The two made their way deeper into the castle, as they walked they talked about many things. Nothing of importance, both danced around what they wanted, each person waiting for the other to make a move. Antares took the high priestess through many rooms throughout the castle. Rooms that contained great stories and rooms that were unknown. He talked to her about the various portraits of his kin that covered the walls, he told her of stories he knew of them and of the ones he didn't, he and her speculated. He did not expect that he would find her company so pleasant. Despite all of her covered but her eyes, he could tell she was beautiful. For no one with eyes those ocean blue could not be. He took her to a balcony overlooking the city of Akkad, and in the distance you could see the Church of Multitude in all its glory. She leaned against the balcony and slivers of blonde hair shone slightly in the light.

  "Will you kill the high priest too?"

  The high priestess laughed.

  "I actually like him if you can believe it." She began, "He is very simple. Very simple."

  A moment passed between them and Antares joined her leaning against the balcony.

  "That old hag is not going to die." She caressed the stone balcony slowly. "Just needed to get her out of the way."

  "To do what?" Antares asked.

  She turned to him ever so slightly, her eyes gently meeting him. The sun was as magnificent as ever, in some way she found strength in it. Through the light he could see under the veil that covered her. It was just enough sunlight to expose her slender face, a face full of disdain.

  "Change, just like you," she looked off into the distance. Antares could see a long memory had caught her attention.

  "Like me?"

  "Yes, you are the people's hero. The Lord of War, a Storm Lord, one of the four vanquishers of a thousand men, the slayer of lightning and thunder. Have you not heard the stories?" she asked mockingly.

  He laughed.

  "They are just that, stories. Most of them mean nothing."

  She moved closer to him.

  "Most? Then what does hold meaning?"

  Antares turned to look out at Akkad. The city was as lively as ever, scores of people littered throughout the city. He had seen such a sight before many times throughout his youth in the castle and yet he was never satisfied. He loved his home deeply, despite all the pain that came with it. When he looked at Iliad's potential, an unending boundless amount of it, he wanted to see it flourish.

  "My Kingdom. My people," he said confidently.

  "Then let me help you."

  He turned to the high priestess. "What is it you truly want of me, high priestess?"

  "A favor," she began. "I want a favor from you king Antares. I want you to allow the faith of The Many Faced God to grow. I want you to look the other way as I cheat, steal, beat, torture, and chase away those who do not align with my faith and goals."

  Antares cocked his head sideways, his demeanor instilled some fear in the high priestess, she knew what she did was a gamble, and yet she had no choice, the king to be was her last resort. Where the high priestess wore a desperate fear covered expression, Antares donned a more quizzical one. He was completely taken aback by the high priestess' demands. Not for once did he take the slender petite woman before him as someone who could speak that language. One so universal that words often not be spoken between those who knew it. Antares had been around humans his whole life, his own mother being one. And still they continued to surprise him with their tenacity. With their desire for power. He was very amused.

  "Alright," he extended his hand.

  The high priestess took it cautiously, "Just like that?"

  Antares kissed her hand, her skin soft.

  "Just like that, high priestess. I need the faith of the people, and if that is what is required. It will be done., Antares gently let go of her hand.

  The high priestess could not believe it. What she did took courage, great courage that she did not know she had in her. Her dreams and desires hinged on what she told the king to be and for him to so casually accept it, made her feel small. This was the second time today she felt the power of a monarch, she would not forget it.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  "You truly do not care do you?" she asked.

  "Your human gods are your own. I will allow whichever faith unites the humans in my kingdom."

  "You people are so fascinating," the high priest moved closer to Antares.

  She laid her hand gently on his cheek.

  "I wonder what it feels like to think so highly of yourself. To believe there is nothing greater," she began. "Do you see all of us as lesser or, children running around playing make belief. I suppose they are the same thing." There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

  He gently grabbed her hand on his face and took it off.

  "Let us not turn this into philosophical discourse, high priestess. I simply wish to do business with you and you with me. Let it simply be that," Antares gently caressed her hands.

