Survive As The Brute’s Wife - Chapter 111

Maximus hugged Alexandra who was trembling out of fear. He was helpless to see her like this. He looked out at the Temple.

«Should I make another visit there?»

He would go and talk to the Priest. And if the Dragon King wants to have a word with him, he can talk with him. No one can hurt his wife. Who cares if it is her father?

With all the fire in them doused by the clouds above the Temple, Alexandra and Maximus got dressed and got down the stairs for lunch. Marcus joined them and Maximus grumbled seeing the boy seated with them.

Sirius offered a mule for Marcus to travel to the Royal City. That boy had walked on foot to reach the stone mansion and he cannot walk back. And the stone mansion didn’t have spare horses but just the mules.

“He can walk,” Maximus ordered Marcus as he summoned Ithildin.

“Maximus, my Paladin will travel with me,” Alexandra told Maximus. He’s going a little too far with that boy even after she made him her Paladin. He should be respecting her people.

Maximus let out a sigh. He understood her. Although Julius was not always polite with her, she treated him with basic respect because he is his man. He should do the same.

“Get on,” Maximus pointed at Ithildin. “He will drop you with the others.”

Marcus looked at Alexandra and she nodded. Marcus looked a bit afraid to sit on a flying horse, but Alexandra affirmed to him that Ithildin won’t drop him. Listening to her, Marcus got a little courage, and off they flew.

“So… how are we getting by?” Alexandra looked at Maximus.

It is way after noon and Julius and the legions would be by the gates of the Royal City of Lathlin by now. Returning victorious after a war that spanned for more than half a decade is announced and they will be expecting a hero’s welcome.

But they won’t enter the city without Maximus leading the posse. He is their leader and under his banner were they able to accomplish all the honors.

They will be waiting for him. And they should get there soon.

“I should be depending on you, wife,” Maximus was not feeling ashamed.

Alexandra summoned Kefir.

“Sit in the front,” Alexandra told him.

The one sitting in the front would appear to be the one in control. She just wanted to hear everyone shouting chants of support for Maximus as he receives the victorious Hero’s welcome. She wanted to just follow behind and watch him showered with flower petals and confetti. She wanted to see poets sing sonnets in his honor. She wanted to see the smiles on people’s faces as they see their Emperor returning with victory and glory to his land.

“No!” Maximus denied. He cannot let her hide behind him. “Take the lead seat. Kefir is your summoned beast.”

He was not going to relent.

Alexandra shrugged and sat in the front. She knew he cannot convince him. Kefir let out a content grunt and they flew.

Kefir was a large lion and with his large wings, they reached the posse very quickly. As they expected, they were slowing down as they had already reached the city gates. But seeing their Emperor riding on a lion with the wings of an eagle – the Emblem of their Empire, they all got ecstatic and started to chant.

“Long live Emperor Maximus! Long live the heir of the Great King! Long live the branch of Lukyan!”

Maximus was not very impressed by their chants and Alexandra could only chuckle.

“Fate is tricky, isn’t it?”

Maximus could only sigh.

“Look, there are people all over the bastion…” Alexandra was intrigued. Kefir glided over the thousands of soldiers marching back to their city singing and chanting out of happiness. They are returning home after a long while after all. And they are awaiting a Hero’s welcome.

And the bastion was filled with people welcoming their loved ones returning. Alexandra could see women waving their handkerchiefs and they were preparing their baskets of flowers to throw them when they get closer.

“Open the gates for the valiant Emperor and his loyal men!”

A strong female voice was heard and Alexandra turned to look at the source of the voice. Amidst the other voices, that voice rang like a trumpet.

“That’s Theodora… I didn’t expect for her to stand here in the sun waiting for me…” Maximus’ tone was dismissive.

“Should we fly to her?” Alexandra asked.

She thought it would be respectful to meet his mother after his long time away from home; at least for show. She knew he had no good thoughts about his mother.

Well, she wouldn’t blame him for it.

“No! Get to the Palace,” he pointed at the big castle that was built on a slightly elevated plane.

“Ah… that still looks the same…” Alexandra’s voice shook.

That was the place she experienced all the humiliation in her previous life. She got spat on her face, she was kicked by boots of men, and she was called worthless in those golden halls. She felt like no time has passed seeing the splendor of the castle in front of her.

The walls, the cityscape, the gates… everything has changed, but the castle is still standing the same way as it was before to remind her what she went through. She could sense Kefir tensing up too. And she realized she has never talked about her previous life still with her beasts. The Phoenix is angry with her for a reason. She should find a way to pacify them.

Maximus held her hand. “This time, I am with you,” he kissed her ear. “Everything is going to be different.”

Alexandra leaned on his chest. She trusted him.

On both sides of the gates, there were flags. One was the flag of Lethusia and at the other side was the flag of the house of Lukyan besides that flag, there were other flags of the supporting families of the Lukyan family.

She turned to look at Theodora standing under a silk parasol beside the flag of Lethusia,  looking at her without blinking her eyes.

Alexandra saw hate in her eyes. But there was an undeniable pride in her eyes as she looked at Maximus. Beside her was someone wearing priestly attire and he bowed his head at her. She saw Theodora turning and looking at the priest with surprise.

Well, Priests don’t usually bow to the Emperor. But they will have to bow to the daughter of the Dragon King.

Poor Theodora must not be privy to that fact.

“You were right!” Theodora held back her surprise to see Attus Navius bowing for her son. He doesn’t bow to earthly Kings as he would say. She thought, perhaps this time was an exception since Maximus is returning after bringing glory to Lethusia.

“He has returned in Eagle’s wings as you said! Isn’t this a first-class beast? Why wasn’t I informed that my son had summoned such a spectacular beast?” she was very proud.

The Royal Augur looked at the Empress Dowager with a knowing smile. “Chickens have come home to roost,” he nodded and turned.

“What do you mean by that, Your Holiness?” Theodora tried to stop the priest but his disciples covered him and helped him leave the place.

“It is she, isn’t it, Your Holiness? Is she the chicken? Is she the destroyer?”

She shouted for the priest not to answer her. She knew it is her. She is the one who got the sword, after all.

Theodora turned and looked at the big beast flying above the gates and entering the city.

The Pride of Lethusia- her son, is entering the city gates in a majestic beast that has been the symbol of Lethusia for ages. He conjured up the strength to summon the same beast as the Great King.

Rejoice, heathens! Worship your Emperor!

Her lips curved to a proud smirk. As for the worthless woman who unmeritedly shares the glory of her son…

I can end her! I will have plenty of chances once she gets in the Castle. And I know my son has the same plans as me!

Her smile didn’t last for long as she saw darkness covering over her. She looked up and her heart sank.

The Lethusian flag that was hoisted, has loosened by the wind displaced by the big beast and is falling. And that was followed by another flag – the flag of House Lukyan.

“Catch the flags!” she ordered.

Her eyes ended up at the big beast flying towards the castle.

Chickens are coming home to roost…

“Catch them! Don’t let them fall to the ground!”

Those words created fear at the bottom of her heart. There were mumbles around as some people were muttering that it is ominous that the flag of the Empire is falling and among all the flags just the flag of the Lukyan family is falling.

“Is this a premonition for what is to come?”

They flapped their gossipy tongues.

“We all heard that the Hero has picked the sword. We all saw the light!”

“Is the end of Lethusia near as predicted?”

Theodora’s chest heaved.

“Not while I am alive!”

She looked at the distance and saw the dark-hooded figure getting behind a pillar.

Maybe I should use the Orb to end her!