Way of the Empire

4

Lilibeth delivered the final basket of bread rolls out to the courtyard and set it on the far right end of the red table runner adorned with a gold dragon embellishment that graced the center of the head table. Smaller tables decorated the edge of the yard, each filled with an assortment of baskets of bread, pastries, and fruit. Her mouth watered as she took in all the smells. It had been so long since she had seen this much food in one place. A smoky smell tickled her nose, and Lilibeth followed its trail to a large cut of meat roasting over a roaring fire. The torches were lit, and the villagers and soldiers began arriving. 'Don't dawdle now, we need you back here to help', her mother's words rang loud and clear in her head. Surely her mother wouldn't mind a few more minutes!

"Well, it's certainly a party. I wonder if we'll get any sleep tonight'', two women laughed as they passed by her with baskets of cups. She recognized the lady's voices as Agnes and Romilda. Lilibeth turned away and hid behind one of the stone columns to watch them pass by. If they saw her, they would surely inform her mother of her tendency to wander around the grounds. They were nowhere near her mother's age. As a matter of fact, they were closer in age to Lilibeth. She had tried befriending them early on but they quick to make fun of her lack of money. She'd kept clear of them ever since they had decided to hold her head down in the dirty laundry water and then locked her out of the castle in the middle of winter. Her mother hadn't even bothered to look for her and simply believed her to have wandered off. She'd spent the entire night huddled under damp blankets. She'd never miss their giggling anytime she was being accused of something they had done. Lilibeth took their arrival as her sign to leave. If she wasn't back in the kitchen before they returned, her mother would have her head. Lilibeth sighed and dragged her legs back to the kitchen. She kept her eyes trained on the floor. Her arms folded across her chest. She meandered along the corridor of the palace, unaware of her surroundings and finally turned into the servants hallway that led to the kitchen.

"By God, you're worthless'', King Abdeel's voice slurred as he reprimanded a man. Lilibeth's eyes jolted up. The man towered over King Abdeel. His arms were crossed and the muscles nearly bulged out of his shirt sleeves. She took advantage of the fact that she had not been seem and backed up into the hallway she had just left.

''You can not hurt me father''. Lilibeth's eyes widen. Curiosity got the better of her. Lilibeth couldn't help herself. Her ears perked up at the declaration. No on got to see the prince. He'd always kept to himself and he's been gone for years.

King Abdeel raised his leg, grimacing as his muscles stretched. He wanted to aim for his chest. In his drunken state, he no longer saw the man before him, only the boy he was used to pushing around. The king stumbled, tripping over his feet. Years of training and fighting in the war had transformed his son into a huge, nearly indestructible force. Ero fought the urge to kick his father's stomach. For the first time in years, he wasn't allowed to return fire after someone delivered it.

"Make sure to cover that hideous face of yours. You wouldn't want to scare the town's people with your disgusting caricature.'' Ero watched his father stumble away. Gripping the corners of the cobblestone walls for support as he tried to turn at the edge of the hall. His father had found him in the servants' corridor while Ero was trying to avoid the upcoming festivities. He watched his father struggle. Gone was the once powerful and feared king the land of the west had ever seen. All that was left was a drunken shadow of a man.

"I need to drink. It's the only way I can sleep these days, "his father started to tell him when he was 5 years old.

"Stupid wh*re!'' He was walking away when he heard it. Ero stopped to listen to whoever would be the next victim of his father's rage.

"I deeply apologize, my King. I meant no harm." A servant girl stood before his father, scrunched up, eyes studying the floor. Her hands folded in front of her. The hearty smell of whiskey wrapped around her, choking her.

"You insignificant wench! Are you so feeble minded that you are incapable of seeing what is in front of you!" The king swayed as he spoke. He staggered amongst the same two steps at an attempt to hold himself upright.

'' Someone ought to teach you manners!'' Abdeel raised his hand, prepared to strike her down. Ero reacted before he realized. He had grasped his father's hand and held it above his head. King Abdeel stumbled forward, confused as to why his arm wasn't moving. He looked up and saw his son standing over him.

"Stupid boy," he swung back his other fist, and it collided with Ero's jaw. The prince was unmoving. His head turned at the impact. He was unwilling to release his father's hand. The servant girl stood in front of them, shaking, her hands fidgeting with themselves.

"Go," Ero whispered. He watched as the girl curtseyed and scurried away like a mouse. Her eyes never once looked up at them. Better for her, he thought. No one should ever lay eyes on a creature like him. King Abdeel struggled but slowly composed himself. Ero released his arm and watched him trip over his feet as he walked down the hall. He touched his face. The ridged lines of his past etched upon his face resurfaced the same waters that drowned him every night. He was on his way to the seamstress. The fabric mask he stitched together had fallen apart. Ero had made it himself in his tent during the war. On the battlefield, he wore a helmet and the soldiers in his group didn't mind as much as they sported scars of their own. But now he faced a city if strangers and noble men and women that would one day turn to him for guidance. They already feared his father and Ero had decided long ago that he would be different. They would have no reason to fear him.

Surely Maudie would know how to help. He reached her work room and knocked. Hearing her familiar voice call out 'come in', brought a small smile to his face.

"Afternoon Maudie'', he announced as he walked in.

"Oh my boy! I was wondering when you would come visit!'' Maudie turned around in her chair. Her chubby arms found themselves around his waist as she pulled him down to kiss his cheek. She patted his arms and motioned for him to sit.

"Anthony's already passed by earlier, but enough about him. How was your journey? Shall I send for tea?'' Her gray hair was tied up in a frilly white bonnet. Ero watched the wrinkles on her face crinkle as she spoke. Maudie was Anthony's mother; but she always had a soft spot for Ero. She was the queen's most trusted lady in waiting, and after her passing, she stayed behind to work as a seamstress for the palace. She was the only woman who wouldn't flinch when looking at him.

" I need another face covering Maudie'', he began. Maudie scoffed and took the rag from his hand.

"Now, I told you many times, I don't think you need to wear these ridiculous things around your face! You're handsome without it. No woman is going to want to approach you with this dust rag covering your face! '' She waved the rag in the air as she spoke.

Ero chuckled as she took out her needle and began to stitch. He had already made arrangements for his dinner to be delivered to his room. He wouldn't be able to eat around everyone anyway. He would show up to the celebration, stay for the commencement festivities, and then sneak away while everyone partied.He just needed something to cover the bottom half of his face, and he would survive.