Chapter 80 - Mother's love! [6]

The throne room shimmered; a cavern of gold bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Cassandra, perched atop her throne, looked less like a queen and more like a bandit, her legs spread wide, her arms gripping the armrests, her jaw clenched. Despite the intimidating posture, the tension in her jaw, the way she ground her teeth, betrayed a deeper emotion—a concern for Andromeda, a mother's worry disguised as ruthless indifference, she was not sadistic at least.

— … The boy can stay, — Cassandra finally declared, her voice a low growl. — But the servant has thirty-six hours to leave the island... — Looking at my mother. She had a slight fake smile on her slightly tilted upwards face, her iris resting on the lower corner of her eyes.

Hearing that, I lowered my head and looked at Windsor through the opening in my arms. My heart sank. Windsor, my friend, banished from that strange, hostile land. — Windsor... — I whispered, my lips trembling.

My mother also looked at the Windsor, shook her head with a sigh. A silent farewell.

Windsor, kneeling, bowed his head. — As you command, Your Majesty, — he said, his voice steady despite the obvious pain. — I have served my purpose. I protected my masters...

Looking at him, I clenched my fists and pressed my lips together. A surge of anger, hot and furious, washed over me. "I'm going to make the Amazons pay for this humiliation!" I vowed; my teeth clenched.

I was angry just because they were zealous about their culture, it was irrational of me. Even more so because they didn't even know that I was from the Treadway family, and Windsor was from the ancient family. They didn't understand. If they knew, they would have welcomed us with open arms, I'm sure they would even do their best to get pregnant and connect with our families.

Cassandra, analyzing me with a visibly cynical smile. Her eyes gleaming with amusement, clapped her hands. — Then it's settled.

She waved a dismissive hand. — Remove the... servant!

Brunhilde, on the stairs of the throne, looked at the queen with veins on her face and pointed her hand in my direction. Her face contorted with fury, stepped forward. — My queen, this is a violation of our tradition and laws! — she exclaimed, her voice ringing through the chamber.

Cassandra, unfazed, raised an eyebrow. — But I didn't finish speaking, — she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. — The boy will fight in the Supreme Championship every year. If he is truly my grandson, he will prove himself worthy. 

It was a smart strategy, but at that time neither I nor my mother understood it. She knew that I was the last direct heir of the Treadway family, and couldn't have my identity revealed, so she decided to make the Amazons respect me based on strength.

If I beat women live, I would have respect—in theory it's not like that, but in practice, practice... I had to beat women, breaking a principle of the Treadway family.

But other than that, I raised my head slightly towards the throne. Despite her intimidating presence, I found myself captivated. There was a wild, untamed beauty about her. Maybe that's why I've never been attracted to any woman...

On the ground, sensing my unease, my mother stretched out her arm, took my tunic firmly behind my back, carried me and placed me in front of her, next to her chest, her arms wrapping around me. — Please, Mother! — she pleaded, her voice trembling. — Sisters, he doesn't understand our customs. Give him a year to learn and train. Please, next year, at this time, he'll participate...

I felt the warmth of her embrace, the comforting scent of her hair, I sighed. "Couldn't she do that in a less... embarrassing way?" I thought to myself, remembering the moment she carried me like a cub as lionesses do with their cubs.

All the Amazons in the room looked at me and forming groups murmured among themselves. Murmurs rippled through the crowd of Amazons. — How can a boy live among us?! This dirt will only corrupt us! But he will die anyway, if it is a year that she asks, exactly a year, he will have!

Andromeda, her voice firm, addressed the crow. — He is my son. And he will not be harmed!

The amazons, though still wary, fell silent. Andromeda, with her unwavering resolve, had commanded their respect, if not their approval.

My mother kissed my head and placed her hands on my waist. — Not even I could kill my little son If I wanted to, imagine them... — she reassured. — Arthur, you are the best of both worlds! — she whispered in my ears.

