Chapter 12 The Star of Thoth
Just a little over a month after Percival was laid to rest in the royal catacombs, and Herrick’s disappearance in the depths of the Atlantic was consigned to oblivion, Alexander was crowned as the new Alpha King of Augurria on the night of the rose moon, the first full moon of summer.
It wasn’t a bad omen.
But when the star of Thoth appeared to move backwards in the night sky, native folks believed in taking caution.
And Aeon wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. She begged to stay behind as Berion and Phaedra left to join the citizens gathered at the village square for a night of revelry in honor of Alexander.
After Diego had left, she had waited for his promised visit at the shed each night at twilight, but he hadn’t showed up. Perhaps he never will.
The evening sun cast its golden hues over the tranquil marshes as Aeon sat on the banks, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Her loyal companion, Socrates, sat faithfully by her side, his head resting on her lap. Aeon’s tear-stained cheeks glistened in the fading light as she stared out into the marshes, their silent serenity contrasting sharply with the storm brewing within her.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one echoing her sadness, regret, and fear. She wondered if Diego had forgotten about her, if their bond had faded away like footprints in the sand. Her heart ached at the possibility that their connection, once so strong, had been reduced to mere memories.
“Hey, Soc, what do you think?” she said, stroking the fur on the hound’s neck. “Perhaps what they say is true, after all— women cannot always rely on the words of men, for they only bring tears and heartache.”
Socrates let out a whimper.
“Maybe he had met a Lycaon woman… one who shares his sophistication and intelligence. Someone who’s got golden hair, braided neatly with a charming pin, with tendrils perfectly framing her beautiful face… and wore elegant dresses that were meticulously pressed… and smells like a bed of roses even when she sweats…”
Socrates jerked and stared at her. A low growl escaped his bared teeth.
“I shouldn’t have trusted him so easily, right?” she hissed. “What if he was just stringing me along because he needed help with planning his escape and vengeance? Maybe he drew me in because he only wanted to use me… and I was a fool to fall for it.”
Regret washed over her like a tidal wave, and she bowed her head, her fingers gently brushing against Socrates’ fur. Doubts crept into her thoughts, whispering of secrets she might have revealed to him, secrets that should have remained locked away— the cave in the cliffs… the wormholes. Anxiety gnawed at her, whispering tales of the consequences that might have befallen him because of her careless words. The weight of guilt bore down on her, threatening to crush her spirit.
“What if something bad had happened to him? What if the soldiers had caught him? What if he’s dead?”
The tears streamed down her cheeks, marking her vulnerability in the solitude of the marshes. She imagined worst-case scenarios, fearing that Diego had stumbled into danger or met an untimely fate. Or had simply forgotten about her. The unknown gnawed at her, fueling her anguish, making her question if their connection was as strong as she had believed.
Fear and sadness gripped at her, tightening its hold with each passing moment. The thought of Diego in danger haunted her. Visions of him lost in the abyss of uncertainty or worse, succumbing to the finality of death. Her chest tightened, and her breaths became shallow as her mind conjured up vivid images of a life without him. The pain of imagining such a void in her world was unbearable.
As her hope began to waver, a flicker of movement caught her eye.
Socrates bolted from her lap and stood at the banks, barking. From the shadows emerged a figure, slowly making its way towards her.
A mix of disbelief and relief surged through Aeon’s veins as she realized it was Diego. Her heart skipped a beat, and a choked sob escaped her lips.
Socrates perked up, sensing her sudden change of emotions.
Weariness etched into Diego’s face as he approached, the fading light casting a soft glow on his features.
Aeon’s tears transformed into a bittersweet smile, a mixture of joy and frustration. In that moment, she wanted to embrace him and demand an explanation, yet the overwhelming relief held her back.
Diego stopped in front of her, his eyes meeting hers, filled with an apology that words alone could not express.
Aeon’s voice trembled as she managed to utter, “You— you came.”
