After years sailing the seas, Ilio was recalled to Rikia. He brought his son Jaden as his valet and young elves looking for riches. His apprentices Lothar and Kaley were given positions of messenger and archer under Ilio’s legion. Ilio was given the honorary medal of a general to wear like a necklace. He was given the command of the supporting nomads at their winter camp at Lake Tasha where the Anasazi River begins. His legion gathered fruit, roots, grains, and fish before the Harvest Games. Among the beech and maple shore along the lake, they gathered wood to build large bows called gatlas. That contraption with sinew rope and a bronze spring can propel a spear further than a normal bow and arrow. The nomads slaughtered some of their livestock to store for winter after chopping prairie grass hay for their animals to eat during the snowy months. His legion showed their skills in horsemanship, sword fighting, and archery, sailing across the lake, and wrestling during the Harvest Games. King Demetrius was busy in Rikia holding a grand Harvest Games in the effort to recruit soldiers to his war. The harvests were better, though still meager compared to population needing food. The mighty Queen Lexie sent a detachment of merfish to the Games to solidify her support. She can’t have any Dacians in Armorica interfering with her Amazon gold trade. The soldiers and nomads at Lake Tashi had just made preparations for the New Year when someone spotted movement far away. Ilio stood up on his saddled horse with his elf god eyes looking through a polished crystal used to gaze at stars to see a raid party. He sent Lothar and Kaley to warn the village to the south where King Demetrius’s general was settled. Jaden got out his father’s sharpened weapons and polished armor. Ilio dressed quickly and ordered Jaden to hide under the boat dock. His elves rushed to the gatlas and prepared to fire into the horse charge. His horse Atara grunted ready for battle and he leaped on her. Battle lines straightened and spears lowered to counterattack the raid.
“Steady men. It is a good day to die. Prepare to fire the gatlas!” shouted Ilio.
The spears flew like migrating birds to the wonder of the nomads never viewing such a sight, whereas the Dacians seen them before from Demetrius’s army besieging their cities. Riders knocked off their horses were run over by the raiders. Gatlas were fired two more times before the raiders were out of range. Then came the volley from the horse archers, then another. Tension mounting and horses neighing in anticipation. Ilio ordered the charge forward by waving his arm above his head in a circle and dropping it even with his shoulder pointing toward the raiders. The horse warriors rushed toward the raiders lowering their spears. The two armies crashed into each other, riders fell to the ground, horses collapsed, and screeches of banshees echoed into the wind. Ilio sliced and speared at his enemies with a raven with four wings painted on their armor. He legion wore his symbol of a starfish painted on their armor while his allied nomads wore a falcon or wolf from their clan on their armor. Both sides had plenty of iron weapons and armor, though most of his legion had cheek guards on their helmets but not all of them. The enemy finally retreated and disappeared into the sand dunes on the north side of the lake. His elves managed to guard the gatlas from being destroyed. His men removed armor, collected arrows, and gathered weapons from the fallen soldiers. One immobile soldier who wore the Dacian king’s symbol of a raven with four wings, but a bloody life force remained around him. He stopped the soldier from removing anything from this soldier and demanded he retrieve a mirror. He removed the arrow from his armor and took off the Dacian’s helmet. It was the Dacian soldier he gave an omen ceremony to on his merchant trip to Adelia. The soldier returned with the mirror and Ilio held it to the Dacian’s nose. He announced this human was alive. They took off his armor and the human opened his eyes.
“You lied to me, Ilio from Amazon Valley,” whispered the man.
“Yes I did, Radu from Dacia.” replied Ilio.
Ilio and his soldier carried him to Ilio’s tent. Ilio took out wine, yarrow, willow bark, and rags to heal this human. Jaden entered the tent with a handful of arrows and Ilio ordered him to retrieve his share of the booty from the council. Ilio informed the enemy Dacian of his deception.
“Yes, I lied about what I saw in the smoke vision because you would immediately try to kill me that night to stop the prophesy from happening at all. When you requested changes in your future, I gave you my advice. I said you could not be at this battle and be away carrying a message to the king. I failed to mention I could be here to make sure you live. I said your wife could live with your mother-in-law to take care of your children when your wife believing you are dead becomes the wife of another. So far what I said was true. You were hit by an enemy nomad and your comrades will inform your wife you are dead. I said you will have two sons who mourn your daughter and dislike their abusive stepfather. If I told the truth, you would not have made that map of Armorica for me and I would not be here to save you.”
