Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay - midterms are slowly but surely approaching and I am getting overwhelmed. Also my beta will be gone for a few months which leaves me with trying to make the mess I put out presentable. Please let me know about any mistakes you find insufferable and I will take care of them.
Furthermore if anyone among you is a beta and would like to help me with taking care of the Grammatik issues in future chapters as well as consult with me on the story I would be glad to have you for the time being, that is until my current beta returns. It would be a massive help and you'd help me get the chapters our faster and more frequently. If anyone is interested PM me please. Bear in mind this would only be temporary until my current beta returns.
With all that out of the way - please enjoy.
"We don't have to do this, you know," Anna tried to plea with John. "I-I mean they just released you yesterday we can wait a couple days."
John just shook his head in amusement. "Anna I am completely fine, besides I will only sit here making sure you are alright," he argued. "You don't have to worry."
Anna gulped. It wasn't that she was worried for her friend, she could see he was doing well, but the incident when she used the memory stone on her own was still burnt in her mind. Especially the vision of the battle still laid clearly before her eyes.
And the screaming.
Anna was always a curious girl, but that night she found out that even her curiosity had limits.
"But if you want to stop your training…?" John offered.
"N-no." Anna sighed. "I want to continue." Even after what she had experienced, the redhead was still set on protecting her beloved. No matter what it takes.
"Then shall we?" The Apprentice asked.
Anna nodded with a sigh and reached for the nightstand in her drawer. Another thing she feared was that John would be able to tell she used the emerald crystal on her own by the bright glow it emanated all the time since the night she used it alone.
When she pulled the drawer out however and took out the stone wrapped in a handkerchief she could already tell it was as dim as when John gave it to her. When she put it inside the drawer last time the light from it pierced through the handkerchief with ease but right now there was any sign of any of that even when she unwrapped the stone and inspected it.
Why? Why did it stop now?
"Something wrong?" Anna shook her head in slight alarm at the words, realizing that she must've been staring at the crystal for some time now.
"N-no, it's fine," she answered. "We can begin." She laid on the bed until she had found a comfortable position and proceeded with closing her eyes. She could only pray to the gods for no more nightmarish visions this time.
As always Anna soon drifted into the false dream state and once more embarked into the realm of foreign memories. And once more she had found herself in the training hall, facing three opponents at once. Only this time it was different. This time she could hear people talking.
They were speaking in a language, no doubt Greek, yet even though Anna didn't understand a word they said she could sense the meaning unravel in her mind.
"I'm sorry, Crethon I didn't mean to hit so hard," apologized one of his opponents extending his hand to help Anna up.
Crethon. Anna thought. She still didn't know much about the man but now she had at least a name.
Crethon spat few drops of blood aside and reached for the hand to get up but one of the trainers stopped them in action. "Let him get up on his own!" He ordered. "There will be no one to take care of you on the battlefield." The elderly veteran glanced over all the other young lads Crethon was training with, until he finally rested his sharp eyes on him. "Not even after His Lordship."
The man that wanted to help him gulped and looked at him apologetically. Crethon gave him a small nod and as he stepped aside he scrambled up, hunching a little as he held his sore side.
The trainer however seemed to be satisfied. Before he could utter a new command the handsome man Anna remembered from her previous dreams entered the hall and everyone bowed their heads. Everyone except Anna.
Well…Crethon.
"Lord Orion," the trainer greeted the newcomer. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
The young man, Orion, gestured for everyone else to keep on with whatever they were doing and spoke to the veteran. They exchanged a few words and although too far for Anna to hear, she saw them glance in her direction.
The veteran nodded and Orion thanked him, leaning against one of the pillars near the entrance to the hall. The trainer passed by Anna, nodding to her. "Now the rest of you get back to work!" She heard him shout to the others behind her.
Crethon sighed and staggered slowly towards Orion. "Damn." the young man shook his head with a smile, his hazel curls dancing with the motion. "They really did a number on your face."
Crethon whipped few drops of half dried blood from under his nose and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it's for the best," he said. "Everyone is always all over me and completely ignoring you. I think it's time you got a fair shot."
Orion laughed heartily and Crethon joined in as the other man reached around his shoulders and walked him out of the training hall. "So how is the training going?" Orion asked once they were outside.
"It is slow, but we are making progress," Crethon answered honestly. "Few more years and we will be ready."
Orion sighed. "That's the problem. We don't have few more years."
Crethon looked at him, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Orion gestured to a nearby bench and they sat down, Crethon hissing as the pain in his side let itself be known. "Father consulted the oracle." He looked at Crethon sadly. "We are leaving for Syracuse once the spring comes. In summer we should arrive to Carthage."
"What?" Crethon exclaimed, both in shock and anger. "H-how…that's…that's insane! We won't be ready!"
"I know, Crethon," Orion admitted and looked down at his feet. "That's why you'll stay here."
