Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 32

As they passed through the gates of Intavia Emilia noted with surprise the changes that had taken place in her homeland. The most noticeable thing was the large number of people. The population of Intavia was crippling for as long as she remembered and as expected every nation was meant to grow over the years but as Emilia looked around she realized the growth was not sudden, rather a quick sudden bloom. The number of people on the streets was so much that she and Ilena’s horses had snorted in fright. Emilia patted her horse, slid from it and gestured for Ilena to do the same. She scanned the crowd of people hurrying about their businesses and realized she couldn’t recognize any of the faces and no one seemed to recognize her either, it brought a strange sort of sadness to her chest that her own people had forgotten her so soon. Somewhere at the back of her mind she wished that Octavius had accept her father’s offer of leadership of Intavia. He had expressed his thought on taking her kingdom away from her father and didn’t think it was fair so her father had given the kingdom to Helos instead as compensation for the broken marriage contract.

“My lady we should take the horses to the village stable,” Ilena said cutting her thoughts off.

“Do you think it will be still where it was?”

“We should try or luck or ask any of these people.”

“Ask them.”

Ilena bowed slightly and approached a young woman who was struggling to console a young child who looked to be about 4 years of age. She spoke to her, the woman listened for a while before pointing off directions. After some time Ilena nodded and handed the woman’s child a copper coin which quietened the child instantly and headed back to Emilia. She took the reins of the horses.

“She says there is a stable this way, my lady.”

Emilia followed her. They had to push through the tight crowd and buildings that had not existed in the old Intavia. The number of sales and merchants they passed by was a testament to Helos leadership. Emilia grudgingly saw reasons with why her father wanted the union between them in the first place, Helos wealth really did wonders in the growth of the kingdom.

Ilena pulled the horses to an open space behind some shops, there was a large barn there and beside it was a squat building where a small woman with a bucket in her hand came out from, behind her was a giant of a man with a red beard. He looked fearsome but when he spoke to the woman his face softened. Emilia smiled. Nothing like a woman to calm a raging beast.

The man spotted them first and frowned, his eyes almost disappearing behind his bushy brows.

“Who are you?” he asked in a gruff voice and in the Intavia native tongue.

The woman jabbed him in the ribs causing a small cry of surprise to slip from him. “That is no way to speak to guests, Herman.” She accessed Emilia and Ilena from head to toe surreptitiously guessing their status from their outfits. “What can I do for you, my lady?” she finally asked directing her question to Emilia.

“We need to house our horses,” she replied.

The woman dropped her bucket and rubbed her hands on the skirt of her tunic. “Collect the horses, Herman,” she said to her husband who did as she said. “Do you need lodging? You look like you have travelled from afar.”

“No we don’t,” Emilia replied with a smile of gratitude at the woman’s generosity. “We are guests of His Majesty, King Helos.”

The woman’s brows shot up. “You should have your horses in the royal stables then.”

“We couldn’t pass through the crowds.”

The woman laughed “That is because the people are preparing for the celebration of the birth of our prince. You two must be new here.”

“Not new. My father use to be king until I got married.”

This time both the man and the woman’s eyes widened. They immediately went on their knees with their heads bowed. “You must be Emilia, daughter of the late King Festus Ing Avia”

“Rise,” Emilia said gently. It was pleasing to know they at least knew her father. “Helos had indeed done a good job.”

“He has, my lady,” the woman answered. “My lady, I promise we shall feed your horses and water them well for you. They will be strong for you when you want to journey back home.”

“Very well.” Emilia counted 5 gold coins and handed it to them. They made small noises of gratitude, promising again and again to keep their horses well and safe.

When Emilia and Ilena were sure of their horses’ welfare they walked back to the crowded streets. The cobbled streets were not as Emilia remembered before, traders now covered every available space and some even had to put their wares in carts, pushing them from one end of the street to the other. Once Emilia and Ilena were finally able to squeeze through to the less crowded palace arena Ilena noted with distaste that her coin purse was missing. She cursed foully under her breath.

As they approached the gates the soldiers on guards passed questioning glances to each other before approaching them with their hands on the hilt of their swords.

“Who are you?” one of them demanded.

Ilena cursed them foully under her breath in their native tongue. The guards colored at her words and exchanged glances with Emilia who pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

“You must forgive my maid, her coin bag was stolen on our way here. We are guests of your king Helos.”

“What a shame that you cannot recognize your own princess,” Ilena said out loud. The guards looked from Ilena to Emilia and back, they bowed slightly and stepped aside for them to pass. “Helos must have wiped their memories that they cannot even recognize you, my queen,” Ilena murmured as they passed beside the guards to the familiar entrance of the palace.

“You know I no longer have any right to the throne of Intavia”

“Still doesn’t mean they shouldn’t recognize royalty when they see one. You should have let my king send some guards with us, no guards can stand before the soldiers of Camelorn.”

“The more reason I refused to have an entourage. I am here to felicitate, Ilena, not start a war.”

When they reached the entrance Ilena made introductions to the guards there, she referred to Emilia as Queen of Camelorn getting them quick entry. As they passed through the halls of the palace Emilia noted with awe the beauty of the tapestries hanging on the walls, the curtains were of fine quality, the furnishings in the hall and in the rooms she peeked in as they passed rivaled the ones at Camelorn. She wished to stay longer and explore the rooms and marvel at the beauty of the furnishings but the guards leading them moved them on until they got to the throne room.

Emilia’s mouth dropped at the beauty of the room. So unlike her memories of it with its gold painted chairs. Her heart dropped with envy at the beauty of the silver lamps hanging from the ceilings, something she had never seen before, it held small oil bowls with wicks at the rim. She marveled at the beauty of the rugs, the paintings on the wall. As her eyes travelled along the long line of paintings she noticed her father’s picture beside Helos’ and with her father’s was one of her and her mother.

Tears filled her eyes at Helos’ thoughtfulness.

“You seem too awed to say a single word.”

She remembered that voice. It was a voice of arrogance which she once hated but as she saw that he hadn’t wiped the history of her father’s reign her heart was suddenly filled with gratitude.

“Helos,” she whispered softly for her heart was near bursting with happiness. Ilena had gone on her knees and she started to follow suit when Helos stopped her with his hands on her arm.

“You shouldn’t, princess.” He looked to the guards and gestured for them to leave. “You are not a commoner.”

Emilia glanced up at him. He wasn’t the same as she remembered, he was taller, more handsome than he used to be. Where he had been spoiled rotten to a point of chubbiness he now had hard muscles. Emilia smiled.

“You really have done a lot in the past years. And you have changed too,” she commented.

He laughed, his dark eyes sparkling which was something new since the only thing he ever did with those eyes when she knew him was look down on people with pride.

“So have you, princess.” He looked to Ilena who remained on her knees “Rise Ilena, you two are honored guests in my kingdom which is also second home to you both. I am so happy you honored my invitation.”

“I am honored that you will invite me and most surprising is the painting of my family and…”

Helos cut her off with a laugh. “My lady, you should rest for now there is enough time to catch up with each other. Come with me I will personally show you and old Ilena to your rooms.”