As Edwina settled into life as an elf wife and mother, Ilio determined it was time to try to disturb her amnesia. In the quest to find Kaley’s betrothed another girl, he asked the Witch of Endora how to stir his wife’s memories. She gave him a spell to recite. When they settled into bed, he approached Edwina. Edwina asked what will occur when he recites this spell. Ilio was unsure, but Witch of Endora stated that time was seamless like a single string, never cut nor knotted nor with frays, woven through other strings making cloth. Going back into time would not alter their future since the past has been woven. An astral spirit removed from the body can do wondrous things, like visit places they never seen or fly without a broomstick. It sounded like traveling through time was an amazing journey. To them, it will seem as a dream and to others who could like The Wizard would see them as ghosts. Edwina bit her lip and decided to give it a try. She can barely remember her father Dracon and looked forward to this time travel with Ilio. Ilio stood in front of Edwina and grasped her hand.
“Evaco Anastia endo Freya mushti” spoke Ilio and they both fell to the floor cold as ice.
Edwina and Ilio arrived at the Palace of Rikia. Winter Solstice decorations were up and the royal family conversed in the sitting room after the evening meal. Princess Edwina sat on the floor about a year old with Princess Phoebe playing with dolls wrapped in blankets. Phoebe sang as she cradled the doll in her arms. Prince Demetrius and Prince Lucius pretended to fight with wood swords and grabbed Phoebe’s doll right out of her arms. She struck back with the blanket demanding her toy back. In the scuffle, little Edwina swung her doll as if she were fighting her brothers too. Dracon burst out laughing to cause everyone to laugh at Edwina. Dracon picked up his baby girl and the other children calmed down to play in virtual silence. Dracon confessed to Queen Andromeda how his friend Valnar had spoken on Homer’s children living in Adea. His oldest son was a cabin boy on Homer’s pirate ship now. Ilio was certain a tear came from his eyes and Dracon’s wiping his cheek confirmed it. Andromeda asked if he misses Homer so much, perhaps he should forgive his banished friend. Dracon could not after their argument. What kind of king would he be allowing a person who killed royalty, disobeyed him, and humiliated him in front of his family. Andromeda pointed out how Valnar killed royalty and he was forgiven. Dracon assured Valnar had never disobeyed nor humiliated him.
“Perhaps, it is best you do not forgive Homer since he is one weasel you cannot control. Holding a grudge is the only power you have over him. I doubt he obediently follows orders from his mermaid queen Lexie to hear Valnar talk about them.” thought Andromeda.
The night continued with Dracon cuddling Edwina while the children begged for a bedtime story he loved to tell. As Edwina began to yawn and laid her head against his chest, Andromeda got up to take her to bed. Dracon declined and insisted on taking the children to their beds. Their nurse followed and Dracon dismissed her. This was one of the few chores he actually enjoyed. He sang to Edwina before placing her in the cradle. The others rested on their bed trying not to fall asleep. From Homer, he learned a little magic and used his song to put the children to sleep. He recalled the long friendship he had with Homer and wished he could forgive him for killing his cousin and his servants. Perhaps it was time to heal his soul. After all, Homer was the best friend he ever had and he longed so hard to be part of his family as a boy in Etonville. He visited The Wizard gazing for signs in the stars and asked for his cloak. Ilio and Edwina rapidly flew over the sea with Dracon to land on the ship Ilio was on with his father. Ilio felt like crying viewing his father again, but kept it to himself in support of Edwina. Edwina glanced at him and focused on the scene of forgiveness. The boy Ilio appeared and the friends had tea below decks with Ishtar. Soon they followed Dracon back to the palace after he gave instructions to Homer. Then the palace scene altered to dusk on the Winter Solstice where the great hall was full of people dancing and eating. Edwina was carried around by her mother. A servant approached and Dracon quickly left the hall. He returned with his elf guests. Edwina and Ilio met for the first time. Demetrius, Lucius, Phoebe, Donovan, Almar, Almar’s wife and Andromeda welcomed Eiras, Ilio, and Homer to their celebration. Edwina enjoyed watching her family observing Homer’s pirates eat like savages as Ilio watched his father disappear to return with Jack and Lilibeth. A loud war cry from his father echoed over the great hall and the men joined in a mock battle. His father and Edwina’s father clashed swords that ended in a conversation as Dracon scratched Homer’s sleeve.
