I watched the sun set over the sea, casting purple shadows over the depths and lighting the clouds with streams of amethyst. My side was still stiff from the wound I took a week ago and I flexed my stomach muscles under the white linen tunic to try and loosen them up but to no avail. The healers had wanted me to rest for seven days, one for each of the stitches they’d sewn into my skin to close the wound the Egyptian son of a whore had inflicted.
“Xenos!” The call came from below and I leaned over the rough stone parapet of the watchtower to see who dared disturb this sacred time. I should have known it would be my lover, Sarpedon. He’d been in meetings all day and now he was beckoning me down from my aerie to tell me bad news. I could tell by the frown on his face and the way he rubbed his temples that the Queen was being determined.
“Come up here, Sar, and I’ll let you watch Apollo’s journey with me.”
And he came, grumbling all the way about bad-tempered lovers and idiots who wouldn’t rest. But when he reached me, he took me in his arms gently and warmed my back with his body careful not to press against the stitches while we watched the last of the Sun God’s chariot dip into the warm waves.
“Are we sailing soon?” I leaned back against Sarpedon and let my full weight rest upon him. “She would not be persuaded?”
“She’s been possessed by a goddess ever since the boom cracked her skull last month. Determined as only she can be. The full moon of Artemis comes in six days and she says she must worship Her from the island of Thera.” Sarpedon sighed and hugged me a little tighter. “I’m worried about her. She said she would only take two attendants with her and she forbids us to follow.”
“Your sister is known for her temper. What are you really worried about?” I turned and braced my hands on his blue clad shoulders.
He shook his head, his eyes shining in the twilight. “I see . . . death when I look into her gaze. Destruction and turmoil and pain, all crowd her eyes until I am afraid to look any deeper.”
“My poor Sar, you feel things too deeply. Perhaps she has had a true vision and is merely obeying the will of the gods. There is nothing on Thera that could hurt her. Just shrubs and goats, maybe some grape vines.” I cupped his jaw tenderly and gently stroked the fair skin near his eyes.
“And what if word gets out and those thrice damned Egyptians come calling again?” Sar sounded exasperated but he still nuzzled his cheek into my hand, just like our cat, Rhea when she wants some attention.
“How many know already?” I leaned up a bit and kissed the dimple in his chin.
He moved just enough for our lips to meet and I reveled in the best kiss of the day. But then all his kisses were the best for me and I reminded myself to tell him that just as soon as we finished. A long moment later, he released my mouth and shook his head, the half smile I was so used to crossing his lips.
“You had honey cakes this afternoon. Have you been sneaking into the kitchens again without me?”
I grinned at him and leaned against the fine linen over tunic, breathing a hot breath against his throat. “I can not lie. I stole a plate of honey cakes and brought them back to our cottage. There’s some left if Rhea hasn’t found them.”
“Then we’d best go home so you can feed me honey cakes while we soak in the tub. And I’ll tell you what happened this afternoon. Now that you know, there are four of us in on her plans. Lady Eirene and Lady Metis both know because Roma asked them to accompany her. And now you and I.”
“And the gods know, Sar. Don’t leave them out of this since it seems they’re the ones who have given her the mission.” I started down the winding steps with his hands on my shoulders to help steady me. The pain in my side was a little worse than usual and I knew that Sar could feel how tense I was with each jarring step.
“A long soak and then I’ll give you a massage to lessen the soreness.” He promised me while we crossed the white flagstones to the large gate that welcomed all who visited the Queen.
“Yes, My Lord Sarpedon.” I gave him his full title since we were coming into the outer ring of buildings that made up the palace at Knossos. The guards all knew that we were shield brothers but it didn’t hurt to show Sar my respect in front of them. The gods only knew how much I worshipped the ground he walked upon.
His gaze was hot in the torch light, promising me more than just a massage when he had me alone. A party of merchants bowed to him in the anteroom of the Queen’s throne room. He stopped for a moment to chat while I kept going. Heading down a side hall that would lead me to the gardens, I almost walked into the Queen when I turned the corner.
“Your Highness, forgive me. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” I went down on one knee and bowed my head.
Her hand was warm on my head. “You’re forgiven, Xenos. How is your side? I seem to remember the healers telling you to rest.”
I rose to my feet with a brief biting of my lip. “The healers are a bunch of old fools who wouldn’t know a festering sore from a parchment cut. Any more rest and I would have gone insane.”
