The Gift From Poseidon: When Gods Walked Among Us (Volume 2) (16 page)

Twelve centuries later, King Avestan, allied with the legendary Nubian Centaur, Kheiron.  Once again, Arachna played a large part in the ruin of yet another Sapien army.  This alliance of Centaurs and Arachna still happily stood.  No debt to speak of, generous dividends continued to flow between the two sides.

*****

A few days later, Zarathustra received word that many dozens of Mermaids cloaked in the same crimson red had already begun to shadow the twenty or so medics spread between the two cities of the West.  Just as Diedrika had promised.  He shared the worries of Achaemenes in regards to this, but such cerebral empathy did not last long.  The weeks passed quickly, he journeyed to Lacanesia as he said he would, and the molding of Alexander’s son began.

Adamarcus took to his teachings with the vigor of a starving bear locked in a hall flooded with honey.  Zarathustra’s goal was simple, yet sweeping: Transform the gifted young Centaur into a brilliant polymath with no peer whose name would become known in every corner of Terra Australis.

Studies with Sapiens to come a few years later
– beware Witch Queen!  Not all of us are so fooled by your bewitching pleasantries.  Adamarcus unleashed, he just might uncover a few secrets your conniving self and sneaky companion would rather keep hidden.  And if he does not do so on his own, with the young Centaur’s help, THIS historian surely will.

“The princess is our reward for becoming so majestic!” Mermaids gasp in one way or another upon seeing Evagoria for the first time.  “Poseidon has delivered this grand gift to not just our queen and her husband, but to us all!  Touched by the god of the sea – how else to explain such a precious treasure?” others crow.  As to whether the myths that tell of such a story in regards to my Evagoria contain even a sliver of truth, I have not the answer.  And even if I did, I would be the greatest of fools to tell another.  An outcome suiting my needs so splendidly – true or not – who am I to deny such beliefs?

– Diedrika, Mermaid Queen

– Mid-Spring, Year 4,253 KT
[14]

Diedrika watched over Evagoria as she slept.  Having just returned from fetching hot tea, Theodoric was now at her side.  Thirteen and a half years in the making, when the princess awoke next, she would take her first step upon the path to queenship.

Although wary of heights, curiously, Evagoria had chosen for her bedchamber the highest point in the tallest tower of the palace.  As if they were twin serpents, two sweeping Kauri wood ramps wound around the octagon-shaped tower encased in polished lapis lazuli.  Although the palace was set to the rear of Atagartis, a sweeping view of the east was still visible.  And it was in
this
direction, through a large open window, Diedrika now turned her gaze.

“Even though they are far away,” she said softly to both her husband and sleeping daughter, “I can see them as if they stand close.  And as I watch them, Alexander and Achaemenes watch me.  With much less clarity, of course!  Their eyes are wary, wandering, on the verge of weeping,” Diedrika breathed in deep, “and this greatly comforts me.”

Just as she had intended, the Centaurs and Arachna did indeed notice the flurry of activity to their west.  It would have been impossible not to.  With the decline of Sapiens, two mighty powers now dominated Terra Australis – East and West.  Rattled by the great strides Mermaids and Gryphons had made the last decade, spies recently reported that the Alpha Centauri had urged the rulers of the East to step up their own military efforts.

Was it possible Centaurs had finally found a use for the three blind fools?

Such preparations more than pleased the Arachna, of course.  Happy to oblige, in truth, Diedrika could not have cared less.  Although relations between Mermaids and Centaurs were never more than lukewarm, there had yet to be an open conflict between the two sides.  This held true for now, but relations could always change.  Fail to meet the demands at the tip of her tongue yet to be spoken; in the end, no amount of training would matter as countless waves of wrath and warriors alike overwhelmed the East.

Diedrika took a few sips of her tea and set the cup down.  She then stroked Evagoria’s hair for many moments before she spoke again.

“Her hair kissed by the warmest rays of the sun, eyes of the deepest ocean blue … my babe sleeps soundly before me.  Tomorrow her first day of studies, all will stare open-mouthed at her radiance.”

Soon after birth, all realized that Evagoria was different from other Mermaids.  Living not only today, but
ever
.  Hair as if spun from the purest gold with sparkling blue eyes – no Mermaid born in two millennia owned anything other than a shade of reddish hair and green eyes.  And of course, there was the diamond-shaped birthmark only the god of the sea could have left behind.

Diedrika would never bear another –
what would be the point?

No matter how warm Evagoria’s glow shined upon a brother or sister her mother refused her, a cold shadow would forever bath this sibling in a darkness impossible to escape.  Diedrika’s own brothers, Betrugen and Verrator, perfect examples, to inflict such a burden onto another would be almost cruel.

