On his way back, couple of miles from the potters’ village, danger finally caught up with the weary prince. He had been thinking about his immediate future when a huge net made of thick rope was dropped over the passing prince from a roadside tree. Apparently, the bandits had prior information about his movement. From the horseback, he was instantly dragged to the ground by the force of the sudden pull from the other end. With its front legs raised high up in the air, frightened Petar neighed frantically before galloping away from danger, while Ismarus struggled under the net. His instincts told Ismarus to use the net against the attackers, instead of using the sword. Through the net, Ismarus could hardly make out the features of his ruggedly built attackers who had been trying to put a loop around him. For whatever reason, it was obvious, the bandits wanted to capture him alive. As their attempts to tie him up ended in failure, the bandits took out their swords from their scabbards, and focused on harming Ismarus. Ismarus kept swirling, using the net to defend himself. One of the swords got caught up in the net. A mighty pull snatched it from the hand of the bandit. All this time, the combatants were unaware of Petar’s return to the spot. The stallion’s instinct to protect his master from danger had driven the animal back to the scene. A single kick from its rear legs slammed one of the assailants onto the nearby tree. The other attacker turned to see what had been happening, and that was when Ismarus grabbed the edge of the net to free himself from its grip. From underneath the net, he rolled out like a roller, and then sprang up like a cheetah. No sooner had Ismarus grabbed his sword from its scabbard, the other bandit disappeared into the forest. Ismarus found the wounded bandit lying unconscious under the tree. It looked like the terrible blow had broken his back. Ismarus walked back to Petar, stroking his elongated head to express his gratitude. It was already way past noon time. Within an hour or so, the sun would disappear beyond the horizon. Upon inspecting the wounded bandit, the urge in Ismarus to return by sunset, drove him to leave the spot.
On a stone bench in the palace garden, Phyllis had been waiting for Eumoplus, when the sight of him stepping out through the rear exit raised her spirit. She wanted to show him what she did to the garden. Last few months, she worked tirelessly to give the garden a new look. The plants, once planted by Calysto, were all gone. Calysto loved roses. Subsequently, roses had no place in the palace garden when the new masters of the palace garden arrived. The stone bench was at the southern boundary of the garden, facing the rear of the royal palace. Behind it, was the forty feet high stone wall, forming the outer perimeter of the palace compound.
As Eumoplus strolled past the light blue periwinkles, blood red poppies and yellow orchids, Phyllis had expected him to notice the change she brought to the garden. Eumoplus was clever. He knew all about his queen’s latest project. He looked around, strolling at leisurely pace. The wide grin on his thin lips, conveyed to Phyllis his pleasure.
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“Oh darling, you have turned the place into a paradise,” Eumoplus remarked when he was within a few feet from Phyllis.
Phyllis held Eumoplus tightly in her arms, and said, “And it’s all for you. Now tell me, what took you so long.”
Eumoplus stared down at the reddish hue on his queen’s tender cheeks. Very gently, he stroked it with the back of his fingers. Then he ran his fingers through her silky, dark brown hair, cascading down to her waist. Phyllis possessed a set of relatively small, seductive lips. Her big brown eyes, a pair of dark brows, almost connected over her delicate nose, gave her the look she needed to win over what she wanted in life.
Eumoplus pressed his lips down on hers. Moments passed without any words. Phyllis had her eyes closed. “I have been busy talking to the scouts,” at last, Eumoplus replied.
“Have they spotted Ismarus and his mother?”
“No, not yet. I think they have fled to Dacia. I have my men in the kingdom as well. We will have to wait. Sooner or later, we will find out where they are.” A brief period of silence followed, and then Eumoplus added, “I also have news of my father’s distress.”
“Why would he be in distress? Is he not happy to be the father of the king?”
“He’s the type who worries too much about the consequence of our actions, troubled by what others think or say. He talks of ethics. He says, he feels betrayed by his friends and neighbors. I told him to come to me, but he would not listen. He insists, he has no fascination for the kind of life we lead.”
When Eumoplus had stopped, the tenderness from Phyllis’ countenance evaporated. Mockery rang loud as she said, “Oh dear, he’s truly a troubled soul. I think this type of men have no business in this life. As soon as possible, they should depart for the Hades. A cup of hemlock should solve all his problems.”
“A cup of hemlock!” Eumoplus raised his brows.
“My sweet king, yes, a cup of hemlock.”
“Must you be so unkind? He’s my father, your father in law.”
“Sweetheart, I do not want to be rude with you, but is ethics not the last thing we want to hear from a man? We should stay clear from anyone talking about ethics. They cause nothing but troubles.”
Eumoplus suppressed the urge to respond to Phyllis. For a few moments, he thought about what Phyllis had said. He found no reason to question the sordid implications.
“You are not like most people. You can see troubles heading your way even before they take definite shape.”
“Do you want to say I have foresight?”
“Yes, that’s the term I should have used.”
Eumoplus and Phyllis smiled at each other before the passionate embrace of the two souls, glued together by common interests. Summer was already on its back foot. A cool evening breeze swept through the trimmed hedges of the garden. Indeed, in Phyllis, Eumoplus found the safest refuge for his ugly secrets. And in Eumoplus, Phyllis found the fertile soil to plant her nefarious dreams.