FictionPress.com - let the words flow| FictionPress.com - let the words flow |
| Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search | Login Register Extras |
Chapter Sixteen
“We are gathered here today to pay respect to those who gave their lives to protect the Great Archipelago, and our freedom. They will not be forgotten.” Anse read the eulogy. A service of remembrance was being held for everyone who had fallen on that fateful day. Thousands of people had come from all parts of the Great Archipelago to pay their respects at Centropolis. There was no sign of Marcus.
It had been a few weeks since the battle for Centropolis. The ice had melted, with only a few floes drifting through the sea. Most of the people who had fled had returned and life was just about returning to normal.
Anse wanted to wait until the hero woke up. After all, they owed so much to him. But the Court of Islands was getting impatient; claiming he would never wake up again, despite Maiestus’ attempts to placate them.
Suddenly, they all disappeared. I bolted upright. The island was gone, to be replaced with four cream-coloured walls. I was sitting in a large, crisp bed. Flowing, white sheets covered me. I must be in a villa, I thought.
That means I must have defeated Siris, I thought happily. Then the events of that day came rushing back to me like a flood. I was overwhelmed by grief and sadness for those that had died. The city guard, Lady Artemis…Aysha. I started to sob softly into the sheets. Someone must have heard though.
“Oh, so you’re awake!” a voice called to me. Limping into my room was the Councillor Artemis. Her head was tightly bandaged and she winced every time she leaned on her crutch. But she was alive!
“See? I told you he would be our hero!” another voice called from outside. Pushing the door open, Maiestus walked inside. He seemed quite quiescent, but I could tell he was dancing for joy on the inside.
“How…did…” I couldn’t even begin to make sense of this. I had seen Artemis struck by the deadly hail that killed the city guard and fall of the edge of the island. Maiestus laughed softly.
“After you left in the balloon, I took it upon myself to organize and support the refugees that would soon be fleeing Centropolis. At my asking, all the southern islands opened their gates to help the human wave. While sorting the people out, an old woman asked me to go back to Centropolis for her son, Anse, I think his name was, who had been left behind. Leaving the care of the refugees in Amodea's hands, I set off for Centropolis. I found Lady Artemis here covered in ash and rubble when I arrived. Fortunately, I wasn’t too late.” Maiestus explained, a grin toying about his lips.
“What about Umbris?” I asked, intrigued. Maiestus and Artemis both looked away uneasily.
“She hasn’t turned up, and her body wasn’t among the dead. It seems she has simply disappeared. We did find a lot of Siris’ soldiers lying on the ice with very severe burns though. They weren’t even near the docks when they burnt down.” Artemis shrugged resignedly. I was sure Umbris was alive. She would show up when she wanted to. My mind suddenly turned to Aysha. My heart sank.
“What about…uh, what about…”
“Aysha?”
I nodded glumly.
“She …died, Marcus. We couldn't save her.” Maiestus admitted grimly. I literally winced with pain. I turned away. The door creaked open a fraction. “But,” I lifted my head as tears pricked my eyes. The door creaked open a bit more. “Cats do have nine lives.”
The door flew open and Aysha leapt into the room. I choked on the joy in my throat. My tears became those of sheer happiness and relief. Aysha jumped on the bed and hugged me tightly. Artemis and Maiestus looked at each other with a knowing glance and started to laugh heartily. Aysha finally released me from her embrace.
“You did it, Marcus! You saved us all! And you’re a true memento of my clan –a Lupian brother.” She giggled excitedly. She tugged teasingly at my grey wolfish sideburns, a memento of that day. I felt them too, in surprise. I hadn’t noticed until now. The rest of my hair had gone a few shades greyer as well. The two Councillors chose to leave the room at this point, leaving the two of us alone.
“Really?” I asked incredulously. I remembered the felling of raw power that day. It was exhilarating.
“Yes, the same blood flows through us.” Aysha nodded eagerly. My chest swelled with pride. I was more than just Marcus, the bar-lad. I was Marcus –the Lupian –the hero.
I was suddenly deflated again. There was a sharp burning pain in my chest, more precisely three pains. Aysha moved back, worried. I unbuttoned the white linen shirt I was wearing and opened it up. There was a lot of bandaging around my chest.
“They were very serious wounds. You were already so exhausted when you were shot. Nobody knew if you’d live or not. Maiestus kept calling you a hero, and saying that fate was with you.” Aysha explained. The pains quickly passed and I re-buttoned my shirt.
“I’m glad he was right.” I sighed with a smirk. I leaned back on my pillow and closed my eyes. Aysha bounced up and down on the bed in protest so I wouldn’t fall asleep. I opened my eyes again.
“The doctor said that, if you ever woke up, you should get some fresh air.” Aysha protested. She threw the bed-sheets back, and fetched a coat for me as I languidly slid out of bed.
Except the fountain, the centrepiece of Centropolis Square. Vilas had razed it to the ground and had rebuilt it as a dais to himself. Now, it had been turned into something else. The fountain had been restored but the statue of the sea-maiden was gone. The statue was now of someone very familiar. They held their sword in a dramatic fighting stance. That sword –it was my broadsword! The statue was I!
“The Court of Islands wanted to commemorate the victory of Centropolis, and…I suggested a statue of you, Marcus.” Aysha chirped when she saw my surprised expression. “Lets walk down the Stairway.”
She grabbed me by my hand and pulled me along with her. We started to giggle and laugh and didn’t have the faintest idea why. I couldn’t imagine what Centropolis would be like if Siris had succeeded in his coup.
“Marcus!” a voice called out to me from in front of us. It sounded vaguely familiar as if I hadn’t heard it in a while. It was dripping with honey. Relena Marquis stood in front of me.
“Hello Relena,” I replied awkwardly.
“Marcus, I heard all about the battle. Oh, you're so brave!” Relena said, walking towards me. “You really have gone up in the world –they’ve even given you your own servant.” She looked critically at Aysha.
“Actually…she’s my friend.” I retorted, defending Aysha. Aysha’s eyes narrowed. Relena shook her head disapprovingly and tutted lightly.
“Oh no, you can’t be friends with commoners. You're a hero now –you should be making friends with people of your own class. People like me. Perhaps we could go out sometime, together.” Relena chided me. She batted her eyelashes at me. This was it. My plan had worked. My adventure had paid off. Relena wanted to be with me. But did I want to be her? A month ago I would have leapt at the opportunity but now I wasn’t so sure.
“Aysha already promised to show me the –“ I began to explain.
“Oh please, you can’t be serious.” Relena laughed haughtily. She circled around Aysha, examining her closely. “You smell like a cat and your nails…have you never heard of a manicure?” Relena turned back to me. “ I don’t know what you see in her, Marcus.”
Before I could reply, Aysha had picked up Relena in a fit of rage. She ran down the Stairway, carrying Relena over her head. Relena screamed and squirmed all the way. I chased after them; I was afraid Aysha would do something drastic.
Aysha ran across the newly constructed dock, right to the last pier. With a grunt, she threw Relena off into the calm water below. Relena coughed and spluttered, looking far from the elegant beauty when I had first met her. Aysha dusted her hands off and walked casually back to me.
“Do you want to go for a swim?” she asked lightly as if nothing had happened. I had a choice. Save Relena, the conceited Prima Donna, or enjoy life with Aysha. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for either of them. It was my infatuation for Relena that had driven me onto this adventure. But Aysha and I had been through so much together. To which one did my heart belong?
“I’d love to, Aysha.”
Fin.
Coming soon -Chronicles of the Great Archipelago -Volume Two!
