Sweet Waters Throne

205 Chapter 20Princess Thelma was shivering while trying to embrace herself, the cold was like a spear in her gut cutting her deep. The argument between Artemis and Ambrose felt like noises she didn’t want to accommodate during that time. Artemis wanted to know what did Leoric want in return, while Ambrose denied him the information, which was useless considering the Battle was lost. Everything they built was destroyed, all their efforts turned out to be aimless, not to mention the death of Lord Lothar Taelin.

Apart from losing the throne, the next thing which hurt Princess Thelma so bad was the guilty she carried for stabbing her husband. When the raven delivered news about Prince Amabel being alive in Loni, Thelma took it on her hands to make sure no one knows about her nephew. But now everyone knew about him, and songs will be sung about his glory too.

Between the grief, Princess Thelma found herself saying, “He needed passage to cross the Freezing Sea” still looking down with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Caught off guard, both Artemis and Ambrose stopped arguing and paid attention to Thelma.

Prince Ambrose cried, “Thelma! Why would you tell him that?”

“What’s the point brother, the war is lost. You are going to die tomorrow and I sure will follow you soon, why carry such information to our graves if it won’t trouble us anymore”

Artemis used this chance to get what he wanted. He couldn’t care less about the two relatives fighting, all he cared about was what he will get from the fight.

“Why does he want to cross the Freezing Sea?” asked Artemis, shifting his attention from the standing Ambrose to the sitting Thelma.

“My father used to tell me about Dragon Hunters, an old tribe of ancient men. They were the ones who brought doom to House Morrow, the first dragon riders. He wants to cross the sea because he wants to kill your dragons”

.....

“The Freezing Sea is impregnable, especially during winters. And I hear this winter will last for five years in Prophis” Artemis’s eyes widened with amazement, he knew Leoric hated him but he didn’t know the extent of that hate.

Princess Thelma said all of what she knew about the Freezing Sea and what lies beyond it. Then she warned Artemis that if he attempts to fly his dragons across the Freezing Sea, none of them will make it. “The cold alone will shatter their gills and they will drop like flies, legends say so” she finished and then she went on to remain silent again.

Artemis left the dungeons in a hurry, he didn’t even say thank you or goodbye to the Taelins. But he did leave the torches and lanterns outside of the cage, only for today the two relatives will see one another for the last time and maybe even warm themselves.

Along the way, Artemis collided with his half brother, Katarina — the Queen Mother, Lord Alfred — the new Lord of Bellward and Sir Thomas Buken. They were discussing about selling the Killers to the King in the West, all were in black layers since the cold seemed to heightened during the night.

“I had servants looking out for you, Your Grace. I heard you went to visit my good brother and sister in the dungeon” said Katarina.

Artemis’s eyes fell on Aprophil, these two locked eyes awkwardly without saying anything.

Lord Alfred interrupted, “How does it feel flying on dragon’s back, Your Grace?” he asked with a wide smile. He was petite, heavily bearded and with thick brown hairs on his head, too small for his age.

Artemis ignored him and turned to Aprophil. “What do you know about the Freezing Sea bastard?” he asked him. Artemis used the word bastard frequently when he talked to Aprophil because he wanted to anger Aprophil, it’s as if he was waiting for him to lash out and say he wasn’t a bastard.

But Aprophil was more than what Artemis took him to be. He knew how to maintain his rage, when to speak and when to remain silent. Hence even when Artemis asked, Aprophil didn’t respond.

This angered Artemis, he shouted at him. “I’m talking to you bastard!” he said angrier than before.

Aprophil stood up for himself this time “And I heard you, but I chose not to reply”

“Wha—” Artemis stuttered and turned to Katarina and Lord Alfred, then to Sir Thomas. “Who does he think he is?” he asked them.

Then when no one replied to him. Artemis turned to Aprophil, he held him by his furs and pinned him on the wall. He was angry for no reason at all, “When I ask you something, you must reply. Do you understand me bastard?” he roared in front of Aprophil.

Suddenly Aprophil shoved him off and it was so hard Artemis nearly fell down if it wasn’t for the pillar which he used to hang on to. Now Artemis had enough of the disrespect, he quickly drew out his sword from his waist and pointed it towards Aprophil.

Katarina intervened, “Please, Your Grace. Forgive him, we all want peace” she said trying to block Aprophil from going after his half brother. “I’ll talk to him, I promise” she added.

Aprophil didn’t listen to Katarina and he drew out his sword too. Now things were out of hands and too much for Katarina or Sir Thomas to handle. What Sir Thomas did was take Aprophil to the side and reminded him, “Do you really want to do this? Strike down a dragon?” he asked him. “Now drop your sword Lord Hand, do it!”

Artemis still had his sword pointed at his half brother while panting heavily, he wasn’t going to drop it for any reason, after all he was the dragon. He stayed in that position while looking at his half brother, he knew his ego was ruined and hence he tried to ruin it even more by staring down at him.

Finally, Aprophil yielded and dropped down his sword. This wasn’t a place for him to be easily triggered, he blamed himself for the rest of the night for how he poorly handled Artemis. He swore to himself that he wouldn’t let him get into his nerves, and that he will make his mother proud. But just one act of anger and he erupted like a teenager, that’s exactly what Artemis wanted and he gave him what he needed.

Artemis returned his sword to his waist and then he stood firmly looking at Aprophil. He saw that fire in him, that Arteides fire which is passed on from generations and for just a minute he knew he shared blood with Aprophil. Not only did he look like their father, but he also had their father’s rage.

That fight ended swiftly when Artemis walked away leaving Katarina and Sir Thomas blaming Aprophil for how he erupted like a young boy. They reminded him of what happened in Lawsend’s City when Artodo visited it, the city which was once colorful now was turned into a cemetery. Abandoned and filled with ghosts and vultures, the winter turned the burned bodies into stones. Then they asked him, is that what he wanted Raven to be?

After that fight with his half brother who was a threat to his throne, Artemis knew he overstepped the mark and he shouldn’t have done that. His anger towards a man who had done nothing to him was absurd and if Aurora were to learn this, then he knew she won’t be pleased.

There was nothing to keep him in Raven anymore, hence he said his goodbyes to Amabel.

“What’s the rush Your Grace, it’s dark and cold. Why don’t you wait till morning so I can give you a proper send off?” Amabel complained, he truly needed more time with Artemis.

“I fear the time has come Your Grace, I humbly welcome you to my capital. I shall throw a feast on your name, Maldonians will eat and drink for your good health”

“I will be honored Your Grace” Amabel managed a wide smile.

Artemis pulled Amabel in for a tight hug, to him Amabel was like a brother he never had. During his stay in Raven, Amabel treated him so good and he was showered with gifts, food, drinks and all that he needed. Raven felt like his home all over again and Artemis assured Amabel that he won’t forget his kindness and generosity.

Amabel walked Artemis outside in the gardens where the dragons made camp while they were accompanied by Sir Tyriol, and the rest of the Kingsguards. Katarina showed up to say her goodbyes and to apologise for the altercation earlier to which Artemis said he’s forgotten about it and he has also forgiven Aprophil. Amabel had no idea what they were talking about but he intended on asking his mother later on.

Artodo was ready to fly, he lowered his left wing for Artemis to climb him. What a show of loyalty that was between Artemis and his dragon, for just a second — Amabel envied Artemis and his possession of the magical beasts.

“Rule wise Taelin, I’ll see you in Blackmount to which I hope it’ll be soon” said Artemis while fixing his saddle. Then he said the word “Valar” and Artodo took the skies of Raven in the dark and cold while the she-dragon followed behind.