Cassiopeia found herself in a state of true elation. Merrily chatting people washed around her like waves around the hull of a majestic black ship. Women and men in their best robes made up small spots between the sun-bleached houses. She readily absorbed everything – the exotic chant of the Al Simharan spice trader and the heavy, dizzying scent of his goods. Two women were arguing about the same piece of cloth. Some men were cheering on their friend in a fight. The sharp smell of fish, algae and sweat filled her nostrils. The sun burnt her skin. Princess Nemia’s bright voice echoed in her head. “Um, Cass?” No, that isn’t Nemia. The young warrior woke at once. “Yes, my lady?” Phyllis' big eyes flashed up at her. “Please, don't call me that when mother isn’t around. We’re friends, aren't we?.” “Right, I apologize.” The princess pointed toward the storyteller. “Do you like it?” “Oh, yes, certainly, it is… very lively.” The young woman wore Al Simharan tissues and make-up and had entranced several children with her tales. Tales of distant cities, hunters in slim boats and wondrous, large animals with enormous teeth. Her tender voice painted a picture of far-off lands in the young listeners’ heads. Lands they had never seen in their short lives and most of them never would. Giant, peeked tombs, built for kings and queens of old. The stories had a familiar ring, as if they were from another life. No wonder her mind had slowly trailed off. Now that the memories were gone, they left her soul sore. “Can we give her some of mother’s rings?,” Phyllis pleaded with large eyes. “Of course.” Cass rummaged around in the small purse at her belt and pulled out two bronze rings. The storyteller gave her a smile fit to warm up a heart on a cold winter evening. “Thank you, my lady.” Then, she continued to dedicate herself to the children. On her left, outcries of disappointment attracted Cass' attention. The warrior from the east had triumphed over another one of his challengers. The defeated man gave a howl. Cass grinned. His injuries couldn't be worse than the ones of the contenders before him. His pride, on the other hand, had taken a blow for sure. In their eagerness to excel before the eyes of the great king, these warriors were not any better than the seamen that had rumbled through the streets of Nerusa. Loud, bragging and forever drunk. That very moment, Alexander of Arythion turned to his bodyguard. “This man is fabulous, is he not?,” Cass lipread over all the excited yells. He was indeed, that, she admitted with a hint of jealousy. In awe, she watched the muscled Easterner send challenger after challenger onto the ground after dancing around them. “Would you like to have a try, my lord?” King Alexander denied with a slight movement of his hand but kept staring on when a new challenger had entered the carpet. Of course, he landed outside of it just as fast. Another man replaced him then and there. It was the king’s very own bodyguard, Simachion. He had been trained by king Serkon himself who enjoyed the reputation of being the best fighter among all the tribes. Cass did not disagree. She had watched the Dekanos train with queen Penthesilea and their daughter. None of them was good enough to match him. Like all the others before him, Simachion placed a few bronze rings in the storyteller's bowl. She smiled at him, too. Cass wondered if her mind's eye saw him defeated already. Then, he entered the carpet. The Easterner bowed and for a moment, they measured each other up. The spectators' avid betting ceased. Nobody dared to put their rings against the foreigner any more, nor would they bet against their king’s greatest warrior. Simachion’s first attack came fast. His opponent deflected it and countered with ease. The Arythion managed to dodge. Cass’ heart jumped with excitement while she watched on. Even though the Easterner was tall and sturdy, the way he moved was the most graceful she had ever seen. Simachion stood no chance. His fall provoked a stunned silence among the onlookers, followed by tentative applause. It broke off to give way to one man’s clapping alone. King Alexander had risen and cheered for the stranger who had made his bodyguard sneak back with slouched shoulders. “Well fought,” he said while locking his gaze onto the tall man. Cass shuddered. “What is your name, stranger, and where do you come from?” The warrior bowed again before replying. “My name is Masaru, my king. I was raised far, far away from here and have been a wanderer since the days of my childhood.” “Well, well. A wanderer. What would you answer if a king asked you to settle down and serve him, Masaru?” “Such a request would honor me beyond measure. However, I am a nobody, child to no mother. What benefit could a king possibly expect from my presence?” Alexander’s eyes glistered. “How would you like fine clothes, a dwelling place and the chance to employ your talents in fight?” Another bow. “It would suffuse me with eternal gratitude, my king. However, I must humbly ask for a favor if I am to stay.” “Oh?” Alexander’s eyebrow twitched upward. “What is it that you require in order to do a king’s bidding?” “I would never dare to demand for more than is due. Nonetheless, I am bound to someone by oath. Thus, It is my duty to ask that you welcome my protégée as well. Of course I will swear loyalty to you, my king, but I cannot break my word toward her.” Cass couldn’t help but admire his placid boldness. The tale teller stepped forward through the throng of bystanders. “My king, it is me whom Masaru swore to protect from all ill. He generously offered me his company and protection when he found me travelling alone in dangerous lands. His oath will not keep him