Chapter 46: “The King’s Blessing”

 

“Only intense heat

could melt gold in mere moments,”

Andromeda said.

Cepheus felt déjà vu 

seeing this wonder up close.

“Now may be the time

to dig up an old treasure,”

Cepheus told her.

At the royal farm barn house,

the king retrieved an old box.

Opening the box,

he showed her a worn compass

from his sailing days.

“My crewmates on the Argo

were lost without this,” he said.

Under the deckhouse,

the ram found a triangle

made of stainless steel.

Using the edge of his horn,

he carried the artifact.

Unlike the humans,

the animals on the ship

heard the princess sing.

Though they sailed through the cosmos,

Andromeda’s voice reached them.

When the ram heard it,

a bright light blazed from his horns!

The triangle hummed.

The crew came out to the deck,

and the animals followed.

The crew found the ram

carrying a triangle

upon his left horn.

With care, it was removed and 

placed with the Sculptor’s chisel.

Andromeda held

her father’s compass with care

as he spoke to her,

“What Boötes said is true,

this is a unique compass.”

Andromeda said,

“What do you mean by unique?”

Cepheus answered,

“It is part of a toolset,

and it points to the others.”

“An ancient toolset,”

Andromeda thought aloud,

“kept from mortal hands.”

Cepheus said, “The council

will not support this mission.”

Andromeda smiled,

“So, you believe my inkling?”

The king answered, “Yes,

and so does your cosmos crew.

Use my compass, find the tools!”

While the night was young,

the king entrusted Draco

to Andromeda.

Blessing his daughter’s journey,

Cepheus watched her fly off.

♈️

To be continued!