Disclaimer: I own nothing except the gender bender of Ianthe and the alterations in the storyline plot that come with it to various readers amusement all over the globe.
The Heroic Legend Of Ianthe Chapter 8
Ianthe can't deny she is partially impressed with the Lusitanian on how he's handled himself during this entire escape attempt with her as a hostage. They've gotten as far as the ramparts now on the edge of Ecbatana.
The soldiers were relentless in their pursuit in order to rescue the Princess, Daryun now having joined the chase.
"To the west rampart! Get the rat!"
"Your Highness," shouted Daryun, running at full speed, carrying his bow and arrows.
"Daryun," called Ianthe, yelping as she almost tripped over her feet when the Lusitanian gave her a rough tug on the arm.
Jogging up the stairs to the very top of the wall, the Lusitanian said "Run faster!"
"Forgive me if I can't. These skirts make it extremely difficult," spat Ianthe, sarcastically, lifting her skirts slightly around the feet so she doesn't slip and break her delicate neck.
Even if Ianthe could it's completely pointless now.
There's nowhere left to run on the parapet.
The two are now surrounded on all sides by soldiers.
The Lusitanian boy refuses to yield.
Grabbing Ianthe in a headlock he holds the blade threateningly to her neck, yelling for all to hear "Back off! You want to keep her in one piece, don't you?"
The soldiers are slowly closing in inch by inch. That excuse of his won't work for much longer and the Lusitanian boy knows it. He only has one other due course left to actually take if he hoped to get out of this with his head still intact. He just has to take it.
"Looks like we're done running, rich girl," said the Lusitanian, begrudgingly, breathing heavily.
Calmly, Ianthe reasoned "Just surrender yourself. There's no need for you to die."
The Lusitanian boy promptly releases his grip on her making Ianthe assume he's going to finally do so, but that's not even close.
Spinning on his feet the Lusitanian boy leaps through an opening on the wall, jumping off on the other side. That's not all he does. The Lusitanian snatches Ianthe by the back of her dress dragging her along with him.
"What," gasped Ianthe, releasing a terrified scream.
"No," exclaimed the soldiers.
"Your Highness," exclaims Daryun.
At this point Daryun was actually close enough to try and reach for Ianthe, but his fingers missed taking hold of her hand by mere centimeters. All of them can only watch helplessly as Ianthe plummets to what supposedly is her death.
Or so they think.
In their shared distress the soldiers momentarily forgot about the moat around the perimeter walls.
Ianthe and the Lusitanian boy tumble and spin in the air crashing into the calms waters of the deep moat below.
There are exclamations of surprise from the people currently on the ground opposite of the walls.
"Something fall?"
A bunch of the commoners rush over to the edge of the water to assist the ones who'd fallen in back onto solid ground.
The Lusitanian boy surfaced first swimming to the hands extended down with broad strokes.
Ianthe had yet to surface.
Fearing the worst, Daryun said "Where is she?!"
At that exact moment Ianthe's head pushed out of the water as she gasps for air. The reason why Ianthe had taken so long to come up is because her dress had been weighing her down almost causing her to drown as it pulls her ever closer to the bottom. She was then required to hastily remove the garment leaving her completely unclothed now.
Ianthe clung to a small rock formation in the moat as she catches her breath.
Scanning the wall for her friend, waving up at him to show she is for the mostly unharmed, Ianthe said "Daryun!"
Daryun's body loses its rigidness. He smiles and nods in her direction.
The Lusitanian boy has made it out of the water, concerned onlookers asking how he fairs. It's Ianthe's turn. Ianthe learned to swim long ago so she easily shortens the distance. The same people who assisted the Lusitanian boy now pulled her out of the moat, too. They quickly realized that Ianthe is naked so a couple of women are the ones who pull her out and cover her with a warm and dry blanket, large enough when wrapped makes it appear like a dress. It's not exactly idea, but for modesty's sake it's satisfactory enough.
