Part Four: Port Caliber


    CHAPTER 50 – BACK TO REALITY


    Time will always be relative to the person living through it. For one prince, several momentous events could transpire in the same amount of time as his counterpart, who seemed to stand still in a bubble of romance. Several weeks had passed since Axion parted ways with his family and stayed in the mountains with Euphrati. Still too swept up in his budding love to care, Axion barely thought about home and the way he left things. Most mornings they shared a meal together amongst the townsfolk, a tradition Euphrati liked to uphold. This particular morning one of the town guards ate beside them. Euphrati did not know him personally, but she knew of him. They kept to themselves until a strange bird landed on the breakfast table.


    “What a strange bird” said Axion.


    “That’s Chronis…” the guard grumbled under the bite he was taking.


    “What’s a Chronis?” Euphrati asked.


    “Chronis…is a name…specifically the name your brother gave that bird,” explained Echo. “Silver tailed hawks are one of the rarest species of bird to roam these lands and your brother walked with it like it was any other songbird. Incredible” Echo chuckled.


    “You met my brother?”


    “That’s right… he was in danger…actually we were both under attack when Chronis saved our lives.”


    “Saved you from what? This place is harmless,” said Axion.


    Echo ignored Axion’s presumptuous statement, “…A beast known as a Berserker. It was after Mitakahn…I couldn’t see it at the time but it had it out for your brother.” Echo stopped explaining and tried to solve the mystery, “…What would make a wild beast go on a mission?”


    “What if someone trained it to go after Mitakahn?” Euphrati asked.


    “You don’t understand…a Berserker is-”


    “I know what a Berserker is,” Axion interrupted, “…a feral agent of darkness. My gods, whatever could be powerful enough to govern the will of a Berserker could be capable of anything.”


    “It wanted your brother dead or worse…and now he’s out there in the wild without his guardian here to protect him…”


    Axion looked at the bird. Echo was clearly talking about Chronis. Mitakahn’s guardian fell to a bird in his older brother’s absence. He got so caught up in his own life he forgot to think about it like that. It was one thing to grapple with his father no longer being there for him. What Axion failed to comprehend was that he not only had to find it in himself to be his own protector, but he also had to be there for the others who had relied on his father. Mitakahn, his mother, even the Pride for that matter, which is an entirely different topic. Or was it? It all bled together with becoming king. Up until now he put up a deliberate front in his own mind to impede his progression. It was all getting so confusing… But wait, there was something about that middle bit.


    “What do you mean…out in the wild?” Axion asked.


    “Have you not heard? Word from Zepathorum is Prince Mitakahn has been exiled.”


    “EXILED!?”


    “For what?” asked Euphrati, for Axion was now rendered speechless after his outburst.


    “Rumor has it…false prophecy…”


    “That’s ridiculous,” Euphrati dismissed.


    Axion realized what was going on immediately.


    “What have I done? …the dreams…he must’ve gone public with them after I ignored him…those sniveling politicians were waiting for an opportunity…he said it himself…and with me not there…I gave it right to them…”


    “Axion…what are you saying?” Euphrati asked. Poor girl tried to keep up.


    Axion did not answer at first. Instead, he stood up and looked out towards the horizon, the slow running slope of the mountain to the river, the road, and the Pride beyond it. His look smoldered at the realization, what it all meant, what he had to do now. Chronis perked his head up to behold him. A massive unseen shift in the tides of MagnaThora, only apparent to mystic birds who watch the hands of time. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    “I have to go back.”


    Euphrati had never seen Axion like this before. Her cheeks flushed with red as she did her best to hide it. It was as though something took a hold of him. It was still Axion but of a different spirit, she had no way of realizing it at the time, but it was of the Pride. She fully supported Axion’s decision. Euphrati knew this day would come; in fact, she was kind of looking forward to it. Ever since she was a little girl, she yearned to leave the small village. Euphrati always felt the need to explore MagnaThora, but deep down in her heart she knew all she really wanted was to find her home.


