Happiness
Chapter 11
�Return home?� Darius was rather perplexed by this request.
�Yes, your majesty,� Damon bowed respectfully at the feet of the great sovereign. �I have not seen my lo� � friends for over three years. I� � With your permission, your majesty, I would like to return.�
The king narrowed his eyes, thinking the request over, and finally nodded. �Very well. I understand. I will provide you with everything necessary for the road. A ship will be waiting for you in Tyre.�
�Thank you, your majesty.�
Darius put his hand on the Sicilian�s shoulder and added gravely, �What you have done for me far surpasses any earthly possessions I can give you. I want you to know that the king of Persia will be forever in your debt, and I want you to know that you will be welcome here always, most welcome.�
Damon was speechless. How does one respond to such an earnest pledge from the ruler of one of the greatest empires of the time? Finally, he was able to squeeze out a �thank you� that he felt could not even begin to be the least appropriate. The king reassured him with a kind smile. �I will tell Leila about your intentions,� he said, �though I am afraid she might not be so understanding.�
Damon nodded frowning. He was afraid of that too, but he also did not wish to leave without saying good-bye to her. He bowed again and went out to pack up the provision for the road.
***
�You�re leaving?� Leila was standing outside the palace by a freshly saddled horse. Her hands were nervously tugging at the white cloth of her beautiful dress, her lower lip pursed and trembling slightly.
Damon sighed, not sure what to say.
�Why do you have to leave?� she wasn�t even trying to hide her tears now, and they came rolling down her cheeks in tiny streams.
�Leila, please� don�t cry,� he put his arms around her, himself feeling a big lump form in his throat. �I must go � you know that.�
She bit her lip, wiping the stubborn tears off her face. �Will I ever see you again?� she asked, hopeful, trying hard to control her voice.
�I don�t know, dear girl,� he whispered tenderly. �Perhaps, someday.�
Her voice was shaking a bit when she spoke, �I will � miss you.�
Damon gently stroked her hair and spoke softly, �I will miss you too, Leila.�
She looked at him intently for a moment and then suddenly pulled hard on his arm, forcing him to bend down.
�What is it?� Damon wondered, following her insisting motion. Leila shook her head and after a short hesitation reached up and placed a quick farewell kiss on his bearded cheek. He stood by the horse, watching as she shrank away in confusion and fled to the palace. A distracted smile touched his lips, and he rubbed his cheek pensively.
�Master Damon,� came a voice from behind him, interrupting the tumult of his thoughts. He turned around, startled, to face a rough-looking soldier who stood patiently behind him, holding the reins of a fine gray stallion.
�Who are you?�
�Your bodyguard, sir,� he answered calmly. �My name is Balthazar.�
�My bo� �what?�
�His majesty assigned me to you,� Balthazar explained in the same imperturbable manner. �He wants me to make sure that your journey is safe.�
Damon shrugged his shoulders. �That was very considerate of his majesty, but I really��
�I would not argue with the king,� Balthazar interrupted. �His word is, after all, the law.�
Damon sighed and waived his hand in a gesture of resigned submission. �Well then, let�s go.�
***
�We are approaching the Syracuse, sir,� Balthazar announced, walking into the cabin.
The endless journey of desert and sea crossing was finally coming to the end. Damon nodded his thanks to the Persian and walked out onto the deck to look at the approaching coastline, the painfully familiar shore of Sicily � a shore he never thought he would live to see again. His throat suddenly went dry, and he swallowed hard, feeling his heart beat like an impatient racehorse inside his chest. Balthazar soon joined him on the deck, but it took a light pat on his new master�s shoulder to get his attention.
�Is everything alright, sir?�
Damon nodded absently.
�I have packed everything, sir. We should be ready to disembark in a few moments.�
�Thank you, Balthazar, but you do not have to get off the ship with me. You have already done your service.�
�With your permission, master Damon, I still have some business here in Syracuse.�
�Oh?�
Balthazar smiled mysteriously, �I will explain everything later, sir.�
Damon shrugged his shoulders and decided not to pry. Besides, his mind was on other things.