Diedrika raised her head and again looked east.

“Our beloved daughter, ready to make her presence known – there are now two us to be mindful of.  Our Gift from Poseidon, a princess with no peer … Evagoria will eclipse this Queen Mother in every way.  She will do what I can only dream, will become what I can only hope to be,” Diedrika wrapped her arms around Theodoric’s left one, “or she will die trying.”

These words spoken, Diedrika could feel her husband shiver.  Theodoric was a strong, handsome Mermaid, but was neither the strongest nor most handsome of suitors from long ago.  One quality, however, made Theodoric quite the rare Mermaid: Although of the nobility, unlike most young nobles, his status among his peers was more an afterthought than an obsession.  A bit of a curious choice to some at the time, he owned a calm, subtle confidence.  Diedrika genuinely loved and valued her husband, but this reign was hers and hers alone.  To keep away distractions she had neither the time nor energy for, this loving marriage of unequals was perfect.

Diedrika rubbed Theodoric’s toned arm and smiled upon feeling goose bumps.  Even after fifteen years of marriage, her words could still do this to him.  Even after fifteen years of marriage, she loved that she could still so easily do so.

“Come, Theodoric,” she told him in a soft voice.  “The first
true
day of Evagoria’s life to start at first light upon the morn, let us leave her be.”

Hand in hand, they glided onto the balcony that overlooked the sea.  Theodoric closed and locked the doors behind them.  A brilliant moon lighting their way in the darkness, waves crashing gently below, sweet smells of the sea breathed in – the sensuous streak she kept hidden far too often begged her to set it free.  Diedrika nothing more than an all-powerful queen of the greatest species in their world….

Who was she to deny such a plea?

She kissed her husband softly on the cheek and gently scraped her fingernails along the side of his other cheek.  Theodoric shivered even more, but now for the right reason.  Elegant fingers traced circles about his lips.  She then ran the underside of a single fingernail across the top edge of his lower teeth.

“A new world about to take its very first steps alongside those of our daughter – the coming age will be unlike all others.”  Diedrika leaned into Theodoric and pushed his ear against her mouth.  “Take me into your arms, my dear husband, and prepare me for it.”

As she focuses on another, I focus on her.  This ‘another’ is a noble adversary and worthy of her hand, but I have a sizeable advantage.  Undeserved and unexpected, yes, but this advantage is something a clever rival would be mad to dismiss.  This Centaur may be many things, but mad is not one of them.  At least not yet.  And just how did I come about my advantage?  By nothing more than her presence, a dear friend I have yet to meet, and who has never met me, has unknowingly, yet kindly, provided it.

– Fu Xi, Huaxia Centaur

– Mid-Spring, Year 4,253 KT
[15]

In so many ways, this day was the same as every other first day of fair-weather teachings.  And in one major way, this day was entirely different.  Of great interest to near all was the arrival of a certain first-year Mermaid student.  Of great interest to one was the arrival of a fellow Huaxia who had stolen Fu Xi’s heart, but did not yet know it.

A shining morning sun bathed the gardens behind the Great Repository of Knowledge in both light and warmth.  It was here where the first, second, and third-year students now gathered.  Fourth and fifth-years inside the repository, the smallest group made up of sixth-years led by Marseea were in sight, but sat tucked away in a far off corner of the gardens.

“Gather round, gather round,” Komnena ordered, “and take your seats on the grass.”  A small number of tutors rotating often, the Sapien historian would teach the youngest group today.

Centaurs and Arachna came together on one side of the group while Mermaids and Gryphons sat on the other side.  A stone pathway that wandered around the gardens kept the two groups about a pike length apart.  Third-years to the front, second-years sat in the middle, and first-years sat in the back.

Two large fountains and the most famous, most splendid structure in Terra Australis behind them dominated the gardens.  This marvel based in granite, constructed of bronze and gold, adorned in jewels, and drenched in water sat between the fountains.  Many students now paid as much attention to it as they did to Komnena.

“The Golden Clepsydra,” she announced after a harsh cough, “has sat majestically in that same spot for centuries, and will continue to do so long after I am finished and all of us are dead.”  Komnena’s loud, stern voice suddenly turned soft and mischievous.  “As Queen Marseea is quite eager to unleash a spell this fine morning, I would kindly suggest all eyes on me.”  Even the first-years not foolish enough to tempt their headmistress, everyone gave Komnena their full attention.

A handful of older students such as Fu Xi – he was a fourth-year – would shadow new students for the first week or so, and they now stood around the seated younger ones.  But whether standing or seated, this mattered not – all noticed the young Mermaid.  As if taking turns, Fu Xi watched each student sneak a peek at the princess.  As a first-year, Evagoria sat to the back – she no doubt noticed every pair of wandering eyes.  In the sun-drenched glory of her golden hair and piercing ice-blue eyes that could carve a heart in two, the demands of her instruction revealed the next Mermaid queen to all.

