Lemuria: The City of Mysts

Chapter 45: Inheritance

His impatience forced Cheska to make a swift decision. Questions about her mother overruled her reluctance to see Louis. She straddled the animal, clung to his mane and held tight around his torso.

Strago rounded on his portrait, backed up a few steps, then advanced on it.

"Strago", she warned. Couldn't he see they were going to hit the painting? Strago, however, pushed forward without deigning to stop. All Cheska could do was squeeze her eyes shut and brace herself against the collision. The stag leaped into the air straight to the painting.

The inevitable didn't happen. The sound of Strago's hooves echoed eerily around her. She dared open an eye and discovered they were already in the tunnels. "Strago, who sent me your portrait?" she asked.

It was a doorway which led me directly to your location. I assumed you painted it, my lady.

"I didn't."

The stag was quiet for a few seconds. Perhaps it was created to serve a purpose – one that has been fulfilled.

"What do you mean?"

It shone like a beacon when I looked for you. Now, the portal has closed. Strago sensed her puzzlement and added, It is a harmless object, my lady. Let it go.

Their arrival took her by surprise. No doors or portals distinguished the tunnels from their destination. The change had been gradual. The tunnel's walls took on a smooth and solid appearance; the light became brighter; the ceiling rose higher; the floor turned into even, polished stone.

The silhouette of four people took form and she realised they were waiting for her. Among the group, she recognised Louis and the Messenger. The other two, a man and a boy, on the raised platform were strangers to her.

Cheska alighted from the stag and asked her brother in a low voice: "What's going on?"

Louis' eyes flickered to the man seated on the jade chair. She saw her brother's jaw clench. He's been doing that a lot, lately, Cheska thought. She wished to have the optimistic boy he'd been to replace the current version he'd become. Something had broken inside him while she was gone. Cheska held his hand. If she only knew how to put the pieces back together – make him whole again. But how could she when she was just as incomplete?

Her brother's eyes lowered to their joined hands. The hardness in his gold-liquid eyes softened and the rigidity in his posture loosened. He tugged her closer to the dais. "Sis", Louis levelled his gaze at her, "may I introduce you to His Highness King Cori Gascharion of Uruimeth, brother of our late mother, and our cousin Prince Noriden." His head turned to the two royal figures. "Your Highnesses, this is my sister Francesca Barbarossa, formerly called Electra Victoria Roucan."

Cheska gaped at the King who exchanged looks with the Prince.

Louis cast a glance at her. It wasn't the best time to introduce relatives he had only discovered, but he was low on options on how to save Fred. He watched her recover from shock and give their uncle a graceful curtsy.

"You needn't perform your Serran customs in private family gatherings, child", the King said, amused. "We only observe protocol in the presence of outsiders." He stood and approached Cheska; while the Prince offered her a smile, waved and left through a portal.

The King's ginger hair burned the colour of copper against the morning sun streaming from the window. He took her hands in his and said, "You are so much like Celestraena." The King smiled though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Welcome to Uruimeth, niece." He cupped her face in his large hands and kissed Cheska on the forehead.