The birthday
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They arrived to the walls of the dreamed city passed midnight before dawn.
The intruders were wearing light and soft Kandys, the typical clothing of the East, ideal for crossing deserts and barren terrains. Upon these clothes they also wore tunics and veils of various colors. The first silhouette wore a pastel pink Kandys and a white tunic, and wavy locks of sky-blue hair peeked out from the edges of the veil around his face. The second one wore a dark blue Kandys and a black color tunic, the turban covered his hair, but as soon as they passed through the bridge approaching the gates of «Ishtar» he removed the veil that concealed him, revealing a padlock-shaped beard, braided into two beaded columns.
Both of them were passing by a main road which was very quiet, the foreigners tried not to attract attention upon them because the palisade on the flanks still had a few guards. When they passed through the controls of ones of said guards, they replied that their homeland was Egypt and they were in the city as merchants. Although to convince them, from time to time the sky-blue haired man showed them a beetle almost the size of his fist, embalmed and adorned with a precious turquoise that shone in the light of the torches and swarmed at the night. And if that acquisition did not leave them surprised and confident of their version, then they could count in pierce just a little piece of skin with the legs of the insect that was still inoculated with a poison to eternally silence any too meticulous guard. The poison would take around an hour to make any effect so the guards couldn’t know what caused it and then Aphrodite and Death Mask may have the chance to infiltrate into Babylon with a little commotion.
"Did you know that in Egypt it's considered as an amulet against death? That’s why it represents the sun, light, life..." He said to the guards, selling words and speeches
The other one just chuckled seeing the irony of his words and once they had left the guards and their inquisitive looks, he approached to the side of the sky-blue haired and mumbled him "But did you know that poisons are a woman's weapons?"
Aphrodite growled under his breath, he was after all an expert in poisons and would know how to deal with any obstacles in the most acute and sneaky way possible. Still that doesn't meant that he was glad of being treated like a woman, in fact he hated it.
"This might not end well..." Instead, he changed the subject barely whispering. His voice softly enough to only be heard by his companion.
"And however here we are" Replied the second one shaking a bit of sand away from his clothes. Although he wore darker clothes than the other, he looked much dirtier and filthy.
"Better a few deaths than a slaughter" The first one spoke again as he took out a rose from among his clothes and began to eat delicately one by one its red petals under his veil "We have good reasons"
"Ok so let's keep ourselves focused" and with that both men were walking directly to the imposing entrance. Babylon opened his gates towards them
-❆-
It was another evening; darker than the last passed, colder after each Sumer day, lonelier with every new stab of his sword.
Like all the night falls at the training yard in the palace, his opponents were nothing more than battered straw lures that he finished smashing with each section of violent but stylistically precise and beautiful slices, using his impeccable technique.
The swordsman had spent more than half his life practicing to polish himself and getting stronger. Also he stood in bloody and cruel battles a third of his past life and the other part was indebted to his unfortunate fate, punished and withered, condemned by the gods who delight in both pain and pleasure of humans. For a man 23 years of age, Shura had never really enjoyed his life, he had abnegated the pleasures of the skin, he never drank liquor and satisfied himself with few portions of food, he never let himself be carried away by excesses; He seldomly laughed and even had less enthusiasm or some genuine feeling of happiness than the others.
Yet that man of dark emerald eyes was doing just fine within his routine, allowing his only passion for combat and war to overtake him. He focused on being one of the generals and high command of Babylon, to keep the security of the city and protect its walls, as well marching to conquer and besiege the peripheral cities which were opposed to the supremacy of the empire.
He was by his third round of the stricter circuit when the sounds of some steps irrupted his usual ritual. It could have been quite annoying if it weren't for the fact that he imagined beforehand who might be. Still... Shura didn't turn around to face the newcomer.
"No consensus. Again"
After hearing it, Shura stabbed harder and heavier his target. Tired of this limbo-situation in which the realm didn't have a king. It was chaotic and confusing and very much unstable, such situation left them prone to being taken by a usurper, besides it sowed bad decisions.
"None of the heirs wanted to take a wife"
"It doesn't surprise me" Shura replied, stopped his exercises while taking a deep breath and faced Saga.
Saga was a general as well, but he also liked to spend more time on the council, a «Satrap» designated by the previous and recently passed away king. So he had spent much of the last few days attending the meetings of the most powerful men in the city and trying to solve political problems, especially the succession.
"But it does bother us"
"While we are wasting time on meetings and discussions, the Persians are still pushing around, conquering cities, taking alliances and increasing their army. They'll be here any time soon with a legitimate king and a queen to promote… unlike us"
The satrap nodded his head and moved closer to speak more softly "Who do you think should be the king of Babylon then?"