His voice, laden with regret, trembled. “I’m so sorry, Aeon. I didn’t mean to worry you. Circumstances threw unexpected obstacles in my path, but I never forgot about my promise. I think about you all the time.”
Aeon’s emotions surged forth, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. She fell into his arms, her tears mixing with the evening mist.
Socrates, sensing the rekindling of their spirits, wagged his tail, his presence a reminder of the loyalty and unwavering love that anchored them.
In that embrace, doubts and fears melted away, replaced by the warmth of their connection. Aeon knew that they would have to face some challenges that lay ahead, but for now, in the soft glow of twilight, they found solace in each other’s arms.
“Did you make it to the cave safely?” she asked.
“Yes, I did… thank you for showing me the way. It was perfect,” he said.
“I waited every night at the shed—”
“Forgive me… I didn’t mean to renege on my promise… but I ran into some setbacks at the castle—”
Her eyes widened. “You went to the castle? Isn’t that the very place where you shouldn’t be?”
“I know… but I can’t help it… I had to find out what was going on—”
“Frack! You went there to spy? Are you out of your mind? You could have been caught—”
“Shh… keep your voice down. I was being careful… no one recognized me in my ragged clothes and threadbare cloak,” he chuckled.
She ran a finger under his chin. “You’ve grown out your beard, I see… but it didn’t fool me.”
“Because you’ve seen me very recently… most of the people in the castle hadn’t laid eyes on me for years. I was just a lanky teenager when I left the shores of Augurria.”
“Alright… you look unscathed,” she said, letting out a sigh of relief. “So, what did you find out?”
“First, I visited the late alpha king’s sarcophagus in the catacombs to pay my respects, then went on my way to scout every room in the castle. I crept silently through the secret passageways within the walls of the castle— unknown to most of the people in there.”
“Then how come you knew about it?”
“Um… Herrick told me.”
“He must really have trusted you,” she said.
“I guess he did…”
“Did you hear anything? I mean— murmurs about what happened to Prince Herrick? There must be someone in the castle— someone must know something— the truth.”
“No… I heard no mention of his name or whatever talk about what happened to the ship. It seemed as if the whole thing never happened… and Herrick never existed. Alexander’s coronation kept everyone occupied.”
“That’s outrageous! How could they go on with the coronation without honoring Prince Herrick’s death? Isn’t that a bit suspicious?”
“I’m sure it is… but nobody seemed bothered by it.”
“Alexander was crowned as the new alpha king today…”
“Yeah… I thought you’d be at the square. Every village square in the entire realm is decked out for celebrating the new king.”
“Berion and my mother went… Berion looked enthusiastic, but my mother went with him just to keep appearances. I know for sure she wasn’t too keen on celebrating.”
“And you?”
“I wasn’t in the mood for anything… except to mope in self-pity and try my best to erase all the memories I have of you—”
“Why did you want to do that?”
“Because I thought you’ve forgotten about me— I thought you may have found someone else—”
“Never. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Aeon…” he said, planting a tender kiss on her forehead. “But didn’t it ever cross your mind that I might have been in danger?”
“Ooh… I have played horrible scenarios in my mind, too numerous to count… and they all end up with a vision of you in all manner of dying. I saw your severed head on a spike, I saw you hanged from a tree, I saw you bleeding to death with a sword buried in your chest, I saw you—”
“Alright, that’s enough… I get it,” he said, blowing a harsh breath. “I didn’t go through any of that… but when I was about to leave the castle through the catacombs, I was held back by the presence of workers, along with some soldiers. They were building another sarcophagus… for Herrick… I couldn’t risk being caught. So, I had to stay put in those narrow passageways for three more days.”
She gasped. “Three days? How did you sleep? How did you eat?”
“I had no problem snatching some food in the kitchens… but on the third day… while I thought I’ve become an expert thief, Kieva, the head cook, caught me sneaking…”
“Frack! What happened?”