Crethon was at a loss of words for a moment. "S-stay?"
Orion nodded. "Father will put you in charge once we leave. When we are gone you will be the Governor Elect. Father needs you here to make sure the senate will keep up the training of more troops as well as of your arcane gifted friends. You know, in case that this won't be the last crusade—"
"This won't be the last crusade, Orion!" Crethon cut him off angrily. "I told both you and father that you can't win this by strength of arms alone. The Carthaginians had thrice the numbers we have and they still lost, you will only be bringing more men to the slaughter."
"The Romans agreed to join us," Orion explained, an austere expression on his face. "They promised four legions to aid the liberation force that will land on the shores of Carthage, with two more on the way."
Crethon stayed silent for a moment, processing the news. "Carthage? I thought the liberation force was supposed to land at Thapsus in lower Africa?"
Orion sighed. "We received a message yesterday. Thapsus fell a month ago. They reckoned that by the time this message would arrive Carthage would be already under siege." The young man looked sadly at his brother. "You see now why we have to act?"
Crethon sat there, both sad and angry from the helplessness he felt. "The casualties will still be massive, Orion," he spoke softly.
"Not as much as if they would get should the enemy land on the mainland," Orion argued. "You know this Crethon."
Crethon sighed and hanged his head. "I just…I want to help."
Orion put a hand on his shoulder. "And you will. You need to take care of our city states while we are gone. If we fail you will be the one to lead our people," the young man locked eyes with Crethon. "Can you do that brother?"
Crethon nodded sadly. "Yes…I can."
"Anna." The redhead jolted awake as John shook her. "Time to wake up."
"Already?" Anna questioned, finding the time elapsed impossibly short.
John chuckled. "Anna the session was as long as always."
The redhead frowned and sat up on the bed. "Y-yeah," she acknowledged after a look at the clock. "It just flew by so quickly."
John stood up with a smile. "Well you will more again tomorrow, but this is enough for today."
Anna hummed in an agreement and after wishing each other goodnight, the sorcerer departed, leaving the redhead alone. Anna sat there, pondering about what she saw and experienced again, considering if she should use the crystal again.
But like sign from some higher power, mere moments after she was left alone the stone lit up the same way as when she first used it on her own. Anna frowned. There was no wonder she was worried to use it on her own again but her own curiosity made her decision way too easy.
Anna saw a clear change of scenery when she entered Crethon's memories again. The trees, previously sporting leafs of various colors were now lush green and even the grass had gain back its bright complexion. Spring was no doubt in full swing.
Crethon was overlooking a port, filled with a massive fleet of ships and hundreds if not thousands of people, mostly soldier, boarding it and loading supplies, weapons and other necessities on board.
Orion was standing by his side, wearing a proper chest plate over his military tunic and holding a helmet under his arm. "So this is it, huh?" Crethon breathed out and looked over his brother from head to toe. "Look at you, a proper soldier."
Orion smirked smugly and struck a victorious pose. "Am I not? Beware fair maids overseas for I am coming for you."
Crethon snickered and shook his head. "Hopefully the military life will finally wipe that damn grin of your face."
"You wish," Orion grinned in defiance and hugged his brother, the embrace feeling far tighter and longer this time. "Don't worry," Orion said and pulled back while still resting his hands on his brother's shoulders. "I will be back before you know it."
"You better," Crethon laughed, playfully punching his brother in the shoulder. "You better—"
"Orion!" Both brothers turned to their father who was passing by them on a horse. The thick beard that covered his face looked almost too casual for his ornamented armor over his luxurious tunic. "Get yourself on my ship, we are leaving in an hour."
Orion nodded and Crethon timidly looked his father in the eye. The old man stared at him for a moment with a stern expression before prompting his horse and leaving them both behind. Crethon hanged his head with a small sigh.
Orion put a hand on his brother's shoulder in consolation. "Father still loves you Crethon." He glanced at the figure of their father getting smaller in the distance. "He will remember it once we come back."
Crethon gave his brother a small smile. "I think this is a goodbye then, brother."
Orion smiled. "Until we see each other again."
Crethon gave him a nod and his smile widened. "You better come back, because if you die not even Hades will be able to shelter you from my wrath."
Both brothers laughed heartily, knowing full well this might be the last time they see each other and with only a sad nod Orion was on his way, leaving Crethon alone at the edge of the harbor, overlooking the ships until they left. And until they disappeared over the horizon.
The next events were a blur for Anna. She experienced increased intensity in Crethon's training as well as his rather successful managing of the senate and his governing duties. The amount of time Crethon spent working on his duties or training made Anna question if he even slept.
The beating he took during his fighting lessons would be enough to kill a normal person but no matter how many times he was beaten down, the Greek would always rise again, though sometimes he could barely walk several days after, his tenacity was admirable.
