What lurks in the dark

Chapter One

KINGDOM OF ETRESSOS

ELEVEN SUMMERS LATER

******

"Linaria, we need to be back in the palace in ten minutes!" Ozz said, "You need to have a bath and join the ladies in preparation of tonight's celebration."

"Uncle Ozz. Let's train some more please. The celebration does not begin until sunset. I do not wish to fritter precious time sitting amongst ladies bickering and gossiping." She replied.

"I have matters that needs my presence in the palace. I need to go."

"Okay, why don't you leave, then allow me to continue my practice with Uncle Holox." She said suggestively.

"No will do young lady. You will not cause me my man sacks. Because if you do not return right in time for the preparation as I promised your Aunt Claoybe, she will cut off my man sack."

Knowing she can’t win this, she just agreed.

And ten minutes later, they left the garden.

When they returned to the palace, Linaria left Ozz and Holox in the halls to go to her chambers, where she will get ready for the celebration.

Ozz watched her retreating form as she climbs the stairs. He thought about the past years. His little girl is now a lady. She had taken everything quite well despite her age. The first few weeks they arrived, she refused to leave her chambers, refused to eat, refused to see anyone, and was always crying. But after that, never for once did she break in front of anyone. She surely did shed tears, there is no doubt about that, but only in the privacy of her pillow. Either that or she would confide in nature, mounting a horse to her favorite place, a small cave she found summers ago, just behind the water falls at the far end of the palace of Etressos. Even he, was unaware ofthe existence of the cave before he and Horox followed her secretly one day. And never have they made it known to her that they knew her little hideout.

"Where is Linaria?" His wife asked, coming to stand beside him.

"In her chambers Mi Fynae. We came back in time, just as I promised."

"I know her parent wanted her trained, and you have done so everyday for the past eleven summers, do you not think she is well trained now. She needs to start acting like a lady." She complained.

"She will not stop training, and she acts fine for a lady."

"Fine is not enough. You do not have any idea why you train her, but you do anyways. I have never complained. But I am now. She needs to start acting like a lady, and doing what ladies her age do."

"She is a lady, and she acts like a lady. She wears a dress, adorns herself self in jewelries, baths with rose water, and sleeps in silk. What else do you want?" He asked, getting irritated.

"That is not all about being a lady. At nineteen summers, she still does not curtsy well. She mounts and dismounts a horse like a lad. Men have already started courting Astrina, but not Linaria. She is known only by few, because she does not go out, always spearing with your or Holox."

"She is still a young girl. She has all the time in the world to learn how to curtsy, and court."

"Time?" She huffed, "She is nineteen summers Ozz, seven new moons older than Astrina, and you call her a young girl. She needs time to start going out, like ladies her age."

"Do not push the wrong buttons Claoybe. The girl is not complaining. She loves every bit of it. It is a promise I made, and I very well intend on seeing it through. In eleven summers we have tried all we can to find the killers of my sister and her husband, but all in vain. I have a feeling that whatever it is that happened before will soon manifest itself. So Linaria will continue to train, End of." He said, in finality, looking at her, as if daring her to argue.

Claoybe knew there was no winning, so she just wheezed in annoyance and walked away.

•••••••

"You look like a lady darling. So beautiful." Claoybe said, as Linaria walked down the stairs.

"I always look like a lady, Aunt Claoybe. I walk with a straight back and I curtsy quite well."

"Quite well is not enough. You are no ordinary lady, you are a princess. You need to start joining Astrina, Atlentia and Eulimene more often."

"Sitting and bickering is not for me, Aunt Claoybe, I would rather practice magic or spear with Uncle Ozz or Uncle Holox."

Claoybe just jiggled her head and walked away, while Linaria walked to the ladies hall where the other ladies and maidens are.

There were many ladies in the hall. Royalties, high class, and local maidens. While some helped with the decorations of the hall, some ladies were just frolicking , while others gossiped and barked others.

Today, the prince will return. After eleven summers of being away, he comes back today. Everyone in the kingdom of Etressos is jubilating over the return of their Xyse. Highborns of Etressos and princesses of other kingdoms are all in attendance of the welcome ceremony.

Linaria, bored of sitting amongst her fellow ladies doing nothing, excuses herself, and went out.

Wanting to be alone, she walked on and about until she reached the gates of the rose garden. The garden was only opened for the first time today. Her Aunt Claoybe ordered the contraction if the garden, as a gift for her beloveth son.

Apart from the gardeners, Ozz and Claoybe, no one has seen inside the garden. It was only opened some hours ago. When she was having her training with Ozz.

She was short of words to describe the lush garden of roses. Calling it beautiful is by fast demeaning. Roses of different colors and sizes covered the garden. There was a huge fountain standing high and mighty in the middle of the garden, spouting water in the air, and offering birds and insects a place to drink. The different roses giving off a plethora of scents. Here and there lies small boulders, and there were trees with wide branches to forming beautiful shades. Under the biggest tree in the garden, there was a table with six chairs surrounding it. The garden is heavenly.