"I respect the law of the firstborn"
"I'm not sure. In the eastern cities the prowess in battle, wisdom as a ruler and cunning as a strategist are taken more into account"
"And both are on the same level in these aspects..."
"Besides they don't seem to follow the traditional rules"
Thinking about it so much and being unable to come on any conclusion, Shura decided to sheathe the sword and rest a bit from the sudden burden of worry and stress that was adding to his shoulders. Saga was in the same situation although he showed it less and did not seem physically exhausted either. So when he saw the swordsman, Saga tried to ease his sorrow, the satrap superfluously patted him on the shoulder and decided to change the subject.
“However… you didn’t enjoyed the party either”
“Well… that celebration wasn’t for me”
“Undoubtedly, but I thought you may change your mind this time, due to the occasion. After all you’re predilection about the heir is on Minos” for Shura’s instinct, the displeasure on Saga’s voice towards the Prince didn’t go unnoticed, it was clear he was on his opponent’s side
“I do approve his claim to the throne, but I do not approve such festivities like onomastics” Shura replied finally
“But the people need entertainment and Minos know this, at least” Saga sounded convincingly right
“So why don’t you approve his claim over Radamanthys?”
“Because of the same reason” Saga replied, and then once again coming back to the same subject, it was inevitable. While every occasion had place in every corner in Babylon, everyone was talking about it “He’s clever and people enjoy him I concede that, but he’s also very confident and does not have measure”
“Maybe we need an ambitious King”
“And you need to enjoy more, not drinking too much but-…”
“I don’t want to”
The aforementioned didn’t move or say anything else in a while, he just watched Shura’s sword coming back to its sheath on Shura’s belt. It was a beautiful and sharp scimitar with the design of a maid.
"Well for now... I do have something which might surprise you"
"What is it?"
"A mission"
-❆-
It was almost down and Minos -as always- couldn't sleep.
It was getting even more constant these days. From his private balcony in the palace he watched the majestic and resplendent city of Babylon sunk in sleep while a shadow approached behind him. The storm came faster than he expected and he doesn't even had the chance to enjoy his birthday or a little piece of calm while looking at the gates which were welcoming new merchants within extraordinaire contraptions. While he dreamed of adventures and stories, his interlocutor lost his temper.
"How could you be so careless?" He yelled to Minos chasing him with rough and stoicism after the previous council solved "You should've choose one already..."
"Don't want to go back to that argue, Aiacos"
"And what about go back to make sure you want to become the king?"
"Radamanthys hasn't choose anyone either"
"But he will, eventually. You know this is the only way... You two are just... playing with time"
Minos was quiet and very silent, as he liked to remain in his chambers. But the three persons in the room knew that Aiacos will persist.
"Pasiphae it's just perfect for..."
"Aiacos go away or I will take you out of here by myself" Minos cut him off abruptly, he wasn't in the mood at all. Not after the feast
The mentioned doesn't even pretend to be offended, he was so accustomed to the antipathy of Minos that he just made a short reverence and leave the albino alone, murmuring a softer "Just think about it" before closing the door.
Finally when he was sure about Aiacos' departure, the silver haired man started to walk around the room, anxious. He was wearing a white ivory Kandys but the cloth had weird black tribal designs on the sleeves and the collar and upon the dress, he wore a golden tunic enrolled around the waist and crossing upon one of his shoulders, the fabric was long enough to fell behind his back like a cape. He had a lot of jewelry on his wrists, the neck, the ears, the biceps and a belt made of copper. Minos looked like a God, exotic with his color of hair, sensual with his feline and smart features; the metal gleamed with every move when he started to take off every piece but the immaculate image could be only sacralized in exquisiteness because of his longs bangs of hair, falling like a snow forest behind his silhouette.
One minute passed; two minutes... three minutes and he couldn't handle anymore. He took off his nose piercing and left the piercing over a night stand
"Get out of there. You are too much loud" Minos stated
Silently a silhouette emerged from the shadows of the room where the lights of the candles could not reach; he was tall and blond, very handsome and has a threatening unibrow. Unlike the others, he wasn’t using a Kandys, he wore a simple dark purple shirt and black leather pants, on his red belt he always carried a long dagger with the design of a Wyvern
"Nobody could approach you without you notice?" He said to Minos
"I have good ears and senses, so all the assassins of the world would be futile with me" Minos replied going to meet him immediately before he left a bracelet on the bed "Did you hear Aiacos?"
The blond nodded and stopped in front of the albino. Minos raised both his hands and touched the cheeks of the taller man softly and sweet, feeling like he had just touched a piece of heaven, he could sense his worries as well so he tried to remove them from that scowled face. Instinctively the blond approached the face towards the other one, even if at the beginning he was reluctant to, his lips descended and ghosted over Minos lips. Both men closed their eyes and started to melt in the other's breathe when Radamanthys forehead rested against Minos.
