Chapter 6
End of an Era
Bam!
The throne room doors of the Etruscan palace crashed open, causing a thunderous clamor due to the cathedral ceiling. Brian o’Conaill strutted through the door at 6’3” with dashing blue eyes, smooth brown hair that stopped short of touching his ears and swept away from his eyes. He was dressed in pristine silver Celtic battle armor. Brian, a handsome man appearing to be in his mid-thirties, did not bother glancing around the room he disrupted. Instead, he headed straight for the King with his hand gripping the handle of his sword.
King Remus stood in alarm from his throne and ran to meet the intruders.
“Brian, what is the meaning of this? Why are you and Cailean in such a panic?” Remus watched the Gaelic war party spread through his opulent throne room.
The Etruscan throne room was a glorious example of the prosperity of the kingdom and the elegance of their civilization. Greek pillars lined the room against white mosaic walls that gleamed in the morning sunlight from the stained glass windows. Two silver thrones encrusted with emeralds sat erect in the center of the room. Snow-white tapestries embroidered with silver wolves hung on all four walls. Crossing silver swords wrapped with an olive branch hung from each pillar, symbolizing Remus’ promise for protection and peace.
Brian held out his arm to grasps Remus’. “Remus, dear friend, your neighboring kingdoms have risen up against you. Our rival, Brathadair, leader of Clan MacCathail, joined in their efforts.”
Behind Brian stood Cailean, matching his height but even more handsome. Cailean had grey-blue eyes and short brown hair. He looked in his mid-twenties, but carried himself as a seasoned warrior, wearing the same Celtic battle armor as his brother.
“Brian, we have to leave. Brathadair would have arrived at the lower gates by now. They have not breached the walls yet because of the spells around the palace. The MacCathails will eventually break them and the walls will fall. Your Etrusci soldiers will have no chance against them, Remus,” warned Cailean.
“Impossible!” bellowed Remus. “My walls are impenetrable, protected by Druid magic. Furthermore, my Etrusci soldiers have never been beaten. We are in the gods favor. My kingdom of Etruria will always prevail.”
Brian shook his head. “The MacCathails are a charmed Gàidheal clan, as we are. Brathadair studied with me and he is a strong Druid. I am not sure how long we have until they break the shield charms. Cailean is right; eventually the Druid spells will fall.”
Brian cocked his head to the side as if someone called out to him. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temples, lowering his head so his chin almost rested on his chest.
Brian swayed unsteadily until Remus took hold of his friend. “What do you see?” he said, panicked.
“The palace will be broken. Someone has betrayed you from inside the walls. As I feared, the Druid shields are failing because of that treason,” answered Brian, wincing as he spoke.
“Who would create such a treacherous act? The people have favored me and my family for centuries.”
Brian looked at Remus, who stared back with pleading eyes. “I fear for what I saw. You will lose those closest to you, Remus.”
Remus, although taken aback by Brian’s prediction, stood tall with his shoulders pushed back. He must appear brash and steady for his soldiers. “You have said yourself in the past that visions of the future are not always fulfilled as they are presented.”
Even though Remus appeared calm, fear consumed his mind. He placed a hand on his silver throne and gripped the armrest as if the ground were slipping away from him. Despite the sinking fear in his stomach, Remus said definitively, “Fear not, friends. We are old and filled with the wisdom of history.” Remus slightly chuckled, “The only person who stands a chance at challenging me is my brother Romulus.”
From behind Brian, Cailean warned, “Tell him, Brian. It won’t be long until he finds out.”
Remus’ eyes flickered between Cailean and Brian curiously. “My dear friends, we have been close for years now, since before I jumped the castle wall at Palatine Hill. Two centuries ago, you helped me found this kingdom. Do not be afraid to bear bad news.”
“It’s not you I fear, Remus; it is losing you and the peace of our world. A destiny long forgotten is befalling us, and it does not bode well for some,” Brian avoided Remus’ eyes but washed over the soldiers in the room.
“We demigods are immortal. We will always survive,” Remus smiled cunningly, only to appear confident for his men.
“Cailean and I are a thousand years old, Remus. And you being eight-hundred should know better than to believe something can last forever,” Brian said with no hint of amusement.
Remus felt his confidence wavering with every flutter of his heartbeat. He had faced war hundreds of times, but this time felt wrong. He was nervous, an accustomed sensation. “What are you not telling me?”
Brian sighed and revealed the devastating truth to his friend, “With the help of Clan MacCathail, your brother Romulus has expanded his kingdom of Rome and is now attacking Etruria. They have already burned the lower lands on their march here. The time has come where your countries will be united under one ruler: the victor of this battle.”
Heartbroken, Remus collapsed into his throne with his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. “My own twin would destroy the peace between our lands?”
“It is Rome,” replied Cailean with disdain.
“Romulus is Rome,” corrected Brian. He raised an eyebrow at Cailean, silently warning him to watch his tone regarding Remus’ brother.
Cailean rolled his eyes and exhaled forcefully. However, he remained quiet at Brian’s subtle warning.
The throne room doors flew open once more, but this time Queen Alina walked steely to her husband’s side. Alina’s strawberry-blonde hair framed her snow-white face. She had changed out of her emerald dress and into a silver tunic that she tucked into black pants. A Kelly green skirt stemmed from her waist and covered the back of her pants. Knee-high, black leather boots with three silver buckles sheathing a dagger completed the outfit for the warrior queen.
Alina exemplified the pure and perfect shape of a woman as if she had been dipped into the River Styx. An ornate sword hung from her hips that she brought with her from Cymru. Emeralds and diamonds adorned its delicate filigree design.
