died last winter?” asked Chloe.

“Yes, she caught winter sickness and I took the children out ice fishing so she could rest in peace. We came back and she was asleep wheezing softly. I woke her up for an evening meal and she could barely speak. Later that night as we slept, she had died. I had a dream of her saying farewell to me. We enshrined her bones in a statue.” explained Ilio.

“I’m sorry. I failed to realize your pain.” said Chloe.

“I didn’t really expect you to guess that. I suppose you won’t be visiting my bed chamber since I’m heartbroken over Edwina. Good night, Chloe. I’m leaving in morning.” said Ilio.

Ilio walked down the hall to his bed chamber. He settled into bed and Chloe entered his room wearing her nightgown. They cuddled into the night and woke up to the rooster crow. Breakfast trays were brought in and outside the rain clouds moved. Chloe laughed how he will not be leaving in the rain. She begged Ilio to take her to Sheba with him. Ilio was unsure if she just wanted to look upon her country again. Yes, she said, she wants to view the country she never saw before locked up in a palace and carried on a litter to city temples. Ilio caved in and promised to take her. Her maidservant entered to ask if her father could take her on his journeys because a high priestess must travel away from home and it is not safe on the Horn of Roden. She explained she has been studying to become a priestess for years learning medicines, fortune telling, and scying with a black mirror. Ilio consented to tutoring her in magic. They set sail the next day and he announced to his sailors of the visitors. Lord Mishca pulled on ropes to open the sail heading south. Ilio navigated and directed the rudder. Ilio gazed upon Chloe sleeping in the early morning. He remembered waking her the morning after his father kidnapped her to give her a bowl of mush. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He tried to distance himself from her because he could never have her. He was a small boy who had just begun school. Chloe woke up and remembered him as a boy staring at her and unable to speak Nubian to her. His daughter Alifair also woke up and vomited. Ilio observed her seasickness and gave her ginger tea.

Ilio explained how her parents met on a ship after his father kidnapped her. After Lexie banished him from land, he would float on his cape to visit Chloe on the second floor of her palace. One night she found him sleeping on her bed and kissed his forehead. She would have food brought to him in the morning and slept soundly beside him. He even mentioned the story of Larissa, the orphan girl he found when his father attacked her island home. Her foster family left her behind when they ran into the woods. She hid in the house and Ilio found her. He held out his hand and walked her to the boats carrying his bag of treasure. He gave her a necklace he made of shells and promised to keep her safe. Later, he discovered she had the illness called The Shakes and suddenly died. She said once she was going to meet her family in the afterlife, but he thought that was just a dream of hers. When he traveled to the fairy realm, he couldn’t find her anywhere. The humans said she was granted a new life from the goddess Isis since she died so young. Holding Alifair’s hand, he wondered if she was Larissa in her new life. He used her black mirror and recited a spell. She was not. In fact, Lexie’s daughter Tara was the rebirth of Larissa. He now thought amusing Tara had married his son Cambri. Alifair enjoyed the stories and ate her breakfast.

They arrived in Tanis and walked straight to the temple where his son was buried. He apologized for not knowing of his existence until now. A spirit appeared and said he was forgiven. The spirit apologized for returning as a full human, goddess Isis forbids return to life in the same form. After all, they did find each other and now he will remain on his island with his wife Amariah. The high priest was most happy to see his long lost queen. The Aferdians are quite demanding and arrogant. Ilio then asked the high priest to marry them, that very evening. Chloe had a dress to buy. They went to the marketplace and shopped for wedding clothes. In the moonlight, the high priest commenced the ceremony. Lord Mishca was groomsman and Alifair was bridesmaid. At the inn where they stayed, a messenger arrived to grant an audience to King Thutmose of Tanis. The Aferdian city king requested the best of his cargo. His wife wishes for beautiful jewelry. The great palace Chloe remembered leaving behind was burned to the ground by the peasants looking for riches and fought among themselves. Someone dropped a candle or torch and the people scattered. His ship Larissa left for Carthage. King Thutmose greeted his trade partner and welcomed his wife. Ilio introduced Chloe as Lady Edwina and Alifair as his apprentice. They bowed their heads in respect to this king. Thutmose introduced his wife Queen Mazu. Ilio orders a trunk brought forward by Lord Mishca and his son Declan. Turquoise stones, pearls, gold bracelets, iron daggers, and bronze mirrors. Thutmose makes his selection and gives the trunks for Mazu to select. The chamberlain gives Ilio gold coins for the items. They are given guest chambers and maidservants bring food. Queen Mazu asks for stories of faraway lands she has only dreamed about.