“You are really a Kadacian aren’t you?” asked the Dacian.
“No. I was born in the Borderland of Lotan and Blythe. I was raised mostly in the Mermaid Islands and my pirate father was an ally to the Blythan King Dracon. Before Dracon’s son Demetrius sent me into Armorica, I’ve never seen the Amazon Valley before. That Queen mermaid Layla you met was a trade partner of my father and I’ve known her all my life. The life story I gave was a lie until the Mermaid Islands, which was all true. If you like, I’ll take you there someday. Now, after you get some rest, we can continue on making my prophesy come true. My prediction left to be done is your sons leaving their abusive stepfather for the army, where you are located. Though I keep sensing doom befriending you. ” finished Ilio.
The Dacian Radu was assigned to Ilio as a slave to complete his life debt he owed for saving his life. Ilio protected this Dacian from his vengeful elves so when the war is over the man can return home to his twin boys. The nomads celebrated the New Year and then settled down into their winter camp enjoying the cold snow since nobody fights battles in the snow. Spring came with a surprising snow storm when the crocus flowers started the bloom. Ilio taught the nomads to ski across the grasslands in sniper attacks. Skiing usually is done in the mountains going downhill, but sliding across the snow like sleds was effective in moving about. One plank was smooth, with the other covered in fur to push off and stop. They used their bows as a pole and strung it quickly to fire. Demetrius was marching in the spring mud towards the winter camp of the Dacians along the Armorica border. A wood fort protected the Dacians all winter from dangerous wolf packs that kill hibernating black bears in their forest dens and from sniper attacks nomads are known for. But, it would not protect them from Demetrius’s new stone ball throwing machine altered from hurling spears. Ingenious Ilio used his quicklime and burning tar grenade knowledge from fighting pirates to help his friend break through the walls. They first plotted during the night, grenades of quicklime next to the gate and quickly covered them with sand from their packs. Merfish swimming at the bottom of a dark ocean can see in the dark air on the surface and carried shields covered in black paint to go undetected by the guards up above them. The next morning, Demetrius ordered clay balls filled with pine tar hurled out to break upon hitting gate.
This made the Dacians laugh at their failure. Then Ilio inserted a fuse into the last ceramic ball and lit it with a torch. The clay broke upon impact and lit the gate on fire. The Dacians attempted to drop water onto the burning gate to be belted with the exploding quicklime and burning tar. Demetrius ordered more tar and quicklime fired at the fort with burning tar and water filled balls fired right after. Holes in their walls brought out the army to fight the waiting adversary. The men fought bravely until they retreated into the forest. Demetrius ordered the fort searched for valuables. The nomads unhappy with such a short battle chased after the Dacians into the forest. Demetrius brushed it off saying the nomads are their allies, not their servants. Eventually the nomads returned victorious declaring they killed all the cowards they could find. Their horses carrying their booty, they made camp next Demetrius’s tents. Next they moved on to the next fort on the border to receive an immediate surrender after they blew up the gate. This time the soldiers were held prisoner instead of sent off to be massacred by the nomads. Demetrius sent an envoy to the next fort asking for an agreement before further violence was necessary. The negotiation failed and Demetrius was soon faced with an army ready to remove him from their country, again. He marched the prisoners to the burned out forts and held under guard by his Kadacian soldiers. He fought his enemy in the forest, on the grasslands of Armorica, and all the way to the nomad camp in Adelia ruins. Then the autumn came and Demetrius settled down by the nomad Lake Tashi sending much of his army to the forts in Kadacia. The Dacian prisoners were spread out among the soldiers with others sent as slaves to the Kadacian forts.