“Watch it, Dracon, this is a new shirt.”
“I wondered how you wear finer clothes than me.”
“You don’t want to know the answer to that.”
“Thief.”
“Dreamer.”
The friends laughed to sit down drinking mead from goblets. The scene faded as Edwina and Ilio woke up on the floor of their guest room. They settled down into their bed and drifted off into sweet dreams. The next morning he received a magic letter from Radu. He was getting married to a maidservant named Tawny. The girl from Lichfield had parents’ who owned a laundry. Her father left for war to never return and her mother died from fever leaving the laundry to her older brother. Her older brother married a baker’s daughter and sold the laundry to his father-in-law. Her brother arranged a betrothal for her before he left for war, but it was broken when the in-laws refused to honor the agreement. She left the bakery to work in a tavern. She waited for word on her brother for a year and a returning soldier who had been badly injured told her that he had been killed with an arrow in his chest. Having no relations in the village left, she decided to move to the big city. She found a job in a merchant shop and later found out the palace was looking for new servants. The pay was much better than the merchant shop and she got free room and board. She interviewed with the chamberlain and housekeeper to receive a position as scullery maid. She held that position for four years and with General Radu’s help was promoted to chamber maid.
He had a new gown made for her and presented her with jewelry. A maid of honor walking past her in the service hallway believed Tawny had stolen the jewelry and ordered her punished. Tawny claimed they were delivered in a velvet bag lying on her dresser and she believed they were from Radu. He was out of the city inspecting mines so they asked the court jeweler Radu paid to make jewels to match the dress being made. The court jeweler confessed his work had not finished and recognized the stolen jewels as belonging to Princess Tanith’s dowry stored in the cellar vaults. Tawny was whipped for theft and an outraged Radu promptly vowed any gifts from him would be given in person. Then, someone bitterly jealous of his attentions towards Tawny left a poisonous water snake on her bed. Tawny stalled going to bed by retrieving a new candle for her duty of lighting the morning fires. Her friends who also slept in her room opened the bag on Tawny’s bed and were bit by the snake. A footman rushing to their screams was also bit and a guard was summoned by Tawny to kill the snake. The servants trembled and screeched from the poison overtaking their bodies and within minutes they were dead. Radu quickly removed Tawny from the palace and settled her into his new home still being furnished. They slept on the floor of their new home and he proposed marriage that night. She just delivered their son Nelu and the wedding plans were in place. Ilio gladly accepted the invitation.
Ilio brought his family into the Dacian capital and stayed in Radu’s fully furnished house. Since Radu was an orphan with no family, Ilio stood by his side as groomsman in the temple. Tawny asked a laundry maid friend to stand as bridesmaid. King Dinu drank a toast to the couple in Radu’s courtyard feast and presented the gift of silver tableware. General Radu thanked his guests for coming to declare he was a simple common soldier, orphaned as a child to live with his soldier uncle, winning harvest contests after his adult ceremony, recruited into the army, survived two wars and servitude, and finally granted the privilege of general by his king. The audience cheered his humility. General Radu enjoyed his new life and family. His twin sons left his former wife to join his household and Tawny welcomed them into her heart. Unknown to Radu and Ilio, upon viewing Prince Danut next to Ilio made some of noble guests curious if this elf was indeed the father to the prince. Soon it was circulated around the question if any of King Dinu’s children were really his. Ilio recited the tale of his apprentice Lothar pulling the sword from Lexie’s stone and made Chief of Ainsleigh and made plans to marry his beloved Kaley. He spoke of the creatures of Titania living the mountains and grasslands. With the coming of iron tools, much trade flourished between Lotan and Titania. King Oskar of Lotan encouraged making stronger steel to come up with helmets and a chain mail. Many soldiers were replacing their bronze helmets with steel. Only grand noblemen can afford the new chain mail and keep it polished. Ilio wore his gifted mail, but could not explain how it was made to the Dacians. Returning to Blue Island he heard Grand Princess Effy was injured when thrown from her horse and never recovered. Princess Phoebe left the palace with her husband to forever live with the nomads. Emperor Demetrius was given little choice but to make Prince Ragnar and Princess Sarah with their son Prince Leonidas his heirs.
