Faeger and I emerged from the ship glad for the fresh air of the port. Here in Bosporus our journey ended, but still we were unsure of the outcome, so the adventure was just beginning. We left our home in Niphod to come to this land so foreign from our own. I sought the hand of the prince – a man of legendary beauty, unimaginable wealth, and a vast kingdom whose borders touched those of mine. Faeger had come with me as a friend, brother, and companion. He tied his fortunes with mine and trusted to the Fates.
Our journey had been long. For two months we traveled on road, through forest, across desert, and finally by sea. When we started from my father’s palace we had horses, and pack animals, clothing, and gifts from our land to this. Now we had the clothes we wore (heavy wools and cloaks in this hot climate), our swords, a purse of gold each, and I had jewels in a bag around my neck. We walked across the pier toward the city gates and noted how we looked worse than
beggars. We had not bathed in weeks, and since setting sail we’d not removed our boots. “Fejedelem perhaps we can find someplace to bathe before we present ourselves to your prince,” Faeger said as we approached the gates.
Our entrance into the city was halted by a guard. “Who are you and where do you come from?” “I am Faeger son of Alfar from the Land of Snow,” Faeger replied before I could speak.
I stepped forward and introduced myself. “I come seeking to solve the famed Prince’s Puzzle.” The guard looked at me and either gleaned my royal blood through the dirt and stench or sought to see me strung up the next morning. He summoned two guards to escort us to the Palace. “Can we not find some inn to bathe and a tailor who can clothe us,” I asked. “All will be provided for at the Palace,” he said and turned his back to us.
“I don’t think he likes you,” Faeger said with a laugh.
“He will change his mind when I am married to his prince.” The walk through the city was a long one. The Sun shone in all her glory, but she was hot and made the air full of vapors, so sweat soaked clothes made for winter in our land. Soon we could see the palace before us. It stood in the middle of a blue lake, but we saw no bridge. We were led to a pier where we were given to new guards and put on a ferry to take us across to the palace. The ride was no more than minutes, but I began to feel uneasy, and wondered if I’d been right to give up my birthright, leave my home in the north, and come here. The great doors to the palace swung open, another exchange, and we were led inside.
ii
Shielded from the sun by pink marble the halls of the palace were cool. I knew not what to expect, but it was not for trumpets to blast and announce us then to be led before the prince of the city. He stood on a dias and looked down on us. Faeger bowed. I remained erect and looked into his eyes the grass green of his eyes. He cocked his head to one side. “You don’t bow,” he asked.
“Brother does not bow to brother,” I replied.
“Though you look worse than our beggars,” he said without a smile. “You wish to meet my challenge?”
“I have left behind my family and home, and even the snows to seek what the prince offers.”
“The bargain is death or marriage. Do you accept the terms?”
“Only, if the Prince presents them.” A sound of shock escaped several of those assembled and I saw the man amidst the crowd. His beauty made me weak in the knees. Cupido’s shot was true, and I was in love. For this man I would have retraced all my steps and taken again all the challenges, even swimming the Great Sea rather than riding in a ship. I caught the iris blue of his eyes and knew that he too knew the prick of the arrow. “At last the True Prince takes his throne.”
“We cannot bear all to come and lay claim to the throne of Bosporus and the hand of Byzas our prince,” said the Imposter with a bow.
“But the deal is the same Stranger,” the Prince now spoke as he stepped from the crowd. “Solve the puzzle, take me to the marriage bed, and unite the Kingdoms of Snow and Sun or lie beneath our grasses unmarked and unmourned.”
“Bedeck the marriage bed,” I said with the steely look I’ve used on opponents at the end of my sword. “I will make you mine.”
“Come to me as a King – not an ill dressed peasant, solve my puzzle, then I will be yours. Then, Fejedelem, we shall feast.” He tilted his head to one side and taunted “Surprised I know your
name?”
“You know my land, so you know my name. Besides, I gave it to the gatekeeper when I entered your fair city.”
He laughed. “The hospitality of Bosporus is at your service. Be off. Be bathed. Later I might love thee, but now your stench quelches even my hottest passions and desires.” I laughed at him, at myself, and deigned to be led from the hall to the room apportioned for us.
iii
“With your stunts I wonder they didn’t kill us now and save the time of the puzzle,” Faegergrowled once the door to our chamber closed.
