CHAPTER 35 – ENTER ANILITHION


    “Father sent me after you.”


    Mitakahn’s heart skipped a beat. The prospect of an overturned exile passed through his mind for a brief moment. Sadly, he knew that could not be the reason for his cousin’s sudden arrival. Whatever the reason may be it will most likely be equally as impactful. Therefore, he had to ask.


    “Why?”


    “Word from the northern reaches… Attack on Castle Rosi Island. Father tasked me with telling you exactly this… The Ignaleos Cor activated and consumed the entire island. There has been no sign of a single member of House Casterosi and no evidence of an outside threat.”


    “What could it mean?”


    “I don’t know,” said Anilithion. “Father said it did not mean you could come back. I asked him.”


    “Thanks for that.”


    “He told me you would have a plan.”


    A plan? A month ago, Mitakahn would have turned around right then and there and made haste to House Casterosi to see for himself. But, here he was, as far away as he had ever been, out on the fringes of society, and he still felt like he was here for a reason. Mitakahn was onto something.


    “My plans are my own. Cipher and Lord Mercinestor can take care of themselves. I must press on.”


    After everything he had been through, Mitakahn’s resolve was now ironclad. Part of him felt obligated to give his cousin an answer. Strangely enough, it was an honor that he came all of this way to get his advice. He had to give him something in return.


    “Tell Anilithyìstad that my gut tells me Governor Demeter is somehow to blame. House Casterosi represents the high houses still loyal to the crown and if they can be silenced then it makes his plot to destabilize all the more easier.”


    “I am not going back,” said Anilithion.


    “Excuse me?”


    “I’m here to help you on your quest.”


    “With all due respect cousin, you were not exiled. Why should you suffer the same fate?”


    “Mitakahn it was not my choice to be here, but to be honest with you, if it were, I would have been with you since the gates of Zepathorum,” admitted Anilithion. “Plus, if I get a couple quests under my belt father will stop calling me a colt warrior. Is this the bird you told me about?”


    Mitakahn held back a laugh. “Yes, he is.” He felt his knee give a little bit and decided that was enough walking today. Perhaps it was the feeling he got from his loyal kin finally arriving to his aid. Either way, it was time to set up camp. They walked out a safe distance from the road and found the side of a cliff covered in woods. Anilithion started a fire.


    “What’s wrong?”


    He rubbed his wrist. “I’ve been through a lot since Zepathorum.”


    “I’ve been meaning to ask you…what happened to all of your gear?”


    “Taken by thieves.”


    “Father was right, you should have taken a company with you or at least a trusty mount. Are you hungry? What am I saying…of course you are!”


    Anilithion took out a ration of loaf bread. He blessed the whole loaf before tearing a generous piece off, “Epitome of grace,” and handed it to Mitakahn who consumed it in quick bites. Anilithion did not stop there, he followed the bread up with aged loin jerky for energy and his water canteen.


    “Do you know why you say that?” he asked his cousin.


    “Epitome of grace?”


    “Yes.”


    “My dad says it. Its religious, stallion orthodoxy, the god Epitome who graced the horses of Metuchen.”


    “He was the first king of the gods.”


    “Imagine that.”


    “His brother Apophas had no business being king and yet he was stuck with the throne. I used to think a lot about what I would do in that situation, but I guess he’s lucky he had other brothers and sisters.”


    “But he didn’t.”


    “What?”


    “When the queen of the gods didn’t return to endorse his coronation the rest of his siblings followed her to MagnaThora, save Quarrel.”


    “Epiphany stayed back to search for the heart of gold. My mother is obsessed with the old gods.”


    “I can hear it in your voice. You are starting to sound more like yourself. You must be getting better.”


    Mitakahn felt a refreshing blast of new life wash over him with the digestion of his meal. He explained everything to Anilithion. He even admitted to thinking he could bring Theomitus back and subsequently letting the jar of the king’s dying breath get destroyed. He even confessed to not knowing how long it had been since his exile.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    “It’s not over, Mitakahn. If you can find out who wrote the message to capture his dying breath you can ask them what it was intended for.”


    “There is no way of knowing where to even start such an investigation.”


    “I am not saying launch an investigation. I’m just saying keep your eyes open to potential candidates revealing themselves in plain sight.”


    “I appreciate your wisdom, cousin.”


    Anilithion put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder. He could see the physical toll everything had taken on Mitakahn. The poor prince was reduced to nothing. His manner was severe, and he periodically kept looking over his shoulder, checking his blind spots.


    “After we get you back to full strength, what is the plan?”


    “I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. Behold!”


    Mitakahn drew his sword and the silver gauntlet unfolded across his wrist and palm to his fingers. He raised his sword up so his cousin could have a good look. Mitakahn concentrated on the feeling of the gauntlet around his left hand, the cold burning metal pressing against his skin. He took the sword with his right hand and maintained the gauntlet on its own. He let Anilithion examine the gauntlet up close, showing off his full hand and finger dexterity while wearing the metal glove.