“Well, I apologized… but she quickly recognized me as Herrick’s friend. And good thing, there was no one else in the kitchen at the time… so we talked for a while. She said I could count on her not saying a word of it to anyone—”
“Did you tell her about Prince Herrick and what happened to you in the ship?”
“Yes… I was surprised to hear she already suspected that’s what actually happened. So, she told me about a group of people who supported the same theory and are planning a revolt.”
“Are you joining their cause?”
“We share the same cause, right? I’d be a fool not to,” he chuckled. “That’s what further delayed my visit, though… I’m sorry…”
“So, what happened? Did you meet with these people?”
“Yes… they met clandestinely in the cellars of a rambling monastery at the foot of Beaver Hills, north of the Capital. Kieva gave me a horse I could use to get there. Lucky me.”
“Ooh… thank goodness. I’m glad to hear there are still a few who believed there’s hope for the kingdom.”
“My sentiments, exactly… that’s why I’ll be spending more time and focusing my efforts in helping this group. They’re the army I needed,” he said, shifting his gaze. “That would also mean I probably can’t make it to the shed as often as I want…”
“That’s— that’s quite alright. I understand. You have to attend to the more important things…”
“I am doing this for the good of the realm… for the future of Augurria… that includes you, Aeon. I want a better future for us.”
“Do what you must… and I shall be patiently waiting for you… whenever that’s possible.”
The rhythmic chirping of crickets and the gentle rustle of tall grass provided a symphony of nature’s embrace.
Aeon’s heart danced with anticipation as she watched Diego, his silhouette etched against the backdrop of the marshes. There was an undeniable connection between them, a magnetic pull that had drawn them together amidst the raw beauty of the Everglades.
Diego turned to Aeon, his eyes shimmering with affection. The amber hues of the fading daylight seemed to mirror the warmth of their burgeoning desire. Wordlessly, he extended his hand, inviting her to join him in a silent dance of intimacy.
With a soft smile, Aeon reached out, her fingers interlacing with his. The touch sent a spark of electricity surging through their veins, a gentle reminder of the fiery passion that lay dormant within them.
They strolled along the marshes, their steps blending with the harmonious chorus of nature. The air was heavy with the fragrance of wildflowers, each scent whispering secrets of untamed passion. Aeon could feel the tension building, the unspoken longing that lingered between them, ready to unfurl like a fragile bud blooming into a resplendent flower.
As they found a secluded spot beneath a gnarled cypress tree, Diego pulled Aeon gently into his embrace. His arms wrapped around her, creating a cocoon of safety and desire. Their bodies pressed together, a symphony of heat and yearning intertwining.
Aeon tilted her head, her gaze meeting Diego’s in a moment that transcended words. Their eyes spoke volumes, conveying emotions too profound for simple phrases. In that lingering gaze, they found solace, vulnerability, and an unspoken promise of shared ecstasy.
The air crackled with anticipation as their lips melded. The soft brush of their breaths mingled, mirroring the intoxicating dance of their hearts. Their mouths met, a gentle exploration that spoke of tenderness and longing, their souls dancing in unison.
With every caress and delicate touch, Aeon and Diego discovered each other’s secrets, their hands mapping the contours of their flesh. They reveled in the exquisite vulnerability of their bodies, sweetly surrendering.
Her moans blended with the whistling breeze. His groans drowned by the burbling waters in the stream.
As the nightfall draped its velvety curtain around them, Aeon and Diego lay entwined, their bodies basking in the afterglow of their passion. The moonlight casting a gentle glow upon their naked bodies entangled in the dance.
In that tender moment, amidst the wild beauty of the Everglades, Aeon and Diego discovered a love that transcended words—a love spoken through the language of longing glances, lingering touches, and the intimate connection of their souls.
But just as they parted, and Aeon watching him disappear into the darkness, a gentle wind blew, rustling through the leaves in the trees, whispering in her ear an ominous warning.
“You will not see him for a while, Aeon… for you shall go through a darkness yourself, into the belly of the dragon.”