"So... Did you? Eventually... Take a wife?"
"Of course not, Minos"
"Then, what are we going to do?"
"Gain the throne fairly. Whichever of us who is going to rule this kingdom, don't need a woman to ensure his right" Radamanthys’ voice was evenly but certainly harsh, very harsh in all his competitive way
"You know the citizens wouldn't accept that and the war either... They want to make an alliance with another kingdom to preserve the rows. Babylon needs a queen, a female figure and a solid strength from the inside to be able to externalize" Minos's eyes became like blades, piercing through his brother, searching for his common sense and finding just a cold wall in between
They had a little separation. Minos had to move away for making his explanation, he wasn't trying to get back to that argue, he wasn't agreeing with that either. But he wanted to be realist in this critic situation. Running after each other when they were twelve or so was pretty much fun, competitive and passionate even... but now things had started to change.
"Then you're going to take a wife? That Pasiphae, the Median princess?"
"No, I'm not"
"So there's nothing"
"I'm just trying to find a way without being a negligent. You know, I like to be anticipated to every situation. But everything would be so much easier if we weren't the heirs"
"Let's not be then..." There was a moment while Minos opened his mouth, his blood rushed because his intuition anticipated what Radamanthys was about to propose “Escape with me”
Minos couldn’t process what his brother meant, but he does dream about it on his own mind secretly. After that, he snaps and waits a while for the comment to become a weird and strange joke from his humorless brother. When the clarification didn't came, the white haired burst out laughing and definitely turned away, the blond watched him with certain heartache and a broken.
"Don't be ridiculous Radamanthys... How could we?”
“No... No, never. This is our place, I have plans for Babylon, I have a policy to realize, strategy, wars to win and territories to conquest. It's our duty to preserve the supremacy and above all... our justice and heritage!" Minos outbursts were always choleric -and usually- the worst of the three princes of Babylon
Radamanthys on the other hand, was the most indomitable and would soon follow Minos treats to amplify the rage in the argument. If they started an argument right there it would became catastrophic
Radamanthys looked at him like a gargoyle, he was visibly wounded. It wounded Minos deeply as well and he felt a terrible bitter taste and a turn in his stomach. The silver haired man had no words to comfort his brother; in any case that was what he really thought.
After a crushing moment of silence, Radamanthys closed the conversation "Yes, that's the difference between you and me, that I also have plans here, but I would put them all aside just for you" he said and with that he left the chambers.
Minos watched his back and thought that he couldn't remember when this deep bond between him and his brother had grown to such an extent. He had been with innumerable women and men, the empire did not punish the pleasures of both sexes, and however the only one who really meant anything to him was Radamanthys. The thing missing for either of them to claim their right to the throne was that one of them must marry a young woman who could become the queen. It was what his vassals, the nobles and the townspeople asked for in order to tie the tie between the only two candidates.
Aiacos was their half-brother, he was recognized as a prince but due to his bloodline he couldn’t present a claim to the throne. Besides, Aiacos was the younger and Minos was the older and despite that, there was much people supporting Radamanthys on his claim. The battle was clearly enrolled between Minos and Radamanthys and none of them would back off on a competition which involves the other, that was an implicit promise just like a secret honor pact they never talk about as well. The fact that Radamanthys got to offer him a third option about escaping together mulled Minos in his deep, it should have cost the blond a lot to get to offer something like that, Radamanthys was so prideful after all…
“We’re a terrible combination, probably the worst” Minos confessed to himself
Still... Minos couldn't marry any other. If he had to choose, he would only marry with the city, the magical Babylon.
Although, right now he would gladly cheat his wife with a couple of magical «arak» bottles.
He took of his tunic and the Kandys and remained naked on the high balcony once again. After some inhalations and exhalations of cool air, he jumped upon the terrace wall that surrounded a short space. When he landed on his feet he felt some of the leaves of the climbing plants of the balcony under his bare soles, then a current of breeze rose and hit his face and his body with impetus. Minos extended his arms on the air like he has going to catch the wind and all of the whispers of the city, to catch its thoughts.
What should he do?
Another strong wind strike and the flowers fluttered everywhere around him, raising like shooting stars and landing over Minos hair and body like they were delicate meteorites. The violate cyclamen petals revolved into his white hair which sprinted free with the wind, meanwhile the laurel leaves fell on his feet and his shoulders. Babylon had a barren weather, but in that moment, the pale crescent moon appeared to wash in water lakes his skin.
Radamanthys was seeing him, Minos knew. He had a secret place up on one of the battlements where the blond attained to look out for him, but he never let anyone approach to said rampart, it was exclusively for him. Radamanthys never admitted he used to pass his nights keeping an eye on Minos’ chambers at the same time he guarded the city from there. But there was a lot more Radamanthys never admitted, it pissed Minos so much… However, right now, Minos felt free, free from his mind and free of Radamanthys’ desire. It was his birthday after all. He raised his arms even more towards the sky and let his abdominal tense up, stretching.
