Calliope [Book 2]

Mido felt no control over his stunned body as he mounted Lily outside, the rain still coming down hard. King Sloan mounted beside him.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” he said to his youngest son. Prince Lucas watched as the two men trotted off, beginning their trip to Asmar. Prince Lucas turned to his mother.

“Is it true?” he asked.

“Were you spying?” she said, looking down on him with disapproving eyes.

“It can’t be true.”

Melinda looked out over the kingdom. “It is true.”

Prince Lucas was quiet. He, too, turned his gaze to the kingdom, and prayed that Mido could save their kingdom from falling.

Mido and King Sloan rode through the rain, neither speaking a word as the hooves of their horses and their troop beat over the land. They made the slippery trek up the wet mountain side, traveling through the stormy night until the clouds broke way to the approaching morning. They galloped across the hills of Asmar and towards their capital, Ronlin. Mido’s heart raced as they approached. It had been months since he had last been here, and he wondered what shape the kingdom was in. He knew they would not take kindly to their appearance. He suspected most of the men were fighting against Librona’s soldiers somewhere on the other side of the mountain.

They rode confidently into the city only to be greeted by armored men taking guard just outside the walls. They readied their swords as their enemy approached. King Sloan slowed his horse and shouted to the guards.

“Do not strike, or you will lose the only heir left to your throne.”

The guards hesitated.

“What is the meaning of this?” one of them asked, stepping forward, his sword still raised.

“An heir to the throne has been found.”

“You lie,” the guard hissed. “You’re a fool to come here without your army.”

“He has the mark,” King Sloan barked. He nodded towards Mido. “Proof of his right to the throne.”

The guard hesitated. “Show me.”

King Sloan turned to Mido, waiting. Mido bit his lip and turned to the guard. He dismounted and lifted his pant leg, exposing the symbol that marked his fate.

The guards murmured to each other, stunned.

“How is this possible?”

“His mother died giving birth,” King Sloan informed them. “Mido was raised away from prying eyes in Librona, as Asmar was in no need of an heir at the time. He is all that remains of royal blood.”

The guards turned to each other, stunned. They turned to Mido and bowed, welcoming their king home.

“Your highness,” the head guard said, straightening. “I can’t tell you how good it is to have the rightful heir return to his throne.”

Mido turned to King Sloan; he felt lost and lifeless.

“Perhaps we should discuss the state of the kingdom?” King Sloan said to him.

The guards turned to their king. “What are your orders, King Mido?”

Mido looked to King Sloan once more.

“Your highness?” King Sloan said, encouraging Mido.

“I want an end to this war,” Mido said quietly. The guards raised their swords.

Mido shook his head. “No. Enough. We’re done fighting.”

The guards looked to each other once more, confused. “Sir?”

“Do not disobey me,” Mido said, forcing himself to appear confident.

The guards nodded and barked orders to one another. Two of the men took off to deliver the message and collect their rogue army.

“Excellent,” King Sloan said. “I am happy to return home with good news. You are too kind, King Mido.”

Mido narrowed his eyes at King Sloan.

“I suspect you will be busy with your own duties, then?” King Sloan raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Mido muttered.

“Good. I hope you find your queen. You are welcome in Librona any time.”

King Sloan let his eyes linger on Mido’s for a moment as if to reassure his son. His face was burdened with uncertainty. King Sloan turned his horse around and they began their journey back to Librona.

Mido turned to his guards and followed them through the city. They led him to the castle and into the throne room. They bowed to him and left him alone in the empty room.

Mido stood before the empty throne, imagining every moment King Rowan spent in that very seat. He felt disgusted at the sight of it, and even more disdain towards calling the castle his home. The doors behind him opened, and he turned to his visitor. A guard stood in the doorway and bowed to the king.

“King Mido, would you like us to release the prisoners?”

“Bring them to me,” he said, anxious to see who they had in the dungeons. Mido was alone in the throne room once more. He stood in the middle of the room, not daring to move. He inspected the draperies that bore Asmar’s emblem as they hung down the walls. He looked up to the high ceilings and inspected the work on the chandeliers that lit the room. He turned as he inspected the room until the door opened once more. The prisoners entered one by one, all citizens of Librona, most of whom were Librona’s worn soldiers. But a head of curly locks caught his attention and his heart stopped. Maria stood before him, her face worn and struck with confusion and fear. Her lips moved, but her voice was an inaudible whisper.

Mido approached his friend and forced an assuring smile. Maria watched as the man approached her, looking as raggedy and worn as ever.

“The ’ell ’appened to ya?” she whispered when he neared, her voice shaking. “Ya look like ya’ve been ta ‘ell an’ back.”

“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” he said. The woman wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in close. Mido wrapped his arms around her in return and buried his face in her hair.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” he said, pulling away.

“Oh, Hunnie,” she said. “What the ‘ell is goin’ on ’ere?” She looked around. “Where’s Calliope?”

Mido hesitated and looked over the soldiers. They recognized the knight that once lead them through the battlefield, but their expressions were mixed.

“The war is over,” Mido said to them. “You will go back to Librona, unharmed. The kingdoms are at peace now. King Sloan awaits your arrival. I suspect all will be explained when you return.”

Mido called to the Asmarian guards and instructed them to guide Librona’s soldiers out of the city so they could return home. Maria remained in the throne room with Mido and the large doors closed as the last of the men left the castle.

“’splain yaself,” she said, turning to him. “The ‘ell are ya doin’ ’ere? I’ve neva been ‘appier an’ more scared.”

“It’s a long story.”

“Well, ‘en, start at the beginnin’,” she said.

