Chapter 32

The tremendous and joyful welcoming feast thrown in Artemis's honor was one for the records. Lord Aethelind showed out to every houses in Maldonia how exactly a king needs to be welcomed. From roasted lamb and chickens to boar and honeyed wine. To naked whores dancing in the pleasure of the king ─ lady Burchad thought her husband was being too much, yet there was nothing she could do.

The invited guests of the king's celebration were lords from powerful houses outside of Maldonia. Lord Aethelind was a man of great connection and he had a way with people and words. King Luca Arteides once told his people, "Lord Aethelind's words are like honey poured in your ears." With a history of medical conditions which saw his right leg to ulcers, lord Aethelind had been limping throughout his whole life. His father sought out the best maesters in Maldonia and out of Maldonia the time he realized of his son's disease. He was afraid because Aethelind was his heir and with him, House Horriss was in jeopardy.

Unlike what many predicted, lord Aethelind rose above people's expectations and doubts. He used his power as lord of House Horriss and his mouth to give out speeches which lived in people's heads for years. He finally found a cure for his leg and went on from limping to be one of the best riders in the kingdom. Artemis wasn't familiar with his uncle. The last time he was in Horriss was when he visited his dying grandfather with his mother and he never returned. Now he was back in what must have felt like home, yet he felt like an outsider.

With absence of Aurora, there was only one person he felt like he could talk to and that was Selma when she visited him early in the morning to give him a bath. Artemis was inside a warm pool of water while Selma was outside kneeling behind him scrubbing his back with a soft piece of white cloth.

"I don't feel like I'm home. This is my mother's home, her ancestral land. I should be able to feel something." Artemis complained to Selma.

"Give it time, Your Grace. I'm positive your uncle wants you to feel at home."

Artemis disagreed. "He wants to wed off his daughter to me. He doesn't care about what I feel." He replied sipping his honeyed wine. "He craves for power, he is a man of ambitions and ─" Artemis paused.

"And?" Selma asked him to complete his sentence.

Artemis turned back and his eyes met Selma's. Suddenly, he felt like he could trust her. Selma was as kind as she was beautiful. Her soul reflected through her body, she had an aroma fit to fill the king's heart with warmth. Artemis found himself smiling, "I need to keep moving, it's been three days. I have other nine houses to visit. I shall announce my engagement to lady Kholin this evening and be done with it."

"Your uncle will be displeased."

"I'm the king, and he isn't." Artemis walked out of the pool without even a piece of cloth to cover his nakedness.

He was completely bare, his magnificent thews were a turn on to any woman and that's including Selma, his loyal slave. She resisted the urge to look at Artemis's tight butt. But she failed the attempt and stole a glance of him. How she wished he could turn and she could see what was between his legs. Before Aurora came to his life, Artemis was a man for the ladies. He ventured Blackmount with his friends at night and visited several brothels. He liked his women curvy, slightly older and with dark complexions. The whores of Blackmount spoke of how big his phallus was and how the young prince liked to pleasure himself with them. But at that moment all Selma could see was Artemis's butt ─ white, pale and tight.

"You can look Selma, I am your master after all." Artemis spoke while he covered himself with a knee length piece of cloth.

"Is that an order from my master and king?"

"Yes."

Selma shied away, she placed her eyes down and Artemis left her there at the pool and walked back to his chambers. He encountered lord Balon on his way, a shocking turn of events. "My lord!" Artemis was stunned.

Lord Balon jumped at Artemis's sight. He stuttered, "Y-Your Grace!"

"My lord, the rooster has yet to crow and you are up already."

"Pardon me Your Grace, I… I was having a word with your uncle."

"Oh! May I ask what were you two talking about?" asked Artemis tightening his piece of cloth up above his waist and paid attention to lord Balon.

"He wants to see, Your Grace. After you are done having your bath which I'm sure you are."

Artemis sighed softly, then he slowly replied. "I'll go and see him in his chambers after I'm properly clothed."

"He is not in his chambers Your Grace; he is at his council court."

"Alright, I need to get dressed then."

