Tyrant of the Ruined Sun - Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Home at last and the First Meeting of Mother and Eve

We were again upon the road back north, home before us and the fifty thousand strong men of the nineth army at our backs, half escorting us half repositioning themselves from the front lines to take up the responsibility of cleaning the remnants of the traitor patriarchs of the northern territories, while Hamilcar and Tessiphina dealt with the newly added provinces of the Middle lands.

And though I would have greatly preferred to simply continue back home after so long and leave the mess for Barrafin to handle, I did not fully trust the abilities of the young commander in perfectly ridding my lands from the infectious breed of vermin still scurrying in it’s shadows.

So for the next month I and the others remained, wanting to finish this boring work as fast as possible, leading us to command the extermination with ruthless efficiency coupled heinously with half blind blades, as we trimmed family trees not with sheers but with blunt axes, as we eviscerated them root, stem and all, like common weeds from the soil.

So much so that the executioners’ block in the Emperor’s Reach never ceased it’s operations for a single second as I continuously fed it thousands of necks to cleave, causing the scent of blood and death to grow so thick in the city’s central square that stood just before the main citadel, that the people began to call the road leading to the plaza and castle, the Dread Road.

And when they dared resist, trusting their walls and castles to be my betters, believing their paltry strength enough to stand before my desire to return home, I had the utmost pleasure in unleashing my loyal hounds and champions upon them and their ill-placed faith, ripping down their high and mighty defences, bringing down their arrogant thrones, cleansing their forefathers’ halls from the echoes of their traitorous words by the wails of their butchered children, while washing clean their filth in a crimson wave of their sinful blood.

Once or twice I personally took matters into my own hands, fashioning forests of their decapitated heads as a final warning to never again defy me, before I finally led my party back through the mountains and into the heartlands of my empire.

The dessert winds that would’ve ordinarily irritated me were like the welcomed return of an old friend, as I spurred my chimera to push forth back to Eklipsus and my family.

The journey took us no more than a single week upon the alternating backs of well rested chimeras, sent from the capital to quicken our arrival; and when I returned, it was again to a hero’s welcome.

My mother as always was awaiting our advent with bated breathes, as our other siblings, Alisar, Dido and Azrael stood to her sides with teary and almost starstruck eyes, while my Grand Vizier stood with the other members of my high court a couple of steps back, along with Isaac, Kira and Anastasia as well.

And as soon as our feet made landfall, we were swarmed with impassioned hugs and cries of relief, as joy of all kinds, even that of the slightly embarrassing nature embraced us in full, as both Hasdrubal and Leonid rushed to Anastasia’s side, creating a slightly awkward scene that elicited a hearty laugh from quite a few of us.

Meanwhile Horus materialized before Kira, who instantly began half yelling half fretting over the wraith like man, infuriated he allowed himself to become so terribly wounded during the closing clash of the campaign.

But my mother was especially fervent, as she came to a crushing hug when meeting my two brothers, with the reports of them joining the front lines had obviously not passed her unnoticed, as she then fussed over them like never before.

But as soon as she was done, after a few yells of protest from my brothers, mostly Cyrus, she held them at arms length and said “I am so, very proud of you.”

My brothers had to fight the rising tide of their hearts then, as Nizam’s posture straightened and Cyrus awkwardly shifted his feet, suddenly finding it very difficult to meet our mother’s eyes, while a bashful shade of pink spread across his cheeks.

Then it was my turn, and my mother embraced me with far less haste than she did my brothers, but far more firm gentleness, as she carefully transferred to me all her emotions of relief, pride and all encompassing love.

Joyful Alisar, quite Azrael and energetic Dido who had been swarming me a second ago, detached themselves from my sides at the sight, and now instead turned their attention back to Nizam and Cyrus, as they immediately redirected their torrent of curious questions to the still flushed two.

“I’ve missed you mother.” I said hugging her closer.

“Not as much as I, my darling boy.” She whispered as she pushed her body away from me to hold my face between her two hands in the most careful manner possible, as though I was the most fragile thing in existence.

Being where I am now, I wondered how I ever managed to live without her presence for so many centuries.

