Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 41

The rain fell in slants against the stone walls of the palace. It was the first rain of the year so it brought warmth from the ocean to the village and the pleasing smell of newly wet earth, it had started suddenly, just after dawn when the villagers were preparing to go about their businesses. It was a heavy rain so the people remained indoors around their fires with hot soups and fur around them. The royal household was no different.

Unable to go back to sleep since the meeting of the day could not hold due to the rain, Octavius walked to the throne room without his robe. He couldn’t shake the dark clouds hanging over his head, he didn’t want to disturb Emilia with his thoughts, she was more than 5 months gone in her pregnancy and she didn’t need to hear about his doubts or dark thoughts.

It was a strange thing to be a king and yet not have control over your own life, not to be able to talk to anyone about anything. The one person he would have talked to was his brother but Angus never seemed live in the palace anymore. In fact, for days he almost never saw his brother and when he did see him he was in his cloak with his bow and quiver of arrows and that damned badge with Ashterah’s emblem on it. With all the excitement of the birth of his heir he wished his brother was around longer than he used to, he was a familiar face, but more than that he was a friend.

“I see you couldn’t remain in your chambers too.”

Octavius looked to the door from his place by the window where he was watching the rain fall, lost in his thoughts. Angus was there in a simple tunic and hose with brown sandals.

“Brother.”

Angus walked closer to him. His brother was no longer the playful lad who always had to be pulled off of maids, his once playful, boyish face was now covered with the dark shadows of a beard, even his once bright eyes were now piercing and ever watchful. Something about war changed his brother just like he too was changed.

Angus leaned on the window sill and looked out like he had been doing. His face was thoughtful and he looked like he hadn’t been able to sleep through the night.

“You have done a great job as king maintaining peace in the kingdom, far better than father did.” Angus said suddenly after a long silent pause. He looked at his brother who was watching him with his ever watchful and concerned gaze. “I still remember how you turned down Princess Salamina’s proposal without sparking rage. You are a natural leader, brother.”

He could hear the But at the end of his brother’s speech so he wait. When Angus refused to go on her prodded. “But?”

This time Angus looked him square in the eyes. “Do you not miss the excitement of being on the battle field? The thrill?”

Octavius narrowed his eyes at his brother. This was the first time Angus ever spoke to him about the war and to have even speak like this when even the soldiers and older war heroes like Garius perfectly content with the peace they were finally enjoying made him happy.

“Brother, war is not a thrill, our battle against the Amires can never be justified. Though for the good of our people from bandits and keeping our kingdom safe from enemies we had to go in to battle it still doesn’t make it any less than a crime. The thrill and excitement you speak of brother, I must confess that I don’t miss it.”

“You sound like old Garius,” Angus said with a light laugh.

“Because Garius is a wise man. Men lost their lives on the battlefield, women became widows because of a war that could have been avoided.”

“The only way we could have avoided the one with the Amires was if you had obeyed father’s wishes in the first place, and that in itself would not have helped. I heard the Princess Salamina tell you then that it was her father’s wish for her to be used as a spy here.” He patted Octavius’s hand “I must say that I am indeed glad that father’s plan did not work out. Who knows? Maybe by now our land would have been a war torn barren land.”

“There is that.”

“But, Octavius, war is necessary for the growth of a nation’s economy.”

Octavius c****d his head to the side to observe his brother’s face clearly against the dim light and laughed. “You have been reading father’s books. Father was a restless man who loved great wealth, his thoughts about war with was based solely on riches which was why he considered a union with Amire. I am not father, Angus, I want peace more than anything.”

“You are better than father. But I am your Advisor and your army commander and as such this recklessness you talk about runs in my veins, must be the only thing I got from father. I been thinking, the fact that we are not bothered about going into battle with other nations doesn’t mean we are not the target of many. I mean look at us,” he waved his hands across the window view of the kingdom. “We are blessed which means there are other nations out there who could be planning a siege that we might not know about.”

Octavius shook his head in disbelieve, it was hard to believe Angus had thoughts as these. “Is this why you go around with your bow and arrows? In case there is an attack we are not prepared for in the kingdom?” he chuckled. “You want to be the solo hero if there is a war? Brother, we have the tower guards for that.”

Angus pushed away from the window when a servant came into the throne with a platter of fruits and wine. She bowed and dropped the platter on the long, hard table were the nobles usually sat for their meetings.

Once she had set the items down she looked from Octavius to Angus, “Is there anything else my king wants?”

“You may leave.”

She bowed and left.

“Have something to eat Angus, I’m overwhelmed by your talk of war.”

Angus poured a goblet of wine for himself and took some olives with it. “I have a reason for speaking of war. I have been restless for quite some time, I couldn’t keep these thought of mine to myself so I had to voice them to use. I have nothing to do in this palace, the kingdom is yours and my duty as the second son is to work as a soldier but since we have no war I have decided to go on travels far and wide to see the world and see for myself what countries we can conquer.”

Octavius studied his brother once again. “You have given this much thoughts.”

“I have. But you are my king, if I don’t seek your protection and permission my actions will be seen as treason.”

“You have my permission, Angus. But you must be careful, this action of yours is great folly but if it makes you happy you have my full blessing. I am quite content with waiting for the birth of my child.”

Angus bowed before his brother. Octavius hit him playfully on the shoulder.

“You will not be here to see your nephew or niece born then.”

“I deeply regret it. But I have been idle for a while now, I need some excitement.”