Her dark eyes laughed at me and she shook her head. “Come walk with me, Xenos. Has my brother spoken to you?”
I fell in beside her with Lady Eirene a few paces behind us while we walked slowly down the white gravel paths between the rows of herbs that scented the twilight air with their perfume. “Yes, Your Highness, he has. Are you sure of your vision? Your fever was high and it was almost three days before you came back to us.”
And that’s when I saw the pain that Sar had spoken of, filling her eyes with terror and bitter loss. “The vision is true, Xenos. The gods have shown me another island and a priestess who saved her world from a terrible fate. But the bittersweet victory came at the price of her people and her island. I will not allow that to happen to here and now. Lady Eirene knows the cost of accompanying me and she still wants to come.”
The old woman smiled and shook her head, coming to Queen Roma’s side and taking the small white hand into her gnarled fingers. “I’ve tended and loved you since you were born, My Lady. Only death will part us.”
“And what if it’s pirates, Roma? What can three women do against an attack like the one that left Xenos wounded?” Sar’s voice came from over my shoulder.
She smiled at him and accepted his kiss on her cheek. “Dearest Sar, pirates are the least of my worries.” Her eyes went unfocused for a moment and her voice took on the deep tone I’d only heard once before in the Temple. “And when They come, They will come with fire and lightning. Death comes with Them for our Mother, the earth. But She will rise up and protect Her own.”
“Oh, my beloved sister, why does it have to be you?” Sar’s voice almost cracked with emotion.
Queen Roma sighed and her eyes lost the fey faraway look. She was herself again and no longer spoke with the voice of the Goddess. “Because I was born, Sar. From the moment Mother brought me forth, this day has been coming. You always said I was stubborn, little brother, and it appears the gods agree with you. Why they couldn’t just send a dream letting me know what I needed to do, I don’t know. Instead, they cracked me open like a ripe grape and showed me a vision from the depths of Tartarus.”
“Let me come with you, Roma. Please.” Sar went to one knee before her and took her hands in his, casting up a beseeching look that would have melted me on the spot.
“No, Sar, not this time. I need you here. Watching over our people and protecting them from the chaos that is coming. You’re the only one I can trust, little brother. You and Xenos love Crete and all those who live here. You must be strong and believe me when I tell you that right now, I am the only one who can fulfill this vision.” Her eyes glittered with tears and she raised him up so she could hug him close.
“I don’t understand but I trust you, Roma. If you say you must then all I can do is pray that you’re wrong and this vision will pass us by.” Sar cleared his throat and kissed her cheek.
“That would be wonderful, Sar, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. Just be here for me. I will be stronger for knowing that you are watching my back.” Queen Roma stepped back and accepted the cloak that Lady Eirene had waiting for her. “Now, off with the pair of you, I have to get ready for the state dinner tonight with the Thracian merchants. I'm excusing you so Sar can coddle you, Xenos. Accept it and that’s an order from your queen, young man.”
Her scolding tones made me laugh and even Sar chuckled. We both bowed and watched her move lightly down the path back to the palace with Lady Eirene, her faithful shadow. They stopped for a moment on the terrace steps and looked towards the north and the brilliant star that shown just above the horizon. Queen Roma bowed her head slightly in homage to Polaris before disappearing inside.
Sar sighed heavily and threw his arm over my shoulders. “She’s stubborn as a mule just like Father always said.”
I chuckled and slid my arm around his waist while we started walking towards the cottage we called home. “Determined, Sar. Queens are never stubborn, they’re just very, very determined.”
He hugged me tighter and I laid my head on his broad shoulder. “I’m afraid for her. She thinks she’s not coming back and that’s why she wants me safe. I have no desire to be king. My highest ambition was General of her armies and I am content to do that to the very best of my abilities.”
“That’s odd, Sar, that was my ambition as well.” I got ready to run. “I wanted my very own general and look what happened.”
“Why you, little . . .”
I broke into a run for our cottage while he chased after me, being very careful not to ‘catch’ me until we were safe inside our home. Turning into his arms, I welcomed his threats of tickling me until I screamed for mercy. If I were very lucky, that wouldn’t be the only thing I screamed tonight. I cast up a quick prayer that Queen Roma would find the way to her heart’s desire as I had found mine. Then I let the man who held my heart carry me into the bathing chamber for some of the pampering he was so good at.
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end of dream two