Later, elderly King Oskar mourned the passing of Queen Penelope and let Ragnar have more responsibilities to learn to rule his future empire. Then suddenly, Radu’s wife Tawny came down with winter sickness and died surrounded by her created family. Radu was devastated and vowed to never love again. Many noble ladies and the queen came with condolences and offered their services in helping raise his children. Radu thanked them, but just wanted to be alone. While discussing Prince Danut becoming betrothed and the grand banquet being held soon, Radu fell deathly ill. His servant retrieved a wizard to heal him and quickly informed His Majesty of the ailment of his general. Queen Nastia requested his children reside in the palace to prevent their catching the evil spirit. King Dinu agreed and the children were brought into the nursery and her older daughters visited them. Princess Tanith was elated at getting married in the summer. Princess Raluca was curious about the black feather quill. The twins explained it was a magic pen that writes in the air. Their father’s friend Ilio gave it to him and the twins plotted to ask him for help. They practiced with soot on the fireplace the elf writing and Danut twiddled with the magic pen. It began to write. He wrote his name in Dacian. One twin wiped the smoke away and a smoky message in elf letters demanded to know the meaning of this message. The twins wrote back their father was sick. An answer came that Ilio was coming. The girls announced this miracle at the evening banquet celebrating Danut’s betrothal of this miracle to the family and guests. A commander asked to witness this miracle. Danut proudly twiddled the pen in the air and pieces of smoke resembling his movements appeared. The royal wizard confessed confusion; magic is not born but learned through apprenticeships. The twin boys confessed more confusion explaining the power of ownership spells. Ilio created the pen so only a being with his blood could use it. Then, when he gifted it to Radu the ownership enchantment expanded to Radu’s blood family. Danut is not part of either family so how could he use it? They spoke out loud what many thought in secret.
Naturally, King Dinu was shocked at the besmirching of his queen’s fidelity. Prince Danut certainly resembled his daughters. General Radu nor that emissary Ilio could be Danut’s father. Radu was deeply in love with his wife who had left him and later Tawny. Ilio was also married and refused all female companions. As a safeguard, Queen Nastia was forbidden to see Radu until this mystery is solved. Ilio hiding in the children’s nursery since he received word that Radu was ill. He appeared in the chamber demanding an explanation receiving a message from Danut. He left to visit Radu and quickly returned. He pulled out a book of spells that looked very old searching for a way to remove the bad spirit making him see his dead wife. The children went to the banquet where they announced the miracle. They failed to mention that Ilio was in their nursery. They brought Ilio food and he stayed up all night on the rafters reading his ancient spell book. The next morning the children found him sleeping on a floating rug near the window. Danut remembered General Radu said during his stories that wizards watch the dawn and dusk for signs from the gods. He climbed up and laid beside the elf to disturb his rest. Ilio opened his eyes to see a boy questioning if anything important was going to happen today. Ilio whispered a future king was given life last night. Danut asked if he will be king. Ilio nodded his head and placed his arm around his shoulders.
“Yes you will be a king, my son.” said Ilio as Danut buried his face in his chest.
King Dinu sat beside the general’s bed listening to him wheeze from his winter sickness. Suddenly from a dream, Radu awoke and asked where wife Tawny was. Dinu answered she was in Elysium. For a moment, Radu failed to recognize his king and inquired who he was. Dinu simply reached for a cloth rag, dipped it in a bowl of cold water, and patted his head. He stated Radu had a severe fever and not to worry who he was. Radu coughed and continued to wheeze as he closed his eyes. A maidservant entered the bed chamber with porridge and willow bark tea. She wiped him down with the cold water and informed them Radu had a visitor. Dinu allowed the visitor in his presence. A poor maiden entered with a ceramic vase of flowers. She curtsied to His Majesty explaining her father, a blacksmith who made a gilded dagger for the general to give to someone, wishing him to recover from his illness. The blacksmith daughter set her flowers on a table. The maidservant sat Radu up to eat and the blacksmith’s daughter insisted on caring for him. The maidservant left behind a talisman on his blanket explaining a magician just made it for Radu. Dinu questioned the poor girl who she had seen at the General’s house. She chattered on wealthy ladies and noblemen stopping by, the queen and her maids of honor visiting one afternoon, and city soldiers asking the butler for news.