To end another year of war before it began, Demetrius decided to send Ilio with his servant Radu to the Dacian king for the Winter Solstice celebration. He is to offer a peace treaty and a gift box of treasures. They traveled by sledge to the border without any incident. Once the enemy nomads bumped into them near a damaged fort, they were taken captive. Certainly Ilio could have escaped easily, but he was tired and wanted a meal he didn’t have to shoot himself. The shaman of the village came to visit with the warlord. Radu explained their purpose and asked for the gift box of treasure back to give to the king. The chief warlord thought a moment and decided to release the prisoners with their gift box so his ally would not be displeased with them. Ilio declared items were missing from the box and demanded his horse. The warlord demanded the items back, but refused the horse. They were marched to a forest village where Dacians were camped for the winter. Atara watching her master leave without her jerked the reins from the warlord’s grasp and galloped to Ilio with the sledge still tied behind her. Arrows were fired and hit Atara, but she kept on galloping around the trees to avoid them. Ilio and Radu attacked their guides in the commotion. Ilio grabbed a nomad’s shield to protect his steed. Radu grabbed a bow and a bag of arrows and fired back. The nomads advanced to slaughter them, but Ilio and Radu wiped them out from behind the trees utilizing every weapon they found. Well hidden behind a snow bank built among the trees, they grabbed their supplies from the sledge they were to leave behind, Ilio tied the gift box to the shield with Atara’s reins for Radu to pull, and Ilio tossed a blanket on Atara to guide her along. When they glided on skis to the next fort, the guard at the gate recognized Radu. Ilio claimed to be a nomad allied to Demetrius. The general in charge took them into his quarters and fed them thoroughly. Atara enjoyed oats and hay in the stable. After a night’s rest in the stable since Ilio refused to separate from his injured horse, Ilio was glad to receive news from Radu that they were receiving an escort to the king. He explained his life debt to the general, his knowledge sitting in the enemy camps, and gained permission to present the gift box to the king for the Winter Solstice. The emissary was given a new sledge and cavalry escort to the next fort. They made it to the Dacian capital in the mountains and given lodgings with the city guard general outside the palace.
They were escorted to the palace where Ilio was forced to hand over his weapons. He kindly removed his sword, bow, arrows, daggers, and battleaxes to shove them into an invisible scabbard in front of his face. His secret weapon Zanya remained safe in his knapsack. He remained in his armor and guided into the great hall where the Dacian king sat on a throne. Radu saluted his king with a fist to his chest and Ilio simply nodded his head in respect. Radu presented the chest of treasures and checked there was nothing missing. King Dinu of Dacia was pleased to hear nobody along the way took his treasure and inspected it carefully. Iron knives, coral, pearls, gold rings, bronze mirrors, linen belts, and silver bracelets. Dinu accepted the Winter Solstice gift and welcomed this emissary into his palace with a guest room. His wife Queen Nastia took the guests to their assigned bed chamber and ordered the servants to attend their needs. The servants gave them food, baths, fresh robes while they cleaned their clothes, polished their armor, and then took them to the gardens where Nastia gave a tour. Radu wrote letters to his family of his servitude, the king awarding him a Commander medal, and promise to return home someday. At night, Ilio took Zanya out of his bag as Radu slept and changed into a falcon. He and Zanya flew out the window to map out the grand city. They had a morning meal in the dining hall with the royal family. Ilio tickled the Dacians with stories of Prince Jax marrying goddess Anya who assist his wife Edwina in her duties as Lady of a Mermaid Island while he was witnessing the Thera explosion from Kala Island. As a gift for the Winter Solstice, Dinu gave Demetrius a gold hilted bronze sword, a hunting dog, and a war horse. He presented the emissaries with new clothing, boots, and leather belts. Dinu and Nastia invited the emissaries to their gala in the great hall in the evening. As the sun sunk into the mountains, the guests changed into their new fur lined wool robes. A servant entered the room with refreshments. At one taste, Ilio knocked Radu’s wine goblet out of his hand, pulled a knife from the air, and held it to the servant’s neck, which dropped the food tray.
“Who sent you to poison us?” demanded Ilio.
“I did not know the wine was poisoned, Emissary Ilio.” answered the man trembling his hands.
“I think you did, you were nervous when you came in.” asserted Ilio.
“And kill me too. I am a Commander in the Dacian army, scum.” demanded Radu.
“Oh well, if you are truthful then you won’t mind going to the afterlife as an innocent man.” said Ilio grabbing the servant’s hair and pulling him towards the window.