After some time he stopped training with his comrades as the elder trainer decided to give him his personal attention. For an old man Anna would never have guessed he could be so agile and swift. It seemed as though all the months or years of training Crethon had gone through were starting all over again as the trainer brought him to the ground every time in matter of moments.
This continued for a long time, Crethon trying to balance his duties and his ever more intense training but to Anna's amazement he managed quite well. He reminded her of Elsa in that aspect.
Elsa!
Anna bolted awake, fully realizing she had completely lost herself in the memories for gods knew how long. It was still dark out but winter was almost at their doorstep so that didn't reveal her much. The candle on her nightstand however, was completely melted into a puddle of wax.
Oh Gods.
The stone in Anna's hand still glowed brightly and so she got up from the bed and walked with it to the pendulum clock. It was almost three quarters past five in the morning. The redhead cursed under her breath for how much time she had wasted again. She had about an hour worth of sleep left before she was expected in the library.
This will be a tough day. Anna thought before putting the stone away and burying her head into the pillows, the soreness of her body just now catching up with her and were it not for her extreme exhaustion she would have quite the trouble falling asleep.
Her curiosity however, was still not satisfied.
This would continue on for some time. After every session Anna would continue to use the stone on her own, reliving Crethon's memories of ruling and training with both sword and spells. The experience was so alluring however that Anna would lose her track of time in most cases, leaving her with little rest before her daily duties.
Even though she did it with the thought of Elsa's wellbeing in mind, Anna was reluctant to admit to herself that she had grown addicted to wonders the memory stone provided. After two weeks though, the lack of proper rest was starting to wear the ever energetic redhead down.
"Girl. Girl wake up," master librarian Yrvick shook Anna's shoulder.
Anna raised her head from the book she fell asleep on, the open page sticking to the wet corner of her mouth. "Huh? Hmm mhmm," she mumbled in her disorientation and puffed to get the paper out of her face. She straightened on the chair and stretched, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
Master Yrvick shook his head. "Girl I don't like this," he commented with a worried voice. "If the job tires you this much maybe you should go easier on yourself. Come every other day perhaps?"
"W-what?" Anna rubbed her aching temples before she finally processed the sentence. "Oh! N-no, no no! I can manage!" She insisted, the thought of the old worrying that he was the reason why she was so tired stinging her at hear.
The old librarian hummed in agreement, though he seemed far from satisfied. "Very well, but you go rest now. I can finish it up here for today."
At any other occasion Anna would refuse to leave the old man to take care of everything himself but at that moment the thought of her soft bed was too tempting to pass up. She thanked the librarian and promised she'd do better tomorrow and with that she was off to her chambers to enjoy some much needed sleep.
Kai frowned at the passed out redhead behind the desk. He knew international agreements weren't exactly entertaining topic but until recently his pupil always did her best to pay attention. "Miss Anna," he cleared his throat, making the redhead jerk awake. "I realize this may not be the most thrilling subject but if you pleased tried to focus."
Anna covered her mouth and yawned deeply. "I'm so sorry Kai, what were you saying?"
Kai sighed, almost sure this entire lecture was useless. "How about we try a practical example instead? Just to see if you can use what you've learned so far." He presented Anna with a detailed scroll, filled with numbers, letters and other symbols of importance.
"This is document detailing out trade with Denmark concerning our export of timber for their ships. Now timber is a recourse we have a vast supply of and a commodity the Danish would gladly buy more of. However as you can see on the page, we are already at the maximum export rate we can muster. We simply don't have enough people to man the trade ships or enough ships themselves to provide increased deliveries. Now think about the issue and how you'd solve it."
Anna brought the scroll closer to her eyes and glanced over the hundreds of letters and complex numbers detailing the quantity of material, ships, time that it takes to deliver, costs of the wages they paid the crew of the ships and for the ships themselves as well as their maintenance.
At first glance it made her head spun, but as she thought about the issue further something clicked in her head. The years of experience she gathered thanks to the memory stone and the knowledge of all the necessary things she needed to know that Kai worked hard to hammer in her head suddenly connected.
"Why don't we let the Danish to take care of the shipments themselves?" She offered.
Kai perked his eyebrow in question. "I beg your pardon miss?"
"Well Denmark has one of the biggest fleets in northern Europa, right? We could offer an agreement for providing them with any extra timber they would like to buy from us as long as they commit their own ships and crew to retrieve it."
Anna scratched her head and glanced over the numbers detailing the amount of material Denmark requested on top of the amount already being delivered monthly. "They are interested in quite a sufficient amount. We could probably give them a discount on all timber they deliver themselves to make the deal more attractive. Not only will we profit from the amount sold but we won't need to worry about the costs of building new ships and hiring new crewmen."