“He wouldn’t kill me before I failed. It would mean war,” I said pulling off my boot. I all but vomited from the smell of my own feet. I wonder if my mother were mortified. Faeger smelled as bad or worse if that were possible. Only here in the cleanness could we notice our own filth. We literally ripped our clothes off and threw the rags in a pile. Our faces and hands had been kissed by the Sun, so we expected them to be tanned, but the rest of our bodies were dark too – from the dirt stuck to our skins. Faeger wondered that we weren’t infested with fleas or lice. “We’re too dirty for them,” I said in seriousness. Looking around I wondered where we might bathe and saw no basins or tubs.
A here to fore hidden door behind us opened. A voice bade us come into the hamam. The room was hot, and to my surprise, women stood before us and signaled for us to stand on a grate. One pulled a chain and warm water began to flow from the ceiling. We rubbed out hands over our skin to loosen some of the grime from our travels. The water got warmer, and more grunge went into the pit below. The water cooled before stopping completely, and the women led to tubs made of pink marble and filled with hot, steaming water. I climbed into one and sank down. After letting out a moan of ecstacy, I slid down until the water was covering my face. When I came up for a breath, the women were gone – leaving us to soak in this luxury to which we would again become accustomed. Later I learned the water came from natural streams beneath the palace. In Bosporus there are such pools of water heated by the Furnace, but we go to them and bathe. We would never think to bring them to our homes – thinking it would bring some ill tempered God to live among us, but perhaps the Gods of Sun are different then ours.. Despite the deluge we’d stood under before getting into the tubs, the water was still colored brown when we stepped out. Faeger commented on the brown grit that lined the bottom of the pool. The women led us to a room where we were oiled and scraped. Next came the barber-women to cut our hair. Faeger allowed them to shave his face. I would only submit to my beard being clipped close. After all, my bright red hair set me apart from others, and I’ve never been one who sought to remain circumspect and unnoticed.
Cleaned, finally, from our trip and looking like we might actually be royalty, we were wrapped in sheets of the softest wool that had been dyed Tyrian purple and taken back through the rooms of the hamam to our room.
Our clothes had vanished from the floor, and the smell of fresh cleaning was noticeable. “Why did they send women to attend us,” Faeger pondered once we were alone.
“What better way to see my intentions,” I queried back. “Though you became excited, I did not. This fact they will report,” I said putting lying back on the bed.
“But I like women,” he said.
“And so my companion we need to find you a wife that will equal my consort.”
“You’re sure you’ll marry the Prince?”
“Yes, my friend. It is ordained.”
Another hidden door opened. A boy not even ten Yules walked in carrying clothes for me and Faeger. “I am here for your bidding,” he said.
“Ah, quite well then. I have a chore for you of great urgency. Fetch us a flagon of wine and goblets too.” He looked at me blankly. “Be gone and tell your masters that I am no more into children than I am women. Bring back wine or do not come back.” He ran out.
“They would send a boy like that. What if…”
“With soldiers waiting a pace out of sight no doubt,” I interrupted. “They stand that here no better than we would. Another test of my integrity. They needn’t have worried. I meant what I said. Only a man can share my bed.”
“Cousin, it looks like our wine is here,” he nodded toward the door. An older boy just past first beard entered carrying a tray with wine and food. He sat it on the table and bowed.
“I am Eupatrides your squire while you are with us.”
“No tricks? No attempted seductions?”
“You are a man of honor – one who will be given a chance to compete for the Prince’s hand. I have no fear of you or your woman loving friend.” Faeger and I laughed as we had not laughed in weeks. Wiping the mirth-tears from my eyes I asked him many questions about the land and its customs. He answered sometimes in great detail at others barely giving us an answer at all. “The Banquet of Suitors is in an hour,” he finally said clearly worn out from the talk. “I will help you dress and escort you to the Hall. You will be a welcome Consort,” he prophesied.
iv
Dressed in thin silk pants and embroidered vests Faeger and I were escorted to the banquet. I wore the jewels I had carried from my land – even the simple circlet on my brow. If this prince wanted a king, I would be that. We feasted on delicacies known and unknown to us. I had conversation with the courtiers but none with the Prince as he was forbidden, by law, to attend the Banquets of the Suitors. It is best not to become attached to one who may find his head at his feet I rationalized.
