Chapter 16: "Friend or Foe"

“Truly, is it you, my prince?” The Praetoriae’s voice was familiar, albeit older, perhaps gruffer. The blue green eyes that looked out from the helmet were, to Caseus, unmistakeable though.

“Nannaya? Is that you?”

The man removed his helmet. Everything was almost as Caseus remembered it: the well-maintained beard, now streaked with gray, the green eyes, now with a few noticeable lines forming around them.

“Ah my prince! What a joyous day this is! Where have you been?” The older man raced forward, squeezing his sinewy arms around Caseus. He was certainly as strong as ever. For a moment, the nostalgia, the joy at seeing a familiar face, surged over the younger man.

But Caseus broke from the embrace, not dropping the stone, though he tried to subtly keep it behind his back.

“How did you find me, after all these years?” he asked, trying to hide the suspicion in his voice.

“As I said, my prince, I saw you in the town earlier. First entering into that guild hall, and then, loitering around the perimeter during your father’s speech.”

The sound of footsteps rapidly approaching interrupted. Shawk rounded the corner, charging full speed.

“My lord, I heard another voice, what is-” He skidded to a stop. Arabella hobbled around the corner by his side.

“Ah, is this your Beast? A fine Stone Head, I see!” Nannaya chuckled. “Though I did not realize you had such a fair maiden in your presence! I see you share the same tastes as your father!”

Both Caseus and Arabella felt their faces flush at that.

“She is not my maiden,” Caseus said. “I simply found her on the roadside and offered to carry her to her destination”

“Ah, I see you have not forgotten your upbringing! Good manners are a sign of good breeding and all that!” Now Nannaya broke into a full, deep laugh, and Caseus let the rock drop. He did not drop his suspicion, though. With Nannaya laughing, head back and eyes closed, Caseus made a subtle gesture with his hands towards Shawk. It was one they had developed after a few close calls with royal patrols before. It simply meant “Hide the evidence.”

The evidence in this case being Psaltria. The last thing they needed was a peer of Bartimeus seeing them with a maiasaur. Without a word, Shawk quietly slipped away, heading back towards the abandoned home.

“Um, Harada, if I may ask, who is this?” Arabella asked timidly.

“Harada?” Nannaya asked, raising an eyebrow. “What name is this? Are you the Harada of the imaginary Soledad I have heard of?”

“Well, y-you see, it is complicated, Nannaya.” Caseus was trying his hardest to remain calm. He wasn’t sure if he was glad she had used his alias or not. Trying to keep a coherent story between the two of them might be difficult…

Caseus gestured toward the shade of a nearby fig tree. “Why don’t we sit out here and catch up?”

***

The ensuing blanket of truth, lies and half-truths Caseus created was, in his opinion, poorly woven. He couldn’t rely on his usual Soledad story and hand-waving here. But if there was one thing Caseus had gotten good at, it was presenting a lie with a smile and conviction.

He was honest about the curse. The two of them knew each other well enough, Nannaya would not accept any sort of excuse or lie about Caseus running away.

Well, I suppose Shawk would say I am now, he thought.

He didn’t mention that he suspected Mirabella was the culprit; that was more info that didn’t need to get back to the palace. When asked why he had not made any sort of contact over the years, this time, he again told a half-truth: he said he was unsure of who he could trust in the palace, after he had somehow been cursed.

Again, he didn’t mention that he considered Nannaya a possible suspect. Their encounter with Zeta also went unmentioned.

As for why he had since become a Venator, another lie came spilling out.

“I have seen much this last decade,” Caseus said. “I do not relish in the killing of Beasts, but I have seen too much in my travels to dismiss Father’s point of view.”

Nannaya gave no indication of suspecting he was being deceived. He had gasped in shock as Caseus had explained the curse. It seemed he had total faith in his words.

Perhaps I am too jaded, he thought. The two had been close once, not quite brothers, but still close. Having an ally from the Capitol, an old friend who genuinely believed him, sounded… quite nice.

“Well, my prince, that is quite the story, I do not quite know what to say,” Nannaya said, stroking his beard. “My first instinct would be to run straight to his Majesty and inform him you yet live, but I understand why you would be so wary of making your presence known.”

“I cannot say I fully understand it,” Arabella sighed. “If you have such high standing within the palace, is there no way you could guarantee the prince’s safe return?”

“I am afraid I do not command such respect anymore,” Nannaya sighed. “I was the prince’s shadow, his personal guard. It was under my watch that he was supposedly killed. I have not enjoyed the same station and prestige for some time.”

Caseus felt a pang of guilt shoot through him. He felt guilty for it. He thought he failed, and still endured the consequences.

“Regardless of that, I believe I may have some good news,” the older man leaned forward, with a sly grin. “The possible location of a cure for your curse.”

“Eh? Do you jest?” Arabella exclaimed.

Caseus found himself leaning forward. “I am listening. Where?”

Nannaya’s grin widened. “You will not believe me, but I speak the truth. Just a month ago, scholars from the school of Eosphoro discovered the Library of Alsanna.”

“Surely you jest!” Now Caseus was no longer maintaining a careful facade, he felt genuine surprise.

To many, the Library of Alsanna was purely myth. An impossible tale concocted ages ago. It spoke of younger of the twin lunar deities, Alsanna, after the God’s attempted smiting of Creation, and their ensuing departure, remaining on Earth, roaming the lands to gather all the written knowledge she could into a grand library. She was not merely a goddess of the smaller moon after all, but also of learning, magic, and knowledge.

What truly set the story apart as something that could only be a myth, though, was that this library was mobile. But it was not hauled about on any chariot, not even a caravan of them. It was held in a grand library that rivaled a palace in size, hauled about on the back of a tremendous, long-necked Beast, taller than any Brachiosaurus, and longer than any Brontosaurus. A Beast so large, it was said to be able to step over mountains.

“I assure you, I do not jest,” Nannaya said. “The scholars found the library, and the Beast, or at least what remains of them. It seems the Beast has been dead for generations.”

As he spoke, Nannaya rose. “I cannot stay any longer. Any more, and my absence will be noticed. But, if you are looking for a cure, surely such a trove of knowledge might contain it, yes?”

Caseus sprung to his feet, and hugged him. “Thank you, old friend. I am forever in your debt.”

Nannaya seemed taken aback by the sudden embrace, stumbling back slightly.

“Ha! Please, please, think nothing of it!” he chuckled. “What would anyone else have done?”

With that, he began to walk back towards the road, waving as he went.

“Wait!” Caseus called. “Where can I find the library?”