Kai palmed his chin in thought. He had not expect such an elaborate plan to come from the young girl. This has been a thinking exercise, exactly the same as the one he presented young Elsa with when she was still an unexperienced princess. And even though the young princess was bright enough to figure several ways of how to make the building of more ships and gathering more people to man them more cost effective, she had not come up with a proposition such as this.
"That's…that's actually brilliant, miss Anna."
"R-really?" Anna couldn't believe her ears. The idea sounded good in her head but in most cases that was just her imagination making it seem cleverer than it really was.
"Indeed it is," Kai tapped his chin for the last time. "I think we can dismiss today's lecture early. I have quite the business proposition to discuss with Her Majesty."
"Kai told me the idea you came up with today," Elsa told her beloved as she ran her fingers through her red locks.
"Uhm, huh?" Anna shifted and shook her head, waking up from the half slumber Elsa's gentle caressing of her head put her under. She agreed with John to skip their session tonight, she just wanted to rest. "He d-did?"
"Of course, silly." Elsa smirked and ran her palm over the redhead's freckled cheek. "When he proposed the idea to me he did not shy away from mentioning the one that quite possibly might have helped us fill the crown's coffers for several years to come."
A soft kiss landed on Anna's nose as Elsa leaned over her, showering her flushed face with her sparkly blonde hair. "I-it really wasn't that much," Anna gulped, her face red. "Just a spur of the moment really."
Elsa smiled at her beloved's modesty. "Well nevertheless you have the kingdom and me a great service. So tell me." The blonde leaned over the redhead again, perking her eyebrows in a sensual way. "How can your queen reward you for your services?"
Anna's eyes grew wide as Elsa came closer and closer and subconsciously parted her lips to receive a kiss she knew was coming.
Anna.
A voice that felt like a whisper on the wind sounded in Anna's mind, coming seemingly from nowhere yet everywhere. The surprised redhead bolted up in shock only to knock her forehead with Elsa's. She did know what the voice was, where it came from or if it was there at all but those thoughts were pushed aside when Elsa reacted to her outburst.
"Oh! Anna!" Elsa jerked back in equal surprise and rubbed her forehead.
"Gods, Elsa I-I'm so sorry!" Anna quickly crawled to her side rubbing her beloved's arm lovingly, as in asking for forgiveness.
"Its fine Anna," Elsa sighed and placed her hand on Anna's to stop her from caressing her arm. "It's you I am worried about."
"Oh don't worry about me, doctor Helbert said I have a thick skull, remember?" Anna chuckled to relief some of the sour mood that fell over them.
"No it's not that," Elsa shook her head and locked her eyes with Anna. "Is everything alright Anna?"
"W-what?" Anna stuttered in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Elsa sighed and gently grabbed Anna's hands in her own. "You have been so…distant these last couple of days. Master Yrvick visited me today. He said that this past week or two you weren't yourself, that you are constantly tired and exhausted. And Kai has told me a similar story."
Anna gazed down, turning her eyes away from Elsa's in shame. Shame of herself for keeping the truth away from Elsa. The blonde continued however. "We have barely had time to see each other since Spirits' Eve, every time I have someone fetch you to have lunch with me they return without you and tell me you are sleeping."
Elsa cupped Anna's cheek and raised her head so their eyes could meet. "Anna is something going on? Are your studies exhausting you? You know you can tell me anything."
Anna, teary-eyed, look into Elsa's eyes. She didn't want to come clean with what she had been keeping from her all this time, but she did not want to lie anymore either. "I'm sorry Elsa," the redhead whispered meekly. "This is something I have to take care of on my own."
The tiniest shimmer of glimmered in Elsa's eyes, her hurt expression being enough to tear Anna's heart apart. "And I am sorry you can't trust me enough to tell me everything."
"Gods Elsa," Anna hugged the blonde close, small tears rolling down her cheeks. "I-it's not like that, it's just…umm—"
Anna.
The redhead shook her head as the voice from before returned, louder than the first time. This time she was sure it wasn't something she imagined. Elsa pulled back from the embrace as Anna stiffened, worriedly examining her stunned face. "Anna?" She asked caressing her cheek gently. "Are you alright?"
"I-I…" The redhead stuttered, unsure what to even say.
Anna!
The voice was clearer and more forceful this time, echoing like a multitude of different voices all at once calling within the young girl's head. Anna recoiled by shutting her eyes tightly and covering her ears.
What's happening?
"Anna!" Elsa cupped the redhead's cheeks and ran her thumbs over them, trying to calm the younger girl down. "Anna what's wrong?! Tell me!" The blonde begged her love desperately.
Come back.
"I…" Anna breathed out and opened her now teary eyes, witnessing the same terrified sight on the face of her beloved.
Come back!
Anna understood the message. "I-I need to go!" She tore away from Elsa's grasp and stumbled in her nightgown of the bed.
"What? Where? Anna you are scarring me!" Elsa called after her desperately.
