Chapter 43

After a long journey outside of the capital, Artemis felt like it had been over a year. Actually, it was just two months, but what really made it seem like a long way back home were the events taking place in the capital. From the declaration of war between Maldonia and Prophis for the first time in thousands of years to being denied votes to wed Aurora, it was all too much for Artemis to take in.

However, the burden was lifted off the moment Artemis stepped out of his royal golden carriage and being welcomed by a running Aurora racing up to him. Artemis's smile widened and he walked faster to meet Aurora half way. It was like a play of love between these two. Artemis kissed Aurora's lips passionately and fondly with his eyes closed and his hand on Aurora's chin. Thank God there were no good folks to gossip since the welcoming was done inside the gates of the palace where no commoner was allowed save the servants and washerwomen and wet nurses. But all these servants swore an oath of discrete, although they would definitely gossip about it later with their friends. It's through their gossips where we learned all these tales.

"My betrothed…" Artemis picked up Aurora by her waist.

Aurora replied with a smile between the kiss. "My betrothed," and she continued kissing Artemis with lust. They didn't care anymore about who was present or who wasn't. They had all the time to hide and be discreet with their relationship and at that moment the need to be discreet fell off from their authority and they decided to be out and about. What was there to hide? Some of the historians argued on their journals.

By that time, all the lords had gotten out of the carriage too. Lord Akirbus and Lord Angun joined their fellows, Lord Balrus and Lord Dagon. The four were now complete, what was regarded as the highest members of the king's council. Lord Akirbus asked, "I hope you haven't beggared the realm my lord ever since I left you in charge as Master of the coins?" the question was meant for Lord Dagon who smiled and promised Lord Akirbus the Maldonian coffers were as safe as it was the kingdom.

"Safe? Are we even safe?" Lord Angun intervened.

"King Castellan has declared war against us and he has called out to his lords to raise their banners. It's rather sooner than we expected." Lord Balrus explained the situation briefly. 

King Vaith joined the lords since Artemis was so distracted by Aurora, no one seemed to want to interrupt the two young lovers. That's when Princess Aeryn walked to the lords with haste to meet the handsome king of the desert as he styled himself. When Princess Aeryn arrived, all the lords stopped talking and they addressed her. "Princess…." But they didn't bow. She wasn't a sovereign.

King Vaith was awestruck by the princess's arrival and it's not usual for a man like Vaith to be stunned. He has been with every woman and tasted every bit of pleasure to be found on a woman's body. The women he had been with, they came in different shapes and sizes and races. They were all attractive of course, but Aeryn's beauty took his breath away. He savored the moment to look at the princess from head to toe.

Then, King Vaith took out his folded turban on top of his head as a show of respect and greeted the princess. However, Lord Balrus intervened. "How silly of me. Your Grace, may I introduce to you ─"

King Vaith cut Lord Balrus's speech half way. "Princess Aeryn Arteides; the Princess of Blackmount and Lady of House Arteides. The king's own sister." He finished the sentence looking straight into Princess Aeryn's eyes, one could say he was flirting with her. "I am awestruck my lady, you are as stunning as they say you are."

Princess Aeryn acted shyly, it was all a plan to make sure Lord Balrus doesn't give Artemis the letter. She was doing as she was told. "You flatter me Your Grace, King of Santagar and Master of the dry sea."

"You know what they say about the deserts in Santagar, my princess?"

"Enlighten me, Your Grace."

King Vaith took his turban and threw it to a servant nearby who was carrying his things to his chambers. He exhaled and paid attention to the princess. "I would like to take you there one day, if your brother permits."

Princess Aeryn chuckled softly and then she looked at Lord Balrus and walked away from the group. She didn't give Vaith a straight answer of whether she would like to visit Santagar or not, she let it hang in the air and be a mystery. She joined her brother to welcome him home after such a weary journey. Aurora walked inside the palace and left Artemis to have a solo conversation with his sister. She knew better than to poke around matters relating to kin, after all Artemis was back and she can have him anytime she wanted.

"Welcome back home brother." Aeryn reached out for Artemis's shoulders and kissed his cheeks. The warmth she felt from hugging her brother somehow made her calm. They stood so close facing each other.

"Thank you sister, how have you been?"

"As you might imagine. The war is coming, and we are all nervous."

Artemis locked eyes with his sister, and it was clear that he was weary from his travels. His eyes were reddish, lips dry and probably he hasn't been sleeping for days. Who could blame the young king after he was put in such condition. He's been on the throne for less than six months and Castellan had already declared a war on him.