Everybody adores the general and wishes him well. He inquired about the queen being here. The girl was most delighted to meet her, but failed to be charmed by her maids of honor who desired her to leave. The next morning walking to the fountains, she saw one maid outside the back door with a cloak with royal regalia on it and then another maid with the same cloak came out to leave with her. They had hoods covering their faces so she was uncertain who had been visiting in the night after that magician saved his life. Radu smirked in amnesia whispering everyone wants a piece of him. He coughed in between being fed by the blacksmith’s daughter. He assured His Majesty the maids of honor mean nothing to him since they tried to kill Tawny with that snake. Dinu questioned about the queen’s visits. Radu coughed with a smile to declare he did not spend any nights with Her Majesty. The magic pen was given to him by Ilio and his whereabouts as an emissary he cannot vouch for since he often left at night as a bird to map the city for Demetrius. If His Majesty failed to believe him, then he can go ahead and order his head chopped off because that would send him straight to Tawny where he desired to be. Dinu nodded his head in agreement and asked forgiveness from doubting him.
King Dinu thought Ilio’s visit would explain how King Demetrius knew where their terra cotta aqueduct pipes were located and made the city surrender when the enemy cut water to the city. Soon the visit was over and the king left walking the maiden out with him. He invited her to the palace the next day to interview with his chamberlain to be a palace servant. He would want reports on the queen’s behavior on a regular basis. As the visitors left, Ilio as a crow flew into the open window with his fairy Zanya right behind him. Ilio congratulated Radu on his performance. Radu coughed his thanks. Ilio placed a hand on his friend’s forehead and announced his fever was going down. Radu commented how the maidservant told him that Ilio used his magic crystal to save his life and in the process gave up a few years of his own life to him. Ilio smirked he is an immortal god who dies when he chooses to become an aura for someone. The days went by with Radu getting better and better until he could ride a horse back to the palace to collect his orders from the king. He was brought to His Majesty’s bed chamber where Dinu sat at his table reading linen parchment letters and the general of the palace guard stood nearby. Dinu asked if there was any maid of honor or maidservant he had not received into his bed. Radu confessed he was uncertain of the answer, but if there was one she would not remain that way for long. The general announced the questioning of Her Majesty’s Maids of Honor and of the chamber maidservants. They were vague and queasy about their statements of the queen’s behavior during Ilio’s visit and Radu’s illness. A wizard recorded their saying he was unsure they would admit to wrongdoing of the queen out of fear of condemning her to burn. Even worse, the queen has fallen ill since the inquiry began and the wizard said it was lovesickness and not an evil spirit. It is said she is with child and the king knows he had not visited the queen’s bed chamber since Radu became ill. He asked Radu to persuade the ladies with his cunning and charm to confess what they know about the queen’s heart. Radu accepted the order and walked over to where the maids of honor slept. The first one he found tied to a chair. He ordered the guard to remove her shoes and dismissed the guard. He placed a poker in the fiery ashes of the fireplace and placed a new log on the fire. They waited for the wizard to arrive in order to record the inquiry.
“Comfortable?” he asked the lady.
“No,” replied the lady.
“Good, you will be less comfortable now.” Radu replied as he grabbed the maid’s hair and placed his dagger under her chin. “You imply I am sleeping with the queen and I will cut your tongue out.”
“Yes, sir.” answered the maid of honor.
The wizard arrived and set up his ink and parchment sheets.
“Ready to begin, Your Holiness?” asked Radu.
“Her Majesty has not betrayed His Majesty,” whispered the maiden.