Anna stopped for a moment, torn between disobeying the voices screaming in her head and hurting her beloved. "I-I'm sorry Elsa," she whispered facing the door, not having the courage to look her beloved in the eye. "I'll explain everything later, I promise." And with that she ran back through the darken halls of the castle to her chambers.
The voices in her head were getting almost deafening when Anna finally nearly ripped out the drawer. As soon as she reached the once again brightly glowing crystal however, they all stopped. Anna relieved yet still frightened slammed her head down on the pillows with a deep sigh, her heart pounding in her chest.
What the hell just happened?
She wondered and looked at the stone in her hand. There was now no denying that this is what the voices wanted her to do. Anna was terrified beyond belief right now but she was more afraid what would happen if she disobeyed the voices.
A quick thought came to mind about asking John for help but that would mean coming clean about disobeying his direct instruction and betraying the trust he had placed into her. No. This was her mess and she would get through it on her own. And so with heavy heart Anna's mind returned to the times so long ago.
Crethon stood among the other people in the harbor, staring off into the distance for the incoming ships. He wasn't the only one expecting the return of their loved ones. He received a message few weeks ago from Orion about his return, yet still he came into the harbor every day, hoping this day would be the one his father and brother returned.
Four years. Four years was a long time. Yet right now it felt like it was just yesterday that his brother left. Either way, Crethon could not wait to see him. He smiled when the first ship landed in the harbor and to the cheering of everyone around his brother, the social paragon he was, waved to everyone since the ship first entered the port. It was quite the distance, but Crethon could still see that his brother's lush curls were now gone, replaced with clean military cut. His face however was draped in a thick beard.
"Ho, my countrymen!" He called out to them, waiting for them to quiet down so he could speak. "The crusade is over," he then exclaimed. "We had won!" He announced proudly and threw his fist up in the air, the people filling the harbor following his example with a thunderous cheer.
"Our victory was toughly achieved, bought with Greek blood and bravery and both of those were shed by many of your loved ones, among them my father, your Governor Elect Nicos of Athens." Sour silence fell over the crowd as well as Crethon. This news he had not known.
He did not have particularly great relationship with his late father, but his death moved him nonetheless. Perhaps it was the hope that one day he could repair the relationship with his father that had now been crushed that made such an impact on him. Or the fact that he never at least reconciled with his father before he died.
"But his sacrifice was not in vain! And we pushed the Hordes of Unlight back into the desert!" Orion's proclamation as well as a loud cheer from the crowd ripped Crethon from his deep thoughts.
Orion waited for the cheers to quiet down before continuing. "Though we had won a great victory my countrymen, I am sad to say that the great enemy is not yet utterly defeated." A wave of alarmed gasps and whispers swept through the crowd.
"Why have you come back then?" Somebody from the crowd shouted angrily.
"Yeah! Why haven't you stayed and finished the job?" Another one joined in.
"What have we sent our men to die for?" A large group of people shouted in agreement. "And why should we send more to die in someone else's war?"
Crethon watched Orion throughout the ordeal and even from this far away he could see the anger draping his face. "Why have we come back you ask?" He called out to the crowd and jumped off of the ship on the wooden port.
"Why don't you ask the rest of the men that sailed with me to protect you?" Orion strode towards the crowd, the people slowly getting out his way. "Why don't you ask them why we haven't stayed?" His burning gaze made anyone it landed on turn their eyes away. "Why don't you ask them why only tenth of those who left returned?"
Deep silence fell over the crowd, broken only by the soft blowing of the sea breeze and light splashing of the waves against the shore. "We haven't left to fight some distant war in some far away land," Orion continued, glancing around him for anyone that might try to defy his words.
"We left to face an enemy that seeks to devour the world. We haven't fought a war for someone else's people, but a war concerns the fate of the living. Not just those across the sea, but us as well and Romans, Persians, Egyptians, Macedonians, the barbarian tribes to the north…if we do not unite and face this threat, who will protect us if the Hordes of Unlight cross the sea?"
He turned and pointed in someone in the crowd. "Will it be you?" The man paled and gulped, everyone around him backing away from him. "Or you?" Orion pointed at someone else. "Or you?" He dropped his arm by his side when he received the same answer.
"No, you won't. And neither will I. Because hear me my countrymen when I say that if the great enemy comes for you, you will have no time to hide your women. Or pull your children to cry. Even in the moment of your death will you find no comfort, for our enemy grows stronger with our every loss.
I do not ask you all to come with me when the time comes. I am just asking those that won't, to not stop those brave ones that will. You may think this a war of some foreign people far away across the sea, but know this my country men, if they lose, we all do." With that Orion made his way through the crowd, everyone backing away to make space for him.
Crethon, overlooking the crowd, set on to cross his brother's path. The rest of the people in the harbor starting welcoming the other's that returned with Orion. Both cries of joy and of sorrow could be heard that day.
