Calliope [Book 2]

Ian chased Mido down the stone steps inside the castle.

“What the hell is going on?” Ian barked at his friend.

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Mido stated, not turning around until he reached the bottom of the steps.

“How is he here? You can’t trust him.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass about him or this kingdom,” Mido hissed.

“Well, you should,” Ian said. “If he finds out what’s going on, we’re fucked.”

“Once I find Calli, I don’t plan on coming back here.”

Mido turned, but Ian grabbed his shoulder and jerked him around. “Stop being selfish, Mido. This is your kingdom now. You are an Asmarian. You should care about this place and it’s people. This is where you belong. You cannot abandon them.”

“I am not an Asmarian,” Mido hissed in Ian’s face. “Don’t you dare say that again.”

“You are, Mido, whether you like it or not, and you have a responsibility to keep this kingdom and these people safe. You are all they have left. You can make them better. You can be the leader they need. You can change their opinion on witches. They will trust you.”

“Are you clueless to what this kingdom has been through over the last thirty years? They will not take kindly to any witch, no matter what I say. Calliope is a threat to them. They would expect me to see her killed.”

“It doesn’t have to be like that, Mido.”

“My mind’s made up.”

“You can’t do this. Give them a chance. Don’t abandon them when they need you the most.”

“They have Barric, now.”

“And how do you think that will turn out?”

“I don’t care.”

Mido turned once more, but this time Ian grabbed him and shoved him against the wall. His fingers twisted in Mido’s shirt.

“If you want my help, you will return to this kingdom,” Ian growled.

“Get your damn hands off your king,” Mido hissed.

A squeak interrupted their argument. Their heads turned to see Maria watching from down the hall. Ian backed away, letting Mido go. Mido adjusted his shirt and cleared his throat.

“What on earth is goin’ on ’ere?” she barked at them.

“Nothing,” Ian said.

“Didn’ look like nothin’.”

Mido pushed passed Ian. “We’re leaving at dawn,” Mido grunted to him, and disappeared around the corner.

Maria watched him leave, then turned to Ian.

“What ’appened?” she asked.

Ian shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands.

“Talk ta me, Ian.”

“I’m worried for him,” Ian said. “I don’t understand it. So much has changed. What the hell happened?”

“You need to be there for ’im.”

“You don’t think I’m trying? He doesn’t get it. He’s being selfish.”

“Let ’im be selfish. He needs her. He won’t survive without her.”

“He’s a damn fool.”

Maria sighed. “Is everythin’ in order for our departcha?”

Ian nodded. “Including a temporary replacement for Mido.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Barric.”

“Barric?” Maria repeated. “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t trust him.” He lowered his voice in case Barric were nearby. “I hope we find Calliope soon.”

#

Mido was restless through the night. He continued to wander the dark halls, waiting anxiously for any sign of the approaching morning. Only the light of the moon lit his way, streaming through the windows as he paced the castle. As he rounded a corner, a dark mass against the stone wall caught his attention. The mass hurried to its feet, bowing as the moon revealed Asmar’s King.

“King Mido,” Jon’s voice was hoarse. He bowed again, but Mido pulled him upright.

“I thought I saw you with those soldiers,” Mido said. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to help.”

“Help? With what?”

“Help you find Calliope.” Jon paused. “Ian said you got yourself in some shit again. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t get to watch you fall flat on your face.”

Mido smiled in the moonlight. “Ian said that, huh? You know, that’s no way to talk to a king.”

“I’m sorry.” Jon bowed quickly, but Mido pulled him up again.

“Stop it. I’m joking.”

“You don’t make a very good king.”

Mido laughed. “I don’t want to be a king.”

“Why the hell not? I would. Good food. Good ale. Pretty women.”

Mido leaned against the stone wall, his arms across his chest. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Maybe not for you. Anyone else would think they found gold.”

Mido shrugged and stared at his feet in the darkness. Jon leaned against the wall beside him but said nothing. They stood in silence together for a long time before Jon spoke again.

“Well,” he began. “Anyway. I’m glad you’re back.”

Mido nodded slowly, his eyes still on his feet. “Haven’t seen ya since…” Mido paused. “Well, yanno.”

“Yeah.”

“You doin’ okay?” Mido turned to the young man at his side, straining to see him in the darkness.

“Yeah.”

They were silent for another moment.

“What about you?” Jon asked.

Mido pushed himself off the wall and let his hand rest on Jon’s soldier. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Mido said slowly. “But, whatever does happen, you’re not going to be involved.”

“I want to be, Mido. I want to do this. I want to help you.”

Mido felt his stomach twist. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing another friend. A young life gone, and for what?

“You’d better not disobey a king,” Mido warned.

“Don’t threaten me,” Jon hissed. “If you want me to obey you like a king, then you had better act like a king.”

Mido sighed but said nothing.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Jon muttered.

Mido was quiet. He wasn’t going to tell Jon that he still had nightmares of it all. That he watched William die and did nothing. That the people he called friends back in Esmon hated him. That he was ruling the kingdom that almost destroyed their home. That he was the reason for it all. And that sometimes, he wished he had never found Calliope at all.

Calliope. He missed her. He wanted her back.

“King’s don’t get to be okay,” Mido said quietly. “We just… are. Whether we like it or not.”

“You’re full of shit. You just make excuses.”

“I wish you didn’t come.”

Jon said nothing.

“I’ll be fine,” Mido said finally, walking away from Jon.

“That’s not an answer,” Jon called after him, but Mido had disappeared around the corner and into the darkness of night.