“I’m sure. The wizard who tended Her Majesty said she suffers from lovesickness. Who is the man enchanting her?” inquired Radu.
“She speaks of no man other than His Majesty,” answered the girl staring directly at Radu.
“Very well, who were her bed partners when Prince Ilio was an emissary here?” Radu asked.
“She was caring for Princess Raluca with scarlet fever when Prince Ilio was an emissary here. She slept with no man or elf in her bed.” countered the maid.
“Do you what this is, maid?” requested Radu grabbing the poker from the ashes.
“A tool that pokes at the fire to keep it going,” answered the maid.
“You think it is hot. Let’s test it.” said Radu right before dropping it to touch her feet.
The maid of honor screamed, but Radu did not think it was hot enough and placed it back on the fire.
“You believe I will not hurt you simply because you visited my bed. I follow orders, my lady.” reacted Radu as he cut her skirt in half to expose her legs. “Now, I have to ask who you fear more. Getting whipped and dismissed by the king or me who knows all your secrets torturing you.”
“I fear the queen’s death by burning the most. I cannot allow her to die from what I say about her.” answered the maid.
“Lavinia, Prince Danut proved her infidelity and she will die when His Majesty is satisfied. His Majesty simply wants to know what men to behead at her feet. Now, I will ask again who has entered the queen’s heart causing her lovesickness?” recited Radu before striking the heated poker onto Lavinia’s legs. As she screeched and the wizard sat in wonder, Radu claimed the poker was hot enough now.
“Much better scream my fair lady. Do I get an answer to my question? Who is the man causing Her Majesty’s lovesickness?” demanded Radu.
“The palace guard Azriel.” cried Lavinia hanging her head. “She saw him dancing during a ball. I have not seen him anywhere near Her Majesty.”
“Commander Azriel, Prince Mikail’s son?” inquired Radu with Lavinia nodding in agreement.
“That was too easy. Who is it really that bewitched the queen? Would you like to know how Prince Ilio tortures his prisoners?” begged Radu to see Lavinia shaking her head to say no. “He pushes red hot daggers up their rear holes. The screams are unbearable, but I managed my best well experienced in hearing cries of banshees after battles. Would like to know the meaning of real pain?”
“No, please, no.” beseeched Lavinia, but Radu grabbed her tied feet to drag her off the chair and laid her down on the floor. He lifted her legs to begin placing the poker inside her.
She screamed like never before and Radu claimed he barely got it in, not even the length of a fingertip. She shook and wept with Radu patiently waiting for her to speak.
“Who? Give me a real name Lavinia or I kill your fertility.” commanded Radu.
“Prince Ilio. He was here last night. He pleasured her and left. It broke her heart the next morning when a wizard said a future king has entered the world in Her Majesty and his reign will be covered in blood.” whimpered Lavinia.
“That demon, Prince Danut was not enough for him.” recited Radu and cut off the rest of Lavinia’s gown.
“That would explain much,” observed the wizard.
“Guard!” shouted Radu and a guard entered. “Take her down to the courtyard to receive twenty lashes. And make sure her hair is cut off before you do. Everyone must know she is disgraced.”
The questioning continued throughout the morning scorching all the queen’s maids of honor with pokers. They had conflicting accounts of the queen to puzzle even the wisest council. In the end, the king dismissed the maids of honor after the beatings in the courtyard. The king decided it was time to burn the queen in the marketplace. Radu entered her guarded bed chamber to arrest her for adultery upon the king and to take her to another house. The queen was marched out ceremoniously with guards ahead and behind her. She sat in a carriage to have her subjects bless her and give their sympathies. Radu rode a horse ahead of the carriage. He marched her into a guest house set up with Radu’s servants. She settled in well and ate her meals alone with a guard outside her door. Radu entered her chamber with a maidservant to prepare her for the first night imprisoned. He left her alone to weep at her demise and came back later through the servant’s door to entertain the queen as she fell asleep. Before dawn, he returned to his own bed chamber unnoticed. Ilio was waiting for him assuring him to they were playing a dangerous game. They laid out their plans of rescuing the queen.