"Orion!" Crethon called out to get his brother's attention once they were out of the crowd. Orion turned his head sharply, grinning and laughing when he saw who called him. The brothers met in bone crushing hug, both overjoyed to see each other for such a long time.
"I am so glad you are finally back," Crethon ended the embrace, though still keeping his hands on Orion's shoulders. For the first time in four years he could get a good look at his brother.
A multitude of small light marks and scars draped his face and neck. The most disturbing one ran from above his left eyebrow, over his now milky white left eye, all the way to the side of his cheek. The scar ran in four equally deep and wide lines, awfully similar to what would nails on a human hand leave. Or maybe not so human.
Crethon gulped at the sight, his imagination running wild with what horrors his brother faced. "Orion, you face…" Crethon pressed his fingers shakily over Orion's scarred cheek, only to have his brother frown and pull away.
"It's nice to see you too brother," Orion smiled sadly.
Crethon followed suit, cursing himself for his previous action. "Quite the speech you had there," he chuckled, deciding to change the subject.
Orion released a dry chuckle in response. "I just hope I have made them realize what is at stake, but you know I was never much of a public speaker. It was father's popularity and the respect of the people that swayed them to join the crusade. By Zeus, he was the Governor Elect for twenty seven years after he united the city states." He looked up at Crethon, doubt and fear clear in his eyes. "What chance do we have to rally the people Crethon?"
Crethon smiled, patting his brother's shoulder reassuringly. "We can do it, together."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Orion's mouth. He nodded but hanged his head low. "Listen Crethon, about father…" Crethon frowned at the words. "I am sorry you had to find out the way you did, I just…felt it wasn't something you should find out over a letter."
Crethon nodded simply. "I understand, its fine Orion."
"No, it's not," Orion gazed into his eyes. "I-I know you two haven't been on the best terms when you left, but he still loved you Crethon. I want you to know that, because now…he can't tell you himself anymore. But he did, brother. Believe me, he did."
Tears filled Crethon's eyes, tears of years of being judged and resented, now washing away the dark feelings of self-doubt and hatred. Orion hugged his brother around his shoulders. "Come, let's go home."
"H-how did he…?" Crethon asked, wiping away his tears.
"In battle," Orion responded sadly. "I don't even know how. After the last battle, on dunes of Cydamae, he just never…turned up. Whatever power makes the dead rise again there is getting stronger. The Carthaginians said that the dead are coming back to life much quicker than they did during the last crusade. Few hours is all it takes now, so we…needed to hurry."
"Orion," Crethon spoke, getting the attention of his brother. "What happened there?"
Orion stayed silent for a moment, gazing into the distance. "You were right, brother," he breathed out. "We weren't ready." Orion grew quiet for a second, taking in a shaky breath. "It was a slaughter. Every battle since we landed. And even though we haven't lost until the last battle, it seems the dead were still the winners of each and every one in the end.
Every battle was the same. The dead came as a never-ending tide, crashing against our positions and every time it seemed the battle was turning in our favor, they would retreat. But as our forces would slowly dwindle and diminish, their only grew with every dead man.
They started to raid our camps at night, only killing a few before retreating again, cutting down our forces few men at a time. The dead were just shells Crethon, nothing but bags of bone and flesh brought back to life, hurling themselves at us clawing and striking with whatever they had on hand. But there was an intelligence behind their tactics, behind every assault.
The wells in each city we reconquered were poisoned, forcing us to bring water in massive caravans from Carthage, only to have the dead rise out of the sand and ambush them on their way. We had to commit large forces to protect the caravans on their way, further slowing down our liberating efforts.
Whatever force there was behind the twisted actions of the dead, we have not had the chance to find out. When we marched on Cydaus, we were met with their largest force yet. Gods Crethon, there was so many of them. The dunes were covered with them as far as the eye could see. But that wasn't the worse part.
A sand storm came with them, unlike anything we have ever seen. It was swift and certain. It came out of nowhere and swept over us, only it didn't move away and left us all blind to the hordes of the dead that came crushing down on us.
We could barely see anything. But we could still hear it. The horrid sounds of that battle still haunt me even now." Orion closed his eyes for a few moments and took a deep breath. "We retreated, what few of us were left, and made it back to the nearest city. Our forces were utterly beaten and all the dead we left behind returned with the rest of the Hordes of Unlight to the desert.
What little chance we had before the battle was lost. The remaining year we've spend fortifying the cities we retook. The dead never returned, at least not in full force, though the raids and small incursions were still frequent.
Then we marched back to Carthage, with what few of us were left, leaving Carthaginians to fend their cities on their own. Some of us stayed, mostly sons who lost their fathers or brothers there or vice versa. We agreed that we'll return, in ten years' time we will sail back to Carthage."
Crethon's eyes widened in surprise. "Ten years?"
