Ascardia

Chapter Three: The Journey Ahead

Onyx woke to maids bustling about. This was the norm, but this wasn't her home. This wasn't Finesse the Jewel of her father's kingdom, this was Carrow. The castle where Axel died. She hurried to dress, she hadn't packed any nice dresses, only her warrior garb, and riding outfits. She laced her boots and pulled her cloak around her.

After double-checking her scabbard that held her twin blades, she checked her weapons on her belt. Her two twin daggers, and the five throwing knives. All were secure. Her claymore was strapped to her back.

She braided her hair and twisted it up into a high ponytail. She layered bright red lip stain and coal-black powder to her eyes. There, now she truly looked like the Micto towe Mortus.

A knock sounded on her door and she answered it. She rolled her eyes when she saw it was Enoch.

"Niore. What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Just making sure you are ready to go. The King and Queen have provided extra provisions. My brother was spotted on the outskirts of Omarion."

"Is he still crossing the Neverending Bridge?"

"Yes, we will cross the river Goul at the southernmost point of Omarion. Where it is the shallowest and calmest."

"Good, he still has to go through all of Omarion, Cantenburg, and the Dark Forest, and most of Nightingale before he reaches my home."

"Let us make haste."

Onyx looked at the room once more and followed Enoch to the foyer of the castle, where Esme waited.

"Good luck ki'kimaleta bloomay."

"Thank you for opening your home to us Queen Esme. May Gantash look over you and Plowyn* provide."

"Thank you. Take care of her Enoch."

"I will."

***

Together they rode in comfortable silence. Nyx feared he would question her about her lost love, but he never did. She wasn't sure whether to be glad or saddened that he did not wish to know her. It was dusk, the sky once blue was now a light shade of lavender. A darker, more mauve shade closer to the horizon.

"We'll camp here for the night." Nox said quietly, halting his horse in the clearing they had entered. The woods adjacent to Omarion weren't as dense and populated by threats as the Dark Forest, but it still harbored danger...bandits, runaways, and Rogues, to name but a few.

"If you insist."

Onyx said, instead of voicing her concern, aware that if she did, Nox would have reason to call her spoiled again. She was many things, but she wasn't spoiled, well she was, but she'd never act as if she asked for it. She loved her parents without the many gifts of jewels and expanses of flowers. If she had been poor, she still would love them all the same.

She removed Obsidian's saddle and bridle, careful of his teeth. She folded the steel stirrups beneath the heavy leather and placed them in the center of the clearing. Removing his overnight harness and reins from her saddlebag she fastened him to a low hanging branch, thick enough to stop him from dashing off should he get spooked.

She allowed herself to glance over at Nox's side of the camp to see what he was doing. To her surprise, he was shucking off his leather shirt, scars adorned his tanned flesh. Mostly his back, long ago had they faded to a pale silverish white. They looked like old whipping wounds. Her heart clenched at the sight, who would do such a thing?

"My father wasn't like yours cattra. He didn't like when I spoke back, he didn't like when I spoke at all."

Nox hadn't even turned around when he spoke. She hadn't even voiced her curiosity. Had she?

"Don't worry cattra they don't hurt much anymore. Just a memory."

"I'm sorry Nox. I wish your father hadn't touched you that way. I'm going to get the horses water...I'll be back soon."

Onyx dashed into the woods, her lambskin canteen in hand. It was made to hold enough water for two horses, but weigh as if still empty. She'd fill again come morning.

She couldn't believe how cruel the former Duke of Ash had been. Nox had only been a baby when he had been whipped, what father could even think of laying a hand to his child, much less a tool as cruel as a flogger?

Reaching a stream, she filled the canteen and drank her fill. She then washed her face free of the build-up of sweat and other grime that was associated with travel.

She stood when she heard a branch break. She whirled around, Zedora already unsheathed and split in two. The ominous curve of Malik, the crescent blade shone maliciously in the dim moonlight.

"Whoa, easy there Micto."

"Nox! Don't sneak up on me!"

"I'm sorry princess. But you've been gone a while, I was getting worried."

Onyx lowered her swords, whispering the words that combined them, sunset. Sometimes she whispered sunrise, sunset was always more romantic to her in a way.

