Free Web NovelChapter 35: Chapter 35
The troop sailed away from Meridonis the next day. Adonis had announced abruptly that they would be leaving, which unsettled everyone.
"I can’t believe you made us leave after only two days," Astrid whined. "And I was already getting so used to the tranquillity."
"We don’t have time for all of that," Adonis said. "Or did you forget that there are four other kingdoms apart from Thalassia that we must reach?"
Astrid rolled her eyes. "I didn’t forget."
They had left the inn as soon as the day broke. It took a while to leave port because the men had scattered all over the kingdom.
As soon as they sailed away, Adonis locked himself inside his chambers. He could not bear to look at Astrid and Augustus as they cozied up together, laughing and talking.
Andrea and Doris mingled with a few of the soldiers. The captain had found Andrea particularly interesting, but she’d killed any chance of something deeper because she’d continuously given dry responses to all his advances.
Astrid and Augustus leaned on the guardrails, watching the ocean as they passed by.
"Tell me, Augustus, what made you choose this life?" Astrid asked. "To see so much bloodshed. To take life."
His voice was quiet. "To protect my family," he replied.
"How?"
He heaved deeply. "I don’t think you understand the true might of the empire," he started. "When I was 12, the empire attacked us. Thinking about it now, it was inevitable. My kingdom was at the center of trade.
Every merchant ship that passed through the seas had to stop at our ports to either rest from a tedious journey or offload their goods and turn back.
The empire had wanted to control the world, so it needed to control trade. So, just like we’re doing now, soldiers attacked, killed our king, our governors, stationed soldiers, and put puppets in charge.
They asked every family to give their firstborn sons, or any sons they had, to their army, unless there would be consequences. Except that I was the only man in my household. I was everyone’s father, brother, and son, and I couldn’t let them die."
"Wow," Astrid said. "I didn’t realize you had that kind of story."
"I don’t need to broadcast it for the world to know."
Astrid chuckled. "No, you don’t."
"What about you? What’s your story?"
"Well," Astrid sighed deeply, "I was forced into a secret society that trains women to be fighters, seductresses, anything you can think of, with no contact from my family for many years. When they finally sent me a letter, it was to inform me that they’ve auctioned Hera into a competition and that I have been chosen as heir. Not too much of a sob story, but it really hurt."
"Wow," Augustus said, shaking his head.
"Wow, indeed."
Augustus struggled to find his words. "You were like a trained assassin?"
Astrid laughed. "I felt you were going to ask that."
"I’m sorry, it just seems a little strange to me why they would send you so far away. Then out of the blue, tell you that you’re heir to the kingdom."
"As per my father, it was exactly because they wanted an heir that they sent me away," Astrid said. "But what hurt me most isn’t that I was thrown into such an unstable environment; it was that my dad excused the fact that I was completely isolated from my family, saying I needed to concentrate."
"That’s a very stupid reason."
"Thank you!!" Astrid said. "I thought I was overreacting, but fortunately I’m not. Who abandons their child and tries to act like a hero for abandoning them?"
"Your father, clearly... "
They both laughed.
"It’s all in the past now anyway," Astrid said. "Now, I’m here to protect my sister and secure her place as the future queen of Aurelia."
"That is a very large dream you have," Augustus chuckled. "Don’t you remember who’s actually picking the bride?"
"Which is why I am in this battle, trying to gain his favour, help him. Besides, he has told me on multiple occasions how he has grown to like my sister, so maybe there’s hope."
Augustus smiled. "I hope you’re right."
They’d sailed for three weeks before they saw Thalassia.
"My lord," Augustus said. "How do we approach the kingdom?"
"Same as before," Adonis said wearily. "Attack, take over the kingdom, and inform Epirus."
"You know Adonis," Astrid chimed. "Is violence always the answer?"
He spared her a glance and looked ahead, towards the kingdom.
"It’s grain you want, isn’t it? Why don’t you tell them you want grain? Explain to their king that Erindros is in dire need of grain, and if they do not supply you with grain, you’d be forced to fight them. You do not need to proceed with force every single time, you know? Men die because of these battles."
Adonis was quiet. He knew she was right. he hated the bloodshed, the constant need to conquer every city, every kingdom.
"Fine," he said. Then he turned to Augustus. "I will enter the city with Astrid. If, after two days, you hear nothing from us, then you attack the city, is that clear?"
"Just the two of you, your majesty?"
"Is there a problem?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"Why don’t you take a few men?" Augustus asked.
"We’ll come as well," Andrea said. "I’m not about to lose anyone else."
Adonis heaved deeply. "Fine. But we must restrict this to just ten persons."
They lowered a boat, and one by one they climbed down and rowed towards Thalassia.
"If this fails..." Adonis started to say.
"You’d like me to take the blame for it?" Astrid asked, "That’s not a problem, your majesty." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"Would you let me finish?" He was exasperated. "If this fails, I need you to get to safety. They will not let us leave alive if they could afford it."
"Oh..."
"Yes, just stick to your girls; they might leave me alive for a while to ask for their princess back, but they will not spare you."
"You’ve really thought about this," Astrid said.
"I have," he replied, and said nothing more on the journey.
