Chapter 27: Secrets of the Scroll
Bulldozing through the Middle East, Edward took every Roman province or any that were allied to Rome. Antioch, Hiersolyma, Damascus: they all fell to the might Commagenian army.
However, time was not in their favour.
***
Borders Between Ptolemaic Egypt and Roman Israel, June of 31 BC
"My liege, there is too great a risk pushing into Egypt. The end of the Civil War is near and entering Egypt will only provoke Octavius," a noble pleaded with Antioch.
Rubbing a golden ring on his finger, Antioch thought about his next move.
"Commander Edward, what do you think?"
"I agree. It's too risky pushing into Egypt. Our men are not equipped for the deserts and besides, we are not a match for the city of Alexandria."
Edward had realised his assistance of Octavius had accelerated the Civil War and it was likely to end a month early - in August.
"Hmm."
For the second time, Antioch rubbed his ring and racked his brain.
"Then where do you suggest we strike while we still can?"
"The Armenian Kingdoms."
Hearing this, many of the other commanders and nobles stood up and shouted in protest.
"Sire, surely this strategy will provoke the Romans even more," a commander disputed.
"No, because we will act as a blockade to the Parthian Empire. Tensions between Rome and the Parthians are already at dangerous levels, with us there, we can split the two and even act as a defence for both sides."
***
From that point onwards, Commagene drastically expanded, annexing the Kingdoms of Sophene, Cappadocia, Pontus, Corduene and most importantly Armenia, forming a formidable kingdom.
Then, once the Civil War was over, Octavius thanked them for their assistance, and especially for allowing them to cross through Tarsus to attack Mark Antony's forces. To repay the debt of gratitude, he promised to let them keep the lands they had taken.
After a short period of recovery, they attacked a small Kingdom called Osrhoene, which was a Parthian vassal. This sparked a war between Commagene and Parthia, but after taking most, if not all, of modern day Iraq from them and a small stretch of land from modern day Kuwait to Qatar, the Parthians signed a peace treaty. The treaty stated neither side would attack the other for at least 100 years.
***
Antioch, 27 BC
Silver goblets were raised, plates were filled with luxurious amounts of food, cheers echoed through the halls of the new castle. A ding of a fork against a goblet rung loudly, slowly silencing the party.
"My brothers, we are victorious once again. Parthia has surrendered to our might."
Resounding cheers were risen again.
"As we have beaten another Empire, it wouldn't be right to keep calling ourselves the Kingdom of Commagene. Now we are the Commagenian Empire!"
The cheers were deafening.
"But as you all know, I could not have brought my Kingdom so far without my commanders. Especially one of them."
The entire table turned to Edward.
"Edward, you have brought us all honour and glory. Is there anything I can reward you with?"
"There is nothing, my liege."
Edward had grown fond of Antioch, and respected his transformation into a mighty leader. So, he recognised Antioch by addressing him as his 'liege'.
The drunken men began to shout.
"The one man army needs nothing!"
"Edward the Ballista needs nothing more than a weapon."
Antioch raised his hand for them to settle down.
"I cannot give you nothing Edward. So, I offer you this - take anything you want in my tomb, it is yours."
Gasps could be heard throughout the room.
"Just remember to leave some copper for me," Antioch joked.
***
Once the celebration ended, Edward met with Antioch, but before he could say anything, Antioch stopped him.
"You are leaving, no?" he asked.
"How did you-"
"You were never obliged to be here in the first place. I'm sure you don't need my permission to leave."
"I just wanted to say goodbye," Edward sighed.
The two looked up at the full moon, shimmering in the night sky. Its lights shone through the misty clouds and down on Commagene's new capital.
"This prosperity. This is what you have gifted my new Empire: for that, I can never repay you. As much as I hate to see you leave, it would be ungrateful of me to try stopping you."
"You have become a great ruler, my friend."
"You honour me with your praise."
For hours, the two spoke and stared at the night sky, until Antioch finally revealed something.
"I'm dying, Edward. What of, I do not know, but I do know my time will soon be up."
"What are you saying?"
"My throne will pass to my son Mithridates, but my magical legacy shall not. That is why you can take anything from my tomb."
Edward looked at his friend solemnly. He had already seen many people come and go, live and die, while he continued living. It was nothing new, but he couldn't help but feel a slight sadness.
"Thank you, Antioch."
In the end, Edward took the gem, goblet, and mask from Antioch's tomb - he already had the sword and scroll - and he headed to his last destination before leaving this time period.
***
North-West Coast of Morocco, 27 BC
Edward looked at the scroll. He had invented a deciphering spell during his time in Commagene, and, upon using it on the scroll, found out that it was a map to Atlantis. The map directly pointed to the North Atlantic, near Morocco, as Atlantis' location.
Edward hired a small ship from a merchant, paying with just a few coins of the small fortune Antioch had given him. He sailed out into the ocean.
Eventually, he came across the point where Atlantis supposedly lay.
Abandoning the ship, he dived deep into the water, using a self-created spell to give him oxygen, until he finally came upon the ocean floor.
Feeling around the area, he finally found a barely visible keyhole. But he had no key...or so he thought.
Right before his eyes, the scroll turned into a key and floated itself towards the hole in the ground. Once it was placed in, it turned itself and the ground, where the keyhole was, dropped away, sucking Edward with it, before quickly closing again.
Being sucked down, through a narrow tunnel of water, Edward suddenly dropped out. He looked up to see that the water was still suspended inside of the tunnel.
When he stopped looking at the water, he turned to see the ruins of a great city. There were no walls - probably because there was nobody to attack it - and the architecture looked to be Greek.
Edward explored the silent city, seeing if there was even the remains of a person, but there was nothing. Each building looked as if it had never been inhabited at all.
Making his way through the eerily silent city squares and markets, he came across a large building, which looked to be the palace. He wandered inside and saw that the palace was only decorated by age, moss and seaweed burying its walls, pillars, and floors.
At last, Edward happened upon the throne room. Cracked stone tables stood before a crumbling throne, above it the only decoration Edward had seen.
A painting hung on the wall behind: it was of a King with a stern face, wearing a jewelled crown and holding a golden scepter. His eyes seemed to follow Edward's every move.
As if by instinct, Edward walked up to the painting and pulled it, causing it to open like a door. Behind the painting was a golden chest, encrusting with sparkling jewels.
Edward opened it up, and inside was a white orb, sitting in the red velvet interior.
Suddenly, the white orb flew at Edward, and everything went black.
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