Fed as we had not been since we left our home, we were ready for a night’s sleep in beds. Our bed chambers were off the main room where we’d been. “Breakfast will be brought to you tomorrow. Soon after you will have your test.”
“And find out if I’m to go to the Altar as consort or corpse,” I said matter of factly.
“The old women of the village say that the time is portent. The augers say the birds tell of the coming. The mages speak of the consort as well.”
“And what say you, son of a good father that you are?”
“We are ready for you.”
“May you speak prophecy,” I said to him. “Good night Young Prince. Your day will come soon.”
“Blood can tell blood.”
“In all ways,” I said as he shut the door.
v
The Sun brought another feast and a visit from Eupatrides. “As brother to Byzas what is your fate,” I questioned.
“I will leave here to seek my fortunes as you left Niphod.”
“May you find a prince who delights you,” I wished him.
“Like your friend, I am a lover of women.”
“Then may you find a woman who delights,” Faeger spoke before I could.
“From your mouth to the Thrones of the Gods,” he replied to Faeger with a smile. “Come, let me help you dress for your test,” he said to me with a smile.
“My day of marriage or…”
“You will be betrothed by Sunset,” Eupatrides said with more assurance than I felt.
“From your mouth to the Thrones of the Gods,” it was my turn to pray.
vi
“Surely the Minotaur will come at us at any moment,” Faeger complained as Eupatrides led the way through the maze of the Palace.
“We keep the Minotaur in the Winter Palace,” Eupatrides said with the most serious tone. “Don’t tell me I forgot to give you a ball of thread to mark your path out. I am most aggrieved,” Eupatrides said with no smile. Faeger grunted loudly. I laughed.
“You find this funny,” Faeger growled. “If you loose this challenge, I will dance on your grave just before I take a piss.”
“Cousin, today may well be my last. I pray you complain no more, and let what could be my final hours be joyous,” I commanded.
“I’m sorry Fejedelem. I forget this is literally life or death.”
The pink walls paled in the magnificence of the yellow Sun. Byzas stood on a dias looking over twelve tables set with twelve boxes and arranged in a circle. “Your test is a simple one. Find the box that contains my image. Only one box will show you my face. The others will show you your grave.”
“Such a morbid prince you are – all talk of death and none of life,” I responded stepping into the circle. “Paper, stone, precious metals, glass. You’ve of box for each set of stars.”
“But only one box holds me.”
I could do naught else but begin a song as I walked the semblance of the Great Wheel.
Take a victory lap around my heart
Bind my hands with silken threads
Shackle me with just one look
Enslave me with your touch
Be Prince to others fairest one
But be master of my Soul
“To find the object of my quest, I must turn my back.” I picked up the box of silver set with the symbol of the Crab. I opened it and inside was nothing. But reflected in the lid was my prince.”
“Fejedelem, bring me the box. I am yours.”
I approached the dias and looked at my betrothed. “I will release you from your vow,” I whispered.
“No, I’ve waited for you, and the Gods have sent you to me. To reject you would be blasphemy. Besides, I am quite in love with what I know of you. I want to love the rest.” He kissed me. It was the first time we had touched. I, no stranger to carnal pleasures, was enraptured. Had we been alone, I would have taken him there, but our first coupling didn’t need to be a spectacle.
vii
A year and a day later and we gather to see Eupatrides off on his quest for a bride. “Brother go out beyond our lands and find a princess who befits your rank and brings glory to Bosporus,” Byzas commanded.
“Brother,” I began.
“None of your bad poetry,” Byzas commanded. “I love you body, mind, and soul, but your poetry is as wretched as your skin the day we met…” He would have gone on had I not kissed him.
“Brother, I bid you give me a nephew to train as a warrior for our Lands. Give our people a successor to the throne, but most of all, give yourself the woman who makes you as happy as your brother has made me.”
“I will mind your words, Brother,” he said with a bow. “You won’t accompany me,” he asked Faeger.
“I’ve had enough of questing for two lives,” Faeger answered.
“And your wife wouldn’t approve,” Byzas laughed.
“Nor would my children,” Faeger added. His wife had given him twins – a boy and a girl the morning before.
Eupatrides laughed and turned to begin his adventure. We walked with him to the doors of the Palace, and according to custom turned away as he stepped on the boat that would take him across to the City. As my tale ends, his begins.