Radu opened the shutters and Ilio forced the servant upon the sill. The servant cried and begged for his life. It was a palace guard in the hallway who dropped the poison into the goblets when he was bringing the tray to them. Ilio released him with a small cut in his neck. The servant thanked him and ran from the room. Ilio pushed the knife into the invisible scabbard and asked if they should go discover who is disappointed they are alive. A maidservant entered the room to pick up the fallen items without saying a word, or even looking at them. At the gala, Dinu asked Radu many questions about their enemy and who is this wizard Ilio. Radu confessed to his liege his intention to see the Mermaid Islands and will serve this prince wizard until his debt is fulfilled. Nastia asked Ilio many questions of his home in these islands and the creatures he has seen all over the seas. Ilio gladly recited his adventures across the North and South Seas, Titania coast and grasslands, up into the Teutonic Forest, Lachlann, and Ice Sea. Ilio asked if all these invasions were truly an effort to gain access to the coast, since Dacia is surrounded by forests and grasslands with only the Masha River in Varrika or the Anasazi River in Armorica and Kadacia to reach the sea coast. Blythans colonize to access areas instead of attacking. Vinland, Kassia, Teutonic Forest, and now Lachlann have a colony or two of Rikians. Nastia smirked without an answer. She does not involve herself in politics of her husband. Ilio doubted that. Dinu excused his wife to attend to other guests. Dinu informs Ilio of Radu’s dream to see the Mermaid Islands. Ilio assures he will fulfill his promise.
Dinu asked if Demetrius would allow negotiations for access to the sea coast. Demetrius could negotiate river access, but not colonies that would conquer the neighbors. He could allow Dark Mountain access by Masha River where only elf villages existed since the volcanic eruption that destroyed the area fifty years ago. It is said poisonous breath from the volcano goddess Maya arises in certain areas during the morning dew haze killing animals looking for food. Elves know how to grow crops in the rocky soil and fish in its streams. There are many pools of hot water that are believed to hold healing powers. King Dinu would consider the proposal. Later upon returning to his bed chamber, Ilio heard Radu with a maidservant since he lost his wife and decided to take a walk around corridors. Queen Nastia in her nightdress leaving her daughters’ bedroom asked Ilio why he lingering in the hallway. Ilio answered his servant was snoring too loud and could not sleep. He walked with her to her bed chamber. She inquired about the dagger he made appear and cutting her servant’s neck. Her husband took his weapons. He made his knife appear out of thin air and put it back. She demanded an answer why he cut her servant bringing berries and wine as a goodwill gesture. Ilio explained the poison he tasted and servant confessing it was a palace guard. Horrified, Nastia begged that it was not she who ordered the poison. Then, she wondered how he survived it. Ilio explained he tasted it and spit it out. Then he knocked the goblet from Radu’s grasp to stop him from drinking it.
“You are a true magician,” observed Nastia.
“Yes, I am. Does that interest you, Majesty? Your quiet bed chamber interests me. May I stay with you? I miss my wife’s soft touch terribly.” asked Ilio as he stroked Nastia’s loose hair.
Shocked, Nastia could not move and looked around for anyone to stop her. Silence filled the corridor. Ilio held her hand and he guided her to her bed chamber. She failed to resist his strong arms and passionate kisses. He fell fast asleep next to this goddess of beauty and woke up to the sunrise. He snuck away back to his own bed chamber to Radu snoring with the maidservant still in his arms.
“Where were you all night?” stirred Radu. “I don’t take that long to pleasure a woman.”
“Enjoying a moonlit stroll in the corridor,” answered Ilio with a smirk.
“He would chop your head off,” yawned Radu.
“He is welcome to try,” replied Ilio.
The next day, King Dinu and Ilio began negotiations of peace between the two countries. Ilio was certain Demetrius would not allow aggressive enemies to build any forts or colonies in his country. As servant came to announce that Queen Nastia was waiting to ride horses with the emissaries. King Dinu agreed to the truce so he could please his wife. Ilio, Radu, and Nastia with her maids of honor rode off into the park behind the palace. They reached a stable of a nearby home of the head gardener. Nastia confessed the king would burn her if he knew of her indiscretion. Ilio assured her that he would not hear of it from him, for he leaves tomorrow. She also said how a wizard walked by her this morning and rejoiced that she was pregnant with a future king. Ilio lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing. After some time in the stable, Radu knocked on the ladder to the hayloft asking if they were finished. The evening meal was awkward with Nastia gazing at him and a few of the king’s men were noticing. Ilio ignored her stares to glance at a general’s daughter and asked Radu about his time with the maidservants. He bragged and boasted what lovely ladies they were. One more night they spent in the company of women and packed up their things in the morning. King Dinu and Queen Nastia bid the emissaries farewell and presented letters to King Demetrius. Nastia held back any tears of regret and simply bit her lip. Ilio glanced at the rolled paper and answered Demetrius will be insulted. Dinu nodded his head and replied he would accept no less. The emissaries were escorted from the city and all the way back to the grasslands. They avoided the nomads bent on vengeance and traveled back to Lake Tashi on their skis. In a rare occurrence when he thought Radu was asleep at a Dacian fortress, Ilio used magic to send a message to Demetrius. He took a feather pen from his pouch and instead of dipping it in a paint pot to write on paper, he twiddled it in the air as if writing to watch smoke letters coming of the pen. He waved his other hand to send it and calmly waited for a reply. A popping noise made Radu jump and gaze up to floating smoke resembling letters. Not being able to read Blythan, Radu asked.