The Lusitanian boy is not about to wait around to get captured. Now that he's actually outside the city he doesn't need Ianthe anymore. Shoving passed pedestrians in the crowd the Lusitanian boy mounts a horse tied to a nearby watering trough, cutting it loose with his stolen blade as he makes a break for freedom.
That's Lusitanian stubbornness for you. It's hard not to admire them for that endearing quality in light of all their faults.
"Hey! He's stealing that horse!"
"Get back here, horse thief!"
"Stop him!"
The telltale familiar noise to the string of a bow being strung had Ianthe wheeling around to find Daryun knocking an arrow.
He's going to shoot down the boy!
"Daryun," exclaimed Ianthe, running out into the open in order to draw his attention to her, clutching the blanket to her chest.
The common folk try to stop her, but it's futile.
"Don't shoot him! Daryun, please," begs Ianthe, tears glistening in her eyes from the sunset.
Daryun's eyes flashed and he launched the arrow.
"No," yelled Ianthe.
The arrow bulleted directly for the Lusitanian's back.
But instead of implanting itself through the boy's heart the arrow struck the horses back leg. The horses legs buckled beneath it and it tumbled. The Lusitanian boy then rolled hard into the dirt where soldiers ware waiting to apprehend him. The Lusitanian put up a fight, but it's all for naught. He's done. Karma certainly has been laid out full in his predicament.
Ianthe then drops to her knees, hand pressed over a rapidly beating heart as she signs in relief. The Lusitanian boy will live. She aims a look filled to the brim with gratitude towards Daryun over her shoulder. Daryun is an expert marksman, he's never been known to ever miss a target. So there's a strong indication that Daryun redirected his arrow at the last second in light of Ianthe's pleas to spare the kid.
A ring of Guardsmen now form circle around Ianthe for protection while she dries off. A handful of women assist Ianthe into a borrowed robe that would be delivered by a servant in the palace back to its rightful owner later on.
The robe had just been properly arranged on Ianthe when Daryun arrived.
"I'm here, Princess Ianthe. Are you injured," said Daryun, attentively.
"Daryun," said Ianthe, softly. "I'm unharmed."
Staring in contempt at the direction the Lusitanian boy had been taken to, Daryun said "I don't understand why you stopped me from shooting the little rat."
Running a hand through her wet hair to help it dry faster in the cooling night air, Ianthe said "He's only a child."
"A child that kidnaped and took you hostage," argued Daryun. "He's punishment will be death anyway."
Arms crossed, smiling at him in a playful manner, Ianthe said "If you wanted him dead then you would've shot him instead of the horse. I know you, Daryun. You missed that shot on purpose."
Found out, Daryun chuckled "Very well, Your Highness. Should anyone ask, we'll say the sun was in my eyes."
Ianthe laughed good naturedly at his fumble.
Ecbatana citizens are overjoyed to learn their sovereign princess is safe.
"What an adventure. Thank goodness she's all right."
"Captured by an escape slave and dragged throughout the city?"
"It's a wonder she survived?"
"What was she doing down there in the first place? It's improper for her to be in that sort of setting."
The Guardsmen bow to Ianthe as Daryun begins to escort her away back behind the city walls.
"You must be more careful with that royal neck of yours. Had things gone differently, you might've had it broken today," said Daryun, seeing it as his duty to lecture her.
"You make it sound worse than it was, but, yes, I understand," acknowledged Ianthe.
Once inside the gates Ianthe is presented with the perpetrators behind how the Lusitanian prisoner became unbound from his cage.
The three boys that had been at the Lusitanian's mercy and with them now are their parents.
Standing at attention and saluting in respect to her, the Pars Soldier said "Your Royal Highness! We've captured the miscreants whose actions led to the prisoner's escape."
The three boys grunt as they're shoved to the ground, trembling in outright fear. They're crying like crazy, fearing for their lives.
"Your Highness!"
"We're sorry for what we did!"
The parents are overwrought with horror of their children's actions and try desperately to save them, beseeching Ianthe to show them mercy.
"Please forgive the little ones, Highness! We beg you!"
"Punish us instead!"
