Heading Home

Heading Home

By Lisa Henry

 

Prologue

The city of Astrodia exploded with joy at the news of a Princess having been born to Queen Quintara and King Elio. Her name was Aquilia.

King Elio’s brother heard the news and sent his congratulations. He was secretly overjoyed with the news, and not because he was now an uncle. King Elio’s brother, Altair, was happy because he knew that only a male child could take over the reign should anything happen to Elio. Not that Altair wished harm on him, or did he?

Altair had his own son, Janus, who he had hoped would someday become King, but these hopes were dashed the day Altair gave up his line within the succession to marry Lyra. She was from a rival family who would have done anything to take over Astrodia. Altair had found her one day, sitting at the fountain, which provided water for the city, with a bottle of cyanide. He had then banished her and her family to the outer wastelands of Saturn never to return under any circumstances. He kept Janus with him and brought him up alone. Janus had never asked about his mum, he was only six months old at the time she was banished so he barely remembers her.

Altair and Quintara never really hit it off. She was originally the Queen of Enceladus and she met Elio there at the Annual Banquet of The Solar Eclipse just over ten years ago. They grew fond of each other so quickly and so deeply that there was a big wedding only six months after they met. They had tried for so long to bring a child into their family but they hadn’t been lucky until that fateful day three years ago.

Quintara had started to feel unwell. Elio was worried beyond belief, he worried that living in an unstable atmosphere would make Quintara ill. He had summoned the Galactic Medic at once. She was prompt and polite. After checking on Quintara, she beckoned Elio into the room where she announced that he would soon become a father. Elio was overjoyed. Something they had prayed to the Elders for had been finally granted. He thanked them with overwhelming emotion, tears rolling, unapologetically, down his cyan toned face. He turned to look at his wife, her normally pale complexion glowing purple. The Galactic Medic explained this was to show she was with child and that child was a girl.

Altair continually reminded Elio that only a son could continue the reign of Astrodia and Saturn, but Elio wasn’t listening. He was too happy about the impending arrival of his baby to worry about that now, besides; he had many, many years left to worry about that. As King, he could always change the rules, but he would think about that later too. Now was the time to prepare for the arrival of his Princess.

As Quintara came closer to the birth of their child, she became more aware of Altair’s hostility towards her. She would try to avoid him as best she could, leaving her husband to attend Royal engagements alone and spending her time crocheting blankets and socks. Elio never questioned his wife; he believed she had her own reasons. He accepted gifts from the people of Astrodia, vast arrays of teddies, blankets and handed down toys, all of which weren’t needed but were gratefully received. The people of Astrodia loved Elio and Quintara, and they wished them every happiness.

 

Chapter 1

Elio was watching as his three-year-old daughter, Aquilia, played on the grass with their two jaglions, Paxy and Plexys. She giggled as they both nuzzled her.

“They adore her, don’t they, my darling?” Elio cooed to Quintara.

“They certainly do,” she replied smiling.

Aquilia rolled onto her belly and pretended to swim along the grass; all the while Paxy and Plexys guarded the little Princess, watching the surrounding area with their sharp, citrine coloured eyes, their fur alternating from jet-black to sandy with every movement. Almost like clockwork, every two minutes, they would swap places, glancing towards the baby girl and back to their patrol.

A low growl caught the attention of King Elio. He glanced from the balcony in the direction of the noise to see Plexys and Paxy on guard at the steps to the garden and Janus attempting to calm them down, his hands outstretched and open, his voice low and calm.

“Down!” Stated King Elio, “down. Calm.”

Both jaglions settled instantly, resuming their positions next to the Princess.

“Janus! How lovely to see you! What brings you here so early?” King Elio exclaimed, bringing him in for a brief hug.

“Hello Uncle! Father wanted me to offer my assistance for tonight’s banquet for the Princess’s birthday. Party,” he replied with a bright smile.

“That’s very kind of you Janus. We could use some extra hands, if you really don’t mind?” Elio said.