The morning arrived and the logs to burn the queen were set up. Her Majesty was marched out into the marketplace where the city folk came to watch. His Majesty stood at a temple entrance praying to the gods to properly punish her in the afterlife. Her Majesty was tied up and the kindling was lit. Then, a soft wind blew the torches out and the lit kindling extinguished as well. King Dinu ordered her white gown lit to watch the gown burn black and fall off her body into ashes. Scorched, Nastia screeched and begged for forgiveness from the king. General Radu standing next to the king assured, the burning gown meant no magic was protecting her and the soft wind continued to blow. The guards tried again to light the bonfire to have the wind grow stronger and air grew heavy as clouds swept across the sky. Radu smelled rain coming and the king called off the burning until after the winds calmed. This gave Radu and Ilio the opportunity to place their plan in action when Dinu insisted on Radu leaving his post as guard of Nastia and join the king in the palace. Radu wagered Ilio to rescue the Queen alone without any magical aid, not even his fairy. If Ilio accomplishes this, he will pledge servitude to him, his ships, and island. If Ilio fails, he will pledge servitude to King Demetrius. How could Ilio refuse such an offer?
He handed over his magic crystal and fairy Zanya stayed behind with Radu readying for bed. Little did Radu know about Lexie instructing to rescue Edwina without any magic. Ilio was getting tired of these trials proving his cunning without use of magic was beginning to irritate him. Magic fails to give him more crafty ideas to accomplish his goals than the mortal elves and men he commands. So Ilio forms a map in his head, gathers rope, daggers, and lead balls to fit in his sling. He leaves into the darkness of a moonless night. Mist filled his lungs as the rainstorm relented to a light sprinkle. Outside the window, Ilio created a loop in his rope and tossed it up to a spout. He spotted a guard walking his route, swung his sling with a tiny lead ball, and knocked out the guard in one hit. He climbed up the rope to the second floor and thrust a dagger between the shutters in order to lift the latch keeping the shutters closed. He climbed in the opened window and walks through the door of this empty bed chamber. He finds the guarded door of the queen. Her weeps echo in hall. He hurls a dagger at the guard unaware of his silent presence. He enters the queen’s room to see her lying on a table covered in burns.
“I am sorry, Nastia.” begins Ilio as he removes a container of salve and rubs it on her legs. “You had to burn a little or Dinu would think I was protecting you with magic.”
“Why are you here? You care not for me. You never came back until Radu’s wedding to that scullery maid.” replied Nastia shivering from the fire embers dying into a cold smoke.
“I want to win my wager,” answered Ilio.
“You are rescuing me to win a bet?” What kind of elf are you?” begged Nastia as Ilio reaches rubbing her arms with salve.
“One who befriended a Dacian general. My mistake.” replied Ilio.
He left the room as the salve soaked in to stand guard at the door so any passing guard would believe the queen remained in the room. After some time, he entered the chamber to check on the queen’s progress at moving with singed skin. He dressed her in a robe and shoes he found in a trunk and guided her in the darkness to the room with the rope hanging from the water spout. He opened the shutters and clambered onto the window. Nastia scaled the window and held onto the back of his shoulders as Ilio descended the rope. He had to leave the rope behind and directed Nastia to a stable at Radu’s house. He hid her inside Radu’s carriage and gave her food to eat. He then returned to the palace. The rope hanging from a tree was still there. He climbed the rope into the leaves and scaled the wall walking across tree branches to retrieve the rope and climb the tree trunk into the palace grounds. He entered the service corridors leading right into Radu’s guest chamber. Radu had his children packed up and ready to leave their home forever. Receiving his magic crystal and Zanya back, Ilio aided the family out of the guarded palace gates.
