Katajatar's Children

Veredithis, Prince of Mnemradel and Liaison to Chandaka saddled a horse for his new wife as she stood beside him to watch what he did.

Althea from Trinera had been a country girl from a family who could barely afford a pack animal. She had never riden until he had placed her on a horse behind him months earlier to return to his country to help his younger half-brother to run their kingdom. Their Grandfather, King Tirthamkaras had fallen from his horse and had been on the verge of death. Now that they had been back in Monan, the Capital of Chandaka for several months, he was finally fulfilling his promise to her.

“I don’t know if I can handle that big animal, Veredithis.”

“You’ll be all right. I’ve chosen the horse with the most mild temperament and I’ll be right beside you the whole time until you’re more confident.” He led the horse out into a field, then turned to see who approached them. From the billowing of red robes, he surmised that Moran’s court mage, Calice was who approached.

“Hail there, Sora Calice.”

As soon as she met them, she bowed her head toward him. “Hail, Prince Veredithis, Princess Althea. Vere, may I ask a question of you?”

“What do you want to ask?”

“Since your return from Mnemradel, I’ve had so many questions in my mind. I cannot seem to contain them.”

“I admit that what I’ve learned in Mnemradel has been subject of much thought, myself.”

“Did you truly see Arasthanas and Ansla, the Healer?”

“I did. She spoke to my brother and me, directly, and advised us in expelling Abasantis from my Grandfather’s castle as he was on his deathbed. I’m still stunned to be told I’m her chosen one. It’s an ominous honor to be the child of a Goddess.”

“I can only imagine. My questions have to do with my own race and our arrival to Chandaka.”

“When Arasthanas spoke about the “Children of the New Ones,” her words became confusing. She spoke of a sky boat that fell from the sky and how she helped the New Ones learn to live with my people, the Mnemrarasti, by becoming Ansla the Healer for them.”

“Your majesty?” a stable hand said. “While you speak with Sora Calice, I can help Princess Althea with her riding lesson?”

“No, thank you. We’re fine.” Veredithis helped Althea climb into the saddle. As Veredithis guided the horse at a slow walk, he returned his attention to Sora Calice.

“What you say is confusing. A sky boat? Does she mean, a boat that sails through the air, not in the water?”

“I’m assuming that is what she meant, but I’d think that a Goddess would know more than a lowly wild Mnem who grew up living in a tree.”

“I found Her words quite curious as well,” Althea said from the saddle. “She seemed to say we Humans are not natural here, yet where else can we be from?”

“There are some other islands in the seas,” Veredithis said.

“I do not think She meant that we came from another island,” Sora Calice said. “That’s why I came to ask, would you take me to an audience with Arasthanas so I may ask Her some of my own questions?”

“That would require we travel to Mnemradel. Her tree is the only place I know to approach her directly.”

“I can request to Moran to give me a leave of absence and that we travel to Mnemradel.”

Veredithis shrugged. “If that’s what you would desire. I would never pass up an opportunity to return to my home in Mnemradel and visit my brother to ask how his monarchy fairs.”

“Then I shall speak my request to Moran. Thank you for your time, Vere.”

Veredithis bowed slightly at the waist.

“Enjoy your riding lesson, Althea.”

Althea bobbled her head nervously from the horse.

Calice walked back to the castle.

“Shouldn’t we follow Calice?” Althea said. “She sounded eager to get going.”

Veredithis sighed and wished himself patience. “I thought you wanted to learn how to ride a horse?”

“I can learn another time. Calice seemed anxious.”

Veredithis bowed his head, then helped her from the horse.

He took the reigns and walked the horse to the stable hand. “Please see to this horse for me?”

The stable hand bowed and took the reins.

As Veredithis walked with his young wife back to the castle, he failed to see the stable hand watch him with narrowed eyes. It sickened him to see Calice and Veredithis romp so freely on the grounds that once was his to command when the former King Cormac didn’t watch his staff. He’d personally found the vision of Veredithis more satisfying as he’d hung on a post in his camp, lacerated from shoulder to ankle, dripping blood. Since Cormac’s resounding defeat, he’d hid among the people who had stolen his nice comfortable job from him, just waiting for a day like this when he could strike back at Moran’s friends for ruining his plans. It seemed the time was right to strike.

He attended to the horse and placed it back in the stable, then pulled back into the shadows and willed his physical image to change. Once the transformation was complete, he casually saddled another horse and left Castle Besla for the Port of Dralaire. He was going to make sure he was one of the sailors on that boat Calice and Veredithis took to Mnemradel.

Veredithis wasn’t very happy that after all the time he had had to arrange time from his work as Liaison to Chandaka from Mnemradel, Althea would seem more than eager to abandon her lesson to go back to Castle Besla to hear Calice’s request to Moran that she be allowed to travel to Mnemradel. He loved her free spirit, but at times, he could find it to be a bit trying. Still, Emrik told him marriage was one of the biggest adventures that could take more strength than anything ever faced. It wasn’t like his life was bad. He’d never been so happy, just that his life was so different than it had been.

Shortly after, they entered the main gate to the salutes of the guards and another guard opened the doors into the grand foyer.

