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
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
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