The guards brought us in front of the king his expression was harsh and he looked at us menacingly. His welcome was not one of the best.
"Here they are, sire, as you ordered." Igor said bowing, the others had done the same. They were about to leave, but the king stopped them.
"Stop, stay here. After we have to talk about very important things." His Majesty commanded them and they obeyed.
"My son, how many times have I told you that it is dangerous to wander around the city. It is true that the kingdom is well protected, but it is better if you do not show up so much. Especially now, that there are many foreign visitors who come from all over the earth. You are my only child if anything happened to you I would regret it bitterly. Then you have no right to abuse by men. They are always on your heels because you do damage in the city. " The king stood up, we could admire him in all his beauty. Her hair was so straight and beautiful, long, blonde. She wore a long, white tunic with golden harnesses and her tiara was also gold. His blue eyes were penetrating us, he was reading our minds. He already knew everything.
"Father it won't happen again. I promise you, I'll be more careful." Amdir answered him, tilting his head down.
"Artus, leave him alone, he will have wanted to see the city and the wonders of our people. He didn't do anything wrong, after all, I was like him at his age. We like to explore and see the world." Eliside intervened, getting up and taking her husband's hand. She looked at him with her eyes as green as the forest, a few brown locks falling over her face. Her dress was beautiful, the white silk touched the ground, it had a long train, all white with gold and silver trimmings. Her tiara was also gold with silver veins.
"Yes, but it doesn't justify that together all the times they cause disasters, but the most terrible has always been Aisaka." He answered looking into her eyes and then looked back at us.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Aisaka? I have always treated you as my daughter, but you continue to do damage. Now you are no longer a child, you are a thousand and two years which compared to human years are twelve. I welcomed you and your sister into my house after the death of your mother, my sister and are you thanking me so? And when the boys bother you, when you fight, when you chase the chickens of the inhabitants and put them out, then when will you give yourself a demeanour?? . " I had never seen the king so angry and I trembled in his presence.
I lowered my head to those words.
"Many citizens have complained about your bad behaviour. You have an indomitable character, poor Fervus is tired of always following your every prank. It's time to behave less like a tomboy and more like a young lady, take a cue from Azzurra." He screamed furiously.
"Artus ..." His wife tried to calm him in vain.
"No Eleside, he has to grow up and start behaving better. From now on I will double your writing and reading lessons. You will be forbidden from magic and sword lessons until you learn to behave better. I will decide when you can start again. to go to the old lessons. Anyway, stop dragging your sister and Amdir into your troubles all the time. That's all, now go to your rooms. We will meet again for dinner. " He ordered us angrily.
I wanted to reply, but I knew it would only be worse. Then we walk towards our rooms, I was darker than ever. The guards had seen that good lecture. I had seen that stupid Fervus chuckle under his moustache he didn't have.
"Dear, maybe you were too hard on her. We have to understand, Aisaka and her sister don't remember anything until the age of six hundred, (which is six human years). She behaves like that because she doesn't feel loved, she always thought she to Azzurra, acting as her mother and father. I feel guilty for not telling him the truth right away. " His wife told him lovingly.
"They will know everything in due course, my dear." Artus tried to calm her by stroking her beautiful hair.
After ten minutes, Artus gathered his four bravest guards around the table.
"Is there any news outside the kingdom?" Asked the serious king.
"No sir, but many peoples are afraid that it could happen again as it did six hundred years ago. Some rumours say that something in the land of Morwen is moving, but for now, it is nothing crucified." Alakeia answered him.
"Whether it's just rumours or not, make sure you don't get caught. I'll report it personally to the white council to be held in a month's time in the land of Aetleher, the home of the brown elves. Fervus and Alakeia entrusted you with this task." The king ordered in an authoritative way.
"Yes, sire, we will not disappoint you." Fervus brought his right hand to his chest close to his heart and bowed his head slightly in respect.
"We will leave tomorrow at dawn, my king." Alakeia intervened and she too made that gesture of respect.
"And how's it going inside Altear? Is the party going well?" The king seemed worried about something.
"In the inner lands of Altear there is peace and lightheartedness, but I am sincerely worried about the rumours, if they should find out anything about what they say it would be total chaos. The northern area was very shaken after the war of six hundred years ago, no one inhabited that land anymore and many are afraid of it. " Gheremial said that in his deep blue eyes he let no emotion transpire.
"The party is going pretty well apart from a few destroyed stalls and some confusion caused by Aisaka and the thieves who tried to steal the pendant bought from an unknown merchant," Igor answered him, not caring about what happened.
"Igor tells me more about this pendant, why should some kids steal a useless necklace? To which people or race did they belong?" The king was doubtful and thoughtful.
"I don't know your majesty, I just know that the necklace had a pendant with a half-moon. The boys were human." Igor didn't know how to apologize for not having other information.
"Igor and Gheremial bring me the boys and the merchant, continue to patrol the area. Even if they are innocent boys I don't trust, I know that all peoples live in peace and thrive on riches and no one would have reason to steal anything." The king ordered a veil of concern could be read from his blue eyes.
"Yes, your majesty we will leave immediately." Gheremial agreed.
Artus dismissed the guards who went to their respective missions. The king and Elesis were left alone in the room.
"My beloved, what worries you so much?" His wife asked, looking him in the eye.
"My dear, some oddities have been happening lately around us and in other lands, to which we have to answer. Do you remember the prophecy of the two necklaces?"
"Yes. Evil will return and two chosen ones will be chosen. They will have to protect the world from the resurfacing darkness. Everything will wither, the earth will become barren, famine and disease will spread. Their fate has already been sealed, daughters of the trees of Vinya. The gods will call them to them with two necklaces with pendants of a half-moon and a half Sun. But dear, it's just an attic prophecy we don't have to fear. Eleside tried to reassure her husband and stroked his beardless white cheek.
"You may be right, but I want to make it clear. As a king, it is my job to protect my people and my family." Artus rested his forehead against Eleside's, closing his eyes for a minute and then they kissed.