Chapter Ten: Watersgate

"There it is the wall." The driver says as he stops the carriage. After weeks of traveling, Iolene has mostly healed from her cold, eagerly leaves the carriage. Coughs as it is the only part of the cold that remains.

The massive wall can be seen over the hills, as the driver explains to everyone its old history. Even though Stein and Mali already knew from their own historical studies. "Constructed years ago, when the Orange Emperor Dakarai V invaded the Light-Blue Empire. They were defeated when Gold and White's emergency forces drove them back. However, it was too late as many villages and farms burned. Lives were lost which led to the famine that later killed thousands. As a future fail-safe King Montu Rivers and Lord Sethos Caspian commissioned the wall to separate the two nations. It was a massive task and took almost ten years to complete. The golden gate is made from pure gold draconium and has stood strong without fail. For not only it is the only entry and exit, but it also creates a massive gold draconium barrier. Gifted by the gold Empire to improve their alliance it is highly engineered, with machinations and magic."

The group looks on, in admiration of its structure. Even though the wall showed its age, some cracks and moss can be seen even from a long distance away. The Caspian castle is a unique design as it is part of the wall. Nothing like the Aquarius palace seashell design it is practical, with most of its architecture absorbed into the wall of ancient bricks.

Beneath the massive structure, the large town of a hundred thousand souls lives. At first, was only military personnel. Now it is a town like many others.

Aaron couldn't help but feel indifferent. He folds his arms and swallows hard. He never thought he would return here… Having a quick thought of running away. But run away to where? He needs to be with Mali to take a ship to Ramel across the sea. He hid discontent enough on the way here. Hopefully, no one notices, and his father's family pretends that he doesn't exist...

He unfolds his arms and swings them nervously. Him feeling a gentle grasp on his left hand. Iolene held his hand gently. Looking into Aaron's eyes, Iolene couldn't help but see his sorrow. It was quiet between the two before they notice everyone has walked forward. Iolene walked at a fast pace as Aaron lagged last behind. Him being slow enough he lets go of her hand as he pauses again.

Aaron's eyes water as he inched closer to the town. He had to continue too on… To see him… His father… Knowing he will not be welcomed. Aaron thinks he should stay in the wilderness. But he will need to exit through the gate anyway… Confrontation is inevitable.

"Wow…" Fred feigning surprise. "You call that a wall?" He jests. "I've seen bigger at home."

"Do you ever shut up?" Lexi replies. Counting the minutes when Fred leaves them.

"It's an ancient wall, Fred. It may not be the most beautiful structure. But it has held for a thousand years." Mali says. Turning around seeing Aaron look at the wall still lagging behind everyone. Iolene waited patiently for him every step of the way.

Beau notices Aaron's behaviour as he stops walking. He faces Iymp. "Why is Aaron acting so weird?" The disguised gold dragon asks as he can feel a twinge of sadness in his heart that is not his own. He wished he could ask Aaron what is wrong. But he could not communicate since he does not speak human.

"I overheard Mali mentioning this is Aaron's first home," Iymp says in dragon tongue.

Beau looks at Aaron. He has never seen him in such a state… Like a scared little child who is afraid of his parents. Beau related to him. For his own father, Tyrannous never approved of him, as he was called the weak pup. Which was true… He could never beat Ironclad in a battle of strength. Ironclad is larger, stronger, and faster than Beau ever thought he will be. His scars on his back are a constant reminder of that night and the humans helped to fend Ironclad off in Unmei. Thinking of his brother he wondered where he is. Is his father, mother, and sister surviving fine in the wilderness? Did they find a safe haven to live in?

The gates to the town are already open as the fish markets are in full swing. Iolene wanted to be excited to return, but Aaron…

The horrid smell of fish and seaweed cursed everyone's noses. With Lexi remarking the barrier should prioritize keeping the smells out. With everyone laughing and agreeing.

"Aaron… Take a deep breath then steps forward. You will bat fine!" Iolene whispers, it's not much to say… But what else is there to say? She tucks a loose strand of hair from his fringe behind his ear. Aaron nods as he takes a step forward one after another. His legs felt wobbly as his body just wanted to collapse and cease to function. Iolene urges him on being his strength and soon Mali joins with her. Both encourage Aaron as they edge closer to the fortress.

Walking past the Shrimp hub, the poor part of town. Iolene notices it is where the poorest live in tiny mud huts, with blankets scattered everywhere. A man rests in the middle of the road. Iolene fearing him dead checks his pulse and wakes him up. He attacks her in a drunken rage as Stein stabilises the homeless grouch. Iolene gives him a bag of food as an apology. He happily takes it and walks away.

In time they reach wealthier parts of town. Cod Row and Caviar Road. Where they are brick buildings and mansions.

"What is it with this country and Fish!?" Fred questions over and over.