“What does Demetrius have to say?”
“He is not surprised at Dinu’s offer of peace. I left out the insulting split of Armorica between themselves bit. He laughs at Nastia actually asking for a slave to tell her stories of faraway places for her. He can invade the Teutonic Forest for access to the sea.”
The emissaries arrive back at camp to find Demetrius had received terrible news of his mother Andromeda becoming ill and his wife begging for aid in running the country. The Grand Wizard makes a good advisor and giving medicine to her mother-in-law, but she needs more assistance in all her duties. Princess Phoebe arrived, but every decision she makes is questioned by her advisors. How does she handle preventing the army from ravaging the countryside for supplies and soldiers causing villagers to petition her for grievances? Even worse, the nomads are rebelling against her authority and ceased coming into the cities from disrespect from the soldiers. Demetrius decides to send brother-in-laws Crown Prince Ragnar and Prince Ilio to aid her. Prince Kiernan is sick with plague. Phoebe’s husband had lost an eye to a sword cut and needs to go home. During the evening meal, word had spread by Radu of his queen becoming pregnant with a prince and toasted to Dacia’s future prince which the enemy soldiers now servants followed in salute. Demetrius noticed a laugh and devious smirk from Ilio during Radu’s toast.
“What do you laugh at, Ilio? What did the queen look like, an ugly hag?” begged Demetrius.
“No, she was very beautiful and very enchanting. I laugh thinking how fat she will get with an enchanting prince.” comments Ilio with a nervous scoff and cautious smile.
“You, dog!” shouts Demetrius hurling his clay mug at Ilio. “You betrayed your oath to my sister! Get out of my sight, you vile fiend from sea foam!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” replied Ilio with a nod of his head.
In the morning, Crown Prince Ragnar, Prince Ilio, Princess Phoebe’s husband, and servants leave for Rikia. Jaden begged his father to stay in the fight and appointed to valet of King Demetrius. Lothar and Kaley remained under Captain Nicolai who is also Chief of Naki Island. Demetrius had letters for his family written announcing Prince Kiernan’s death in the night and Effy is now named the heiress to his crown as well as Sarah’s son. His wife had miscarriages after Kiernan and cannot bear any more children. He revoked any claims from Edwina’s children due to Ilio’s betrayal; though Ilio defended it was revenge not lust. Ragnar promised his dispatches will be delivered. They followed the Anasazi River south from Lake Tashi through Kadacia into the city of Noor. They then followed the coast east to Rikia. Radu secretly made a map in his head. Queen Andromeda was ill with pox that tortured Titania and Knossos. Ilio searched for the horse tails the Witch of Endora gave Dagan. They grow in the mountains. Crown Prince Ragnar signed orders and wrote new ones. He appointed Princess Phoebe emissary to the nomads to quench their anger over the war. Ilio was made finance minister and in charge of supplies for the soldiers. As spring came, he took his leave since Andromeda recovered and she took over his duties. He fulfilled his promise to bring Radu to the Mermaid Islands. Demetrius continued on fighting the Dacians and Ilio traveled the seas supplying the needs of the soldiers. He brought weapons to trade for grain from the South Seas. They fought pirates with the giant gatla bow hurling quicklime filled balls sinking ships more quickly. They attacked a pirate city sitting upon an island. Radu noticed this elf god Ilio was vicious in destruction of his enemy. When he achieved the breaking holes in the gate, he refused any pirate surrendering and cut them down until they all had fallen. He explained these Nubian pirates would not have given his men any mercy and therefore gave none to them. Pirates have neither honor nor devotion to their countrymen and never sign treaties for peace. They attack anyone they see, regardless of flag, and take whatever they can find. Ilio does not hold them in the same regard as King Dinu.
