Dance of Ciprahn

Chapter Fourteen: T

After what seems like forever we began our descent. Cass has fallen asleep on me and I didn't have the heart to wake her. Even though my arm had long ago fell asleep and I badly needed to pee. Having a beautiful woman asleep on your arm wasn't so bad was it? I smile. For all my fancy titles and supposed importance I am just a man. A young man, trying to find his way in life. I have crushes and daydreams like anyone else. However unlike many people I wasn't really free. I wasn't free to do want I want — not really. 

There are dozens and dozens of royal protocols and rules. And maybe hundreds of unspoken traditions that I was expected to follow to the letter. The pressure is crushing. Heavy is the head that bears the crown. And I didn't even bear the crown! Not yet! Better to be one of the lesser Lords or Ladies born into old money but not expected to do anything. They spent all their time traveling, shopping and partying. But all eyes are on me. I couldn't even take a midday stroll without it hitting the papers. I sigh deeply. I glance down at Cass asleep on my arm. A little string of drool has leaked from her mouth. It is kind of gross but also a little endearing in a way. I would tease her about it later and watch her face go red with embarrassment and horror. 

I sit back and reflected on the events that had transpired. It was rather remarkable how events had brought us together. I was even just last night reflecting on how lonely and unhappy I've been lately. To even have one true friend who was honest and loyal was all I wanted.... Growing up in the palace that seemed unlikely — with its duplicities and jockeying for power it was like a modern-day Game of Thrones. I grew sick of this quite quickly and isolated myself as soon as possible. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, from the short time I've known her Cass seems down-to-earth and trustworthy. I can be myself around her. She didn't even know who I was at first. She thought I was just some creeper staring at her from a distance. 

That was pretty unfortunate. I was just caught off guard by her ring on her necklace. Does she know the significance of it? While initially drawn by the ring I am glad that it brought me to her, the real treasure. Although I am saddened that Cass had to get caught up in all this I am gladdened that I get to spend more time with her. Even just as friends. I want her to continue to be in my life. I hope that when the time comes she will want to stay with me. A momentary panic erupts when I thought about her hypothetical departure and me going back to my old lonely way of life. I am something of a history/mythology buff. My greatest area of interest is that of my home country. The ring she is wearing is of Dovahksan origin and is closely related to the semi-historical/mythology lineage of Dovadarasan (Dovads for short). They descend from the small islands of Pythranax which is a bundle of large islands to the west and north of my native island country of Ciprahn in the Mediterranean Sea.

 The line of the Dovads purportedly had magical abilities and used to be advisors and shaman protectors of the old kings of Ciprahn long ago. According to the old stories Dovads had a strong affinity for nature and that was supposedly where their magical powers had come from. The old stories had also mentioned many mythological beasts and monsters that the Dovads had battled and sometimes tamed. Including dragons. Well technically they were wyverns of some sort and while they couldn't breathe fire they were pretty nasty. In order to support their great size they had massive wings to carry them into the skies. The Dovads supposedly had some sort of mystical connection to these creatures. The ring that Cass had was related to all this. Faded etchings that I had spied on the ring were without a doubt the Aldhin script — the old language that was used by the Dovads and the old Ciprahnnic Empire.

 If she had the ring passed down to her from her family then Cass was descended from the pseudo-mythological line of the Dovads giving her a unique connection to me. What are the chances of that! This was another reason that I didn't want her out of my sight. The connection between our families ran deep and was as old as the Ciprahnnic legends my old Nurse Nann used to tell me when I was a little boy. The ring was priceless but I don't think most people would know what it was. I should probably mention this at some point to Cass. She might think it's kind of cool. But then again she might be weirded out by my knowledge of all this weird crap and I don't want her to bail. But it seems like fate has brought us together. We are connected even from the most ancient of ways. Our families circled around each other for centuries. It seems like we were drawn to one another. I'm ninety-eight percent certain that it is Talitha that has taken us. If that's the case we are mostly safe. 

If it's a bunch of terrorists or random ransomers we might be kind of screwed. I furrow my brow. I will protect Cass though. And if we die we die. At least we'll die together. I'm glad to have met a friend such as her. I didn't think it was possible. But only if we had more time together. What might happen between us... I look down at Cass again who has begun to snore loudly. I smile again. What a dork. I wonder what she thinks of me. Usually when girls know I'm a prince they go ga-ga like when they meet a celebrity or one of the Jonas Brothers or something. I kind of like it when people don't know who I am. I don't like not knowing if someone actually likes me as myself or because I am royalty. It's an insecurity that has always eaten away at me. My mother had long warned me about dangerous women and gold diggers and it has sadly given me a jaded viewpoint towards the world. The ivory tower was a lonely one. 

All I see is a sea of masks. People pretending to like me and be nice to me. I feel much like Holden Caulfield. The world is full of phonies. I am far from perfect. Being raised a royal I am probably a spoiled entitled brat. But I try not to be. I try to be kind and caring. I think I'm doing better than most other royals I have met. Many of which need a swift kick in the face. What does Cass think of me? Stripped of my title, and power and prestige would she accept the real me? For all the pomp and sparkle on the outside I am actually struggling with a lot of self-doubts and for some reason depression. I feel sort of like King Solomon in Ecclesiastes. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Once you're at the top what else is there to do? I had read a story about an Olympian who won a gold medal who later killed himself. After he reached his chief goal in life, what else was there to do? He didn't have a purpose after that. And he had actually achieved his victory! I was simply born into royalty I had no say in the matter. 

I applied literally zero effort into this. It could have been anybody. I am not special. There is nothing great about me. It's all a joke. A cosmic roll of the dice. Einstein eat your heart out. Once we land they corral us out of the plane and the guards surrounded us. They lead us to another black limousine and drive us to some unknown destination. The green skies and smell of the gnarled Asania trees are unmistakable — we are in the motherland — Ciprahn. I crack a smile. If only it were under other different circumstances. I spy a glance at Cass and she looks resolute and determined — masking her obvious fear. I see the familiar bulbous shape of the Nzalhid Palace the crown jewel of Axlcui Province. Yep no mistaking where we are or who took us. I sigh heavily. This was going to be very tiresome.