The journey through the dried-up sea was a dangerous one. The riders outside the carriage had to contend with the rough terrain and the crablike mutants who dwell in the depths. Several times, the caravan stopped to fend off the crab horde with Prince Aero and crew assisting.
Finally, after months of preparation and travel, the crew has arrived in Meego.
The Meegan riders enter the city through a fortified cage-gate at what appears to be an old dock. They ride straightway into the private port of the Governor.
They wheel the cart around for the Prince to exit before the governor and his dignitaries.
Brotou dismounts and opens the door for Prince David.
“Governor Dabir, I present Prince David, heir to the throne of Avodroc.”
David steps out and the governor gives a small nod. The governor is a decked out in traditional desert attire including a fine silk turban, all Meegan teal. He is a middle age stocky framed man, who carries himself like a royal. Here in the isolated end of the kingdom, he is the de facto ruler.
“Welcome Prince David, it brings us great joy that you made this pilgrimage. Meego is at your service.”
“Thank you, Governor Dabir…”
“Please, call me just Dabir, no need for the title.”
“Agreed, Dabir as long as you call me just David. Titles do seem like a waste of time these days.”
“Of course, David, as you wish.”
“Dabir, may I present my staff, my knights- Ser’s Stephan, Aero, and Matthew with the squire Will. I present the current Queen, Rain…”
“I am sorry, David, but Meego refuses to recognize a queen who isn’t a daughter of Meego.”
David is startled by Dabir’s comment. He had hoped to start a relationship with him on good terms, but he made a misstep almost immediately.
“Please forgive me, I misspoke. Rain, is my father’s current wife. She is a Bellumi officer and she doesn’t even recognize herself as queen.”
“This is true.” Rain adds.
“Ah then who is your mother? Because the beautiful Rain has to be around your age.”
“My father’s first wife came from the Breaker Islands. She passed away several years ago.”
“A Meegan pledged city had a woman become queen before our daughter’s?”
“Forgive me, Dabir. I am only relaying the information. It was my father’s decision.”
Dabir shrewdly looks over the prince as if he is looking to catch the prince in his words.
“Of course, David. Perhaps we should speak alone in private. Maybe a more relaxed atmosphere could ease any tensions before they spring up once we get our introductions out of the way.”
“I would like that very much. As for me, my final companion is a Durrie woman we found in distress on the road, Roasa.”
“Good, I had mistaken her for a prostitute when I first laid eyes on her.”
Roasa tenses up but doesn’t speak. For once she holds her temper in check.
“Roasa is a good woman, she is mourning the loss of her husband to some evil bandits on the road. She is no prostitute, I assure you.”
“Father do not judge this woman so harshly. She clearly has been through so much. She needs to find comfort here in Meego. I will see to it that she finds peace here.”
“Ah, may I present my daughter, Azka.”
The Meegan beauty… the threat. Finally, for Aero a face to the unseen person haunting his dreams all these months. Yet Prince David steps up, reaches out his hand and greets her by looking into her beautiful brown eyes. Aero on the other hand can’t bring himself to do it. He looks at his feet.
Had Aero looked above his feet he would have seen a beautiful dark-haired young woman of slender yet tall frame. Her deep brown skin pops against the Meegan teal, and her hair causes her large brown eyes to shine in an almost hypnotic way.
“Azka, it is a pleasure to meet you. Meegan beauty is spoken throughout the land but I am pleased to say that not even the words do you justice.” Says David.
“Thank you, Prince David.”
“Perhaps, Azka could show your companions to their quarters, while we speak in my private study.”
“Agreed, but first I want to make a gesture of good will to begin our time together. My knights will now hand over their swords. We put our safety in the capable hands of the sons of Meego.”
The knights look to one another but know any hesitation would undermine David to the governor. They each take off their sword belts and place them in Brotou’s hands.
“Thank you, David, that is a great gesture and Meego praises you for it. Now if you follow me, we can walk to my study from here.”
David agrees and walks away from the group with Dabir. Azka with a couple of her handmaidens, each dressed in black desert dresses with a teal lining and modesty veils, asks the group to follow them.
As Azka leads them, one of the handmaiden’s steps over to Aero.
“So, are you a dolphin rider? You are from the Breaker Islands correct?”
“My mother was from the Islands, but I was born in the capital. I’ve never been to the Islands.” Aero responds
“That’s sad. Your people belong in the ocean. You should take time to go there one day.”
Aero hears the compassion in her voice and cannot help but to look her eyes. Even with the veil over her head and face, he cannot help but notice the open loveliness of her large brown eyes. He begins to studder trying to hide his nervousness.
“Maybe I should, but since my mom died… well, I’ve been avoiding it.”
“You should, it would make you feel closer to her.”
“You’re probably right, Miss…”
“My name is Rania, Azka’s handmaiden.” She removes her veil as she says her name. Despite her beauty, Aero is transfixed on her eyes still.
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“So is yours, Aero.” She says with a smile.