Rules, regulations, expectations, demands, so on and so forth; Komnena droned on and on without pause for what felt like forever.  The instructors expected a great deal from their students.  As they paid a hefty sum each year for these teachings, noble parents held high expectations for the instructors as well.

“This needed introduction,” Komnena finished, “beyond a doubt the most boring part of our first day for tutor and learner alike – it is time for a break!  Up and be gone, young vagabonds of noble blood, up and be gone!”  She looked in the direction of the Golden Clepsydra.  “In a mid-turn we will return here and begin our initial studies.”

As many months had passed since most returning students last saw each other, every one of them joyfully leapt up and did as told.

During this break, Fu Xi gazed upon a most curious Huaxia Centauress.  She was hopelessly awkward, yet at the same time, owned a sweet elegance.  In a slow, sly manner, Fu Xi drew near the one who fascinated him in a way another did the same to her.  Alas, Yishuo gazed not his way, but toward Adamarcus.  Like Evagoria, this was also Yishuo’s first day of Sapien teachings.  Unlike Evagoria, however, she did not capture Adamarcus’ attention.  He instead focused on the Mermaid princess now lounging next to a fountain by herself.  Taharqa and Persepolis stood to each side of their Aeropid friend and gawked with him.

“
Typical
Mermaid
,” Yishuo seethed as she stomped in place.  Her voice was somewhat deeper than one would expect from a fourteen-year-old.  “Sunning at a fountain all by herself – I guess she is just too good for the rest of us!”  Huffing and puffing, Yishuo threw her arms over her chest and looked down.  She then squealed in delight.  Standing a couple pike lengths behind her, Fu Xi looked down as well – quite the opposite of Yishuo, he very much
did not
like what he saw.

An eight-legged, brilliantly colored creature with claws like a tiny lobster and a narrow, upright tail curved inward crawled near Yishuo’s left front hoof.  Adoring the slimiest of creepy critters as a youngling does baby bunnies; the wispy Centauress unwisely scooped it up and pranced happily in Adamarcus’ direction.  Very unhappily, Fu Xi followed.

“Look, Adamarcus,
look
!” Yishuo gasped in her most engaging voice.  “Come see!  Come see!  It’s so pretty.”  She flashed him an inviting smile and set her wide, endearing eyes normally beset with sadness on his.  Long, flowing, perfectly straight black hair shaped her demure, now hopeful face.  “It’s for you!  Do you like it?”

Fu Xi slid to Persepolis’ right side.  The greenish-yellow scorpion angrily walked up and down Yishuo’s sleeveless arm.  As it did so, the four friends stared in disbelief at both it and its oversized pinchers snapping wildly.

“Um, sure – that – uh, very pretty,” Adamarcus stammered.  He took a step back as if afraid it would leap at him.

“Yishuo, scorpions can be dangerous …
very dangerous
,” Fu Xi cautioned in a calm, steady voice the exact opposite of his racing heart.  His hair just as dark and nearly as long as Yishuo’s, he tugged nervously at the topknot keeping it taught.  “Many of those we see in Lacanesia are not poisonous, but I have never seen
that
kind before.  It might be a good idea to put it down.”

Yishuo ignored this caution and allowed the creature to scurry up and down her forearm.  When it crawled close to her hand or elbow, she brought her other forearm close and the scorpion continued on it.  Yishuo did this repeatedly and appeared to feel no fear while doing so.  Taking great joy in this, she flashed Fu Xi her most charming look.  The next moment, every speck of this cheery charisma vanished.

“Ouch!  Help! 
Ouch!
” she whimpered sharply.

Yishuo now marched in place from the sudden pain and breathed in sharp gasps with stunned, hurtful eyes.  Both of the scorpion’s pinchers had clamped onto the skin of her bare forearm.

“Someone
please
help me!”  Streaming tears quickly stained her scrunched face.

Fu Xi grabbed Yishuo’s arm and tried to keep it steady.  Having no clue as what to do, his three friends stood frozen in place and did nothing.  In truth, Fu Xi had no idea how to help either.  He did not know how to unclamp this tiny terror hurting the one he craved to protect, but he knew exactly what it meant when a scorpion arched its back and raised its tail high.  Not thinking of himself, with his left hand holding her left wrist, Fu Xi thrust his right hand atop Yishuo’s forearm – right where the scorpion sought to sting her.

