Curse of the GodKing

Chapter 10 Tutoring

Khali

"NO!" Both her and Cassian panicked, chorusing in unison at the elderly tutor.

"I see! We ARE all on the same page then. Good. Let us all have a seat and begin our lessons, ofcourse if you're both done having your royal temper tantrums, that is." The tutor's smile still looked remotely threatening to Khaldarosa, but her body language returned to the soft and kind; way it had been before Cassian had raised his voice at her.

"Whatever" Cassian sighed as Khali nervously replied "Yes ma'am!"

They all took places around the table in the sitting area. Khali went to grab for another piece of fruit, and the tutor cleared her throat.

"Wife Khaldarosa, in Pix before taking anything in the presence of a royal one must offer some to the royalty first." She informed evenly. Prompting Khali, her eyes darting between the fruit and Cassian.

"Of course! Thank you." Kahli turned to Cassian and put on the sweetest voice she could, "Would you like some Zephyr?"

The tutor cleared her throat again before Cassian could speak, "Titles, Wife Khaldarosa, one must always speak to royalty with titles. I understand it may be confusing for you, as you are royalty in your own right, but in Pix until you've completed the coronation you aren't the same level as the royal family. Like a guest royal with much more authority."

"Right." She inhaled and smiled again, trying once more. "Heir Cassian, would you like a Twilight Zephyr fruit?"

"No, thank you." Cassian muttered, seeming almost deflated compared to a few moments ago.

*What's wrong with him all of a sudden?*

Khali's expression turned to concern, she looked at the tutor puzzlingly and gave a small nod in Cassian's direction. The tutor shrugged and verbally changed the subject.

"Wife Khaldarosa, I am Mida. I have been the royal tutor for four generations now. I was newly a tutor, not even apprenticed, in the very end of GodKing Midas's reign. I taught The Elder GodKing the languages of the western kingdoms he was acquiring, in order to make peace negotiations smoother. Tell me about yourself, Wife Khaldarosa." Her smile was warm and inviting, but what she had just said was almost frightening. She taught GodKing Midas?!

*She was most likely around 17-18 when she started teaching the royal family?? New tutors often apprentice for 5 years after completing schooling. That was nearly 80 years ago!* She had to be one of the oldest people Khali had ever met.

"Well you know my name, and that I'm from here, im assuming you also know my age... My favorite color is purple?" She responded, uncertainty heavily laced in her voice.

Mida laughed. "Thank you, Wife Khaldarosa, that was very informative."

"Please, call me Khali when we're alone. It's the short name my eldest brother picked when I was a baby." She smiled, thinking about her nursemaid and her brothers.

"I will do as you wish, Khali." Mida gave Khali a knowing smile, sadness for the princess visible in her eyes.

"If you don't mind, Mida, I'd like to start Heir Cassian's lessons as soon as possible."

"No, that's ok take your time." Cassian muttered, "Not like I have anything to do stuck on a stupid island." He was tracing the pattern on the sofa's arm. Pouting like a small child.

"Heir Cassian, do you know the name of the island nation where you currently are?" Khaldarosa adopted Mida's even tone and teaching cadence, sitting up straighter.

"Aquafina?" He seemed genuine, albeit a bit bored.

"Aquaria is the name, Your Highness. You are in the capital. The population of the big island is 3,437, we're expecting another 6 by winter. The population of our southern most island, Natuk, is 1,023 with no reported pregnancy, while the two smallest islands both have under a thousand a piece. Malik and Nebaha have 876 with 2 pregnancies and 403 with 3 pregnancies, respectively."

"Why do I need to know population and -gags- pregnancy?" Cassian looked almost horrified.

*What a child.*

"In order to know history, you also need to know some current affairs. Population is important in that, Heir Cassian." Khali politely scolded, trying to sound like Mida had.

"Alright. So there's not alot of people in your nation. Can you make me understand why I care?" Cassian sounded so irritated that is started to irritate Khali.

*Center. Focus. He's exactly like a spoiled or neglected child, you've got to interest him. Make it fun. You got this Khali.*

"Ofcourse, Heir Cassian." Smoothing her tone, "When this nation was founded 2,000 years ago by King Malik Gyren the population was over 10,000. The three heads of each island had a council and deemed the best warrior between all their people would rule all three islands. It's known as The Great Convergence. On the first day of spring every year we celebrate Unity Day, commemorative of The Great Convergence."

"Wait, didnt you just say that there are like 6,000 people now? Shouldn't that have grown in 2,000 years?" Obviously instantly confused, she had gotten atleast some his attention.

"Exactly, Heir Cassian, that's why population is important. 500 years after our nation was founded there was a great plague of Sea Dragons. The Purples that live on Benezia Island had a litter where 60 survived to hatching." She got a small bit theatric with her tone to keep him enthralled, "Hungry new hatched Purple Sea Dragons almost destroyed us! Our population decreased to just over 2,000 in total. They completely wiped out the Island of Nebaha. We had to repopulate it after our nation recovered."

"So then how did you survive?" He seemed almost awestruck

*It's working!*

"The Princess Sunlight." She cooed mysteriously, smirking at him.

"Sunlight?" Cassian c****d his head, "That's quite a strange name."

"Her mother was strange, to be fair, she was from the eastern mainlands."

"Noted, continue." His aloofness seemed very forced. She had definitely interested him, which was a very satisfying feeling.

"Princess Sunlight had a plan, one that would take much sacrifice. She devised that the Sea Dragons always went back to Benezia after an attack. She took her boat and three boats of men, they went to set up surveillance of the island, and when the dragons left to attack again the boats landed. They found and smashed over 300 unhatched eggs. As the dragons started slowly returning, they where killed off one by one. They where relaxed, in their own territory, and that made them vulnerable. In the end Princess Sunlight survived but only 2 men of her entire three ship crew returned with her. The rest where slain, and 5 dragons survived. With their numbers decreased so drastically, they did not attack again. Every one hundred years when the Dragons lay their eggs we send a raiding party to the island. We smash any we find. Usually one or two survive, this keeps the population low but doesn't throw nature off balance." She told the story in almost the same way you'd tell it to small children around a campfire.

"That's incredible! How did she think of that? How did she survive? How many Dragons are there now? When is the next raiding party?" Cassian fired questions at Khali, excitement clearly running through him. She didn't notice until then just how much he was seeming to enjoy his history lesson.

"Alright, alright" She answered with a smile.

"Princess Sunlight never made known to history how she figured out her plan, but her survival is another matter. She and two men whom survived with her made a tactical retreat. They knew that three of them, battle worn as they where, couldn't slay five dragons. Put simply, they ran. The next raiding party should be sent in 2 years time. As far as we know the current population of Purple Sea Dragon on Benezia is 15, my four elder brothers took down a mated pair last year." She informed him warmly.

"That's insane! She ran!? I mean, I can see why, but to self report it to the historians? Wasn't she afraid of looking weak?"

"Not at all. Princess Sunlight was proud of accomplishing what she did. Before her plan there was absolutely no hope. She was later named Queen, and had only two children."

"Wow. The guts." He seemed to get lost in thought for a moment.

It was about sun high, making her have an idea.

"How about we take a break and get the servants to bring some lunch, Heir Cassian?" Khaldarosa offered, her stomach feeling tight again. Fruit was just not enough breakfast to last until late afternoon.

"Sure. I'll get it." He went over and pulled the cord, as he spoke to the staff Khali turned to Mida.

"How'd I do?"

"You make a fine tutor, Wife Khaldarosa."