Radu was most delighted to meet Queen Chloe as Nubia was beginning to fall and aided in the move to Carthage. Radu was curious that Chloe learned magic writing. Ilio informed Radu of her captivity and learning the elf language. Magic writing can be done by anyone that can hold the magic quill. Ilio however does not answer well to notes not written in the elf language. They did not sail in the choppy winter waters and remained on Blue Island with Ilio’s family. Radu enjoyed the company of mermaids and elves on the island. Ilio was careful not giving Radu the full tour of the islands and never took him through the hidden tunnels of Adea. Radu was enthralled meeting the goddess queen Ishtar and held Prince Evan’s infant daughter. He also met goddess Lexie and like other mortal men, was mesmerized by her beauty. He was almost amused that this captivating mermaid was the only force that intimated Ilio. She was enraged gazing at Ilio and furious at an unannounced transgression. He can only wonder how she saw his guilt seducing Queen Nastia. Radu did accomplish learning elfish to learn magic writing. He was given his own quill with instructions that only his blood can use it and a spell must be spoken to transfer ownership. Ilio is the original owner from making it and recited the spell so Radu may use it. When he returns to Dacia, his blood children could use it, but no adopted ones unless he recites the spell. Two years sailing the seas and bringing supplies to Kadacia, Ilio picked up his men who fought with Demetrius. Jaden came with new armor and arrows. Lothar and Kaley arrived with horses. A treaty had been signed and Dacians left Armorica as did the Rikians. To prevent more conflict trying to obtain access to the sea, Demetrius allowed a colony along the lake in Varrika where the Masha River begins and drains to the north of the Dark Mountains coast.
King Dinu was well pleased. Radu was must eager to return home, but how could he fulfill a life debt to an immortal god. Ilio agreed to release him from nearly three years of service in the city Noor with food, coins, and new set of clothing. Radu boarded a boat following the river through Kadacia to Lake Tashi in Armorica. He made his way to Dacia from there as he did as an emissary with Ilio. His king rewarded the Commander a medallion of a General. Radu in return presented a map of the world and knowledge of steel weapons. He met the Prince Danut that the wizard predicted Queen Nastia would have when he came as an emissary. Oddly, the boy looked much Ilio’s children, but he disregarded the notion. He settled into a guest bed chamber until he had arranged buying a new house in the capital. He was given a staff of palace guards and King Dinu gave him duties checking fortifications and inspecting new weapons blacksmiths made near the mines.
Upon returning late observing the iron smelting at a mine and not wanting to smudge mud on the marble entrance of the palace during party games, Radu dismissed his men at the stable to walked in the pouring rain to the servant entrance. He knocked on the door and a footman cleaning up from the evening meal answered the door. Radu stood in the entrance dripping wet as the footman ran upstairs to retrieve his velvet slippers. The cook shouted at a scullery maid to stop her work and take him to the laundry room for dry clothes. Awkward from never removing a sword belt or armor before, Radu instructed the girl what to do. He showed her how to hold the fresh robe and removed his padded clothes himself figuring he could do it faster. The girl gasped and hid her eyes with the robe in her hands. The footman returned with his slippers and shocked of the maid’s quivering as the General slipped on the held out robe. The unclothed war hero deserved more respect than that. Radu walked up the servant stairs to his chamber with the footman holding the candle stick. The cook in the kitchen assured a food tray would be carried up when she warms it up. Radu dried himself off with a towel in the wash cupboard and worked on reports for the king. The scullery maid arrived with his food tray apologizing for her misbehavior. She explained she had never witnessed an undressed man before. The footman scolded her for hiding her eyes and having the hero undressing himself. She informed the General that she is to remain with him until he dismisses her with the food tray.
“Tawny, is it? Go fetch a comb on the dressing table behind you and untangle my hair.” ordered Radu and Tawny nodded.