Lord Balon slowly curtsied and walked away. A very anxious and nervous Artemis walked inside his chambers to get dressed. He picked up his yellow robe, with black a trouser and a red cloak as a symbol of monarch and power of Maldonia. Two male servants helped the king to get ready as they dressed him from head to toe. After they were done, Artemis reached out for his crown and placed it on his head. That ancient crown dating back to the days of Corlys Arteides, three hundred years ago when he won the rebellion and became the first king from House Arteides to sit the Sweet Waters throne.

King Luca Arteides always made sure to remind Artemis of the power of their house which was gold. The golden carriage and red sigils all represented power in form of treasuries and victories won at battles. The red color won by Maldonian soldiers represents the blood that has been shed to protect the realm over the centuries, and the gold represented the wealth of House Arteides.

The red color was worn by none other than Artemis inside lord Aethelind's council court which was occupied by three other strange lords who were loyal to house Horriss and lord Aethelind. These lords resided outside of Maldonia in a peninsula called Santagar and they looked different from everyone else. They wore colorful robes, had dark skin complexion and curly black hairs which were long they had to tie them backwards using ribbons. At the very first glance, Artemis knew those three men were not Maldonians.

Santagar was the hottest city just below Doha. The city was rocky, mountainous, arid and dry because it was a desert-like type of land. Santagar was bordered by the sea of Doha to the south and even though it was a part of Doha during the early days, they reclaimed their independence and forged a whole new kingdom of their own. Rather a very small kingdom that it was termed as a city.

House Jordayne styled themselves as kings and queen in their own Santagar fashion. King Vaith of Santagar from House Jordayne was right there inside lord Aethelind's council court accompanied by his two lords which remained nameless and they weren't allowed to speak ─ at least not on Artemis's presence. However, Artemis noticed King Vaith because he was the only one who wore a crown on his head.

Upon entrance of Artemis, lord Aethelind stood up and bowed. Then, followed by his guests who also bowed with an exception of king Vaith. Artemis seemed not to be shocked by king Vaith's actions, after all the man was wearing a crown.

"My lords…" Artemis proceeded and sat on the highest chair inside the council. He was so charmed in seeing new faces.

Lord Aethelind went straight to the point and introduced his guests. "Your Grace, may I introduce King Vaith Jordayne of Santagar and his nameless lords. King Vaith, you are in the presence of King of Maldonia. Artemis of House Arteides, Second of his name, Slayer of the Elves, Lord of ten Houses and Protector of the Realm."

"It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Your Grace." King Vaith opened his mouth and spoke. "Nice cloak by the way, is it purely fabricated by gold?" The red cloak that Artemis usually wore belonged to his grandfather, his late father and now to him. The cloak was made of silk and it sparkled underneath the sun, not to mention the golden thread used to sew it.

Artemis smiled. "Indeed."

"Your uncle told me all about your powerful house, and this magnificent kingdom of Maldonia. I have to agree, it's the most beautiful land I have ever set eyes upon. Too much water…"

Lord Aethelind managed a scoff, then he turned to Artemis. "Santagar is but an arid land, Your Grace. They don't have the pleasure of excessive water like us."

"Well, you must visit my capital King Vaith, Blackmount. It's where my palace is and the infamous Sweet Waters throne." Artemis was feeling himself this time and being confident. Maybe he's never been this confident before.

King Vaith smiled, he thought Artemis was bragging his wealth and slaves and golds on his face while he didn't seem like he had so much to show off. Lord Aethelind continued, "Your Grace, king Vaith is here to talk about prince Lucian Mithandir and the war between the Prophisians." Lord Aethelind paused first to see Artemis's reaction.

"What about it?" asked Artemis.

"Lucian wrote a letter to me, weeks ago. He's seeking men to join his cause with a promise of alliance and land once he takes the Silver throne. King Vaith has pledged his full support to the prince. So do I."

Artemis was caught off guard. "Wait, uncle? You are supporting the Mithandir in this war?"

"Yes nephew, the alliance between Maldonia and Prophis goes way back ever since the reign of Mayan Mithandir and your great-great grandfather. Are we about to break the tradition which has lasted for years before you and I were born?"

King Vaith added. "I know what's like being robbed of your birth right. I was supposed to be Seyyid of Doha, it's my birthright. But that right was stolen from my father. I grew up knowing my history and ever since then, I haven't stopped fighting. I'm sure if the situation was reversed, you would want to fight for your throne too, Your Grace."