Orion only nodded. "Third crusade and we still weren't more than a sea beating against the rock and it had cost us dearly. Our phalanx – useless. What good are your spears when your enemies don't fear nor care if they'll impaled upon them. We need to reform our armies, modernize them, perhaps like Romans. Their legionaries had much easier time fending off the dead.
But whatever the case, our troops are only the necessary force, what we truly need is you Crethon."
Crethon met his brother's gaze. "Me?"
"How are you and your friends proceeding in mastering the arcane arts?" Orion asked.
"We are becoming quite adept I'd say," Crethon admitted. "Though we still have much to learn."
Orion nodded in acknowledgement. "That's good. I need you all to master them by the time we go back. You're skill will be the turning point in this conflict. This won't just be any crusade Crethon, we'll throw everything we have at them, but if we lose…" Orion shook his head. "We won't get another chance."
"I understand," Crethon reassured his brother. "We'll be ready, I swear."
Orion smiled happily and grabbed Crethon around the shoulders. "Glad to hear that brother. But today, we celebrate. We'll feast and drink until Helios drives his chariot beyond the Earth and back again and lay plenty of women," He leaned to Crethon and whispered with a grin. "Or maybe something else that's more to your taste?"
Crethon gulped and paled. "I-I think I'm fine with just feasting, thank you."
Orion laughed and patted his brother's back. "Don't worry brother. Father's not here anymore and I won't judge you for your…preferences." And with that the two brothers continued on their way to their home.
Anna sat in the inner courtyard of the castle, leaning hear head against hand, trying to stay awake. She had not even remembered when she went to sleep. She was woke by Kristoff few hours after lunch, knocking at her door and inviting her to watch him and Denise spar together.
To be perfectly honest to herself, she was still too tired to figure out anything else to do for today as she already missed both her time to help out in the library and Kai's lessons. She wanted to get some fresh air however and this seemed to be a good opportunity to do just that.
Once arriving at the courtyard they met John and Merida there, who were playfully sparring as well. Well, John was playfully sparring while Merida tried to beat him down with the practice sword which she wielded more like a club than a blade.
Kristoff and Denise put several different practice swords and other weapons on a nearby table, slowly going through them in their sparring. Anna meanwhile sat at the table, doing her best to keep her eyes open and John and Merida soon joined the redhead in watching the blond couple.
"Now watch this Anna," Kristoff called out to his sister.
Anna hummed in agreement, shaking her head to wake herself up from the constant snoozes she was falling into. She looked up, her tired eyes trying to stay open long enough to watch her brother. But she didn't see her brother. She saw the back of a different figure, dressed in black.
Anna squinted her eyes and realized that it was not the clothes of the figure that was black, but the burned flesh and bone that now bore the color of cold embers. Goosebumps rose at the back of Anna's neck as the figure turned to her to reveal a skeletal face, bare of flesh, with dim green light coming from the wholes where eyes and nose should be.
The redhead sat there paralyzed, her heart beating so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest. Cold sweat ran down the back of her neck and forehead as she watched the figure raise its torn up limb to point at her before it threw its head back and released a horrid shriek.
This woke Anna up from her paralysis and she bolted up from her seat, grabbing one of the practice swords that laid before at table and pointed it in the direction of the figure. "Woah, slow down there feisty pants."
Anna jerked her head at the comment, only to see Kristoff casually stand only few feet away. "Kristoff there's—" She almost shouted before looking back where the figure stood only to be met with nothing but empty part of the courtyard.
"What?" Kristoff asked, glancing between her and where she was looking at.
"I uhh…" Anna breathed out, confused, tired and scared.
"Anna, are you alright?" The redhead turned her head to the side, to see Merida's worried expression.
Anna frowned and looked once again where she saw the horrifying figure stand, only to once again be met with nothing but air. "I-I just," she put down the sword and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I just thought I saw…something."
"Well with that reaction I don't want to be there when you actually see something," Kristoff laughed to himself before he saw his sister didn't react to his comment in the slightest. "Sis?"
Anna didn't want to go through this right now. She was felt tired, scared, confused and guilty. "I-I'm sorry, I have to go," she stuttered and ran into the castle, leaving her friends dumbfounded.
The redhead rounded the corner of the first hallway and after making sure she was alone, slumped with her back against the wall to the ground. Her heart still thundered in her chest and her hands shook from the stress. She did not know what was happening to her. Everything around her was falling apart and she couldn't tell anyone. The web of lies she created was now suffocating her. She had never felt so alone.
"Anna?"
The redhead raised her head to see John standing next to her. She quickly bolted up, trying her best to seem casual. "Hey-y!" She dusted of her skirt, trying to keep her gaze down as to not reveal her puffy red eyes.
"Anna what happened out there?" The Apprentice spoke before she had any time to think of an excuse for why she was hurled up on the floor just moments ago.
