Cyrus: THE RISE OF EMPIRE by Dr. Alex Parsinia

Author:Dr. Alex Parsinia [Parsinia, Dr. Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-09T04:00:00+00:00

They stood around the pyre until the last of the smoke rose to the sky. An orange-purple hue colored up the sky, and people began to disperse back to their homes. Cyrus walked up to Cassandane and her brother, and they both dropped to their knees on sight. They kept their eyes on the ground.

“Please, stand. Stand,” he said to them, and they slowly rose. Pabaak looked at him, evidently hating the deference he had to show Cyrus.

“We’re very sorry for... about Mithradates. He was a fine man,” Pabaak said.

“Thank you. Cassandane, how are you?” Cyrus looked at her, but she kept her eyes to the ground.

“I am well, highness. Thank you.”

He nodded and waited for them to say anything else; however, they remained quiet. He sighed.

“It was very nice to see you,” he said, then turned to walk away when Pabaak’s voice called from behind him.

“Perhaps you would like to offer congratulations to my sister, highness?” he said.

Cyrus turned slowly in confusion.

“She is to be married,” he said,

Cyrus watched her, his mind buzzing with thoughts.

“When?” he finally asked.

“The new moon,” Pabaak said.

Cyrus smiled sadly.

“Congratulations, Cassandane. I hope your husband celebrates you, like others who love you do,” he said.

“I am grateful for your blessings, highness,” she said without looking up. No more words were exchanged after that. He turned back and went on his way.

Cyrus stayed outside his house all night, looking at the goats. His mind was clouded with the memories of his last time in the village. He thought of Mithradates and how well he had raised him. He walked inside at daybreak when the first light of the new day graced the countryside.

Spaco hadn’t slept either, she had bags under her eyes, and she held on to Mithradates’s staff. Cyrus walked up to her and gave her a hug. She smiled weakly at him.

“I must leave now, Mother,” he said, and she nodded in understanding.

“Mother, please, come to the city. You would be comfortable there. I could look after you,” Cyrus said as he walked out of the house with Spaco. She looked at him and gently caressed his cheek.

“No. My life is here, Cyrus. These mountains hold too many memories. I have a boy from the village coming to watch the goats. Don’t worry about me,” she said and then embraced him.

“Much of my heart left with him, but what’s left is for you,” she said and kissed his cheek. Cyrus nodded and hopped on Azar’s back. He waved and rode off with the royal guard.

Cyrus and the guard rode into the village, and Cyrus looked at all the houses surrounding it. He remembered every place he used to roam around as a kid. As he saw the marketplace in the distance, his mind echoed with thoughts of Cassandane, but he turned his attention to the villagers. He realized just how different their life was from the city. They lived or rather had no means for a better existence. He realized then that someday, he would be responsible for them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.