    As if Chronis heard her thoughts, the kind bird flew over to Euphrati, who was holding out her hand, and landed on her arm. Echo took a second look at the not-so-average village girl. Perhaps this bird wasn’t Mitakahn’s after all. But if that were true…what did that mean for those Chronis selected? The silver-tailed hawk ruffled his feathers and cawed when Euphrati’s expression changed drastically. The bird flew away and Axion asked, “What was that all about?”


    “He spoke to me.”


    “That’s impossible,”


    “What did he tell you?” Echo persisted as he escorted them to the village limits.


    “That’s the thing…” Euphrati stopped walking with them.


    Axion looked back at her when he realized she had stopped walking with them. “What is it?”


    “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you…”


    “Try me…”


    “Chronis wants to show me the way home.”


    “The bird…told you…” Axion repeated, “I see…Well…I know what this means to you…but I must make sure my family is safe.”


    “What about my family, Axion?” Euphrati went on the offensive, “You’ve known yours your entire life… I’ve never known mine…This is my chance…”


    “You cannot ask me to abandon my brother and mother, after we just lost the king…”


    “I have to do this, Axion. I understand why you can’t come with me, and I am sorry I cannot go with you.” Euphrati backed away from Axion and Echo.


    No, no, no, it was happening…


    “Please don’t make me choose,” Axion begged.


    “This isn’t choosing, my dear…” Euphrati comforted him, “This is putting our love on hold until we can sort out our lives.”


    “But we won’t be together…I stayed so we could be together.”


    “We will again one day,” Euphrati walked back over to Axion, “I promise,” and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Before she could leave, he grabbed her and hugged her, a long embrace, one meant to last him a lifetime.


    “I’m going to hold you to that…” he whispered in her ear, before letting the girl go to chase her past.


    As they walked away, Axion had a whisp of emotion suddenly come over him, it was dread. No, it was instant regret over not kissing her when he had the chance. It might have been his only chance. What were the odds they would ever see each other again? Euphrati quickly collected her things and said her goodbyes to the humble folk of Ashtown, who took her and raised her as a community and embraced her leaving, knowing full well what this meant to her. Euphrati was off on her own adventure, just like Axion or Mitakahn. Chronis led her off east across the Burning Mountains as he flew high above her in the sky, almost like he was trying to see something far off. The men however, made a slight detour before Axion left. Echo took him to the stables.


    “You will never meet a horse quite like this. Don’t tell your Metuchen brethren but he is a finer breed than any shoreland steed. I should know. Not only is he fast on a hard road and resilient off-road, but this horse is sharp. He is a Hyriesling. Mark my words, prince. He will never let you down.”


    “Why are you doing this?”


    “Call it penance for something I should have done for your brother.”


    “I think I know what you mean.”


    “Let this be a gift for helping you catch him.”


    “Thank you.”


    The young horse was well toned with a sturdy, tough, brawny definition; bright brown hair, a glistening blond mane on the back of his neck, and a pure white strip running down his nose. Echo petted the blond mane and told Axion the young horse’s name before saying goodbye and good luck.


    “This is Huntross, the most faithful companion you’ll ever have. He is the colt of my beloved Caprice.”


    “He looks fully grown.”


    “He is not. So, expect him to get even larger.”


    “Then he will be the biggest horse in MagnaThora!”


    “You are going to need all the help you can get.”


    Axion, in his rush, paid little heed to those last words spoken by Echo. In the brash prince’s mind, he assumed Echo was referring to the journey home. Axion had to return as quickly as possible. The prince had enough experience around horses to know he had to spend his time wisely right now. Better to take the time now to bond with Huntross than riding too early and risking any number of potential catastrophes. He let the horse smell him.


    Axion scratched his long cheeks beneath his ears until he let out a nay. Axion smiled at the horse and patted him on the back of the neck. He then mounted and was met with zero resistance. He didn’t even have to give him an apple. The happy colt trotted out of the town. Once on the path he nudged Huntross into a full stride. Never one to hold back, Axion kicked the horse to simultaneously show his demands and test the beast’s limits. Huntross obeyed and exceeded expectations. Axion felt no need to lighten up on the reins. Before he knew it, the horse had him halfway home.