“AAAAAAHHHHHH!”  With this piercing cry and his head whipped back to the sky, Fu Xi buckled to his knees.  Its stinger still embedded in the top of Fu Xi’s hand, the scorpion swung widely by its tail.  With the help of the other hand holding his trembling wrist, he forced the throbbing hand to the ground.

His eyes near blinded by the pain, Fu Xi more heard than saw Komnena rush toward him.  Because it feared her or was simply happy to be close to the grass again, the scorpion dislodged its stinger and scampered off.  After a few moments, the three friends and Komnena helped Fu Xi to his feet.  Sweat poured off him and he began to shake wildly.  Although there was now more than one of her, he saw Yishuo cover her face with her hands.  Her foolish attempt to convince Adamarcus to share the same feelings she had for him had failed.

Advantage, Fu Xi!

“Penthesilea,” Komnena gasped, “has healed many a sting such as this.  She will know what to do.”

Adamarcus and Taharqa gave Fu Xi a squeeze of his arm and a couple of pats on the back.  Melanippe had come over just after her mother did and now helped to steady Fu Xi on one side while Komnena did the same on the other.  As Yishuo took her first steps to follow, she peeked back in Adamarcus’ direction, but he did not return her gaze.  Disgraced tears flushed into her remorseful, almond-shaped eyes.  Fu Xi watching this through his own stinging eyes, he would have grinned if not in so much pain.

Advantage, Fu Xi!

Yishuo followed behind Komnena, Melanippe, and Fu Xi in the same way a harshly scolded youngling would.  He repeatedly looked back at her.  As if she bore a heavy weight of shame across her shoulders and around her neck, her head hung low.  Her steps somber and her whimpers weak, most times that Fu Xi peeked back at Yishuo, she was looking to her rear as well.  In a heartless manner only she felt and that Adamarcus was wholly unaware of – Evagoria was again in his sights – he refused to throw even the slightest glance her way.  The few times Fu Xi and Yishuo’s eyes did meet, she whispered to him how sorry she was.

Advantage, Fu Xi!

“That colorful scorpion, Mother,” Melanippe said softly, “I believe it is quite poisonous.  Maybe even the most poisonous of them all.  Along with Penth’s potions, I think we might need medics as well.”

Fu Xi ready to collapse upon hearing these words, only Yishuo’s soft, warm hand now rubbing his back kept him from doing so.  Close to the repository’s doors, Komnena sent Melanippe off to find an Arachna medic.  Out of jealousy, anger, or both, Yishuo took Melanippe’s place and wrapped her arms in his left one.  This suited Fu Xi just fine – as long as he did not die from the scorpion sting completely her fault, of course.  Certainty of wretched sickness, likelihood of sweat drenched nights, possibility of death, with a bit of luck, Yishuo shamed into nursing him back to health.…

Advantage, Fu Xi!

*****

Fu Xi’s father was a fine Centaur, but it was his mother, Nüwa, who taught him the ways of the world.  For reasons she had yet to tell him, both the Chiron and his wife, Carolinica, adored Yishuo.  Already with two young ones of their own – Adamarcus and Ixchelene – they treated this one as if a third.  And this was most likely why Fu Xi’s mother adored Yishuo as well.  Her parents of meager means could never afford Sapien instruction and never had to try; Alexander’s charity – in both money and power – granted Yishuo a place among them.

“Seeds she was born with,” Nüwa tried to explain to Fu Xi more than once, “have finally gathered properly.  The time is now at hand for them to march the delicate flower Yishuo is into the onset of womanhood.  Today, she is unable to understand this fully, but she will someday.  And when that day comes, one lucky Centaur will thank the gods for the greatest of gifts.”

Fu Xi understood this – at least he told his seventeen-year-old self he did – but in some ways, many ways, these words helped little.  Yishuo was just so
different
.  Her body for the most part moved in the right direction, but her mind often refused to follow.  Fifteen years old come summer, Yishuo still cradled tight a youthful disposition and mindset more suited to a Centauress years her junior.  All this was true, yet of all the young Centaurs that Fu Xi knew of, only Adamarcus owned a mind more capable than her curious one.

Clumsy when standing still, Yishuo was pure magnificence when in a full sprint.  If there was a faster Centauress in all of Lacanesia, Fu Xi had never heard of her.  Another pocket of wonder sewn into his heart each time their eyes met, these many oddities simply made the threads stronger.

Casual friends for years, a season ago, Fu Xi’s feelings for Yishuo smashed into him harder than a Yeturi’s mighty swipe.  Why he had yet to admit his feelings for her ––

Yes, that’s it – he was still in a hazy daze from this smack!

At least that was the story his mind stuck to when his heart pleaded for him to do so.  But things had now changed.  Fu Xi’s advantage secure….

Had the time come to reveal such feelings?