"Well, as I-I said, I thought I…saw something," Anna answered unsurely, cursing herself for sounding so unconvincing.
"No, Anna," John countered so certainly it made Anna raise her watery eyes to meet his. "I saw the look in your eyes. That was not a look or mild surprise or shock. I've seen it many times before, the look of pure terror. You wouldn't have reacted that way if you weren't sure the thing you thought you saw was definitely there."
Anna gulped as John took one step closer. "Anna have you been using the memory stone on your own?"
The redhead's eyes widened at the unexpected question. "I-I…" As much as she wanted to deny and oppose his question, she was far too scared and tired to continue in her lies. She wanted to end this. Anna looked down and nodded with a sniffle.
"How much?" The inquiry was cold and strict.
"F-few hours every night these past two weeks."
"Few hours?" John raised his voice slightly, though it was filled more with worry than anger. "So this is why you have been so tired lately." He shook his head. "Have you had any incident like what happened in the courtyard?"
"I-I had some strange dreams," Anna admitted. "A-and I umm, heard some voices…"
John's eyes widened slightly. "Anna this…this can't go on. The stone was never meant to be used so frequently. Your mind can't cope with such a wave of new memories, it's starting to blur them with your own. We need to stop this."
"S-stop?" Anna breathed out. She wanted help, more likely needed help, but the craving to use the stone was still present within her.
"Yes, Anna. I can still train you in combat, but I am taking back the stone. This is not because I am angry with you, but for your own safety. Gods know what would happen should this go on."
"B-but—" Anna tried to bargain, not even really knowing for what, she only knew she didn't want to give up the experiences the stone brought.
"No buts Anna. This is not even up for discussion, we are talking about your wellbeing. I am taking the stone and I suggest you go to sleep for today, you definitely need it." John turned to leave but before making his first step he glanced over his shoulder. "I am not mad at you for disobeying me, I am sad that when you needed help you didn't trust me enough to tell me."
Anna watch as the Apprentice left, teary eyed and exhausted, although with huge weight lifted from her shoulders. But even then she did not know if she could part with the stone so easily.
Anna tossed and turned in her bed for several hours now, unable to fall asleep. It was already late into the night yet even with how exhausted she was, the redhead couldn't seem to find a good rest. Anna was used to going to sleep at odd hours recently, but she knew that was not the reason for her inability to fall asleep.
She wanted the stone. No, needed it. She wanted to know more about Crethon, about the Crusades, about the Hordes of Unlight, but her longing was also much deeper than mere curiosity. It felt like a hunger in her chest that could not be sated. At least sated in any natural way. That's when she heard the voices again.
Go for it. Take it back.
Only this time Anna wasn't afraid. She got up from her bed and slowly crept towards the door and out to the hallway. She was awake for quite a while so her eyes have now been accustomed to the darkness that filled the castle walls.
She quietly inched closer and closer to the sorcerer's room and pressed her ear against the wood. She waited for a solid minute before she was sure she heard no sound of movement from within and then slowly opened the door, paying the upmost attention on not making any noise.
As she gently pushed the door open, she peered into the crack. When she saw nothing but more darkness she opened the door a little wider and slipped in. John was sleeping in his bed undisturbed by the unknown intruder and Anna was more than keen to make it stay that way.
She took a glance around the room, seeking what she came here for but found no trace of the emerald crystal. How am I supposed to find it in this mess? She thought to herself.
As soon as she did bright green light started coming from a small chest on a dresser nearby. Anna silently thanked the voices, whoever they were, and tip toed towards the chest. She tried to raise the lid but a small lock let her know she would need a key to achieve that.
There.
Anna looked across the room where the same kind of green light started coming from within a drawer in the nightstand next to John's bed. Anna gulped and crept especially slowly and carefully towards the nightstand, watching John all the while.
As she arrived to the nightstand she started to pull the drawer open painfully slowly. The wood of the nightstand scraped in its tracks and let out a slight creak. Anna froze and jerked her head in the direction of John who, luckily, wasn't disturbed by the noise.
She sighed in relief and pulled the drawer further, reaching in for the key that was lit up with the green light. The redhead then crept back to the small chest and quickly unlocked it and opened it. Grinning at the sight of the shining stone, she swiftly took it out and holding onto it, locked the chest again and returned the key where she found it.
As soon as Anna arrived to her own room she flopped on the bed and eyed the stone. The longing in her chest felt different this time. She felt as if this would be the last time she would be able to do this. If that was because of what she just did or for some other reason unknown to her that she however could still feel in her gut, she did not know. Nor cared. And squeezing her hand around the stone tightly she returned back where she left off the previously.
The next chapter will be a massive one, possible split into two parts after I finish it. Depending on how busy I'll be and if I find someone to beta for me I could hopefully get it out in 2-3 weeks. Bear with me friends.