Engaged to the Prince

The First King

Intent on exploring the entire passage, they continued on. Alexander and Katie discussed what they heard from the conversation of their guardians.

“Maybe he had a sibling who took over?” Alexander suggested.

“The story about him was a bit more fantastical than the other kings, really,” Katie muttered, surreptitiously grabbing the end of Alexander’s shirt as she constantly looked behind her. “They say he was this ‘Great Warrior’ who descended from the old temple in mountains of Aelysia. His battle prowess made people believe that he was favored by the god of war, which is why he was able to unite the people. It is also said that he was immune to poison and that he defeated an army of a hundred thousand strong with no weapons in hand.”

Alexander scoffed. “With the obvious ego boost aside, that does not prove he didn’t have a sibling.”

“That’s because I didn’t say it yet,” they stopped when they saw a heavy wooden door at the top of the staircase.

“Hold this for me,” Alexander handed his phone to her. “Keep talking while I try to get this open.”

“Okay,” Katie directed the light on the door. “He didn’t have any siblings, according to the books, because he was believed to have emerged from the fire that the priests of Aelysia started in the temple.”

“So…” Alexander tugged at the rusty iron ring handle of the door but it didn’t budge. “He just appeared…” he pulled at the ring even harder, causing it to squeak, “…spontaneously?” He gave one final pull and tore the handle from its place. “Darn it!”

“As the books would have you believe, yes. The royal bloodline actually started with the king after him,” Katie scanned the door with her phone’s flashlight and noticed that one of the stones was badly chipped. “Can you check that stone over there?” she shined both lights on the stone.

“Excellent observation!” Alexander reached for it and it slid off easily. “There’s an indentation here,” he pulled at the door with both hands and it finally opened. “I think I pressed something. The door must have been locked somewhat.”

Katie handed Alexander’s phone back to him and they entered the room together. It was a small room with a table and a chest full of scrolls in the corner. On the table was a small candelabrum, a large candle still sitting on it.

Alexander grabbed an armful of scrolls and laid them on the table. A few of them were maps of Aelysia and its surrounding territories, all of them scored with a knife.

“Nothing new,” Katie muttered, setting them aside.

As she watched Alexander scan the other scrolls, Katie drummed her fingers over the table and raised her eyebrows at the sound of a hollow spot. She knocked at it once more, attracting Alexander’s attention.

“I think it’s below the-” Katie knelt and shined her light on the spot just below the tabletop. She knocked at the hollow spot once more and it clicked open, revealing a small cache. “Hey! I discovered something!” she pinched the small object inside with her fingers and carefully pulled it out.

She placed the leather-bound book on the table and opened it at a random page.

The search for the relic was successful! Perhaps the god of war truly is giving me his blessings. The priest told me he saw a vision of me holding the relic in my hands and now it is within my grasp. Now, it is the duty of mine and the kings after me to guard it.

“Sounds like the god of war gave the royal family a relic to protect,” Alexander mumbled.

“What’s so special about this relic?” Katie replied, reading on.

Such injustice! No one can make the relic work! When I consulted the priests today, they said that the power of the relic can only be unlocked and used by the god of war’s descendant! Is it not enough to have the blessing of the god? Why must we guard this relic then?

“I love it when kings doubt their duty,” Katie said, amused.

“I hate it,” Alexander muttered.

“I don’t know, don’t you think it makes them sound more… human? Less perfect?” Katie raised the book closer to her face. “Admit it, you would be glad of your ancestors’ shortcomings. All the books tell of their great conquests but not a lot of lows.”

“There aren’t much rulers before my father, actually. Anatolia has a surprisingly short history.”

I have put the relic on display. The priests recommended they guard it within the palace and so I permitted it. I have to admit, I no longer feel any obligation to keep it safe as it feels like a regular stone to me now. I pray forgiveness to the gods, but at the same time, I feel injustice. The god of war gave us something powerful that we cannot use. Have I fallen out of his favor?

“I feel sorry for the guy. The god of war seemed so cruel!” Katie exhaled, her nose flared. Dust spilled out from the book and into the air, tickling Katie’s nose.

When she sneezed, Alexander cussed. Katie looked up and saw his expression had changed to that of horror. “What? Why are you making that face?”

Alexander ran his hands on the surface of the table, then ran about the room, shining the light from his phone at every surface. “Katie…” he turned to face the princess, an even more horrified look on his face. “I don’t think we’re the first ones here.”

“What do you mean?” Katie asked, setting the book down.

“Think about it,” Alexander raised his hand, showing his palm to Katie. “I just wiped my hand on the table, and I’ve been handling countless scrolls since we got here. I barely got any dust in my hands.”

Katie thought of what Alexander said and her eyes widened. She checked her hand that held the book and found it roughened from the dust. “You’re scaring me, Alexander.”

“But that’s the logical conclusion, isn’t it? Someone has been here before… very recently.”