"They're only boys, Highness! They didn't mean anything by it, I swear!"
Not tolerating this at all, scathingly, he Pars Soldier said "Fools! Her Highnesses wellbeing was threatened because of what those three did."
Softening, Ianthe said "Yes. Release them now, please."
"Do what? Don't be ridic-," said the Pars Soldier, cutting off as he sees who he's speaking to. "Oh! Your Highness!"
Waving aside his apologies Ianthe walks forward to stand over the accused. All are nervous that Ianthe will call for their heads as punishment as other monarchs has done before.
Fortunate for them that is not Ianthe's way of handling stuff like this.
"No harm came to anyone. See to it immediately," ordered Ianthe.
"Yes, Ma'am," said the Pars Soldiers in unification.
The three boys and their parents bow low to Ianthe with their foreheads pressed to the dirt as Ianthe and Daryun continue on their journey back to the palace.
The children and parents are sobbing uncontrollably at their good fortune. The kids so grateful that they vowed to enlist and join the cavalry to serve the Crown once they're old enough. It warms Ianthe's heart.
Daryun smiles, used to seeing the affect Ianthe has on people when she does stunts like this.
Even at this time of day when the sun wanes and night scrawls over the sky the markets are still bustling with life and activity.
Seeing it unseemly for Ianthe to walk the remainder of the way, Daryun said "I'll get you a horse."
As Ianthe stands there with a Guardsman for company she thinks over the words the Lusitanian had told her during his rampage. A lot of the things he told her was a lot different then what her tutors have mentioned during lessons. She'll have to have a little chat with them about that in order to make sure they don't leave anything out for now on or maybe check into the scrolls and books herself to read the facts.
Ianthe decides to visit the pens that held the other new Lusitanian slaves from earlier one more time. It wouldn't hurt.
As soon as Daryun returned with a horse for her to ride Ianthe commanded he take her there.
Turns out Ianthe's decision a wise choice.
No sooner had Ianthe and Daryun arrived that the Slaver and his goons were about to execute the prisoners.
"STOP! CEASE AND DESIST!"
All those responsible for this heinous disregard for life froze in their tracks.
"Y-Your Highness," stutters the Slaver, caught in the act. "Forgive me, Highness. This is no sight for royal eyes.
"Explain yourselves at once," I said, uncompromising. "I ordered these prisoners not to be harmed! Why are you killing these captives?"
"Your Highness, the actions of the slave that kidnapped you only proves how unmanageable these captives can be. We don't want that in our stock so they need to be put down," said the Slaver, defending his and his employee's actions.
Standing beside an empty wagon to load the body's onto, The Underling said "Lusitanians are no different than wild animals, Princess. You either tame them or kill them. That simple."
"No, it's not. As your Princess I order you not to beat these captives further," said Ianthe, firmly.
"What," exclaimed both men.
The Slaver said "Princess, you can't be serious!"
"Oh I am," said Ianthe, silkily, a malevolent glare to her eyes. "If you disobey I can guarantee you won't like the consequences. Am I clear?"
The men gulped and nodded.
"That's very good," said Ianthe. "Now have a good night."
Daryun now leads Ianthe away on the borrowed horse.
As soon as they are far enough away, suspicious of her intent, Daryun said "Out with it, Princess. What are you planning? I know you. You've got something going on."
"You'll see tonight. After all you will be helping me," said Ianthe, mysteriously.
Yes, Daryun certainly does.
Late that night when everyone in the city was sleep except for the soldiers on watch Ianthe sneaks back down to the slave market with Daryun by her side. Together they broke the captive slaves out, having arranged for horses with an adequate amount of food, water, and some money to sustain their journey back to Lusitania.
The Lusitanians were hard to trust the two of them after what happened that day, especially the boy that took her hostage. But once they saw the supplies and lack of soldiers around them the Lusitanians were astonished. These prisoners would never get a chance like this again. So they took it.
One by one the Lusitanians mounted the horses.
"Safe travels to all of you. I hope you reach Lusitania," said Ianthe, authentically.
