Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 52

“You sent for me Your Majesty?”

Garius was in the throne room with Octavius sitting on the ancient seat where generations of kings once sat to make laws and plans for the growth of the kingdom. There was a change in the king, a very unpleasant change that Garius couldn’t shake. Octavius wasn’t the young, vibrant boy he knew, the one who ran riot with his younger brother, who planned mischiefs and still managed to remain the most responsible of the Camele brothers. If he had brushed that change off after the war with the Amires it came back in full force when Octavius would not send soldiers to find the woman who would have died for once after she ran away, not until the nobles and Garius himself had started talking did Octavius send soldiers who came back with negative reports. Garius worried for him, he worried for the boy he once had been and the man he had become. If he had been made to swear while he still governed the boys that Octavius would not be the nonchalant bitter king that he was now he would have sworn on his head. But now as he looked at the man, the stranger who sat on the throne, who looked to be a million miles away he knew everything was changed, if only he knew what it was so he could offer some help.

Octavius sensed Garius presence and brought his mind back to the present, the old man was staring at him with worry much like everyone else in the palace had been doing lately. His side was healed but his pride was not, unfortunately. It seemed like a lifetime back since he last knew how to carry himself with dignity, authority, now he feared that what he was to Ashterah was written boldly across his forehead and it ate on his dignity every single day. He could call himself lucky when Ashterah didn’t demand his presence, wanting s*x and his submission but what little luck he felt was dashed to the rocks when he remembered he was cursed with a cursed child. Which was why he had called Garius.

“You can sit, Garius. At your age you shouldn’t be standing around, take advantage of your grey hairs and make yourself comfortable.”

Garius chuckled but he pulled a chair out and sat on it. “I am not so old that I can’t beat you in a duel for your sharp mouth.”

Octavius laughed. “I know that.” He turned serious. “Which is why I have decided to give this assignment to you. I realize your services as my instructor in the art of war has been of great benefits to this kingdom, for without your loyalty and your great skills at both teaching and fighting I would not be who I am today. So I have decided that you, Garius, should tutor Cleopoda.”

Garius’s jaw dropped. “My king?”

“Objections?”

“Yes, for one we know she doesn’t belong here, she is not one of us. Why should we accept what the gods have cast aside? Training her could even cause her to rebel against us because if she is a god as we think she is it wouldn’t take long before she gains her powers and rain destruction on us all, you know very well that you are not supposed to let your enemies know about your strategies and moves. For another, Your Majesty, she is just a child.”

“Which is why you will start with the simplest things, put her to work in the library, let her read every book there is about war and kingdoms, let her have the knowledge of nations and wisdom of ancients. If I am willing to let her stay in my palace and eat my food the best she can do is pledge her loyalty to us. Keep an eye of her, if she rebels we will have her head.”

“But she is just a child.” If was strange to hear such cold words from Octavius, even though the child was hated by all she was still a child and children at the age played and made trouble, they didn’t sit in big libraries poring over war books and maps.

Octavius raised his brows at Garius’s unexpected objection. “Who is your loyalty to, Garius?”

Garius sighed, “Very well, Your Majesty.” He stood up and went in search of Cleopoda.

Cleopoda sat on a stool at the corner of the kitchen with a bowl of water in front of her. Remin was on her knees beside her washing her wounds and redressing them. At the other corner the servants hurdled together to talk, casting quick glances her way as they spoke in loudly about her. Cleopoda did her best not to hear their words but it was hard not to, not even when Remin was trying to speak above their hateful words and smile at her. She could hear them clearly, she could hear the hateful words they said about her and it made her sad.

“There,” Remin said with a false wide smile, she could see the tears brimming in Cleopoda’s eyes and wished she could hurl a large stone at the servants who couldn’t even be merciful enough to reduce their voices in the presence of the child. “You shouldn’t play too hard with Strukus again, he is a boy and he is very rough, if you get this rag dirty again I will have to force bitter herbs down your throat to keep it from getting infected. You don’t want that, uhm?”

Cleopoda shook her head solemnly. The bitter herbs was the least of her problem. She pulled her newly wrapped wrist to her chest and asked, “Can I go back to my chambers now?”

Remin nodded and scooted back. “Do you want me to accompany you and tell you the story of how the gods made Camelorn?” Remin asked with worry, she was afraid the child would hurt herself again. After the incidence with the knife she had kept a close watch on Cleopoda.

“No, I will sleep.”

They went out of the kitchen to the passage and climbed the stairs that led to the royal quarters. As they made their way to Cleopoda’s chambers Remin saw the old man Garius approach them with fast strides, she held Cleopoda to her side in case he hurled any insult at her or push her accidentally off the balcony. As they neared him she looked ahead to avoid eye contact like servants were trained to do but to her alarm he caught her by the hand and stopped her in her tracks.

She looked down at Cleopoda and said, “Go to bed, little one.”

Cleopoda started to hurry to her room when Garius grabbed her roughly and held her back, he was so rough she almost scraped her head against the wall. When Remin came to her rescue he pushed her back violently.

“You will not fight for this evil child.”

“With much respect, sir, she is just a child not an evil child as you refer her.”

Garius raised his hand and hit her across her cheek so hard she stumbled back but she kept her shoulders squared in case she had to fight for Cleopoda like she had always done against the servants who treated her cruelly.

Garius looked from the brown haired woman to the child who stayed shaking against the wall with her hand cradled to her chest with disgust. He may not approve of the king’s decision to train her at such a young age but he detested the child the way everyone else did, his best guess was that it was only the love for Emilia that kept Octavius from throwing the child out of the palace.

“From now on I will be in charge of the child.”

Cleopoda looked fearfully at him and then at Remin who stared dumbfounded at Garius. What?

“The king has asked that I tutor the child in matters of war and kingdoms,” Garius continued. “You will be relieved of your duties from here on, from now on you will remain a regular servant.”

“She is a chi…”

“You will not question the king’s order!” Garius looked down at Cleopoda, her lips were shaking from unshed tears, he looked down at her wrapped wrist. Of course for a child as evil as she she would do anything to receive attention from whoever. “Go to the library,” he ordered.

Cleopoda hastened to do as he said, almost tripping over her oversized tunic. Garius cast one warning glance at Remin who stood with tearful eyes watching the child go.

“One more thing, keep that lustful son of yours away from that evil girl if you want him to live.” He turned on his heels and followed Cleopoda.