"Do not forget what I have told you," he said to the prince and then steered his horse away from ours.
The prince was silent for long. It is very unlike him to not tease, or flirt or say anything just to get a reaction out of me. It makes me wonder if he heeded into Inanov's warning. We descended the first hill, and I held on tight to the stallion's reign, I clenched my legs over its sides. The pain was enough to make me bite my tongue.
"You should have been in the carriage," the prince said, frowning at my leg.
"I'm fine," is all I answered.
"No. You aren't."
"And why would you care? Huh," I snapped, there was so much I wanted to get out of my chest. So much I didn't understand. So many untethered feelings that had been stored up since being taken from my family, since bringing along Red, since having the prince make me his bodyguard and kiss me in front of Ezra, since this prince had pretty poetic cruel words he always said to me. So many feelings that I had kept in. And now it all came out in spurts of anger.
The prince didn't answer immediately, until he replied. "You humans are so tormented by not knowing what makes you happy. As for fae, we have the answer. It's power. And once I have ascended to being King and claimed my throne from my father, the Sun God will bestow more power upon me. I will have no need of you when that happens. You can go back to your little arena, perform your tricks and shows with your goddess blessed freaks. They are a disgrace to anything natural. So until the time I ascend—I need you alive. If not, then just alive for enoughtime until I achieve what is needed." His answer stilled me. My stallion came to a stop. He continued and left me behind. I should have been happy. Ecstatic actually. That once he got what he wanted, I could go back. Back to Ezra. Be free. Yet I was not happy. I felt used. I felt like a fool for believing anythingmoreof what the prince had felt. I was to be used and discarded once no longer needed. And this had been his plan all along. And I would be okay with that.
I will be okay with that.I reassured myself.
So I followed behind the prince. Pulled my cloak over my head and let the ache and pain of my leg consume me, letting it numb and silence my thoughts. Letting myself forget that a glowing green gemstone radiated inside my pocket where it whispered and used sweet words to lure my shadows.
Chapter 32
City of Blood
In Abdera, its capital city, Aureilya, is better known as the City of Blood. The city received its name just after the tragedy had occurred in the Kingdom of Duvessa, where millions had died. A whole entire race of the folk of darkness completely wiped from Terran. Where the High King of Apollo had declared to have saved the other lands of Terran from the darkness that had slaughtered innocents. The change to the city of Aureilya was alarming at first—blood red leaves, grass and trees. Yet, the vegetation had prospered and grew by a tenfold compared to their previous farm growth. Rubies were finally discovered, deep in the ground and were mined to be traded. The land of Abdera flourished, and the people of theland believe that the blessings to Abdera was from Donella herself—the Goddess of Nature who favoured the Apollon royalty and their blood red eyes.
May High King Solaire Gideon forever reign.
Iembraced the star kissed sky and breathed it in, the night smelled divine. We had travelled all throughout the morning, afternoon and evening. The soldiers grumbled in complaints, but we were close to Abdera and I could sense it. I had always gotten this feeling in Abdera, something made and unmade, that echoed through the land to let all know that you have officially arrived at one of the continent's safest havens. Inanov was silent next to me. Hulin and Akiel sensed the tension so they kept to themselves, looking at the map from time to time. I knew the way to Abdera like the back of my hand. Whenever they halted to look at the map, I continued on and the rest followed my lead.
"Where will we be going to next? After Abdera?" Red asked Inanov curiously. I was glad he seemed to be asking the right questions, because this is something I had also wished to know.
"For now. It will be the last until the king says otherwise. After Abdera is put under the king’s command we will be returning to Apollo," Inanov answered. My stomach clenched at the thought. All I could have hoped for was that I would not be subjected to meeting the king. The weight of anxiety sat heavy on my neck and shoulders.
I tried my best not to slouch as I finally asked, "Abdera currently has a good relationship and trade with Apollo, right?" Inanov gave me a side glance and then looked ahead to where the prince was with Hulin and Akiel.
"Yes. We do," he curtly replied, confusion swarmed my thoughts.
"Then why aren't they already under Apollo?" Was my next question.
"They have everything they could possibly need, and none they are lacking in order to strike a deal. So being under Apollo was never something necessary for them." I took his words with a grain of salt.
"And I'm guessing the prince has his own ideas on how to persuade the lord." Inanov gave a nod in answer.
"If Abdera is so great, why aren't all the poor from other lands not going there?" Red asked. The prince and the trackers had stopped. I led my horse forward and took in the surroundings. Where green grass slowly turned orange, then to a dark blood red. Where tree leaves looked like there was an abundance of red roses. And where a divider of a magnificent great stone wall had stood in front of us. Separating us from Abdera and its capital city, Aureilya.
"You have your answer, Red." I nodded towards the great wall heading toward the entrance where there was an abundance of guards stationed to check the business of each traveller.
"Whoa... this place was made for someone with a name like mine," Red joked, admiring the wall and colour of everything in his way.
"Just wait until you see Apollo, huh, boy?" Akiel nudged Red's shoulder.
"Well, this place is something else though alright." Hulin whistled. The prince and I were not on speaking terms, but I clenched my jaw as I dutifully went to his side as we approached the gates where the guards were stationed. The Abderan guards immediately saw the sigil of the sun in the flags the soldiers held up. I pulled my cloak off, where they could see the gold sigil markings on my black armour. These guards were stern andstrict, better to make them aware of my own dealings if they could easily spot who was Apollon and who was not. The guards gave a salute as we passed them with no problem. I could feel the prince's power begin to radiate, his presence would be known to the whole city if he kept it up.
"Your Highness." The guard in front of us knelt. The prince looked down his nose at the guard. "The lord has been expecting your arrival. He is hosting a soirée in his private gardens in honour of your name. Allow me to lead you and your men," the guard said with little emotion.
I was beginning to get annoyed with all these invites, but I guess they were customary.
The prince complied and then inhaled. He frowned at the smell but kept quiet. I would have asked what was the matter, but I was to keep my distance from him and he from me. I got off my horse, my bones sore and tired from riding all day. It had made the ache in my leg worsen, but this was not something I was going to admit. I hid my limp while leading Fluffcake through the loud and lively city. Where bright lanterns were hung all around us, a variety of sweet fragrances of tarts and grilled food swarmed my senses. The merchants called out to every single person that passed and tried their utmost best to sell their unique items.
"Interesting, how the lord knew we would arrive today," I muttered and looked to Inanov.