Scoffing, the Lusitanian boy said "I still think you're a fool. You're bound to get into serious trouble for letting us go."
"That's my problem to face, not yours. Now go before the soldiers realize you're missing."
Without any further prompting the Lusitanians left. By the time the sun has risen fully in the sky the Lusitanians would be long gone from the Royal Capital.
Daryun and Ianthe make their way back to the gates inside the palace where Lord Vahirz is standing by to let them back in. He'd been told what Ianthe bad been planning to do and while he might not approve of it he can understand Ianthe's reasons why. So he would let this by this one time. If King Andragoras ever discovered this excursion there would be hell to pay. So this is their little secret.
None of them are too worried about getting caught this late in the evening.
"Daryun," said Ianthe, shivering slightly from the colder night air temperature.
"Yes," said Daryun, skeptically.
"This should not have come to pass," said Ianthe, her face neutral.
"What do you mean by that," said Daryun.
"There's no need for the Lusitanian prisoners be put in a situation where they would have to die merely because of another's own actions. And that boy shouldn't have been put on the battlefield in the first place. No harm should've come to them," mused Ianthe. "Why did they have to fight? The answer is because our kingdom relies some much on slavery that it can't see any other way out. I know that there are other kingdoms out there that don't rely on slavery at all and they thrive. I want Pars to be the same way. I'm going to work hard and do my best to mold Pars into a kingdom where slavery is not law anymore. That will be my legacy."
A few second passed where Daryun is dead silent.
"Your Highness. Someday the Kingdom of Pars will be yours to rule. When that happens there's a friend of mine you might appoint. You have a great many questions and ideas. I think he may be the one to help you mold those honorable ideals into in the way you desire," said Daryun.
Curiosity piqued, Ianthe said "Oh? And who is this man? Have I met him here at Court?"
"Uh," said Daryun, alarmed. "Sorry, Highness. Simply thinking aloud. Please forget I said anything. He'd never be a proper advisor."
"Well that's not going to work. You've caught my interest now," teased Ianthe, grinning. "No matter, I suppose. My Lord Father's reign is likely to continue for decades still. I cannot even begin to imagine ascending to the throne. As long as my father is King then Pars will remain strong. So it seems it will be a while before I meet this friend of yours."
"Indeed," granted Daryun.
Ianthe chuckles at his disgruntled tone of voice. For some strange reason it amuses her.
Ianthe then leans her head back, hair flowing in the breeze after the wind rolled the top of her cloak off the top.
.
Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand
Left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in thunder
But I won't cry
And I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down
I won't be silenced
You can't keep my quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
'Cause I'll breathe when they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know I won't go speechless
Written in stone
Every rule
Every word
Centuries old and unbending
Stay in your place
Better seen and not heard
Well now that story's ending
'Cause I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try
Try to shut me and cut me down
I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless
Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No, I won't live unspoken
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless
Try to lock in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echo saying
I won't be silenced
Though you want to see me tremble when you try it
All I know it I won't go speechless
Speechless
'Cause I'll breathe when they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless
.
"I swear, when my reign comes, it will be the end of slavery in Pars forever. I will make my voice heard and no one will stop me. Not even my father," vowed Ianthe.
A vow she fully intends to keep.
However in three short years the Royal Capital of Ecbatana would be shrouded in fire and blood. Despite their attempts to stem the tide, Maryam would fall to the Lusitanian invaders and that onslaught would finally reach the Parsian border.
Pars, the year 320.
Autumn.
Crown Princess Ianthe is about to embark on her maiden battle. She is 16 years old.
Authors Note:
Wishing you all had a very satisfying 4th of July as I did this year.
Hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
I'm glad to have finally gotten back to this after such a long absence compared to some others on my profile. I've been meaning to for a while and only now I've managed to find time and inspiration for it. Still in the beginning stages, but I'm very satisfied and happy about it.
Also, the song you see Ianthe singing here does Naomi Scott perform Speechless in the newest Aladdin live action motion picture. I've been using this song in a couple of other literary works of mine because it seems to mix with a lot of the main characters.