“Thank you Janus. You’re very kind to offer,” Quintara said from behind the curtain. She felt this rather strange considering she and Altair had not really been close, but she would let her thoughts slide for now, there was plenty of time to work out Altair’s plan after the party.

While Elio and Janus set about blowing up balloons and hanging birthday bunting, Quintara gathered a young Aquilia up into her arms and set about dressing the young Princess for her party, choosing the perfect glittery tiara that brought attention to her gold embroidered gown, handmade especially for the Princess’s party. Quintara selected the most dazzling, sparkly shoes and a small diamante necklace to finish off the outfit.

“Mummy, why do I have to wear this thing?” Aquilia asked, pointing at the tiara atop her head.

“You are the Princess, my darling. It is expected of you, just as I wear mine and Daddy wears his crown,” Quintara replied.

Aquilia was yet to understand where she stood in the world and just how important she really was.

“Is Aunt Quintara happy here Uncle Elio?” Janus asked.

“I believe so young Janus, why do you ask? Elio responded.

“It’s just; I’ve noticed her looking towards Enceladus recently. I was becoming worried that she wasn’t happy here on Saturn,” he replied looking down towards his feet.

“A lot happened up there, maybe she misses it, maybe having Aquilia has brought back some memories, I’m sure she will be just fine,” Elio replied, scratching his silver hair.

"Elio, darling,” Quintara beckoned from the balcony, breaking Elio’s thoughts, “please look at our Princess.”

“On my way my sweet,” he called back.

He made his way up the winding staircase that was the centerpiece of their Palace, with its crystal banisters and marble steps. Upon reaching the top, he gasps in awe at the sight before him; his little Aquilia is all her Royal glory, standing gracefully next to her mother, who looked equally as beautiful. The sight brought a tear to his eye. Never, in his wildest dreams, did he think he would have such a beautiful family. Now his dream was complete.

 

Chapter 2

The banquet was progressing well, the whole kingdom had been invited to celebrate the Princess’s birthday, and she was ‘their’ Princess after all. Elio and Quintara surveyed their people as they enjoyed the masses of food on offer to them, danced to every piece of music played and listened as speeches were made to honour Aquilia.

“So much fuss for such a young girl,” Altair sneered through gritted teeth.

“I’m not sure father. She is the Princess after all,” Janus replied to his father’s jeering.

“Oh, stop it!” Altair demanded. “You never had any of that growing up and you turned out just fine. It’s all material things.”

Janus remembered how he was given mediocre gifts growing up, things that would help him through life. He had received a mass number of books and pens, craft items, discovery books, academic books. These things never interested him. He had wanted toys and games, but his father had forbidden them. He had said he needed to ‘be prepared’ for the future. Janus had no idea what he meant but over the past few years, Janus had begun to wonder where his mother was. He had felt a pang of jealousy whenever he had seen Aquilia with her mother, but whenever he had asked Altair about her, the subject was changed in an instant. This had piqued his interest.

Janus watched with a smile as Elio spun Aquilia around like a spinning top, round son many times, she toppled over and just sat on the floor giggling. Altair snorted beside him.

“That’s no way for a Princess to act! She should be acting with dignity and grace!”

“She’s three Dad, not thirteen. She probably doesn’t even understand what she is supposed to be doing yet,” Janus said.

“That’s because her MOTHER hasn’t taught her well enough! It may be like that on Enceladus, but not here on Saturn!” Altair boomed. “It’s unacceptable.”

Janus watched his father walk away from the crowd and off into the night. He worried about his dad. He was never satisfied with anything Elio had done as King, he always said he could have done better. Janus never understood why his father wasn’t King, he was older than Elio, and that normally meant he would have succeeded before Elio, but he didn’t. He made a mental note to ask his dad about it one day.

Trumpets blew and everyone fell silent.

“We would like to thank you all for the gifts and well wishes you have all bestowed upon our beloved Princess Aquilia,” King Elio began, “it has been our greatest pleasure to include everyone on the celebrations.”

Princess Aquilia squealed when she saw the four-tier, turquoise, pink and purple cake, covered with rainbow sprinkles and topped with a neon pink rabbit.