Minos closed his eyes and started to remember things, things like the way they kissed, first with rage and mixed dread, eventually becoming so natural, so much like the wind, necessary and passionate when the tides grew higher. After that they never overpassed more than swift touches and kisses so Minos felt his own hungry rising every time, he wants Radamanthys in every possible way, but sometimes he can’t get through his mental walls either.
Some years ago when Minos was going to turn fourteen years old, Radamanthys escaped outside the walls in the dunes because he claimed to their mother that he won’t be present during Minos’ birthday. Minos went looking for him, disappearing from his own feast, not that he particularly wanted to celebrate it with Rada, but he still wanted to make sure that his brother was fine.
Radamanthys was thirteen years old then and when Minos found him covering from the merciless sun, he had the loftiness to deny his tantrum towards Minos.
“I’m not hiding” Little Radamanthys had said to him while he was sit on dry land, his red cheeks were covered with his purple veil increasing the color, and it was fulfilled with sand but Minos noticed
“Why don’t you come to the party then?”
“Because I need to train”
“But you don’t have a weapon”
“I will train my punches; maybe I could use your face”
Minos laughed at his nonchalant attitude
“You can’t even endure the heat, look at yourself, you’re under this dune cave hiding from the sun” The older brother had made sure to emphasize his words earning even more despise from the younger. Radamanthys said nothing in response, so Minos continued “Why do you hate me so much little brother?”
Radamanthys growled and it seriously surprised him, he almost sounded like a beast, discarding the fact that he was too tiny then. He just looked like a bristly cat.
“I do know that sometimes I’m a pain in the ass… but come on, we’ve been always like this and still carry on with our lives” Minos continued, he kneeled in front of the blonde trying to treat him gently
The action had the opposite effect, instead of managing to reassure his younger brother; he became more anxious and backed away using his rear. Minos was transfixed due to his behavior.
“Radamanthys, why are you evading me?” Minos inquired
He tried at least a dozen times more but no matter what, Radamanthys never cleared up what was happening to him
“You’re such a stubborn dumbass” The older had said to the young, surrendering at some point
At the end he took off a leather bag he had attach to his own belt and when he unfolded a piece of fabric, there was a dagger -which appeared more like a sword on his short hand- in the interior, its handle had the figure of the Wyvern. The same dagger Radamanthys was using moments before, the same dagger he never gets away from. He extended it to his brother with a nod and a gaze that said: It’s for you
“Why are you giving me this?” Finally Radamanthys spoke again
“I thought a Wyvern would suite you when you escape once again claiming go train, you also needed a weapon. Just don’t poke your own eye please”
“Shut up! That’s not what I asked”
“Well…”
“Minos, why are you giving a gift? When it’s your birthday it happens the other way around”
“Yeah I know I don’t care either. I’m giving you this because I want to, and I don’t need a special date. I won’t show my affections only because is a special date, today I’m happy and so I wanted to make you part of that”
“I won’t accept it-…” Radamanthys was clearly in denial, but he was starting to soften in the inside. The dagger enthralled his moral resistance and Minos words haunted his feelings
“Come on, my bittersweet stubborn as a mule brother, just take it and let’s go back home. I’m hungry”
Radamanthys took the dagger; suspicious at first, overprotective with the object later. Minos smiled fondly while they got up and returned. He made Radamanthys fall in the sand a couple of times and when he presented excuses for his disappearance to their mother, the younger was more covered by the sand than the clothes.
Minos saw that memory clearly in the night sky, now they were twenty-four and twenty-three years old and he was naked trying to gaze like an eagle what was behind those walls of Babylon, a war was coming and they needed to make some decisions. Speaking of eagles, one of those rapacious birds came flying from the upper ramparts, a beautiful messenger creature. It has a message tied around its paw and when Minos unfolded he discovered to his surprise that the letter had Radamanthys’ handwriting
”I’m not taking a wife either, If this is your disposition than I would make this gift a symbol of my union and loyalty with you. Whoever the future king is, let's not separate from each other's side never”
”Happy birthday”
And there was a ring on the other paw of the eagle, the most beautiful ring Minos ever saw on his life. It had a Gryphon design holding a ruby on its beak.
Minos went to his bed with renewed happiness, he felt complete with his ring, and in fact it was the only object he slept with. The next day would be another matter and he was afraid of the subsequent meetings, after all he had a few hours left before the entourage of another dynasty would appear in his palace, this time a princess who wanted to marry Radamanthys. They say that Pandora's beauty could only be matched by the terror that she inspires, but perhaps that terror elucidated feelings in her brother.
Minos was the real scared here.