“Mother, I would like to introduce you to…” I began with a wide smile, wanting to initiate the long awaited meeting of the two most important women of both my lifetimes, when I was instantly cut off.

“So this is the lady who managed the impossible task of conquering my son’s fickle heart.” My mother smilingly said with a teasing glance at me, as she then calmly approached my Eve, her eyes the epitome of the curious fascination a veteran collector would show an infinitely rare object.

Though unlike most, I did notice a fleeting shadow of doubt and worry in her eyes too, and they were without question a product of her knowing my Eve’s true identity.

Darius’ doing no doubt.

‘Demigods could not procreate, they could not secure their lineages, this can not last; not unless they forsake their duties and most important of responsibilities for the sake of it!’. These were almost certainly the thoughts running horrid circles in her mind ever since she’d heard the news.

‘I must have words with her before long.’ I voicelessly made up my mind, as I continued to behold their first interaction.

“Your imperial majesty.” Eve courtesied to my mother, her posture relaxed and in control, yet there was none of the quiet panic or the fumble inducing awe from her the surrounding crowds of servants and ministers had expected, as they had seen so often now from young ladies when first meeting my mother; but their shocks were still at their beginning, as she then ceased her slight bow, and returned to her upright position, standing tall before my mother without a hint of intimidation.

None said anything, and though the small reunions continued every which way around us, they audibly quieted down, as they all parted a portion of their attention upon the two, waiting to see what my mother would do.

Yet they didn’t have to hold their breath for long, as her face finally broke into a smile no more than a couple of seconds later, saying “I can see why my son is so taken with you, he has found me an excellent daughter.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Eve slightly smiled as well, doing a second small bow.

“Call me mother.” My mother quickly pulled her up, motioning to brush aside her slightly messy hair from the road.

“Yes, mother.” My Eve nodded with a faintly broader smile, allowing my mother to do what she wished.

“Come my dear, let me show you your new home, and rid you of those travel clothes. A beauty such as you does not deserve her charm hampered down with weariness.” My mother instantly declared, linking her arm with my Eve’s as she motioned for her many ladies in waiting to rush the necessary preparations.

I was greatly appreciative of my mother again, as my Eve was still a first gated demigod, and the long days of travel and work we had just undertaken was more than enough to tire her out, even if she was too proud to admit it.

“Her majesty continues to impress.” The voice of Darius, accompanied by Isaac echoed silently in my ears then.

“Darius. Isaac.” I greeted the two with a simple nod.

“Sire.” They bowed again, followed quickly by all the others repeating their actions, as they all roared out the greeting they could not a moment ago. “We greet the Emperor!”

“How goes the empire?” I asked, motioning for them to rise.

“It is as you left it sire, though quite a few issues require your attention when you have the time my liege.” Darius chucklingly declared, as though finding the notion of dragging me back into my office and it’s endless workloads greatly amusing.

“When is there not?” Yet I found myself asking humorously, finding no grief even when discussing the inevitable future where I would be swamped with endless mundane bureaucratic meandering in my office, trying to resolve all the annoying little issues an empire faces on a day to day basis, particularly when it’s emperor had been absent for the better part of nearly five months.

“Where is my uncle?” I asked a moment later, noticing the particularly flagrant void where he should have been.

“In the western provinces sire.” Darius softly said, making sure his words did not reach the ears of those who had no business hearing.

My eyes narrowed instantly, my jubilant mood instantly dampening into grave caution, as I asked “Is it in relation with those we spoke about before we parted ways?”

Darius nodded, but before he could further elaborate, my mother’s wrathful voice echoed out from behind us. “That is quite enough! There will be no more discussions on the matters of statecraft today, not when you just returned with my lovely daughter! And I don’t want to see either of you huddled together again scheming before tomorrow’s breakfast!”

“Yes mother.”

“Very well my lady.” We both almost dejectedly replied.

“We will discuss this later Darius.” I told the ancient Grand Vizier, as I began to head inside.

“Of course my emperor.” He bowed with a smile, before he then seriously said “But I’m afraid there is a matter we can not delay.”

“What?” I asked.

“Your guest my emperor, the War Dragon.”