"Come on, let's get back. We can share stories or something."

Onyx whispered as she sheathed Zedora, Malik was Zedora's son...not everyone knew. He was a demigod born from her time with a mortal warrior thousands of years before. Maegara was the daughter of Plowyn.

"Alright so tell me the story of that sword of yours."

Nox said as they reentered the clearing, he had a fire going and set up the saddles on either side. Onyx, after giving each horse a drink of water, plopped down on Sid's riding blanket and sighed,

"Alright. Ever heard of Malik and Maegara?"

"The God of the Setting Sun and Sunrise, right? His beloved is Maegara the Goddess of the Horizon and Oceans."

"Yes. Well, Malik is the son of Zedora and a mortal warrior named Marrick. Zedora and Marrick were very much in love, but Callum, Zedora's brother despised humans, so in a fit of rage at his sister's betrayal, he killed Marrick. Zedora was pregnant, and without Marrick she was lost, although strong in power, her mental health deteriorated. Callum, seeing this and feeling remorse for his actions, brought back the soul of Marrick as an immortal, in the form of the God of Love. Elated to be reunited with her love, she gave birth to a son, still half-mortal. She named him Malik. Mortus named his grandson as the God of the Setting and Rising sun. Each morning, he greeted Maegara, and each night he wished her a peaceful night. Soon, after many of these brief exchanges, they fell in love.

Malik was envious of the other bonded gods because they could be with their beloved ones all the time but he only saw Maegara for a few seconds each morning and each night. Seeing his grandson upset, pained Mortus, so he granted Malik three hours each morning and each night to spend with Maegara, hence the sunrise and sunset we see today. The colors of the sunrise, lavender, pink, and blue are the symbol of them reuniting after a night apart, the sunset the oranges, reds, dark blues, and purples are the symbol of their passion of their love.

Malik, was and is a warrior and often helps his mother in battle, when he returns, that is when we get those extended sunsets or sunrises. Because of his warrior nature, his mother named her twin blades. Malik, the curved and dangerous scythe-like blade, and Maegara, the straight edge sword. That way, at least in spirit, they are always together. "

"Wow, I never knew, that's amazing."

"I couldn't imagine only seeing Axel six hours each day. Being without him now is awful. At least Maegara and Malik can see each other."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to him?" Nox asked softly.

"Axel, he came down with the Biore Micto. The Black Rose."

"He was poisoned?"

"Yes. The former stable boy pricked him with the poison in the stables. That's all it takes really, a prick of a thorn. Axel was sick for months. He died just shy of his fifteenth birthday...our wedding was supposed to be the week after."

"I'm so sorry. Did you find out why?"

"The boy was in love with me I guess. He thought if Axel was out of the way I would fall in love with him. I killed him. For murdering my Axel. He's the only person I've ever killed."

If Nox was surprised at her confession, he masked it well. Nyx smiled at him and turned over, facing away from the warmth of the fire. She never let anyone see her cry. Only Axel had seen her cry, and that was the day he had died.

☆☆☆

"Axel, my love, you have to get well. I can't be without you." Onyx whispered into the crook of his neck.

Axel was silent, contemplating his reply. He prayed to Micta, and Nyx, and every God he could think of, even Marrick, the God of Love.

"Nyx, you must live on. You will be the greatest Queen in all of Ascardia. I will always be with you, my love. Perhaps not physically, but I will be with you here," he pointed to her temple, "And here, always. Forever because you my love are the Locklay towe ki Mortem. I will live forever within you."

"I love you so much Ax, you're my best friend, my love, my betrothed. How can I live without you?"

"You are stronger than any warrior I have ever known. You will find a way, you always do. Now, be the warrior you're meant to be. Don't avenge my death for me, do it for you if you must."

"You want me to let him go? He poisoned you! He's taking you away from me!"

"Your heart will guide you. Do what you think is right love."

Coughs erupted from Axel, blood, dribbled down his chin from the corner of his mouth. Onyx let her tears fall.

"I love you."

"I know, but, please, end my suffering."

"I-I can't. Don't make me do it, Axel. I can't, I won't kill you."

"My Love, I'm already dead...please just end it. It hurts so much."