After over an hour, going on and about, admiring the art of the garden, She decided to go back to the place before Aunt Claoybe serves their visitors her head on a platter.

"Linaria, you difficult girl. Where did you wander off to? The celebrations are about to begin. Go join your sister and the other ladies." Claoybe held her by the arm " Please try to resist the urge to disappear again, at least until the celebrations are over. You can not keep doing as you please all the time. You are a princess, which makes you a figure with lots of expectations and responsibilities. Act like one." Claoybe scolded.

"I'm sorry Aunt. I'll try to be more participative"

"Good. Now, join the ladies." She told her, as they arrived at the entrance of the hall.

Claoybe freed her arms and walked away.

"Linaria where did you wander off to? Mimou had almost gone ballistic looking for you." Astrina whispered when Linaria came to stand beside her. "She grumbling something in between the lines of why can’t you not be a more participant lady like I am" she finished chuckling.

"And I bet that made you happy?" Linaria scoffed.

"Oh Common. There is no fun doing all these things all the time, but I dare not say it in the presence of Mimou, she will be infuriated. I wish I have the support of Pappou to do as I please, just like you." She lamented, "If only I was interested in spearing, I would have been delighted to join you In your trainings. But that will only upset Mimou. So I will just stick to my magic."

The girls chatted until it was time to start the introductions.

The Royal spokesman would introduce the Princesses and highborns with their kingdoms and they enter. Astrina was the first to be called.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Princess Astrina of Etressos. Daughter of His Majesty King of Etressos; Ozz and Queen Claoybe." The spokesman announced.

Linaria nudged her, "Your turn princess." She only smiled, straightened her posture and entered, with a little curtsy.

After Astrina, he announced again.

"Princess Linaria of Neaville and Etressos. Daughter of His Majesty King of Neaville; Krah, and Queen Pandora, May God avenge their souls, and guardian to His Majesty King Ozz and Queen Claoybe."

Linaria felt tears threatening to come out of her eyes, at the mention of her parent's name, but she quickly held it back, and entered. She curtsied, then walked gracefully as she joined Astrina, Ozz and Claoybe.

The spokesman continued to introduce the guests as they come in, until he had done so, all the royalties, highborns and people of significance.

Soon, the halls was converted to the sound of music, as flute bearers gave the guests flute of wines. When Ozz received his, he walked to the middle of the hall, his aura alone demanding the attention of the people.

"Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Highborns, and the entire people of Etressos and beyond present tonight, I welcome you here today, to celebrate with me, the return of my beloved son, my heir, and The Xyse of Etressos. Leonizodel." He began. "Many summers ago, his powers and magic began emerging, more complex than we have ever seen. Which as a result bared him to the danger of enemies. So we sent him to the only place known to have the depths of knowledge in every form of magic, Oskavar. Not only was he helped to know how to restrain his powers, he was also protected and trained, on how to be a king. As a father, I can only be proud of the man my son is today. Ladies and Gentlemen, Prince Leonizodel."

When the prince walked in, you could hear cooing sounds from every corner of the room. All the ladies in the room swooned at the sight of him. They were all looking at him dreamily.

He was a tall man, even taller than his father. He was wearing a well-embellished tunic with gold-work thread, that hugged his perfect Adonis body beautifully. He had a tousled dark brown hair, which was thick and lustrous. His eyes were a mesmerising deep ocean blue, flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. He had dark eye brows, which sloped downwards in a serious expression. When he began speaking, in his deep baritone voice. The authority in his voice was clear as water.

After he greeted his family, the guests and thanked them for coming to his welcome ceremony, he joined the crowd, going to stand with his friends.

Occasionally, princes and highborns would join him for a casual talk to leave. The only time he earnestly smiled was when he was with his family. Other times, it was mostly polite smiles and nods, then occasional talks if he had to. Although he tried to hide it, but if one looked closely, they would see tiredness and the need to sleep behind those deep ocean blue orbs.

Ladies threw themselves at him shamelessly, but not once did he acknowledge any of them, his eyes only remained on one person, and his affection could be seen clearly.

After an evening of drinking, dining, dancing and various performances, the ceremony ended. King Ozz and the Prince thanked the people for coming. Guests from close kingdoms were set to leave immediately, while others leave at the first streak of light the next day.

Linaria immediately left the halls as soon as the ceremony was near ending, as she was bored to death of the attention people gave her, especially the young flirty princes, highborns and the jealous gazes women threw at her, hating all of the attentions she was getting.

Ozz told his son he could retire for the night, as he hadn't rested from his long journey, while he will personally see to it that their overnight guests are given places to rest themselves. And when he is sure that all the guests were all comfortable, he will also retired to their private wing, where his beautiful yotae was waiting for him in their chambers.

Leo nodded and bowed to his father, but at this point, Sleep was far from his agenda. He had seen walk out through that door moments earlier, now he needed to see her, to talk to her, before he could sleep.