Ilio recites the tale of a battle against King Sorin.
His son Prince Cambri summoned him to aid in the defeat of Sorin. His magic cape created by wool from a golden ram that Ilio magically created giving life to a stone statue gave Sorin great powers. The armies battled. Arrows flew, lead balls slung, spears hit shields, and then Cambri found Sorin. He had killed the elves and men near his guard to stand alone surrounded by dead bodies. Cambri came forward as Sorin wiped the blood off his sword. He drew his spear and challenged the king. Sorin turns his iron sword into a flame. Cambri does likewise. Their torches clash and sparks hit the bystanders. Spells tossed and people put up their shields that turn into ashes. Knocked down, Cambri swings his sword to strike King Sorin’s neck and his head drops to the grass. Sorin’s body casually picks up his helmet and places it back on his neck. Stunned, Cambri asked for a truce. Sorin agreed and they returned to their camps. Cambri begged his father for aid by dropping his lifestone in a goblet of water. Ilio magically appeared. Cambri believed Ilio was the only one who could control the magic inside the black magical cape. The next day battle ensued with a cavalry and chariot charge followed by the foot soldiers huddled behind shields. In one chariot driven by Cambri, Ilio hung on waiting to get close to Sorin. The horse soldiers avoid conflict with the helmet with bright red feathers. Cambri drove straight to it. Ilio loosed arrows and spears. When they got close to Sorin in his chariot, Ilio hurled a battle axe to hit Sorin’s feather helmet. The axe bent the metal to make Sorin remove it to see better.

The foes slashed and lunged with the battle going on around them. Magic spells cast sent men flying in the air. Soon shields were raised to protect themselves from the spells and the battle ceased. The sky grew dark and a red sunset glowed across the sky. A sign much blood had been shed. Ilio still struggled against this corrupted magic and finally stabbed the cape. A great whirlwind knocked the armies off their feet and King Sorin glowed. Next, Sorin fell to the ground and his cape became gold again. Ilio picked up the cape and packed it with his things. Cambri washed his wounds and rubbed wine into it to stop evil spirits from entering. Meanwhile along the coast, General Radu and Prince Ateas were receiving a warm welcome from Cambri’s troops on the coast. Word spread of the death of the king and the generals came to offer a truce.

The generals demanded the whole of Varrika. Ilio introduced General Radu and Prince Ateas. He proposed the return of these Dacians and the south border of the Dark Mountains as it was agreed upon by Emperor Demetrius. Emperor Ragnar stood at his side proposing crowning Prince Ateas as the next king or at least regent while Queen Tanith mourns her husband. The generals glanced at each other in silence and a soft grunt told Emperor Ragnar, Queen Tanith would not be mourning her husband. Ilio found out later, she had died in childbirth. Queen Kira of Lotan gasped at the sad news. Radu who had stolen Queen Nastia leading to the death of King Dinu chasing him into the Teuton Forest gained less sympathy with the generals. He came forward announcing the marriage of Princess Raluca to a Teuton ally and now living in a colony in Kassia.

The generals announced a council to discuss their future. They parted and settled into their overnight camps. Emperor Ragnar was confident the generals would accept a young man as their king, but not as confident about Radu. The opposing forces came to the center of the battlefield and agreed to crown Ateas as king and the Dark Mountain border. As first act as king, Ateas granted Radu a pardon and granted him gifts before returning to Alesia. He was crowned in the temple of the palace by the high priest who would marry him to his wife chosen by the nobles. Radu stood by as honored guest receiving glares from nobles and peasants alike. Radu announced the gift of ten white horses to the king that came from Nubia through the Dark Mountain colonies. Enemies now trading partners, the coastal humans and elves took on many apprentices from Dacia and Teutonic Forest. Queen Nastia bid farewell as Danut joined a Rikian ship from Alesia. Nelu asked to join Ilio’s crew soon and Fane studied hard with the high priest. Raluca remained in Kassia planting wheat and barley in the colony Batavia along the floodplains on the coast. The once warm Teuton Forest cooled a few years ago and northern sailors from Lachlann came looking for better crops. The cool summers hurting Dacia and Rikia crops had also starved people further north. These migrations south were peaceful and colonists simply expanded villages and built a few of their own to reach warmer lands. Trade flourished in this time.