Chapter 17:  The Breaking Of A Treaty

The Entrance Hall, The Home Of Lycidas, The Kingdom Of Medina 540 B.C...

   Lycidas awoke to the sound of a summons on the part of his father, King Myron. He was the last out of bed as his wife began her daily routine of seeing to the cleaning and cooking of their breakfast while she tended to her garden before seeing Milo off to his tutor and instructing the maidens with Mirna. He threw off the furs that covered his body and stretched some before pulling on a pair of trousers in a bid to answer the summons. He was quite pleased to see his baby brother Nicodemus at his home and the smile the boy wore seemed to be contagious as it got him to smile in return.

"Finally awake are you after lounging about all day?" asked Nicodemus with a grin.

"Married life does have its perks," replied Lycidas hopping down the stairs in one swoop much to the shock of his younger brother.

He captured Nicodemus via an arm being wrapped around his neck and pulled him into his sweaty embrace.

"It's good to see you Nicodi," he said happily as his brother struggled to get free of his hold.

Lycidas tussled the younger lad's short brown locks and released him knowing all too well that he'd been sent or rather volunteered to deliver the summons from their father.

"Father requests that you come to the castle," said Nicodemus getting his message out. "He is making plans for another campaign after a frightened fisherman informed him that there were scouts from a rival city attempting to invade our lands."

Lycidas nodded realizing the urgency of the matter and elected to leave as soon as possible but briefly informed his wife of his departure. Nicodemus smiled when he saw his sister-in-law enter the room, a look of concern and inquisition filed across her lovely face as she moved. He noted that her belly was getting larger with each passing day and that soon his newest niece or nephew would be welcomed into the world.

"Greetings young brother," she said happily greeting him.

"Greetings sister," he replied still with that smile. "Faring well I hope."

"I am indeed," replied Mira returning his pleasant smile with one of her own.

Lycidas greeted his wife with a kiss and placed a hand on her belly to also offer a greeting to his unborn child.

"Father summons me to the castle," he said once more kissing his wife. "I shall not be long."

Mira nodded knowing that if her father-in-law summoned anyone, especially her husband, there was a threat that he needed to deal with before it became a true problem for the kingdom. Lycidas took his leave of her with Nicodemus tagging along curious as to what his brother intended to do about the summons.

As they left, The servant girl known as Lena got a glimpse of her master as he and his brother made their journey to the main castle curious as to what had been so urgent that it required a summons from the king.

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The Throne Room, The Castle Of Medina, The Kingdom Of Medina 540 B.C...

King Myron stood over his war table contemplating the upcoming events as he detailed a new campaign against his enemies to ensure Medina's prosperous future in the times ahead. He had not forgotten his decision to end the life of his second-born son, but he needed his assistance here and now to ensure that once the deed had been done no threat would stand against them without Lycidas around to lead the charge to bring them down.

The door of the throne room opened and Lycidas came rushing up to him, a look of concern filed across his handsome young face along with an eager Nicodemus at his side. King Myron turned to see his two younger sons close in their bond and ever-loved by the citizens of Medina. He had hoped when his firstborn son came into the world that he'd be just as loved and respected, but alas Basilius proved to be as fickle and conniving as his Roman-bred harlot of a mother.

King Myron found himself despising his eldest son and first wife with each passing day, but knowing what was to become of Medina should Lycidas take the throne, he supposed he would have enough time to teach and groom young Nicodemus as he had Lycidas when the time came to pass on the crown and exile the Roman harlot and her hell spawn from the very gates.

"My most loyal and obedient sons," said King Myron greeting both of his boys with a fatherly smile.

"I am here to answer your summons, Father," replied Lycidas concerned about the news that there would be another campaign launched.

King Myron sighed looking once more to his war table as Lycidas and Nicodemus followed suit. The older man seemed to be pondering quite a bit before concluding that this latest turn of events required a firm hand and a fist of steel to destroy the recent threat to Medina.

"Lycidas, I am counting on you to ready the men in these short few weeks and march on the infernal city of Nestra," he said finally as he turned toward his warrior son.

"Nestra father?" asked Nicodemus in confusion. "Do we not have a standing treaty with them?"

King Myron nodded as he turned his attention back to the war table.

"Nestra?" repeated Lycidas equally confused by the turn of events. "They dare break our treaty?"

"Reports from our scouts say this is the case after finding many slaughtered fishermen and territories just outside Medina seized by them." continued King Myron.

Lycidas seemed to be pondering this a bit as he paced the throne room floor.

"This cannot stand." he agreed. "If King Milkus wants a war then he's going to get one."

"This isn't the doing of Milkus I'm afraid," replied King Myron with a sorrowful expression.

"Tenuis then?" asked Lycidas with an arched brow.

King Myron nodded.

"King Milkus was slain several weeks before the reports," he added. "Rumor has it that the one who had been behind it was Tenuis himself eager to take the throne of his severely aged and significantly weakened father."

"That honorless dog," growled Lycidas. "What kind of son slays his father?"

King Myron took note of the horror that spread across his second-born son's face. There was a moment where he had hoped that Lycidas would be able to combat the fiend he'd become and rightfully take his place as King of Medina when the time came but he quickly pushed it aside and focused on the task at hand. He had every confidence that they would be ready to move on Nestra when the time came and that Lycidas and his warriors would be more than ready for them.