"How could you allow such absurdity to happen?!"
"My king! We killed the boy's mother!"
"And was she outside her house by any chance?! The one you were supposed to kill, you didn't! Incompetents! Just find the boy and don't let the news spread…"
The king grabbed the poor soldier's chin with his sweaty hand.
Pa!
He slapped him across the face and began to whisper in a dark, threatening voice.
"Listen closely… If you don't fix this, I'll go myself. And you won't like what I'm capable of doing."
…
Violet covered her mouth with a gasp; her heart, without her even realizing it, was slightly racing.
She glanced sideways and saw that the king was heading to the hall where she stood. She ran to the crescent-shaped balcony.
Violet stopped for a moment and, leaning on the fine quartz railing inlaid with polished silver at the edges, she deeply inhaled the clear evening air, allowing herself to feel the refreshing and relaxing breeze.
"Darling… We'll soon take our seats at the dinner table."
She felt an intoxicating hatred growing inside her and offered an imperceptible fake smile, answering sweetly and pleasantly.
"Take your time, dear. Tell me, did all the guests accept the invitation?"
King Tarquinus stepped closer to her, wrapping his right arm around her and resting his left hand on the railing.
"If they hadn't accepted coming to my beloved's party, I would've gone to them myself — even if by force…"
They seemed serene, but their hearts were full of hatred for different reasons; they were like enemies living in the same house, pretending not to be enemies of each other.
The sun set, like an imposing and immaculate ball of fire in the sky. That was Violet's only comfort. When she looked at the sky, the sun and the stars, the moon, the clouds — all of it gave her a sense of friendly warmth and indescribable peace.
She looked out toward the horizon, observing the vast kingdom from one of the highest points of that strange land, but she always felt a strangeness when she looked — as if there was a radiant presence watching her.
…
…
It was nearly night in the calm and slightly dark forest of Dásos All-Earth. [1]
The evening breeze was refreshing and revived Alexander's soul. In the distance, weary from the long and endless two-day journey, he finally saw a strange view of the roadside — it looked confusing, at times lifeless, at times vibrant.
"I must be going crazy from exhaustion… Three days without eating is rough…"
He collapsed face-first onto the dead grass, near an ancient tree with a dark, thick trunk and a strong, robust appearance.
He almost wanted to sleep when, in his stupor, he was startled by the sudden presence of a man — slightly short but strong and firm as steel. He had long white hair and a full, snow-white beard. His clothes were simple and yet had a richly lived-in tone.
Alexander rolled on the ground.
CRACK!
A branch snapped, crushed under his body, killing any chance of hiding from the mysterious man.
"Who's there?"
A sweet and friendly voice, filled with charisma, echoed through the darkness — it was already nighttime — of Dásos All-Earth.
The man saw a figure emerge from the shadows with his hands raised.
"Please… Don't harm a poor man like me. I'll do whatever you ask."
The man laughed softly, smiling from the corner of his mouth.
"What? Me, sir? I may look old, but I believe we're the same age…"
He paused, flashing a charming and reassuring smile.
"Don't worry… I won't do anything…"
Alexander walked forward slowly and cautiously — despite everything, he didn't feel fear in his heart — and stopped abruptly when the man spoke again.
"My name is Evandro. And yours?"
Alexander hesitated slightly, biting his lips, but felt he could trust the man.
"Uh… A-Alexander."
"Well then, Alexander, come to my home… I live alone, and maybe I can help you."
Alexander was about to mumble something when Evandro continued.
"Don't worry. I won't tell the soldiers anything. But if we're going, let's go now — the curfew is probably about to start… So, if you're coming, come now."
Still suspicious, Alexander felt it was his only option.
'Well, if I don't go, I risk being turned in by him, but if I do go, I also risk being turned in. Either way, I can't escape in my current condition, so I guess I've got nothing to lose…'
"Alright… I'll go."
Evandro nodded with a smile and motioned for Alexander to go ahead.
They walked through a circular, empty, and desolate plaza, then cautiously and silently passed through two small streets, one to the right and the other to the left. When they finally turned the corner, Evandro stopped in front of a cozy, surprising, and elegant house.
They climbed a few wooden steps, and Evandro paused briefly at the small entryway. He then placed his hand on his chest and pulled from under the collar of his sheepskin shirt a key on a necklace. The key was probably made of sturdy wood, with a brass tip.
Pa!
With one push, Evandro opened the door.
'At least his doesn't creak…'
Alexander caught himself thinking how stupid that was and tried to shake off the thought so he wouldn't remember his mother.
They entered, and Evandro offered a polished mahogany chair near the door for Alexander to sit in. He brought a clay basin with warm water for Alexander to wash his feet.
Alexander didn't even question it; he didn't feel he had the right or the strength to. But he was caught off guard when Evandro knelt beside him with an old, brown, rough cotton cloth and began washing his feet.
Alexander was about to get up when Evandro suddenly spoke.
"Maybe it was fate… Maybe it was luck that we met… But you came at the right time, Alexander, son of Radamanthos."
Alexander's eyes widened in shock.
…
[1] Dásos All-Earth means "All-Earth Forest."