Nyx nodded her head and kissed his lips. She placed her hands on his neck, and with a quick tug, snapped his neck. The tears rolled down her face, cascading down until they mixed with the blood on Axel's mouth.

"I love you." Onyx looked into her love's lifeless orbs and closed his eyes with a kiss to his lids.

☆☆☆

Nox watched Nyx as she slept, she was crying. He hadn't meant to read her dream. Mind Melding just happened to him sometimes. He couldn't blame her for crying. That was the most heart-wrenching scene, he had ever seen. No wonder she was the way she was.

Sleep wasn't necessary for Nox, he did it mostly for something to do. He watched the sky, thinking of the story Onyx had told him about the Sunrise and Sunset. It was romantic and kind of sappy, but romantic and sappy was Nox's guilty pleasure. He wrote poetry in his free time, or when he was staking out a target. Sitting in treetops gets boring after all.

He took out his little book and grabbed a charred stick and began writing.

Hair, blacker than night.

Eyes that twinkle with pain.

A flower scorned.

A lover lost.

A killer born

Shadow quieter than silence.

A heart locked tightly.

A killer born.

A lone man scorned.

Parents gone.

One orphaned, one broken

Together in circumstance

Friends for necessity.

Lovers by choice or chance?

Fate? Does it exist?

Nox looked up when Nyx moaned in her sleep. His lips twisted into a smile,

"Nox" she whispered as she returned to a deep slumber.

"I'm here cattra I'm not going anywhere."

***

The sun rose and Nox smiled. He sent a silent prayer to Maegara and Malik. Nyx rose and stretched, she eyed him from beneath her lashes, with what she thought had been a discrete glance over. Nox smiled stretching his body and giving her a show.

His long torso was toned, and tanned. His abdominal muscles were defined in six quadrants, and he had a sculpted 'v' that teased to something more beneath his leather riding breeches. His long arms were well-muscled, and his forearms were the size of small tree branches in width. His upper arms while muscled weren't overly so but did give way to the fact he was very strong.

"Like what you see?"

Nox asked smirking as he pulled on a tunic. Nyx blushed deeply, recalling the dream she had of him the night before. Instead of humiliating herself further by providing an answer, she set to work saddling Obsidian.

"Sid, what am I going to do?"

The beast didn't answer his mistress, instead, he butted his head against her shoulder, nearly knocking her off her feet.

"Sid, I can't fall for him. My heart couldn't take it if something were to happen to him. Love is off-limits. You know that." Nyx said quietly, stroking the velvet fur on his nose.

"Ready princess?" Nox asked from atop Matilda.

His long obsidian hair tied back with a scrap of leather. His sword glistened ominously, its emerald embellishments just added to its fatality. His bow and quiver were strapped across his back, and his pants tapered into his boots. He was handsome, Onyx could never deny that fact. In many ways, he reminded her of Axel, his humor, bravery, and bravado facade to name a few.

"I'm ready if you are Diaor ." Nyx teased as she mounted Sid in one graceful swoop of her slender legs.

"The journey ahead only gets more dangerous you know."

"Danger? I am the definition of danger, Diaor."

Nyx smiled and coaxed Sid into a gallop, releasing his pent-up energy from the day prior.

"Princess! You cheat!"

Nyx heard Nox cry out, but she heard Matilda's eager hoofbeats behind her. Obsidian whinnied in excitement, he loved a good race and it had been ages since they had such a worthy opponent.

They raced to the edge of the River Goul, never once slowing until they reached the edge of the water. Onyx and Sid beating the other two by a mile.

"Took you long enough." Nyx teased as Nox halted Matilda's stride so she didn't run headlong into the river.

"I call a rematch on the return trip Princess." Nox said.

"Fine then. If I win again you become the Captain of the Guard once I become Queen."

"And if I might win?"

"You decide. You have until you mightt win." Nox smiled at her playfulness.

"Deal." What could be so bad about being Nyx's Captain? They got along well.

***

Together, they set up camp, they set their sleeping arrangements closer together this time, it was cold by the river, and it was safer in case they were attacked. This was Shifter country.

"Since I told you stories last night, why don't you tell me one tonight Nox?"

"Alright, what do you want to know?"

"Hmm, how about your first Dior job."

"Alright..."