Troy clings to Silver as he cries.
"Is Troy okay?"
"He's fine. We were just having a talk." Silver holds Troy away from him. "When are you wanting to do this?"
"I don't know."
"Now's as good a time as any, don't you think?"
"Now?" Troy asks, wiping away his tears.
"Go ahead."
"I'm scared."
"You've got this."
Troy takes a deep breath before smiling at her. "Hey, Nova."
"Hi." She smiles and sets the plate down on the counter. "You're walking?"
"Yes. I'm trying for you."
"You don't have to do that for me."
"Yes, I do." Troy painfully kneels down on one knee in front of her and takes her hand. He holds up the sparkling band of diamonds. "Nova Cunningham, will you be my beautiful bride?"
Nova squeals as she hugs him. "Yes! A thousand times yes!"
* * *
Uriel bows as he sets the silver tray of shortbread cookies and raspberry jam on the dining room table covered with a black lace tablecloth. "I hope you have prepared your speech for tonight, Master."
Paris leans back in his high-backed chair and slams his feet up on the table, making the porcelain and crystal dishes clatter. He sets down his flute and grimaces at the cookies. "This is what you call a cookie?"
"Um, yes?"
He takes one of the round cookies and crumbles it in his hand then throws the handful of crumbs in Uriel's face. "Pathetic. Stupid robot."
"I will make you something else, if you like."
"Yes. But first, where are my dinner guests? They were supposed to be here by now." He grabs the collar of Uriel's shirt. "You promised."
"They will be here, Master."
Paris wraps Uriel's tie around his fist and yanks it tightly. "For your sake, they'd better be."
"They just take a while to ship here from their different regions."
"I don't care about your excuses, archon. Laziness isn't what you agreed to. I don't give a damn if you have to fly there yourself to get my guests. I want them now!" He pushes Uriel away and picks up a knife from the table. "Don't make me cut up those pretty wings of yours."
Uriel touches the blinking sensor on his arm and reads the message. "Ah, looks like you're in luck. They've just been delivered."
"Shoo. Bring them to me."
"Yes, Master."
Paris taps his spoon loudly on the side of his teacup repetitively while he waits. What is taking so long? If he is going to be king, then he needs loyal subjects and advisors. It will take a while to get to know each of his new guests and assign them specific roles based on their personalities. There is much to be done before his speech tonight. He looks up with excitement as Uriel returns with his arms piled high with boxes.
Uriel opens the boxes one at a time and lets the snakes slither across the table.
Paris holds out his hands to them and one slides up onto his wrist. He holds the brightly colored coral snake and kisses its head, much to the dismay of a western diamondback rattlesnake now curled up in Paris's lap. "Why are you getting so jealous? Hold on. I have plenty of love for all of you." He runs his finger over the rattlesnake's mouth and touches the fangs. "I'm glad you let me get the ones with their fangs, Uriel."
"I didn't have a choice in the matter."
"I know. Oh, look at this one." He puts the coral snake around his shoulders and grabs a brilliant blue snake and holds it up with both hands in the light from the chandelier. "They call it a blue racer. I love the color." Paris sets the snake down and squeals when Uriel sets out the next snake. "A blue krait! Give it to me." He takes the white and black banded snake in his hands and pets it gently. "Do you know how venomous this one is? This might be my most prized one yet."
"Are you actually planning to assign them roles?"
"Of course. They have so much to offer to my rule as king. Can't you hear them? Listen to their quiet hissing. They are speaking to me, begging me for attention. I will oblige, naturally. They are going to sleep in my bed with me."
"You're joking."
"Why would I joke about that?" Paris asks. "They will do everything with me."
"And what will your wife say about this?"
"She will learn to love them as much as I do. In my hands, even the most venomous snake is docile and compliant. If they get angry, all I have to do is play my flute for them and they calm right down. There's nothing to be afraid of." Paris watches the largest snake slip out of the box and make his way slowly through the bouquet of flowers and ferns in the middle of the table. "Ah, perfect. Look at this one, Uriel. It's an albino anaconda. Isn't he beautiful?"
