The training camp for the soldiers of Parcis on Forum Ardorus was currently buzzing with life. Forum Ardorus southeast of the center of the city, Forum Solaria, and is where you would find the public buildings like courts and banks. It even was a gathering spot of the council of the nine kingdoms.
The sound of all the students from Marsis joined in with more experienced soldiers of the imperial army, giving the young students advice and training. It was a good opportunity for the warriors to get in contact with their future employer and get a taste for the relevian army in case they were interested in joining. It was a good profession if you wanted citizenship if you were a foreigner, and many of the young students from Domor and Dailain saw this as a good opportunity.
Sidastir on the other hand just glared at everyone dumb enough to look at him. The only one who dares to glare back was their teacher, the old veteran warrior, Sean Lamag. The old scarred covered man hit Sidastir on the shoulder, saying that he needed to actually do something or get out of the way. A comment that only made Sidastir’s mood even more sullen.
“Stop looking so damn irate! You are scaring away the recruits. Are you even focused?” Magnus said with a push to Sidastir’s back.
Narrowing his eyes, Sidastir looked over at Magnus with a suspicious look on his face. “Why do you think Akana wanted to get rid of me?”
“How would I know? But you are a horrible company,” Magnus rolled his eyes and gestured for a young man to step into the ring. He couldn’t be much older than Akana.
“What do you think of him?”
“Young, tall. Not Akana. So not interested,” said Sidastir, showing a bored face. Barely looking at the lad who had started to fight off three other students with nimble movements. Swords clang as the students faced off.
“We are not looking for a replacement for you beloved. We are looking for someone to protect him.”
“So we are trying to replace me!” exclaimed Sidastir with a sour pout.
“Exactly,” chuckled Magnus and slapped Sidastir over the head. “Focus! Mar Frisgis is from Dailain. He is just in his second year but I plan to let him take over for me next year as the new leader of the Furies.”
Sidastir was still bitter but he perused the boy. His length revealed him to be from either Dailain or Domor. The giant blood was apparent in these people, though he had dark brown hair which was rare in Dailain and Domor so he most likely had some Relevian or Patricalian blood in him. His skin was still light though, so it must have been further down the line. Mixed blood was unusual among the nobles of Dailain and Domor so he was most likely a commoner.
The boy disarmed his three opponents with skill and Sidastir could see the training of a Dailainian warrior. They were proud of their warriors, much because they looked down on magic and found honor in battle.
Mar turned to face Sidastir who peered at the boy’s unshaved face. He looked older than he was, men from Dailain always did. The grey eyes of Mar met his, and he walked over with a bright smile on his face. Magnus grabbed hold of the boy with a cheery face. “Mar! You still know how to disarm a man. Can you at least try to leave the pants up for them so they can show their face in public?”
Mar replied with a dull chuckle,” What is the fun in that? But I have to ask, you said that I would meet the new leader of the Furies, Akana den Rifabeinn. Where is he?”
And with those few words, Sidastir’s grim mood was back.
*****
Being lead up to the imperial palace, Domus Augustus, Akana was perusing the building. It was at least seventh times as large compared to his villa and the garden of Domus Augustus was filled with unnecessary sculptures, columns, and fountains.
Looking up towards the entrance, Akana spotted a relatively short woman standing between guards. All the guards were dressed in armor seemingly made out of silver. Akana could only assume that it was silver iron, considering that this is what Parcis is famous for.
The little woman, girl was perhaps more accurate since she was young, was dressed in the common relevian toga that symbolized that she was nobility. She was also covered in gold jewelry adorned with gems. The only thing that made her stand apart from the relevian noblemen was the wreath crown on her head.
The relevian wreath symbolized the imperial family. A wreath made from bronze, meant that you were related but not close to the Empress. The silver wreath was for the immediate family of the Empress, it was worn by her sons, brothers, daughters, sisters, father, and their consorts. This girl wore the golden wreath. The symbol for the Empress, her consort, and her heir, the firstborn daughter.
This girl could only be Victoria Ardor, the phoenix princess, or the current Empress, Viris Ardor. But taking her age into account, this girl must be Victoria. Akana himself wore the Eitirian tiara that was only worn by the Rial Caraid. Stella had wanted to order a golden wreath for him, but Akana had assured her that this was a symbol of power equal to the golden wreath.
“Hosper laus, Draconis,” said the girl her grey eyes perused him with open interest. Her full lips were smiling, showing her crocket teeth and her round cheeks made her look even younger. Her bronze skin was rather pale, most likely because she kept out of the sun, and the plump body revealed a life filled with rich food. It appears that the rumors of her beauty were exaggerated.
“Gratia,” Akana replied. Hoping a thank you would suffice. Apparently not, since a man appeared to Victorias right with a disgusted snort.
“Rude! You reply with the words suspecta laus or suspect laus in case your host is a man.”
The man's words were spoken in Moranian, the official language of Dailain and Domor. Akana was far better in Morianian than relevian, the official language for Relevium and Patricalum, since he had learned it before going to Eitir to meet the Frostking. He had also taken it in a course last year, so he was far more confident in his skills in that language than relevian.
“Relevian remains a mystery to me,” Akana said, perusing the rude man. He looked like Victoria, the silver wreath revealing him as closely related to him. They had the same nose and unusual grey eyes, but this man was taller though not as nearly tall as Akana, and wasn’t as curvy. His firm shape suggested that he at least trained in the art of fighting.