He tossed stones to distract the guards and Zanya created mysterious noises to make the guards move away from the gate. They slipped out and walked to Radu’s house. They said good-bye to their house and belongings they could not carry with them. They departed out of the city gates at sunrise declaring he was on urgent business and the city guards opened the gates for him as their heroic general beloved by their king. The carriage took them north into the forest villages. At a large river, they pushed the carriage into the water and boarded a raft ferry with their four horses. Radu hoped the king would assume he went south to Armorica to follow the river to the coast. Ilio thought the king would not consider they were headed to the Teutonic Forest that not even Dacians could tame. Riding across the valleys and mountain passes for several days and sleeping under their cloaks made for an adventure the queen never could dream. Word spread of the disappearance of the queen and the rage of the king. Nastia all grungy with a simple robe belonging to Tawny and undecorated shoes failed to attract anyone that might recognize her. They made it to the border where Teutons jumped out of shadows at anyone crossing into their territory.
They followed the rivers Ilio viewed on his journey to Iceland riding bareback on the carriage horses. They traded for food supplies and blankets. Ilio and Radu felt strange riding without padded saddles, but got used to it. They hunted for rabbits and fished in streams. They gathered berries and dug for roots along the riverbanks. The first two days they managed not to bump into the Teuton villages. Planting season was done so people remained near their houses further away from the riverbank. Men were out hunting deer and rabbits. After two days, they found men fishing in the streams with spears. One Teuton man on guard duty shot a warning arrow at the travelers. Ilio moved his horse over following the arch in the air and caught the arrow in his hand. The Teutons gasped and fell down on their hands and knees, even in the water. Ilio approached first and asked them to rise. Then one spoke Ilio’s name. Ilio descended his horse and blessed each man by touching their shoulders with his spear. A Teuton grabbed the reins of Ilio’s horse and guided them to the village up the hill. They were careful not to step on the tiny sprouts coming out of the ground of the wheat fields. A Teuton announced the return of Ilio and many gathered around him. Ilio introduced the family he was helping without the use of magic since they were mere mortals. They rested along a large oak tree and were given bowls of bread, blueberry jam, slices of unknown meat, and carrot roots. They drank apple cider in clay cups. The chief asked Ilio to join a hunt of elk. He refused because elves do not hunt in the spring when baby animals are born. At this time, antlers have not grown back yet to distinguish the males and females. Then the chief asked to join in the fishing he interrupted. Ilio agreed. Radu and the twins joined the fishing adventure while Nastia stayed behind with baby Nelu watching the women make baskets from pine needles and reeds. The men and boys speared fish until the noon sun called them home to a meal. This day the men had a story to tell the women as they ate meat and roots rolled in bread dough before baked over the fire.
As they were catching and drying the fish, a fox scampered out of the forest, swam across the river, and fled up the bank before shaking the water off to disappear into a hollow log where the Dacian twins were sitting. Then they saw a deer and fawn swim across the river to dash into the forest again. The men looked at each other wondering if there was a wolf pack was chasing them. Soon, a wolf appeared with white foam around its lips and most evil snarl. Fishing spears were hurled and wolf dodged them as it raced toward them. Ilio held his spear stiff in his hands and waited for the wolf to come closer. He stabbed the wolf straight into the heart when it jumped on him. The wolf yelped and groaned as the banshees sang in the trees. The wolf was burned to honor its courage and stop it from returning as a werewolf. Ilio was hailed as a savior of the village and the chief offered him anything he wanted. Ilio thought saddles would take too long to make from people who do not ride many of them. He decided on food and replaces the rope he had to leave behind. They spent the night in the chief’s house and explained during the evening meal that they traveled without treasures because their home was attacked so they were going to a colony on the coast. They prayed to the gods while hiding from soldiers and Ilio arrived to save them. At sunrise, they bid their hosts good-bye and set off for the river. Another three days passed before they met more humans with crops planted along the river they were following. While they were walking along a creek, the horses became afraid at a silent willow tree. Ilio noticed the birds were silent and no squirrels were scampering about. He shot an arrow into the middle of the trunk to hear leaves rustle, but no sound from any animal. He approached cautiously from the experience from the mad wolf and pulled away the hanging branches. A wolf with a bloody shoulder revealed no fear of Ilio and complete despair. It failed to fight or even growl at Ilio picking it up. Ilio thought it was a new adult male that just been exiled from the pack. He spoke in wolf tongue to ask where the pack den was. The animal replied it was far away from the river and more experienced lone wolves lived just down the stream. He was attacked by the lone wolves after his father exiled him at his maturity. He had given up healing when he could not catch any rabbits or even a mouse.