"Yes, Master. They are all beautiful."
Paris picks up his favorite one, a black king cobra. A tinge of sadness fills him as he looks it over. This one looks exactly like Snakey. No. He can't be weak. He holds the cobra out to Uriel. "Take this one and get rid of it."
Uriel lets the snake slither up his arm. "What's wrong with it?"
"Just take it away. I never want to see it again. The others are wonderful, though." He takes a thin green grass snake and weaves it through his fingers. "Tell me, Uriel. Will we be moving everything to Olympus? I hate Friedhof. This place is boring and cold."
"After your coronation tonight, we will be living in the palace in Athens."
"Yay! Do the citizens like me? Have you told them about the law changes?"
Uriel places the cobra in a small box and closes the lid. "Yes. I even let them take a vote. They love you, Paris. The women have especially taken to your story. They feel so sorry for you. Almost no one cares about Troy, or their precious Phoenix King, as they call him. Everyone wants you to be king."
Paris sips his tea and watches the table full of snakes. The grass snake curls around the saucer. "I don't see any new sweets out here. I'm hungry."
"I'll get on that, Master."
* * *
Troy hobbles into the large communal kitchen in the guild hall, managing to walk with only a cane. Silver was right. This is easier than the wheelchair. It's better this way as well. For now, his thoughts turn to finding something to eat that is hopefully better than the hospital food. To his joy, he finds Orion pouring some breakfast cereal into a bowl at the table. "Hey, Orion."
"You're walking?"
"An old mercenary told me it's better this way."
"Translation: Silver threatened to kick your ass if you didn't."
"Pretty much." He sits at the table and watches Orion closely. "Do we have any food?"
Orion holds up the colorful box of cereal. "We have these Crispy Chocolate Sprinkle Puffs."
"That's their name? Really?"
"Yep. One bowl is about as much sugar as six whole chocolate cakes, but that's what makes them taste so good."
"Has no one cooked anything lately?" Troy asks as his stomach makes noises.
"I think Silver has some leftover spaghetti in the fridge."
"Nah." Troy pulls his cell phone out of his pocket. "I'll just order something and have it delivered. You want anything?"
"Gods, yes. As much as I love a good sugar high, I need some real food before I go into a coma."
Troy frowns as the call fails. "I don't have enough signal in here. You'd think I could get a decent phone. Oh, well. We'll get something when we go out in a bit."
Orion retrieves the milk from the refrigerator and pours it over his cereal. He stuffs his mouth with the rainbow-colored glittering puffs. "Why are we going out?"
"Wedding planning."
Orion chokes on his cereal. "A wedding?"
"My wedding."
"You and Nova?"
"Yep. I asked her earlier."
"That's great!" Orion gives a thumbs-up. "Congrats, man. You'll make a good husband. It's scary at first, but it is a blessing."
"I'm not scared. I've known Nova all my life. We grew up together."
Orion grins facetiously. "So she's like a sister to you?"
&n
bsp; "Ugh. Don't make it weird, okay?"
"You give her a ring?"
"Yes. It's a band of twenty diamonds."
"Diamonds?" Orion asks. "Don't you know how rare those are now? How did you afford that?"
"I got a loan from someone."
"And how do you expect to pay the person back? You don't have a job other than helping the guild. It doesn't pay that much."
"I'll figure out something. I had to give Nova the ring she deserves."
Someone stomps noisily into the room. "You bought her diamonds?"
"Hello, Dax." Troy waves, but his attempts at friendship are not returned.
Dax scowls as he throws the cabinets open and tosses empty boxes onto the floor. "Damn it. We're men. We need food other than kid cereal."
Orion takes another bite. "It's pretty good."
Dax spins around and stabs the cereal box with his combat knife. Holding it up, he takes a lighter and sets the cardboard on fire. "This is what I think of your stupid cereal."
Orion looks crushed. "But . . . but . . ."
"Shut up."