“We would especially like to thank the anonymous donation of the cake; it really is tremendous! Queen Quintara announced.

Aquilia jumped around the cake, her eyes so big they rivalled some of the plates on the tables. 

The whole kingdom sang Happy Birthday to the Princess.

Outside, Altair could hear the celebrations continue and he cursed himself for passing up the throne, cursed himself for falling for Lyra’s charms. He knew she was off limits, but her aqua eyes had been so hard to ignore, her magenta hair just flowed down her back, and the way she walked past him that night had enchanted him beyond anybody's help. Upon telling his family that he had fallen in love, he had been informed of who she really was, and that if he really wanted to be with her, he would have to relinquish his succession in line to the throne, which he happily did.

On the day of their wedding, she was proudly conveying her bump, glowing a slight shade of blue, which seriously clashed with her normal rose complexion. His family had agreed to accept her into their family but had warned her that only she would be welcome. She seemed happy with the arrangement. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy, ten fingers, and eleven toes, a normal Saturnite. His hair as white as Tethys and his eyes as green as emeralds, he smiled a toothless smile and Altair’s heart burst with pride. He convinced himself that he had made the right choice when it came to being King, who needed that when he had this amazing being in his arms, someone he had created. He hadn’t told Lyra about the deal he had made with his parents, so when they were killed during an attack from Neptune, Lyra assumed that Altair was now King and demanded to be addressed as Queen Lyra. She began to make a list of things she would change, including bringing her family to live in the Palace.

Altair had been worried about this day, but he took it upon himself to inform his wife that he would never be King and tell her the reason why.

“WHAT do you mean?” Lyra had shouted.

“It was a choice I had to make, marry you, or be King. I chose you. Are you not happy?” Altair had asked.

Lyra had wept and wept. “I thought I would become Queen, that I could correct everything wrong with this world. Fix everything your family broke!” She had screamed, her eyes now a brazen purple. Gone were the aqua eyes that had once enticed him, replaced by a horror filled purple. Her once rose coloured complexion now a constant changing red and orange colour, her hair now a mass of blue flames. She ran from the Palace, towards the center of town, towards the fountain that would normally be filled with the children of Astrodia. Altair had followed her. 

He arrived just in time to hear her plans.

“If I can’t be Queen, then no-one in Astrodia will live any longer,” she said almost singing the words.

She then pulled a bottle from her pocket, Altair could read the label, ‘CYANIDE-TOXIC’, he jumped forward and grabbed the bottle before she could uncork it.

“What are you doing?” He had demanded.

She refused to answer; she just turned her back on him.

“You are to leave immediately, take your family and leave, you are granted asylum in the outer wastelands. If you leave now, I won’t tell anyone what I stopped you doing,” Altair had said, 

“Janus stays with me.”

She spun on her heels and stared at him, now back to her usual appearance.

“But...” She began.

“No! Go now,” he boomed. With that, he turned back to the Palace.

Lyra was never seen again, at least not to his knowledge. He knew she was still alive; he had spies on the edge of the wastelands watching her family, they couldn’t be trusted not to try to snatch Janus.

Elio dragged Altair from his memories.

“Are you alright brother? I saw you leave,” Elio enquired.

”Ah! I’m just a little emotional, that’s all. Aquilia is growing up so fast,” Altair replied. “It will soon be time for her to undertake Royal duties!”

“Indeed! Quintara wants to prepare her for school first. She must be educated if she is ever to become Queen of Astrodia,” Elio responded.

“But she can’t! She’s female! Females never succeed to the throne! It should be passed to the next male in line,” Altair said, sounding appalled.

“There are no other males inline Altair, you know that. No, the rules will have to be altered. I shall get to it next week,” Elio replied.

“There’s Janus!” Altair screamed.

“Altair, we BOTH know Janus cannot succeed to the throne and we BOTH know why,” Elio said with a solemn smile. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t understand why Altair had chosen Lyra over the many others available to him, but that was who he chose and the choice he made. He wondered where Lyra had gone and how she could have just left poor Janus.