— ..., — I looked at the queen. I didn't understand anything my mother said.

Cassandra, a mischievous glint in her eyes, leaned forward, her scepter tapping the floor. — Very well, — she conceded. — But, understand this, boy! — she said, her gaze fixed on me. — Be ready and prove that you are a demi-god, you have Amazon blood and that you are worthy of being by our side! 

Yes, amazons were seen as demi-gods, children of Olympus. So, logically, I was seen as one. Lies.

My mother noticed my frown and my mortal gaze and leaned her face against mine. — Say, 'Here I am, Queen Cassandra!' — whispered in my ears.

I smiled, undid my furrowed brow and met her gaze, a defiant glint in my eyes. — Here I am, Queen Cassandra! — I declared, my baby voice firm and unwavering. Challenging her clearly.

Cassandra could have killed me, but she didn't. Underneath that arrogance and savagery, there was an Amazon who could not resist her cub.

A hint of amusement playing on her lips, Cassandra nodded approvingly. — Indeed, — she murmured.

When my mother and I left the room, we could hear the murmurs and felt the fury of the Amazons. It was absurd to have a boy in the middle of them, I was like a disease, but my mother faced her people for me.

Brunilde, watched us go, crossed her arms with a venomous smile playing on her lips. — He's still in the Condensation Realm; there's no way he will survive in the Arena! — She hissed; her voice laced with poison. — He is weak, insignificant... He will perish...

— The queen was brilliant as always, the kid will die right away. He is not so big of a deal to grow significantly in a year. — Brunhilde exclaimed, bowing in the direction of the queen.

The Amazons in the room shook their heads and exchanged glances in agreement with Brunhilde.

…

We were escorted to our quarters, it was a kind of large and luxurious apartment. The palace of the Amazons was much larger than that of the United Kingdom. The walls were adorned with intricate murals, the floors paved with polished marble, and the air thick with the scent of exotic flowers, something to impress, Cassandra cared about us.

Inside the quarters, there was a room for me and another for my mother, balconies in both bedrooms and a kind of living room in the center.

I sat by my bedroom window, watching the Amazons go about their business, their movements fluid and graceful, but their eyes filled with suspicion and hostility. — Welcome to paradise..., — I muttered to myself. An eight-year-old boy, thinking about life.

Nestling Allana in her arms, my mother entered my room. — This is our new home, and this is your big brother's room... — she babbled, looking at Allana, and then at me with a soft voice. — Son, watch out for the people here! Don't get too close, they want to harm us here! — she ordered softly.

It has always been her gift, to be authoritative in a sweet and gentle way. It was something that only she could. People always saw me as a monster, and obeyed me out of fear, but her orders were like favors to a mother.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the bustling activity outside the palace. — They want to harm me, you mean... What kind of competition is this? — I asked.

She sat in front of me. — Your grandmother isn't as bad a person as you think, she's being pressured by the Amazons... Have you seen the rooms she has given us? And about the competition... — she sighed, running her hand over my cheek.

— Son, the competition is to see who is the strongest of the Amazons... — she said, with a worried look. She couldn't tell me that I'm going to fight in a facade championship for the Olympians to profit and have fun.

Feeling her soft touch on my cheek, I looked at her. — Who's going to train me? How am I supposed to train for this... championship? — I asked.

With Allana in her arms, she placed a hand on her waist and stretched out her chest. — Me. Of course, who else?! — she said, laughing.

— No amazon school will accept you, so I'll train you and I'll be your teacher too... Yay! Isn't that awesome? — she yelped, giggling. — Besides, no one else knows the ancient arts of the Treadways better than your father's wife... 

She only knew basic martial arts and a little about the family's stories, no big deal.

But I felt a warm sensation, a comforting sense of security. Despite the dangers that lurked around every corner, I knew my mother would be with me. I had my mother, and with her by my side, I could face any challenge, overcome any obstacle.