"What's wrong, Orion?" Troy mocks. "Someone burn your cereal?"
"You're not funny."
Dax throws the smoldering box into the sink. "So, you think you're man enough to marry Nova, Troy?"
"I, uh, I hope so. She seems to agree. Do you have a problem with that?"
"If you break her heart, I'll break your face."
Orion shakes his head. "So violent."
"Shut up, Stripes." Dax grabs a plastic bowl from the refrigerator filled with spaghetti and storms out of the room.
Whoa. "That man is scary."
"Tell me about it. His slave isn't much friendlier. She is constantly watching everyone and sneaking around. Have you actually spoken with her at all?"
"Nope. I think she spends most of her time locked up in Dax's room. We're all supposed to be working together like brothers and sisters, but she is a loner. I wonder what she's up to all day. Maybe we should do some investigating of our own."
"And risk getting caught by Dax?" Orion asks. "No way, man. I don't want to die."
"Leave Leto alone." Mistress joins them at the table and opens a can of soda. "Hello, you two. I heard the big news. Congratulations, Troy. Silver told me where you wanted to have the wedding, but not when."
"We want to do it soon. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. I already sent a message to the temple and the priest knows. He said a week from today would be good."
"One week to plan a wedding?" Mistress asks.
"Yes."
"It's doable, but I highly recommend having the wedding somewhere else."
"Why?"
"Things in Athens have . . . changed. Their new king-"
"New king?" Troy asks. "They have another new king? What happened to Uriel?"
"He gave the throne and all the power to Paris."
"Paris? Paris is the king of Olympus?"
"Yes. And the citizens apparently approve. They even voted."
What is happening on that planet? "Voted? There are no elections in a monarchy! What about me? I'm supposed to be their king."
"You want to be king now?" Mistress asks.
"I have to be for the betterment of my people."
"Well, right now, Paris and Uriel have the sway in Athens. They've been passing laws and eliminating taxes. Everyone is in love with them. The citizens are attached to Paris's pity story. He has been telling everyone how bad his life has been. He's playing on their emotions. If there's anything we've learned about Paris, it's that he is a master manipulator."
"If he is able to influence public opinion like this, then what has he said about me?"
She shrugs her shoulders. "Not much. Basically, most of the citizens don't know you're alive."
"Then the wedding shouldn't be an issue. I'm not changing my mind. Athens is and always will be my home. Plus, I want all of my family to be there."
Mistress's smile vanishes. "Troy, your family won't be there."
"Of course they will. They will love to see me again. Surely Apollo isn't still angry at me. I know the little ones will be so happy. It will be one big reunion."
"Your family-"
"Stop. I don't want to hear it." Troy takes his cane and stands. "Come on, Orion. I need to ask you for a favor."
Orion follows him out of the room. "What do you need me for?"
"Can you help me go shopping?"
"Shopping? Are you turning into a fashionista, Troy? Do you need a short plaid skirt and a posh hat? Or what about a tiny dog to carry around in your purse?"
"First off, you wouldn't know fashion if it punched you in the face. Second, no. I need to find some things for the wedding. And you have to wear a suit. Enough with the zebra skins already."
"I like my zebra skins. Oh, I know. Can I get a zebra print suit?" Orion asks.
Troy glares at him. "No."
"Zebra shirt?"
"Nope."
"Zebra shoes?"
"No." Troy slides his sunglasses on. "It's my wedding, not yours. I don't want anyone to wear anything zebra. Just this once, will you please wear something appropriate? Gods, you're as bad as Zodiac was and he was colorblind. Speaking of colors, our colors are red and pink."
"Zebra belt?"
Troy playfully hits him with his cane and forces him out the front door and into the bustling street. "Look at all these people. They are staring at you like you're some kind of backwoods tribesman."
"I am a tribesman."
"Not when you're on this planet. We have red roses and pink lotus flowers. I need a suit. What color do you think? Black or white? Think I'm tan enough to pull off a white suit?"
"Ha! No. You're paler than you were before you went out into the desert."
