Chapter 36: Andromeda

Andromeda nervously rubbed her wrist, her birthmark hidden under her bandage.

I am waiting in the Royal courtyard of King Altair’s Palace.

Eclipse and Arcturus sat on either side of her on the stone bench, each dressed in their cloaks and normal attire. They had been searched at the gates, and had to leave any weapons they had on them behind. After requesting an audience with the Crown Prince, they had been led inside to the enormous entrance of the palace, the sun shining down on the expansive building.

The King’s Palace truly lived up to its descriptions. It was seated near the center of Aldebaran, the Ash and Terris Court cities to the east of it, and its sharp, spiraling towers could be seen from the main marketplace. They rose into the sky like powerful watchguards, casting long shadows where the three sat in the wide circular courtyard. Bright green plants and flowers were boasted slightly above them, hanging down in a glorious curtain. They were paired with black, deep as night banners stitched with the emblazoned gold of the King’s Crest. Balconies ran along the higher levels, some with guards and some empty from people.

The Royal Guards stood at posts and roamed in straight lines along others, each dressed in the esteemed deep purple uniforms. Their clothing was buttoned up without a single wrinkle, and Andromeda could only imagine the heat they were feeling. Each man and woman held a stoic face, their golden swords hanging at their side. Pins and gold linings accentuated the dark fabric, winking in the sunlight.

Astrid had sent only the three of them into the palace, Eclipse insisting on coming due to her status, despite being dubbed as missing. The rest had agreed to wait a good distance away.

“You don’t have anyone looking for you or a reward,” she had said to Andromeda. “And I trust you to get the point across to the Prince.”

Me? Being sent to talk to the prince himself? Why trust me?

“How long has it been?” Arcturus whispered, glancing at Andromeda as he studied their surroundings.

“I’m not sure,” she murmured back. “I didn’t know it took this long to speak with him.”

“Me neither. And there isn’t even anyone else in line.” He looked around. “But to be fair, I don’t think they were really expecting anyone.”

Andromeda smiled at him, nodding slightly. He gave a half smile back before looking away. Sitting in the quiet, she thought back to her most recent dream, pushed aside by their hasty departure that morning. The Addesone worked, thankfully, leaving the past few weeks free of any unwanted collapsing—to the slight confusion of her companions—but it didn’t answer any of the dreams that were pushed back to when she was actually asleep. There had been many popping up throughout the past month, but this recent one…it was strange.

Well, stranger than normal.

She had been back home, on the beach right next to the oceanside market. She could swear she had heard the market chatter, the same noise and bustling mingling with the ocean’s waves. The cool, salty sea air had greeted her like a soothing embrace, the dream making it all too real. She could still feel the warm sand under her feet, and she had been struck with a bout of homesickness.

Then she looked out to the sea.

The water was pitch black.

It wasn’t the usual, everchanging blue-green of the ocean. It had been dark as night, like someone had stained the entire sea with ink. It made the body of water seem even bigger, a void cut into the world. The sight had sent a shiver through her, the shadowy water meeting the light blue sky with an uncanny disparity.

Andromeda had walked down the familiar stretch of sand, unable to avert her eyes from the sight. She hadn’t dared to try and touch it, her fear controlling her curiosity. Instead, she simply watched the horizon, the blackened, starless sea looking back to her.

That was what the dream had left her with.

What does it mean?

“The Crown Prince will see you now.”

Andromeda jumped at the purple-clad guard who appeared in front of them, her thoughts dissipating. He nodded sharply, his face a wall of steel. She scrambled to her feet, Eclipse and Arcturus following just as quickly.

Turning around silently, the three hesitantly followed the guard across the courtyard, leading them to the large gates serving as the front entrance into the castle itself.

Wow.

The inside held even more glory than the courtyard. The ceiling expanded higher than Andromeda thought conceivable, glass panels breaking the hard stone, letting in bright sunlight that set the place aglow. More of the king’s black banners hung inside, spiraling staircases and deep walkways stretching out around them in a confusing maze. The group stuck close to the guard, who led them straight down the massive hallway in front of them. The stone archway came to meet up above them in a rounded design, carved with obvious precision. Several paintings and artifacts and statues flanked the hall, but Andromeda was too nervous to properly study any of them. The carpet beneath them was plush—she could feel it through her boots.

They approached a set of enormous golden doors at the end of the glorious hall, spirals and intricate designs carved within them. The two guards each left their sides at the entrance and reached for one of the handles, pulling them open at the same time, a clearly practiced motion.

A spacious room greeted Andromeda, and she followed the red carpet at her feet. The walls and floor were of a luminous white, the light from the tall windows seeping in to shine on them. More Royal guards stood in organized lines at their sides, each holding a spear as they were frozen in position. Pillars and archways lined the hallway exits, and a golden-yellow trim laced every edge of the room. More stands of greenery lined the room, paired with similar banners.

