Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 23

Octavius opened his eyes to the bright sunlight that streamed in a window he knew was supposed to be covered with the curtains. He squinted his eyes against the brightness and rolled over to get his bearings, as his eyes adjusted to the brightness he saw Emilia standing by the window looking out with her hand on her belly. She had her robe hanging loosely from her body and in her hands she held a small steaming cup of tea, the sunlight brightened the golden strands of her hair making her a beautiful morning sight. This was what Octavius had had in mind when he thought about running away with her, nights of loving and happiness, mornings waking up next to her and days running around with children of their own. As the last thought struck his mind he sobered and tore his gaze away from her, tears welling up in his eyes.

Emilia looked over the landscape of Camelorn and sighed happily. Camelorn was the home for her, anywhere with Octavius was the home for her. The villages were already moving about their duties; the local traders and merchants were pulling carts of wares towards the markets and the village square, the children were running around half dressed followed by worried mothers who sort to keep them still long enough to adjust their clothing, soldiers both on horses and foot moved to and from the palace bearing food items or helping the maids with errands. As she looked out she noted the difference between her birth country and her husband’s. Intavia was much smaller and everyone knew their neighbors, they almost never had any trouble with bandits or with neighboring countries because there wasn’t much worth stealing but Camelorn was different. Years of war and raids had expanded a country that was once so small only a hand full of people called it home. They were rich in all kinds of things too because their economy was so vast that in her years of living as wife of the Crown Prince she saw more merchants come in to Camelorn in ships and horses than she ever saw in Intavia. And here in Intavia the people took worship of their gods seriously unlike Intavia where the worship was done only when the people had requests to make or when there were festivals. In Camelorn people went to the temple everyday bearing offerings and it helped that there were traders in front of the temples who sold what each god liked.

The women mostly bore sacrifices to the goddess of purity; Willa who was also the goddess of fertility and Helena who was said to be queen mother of all gods. Everyone including children offered sacrifices to Robos; father of all the gods of Camelorn who was said to yield all powers imaginable, god of thunder; Nukis, goddess of justice; Termla, Fates and Ashterah, goddess of war. Angus had explained to her that Ashterah was most popular because it was with her help the Camelornians had been able to build their city. She never visited her temple before but knew she would have to when Octavius got his crown as king of Camelorn. As she thought about it she glanced at him and did a double take when she saw he was awake, watching her with that look of longing that seemed to be a sudden presence in his eyes. She knew deep in her heart that it wasn’t the sickness or death of the father that changed him, he changed right after war and she could only imagine what horrors he must have experienced on the battle field. He wouldn’t tell her anything about the war but Angus had given her details about the horrors of it all and when the soldiers sat down to converse sometimes she eavesdropped and heard about the death of brave soldiers in the field and because the men sometimes were unaware of her presence when she eavesdropped they went into gruesome details of the whole thing.

She knew her husband was traumatized by all of it. Who wouldn’t be? That’s why she had taken it upon herself to always come into his chambers every night to comfort him and in times when he slept at all and murmured in his sleep she listened even though she couldn’t understand half of what he said she listened all the same.

As he sat there staring at her with a ghost of a smile on his face she walked up to the bed and sat at the edge beside him, pulled the fur blankets to his chest and poured him some tea, the strong aroma of it filled the room. He took the cup from her and slipped his hand in her free one.

“You look better. You look like relieved this morning,” she said softly.

“Because I woke up to see you.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. “You have a honey coated mouth. You always wake up to see me but you have never been this excited. You are broody or gloomy like you’ve been for some time.”

“Because I woke up, looked at you and thought to myself ‘I married a goddess’”

She laughed. She finished off her tea and stood up to dress. “You should get ready, my love, the table is set. Angus must be waiting for you to come so we can eat.”

With a sigh Octavius stood up and did as she said. He pulled a white tunic on, thought twice about his robe and decided against it. The weather was warm because the rains were coming, in a few days the people would go to the field to plant their corn and offer sacrifices to Willa for a bountiful harvest but before then he would be crowned and it wasn’t something he was looking forward to.

Ilena opened the door and peeped in. At Emilia’s behest she opened the door wider and came in to help Emilia with her hair. Once they were done Octavius followed them outside to the dinning where Angus sat waiting.

Angus’s hair was pulled back with a string and he had a week old beard that added some maturity to his face. He was still a bit playful but not so much compared to when he was a lad. He now trained with his sword and arrows every day in the palace courtyard, sometimes he trained alone other times Garius or one of the other soldiers trained with him.

He had hung his cloak on the back of the seat beside him and his bow and quiver were set to lean on the chair which meant he had just finished training. He looked up when he heard movements and smiled at the sight of his brother.

“Brother,” he stood up in respect and started to bow when Octavius caught him by the shoulder.

“You shouldn’t do that.”

Angus laughed. “Modesty will not serve you well, brother. Have you seen the preparations the priests are making for your crowning? All the gods will be there, you know? I think they are trying to make a good impression for you: The Hero of Camelorn becomes Kings,” Angus wagged his brow “I should love to see Ashterah and Willa, I heard they love mortal men.”

Octavius shook his head at his brother. “I don’t know about that, Angus, and even if they do love mortal men I don’t think that would be their focus when they come for the ceremony.”

The servants brought in sweet smelling fresh bread, honey, butter and fresh cream from the kitchen. Another group of servants came in with fresh fruits and jars of water and wine. Once they had set the table they left the room.

“Didn’t you meet with Ashterah once, brother? Is she as hot as they say she is?” Angus winked at Emilia playfully “My brother had the honor of meeting the goddess of war once and he still hasn’t given me the story of what happened”

Octavius silently thanked the gods that he didn’t have anything in his mouth to choke on. He cast a quick glance at Emilia who was listening to his brother with a smile on her face, when she turned to look at him he snatched his eyes away.

“He never told me about that,” Emilia replied.

“Really? Not even you?” Angus chuckled. “Brother, you will really hold such an interesting story away from your family?”

Octavius poured himself some wine. “That’s because there is no story to tell. I told you already, brother,” he turned to Emilia “I had to meet with the war goddess when I needed help with the Amires but you know that already. That’s all there is to my encounter with her.”

He wondered how he didn’t choke on his own lie.