“Fine. Let’s get out of here, first. I can’t stand to look at that damn chair for another minute.”

Maria followed Mido as he led them clueless through the castle. He peered into empty rooms until he found the large dining hall. They placed themselves at the end of the table and Mido began his story.

“Well,” he said, sucking in a breath. “I guess I’ll start with your capture.”

“Don’t make me relive it.”

Mido shook his head. “I only knew something was wrong when I saw Lily without a rider. I left the battle and she took me to your camp. Neither you nor Calliope where anywhere to be found. I saw an Asmarian soldier and figured they had captured you.”

Maria nodded in confirmation.

“I went back to King Sloan to deliver the news, and we went right to Asmar. We got there just in time, too; they were about to burn Calliope.”

The color drained from Maria’s face. “She’s safe? Why didn’t she use her magic?”

“They had been spying on us in Librona for some time. They found a necklace that Samus had in his possession; a cursed necklace that prevented Calliope from using her magic. She was helpless. I found her just as they lit the fire and pulled her away. I thought she was gone.” Mido grew silent.

“But she wasn’t.”

“No. I was ready to defend her, but King Rowan’s mother stepped forward. Turns out, she was a witch. She healed Calliope.”

Maria gasped, her hand over her lips. “Did King Rowan know?”

Mido shook his head. “He didn’t take it too well, either. He beheaded her.”

Maria squeezed her eyes shut. “Why didn’t she defend ’erself?”

“She was a noble witch. She went down refusing to use magic on her son and on her kingdom. But, it meant nothing to Rowan.”

“What ’appened?”

“I tried to bring Calli away. It was chaotic in the city. Soldiers and citizens all fighting together. They wanted Calli dead. But, when she saw Kaya murdered, she lost it. Something just snapped. I don’t know what happened. She murdered Rowan.”

Maria gasped again. Her eyes were wet with tears. “Poor Calliope.”

“Naturally the kingdom was enraged. We managed to get her out of the kingdom, leaving the army behind to ensure our escape. But, Asmar had turned into a rogue nation. Nothing would stop them from seeing Calli dead. It only put Librona at risk with her around. There was nothing King Sloan could do to protect her. She had to leave.”

“She left?”

“Yes. I went with her.”

“You left?”

Mido nodded. “I wasn’t going to just let her go like that.”

“Did King Sloan send ya?”

Mido shook his head. “No. He wanted me to stay and fight.”

“You didn’t.”

“No. I told him I was not staying in Librona. He banished me.”

“Oh, Mido. You stupid man.”

“Stupid?”

Maria put a hand on his arm. “No. ’Course not. I wouldn’t ‘ave wanted ta see Calliope all alone like that. An’ I know ya care fah ’er.”

“Well, I do. So I left with her.”

“Where’dja go?”

“We left the kingdom’s border. We traveled south, through the forest.”

“That must’ve taken ya weeks.”

“It did. We came out and into the kingdom of In’audis. Calli was getting sick of seeing my face every day. She wanted to see civilization. So, we stopped at the first city we found and got a room at an inn.”

“The sweet thing.”

“It didn’t last. Some men from Asmar made it to the city late at night. They told the king that a witch was loose and could be in their kingdom. The king ordered for the gates to be locked. No one could leave, no one could enter.”

“What’dja do?”

“We left. We saddled Lily and took off through the city, battling soldiers in our path. They chased us into the kingdom. There was no way we could escape. I told Calli to use her magic.”

“You didn’t.”

“I had no choice, Maria,” Mido said, feeling defeated and worn as he spoke. “They would have captured us. I just needed a roadblock so we could get away, and Calli delivered.”

“So, you escaped?”

“Well, yes, for the moment. But, they were on the hunt for us, then. There was no way we’d be able to stay in one place for too long. Calli didn’t like the idea of being on the run forever. She was getting tired and feeling hopeless and regretful. I tried to convince her it would be okay, but she had given up.”

“No. What ’appened?”

“I’m not quite sure. She just disappeared like that. In a flash of light. She was gone.”

Maria was quiet, so Mido continued.

“I tried to look for her, but it became clear to me that she would not be in that kingdom. All I could think was that maybe she returned to Librona in hopes of helping in the war. So, I returned to Librona to ask for King Sloan’s assistance. I couldn’t do it alone.”

“You returned to Librona?”

“Yes, and it wasn’t pretty. King Sloan was furious.”

“Naturally.”

“But, apparently, it was good that I had returned.”

“Why?”

Mido hesitated. “They had some things to discuss with me.”

“What?”

“They told me that after I was banished, an old woman came to them. She told them that she delivered me on the day I was born and that my mother died shortly after. She brought me to Esmon where I was raised to believe that I was the son of Avery and Esme. Turns our, King Sloan knew my real mother very well.”

“Oh?”

“He fucked her.”

“Mido!” Maria hissed.

“It gets better.”

Maria raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“She was a cousin to Kaya, King Rowan’s mother.”

Maria sat back against the chair. “Oh, Lord.”

Mido nodded.

“There’s no way to prove that, though.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“I don’t think I can take much morah.”

“Apparently, any child born into the royal family is given a mark at birth.” Mido lifted his pant leg, revealing the mark. “I’m blessed with this beauty.”

Maria stared at the mark, her hand over her mouth as she leaned against her elbow. She shook her head, stunned.

“This can’t be true.”

“King Sloan would not help me find Calli. Naturally, he couldn’t afford the resources in the midst of a war. He wanted me to take up the throne and end the war.”

“And you did?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. The people here took to me immediately. It seems they, too, know of the mark and the meaning it bears.”

“And here we are,” Maria whispered.

“And here we are.”