She has a perfect smile, and Aero cannot help but take in her beauty for a moment, then he looks over to Matthew who has a knowing smile on his face.
“This is your quarters. This is the old dignitary suites. There are fourteen sleep quarters for the staff with the main chamber for the Prince. The cabinets are stocked with food, and the private bath house is already heated. Please unwind until Prince David returns. We will give you leave.” Azka says.
Aero takes his eyes off Rania for a moment, and accidently catches Azka’s eyes. He doesn’t flinch, and neither does she. The Meegan women leave and the group is finally alone.
The guest quarters are fit for the King. Comfortable seats and beds all over, all decked out in Meegan teal. A full kitchen area that appears to be stocked with food and drink. Matthew quickly looks over the drink selection only to be disappointed.
“What the Hell is going on? What was David thinking?” Says Ser Stephan.
“I don’t know, but Aero is in love!” Ser Matthew responds.
“Did you fall for that Azka? This curse is real!” Roasa says.
“No, not the governor’s daughter, the other one.” Matthew says to Roasa.
Aero remains quiet. Love? No, he tells himself… But he would not mind seeing Rania again. Maybe he can talk Stephan into letting him accompany David on his official duties.
“Let’s focus, David changed the plan without us, then he forced us to give our weapons away. I don’t know what’s going on with him.” Stephan says.
Aero snaps out of his daydream. Ser Stephan has been losing hope for days. He has seen it but hasn’t had a chance to say anything to him.
“Stephan let’s step into the Prince’s chamber and speak. Everyone else, relax for a while. Roasa, help yourself to that bath you’ve been wanting.”
“I’m going back to the dock to get my wine barrels!” Matthew shouts as he exits the room.
Stephan and Aero step into the main bedroom and shut the door.
“Stephan, what’s wrong with you? You’ve been on edge since we arrived at the old palace. I know we had planned to talk after the Red Horn incident but didn’t. I regret that. Talk to me.”
“Oh that, I just wanted you to know that Matthew has to have magic in his blood. His fighting skills are too great. I fought the Red Horn to a near draw, but then Matthew takes him out in two moves… That don’t make any sense. Who’s his father?”
“He doesn’t know his real father; you’ve heard him talk about his adoptive father. But we can talk about that later, why are you so on edge lately?”
“I have sworn to protect David, and since we arrived at the old palace I have failed. Now he is off doing his own thing with no one to protect him. What if he fell in love with that Azka? She could be killing him right now! We don’t know…” Stephan says as he bursts into tears.
“Calm down, brother. It’s okay. David isn’t dead. If he was, then we would be too. We aren’t.”
“You’re right, it’s just a heavy yoke to bear trying to protect someone you can’t.”
Aero hears the words from his mentor and realizes that he wasn’t the only one burdened by this long journey. Aero hugs Stephan.
“What’s going on in here?” David says opening the door.
“David! What have you been doing? What did the governor say?” Stephan asks
“Nothing really just the boring introductions, he invited me to meet with his daughter tomorrow. He said Azka requested Aero come along to keep her handmaiden company.”
Aero’s heart skipped a beat, as he smiles David takes note.
“You fell for a Meegan woman?”
“No, but she would be great company to keep while we are here. Besides, when I looked into Azka’s eyes I didn’t fall for her.”
“Me neither.”
“Neither of you did?” Stephan asks.
“Nope.” David responds. “Curses tend to be exaggerated any way. As far as I can tell, as long as we don’t go for the sword, we will be fine.”
“I agree, but if I don’t get my sword back, you’re climbing the Iron Mountain to get me more material for a new one.” Aero says.
“Let’s worry about that later, tonight let’s rest.”
“I agree, I’m starving. I’m going to see what’s in the cabinets. Hopefully Will has started cooking.”
Aero leaves the room. He is clearly relieved to have met the Meegan beauty and not been charmed by her. Now that he is safe from the evil knights at the old palace, and free from an ancient magic spell he can relax. He knows that he owes this peace to his brother, who has also avoided the family curse.
Now David and Stephan are alone.
“Why did you take his place?” Stephan asks. “It’s so much harder to protect you when everyone knows you’re Prince David.”
“If they had rode up and Aero claimed to be the heir with a couple lighter skin men there, they would have turned us away.”
“Fine, and the weapons?”
“Are the three of you going to protect me with three swords against the entire Meegan army? No, you’re not. I gave them our perception of safety.”
“And what about this Azka?”
“Aero may not know how to deal with her, but I’ve been handling women who want to be my queen since I was a boy. There’s nothing that she can offer me that I haven’t been offered a dozen times over.”
“So the magic… You’re really not in love with her?”
David looks the broken sword knight in the eyes and smiles.
“You’re jealous… I love that.”
Then David leans into Stephan and they kiss, Stephan wraps his arms around David. Usually moments like these bring David comfort, but tonight the embrace calms Stephan’s heart.
Relics of the Old Age 