Radu had grown out his hair like many sailors past his shoulders and grew a beard common in war veterans. He ate his meal as Tawny tried to comb his locks. He asked about her life and half listened eating his meal. When she was finished, she put back the comb and waited by the fire for the next command. Radu asked why she acted terrified of him, did he behead one of her relatives. She answered she was ashamed of her misbehavior, not terrified. Radu doubted that and asked why she stood there apprehensive at his next move. He demanded again what she was nervous of. She whispered she did not know he was handsome. Stories of his heroics were recited by the great hall servants, but she expected a rude general covered in battle scars and not this handsome creature before her. He understood now she was blushing at his masculinity. Then two noble ladies entered the chamber gleeful of his return. He told Tawny to take away to the food tray and return in the morning. He promised to speak to the chamberlain on her promotion as chamber maid after four years in the scullery. The noble ladies put him to bed and entertained him on the evening meal and games his missed. He promised not to be late for the banquet in two days celebrating Prince Danut’s birthday.
The second war with Dacia over and harvests were getting better, King Demetrius paraded through the streets of Rikia right into the Temple of Athena to be crowned Emperor of Rikia. Grand Princess Phoebe with her daughter Grand Princess Effy joined the procession to the temple. The new Empress of Rikia looked aloof and distant, perhaps mourning her son who would never be emperor. Dowager Queen Andromeda returned to her palace inside Noor after the ceremony and enjoyed visits from her family. She made a visit to the Emperor and Empress during the Summer Solstice celebrations. Losing his heir, Emperor Demetrius summoned Effy to be educated by The Wizard in the palace. Phoebe married a Blythan nomad who had arrived in Rikia to be tutored by The Wizard as a boy. After a year learning magic, navigation, history, and creating steel weapons, the Blythan nomad brought her to his family to ask for a betrothal. She learned their language and customs to earn their respect. His mother tutored her in finding plants and animals they needed for food, medicines, and tools. His father agreed to a betrothal after her performance at their Harvest Games. She stayed with his family through the winter months by a lake. Phoebe returned for the royal betrothal ceremony and her love continued his education with The Wizard. Then Nubia attacked Adea and took her love away.
King Demetrius ordered his ships to aid the besieged city and the sailors fought around the islands. Her love was a valet and archer to Captain Colby, Lord of Adea, on his ship The Mystique. He came back a hero and returned to his tribe conducting the adult rite of passage for him. A year later, Princess Phoebe had her adult ceremony and the wedding plans began. The marriage sealed an alliance between the nomads and the king. Nomads joined the army as horse archers and sailors patrolling the rivers. Princess Phoebe lived most of the year with the nomads to only enter cities as a merchant. When she gave birth a girl named Effy, King Demetrius presented the little princess to his court and awarded her husband the title of prince. Then the Dacian War began taking her love away again, Phoebe left the nomads to rule with her mother Andromeda and visited the nomads coming to trade. She was most happy to see her husband return, missing an eye, to insist on taking more responsibilities in helping Demetrius’ wife rule the countryside. As Demetrius was crowned an Emperor, Phoebe’s husband was promoted to Commander in the Rikian army. They were given a guest house in the capital and built a village with a stone bridge by a river in the grasslands. The nomads continued their alliance with the emperor with Phoebe’s assistance. Nomad sons were apprenticed to craftsman and educated by priests to have knowledge of two worlds. Finally, peace could bring another time for prosperity.
This peace brought change in the structure of Emperor Demetrius’s government. He replaced murdered lords during the famines with heroic warriors respected by the peasants they ruled. Each new lord was given a horse and chariot from his share of spoils. His war council included nomads and allies, therefore his palace council wearing gold medallions held nomad and ally councilors as well. These councilors furnished their own houses and used spoils of war to invest in shipping. One councilor from Armorica rented the top space in the market square for his artisans and grew rich from transporting salt mined in Armorica. A graying Captain Colby, former Lord of Adea, joined the council to loan money to common artisans to start new businesses. One jeweler discovered diamonds and sapphires in a cave used by elves looking for prayer crystals. Serena visited the Amazon Valley as ambassador of Queen Lexie and helps protect a shipment of gold to the Mermaid Islands. The new queen of the Amazons knew little of her banishment from not having a daughter and welcomed her as a lost sister. Serena filled their ears of tales of the sea full of salty water, monsters living in them, and sailors floating on them. She also brought back three Amazon and three elf apprentices to Rikia who were amazed gazing upon the sea.
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