Remus was the antithesis of this beautiful goddess. He appeared young and handsome, seemingly in his late thirties. However, his salt and pepper hair hinted at his true age. His eyes were brown with a golden hue that glowed at night. He had visible battle scars on his limbs with hidden scars on his back and chest.
Forgetting all formalities, Alina threw her arms around Remus’ neck and whispered in his ear, “Remus, please. We need to arm ourselves and prepare the army. I’ve seen Romulus enter the castle grounds.”
Brian overheard the queen’s plea. “She is right, Remus. The prophecies have been presented.”
Remus looked at his beautiful wife and nodded. “Take the queen!” Remus ordered, pained by his own words but desperate to protect her. Guards marched up to seize her. “I will see you again.” Remus said to Alina as he walked across the throne room with Brian.
Alina fought every guard that came near. She moved with such grace as if dancing a waltz with her opponents.
“Remus, please! Don’t do this! We are stronger together. Romulus will not stand a chance against us all, but we must stay together! You need my power,” she pleaded to her husband as she knocked out several guards with her elbows, fist, and sword hilt.
Alina froze in her attack when pain seared through her abdomen.
The queen fell to floor after a cool, smooth object slid out from her stomach. She heard her husband shout her name in a mixture of fury and panic as he sprinted towards her.
Alina looked down at her stomach as she pressed her palm against the inch long slit in her abdomen. Gazing up at her attacker, she breathed, “I g
uess we know who betrayed us.”
The treasonous guard smirked and bent down to whisper in the queen’s ear, “Your daughter’s fate is now locked in history. She will not survive her destiny.”
As the guard raised his sword to slay the wounded queen, a warrior Alina knew well stepped in front of her and deflected the attack.
“Lysandros,” Alina coughed with a slight smile.
Alina always admired Lysandros, and watching him protect her increased her admiration. Lysandros stretched to 5’10” with long black hair that he kept tied back with a leather strap. His deep brown eyes always made Alina feel safe. Even in a ferocious state of war, his eyes were kind for the queen, bringing her peace.
In one foul swoop of Lysandros’ broadsword, the treasonous guard’s sword soared across the room and Lysandros sliced through his abdomen. He then wheeled his sword above his head to take another swing. However, the guard vanished before Lysandros’ sword connected with his neck.
Lysandros turned to his injured queen and sat down to support her head on his lap. Seconds later, Remus slid on the ground to reach her, not caring as his knees cracked against the stone floor.
Rage and guilt filled Lysandros’ as his usual kind eyes widened in fear. He turned to Remus, ashamed of his late arrival. “Remus, I came as soon as I saw Romulus enter the gates. I’m so sorry.”
Remus did not acknowledge Lysandros’ statement. Instead, he caressed his wife’s hair and gently placed his other hand over her wound. Remus looked at Lysandros and said, “If you leave now and make it to the Forest of Slàinte, on the Northern border of our kingdom, she will live.” Remus’ eyes silently begged Lysandros to save his wife.
With the hand not covered in Alina’s blood, Remus gripped the back of Lysandros’ neck and pulled him in so their foreheads touched, hiding his distressed eyes. He struggled with his words, opening and closing his mouth without a sound. His grip tightened on Lysandros’ neck when he finally found his farewell, “You are the best soldier in my army, Lys. You, Brian, and Cailean have been by my side for centuries, since before we left Palatine Hill. I owe my life and my family’s lives to you three. You are like my brother, Lysandros, never forget that.”
A lump formed in the back of Lysandros’ throat and his breath caught in his chest. Unable to say a word to his long-time friend, Lysandros nodded once as water filled his eyes.
Remus smiled, pleased that Lysandros returned his sentiments. He then forced himself to let go of Alina, slowly sliding his hand from her skin as Lysandros stood. Lysandros carried Alina towards the secret passage that lead away from the palace.
Brian seeing the pain in his friend’s eyes placed his hand on Remus’ shoulder. “All will be well. Fate always has a plan that works out in the end.”
“And to what end will fate leave us?” Remus hung his head as he spoke the philosophical question of a dying man.
Brian sighed, “Remus, there is nothing more either of us can do now.”
“It is not only to Alina I am referring, and you know that. Do not speak to me as if I have a child’s mind.”
“I am well aware of what you speak of but my answer stands. There is nothing more we can do to prevent this. We must see it through…” Brian’s words trailed off, losing his conviction.
Remus studied Brian’s face and asked, “Why look so somber, o’Conaill?” Comprehension finally set on Remus’ face as he realized what troubled his friend. “Ahhh you have seen the end of this battle. Care to share?”
Brian took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He needed to be strong for his faltering friend. “Your past events sparked a prophecy coming to collect. Your…our actions secured our present predicament. This battle must be fought and one of the two must die.”
“However, those who survive this battle can change the forthcoming,” added Cailean.
Brian stopped, silently thinking how much to divulge to Remus before the battle began. “Remus, there is an older prophecy created centuries ago during a great era of war. It is written in stone to ensure it passes. The Power once lost will be discovered and our world we will be at peace again. So fear not; despite the fate of today there will be mercy tomorrow.”
Boom!
The sound of the Druid shields exploding rang throughout the palace. The violent vibration threw Remus and the soldiers to the ground. Brian and Cailean were the only ones left standing. They immediately faced each other and raised their hands so their palms nearly touched and began chanting. Blue light emanated from the brothers’ palms as they recited their spell. The light expanded to envelop the room, warming everything it touched.
The light flickered as their strength waned. They fell to their knees and in unison cried out one name before they passed out…“Breanna!”