 

Chapter 3

It had been a week since Aquilia’s birthday and King Elio had set about changing the Kingdoms rules. Reading the list, he noted each change he wanted to make and what they would become.

First up was ‘ONLY MALE HEIR’. This had been instilled by his great-great-great granddad. 

Luckily, for his family, there had been no end of male heirs born. He changed this to ‘FIRST BORN CHILD OF CURRENT REIGNING MONARCH BECOMES HEIR’. Signing the declaration, Elio smiled.

Next up were the days of market trading, currently only listed to be held on a Saturday morning, 

Elio decided it was time for it to run any day the stallholders decided to open, he also appointed authority over to Julius, the oldest market trader. He signed the deeds with a smile. He wondered why he hadn’t thought to do all this sooner. Just then, a slight tickle caught his throat, he coughed which seemed to clear it away. ‘Strange’ he thought, ‘I’ve never felt that before.’ 

Brushing it off, he continued down the list, diverting decision making between different people, lowering costs where he could and raising them where he had no choice to but only where it wouldn’t affect his poorer subjects.

Watching his brother change the rules hurt Altair’s heart. Those rules had been in place for as long as their family had governed Astrodia. To watch his brother, destroy everything his family had built up made him angry. Altair arranged to meet up with his longtime friend, Layson. He was always there for him, and Altair needed someone to talk to now.

They met up for coffee and Layson knew something was wrong instantly.

“What is it old friend?” He asked.

“Elio is changing the kingdoms rules, changing the heir rules. What am I to do?” Altair replied.

“I’m unsure how to reply Altair. Isn’t Elio the King? Is he not allowed to change the rules?” Layson said a confused look passing across his green face.

“Of course, he is! Of course, he can! But he is only doing it so Aquilia can, one day, become Queen,” Altair said, rage eating away at him like a virus.

“Altair, you are my oldest, dearest friend. What can I do to aid you through this?” Layson asked.

“I’m not sure yet, I’m still trying to think of something, but stay alert,” he replied.

They discussed Layson’s family, how his son was finding college, how his wife was getting on in her new job. They spoke about how Janus still hadn’t decided what to do after school. Altair wanted him to attend the Higher School of Arts, which he would study Ancient Arts of Saturn. 

They spoke for a while longer before parting ways.

“Janus? Janus where are you boy?” Altair shouted when he returned home.

“I’m here father, whatever is the matter?” Janus replied, emerging from the kitchen.

“Ah there you are. Have you thought anymore about your studies?” Altair asked.

Janus shrugged, “I’ve thought a bit about college and of your suggestions to study Art. I think I may just sign up, see if I enjoy it. If not, I can always quit, right?” he responded.

“Of course, my boy. Of course! We shall inform the college right away!” Altair declared with passion.

“Ah Altair, there you are!” Elio exclaimed.

“Indeed, I am brother, what seems to be so urgent?” Altair replied, forcing a smile to cross his lips.

“I wanted to; personally, inform you that I have placed you in charge of our military. You have an unlimited budget, so to speak,” Elio announced.

Altair’s expression changed to a state of shock. His father had specifically stated that, if he gave up his succession, then he would have no active role within the family duties. ‘Why would Elio change this?’ he thought.

“Why Elio, I’m honoured that you would allow me this, may I ask why?” Altair’s voice shaking slightly.

“I feel you would be best suited to lead us, should we ever have to go into battle again,” Elio stated.

“Well, I’ll start right away. I’ll recruit new soldiers, draw up plans for new vehicles, everything we could possibly need to protect our planet,” Altair said, ticking things off with his fingers.

“That’s sorted!” Elio said, turning to leave. “One other thing, Altair.”

“Certainly,” he replied.

“Try to bring Janus in too?” Elio asked.

“I’ll try my very best,” he replied.

Altair got to work immediately. He requests the Kingdoms registry of residents between the ages of fifteen and forty, this gave him a wide range of choices. He wanted healthy men and women, ready to protect the planet at any costs. He will need to interview potential candidates. 

