Box of hidden memories

Aurelia

I stood and crossed my arms over my chest, not to cover myself. But to show my dislike for his interruption. “What are you doing out here? Should you not be getting ready to leave?” I put every ounce of my annoyance into each word.

“Shouldnt we all?” He asked in return. A smirk playing on his lips. He was teasing me yet again.

“What do you want, pirate.” Kairios demanded, his own voice mirroring my frustration. He moved over to the pile of our clothing and pulled his pants on one leg at a time.

“I came to talk to you. I have a proposition to share.” Galorian said to Kairios. Not meeting my questioning eyes.

“Then say it.” I said grabbing my clothing from the pile that was left on the ground.

“I want to talk to him alone.” Galorian said with a shrug.

“That is not going to happen.” Kairios started to walk back to the camp. Offering his back to Galorian.

“Running away?” A mocking laugh laced the question.

Kairios stopped walking but did not turn to look back at us. I was now standing between both of my men. There could be no choice, they were both worthy.

“There is no reason for us to fight. She need not choose between us.”

Kairios turned back to us with wide eyes. “What do you mean?”

“She should have both. Both pirate and king.”

I was speechless when Kairios looked to me. “Is this what you want?”

My throat was closed and I was unable to answer in word. I nodded my head swiftly up and down once. Both stared at me, waiting for me to say something. Then something clicked in the back of my mind. Why was I doing this right now? “I will not be shared with two men who want to kill each other. Neither of you shall seek me out until you have come together in some kind of comradery.”

I stormed out of the area, almost running from both of them. I needed to stay focused. I had to stop allowing them to cloud my mind. All that mattered right now was that we made it to Saira’s city in Amar-Eglir and end her brother's life and this long, long conflict. That was all that really mattered.

“Where are the others?” Saira asked as I stormed into the camp.

“Talking, fighting, who knows.” I had to remember that I was not angry with her. “They are back in the wood. They should be along soon. I have caused to much delay as it is. I need to get on the move.” Fire flowed through my veins. I wanted to fight, fly or fuck. None of these were a good choice in this moment.

“The horses are ready. They just need their water first.”

I cursed the air. I had forgotten my bucket of water. I could only hope that one of them would remember to bring them. They both showed up awhile later with buckets in hand and one with a bloody lip and the other with a large red mark on the side of his eye. They had been in a fight. At least they walked back together.

The horses got the water they had been waiting to long for and we mounted up. I rode ahead with Saira at my side. We spent the day talking over some spells that she could cast over us for various things. One was invisibility. We would go unseen unless they were specifically seeking us out by name not suspicion. I had to hope that word of my death spread far enough to buy is the time and cover we needed.

“I can brew a potion that will give a boost of strength and speed. I will have to spend some time looking in the woods for some ingredients that I don’t have on hand. And I think I should try and put more of my power into your sword.”

“Can you do that for the others as well? Is there a way that we can all stay connected somehow? Even if we get separated, is there a way that we can easily find each other?” We had to remain together once we made it to the castle. My sword would be the one to pierce his flesh but I would need their help to get there.

“I will think on it for a while. There has to be a charm or spell.” Saira said.

Our next days became the same. Day after day we road through the wood or under the cover of darkness. There were no more demon armies on our path, I worried that left them behind the wall for us to face. We spent the time we had looking for the herbs and other necessary ingredients. She was close to having what she needed, all we looked for now was the nest of a bird.

So, I watched the skies waiting till I saw one fly by. We followed it back to the nest at last and collected one egg. The egg shell was covered in purple spots and had a green background. It looked like poison to me.

I remained alone and unbothered by both Kairios and Galorian. I started to long for the presence of a man between my legs, but I could not break my word. I waited for them. There had been moments when I saw them standing near each other. Kairios trying not to stare down Galorian. Galorian always had his eyes on me, when I would catch his gaze, my heart would speed.

At night I was only comforted by the thoughts of ending this conflict. The closer we got to the mountains the deeper the detail grew in my dreams. We were close now. The foot of the mountain lay before us. We would take the same path in that we took on our last trip. There was a place I wanted to see.