At the very back of the room sat a regal throne, perched atop steps of a raised platform. The symbols of Ophelia were printed on a gigantic banner behind the seat, and two sets of exotic flowers sat at the sides with striking colors. The young man sitting there waited as the group approached the front of his throne.

Prince Damian.

Andromeda had never been to the palace, nor had she ever been this close to the prince. He had only been visible from the back of large crowds, so she only had a faint idea of how he looked. She had only been able to imagine what his face was truly like.

But none of her visions could have ever pictured him like…this.

The prince stared off to the side of the room, his elbow perched on the armrest, his palm supporting his head. His back was to the side of the seat, and his legs were thrown over the other armrest in an unprofessional manner. Their approaching footsteps broke him out of his thoughts, and he quickly scrambled into a more appropriate seating position.

Andromeda exchanged a confused look with Eclipse, who only shrugged.

The guard leading them in stopped just short of the platform, and the three of them fell in line where they stood. Andromeda politely curtsied to the prince.

“Long live His Highness,” said the guard, before stepping off to the side.

The prince gave the trio a quick lookover, and cleared his throat.

“Who amongst my subjects has requested an audience with His Highness, Prince Damian of Ophelia?” he asked in a very regal and refined tone. A small golden crown sat on his head, small jewels embedded in it.

The three of them stayed silent, before Eclipse stepped forward.

“My name is Eclipse Soleil, Your Highness. This is Andromeda Celaeno and Arcturus Sarir. We have come to seek your help with something only—”

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“Hang on,” the prince interrupted. “Is this something that needs the attention of my father, the king? Because if so, I’m afraid you will have to wait until King Altair recovers. My services are to be used for emergency matters only.”

“But this is an—”

“Is it something political? Something to do with a law? I’m sorry, but I simply cannot help you there.”

“No, no. I’m sure you’ll be able to—”

“You will have to take it up to one of the Courts. Their services will—”

“Will you just listen?” Eclipse blurted, and both Andromeda and Arcturus stiffened as they cast her an uneasy look. She was talking to the prince after all.

Prince Damian blinked in surprise, but didn’t speak. All eyes were uncomfortably on Eclipse, even those of the guards in the background. She took a breath, but didn’t continue. Instead, she nudged at Andromeda, who immediately understood.

“Your Highness,” Andromeda started, Eclipse stepping back. “This is something only you can help us with. You are the Prince of Ophelia, heir to the throne, and the only one who can act in place of His Majesty, the king. And despite not being able to control the politics of this kingdom, we need you.”

Prince Damian studied her with his dark brown eyes, his hair and skin a shade of a lighter brown as well. He sat in silence as he thought, and Andromeda noticed his regal suit of white and purples, his longer hair falling down to his shoulders in brushed waves and framing his narrow face. She and the others had come in their plain clothes and cloaks, and she felt uncomfortably underdressed. In another world, she probably would have changed into something more appropriate for a meeting with royalty, but they had no time for such luxuries with this big of a problem on hand.

“So I see…” the prince finally said. “Perhaps you are in need of my assistance, but for what purpose, might I ask?”

Andromeda took a moment, unsure of where to start.

There was so much that they knew, yet she couldn’t give it all away. How could she say that they had infiltrated a Guard base, for instance? Or that they are traveling with two known fugitives? Or that they’ve assaulted a number of guards and citizens as means of escaping?

She definitely couldn’t tell him any of that.

Where do I begin?

Eclipse spoke up again. “Might we request an audience alone with you, Your Highness?”

The prince promptly nodded to the guard at his side, who stepped off of the platform as the others followed him out the doors. The room was now completely empty, only the three of them and the prince sitting at the throne before them.

“Keep in mind, one snap of my fingers and they’ll come right back,” he said nonchalantly.

Eclipse started with their case. “Your Highness, a few weeks ago, at the memorial ceremony in Aldebaran, you made a statement to the crowd in which you said that you would assist anyone in the case of the raiders who attacked innocents in the marketplace. Well, we’ve come to you because…we know much about those raiders. And we have come to you because there is no one else we can turn to. No one else with as much authority and influence as you.”

“Ah yes, the raiders,” the prince said as he rose from his throne. “You know, I wouldn’t normally say this to strangers who visit my palace, but perhaps I could make an exception—seeing the…company that has presented themselves before me.” He gave an odd lookover of both Eclipse and Andromeda, and Andromeda stared at him uneasily.

The prince stepped down the stairs of the platform, lazily walking towards the three with his hands behind his back. “To be quite honest,” he said in a hushed voice. “I only said that to restore public confidence in the kingdom. That raid was a one-time incident, there’s no need to revisit the issue again.”

“But they’re not just raiders,” Arcturus insisted. “They’re terrorists working within

the Ash Court. They’re planning to take over the kingdom. Your kingdom.”