Troy looks at his arms. "True. Let's see. I need clothes, you need clothes, we need a cake, and decorations."
"How are you paying for all of this, moneybags?"
"My brother is meeting us at the mall. He has a lot of money and he's offering to help me out."
"That money is half yours."
"Why do you say that?" Troy asks.
"It's your inheritance from Apollo's estate."
"The family estate? Why does Atlas have it? If anyone should have it, it should Sparta as the second eldest."
"Ask Atlas."
"What happened to Apollo?" Troy asks. "Did he sell the house or something?"
"Gods, Troy. It's not my place to discuss this with you. You will find out everything once you get to Athens."
6
Troy steps out of the bathroom and spins, showing off his black tuxedo to Orion and Dax. "What do you think?"
"You look like a man for once." Dax quips.
"Sorry. I don't wear leather studded armor like you to weddings."
Orion walks around Troy, examining him thoroughly. "Nice. You're so thin, though."
"I know. I've been trying to gain the weight back, but it's slow going."
"You're not going to shave?" Dax asks.
Troy rubs his short beard. "No. Nova likes it. That goes for the hair too."
"What did you do to it?" Orion asks.
"Straightened it."
"Looks good." Dax picks up a red rose from the dresser and pins it on Troy's chest. He smiles and pats his arm. "Good luck."
Why is he being friendly all of a sudden? Troy eyes him curiously. "Why are you here, Dax? I thought you hated me."
"I don't hate you. I'm just a bit harsh sometimes. I hope you and Nova have all the happiness in the galaxy."
"Thank you." Troy checks his appearance in the mirror one last time. "Orion, what time is it?"
"Noon."
"We'd better get going, then."
"It is winter in Athens and a storm is moving in, so be sure to bring a coat." Dax says. "Nova is already with Silver on the ship. I thought the brides were the ones who took forever getting ready."
Jerks. "Whatever. You two are awful. Can you carry my coat?"
Troy pats his pockets. "Wait. Do you have the ring, Orion?"
"You had the ring."
"No, I didn't."
"You didn't give it to me."
"Yes, I did. I gave it to you to keep track of. That was your number one priority. Do you know how much that ring costs? What are we going to do without the ring?"
"Oh my gods. I'm so sorry. We'll find it." Orion begins tearing apart the room, throwing cushions from the sofa onto the floor and looking through the drawers of the dresser.
Troy holds up the ring and nudges Dax in the side. He whispers to him. "How long do you think he'll keep looking?"
Dax snickers. "You're so cruel."
"Nope. If he's going to wear that zebra tie, then I'm obligated to make him pay for it."
* * *
After landing in Athens, Troy jumps out of the ship then takes off running as fast as he can with a cane down the street before anyone can stop him. For some reason, no one wants him to go see his family, but it's his wedding day and there's no way he is going to leave them out. He ignores Orion's protests as he chases after him. Why are these people so against this?
Troy wraps the scarf around his neck and pulls the fur-lined hood of his coat over his head to shelter him from the blowing snow. The streets have already become covered with an inch of snow. The streetlights cast an orange and yellow glow on the pristine frozen surface. Down a side street, children are throwing snowballs at each other in the darkness.
"Troy, stop!" Orion catches up with him and grabs his arm. "Come on. It's too cold for you to be out in this kind of weather. The ceremony is supposed to start in ten minutes."
He pulls away from Orion. "I have to go get my family. I want them to be there." Troy continues walking up the hill. "Apollo's house is just around the corner."
"That's the problem, Troy. You're not gonna find it."
"Shut up. I don't want to hear it. I don't know what you have against my family, but I have to see them. Don't you understand? I . . ."
"Oh, Troy."
Troy stops when he turns the corner. The small field where the house used to be is empty. Only the charred and blackened remnants of the chimney remain standing. Everything else is rubble. What happened? He's certain this is the right place. As he gets closer and the broken glass cracks under his shoes below the snow, Troy's helplessness is growing. "Orion, I have to find where my family went."
Paradise Forgotten Trilogy Page 45