My mother's cave had to remain hidden still. I wanted to visit it once more. I tried to not think of what I had done to her. While I had come to terms with it, I still missed her. Our time together had been short and I had been a brat. There were things that we would never be able to do together and I was the one who robbed us of that this time, not my aunt.

We didn’t have horses in the mountain path when we came down the last time. Some of the trail was loose rock and tight spaces. I didn’t want to leave them on this side of the mountain. They would come with us as far as possible. We moved slow but we made it to the cave. The others waited outside while Saira and I went in alone.

“It looks the same as when we left. There is more dust, that seems to be the only change.” Saira said as she walked over to the small table that served as the only work surface.

“Look there are even some of her clothing here still. When I came back for her, I didn’t pay attention to what was still here.” There were a few dresses folded up into small bundles. I lifted them to my nose and breathed in. Her scent was still all over them.

The bed was raised up on some logs so I got down on my knees to see if there was anything under it. And I saw that a box was pushed all the way against the wall. I tried to grab it but my arms could not reach it. I started to rip the bed apart. “There is a box back here. She hid it well; I wonder what is inside.”

The box was heavy, made of metal and crusted with jewels. It was so large I had no clue how she would have gotten it here. The lid had a simple lock latch. The chain that was woven through it was small and came undone with hardly a touch.

“It's spelled. It would only open for her bloodline. It was meant for you to find.” Saira whispered in awe from behind me.

I lifted the lid and saw a sheer fabric covering the treasures inside. Though the light was low from our single torch, the gems and gold shimmered and shined like they were in the sun. Earing with diamonds and necklaces made of pearl. Golden buckles and bracelets. And the many rings, all crusted with an array of gems.

“These are so beautiful. They have to be the royal jewels. The ones that she had when my father was alive. Look there is a small note.” I pulled it out gently. The paper was old and dry.

I read aloud, “my dearest daughter. If you have found this chest then the end has found me. These are your legacy. Jewels worn by the kings and queens of our lands for generations. I hid these in the hopes that I would one day be able to give them to you. After meeting you now as an adult and seeing your pain, I know you are not ready for them. One day you will be and the sun and moon will weep at the beauty of a strong queen wearing them once more.

Inside is a book of my life with your father. After he was killed and you were taken, I spent my days writing all the things I wished to tell you. I hope you read it and know your father well. I love you. Mother.”

I folded the letter and put it back in the chest. “We leave this here. When we have made peace, I will return for it. Here take this.” I handed a ring to her. They were a set, two that matched when they rested together on the little pillow, connected to each other. “We honor them for now with these.” I grabbed two larger arm bands and planned to give one each Galorian and Kairios.

Saira took one last look over the books my mother had stored, none of them would help us right now. We would come back for it all after it was done, if we survived. We left the cave and found the men standing closer together then I would have expected. They were talking in low voices.

“What are you talking about?” I asked when they didn’t turn to our approach.

“You, my queen.” Galorian answered.

“Here, I have gifts for you.” They both looked at me a bit surprised. “My mother had saved the family jewels. Look, these bands should fit you.” I held them out to be taken.

“These belonged to your parents?” Kairios asked as he took his.

“I guess so. Pretty, aren’t they?”

“Very, thank you.” He said with a kiss pressed to my lips. The heat of it warmed my sad heart.

Galorian stepped forward and took his as well. “I shall always treasure this precious gift.” He too gave me a kiss on the lips that warmed and healed me further.

We rode on from there. I would return, I had to. The mountain terrain soon turned to wood. I felt better under the cover of trees. Until they started to thin out and I saw what was hanging from them in warning.

“Do not look at them.” Galorian said. “Keep moving.”

But I could not move. I could not stop looking. Hundreds of dead. All hanging from a dead tree limb, some nailed to the trunk. It was a warning to stay away or join the dead yourself. A breeze of foul air blew the stench closer. A mix of burned lands and decay.