Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 56

“You should have let me join the women at the theatre, I wanted to meet him too.”

Strukus dragged her along. At first she had been the one worrying about her safety but one look at Zenas and she lost all of her senses and wanted to be seen by him. He wanted to club her on the head with a stick but he couldn’t, not just because she was a princess but he liked her too much to cause any harm to her.

“You are five, Cleo! You can’t be seen by him or anyone else.”

“Who says so?” she demanded.

He stopped short abruptly almost causing her to fall back. “Garius. Your father. The list is long but I think you understand the message.”

Her face fell and he regretted reminding her of just how many people were against her. No doubt the cloak with its hood reminded her of while she couldn’t be seen outside most especially not with him. She pulled her hand free of his and murmured something that sounded like ‘You’re right’ before continuing on the way to the palace. He followed behind her mentally hitting himself for reminding her of her situation, while she watched the play she had been relaxed and though the hood of her cloak concealed the most parts of her face he had sensed her excitement. Once she had even reached for his hand and squeezed it, turning towards him with bright eyes but he knew the brightness was brought upon by Zenas delectable features. Now she walked stiffly, almost carelessly running to a soldier standing at the corner of the street, until she got to the back gate of the palace which she pushed and held open for him to pass. She didn’t stop, she climbed the servants’ stairs and slipped through to the royal quarters, only then did she turn to him, she was already removing the hood.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

“For making me see the play.” She handed the cloak back to him, it was warm from the heat of her body. “And for helping me avoid trouble with Garius and – my father.”

He nodded and started to leave.

“You’re a good friend, Strukus, thank you.” She glanced up and down the empty hallway, the servants were either still at the theatre or they were in their rooms. “Have you eaten anything today besides those figs? Has Demiris been treating you and Mama Remin well?”

“You don’t need to trouble yourself about us…”

“I will bring you some food tonight. Uncle Angus brings me food every night and sometimes I can’t finish them,” she added guiltily. “I will bring some for you and Mama Remin.” She moved closer and hugged him. Strukus smiled, she wasn’t angry as he had thought. He had been worried that he spoiled her happy mood but was relieved that she was still happy about the play. His relieve was so much that he let loose his tongue.

“You know some day I am going to marry you.”

Cleopoda laughed and released him. “You are six!” she scolded playfully. “And my brother too so’ no, stop dreaming.”

A sound came that made the both of them jump. Strukus quickly left Cleopoda’s side and went as fast as he could to the servants’ quarters. Cleopoda waited for him to go before opening the door of her room where she was sure the sound had come from. There in her room was Uncle Angus without his cloak and bow and arrows but with a simple white tunic and brown sandals. He was standing at her window with his back to her.

“Uncle Angus.”

He had a smile for her when he turned to regard her, he was the only one except Mama Remin and Strukus who ever smiled at her without malice. He was always happy to see her as much as she was happy to see him.

“Little one, where have you been?” he asked.

She liked him and his playfulness with her but she still didn’t understand why he was always nice to her when papa, his brother was the exact opposite of him. She wasn’t sure she could trust him by telling him where she had been, he could report her to papa who would decide her punishment.

“Cleo? Where have you been?”

She fiddled with her fingers. She didn’t want to be punished and she didn’t want Strukus to be punish either for taking her to the square. “Nowhere, Uncle.”

Angus c****d his head to one side before pushing himself off the wall to approach her. She didn’t shrink in horror like she usually did whenever Octavius, Garius or any of the servants approached her and it pleased him to know that she trusted him. He knelt before her and took her small hands in his.

“No lies, Cleopoda. You have been at the theatre with that boy Strukus, haven’t you?” 

She nodded solemnly. “But it was my fault, I made him take me to the theatre to see Zenas in the play.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

Again she nodded. Angus picked her up and kissed her hair before heading for the chair at a corner beside the window where he sat down with her in his lap. “You should be more careful when you go out with that boy, Garius wanted you continue with your sessions today and when he could not find you he was about to send guards to search for you.” At this she gasped, her small body went rigid in fear. When he laughed she stared at him curiously, “Don’t worry little one, I told him you were sick in bed and shouldn’t disturb you.”

“Garius listens to you?”

“Of course he does,” he laughed. “I am second only to your father. I may not be able to cover up for you any longer.”

“What do you mean?” she asked. Her short legs which had been swinging before were now still.

“I must continue with my journeys around the world. I have only come home to rest and to see you my little niece,” he tickled her, she laughed lightly but was soon sadness descended at his news and she didn’t want to laugh again.

“I want to go with you,” she cried. Tears were already gathering in her bright purple eyes, her lower lip shook and she was beginning to cling to his hand. Even though her hands were small her desperate grip on him was strong enough that the veins of her hand stood out.

‘You can’t go with me, moppet. It is a long tedious journey to travel around the whole and I would hate to bring you along with me but,” he released her nails that were desperately sinking into his flesh and held her hand gently. “I will write to you and send messages through messengers, okay?”

She nodded but tears were already falling freely down her cheeks.

‘You shouldn’t cry, little one, I will be back early this time but while I’m gone you should continue to take your lessons with Garius seriously, in a few years you will be ready for sword training and maybe even ready to lead the kingdom that is rightfully yours.” She was nodding at his every word but still crying so he lifted her off his laps and stood up. “Why don’t you join us at the dining for dinner tonight?” As soon as he settled her against his shoulder she planted her face in his hair and cried, clinging to his neck. She wept at the thought his leaving, he was the only one in the royal house who didn’t hate her for what she represented.

After dinner she picked the small tray of food she had been able to set aside for Strukus and started down the corridor to the room he shared with Mama Remin. The door was slightly ajar and Mama Remin was folding some clothes on the bed when she entered but there was no sign of Strukus. She scanned the room as she made her way to where Remin was sitting, Remin smiled sadly at the sight of her before going back to folding her clothes.

“Where is Strukus, Mama Remin?”

Remin spared her a glance that was both accusing and loving at once. It was then Cleopoda noticed the dried in her eyes.

“He was taken away this afternoon. Garius came and took him away.”

An anguished cry burst out of Cleopoda. She slid to the floor, Garius had made good his promise to take him away and it was all her fault. She was only vaguely aware of Mama Remin pulling her up and pressing her against her chest. She held on to her tightly as she thought about her sad situation, Uncle Angus was going away and Strukus was gone.

“Where did they take him to?” she wailed.

“Don’t cry too hard, Cleopoda. I can’t tell you where he is for your sake as well as his but he is not in prison. He has been taken to work.”

“Where?”

Remin shook her head. She held the crying child to her breast and sought to console her. As Cleopoda laid in bed that night she couldn’t help the hopelessness that clung in the air about her. She was truly alone now, how was she to survive?