    “This is a work of art.”


    Mitakahn started to think about the forger that made it for him and where she could be right now. As his attention started to slip the gauntlet retracted back into his wrist scars. Anilithion jumped back.


    “How did it do that?”


    “If I told you the truth you would think I was crazy.”


    “I already think you’re crazy, cousin. You can be honest with me.”


    Mitakahn laughed and told him about the healing storm and the dragon rider. Finally, they were all caught up. Now, together, the two cousins would go in search of Excelsior and the libraries of Epitaph City. There, Mitakahn and Anilithion would get some answers about the Carbon Terra and where to attain the mystical FireSword from his dreams. Hopefully, they could do all of this before any harm came upon Mitakahn’s kingdom.


    “But” Anilithion asked a very integral question, “let’s say we accomplish all of this…how do we get back into the kingdom if you are still banned?”


    “There are a few options, now that I think about it,” Mitakahn explained, “perhaps by then either the country will be in so much turmoil that they will welcome me back with open arms or I’ll gain entry by mere possession of the ancient artifact. If not, you will just have to go in alone. But it is not good to try and predict the future, this much I have learned. Trust me when I say…forced foresight only leads you to bad places.”


    “You are right, cousin. So let us just worry about the present.”


    “Yes. And it is getting late, so let the present be sleep. Goodnight good friend and thank you for coming.”


    “Mitakahn…” Anilithion beckoned, “Have you considered returning to the mountains for Axion’s help?”


    “He turned his back on me when he chose a girl over his own family. Whatever I have to do to save my kingdom, I don’t need Axion’s help anymore…”


    “Fair enough…goodnight cousin…”


    Mitakahn closed his eyes and a couple of moments later opened them back up after hearing the rustle of Chronis’ wings. The silver-tailed hawk approached Mitakahn and clearly looked bothered by something. He twitched his hind feathers as he trotted over. Anilithion sat up with Mitakahn as they observed the peculiar bird.


    Chronis struck his tail feathers with his wings and a complex sound unlike any other they had ever heard sailed through the air into their ears, altering their perception. The bird called out to them, and they could both hear his voice. Aside from their original meeting this felt like the first time Mitakahn was properly communicating with the mystical bird, with Anilithion along for the ride.


    Cawww!


    Cawww oooo!


    Chronis called out, twisting his vocal chords, “you.”


    “What?”


    “Did he just speak?”


    The bird screeched out as if it took tremendous strength to rein in his cries.


    Eeeeeee!


    “…need…”


    Cawwww!


    …your…”


    Then the magnificent silver accented bird stood tall and stretched out to show his full wingspan. He waved his wings and tickled the air with his feathers causing wave after wave of rhythmic undertones before conjuring up his final bellow.


    Rennnnn!


    “….friends.”


    Anilithion and Mitakahn looked at each other as if they had just solved a riddle. They said in unison, chanting the words back, “You need your friends.”


    Chronis shook his head up and down. Anilithion nodded along with the bird. Mitakahn looked at the two of them speechless. He smiled and nodded his head with them. Anilithion laughed. Chronis took one last look at his human friends before he took off for the skies.


    They watched him climb through the air towards the stars. Anilithion laid back down while Mitakahn continued looking at the night sky. Every so often, he thought he could see the reflection of Chronis’ silver in the distance.


    “Even if he somehow knew who your friends were,” Anilithion put it to Mitakahn, “How would he know where to find them?”


    “Many mysteries surround that bird, all of which I am not prepared to dive into yet. So far, he has only been a force for good and has saved my life on more than one occasion. If he can rally the troops while we get in stride it might just save some time and with any luck save the kingdom. Let’s just not count on it. The plan is still Towerock.”


    “Sounds good to me. He is quite fascinating. I must say. I have never experienced anything like that.”


    “I know it felt like my mind was lifted off of the ground.”


    “Maybe he was getting us on his level.”


    It fell silent after that. Mitakahn prayed to the gods Anilithion would never find himself regretting those sentiments. With all that has happened already, there was little hope the rest of the way would be easy.


    Mitakahn felt as though he had just closed his eyes when the rising sun started to warm his face. It was morning. The dewbirds whistled and the blades of grass huddled drops of the morning current moisture. He opened his eyes to find that the fire had diminished to hot embers now. Mitakahn went to wake up Anilithion, but he was gone. When Mitakahn turned around to start on his cousin’s trail, Anilithion was already returning to the camp with two kanja rabbits slung over his shoulder. “I’ve caught breakfast,” he said.


    “I can already see that you’re going to be quite pleasant to have around, Ani,” remarked Mitakahn.


    Together the two cousins ate roasted rabbit. Just a half hour over the still burning charcoal and their meat was cooked well. Anilithion split most of his gear with Mitakahn, providing him with his own rations, a second set of clothes, a blanket, and a rain tarp. Mitakahn fashioned the tarp into a backpack. They packed up their gear, and started on their way, walking further east on the Epitaph Road. They had a long trip ahead of them.