"This coming from a man, who lives in a country that has Iron Road as its wealthy lot." Lexi laughs.

"Yes, but it's not stupid fish! We mine Iron and many metals that are not draconium. So, it makes sense." Fred retorts.

"Very grey and dull…" Mali remarks on the lack of colour of the town. Even the overcast sky was overwhelmingly blasé.

The castle looks exactly the same as when Aaron was taken away. The courtyard was always dirt and mud with very few patches of grass. Only making a garden out of a few trees that children can climb. Aaron remembers, he always tried and failed to climb the trees. Only to get yelled at by the kennel master to return to work, which he did dutifully, after a good hard belt on the buttocks. He shudders at the memory. The kennel master is probably still alive, drinking his life away.

Aaron then spots the window where he used a rope to climb out of Iolene's window. He smiles softly for a moment and then has a quick look at Iolene. She looks nervous but he did not know why.

Iolene kneels to Mali and whispers. "Mali… I do not think it is wise to take him inside." As Iolene has a flashback of a particular moment in the two weeks she was here. Aaron's brothers were not kind to him… They were cruel, beyond it... I never should have said he will be okay. It was foolish. Alphonse may have grown up and could be polite enough. But Hugo... She thought worried.

They approach the entrance which is a massive wooden door. Aaron's heart raced as he began to sweat and shake from anxiety. Him asking for a moment as he rushed around a nearby dude bush to vomit his breakfast. The guards ask for each individual name and Aaron blatantly lies using a different name as Stein chastises him. Revealing his real name.

"Don't lie!" Stein says annoyed at him. "There is no point lying..."

He does not understand. Aaron thought as his mind spirals into despair. Aaron when he was little, was forbidden to enter the castle without permission. Even though he dreamed to stay within its walls. Where it was warmer and safe. The doors creak open as the guards use all their strength to open them. The group follows a guard through the dim and bleak hallway. Not the most beautiful castle as they clearly focused on making it a fortress.

"I don't see a gold gate… Where is it?" Fred asks.

"The golden gate is beneath the castle," Stein replies.

Mali stops and looks up at a large painting in the main hall. "My goodness, Aaron… When Prince Murray said you look like your father, he was not kidding!" The small man says surprisingly. Much to Aaron's immense displeasure.

The painting shows Teryn Caspian in his younger years. Tanned skin, black hair, handsome with a defined jawline, looking gallant in his light blue decorative armour. A man that made the women and men swoon… Mali thinks that Aaron could easily be mistaken for his twin if they were close in age.

"I know…" Is all Aaron says defeated, as people here despised him for it. Especially the Lady of Watersgate Lady Sedna. Aaron remembered clear as day of how much she hated him. Every look he received from her was only contempt and disdain. He didn't blame her in the slightest… Her honour was tarnished. Being his second wife, after the well-loved Lady Coventina. She had much to live up to. Aaron rethinks his younger thoughts of Sedna. She was unhappy as her husband did not love her as a husband should. He had an affair, with a young woman who looked like Coventina.

Although Aaron wished the blame was on his father not him or his mother. His mother was publicly humiliated and shamed by her own family. He does not even know his mother's side of the family. Since she never spoke of them, by refusing to answer the questions Aaron gave. But all he knew his mother was young just older than Iolene. The much older Teryn chose to sleep with his mother and gave her his seed. Aaron will resent him forever because of it.

The high hall looked smaller than what Aaron remembers. Him just thinking it was because he was a little boy, he has gotten taller since that day. Sconces and a large fire pit lit the dim hall as there is no natural light in the room. Aaron admires the stained glass windows that are lit up by candlelight. One of the windows shows Teryn, his wife, and two sons standing in front of a meadow. The other is Teryns dragon Tethys, a dragon he only heard by name. But it looked like him from the painting.

"Stein… Why does the high hall have no real windows?" Lei asks. He could not think of anything worse than having no light of the sun. The beauty here is scarce as he judged. No colour… Nothing much to break the monotony except for the stained glass fake windows and a few paintings.

"We are in the center of the wall; it is a bit like a bunker…" Stein says.

"Could use a vase of flowers at least…" Lei jests.

Stein smirks at Lei's suggestion.

The guard announces everyone's presence including Aaron.

The eldest Caspian son Alberto sat on the highchair. To everyone's surprise. Where is the Lord's father? It perplexed Aaron to see Alberto older, as he will be twenty-two. Alberto sits with perfect posture. Him looking like his mother. Brown-haired with brown eyes. Only inheriting his father's jawline and charming smile. He greeted them happily while reading the letter written by Murray.

His priest Rio Arno stands next to his lord like a statue. Aaron saddened that the priesthood saved his life is no longer in Watersgate. The old man Calder… He was the only man who spoke to Aaron as a person. Even though he only spoke to him when he was not around his charge. He was nice enough to him that Aaron respected him. Aaron could not help but wonder where the old man went.