“That was expected. I apologize on the behalf of my brother Laus. he forgets the honor that is mentioned by the greeting. A clear sign that his name doesn’t suit him,” Victoria gave her brother a stern look, but he did not look the least bit ashamed.
Walking over to Akana, Victoria grabbed onto his face with both her hands and leaned her forehead against his. She had to drag him down for the greetings because Akana wanted to pull back, trying to keep his forehead out of reach. Laus looked like he had just been struck by lightning, staring at the two and Akana couldn’t blame him. This was the greeting for close relatives and friends. Not the greeting for two people who just met.
Akana backed away crossing his arms over his chest, a signal his Aureus Lingua taught him. It was the signal among the Relevians that you were uncomfortable with something, and a good way to say something that should not be spoken out loud in case it would offend someone. Victoria though, just laughed, clearly ignoring his discomfort and leading him inside without further notice. Almost pushing him down on the kline, in the alcove.
“Have you behold our capital yet, Draconis?” asked Victoria, never releasing Akana with her gaze. She had the appearance of a child who just got a new toy.
“I’m afraid not. My husband has taken all my attention,” Akana replied, hoping that she would get the subtle hint. Which she apparently didn’t since she leaned closer to him, not caring about his personal space.
“That won’t do! but I am satisfied that I’m will be your first… host,” Victoria said, with a smile hinting at the sexual insinuation underneath her words.
Akana tried to not roll his eyes, but he could hear Sen purr like a cat from his mind. “Be still, Sen!” Akana thought sternly towards Sen who just chuckled. Amusement came of his other self in tides.
“I’m sure his… husband is a charming barbarian,” Laus muttered, clearly trying to divert his sister’s attention to Sidastir’s existence.
Akana turned toward Laus with a slight smile on his lips which almost made Lays drop his goblet. “My husband will spend the day at the military base at Forum Solaria. I’m sure that I can send a letter encouraging him to show his charming side to you if you want to. You can teach him a few things about civilized sword fighting.”
“That sounds like a threat,” Laus eyes narrowed.
“We relevis are renowned for our arrogance. Always face an insult by bragging.” Aureus Lingua’s voice whispered in Akana’s memories.
“A threat? My husband has been to war in over a hundred years. I can with certainty say that no man is his equal in skill, but it would be a great honor for Sidastir to be taught by prince Laus,” Akana replied gently, and Victoria giggled like a little girl. “Try not to anger our ice dragons though, it would be a horrible tragedy if one of Releviums princes was eaten.”
Prince Laus’s face turned red in anger, his lips narrowing into mere slits before he snorted and walked out of the room with his head held high like he hadn’t just been insulted. Victoria leaned back, and for the first time since they met looked serious. “Though that was amusing, I must still ask something of you before I forget it.”
She made a gesture and a man stepped out of the shadows, Akana frowned not showing his surprise. He hadn’t noticed him when he had entered the room. Had the man come in after them? He looked like the guards that surrounded the area but could not be that straightforward.
The man was tall, carrying the length of a Domoran or Dailainian, but the raven hair and the brown eyes suggested mixed blood. Most likely from Relevium since the Patricali despises foreigners and the mixing of the blood was rare there. The man had scars all across large portions of his body which suggested that he had participated in battles.
“This is Alacer Nemoris. He is a mercenary we had hired as my personal guard. I would want you to take him into your household as a guard during your stay here,” Victoria said, but Akana did not think it sounded like a request. Her tone was far too stern for that.
”My husband and I want to hire guards we can trust. He is the one who will pick them.”
“Surely that is wise considering last year's incident but Alacer is loyal to me and can ensure your safety if someone in Parcis gets a more vicious plan to greet you. It would be wise to have at least one guard who actually knows the streets of Parcis and its intrigues,” said Victoria, and Alacer gave Akana a wide smile that reminded him more of a snake than a benevolent creature.
Showing no shifting emotions on his face, but he still wondered how she had gotten knowledge of last year's incident. Zhan Yuan had tried to kill him during the Experior but the Mayin had told everyone that Zhan Yuan attacked him instead of Akana in order to avoid further conflict between Akana and the Huzhidians who despised all the Auons. Though, she could mean the incident before that where Akana was beaten up and his white dragonfire was discovered. It was public knowledge today. Either way, he ensured that he showed no emotions either way.
“I still want to deny your request, but I have enough knowledge of the relevian culture to know that denying a gift is an insult to the one bestowing it. I cannot afford to deny the phoenix princess in her hometown,” Akana said, bowing his head in surrender.
“You make it sound like I’m forcing you to receive a guard. I just want to ensure that you get a pleasant stay here in Parcis,” said Victoria, her mouth pouting as she pondered the statement. “If you find it offensive, then let me compensate you. On the fifthteenth of Domorus, we are holding a festival here in Parcis. Let me take you to the festivities as compensation.”
Akana felt like this was more to her liking than his, but once again he had few options other than to agree. They spoke about trivial matters for a while before he went home, exhausted by the phoenix princess who spent most of that time flirting. It hadn’t been her first time seeing foreign royalty or an Ayon, but she still seemed quite enthralled by him.
Spending a large portion of the time avoiding her courtship, Akana could only sigh at the trouble the princess has brought him. He had no idea how to explain Alacer Nemoris to Sidastir and he could only hope that Sidastir was in a better mood than he was this morning.
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