Moran’s meeting room was already open and Calice was awaiting Moran’s presence when he and Althea entered the sitting room and accepted mulled wine and cheeses from servants.

Several minutes later, Moran rushed in. “I apologize for the wait. I had a particularly insistent representative of Pocea who simply must repeat eight times how displeased he was that cattle from Stylan were eating Pocean grasses.”

Veredithis snickered into his hand.

“I absolutely had to send royal troops to Stylan to inform Trenton that if his cattle did not desist from eating Pocean grass, my royal troops simply had to initiate a police action.”

Once Moran ate a cube of cheese, he continued, “I informed Eurise that I could not spare royal troops at present and he was going to have to negotiate with Trenton or they both had to come before me for parlay.”

Veredithis rolled his eyes. “Begin a war over whose grass a herd of cows ate from?”

“Thoroughly ludicrous,” Moran said. “Now, what do you want to ask of me, my friends?”

“A lot has been on my mind since Vere’s return,” Calice said. “I must admit, his story was awe-inspiring. As a magician, I am accustomed to the supernatural, but when I learned that Vere was raised by a goddess who protected him because she had a grand plan that was dependent on his survival, even I was astounded. Above that, she revealed that she is also Ansla the Healer? I have so many questions I would like to ask of her, considering that I am your court mage and she directly admitted that her plan included Emrik and you, I think I need to know more so I can know how to perform my duty to you as one of your protectors so that I may not inadvertently act counter to her intentions. So I ask, my I take leave from court to travel with Vere to Mnemradel so I may ask an audience with Her Eminence?”

Moran rubbed his chin. “I must admit, I’ve had a lot of questions about the fantastic story Vere and Emrik related to me upon their return from Mnemradel. I agree, it is awe-inspiring and I wouldn’t want to go counter to her wishes, either, since I was mentioned as one of the three brothers. I think it would be wise to visit her to ask these questions, Calice, and I will add some questions of my own for you to ask in my stead. Have a royal ship prepared for sail and I will prepare a message for you to take with you to be delivered to Her Eminence from me.”

“Thank you, Sire.”

“And Vere, please, give my personal regards to your brother, King Destatuus, for me.”

Veredithis nodded. “I will, Moran.”

“I wish I could stay and talk to you more, but I have so much to do much of the time, I barely manage to sleep.”

“Of course, Moran. We’ve taken enough of your time,” Calice said.

“You should declare a holiday for yourself some time, Moran. Then we should disappear into a forest where no one can find us,” Veredithis said.

“I would so love to do that, Vere.” Moran nodded to both and swept out of the room.

“I shall see you in Dralaire?” Calice asked as she stood.

“We’ll be there,” Althea said with a warning glance at Veredithis.

Calice nodded and walked from the room.

Veredithis turned his attention to his wife. “Thea, you haven’t spent nearly enough time on learning to ride a horse.”

“Her questions are important. You would’ve continued that silly riding lesson and let her come alone to talk to Moran.”

“Well, excuse me for being an ill-mannered wild boy!”

Althea sighed. “I’m not calling you an ill-mannered wild boy. What is making you sore today?”

Veredithis shook his head. “I don’t know. Something bothers me. I have to say what I learned about Arasthanas from the Mnem war has me anxious, too. I don’t know, it just scares me to think me, a wild unwanted Mnem is the cornerstone of a goddess’ plan.”

Althea stood from her chair and laid her hand on his shoulder. “You’re not unwanted anymore. You have family and friends.”

Veredithis stood up and looked out the window. “I know, and what if I fail everyone? What if I’m not skilled enough to do what she’s asking of me?”

“Why didn’t you tell Emrik or me that Arasthanas’ plan has you terrified?”

Veredithis pulled his auburn hair into a pony tail with his hand and then let it fall to his shoulders again. “I keep telling myself Arasthanas wouldn’t have chosen me if she didn’t believe I could carry out her plan.”

“But you still doubt her faith in you?”

“Crazy, isn’t it?”

Althea hugged his shoulders. “No, it’s not crazy at all. What she’s asked of you three boys is enormous. But just the reason for us being here is something you’re overlooking.”

Verethis turned to her and knitted his brow in confusion.

“Will the three of you be made to do this task alone?”

“I don’t know.”

“Calice said it herself, as Moran’s protector, she wants to know more about the plan so she can help Moran carry out his role. What I’m saying is that we, your friends and family want to be by your side to help you fulfill the task Arasthanas is asking of you. I know you don’t think I’m serious enough about riding, but something made me think we needed to hear what Calice had to say.”

“Do you have an uneasy feeling?”

“I do. I have no idea why, just that- I feel anxious too.”

“I feel the winds are changing. I sense a charge in the air like a storm is forming, yet I see clear skies.”

“And that feeling is why we need to gather together so that when that storm finally comes in, we can help you weather the storm. You won’t fail us, because we’ll be beside you so we won’t fail you.”

Veredithis turned and embraced her. “Your courage never fails to amaze me.”

“So don’t you dare leave me home, Little Red Fox.”

Veredithis sighed. “Let’s get packed to set sail, but you’re riding your own horse to Dralaire.”

“I will.”

Veredithis and Althea walked back to their home, hands entwined.