Would they be prepared to leave their families if a war were to begin? It was a lot to ask of some, but some would protect their homes with their lives.

“Quintara darling?” Elio asked as he arrived back at the Palace.

“I’m here dear,” she replied, placing her book carefully on the table next to her and quietly stepping over Aquilia as she practiced her handwriting on the floor.

“I’ve finished the rule changes, our daughter will be able to become Queen if anything were to happen to us,” Elio announced with a smile.

“Oh Elio, you know you didn’t have to do that,” Quintara said, half frowning half-smiling.

“I know, but we don’t know if we will be blessed with another child. I want my legacy to continue, and I know that will if Aquilia is Queen,” he replied, taking her hand and spinning her around.

She laughed and laughed as he smiled at her. He loved to hear her laugh, loved to watch her purple eyes twinkle when the chandelier lights hit them. They stopped spinning when a streak of red and silver darted across the room past them.

“Janus!” Aquilia screeched. “Why you here?”

“Aquilia, you gave me away,” he laughed, stooped down and gave her nose a nudge with his own.

“Uncle Elio, Aunt Quintara, father told me what you did. I’m thankful. Truly.” He said as he bowed his head towards them.

“That’s quite alright Janus. Has he spoken to you with regards to joining up too?” Elio asked.

“He has uncle and I have agreed. I will protect and serve until my dying day,” Janus said as he held his hand to head in a salute.

“Now now Janus, there’s no need for that,” Quintara giggled. “Tell me, how are you getting on with your studies?”

“I’ve decided to study Art, specifically Saturn Ancient Arts,” Janus replied politely.

“That’s fantastic news Janus, I’m sure you will excel in all your studies,” Quintara said with a smile.

“Thank you, Aunt Quintara,” he replied. “Do you mind if I stick around for a while? Maybe help Aquilia with her writing?”

“It would certainly help me out, thank you,” Quintara said.

“Yay, come Janus,” Aquilia squealed, dragging him away from her parents.

He went with Aquilia and they sat at a makeshift table whilst she showed him what she could write so far. Quintara could hear them laughing and it warmed her heart. From behind her, she could hear Elio coughing.

“What is it Elio?” She asked, concern flooding her voice.

“I’m not sure dear. Maybe send for the doctor, I don’t feel myself all of a sudden,” he replied, his cyan skin changing to black and then back again.

Quintara rushed off to find the doctor. Janus worried about why Quintara was in such a rush, peeked through the door in time to see his uncle’s skin change again, this time from cyan to pink, then green and back to cyan, he was in shock, he couldn’t move.

“Dear Janus, please step in,” Elio motioned as he caught him looking.

Janus entered the room and sat with his uncle.

“What’s wrong Uncle?” He asked sounding worried,

“Of that I am unsure, but you must promise me something,” Elio gasped, struggling to hold a sentence.

“Of course, you are my King after all,” he replied.

“If something happens to me, promise me that you will look after my girls?” Elio finished with a sigh.

“Yes sir, absolutely,” Janus replied. “Uncle? Uncle?”

Elio’s skin had changed to black and that is how it remained. His eyes slowly closing as Quintara rushed back with the doctor.

“Elio, my darling?” Quintara said, rubbing his cheeks. “I brought the doctor.”

“I’m afraid he has departed my Queen,” the doctor said with sympathy.

“Shall I announce a time of mourning?” Janus hesitated to ask.

Quintara nodded as she held her husband close and cried deep red tears.

Janus announced that there was to be a month of mourning for King Elio and that his funeral was to be attended by all. Altair was against the idea.

“I think Quintara poisoned him,” he told Layson. “It’s such a coincidence how he died just after changing the rules to accommodate her child!”

“Aquilia is Elio’s child too Altair, maybe he wanted a good life for her,” Layson replied.

Altair scoffed, “I will find out what happened, and she will pay!”

 

Author's Note

All mistakes are my own.

Reviews

[JayG]

• The city of Astrodia exploded with joy at the news of a Princess having been born to Queen Quintara and King Elio. Her name was Aquilia.