"Father ruled the kingdom for over twenty years in peace and prosperity. The kingdom was silent and the people were safe. When the elves invaded the kingdom, we only lasted two years before the grim reaper visited father. Wars take people from us." Princess Aeryn held Artemis's left shoulder. She tried so hard to make a very exhausted Artemis concentrate. "It's our duty as women to keep our men from early graves. The nights will be long, but I'm sure the light will come afterwards." Princess Aeryn sighed and then she reached out for her brother's hands. "I wrote to our uncle Arcadia, Lord of Marinus."

Artemis was shocked. This did sure get his attention. "You did what?"

"Shsh…" Aeryn shushed Artemis using her index finger and then she turned to see if anyone was eavesdropping to their conversation. "I only asked of his help."

"At what capacity? He is a traitor to the crown. Father banished him because he wanted my throne."

"I know, alright. I just thought you could use a word of wisdom in these times of need."

"From a man who wanted to put my head of a spike? Aeryn…"

Artemis removed his hands from Aeryn's and sighed. He had that, "What did you do?" kind of look on his face. "I had no one to confide to regarding this issue with you and ─" Aeryn paused and started to cry. There was something more to the story and Artemis knew of it.

"What is it?" Artemis was concerned because even after everything that his sister had just told him, he still lived by his father's last words which burdened him with his sister's protection.

And Aeryn was aware of her effect towards Artemis, hence she kept on weeping. "It's Lord Balrus. He has a hold of the letter which I intended to send to our uncle, and now he is threatening me with it. He wants me to wed the King of Santagar so I can be shifted off to god knows where… and I don't want to brother."

"Aeryn…"

She begged. "Please brother, don't send me away. I have to be by your side. I am your only blood and the only person you can trust in the whole kingdom. I would never do anything to hurt you nor would I watch as you destroy yourself. Remember what father used to say."

"I remember what he said. But you have to wed sister, you have come of age. After all, marriage is just a political arrangement."

"For men! A political arrangement to men. But for us, it's a burden placed on our heads. We can't even move nor breath because of how heavy it is."

"Alright sister, I will speak to Lord Balrus and −"

The princess quickly intervened. "No, I don't want you to."

Artemis sighed heavily. He didn't know what to do with his sister anymore. "What would you have me do?" he asked softly and it was vivid he needed a rest.

"I will wed the outlander, but we are staying here in the capital."

"Alright, if that's what you want. However, ─"

Aeryn knew exactly what her brother will propose, and that was if the husband would be willing to let her stay in the capital. She didn't want that, hence she interrupted her brother again. "You are the king of Maldonia brother. Just one word from you and he will obey. I know we need his camels and men, but I am not going to Doha and live in the desert all my life. My place is right here with you."

At some point in the midst of the conversation, Artemis was rather impressed with his sister's courage. Not so long ago they were racing who would reach their father's keep sooner or fight over pastries which remained at the dinner table. But here they were, talking politics and weddings like grownups.

"I agree sister; your home is right here beside me. We will rule together just like what father wanted." Artemis pulled Aeryn in a tight hug and kissed her forehead. Well, that was a weird show of affection to Lord Balrus who was gawking from a distance. He thought the siblings were wroth with one another. He longed for a rodent to whisper to him what was going on, but the conversations were rather tight for any of his spies to pick up what the siblings were talking about.

The other place where conversations were tighter, was inside Princess Sansa and Lord Balon's castle. Lord Balon didn't utter even a single word to his lady wife the moment he stepped inside the Hand's castle. Princess Sansa asked lots of questions. "My love, how was your journey? Did you see all of Maldonia? How fascinating were the houses' sigils?" but she was met with a morbid silence from Lord Balon.

"Are you suddenly deaf, lord husband?" asked the princess "Or did they cut out your tongue?"

"I do not feel like talking to a whore." Lord Balon raised his voice to the princess with his frown look. A look of disgusting and being ashamed of his wife's infidelities.

"I am not a whore, Balon. I am the mother of your daughters and a lady of Nemphis."

"You are nothing! Just a common whore looking for a new cock every single night without a care for her husband's respectful position. You…" Lord Balon raised his index finger towards Princess Sansa while he trembled with anger. "You are a disgrace to our family. Now I know why your father banished you from his kingdom."

"He banished me because I married a penniless lord of sheep and goats. Do not forget where you come from Balon." Princess Sansa raised her voice so high and insulted Lord Balon. However, she regretted her decision to speak back to her husband when Lord Balon raised his right hand and slapped her, Sansa fell down on the floor.