“And where do you come up with these preposterous allegations?” he laughed. “Certainly you must have proof.”

“You’ll just have to believe us,” Eclipse replied simply. Although it wasn’t very convincing, it was certainly the best they had. All their other proof had been acquired through illegal means, so perhaps it was best to keep the prince under the dark for now.

“Even if I were to believe you,” Prince Damian said as he paced around them. “Why should I help you? You are but insignificant peasants, and I have many other more important matters to attend to. You cannot possibly expect me to waste my time on nothing but foolish accusations.”

“Your Highness, we swear to you this is a serious threat,” said Andromeda.

“You know what would happen if everyone who came with a ‘serious threat’ without proof was taken seriously?” he asked. “Why, I’d lose sight of everything that needs to actually be taken care of.”

“What?” Arcturus glowered. “So you’re not going to help us?”

“I never said that,” the prince replied. “Although I do think you are running a fool’s errand, perhaps we could come to mutual agreement…for the right price.”

He headed up to his throne, his back to the three of them. Andromeda couldn’t help but scowl behind him, her fists secretly clenching.

What a sickly, low-life, selfish, arrogant—

“I never thought it would come to this,” Eclipse muttered to her partners. “But here it goes…”

The prince sat himself on the king’s elaborate throne, raising an eyebrow as he looked at them arrogantly.

Eclipse sent him a haughty look back. “Did I mention that my name is Eclipse Soleil? As in, daughter of Councilman Soleil. I’m sure my father will not be pleased to hear about how you have denied me and my associates.”

Prince Damian frowned as he studied her, before grinning again, his teeth straight. “Soleil isn’t a Councilman anymore, as I recall. Didn’t he just recently announce his resignation?”

Eclipse stopped with wide eyes, and Andromeda could tell she was conjuring up another excuse.

“Uh…yes…but he still has very powerful allies! Not to mention my mother, you might have heard of her…Sinistra Soleil?”

At the mention of that name, the prince quickly stood up, his haughty expression vanishing.

“Oh, well in that case, my sincerest apologies, Miss Soleil. How could I have been so dismissive, especially when presented with one so…ravishing.” He took her hand and kissed it, and Andromeda silently cringed. She couldn’t help but steal a glance at Arcturus, whose eyes carried an unreadable look.

A look of annoyance flashed through Eclipse’s eyes, as Andromeda had expected, but then her face had shifted, replaced by a neutral one.

“So you will help us then?” Andromeda asked.

“Of course! How could I resist the urge to assist lovely maidens such as yourselves?” he said with a wink. Andromeda could have sworn she had seen Arcturus roll his eyes. She honestly wanted to mimic him.

“I shall help you with whatever matter is plaguing you. Consider me your newest ally.”

“Oh, that’s so very kind of you!” Eclipse said with a sudden excitement. “Only our prince carries such generosity and care for his people.”

Now Andromeda was completely confused. Wasn’t Eclipse on the verge of murdering him only a few moments ago?

“And you all simply must join me for dinner tonight,” the prince offered. “We can talk more of our business there. But for now, let us celebrate our new alliance!”

“What a lovely offer!” Eclipse said sweetly, before Arcturus muttered under his breath beside her.

“Eclipse…what about the others?”

“Others?” said the prince, looking between them with an eyebrow raised.

“Ah…yes…” Eclipse stammered. “Your Highness, we have some friends who we are traveling with. They are waiting outside while we make arrangements with you. Is it possible that they could join us as well? We certainly cannot venture off without them.”

“Traveling, you say?”

“Yes, sir. We have traveled from Ealis to get here.”

“Ealis? Why that is quite a tiresome journey. Of course they may join us. In fact, why don’t you all rest before our dinner? I will prepare a few rooms for you within the palace. Guard!”

One of the royal guards immediately emerged from the golden doors, striding over to the throne at the end of the room.

“Tell the servants to prepare rooms for our guests to rest in for the day.” He quickly turned to Eclipse. “How many travellers do you carry?”

“Seven.”

“Enough for seven,” he ordered, and the guard promptly nodded, turning away.

“You are too kind, Your Highness,” thanked Eclipse.

“It’s the least I can do for such a stunning young woman.” He flashed her a devious smile.

“Oh, you are such a flatterer!” she giggled, and Andromeda could feel her insides tighten.

“So tonight then,” he announced, glancing at the other two. “I hope to see you all there, especially you, Miss Soleil.”

Andromeda watched as he retreated to the side wall, disappearing behind one of the many golden doors. The throne room guards filed back into the room, and the man who had escorted them nodded and gestured back the way they came. The three of them followed to get their friends.

Although the prince wasn’t nearly as pleasant as she expected him to be, Andromeda still had a sliver of hope. Perhaps they had a chance in this new alliance after all.