So, an unknown city, in an unknown place was happy because people we know nothing about had a daughter—the city, not the people. Not what you meant, but it is what you said. But of more importance, so what? Why does a reader care that unknown people are happy over a birth? The story doesn’t actually begin till the baby is three, so you open with an info-dump of 576 words, all of it backstory. That’s more than two full manuscript pages, and not a thing happens in the story while it’s being read. So before we reach the story we have to study two pages of history, not a word of it is necessary to follow the action. Does a film open with a recap of what has gone before? No.

Remember, your reader isn’t reading from start to finish in one sitting. So if any of the prologue is actually necessary, the reader will probably have forgotten what you told them by the time they need it.

If we know what matters to the protagonist in the moment that character calls “now,” we'll know why they do and say what they do. If not... So...whatever the protagonist isn’t making use of in a given moment is irrelevant at-that-time. And it’s their story, so you need to get offstage and let the reader live the events as their avatar does, in real-time. Why? Because we don’t tell the reader a story, we make them live it. We don't tell the reader that the protagonist is sad, Our goal is to make the reader feel sadness.

Here’s the deal: We all leave our school years believing that the writing skills we learned are universal. But if that’s true, why do they offer degree programs in Commercial Fiction-Writing? And why aren’t most new writers eighteen?

Yes, we learned a form of writing, but think back. What made up the bulk of our writing assignments? Reports and essays, right? And the goal of a report? To provide an informational experience. So its approach is fact-based and author-centric. A narrator stands alone on stage reporting and explaining, just as you do here. You won’t see a problem as you read because, knowing the story in advance, it works perfectly for you. But you don’t read the story, you perform it. For you, the narrator’s voice—your voice—is alive with emotion. For you, before reading the first word you know where we are, what’s going on, and whose skin we wear. For the reader? A dispassionate external observer is talking to the reader ABOUT events.

Moreover, because you do know the story, you’ll leave out detail that the reader needs. For example, when you say, “Aquilia, played on the grass with their two jaglions, Paxy and Plexys,” the words act as a pointer to images, action, and character, all stored in your mind. But to a reader, what’s a jaglion? Could be anything from mouse-sized to house-sized, if an animal. But the word might refer to the title of a servant, or teacher. The characters in the scene know, as does everyone in the story. But, the reader? For them, the words act as a pointer to images, action, and character, all stored in *YOUR* mind.

It’s not a matter of how well you write, or even talent. It’s that universally, we forget one critical fact: Professions are acquired IN ADDITION to our schooldays skills, which are intended to ready us for the needs of employment. And in the case of writing, employers primarily expect reports and essays from us. In other words, nonfiction writing.

Fiction’s goal? As E. L. Doctorow so wisely put it: “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” And NOTHING we were given in our school days can do that. For that we need to acquire the emotion-based and character-centric skills of the working fiction-writer. They’re not all that hard to learn (though perfecting them is, as with the skills of any profession)

And while that may seem a disaster, learning about something you want to know more about is never a chore. And once you do master those skills the act of writing becomes a LOT more fun, as the protagoniost becomes your co-writer, whispering warnings and suggestions in your ear.

Lots of ways to acquire those skills. Personally? I’d suggest starting with Dwight Swain’s, Techniques of the Selling Writer, which recently came out of copyright protection. It's the best I've found, to date, at imparting and clarifying the "nuts-and-bolts" issues of creating a scene that will sing to the reader. The address of an archive site where you can read or download it free is just below. Copy/paste the address into the URL window of any Internet page and hit Return to get there.

https://archive.org/details/TechniquesOfTheSellingWriterCUsersvenkatmGoogleDrive4FilmMakingBsc_ChennaiFilmSchoolPractice_Others

Try a few chapters. I think you’ll be glad you did. And for a kind of overview of the major points, the articles in my WordPress writing blog are based on what you’ll find in such a book.


But whatever you do, hang in there, and keep on writing.

Jay Greenstein
https://jaygreenstein.wordpress.com/category/the-craft-of-writing/the-grumpy-old-writing-coach/