  He truly was in no mood to have such conversations. Humans had always had an uncomfortable relationship with Stygians and their lack of faith. Among the many things that separated them, it was one of the most cumbersome too. Stygians perceived the world differently and it was not something that could be so easily explained to humans, their sensations were far more heightened, their perception of time and space were also different. Still there were those on either side who disliked this great difference so much. Antares was not one of these people. He did not care. He saw humans the same way he saw his people, none more evident than his love for all the people of Iliad. The high priestess mused.

  "Very well, your highness, Thank you. I hope I will be able to call on you when the time is right." She said bowing deeply.

  "And I you high priestess," Antares bowed slightly.

  The high priestess made her way back the way they came. Antares took a moment to himself at the balcony to reflect. He was unaware such a person had existed in the church, he was interested in who the high priestess was. Her desperation was amusing, yet he was quite aware of what was to follow. But if it meant the people would restore their faith in the royal family he did not care.

  Now that he had finished meeting with his guest, the young prince made his way back to his fathers study where Cirella waited. He groaned as he made his way there, he had hoped the situation would resolve itself. There was still much to do, more of his kin would arrive along with human nobles, tensions would rise as the days grew closer to his coronation. Being only two days away, it felt as though it would never arrive.

  He approached the door of the chamber and opened it gently. Cirella immediately stood up, she had helped herself to the wine and it now dawned on her that perhaps that may not have been the wisest move however it did not seem bother Antares that she had done so. They exchanged pleasantries and Antares went around the king's desk and sat on the chair. He rubbed his head.

  "Is everything okay prince Antares?" Cirella asked softly, surprising herself with her genuine tone.

  The prince contemplated his options, he knew what he needed to do and yet he hesitated. His father had told him a king never hesitates but in this moment he did. Weakness was not something attributed to his kind, yet it was something he felt in that moment. He chose to heed Casspien's words and instead combat it with conviction in his beliefs. He raised his head to look at Cirella.

  "I am going to talk and you are going to listen. When I am done talking you will have a very short window to respond. And in that briefest of moments, what you say will determine your fate."

  "O-okay," Cirella agreed she could not hide her fear.

  Antares straightened himself in his fathers chair.

  "I do not know where the conflict between us arose. I feel as though I have always been welcoming to you and your children. What is it that I could have done to you, or to Daimion or to Samara or Loukas that would require me to find out from Rodrick Rokbane that my own brother and his wife are conspiring to have me killed?" Antares began, his tone not changing a single note.

  Deafening silence filled the room. Cirella was at a loss for words, blood rushed so loudly through her ears she struggled to stop herself from covering them with her hands. To think that she would be betrayed by Rodrick before she could do the same to him. She would have laughed had fear not gripped her so tightly that she struggled so much to breathe. Her mouth closed shut. Words unable to come out and still her king was not done.

  "But it is alright," Antares began,. "If you wish to think of me as this monster, then I will show you how monstrous I am, dear sister. Right now Guinevere and a group of her soldiers should be at Lord Aldios' home. Where he and Lord Omiros are gathered with their families and a small force. Of course neither you or your husband are aware of this because they do not trust either of you and are going to escape and leave you behind. Rodrick has been more than forthcoming with information about all of you over the last few days."

  Cirella's heart beat loudly and she struggled greatly to hear Antares' words. She did not know what to do, everything she had done, all the promises and deals and slithering along in the dark were all for nothing as her king dragged her entire cabal to light. She was the one standing yet she felt small.

  "They are dead," Antares stated. His words startled Cirella, "And soon everyone part of the plot on my life and the continued corruption of Iliad will die. In mere moments the streets will run red with blood. But you, you are different, not because you were blessed to be born Stygian. No, you are blessed because it is my own brother you married and bore children for. And for that alone, I will show you mercy. You have until Guinevere's Butterfly arrives to tell me everything," Antares rested his hands on his lap and waited.

  While he spoke tears ran down Cirella's face. She had planned to tell him the truth but she did not know he knew this much already. She was scared, she wished she had come with her husband but she knew he wouldn't have agreed to this. She had believed going behind his back was the best way to save her family and at that moment it did not feel like it. Neither of them spoke, silence sat between them all but the soft sobs of Cirella interrupted the silence. She didn't care anymore, she would do what was right, even if it meant her children would grow without a mother, she knew lady Alena would raise them well. Through tear filled eyes she began to speak, but just then a Blue Moon Butterfly flew in.