from fulfilling any service toward you. If you are so kind as to welcome me as well, I will swear loyalty along with him. I have seen many kingdoms as well and I know their customs, beliefs and trading interests. I will gladly offer all my knowledge to your advantage.” A shimmer of curiosity twitched through the king’s displeasure. At last, he raised his voice to drown out all other noises. “So be it, then. As long as both of you serve me well, you are welcome at my court and will receive everything you need.” “Thank be to you, my king,” both of them replied in unison. “Great!,” Phyllis exclaimed and clapped her hands. “Then we can hear a lot more stories in the future!” Alexander jerked around and shot her an angry glance. Immediately, Cass barred his view at the princess. In some way, Cass was glad when they joined queen Penthesilea again. Even though the younger princess was sweet all through, her company exhausted her more than any fighting lesson with princess Hippolyta ever could. “Oooh, who’s that?” Phyllis pointed at the girl following close in her mother’s back. “This is our new tribe member.” A broad, satisfied smile crept over the queen’s face. “How do you like her?” “She’s beautiful!” The slave girl’s eyes flickered at Phyllis for a moment. Lyta frowned. “She doesn’t have a name yet, how about you help her find one?” “Ooooh yes, yes, I’ll help you, I'll help you!,” Phyllis echoed. “We can be friends! Then Lyta has Cass, mother has Faidra and I have you!” She paused for a moment. “And Deia and Eos have each other, I guess. Wouldn’t that be great?” The girl kept staring at Phyllis with huge, brown eyes. The princess turned to Penthesilea. “Is... is something wrong with her?” “Don't worry, she will warm up to you soon. Once she’s bathed and fed and has had a good night’s sleep.” “Yes, of course! Silly me! Alright, let’s see, what could your new name be? Oh, I know, how about Thestia?” “Ew,” Lyta cut in, “you can’t name her after grandmother, that would be so weird!” Phyllis pouted. “But Rheia’s named after her grandmother, too and she’s your best friend and you find it alright with her!” “Yes, because it’s her own grandmother!” “But she’s part of the tribe now! You’ve heard mother!” “That still doesn't make her a blood relative to our grandmother!” Phyllis' brow furrowed. Finally, she pouted but was all sweet again when turning to the slave girl. “And what about Eleia? Then we'd be Phyllis and Eleia, almond tree and olive tree… That would be fun, don't you think? Orrr Telegone because you were born far away. You… you were born far away, right?,” she checked in. “Or Skoura for your dark eyes or...” Penthesilea smiled while listening. She would have to make sure that Phyllis did not give the girl a name without her consent. After all, she was a free woman now – she just didn't know it yet. “Philomene! How do you like Philomene*?” The girl blushed and looked away. “Are you alright?” Phyllis grasped the girl’s arm tighter. “I think that means she likes it,” Cass tossed in tenderly from the side. “Really? That’s great! Are you Philomene, then?” Hesitantly, the girl’s head turned to the princess. “Great! We can call you Phila for short because Philomene is such a long name. Just like Hippolyta, but we’re calling her Lyta. And Deianeira is Deia. Eos and I don’t need a short name because ours aren’t very long, you know? That would just make it more complicated.” Cass found it hard to follow Phyllis’ elaborations about the tribe members and slaves' names and how they were all so perfect for the person bearing them. When she looked at the others, queen Penthesilea and princess Hippolyta had long started another conversation. The young warrior decided to feast on the rare display of life on the market instead. In great gulps, she drank in the bustle. Secretly, she imagined the rushing of water in the distance and its salty smell in the flickering hot air. Had any of the women paid attention to the shy slave girl with the new name, they would have noticed the trickle of tears glittering on her cheeks. *Philomene means "the beloved" and her nickname, Phila, "friend" This chapter has additional pictures in the gallery
10 Comments
driftwoodpoet
2/1/2021 03:37:43 am
Phila is already catching my interest. I wonder how this will all play out?
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maladi777
2/1/2021 06:12:10 am
I'm happy Phila now knows her name. Is she really happy about it. I can't tell, honestly.
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2/1/2021 06:26:13 am
I think that at the time, even she herself can't tell for sure. She's afraid and very much overwhelmed by Phyllis' hearty welcome and very likely confused as well. Is she happy? We don't know 😕
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WagonFruit
2/1/2021 08:38:07 am
I'm very curious about what's going on with Phila!
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2/1/2021 10:51:19 am
Lol true, food and rest will probably be like a drop in the ocean 😂 Or maybe they *will* help, who knows.
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audreyfld
2/1/2021 02:50:05 pm
Everything looks so good. And new players entering in the mix. Anxious to see what happens with Phila.
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2/2/2021 06:19:07 am
Oh yes, new players and we'll see if and how they change the current power relationship! 😀 And ofc we will see about Phila, too.
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Hehe Cass is much more interested in the fights than the stories 😏
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2/2/2021 01:13:12 pm
Of course she is! 😏
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