Aaron hoped that Alberto will not notice him and still is silent hiding behind Lei and Lexi. Even though he is a head taller than both of them.

Alberto happily greets each dragon and person one by one. Shaking the hands of Mali and Stein.

"If I knew a prince was coming. I would have prepared for a party. You are extremely far from home." Alberto says excitedly to Lei. "A Blue Prince here!" As Alberto stays as calm as he can. But one detail Lei notices he does not bow. But then he is not Alberto's prince.

"It is not necessary, my Lord. I am here to help Iolene on her journey." Lei says politely as Alberto moves on.

"A red priestess! Another one far from home." Alberto says as he kisses her hand, her nodding in reply.

Iolene is last in line as Alberto smiles greatly. "My lady you have indeed grown up to be a beauty!" As the lord gently kisses her hand. Iolene blushed as Aaron felt an intense anger flare up inside him. As the two speak playfully of when she was last here. The same feeling appeared when she played with his brothers instead of him every now and then, but especially unknowingly on his day.

Aaron steps forward revealing himself entirely. The laughter stops as Alberto has a long look at him.

"Bastard!" He says seething.

The dragons are dumbfounded. Beau looked at Aaron and tilted his head. Aaron bows to Alberto. But it was not enough to ease the tension.

"Get out!" Alberto demanded sounding vicious. As guards come to their lord's aid.

Lexi taken aback wanted to beat the disgruntled lord. Bastards are not as frowned upon in the Red Empire. Depending on the family it can be shameful. But the Bastard can move on and still live a fulfilling life. Whereas she noticed in Light-Blue country bastards are terrible omens.

Aaron felt sick as his stomach, even though he already emptied it. Trying to hold his emotions together as he wanted to hide and cry…

Mali, Stein, Lei, and Iolene race to Aaron's aid. Iolene grabbed the lord's arm in a quick move of desperation. "Please, Lord Alberto!" She pleads. "He brings no harm! He is here to help Mali and me."

"No harm!? His mere existence causes problems as history has perfectly taught us! Oh, Lady Iolene. Still defending him… Bastards are well known to have traitorous natures…" Alberto says. "Right at this moment my father rests on his deathbed! You taunt your existence to come back here! What do you want? Land? Money? HOW DARE YOU!" The lord clenched his right hand as Iolene held it.

Mali walks closer to the Lord calmly. Swaying his arms, he takes a deep breath and sighs. "I am sorry about your father my Lord, for we did not know. But Aaron is not here to try and claim anything from you. He is to journey with me to Dominus Sahara. Aaron has not lived with your family for years; he is by definition a guest and has hospitality right."

The young lord grunts as he grinds his teeth.

"Or shall we discuss this with the royal family?" Mali continues confidently. "I believe your family is already in enough trouble for abetting the underground slave trade…"

The Lord shakes off Iolenes grip and sits back on his chair. As his priest leans over to whisper in his ear.

Alberto sighs annoyed. "Very well… I shall have servants show you to your rooms…" With a finger motion, a group of servants arrives for each of the group including the dragons. They will be shown to their individual stables as dragons don't have rooms in the castle.

Everyone begins to turn and leave as Alberto shouts for Aaron's attention. The bastard turns and looks at him. Alberto relaxed his face for a moment. "Bastard… Be aware of Hugo…"

Aaron nods as he walks out of the throne room, holding Iolene's hand.

"That could have been worse, could have been better…" Mali says relieved. "There has been political action against Teryn as of late. Murray relayed information about the underground slave trade… Selling Aaron is a punishable offense by imprisonment. But since hearing that Teryn is sick… Not much they can really do. Which must be why he has not been taken all this time."

"They can still imprison him!" Iolene says angrily.

"Iolene…" Aaron whispers to calm her down.

One by one everyone is shown to their rooms, they all unpack and get themselves comfortable. Leaving Aaron for last he gets the smallest closet. One hay mattress as brooms and buckets filled the room. Aaron scoffs at his nonsurprise. Mali sighs as he stands behind him.

"I am going to demand that lord give you an actual room!" Mali says offended that his voice sounds low and defiant.

"Mali, no… There is no need to make a fuss." Aaron says as he accepted the circumstances.

"Every reason to make a fuss. You deserve more than this." Mali says outright as he shows glimpses of anger.

"Mali… We are not going to be here long. We will be sailing away in a few days. I don't want to cause more fuss to the family."

"Alright then…" Mali said annoyed turning to leave the room. Pausing as he looks back at Aaron. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do?" He asks with genuine sincerity.

Aaron shakes his head not saying a word. Mali uses all his willpower to not piss off the Caspian family. Decides to leave it be, it is after all up to Aaron.

The young man lays on the hay staring up at the ceiling. As thunder can be heard loud above the castle.