Cillian's eyes rose in pretended surprise. "You must forgive me, my Prince. We welcome your..." his eyes looked me up and down in open distaste, "rightfullywell-chosen bodyguard."
"Allow me to formally introduce myself, lady knight. I am Cillian Findlay. War General to the King of Apollo." The anger in me was swelling down and there were nasty words I was holding my mouth from releasing. So I gave a simple nod instead.
"It would be wise to meet soon so that I may brief you on the expectations of being a royal bodyguard and provide an induction to your stay here." Cillian’s friendly smile reeked of bitterness and it took all my might to not recoil from the man.
"That will have to wait for a very long time, Cillian." The prince was already moving along without a goodbye to the scowling war general.
"You need my command for the scouts to open the gates," Cillian yelled out. I followed the prince, keeping my guard up, not trusting anything in this land.
"This kingdom answers to me," the prince answered coldly and pushed the golden hood of his cloak off his head. His platinum hair reflecting the light of the Apollon sun. I barely had time to acknowledge the large golden gates in front us that opened to let its royal prince in. Two giant golden sculpted statues lay parallel to the gates.
The statues wore a crown on both heads with a sword in hand, looking powerful and significant with large blood rubies as eyes. My stomach had plummeted and fear clenched at my heart. The group of us entered the gates and it instantly closed behind us with a bang.
I felt like a deer trapped in the lion's den.
We were here. At last. Within the borders of the Kingdom of Light. We were officially in Apollo.
***
Hollow eyes and skeletal starved people bowed their heads down in respect upon our arrival. The smell was nearly overbearing. The stench of rot and putrid smell of faeces lingered in the air. I had never expected that the land of gold was occupied by poverty-stricken citizens. I couldn't bear to look at the too small children that clung to the tattered skirts of their mothers who peered to look at us. The prince didn't let his eyes touch his people. His gaze stayed on the golden castle that awaited us on the top of the valley that had trees and beauty compared to the dirt sand roads and rotting stench of the village. It wasunbelievable, that the prince in front of me chose to conquer the lands in Terran before taking care of his own people within his own land. It sickened me. Everything about this land and royals made my stomach churn in heat.
"This is Gilda. Where the poor and lowborns reside," Inanov spoke softly next to me. He wasn't afraid to look at the people and meet their eyes. Acknowledging them in their state. Even the small stalls where merchants were stationed had fruit that were close to rotten and flies swarming the area. It was a sad and a heart-breaking sight. I had faced monsters, creatures of the dark and looked death in its eyes. And yet, it was incredibly hard to acknowledge the sight at which the poor lived.
We soon made it to the top of the valley where another set of large golden gates lay erect in thicker holdings.
This side of the land smelled fresh, clean, and pristine. Where there were people who cheered and waved their hands at the group of us. They seemed excited and happy to see the return of their prince.
"Welcome to the city of Eldoor, the capital city of Apollo." Inanov didn't need to explain much for me to realise that this is where the rich and nobility resided. Where half eaten apples were tossed aside for trash and fresh water was used to wash already clean windows. Not like Gilda, where the malnourished suffered and their best clothes were tattered scraps. The prince showed no emotion and said no word through it all. I had tried my best to catch his eyes and remained unsuccessful in my attempts. I wasn't sure of what I wanted to look for in his eyes. If it was confirmation that this was all a sick joke? Was it confirmation that I'd be accepted as his bodyguard from the king? Was it confirmation that he wasn't embarrassed or disappointed in me... or that his father would not kill me at first sight...?
The last question is one I never expected the prince to truly have an answer for anyways.
The prince skilfully ignored me. Was he truly just being my superior? Just his bodyguard now that we were back in his homeland? He did give me the ultimatum of being with him intimately before our arrival in Apollo and yet I had no regrets. From seeing the way in which the royals ruled over their kingdom, it was enough to make me bitter.
And yet... My heart still ached.
I ignored the inquisitive and yet judging eyes of the noble folk who made it no secret that they wondered who I was and why I was here.
The buildings in Eldoor were impressive and built with architectural taste, all leading up to something more magnificent.
We had made it to the top of the valley, and it would have been a beautiful sight if my eyes were not completely blinded by the dazzling glare of the sun's reflection on the golden castle that now came into view. It was Apollo. In all its glory. Golden, bright, pure, and painstakingly powerful in its command. The kingdom that now commanded most of the lands in Terran. Apollo almost ruled the world—all save for the Corvus, perhaps never, no one has ever dared to enter it.
And now, nothing mattered. Especially when the greatness of Apollo looked down at me with dominance. Making me feel too much like an insect ready to be exterminated. The only aspect that made me get off my horse and move towards the castle was the promise of seeing my family again. To be reassured by them. To feel the taste of home for just a bit. They would be here. The entire arena would.
Chapter 43
Gild and Gleam
The Corvus is located in the far west of the Storm of Oceans. Where a very dangerous luminescent wall; impossible to penetrate, lay in the deadliest of seas. The territory inside the Corvus lay uncharted ahead. The old and wise say the barrier is there to trap and keep the beasts of the underworld at bay. Yet the fae used to call it a gate to a better world. A world we would never know.
The following Korovian text has been transcribed in an oath of truth by Volda Keely Darkblood of the Darkblood witch Coven.
Igave my grey stallion a couple of pats before the guards could take him away to the stables. Fluffcake had been loyal, trustworthy and made a good companion. I'd miss him, for I did not know when would be the next time I'd leave this kingdom. There was so much uncertainty in the air that felt nearly suffocating.
The architecture of the castle was filled with golden pillars and rubied embedded handrails along the staircase. The heat was more bearable closer to the golden castle as it seemed to reflect the sun's rays. The prince shrugged his golden cloak off onto the floor and a servant was immediately there to scoop it up. They were all here at his beck and call. He used his superiority at his most here...
My mind drifted to the king who was currently somewhere within the same building we now entered. I struggled to control my anxious breathing as we finally ascended the steps and entered the foyer. A man in white welcomed us in. "Your Highness." He bowed down swiftly. "I welcome you back home, my Prince. The king has instructed me to let you know that you are to join him for dinner. " I nearly sighed in relief and felt like a fool for thinking I would need to present myself to the king.
"Interesting. He wants a conversation to be done in a civilised manner. It's shocking he wants a conversation at all and not a handwritten report," the prince spoke and smiled when the servant squirmed under his eyes.