Ilio boiled water and rubbed Teuton wine in his flask onto the wounded shoulder. He cleaned the bites and scraped off skin with the boiled water and soapstone. He fed the wolf fish and rabbit from their knapsacks. The wolf tried to rise to drink from the river. Ilio carried him to the water and returned him to their campfire. Overnight, the wolf improved and Ilio suspected fairy Zanya was dancing on the wolf to heal it faster. Morning came and they fed the animal again. Ilio set the wolf on his horse and the travelers set off. They rested at the next village that was wondrous of this elf caring for a strange wolf. They got more food after Ilio blessed the village and their crops. Many days later, they reached swamps near the coast and the colony Alesia formed by King Demetrius. They passed by the drained fields and wood dams unnoticed. Ilio thought it odd they have not met anyone. Their lone wolf that had begun walking behind the horses sniffed the air and whimpered human were here recently, perhaps nearby. Suddenly, a warrior leaped from the trees and knocked Ilio right off his horse. He pulled out his sword and the warrior pulled a large dagger. They held the sharp knives next to each other’s necks and abruptly stopped their attack.
“Phoebe, is that you? What is a princess doing in Alesia?” begged Ilio.
“Ilio?” replied Princess Phoebe and put away her dagger. “Sorry, Brother. We were expecting Teutons to raid our storehouse since we have not finished planting our crops. We are weeks behind because a flood stalled our planting. They also love stealing our iron farm tools instead trading for them.”
Princess Phoebe further explained how after Princess Effy died, her brother Demetrius sent a plea to help the colony Alesia defend themselves from the Teutons eager to raid what the Rikians do not trade. The village chief and Phoebe’s husband The Commander welcomed them into his home. His apprentices took their cloaks and fed their horses. Phoebe called the maid for food and they were given preserves with bread. Phoebe ordered milk and apple cider to be brought up from the cellar. She asked General Radu his plan now they escaped Dacia. He was unsure whether to take Nastia and the children to the islands or to Rikia lands. Phoebe proposed that they remain here and help her fight the Teutons. Radu agreed to consider her proposal and the guests rested in a bed chamber. The colony held a banquet in their honor and music was played. Ilio and Radu took turns reciting stories of Dacia, Titania, and Mermaid Islands. Since losing Princess Effy, Phoebe has adopted orphans from Rikian temples and nurtured them as if they were Effy. Nastia and Radu were married and appointed a house with a garden. At the feast given by the Princess, a wizard said Nastia was pregnant and gives birth during the harvest. Ilio used is magic cloak to return to Blue Island with Zanya in his pocket. The lone wolf left the village hearing wolves howl in the darkness. He hoped to find another pack of lone wolves to accept him.
Ilio assured Radu he would always be welcomed at his island. His wedding gift was his own personal horse warrior leather shield he made living in Titania. Edwina was glad to see her husband again. She proudly announced making her first cake with maple sugar and applesauce for Lexie’s visit from her lake fortress. She also brought out the fruit preserves, smoked fish, and wine from the underground storage holes. Queen Lexie arrived on unicorns and asked for a report on his adventure into the Dacian capital to stop a lady from burning by her husband simply because his old friend asked him to. Ilio replied the lady was pregnant with his friend’s child and was inclined to save the child’s life. He finally reported they were married and took up a house in Alesia. Ilio was relieved to recite the story of the rescue and escape to the mermaids. Home at last, he decided to enjoy playing with his children, going out into the wooded areas to look for medicinal herbs, and teach Jaden to make a new leather shield. Life was good to him. The months passed with the wedding of his youngest brother Nuri to a mermaid on Naki Island. Queen Lexie gave Captain Nuri a ship raised from the bottom of the sea. He traded with Carthage and even gathered a force to attack Chloe’s old capital Tanis. The Aferdians made their new capital further downriver at Memphis and King Ptah has accepted an ambassador from Ithaca. Elf sailors from Bear Island take to pirating along the South Sea coastal cities and sell their booty in Ithacan island colonies.
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