Odyssey of a Wonderer

Odyssey of a Wanderer

Chapter 1-
I guess I could start with something like ‘It was a dark and stormy night’ but it would be so much like other stories. I would just like to start off with yes it was night and since it was night of course it was dark. Most normal people would be asleep by now so of course I wouldn’t be included in those people.
I heard screams in the distance and I knew it to be a bad sign. It wasn’t some scared woman cry that tells you that some jerk is roaming the streets and you should probably go save her. No this was a man scream and if you have ever been in war you would know the scream well. It is not a pretty sound either. Think of nails scratching across a chalk board and it is a little better than that.
So I jumped to the most logical conclusion, which is that the village was being attacked. I didn’t really want to defeat a whole band of bandits though so I made my decision quickly and decided that I would get out of this place. I gathered all of my belongings and went out the door.
By the time I was out the whole place was in chaos. Men were running for arms and women were looking for a place to hide. I was looking for an exit. I ran across the street towards the gate that would lead into the forest avoiding as many people as possible.
I was nearly there and found that the bandits had already blocked that area so that no one could escape. I turned around to escape the bandits that saw me and find a wall to jump and there was a woman behind me. The bandits started to charge and without much thought I grabbed the woman and scaled the closest wall.
I ran with all haste away from the village not wanting to be pursued. Only after we were a safe distance away did I realize I was still carrying the girl. I found a hiding place and set the girl down.
“Stay quiet,” I told the girl.
“Why should I listen to you?” she shrieked.
I pulled the sword out of its sheath and raised it to the level of her neck.
“Get that thing away from me!” the girl yelled.
I lowered the sword so that it was away from her body. I thought that her sudden reaction was hilarious. I had just tried to assert my authority and she freaked out on me.
“You need to calm down or they will find us,” I said in a quiet voice.
“Fine I’ll listen to you for the time being,” she said in a voice that was still a tad too loud.
“My name is Axios. What is your name?” I asked her.
“Why should I tell you, I am safe, can’t you leave and help someone else now?” she questioned.
“Ha! Safe! I know what type of men they are. After they count all of their prisoners then they will go looking for women who have run away. The bandits who are lucky enough to find an escaped bird will keep her to himself. I won’t tell you the rest because it is not something a young lady should hear,” I said.
“Young, you can’t be more than a year older than me! How do you know so much about things like that anyway?” she demanded.
“Details, details, so what of my age? I don’t need to tell you how I know so much. Also I will not be going back in there because worse will happen to me if they find a man that was lucky enough to escape especially an armed one.”
“Then I don’t need to tell you what my name is name.”
“Have it your way then. From now on I’ll just call you…..girl,” I said.
“Fine I’ll tell you, but you will only hear it once so don’t forget it, and you are not to tell anyone else unless you have my permission. Agreed?” she said.
“Why of course,” I mocked.
She mutters something under her breath. “My name is Althea,” she finally groaned.
“Now was that so hard, Althea,” I said. Sucker, I thought. I knew that I would get her name out of her.
It was quiet for awhile while we rested. I think she was really tired. I hoped that she would fall asleep. I would be a lot easier for me to just carry her then for her to walk behind me struggling to keep up.
I was ready to go anytime I was just waiting for her to say the same or fall asleep. Unfortunately she looked like a stubborn person and probably would try to stay awake until we made it to where it was safe. Five minutes must of past before she finally said something.
“Are you ready to go yet?” Althea asked in an irritated tone.
“Just waiting for you,” I told her.
“I wish you would have said that earlier, I have been ready for awhile now.”
“Well in that case lets go, but do you want me to carry you. It looks like you would fall over dead if you stood up,” I told her.
“No, I can walk just fine. Let’s go the less time with you the better,” she blushed. Then she stood up as to assure herself that she could walk. I felt sorry for her. Her life has probably been pretty easy up to this point. Just living a normal life with no more than normal complications. Then this night comes and she is attacked by bandits and ran from her home and is now wandering with a stranger in the forest scared half to death. Aw well, you get use to it after two or three times.
Just then in the distance we heard a horn being blown. I knew what the particular sound means. It meant that some or all of the bandits were to be dismissed. Being only about an hour and a half since the attack there would be no reason for the bandits to leave the village. They would have too much work to do either in the systematic killing of the innocents or if just establishing their authority in the villagers so that they can rule over them without incident. The only reason that they would leave so early is if the reason that they were there was not in the village anymore.
From all of my bad experiences in my short life something inside me knew that this girl was the thing that they were looking for. Out of everyone or thing that I run into it has to be the person or thing that will cause me the most trouble. I guess I just have really bad luck or something but I think that the longest that I have every stayed at a single place without getting into some type of trouble would be a few months. If my luck was this horrible when I was little I must have been quite a burden.
“Hey Althea, do you know what the horn means?” I asked her.
“No, Axios, I don’t, but I also don’t know what it has anything to do with us. We should just start moving before they come looking for stragglers.”
“Fair enough, I just thought that you might want to know what it means. The horn that you heard is practically just saying that whatever they came and attacked the village for isn’t there, and now they have sent people out to see if it’s in the general area. Depending on how important it is the farther out they will search.”
“Interesting,” she said in a detached voice. Her face was contoured in some emotion that I couldn’t read. She quickly composed her face though so I had to wonder if it changed at all. It is going to suck if for some reason or another I got stuck in another mess all because I decided to help someone.
There was still some good news to this situation though. I didn’t know the degree of trouble I had gotten myself in. For all I knew this was just some little band of thugs and thieves that had been ordered by their boss, who thought that this girl was hot and wanted to get a little action with her without having to worry about whether she wants to or not, to attack the village. Which of course from what I have learned from this girl in the short time I have spent with her is that she would definitely say no. Which, of course I can’t blame her for that, except if it involves me, which it looks like it does now. Darn.
“So you wouldn’t know what they would be looking for then?” I asked her not wanting to give up.
“Didn’t I already say that,” Althea raised her voice in an irritated tone.
“No, you didn’t say anything exactly like that.”
“Well there is your answer. Now can we leave? I think that you said it was smart to leave,” she said probably realizing that she was too loud and that she doesn’t want to be here when whoever is looking for her gets here.
We left without another word. If the situation was anything serious then the best thing would be to leave anyway. Also travel can make all but the most stubborn people give way to anything that would keep them alive. I would be stuck with the one girl that wouldn’t tell me what I need to know though; it is just my freaking luck. I wonder if there is anyway that I can change my luck with other people. That would be an interesting change in events.
I figure that we had about an hour lead on whoever is following us. Also as we get farther away from the village there was more land to search. So as long as we don’t rest we should be fine even without horses till the next village. Of course if she still wants to stay with me after we get to the next village then it is most likely something serious. I won’t stay in the village anyway too many people are after me as well, and I have spent enough time in one area and don’t want to push my luck by staying any longer. I just have to hope that it wasn’t them that were at the village that was attacked, but why would such a big organization worry about a little village anyway.
After about an hour of walking I could tell she was really tiring. That wouldn’t be too much of a problem under ordinary circumstances but I had a feeling that they were on horse back and they would catch up to us if we didn’t increase our pace, or maybe I am just paranoid. Also the next worth mentioning village that we could buy horses at is another hour or two on foot.
“Hey Althea, we aren’t covering enough ground. So I see two options that can fix this problem. The first is that you let me carry you so that we can get there a lot quicker or we can get off the road and hope that they aren’t looking hard enough to find us there. With both options you could probably get a little rest but a lot less rest with the second option because we need to keep moving.”
“Like I’d let you carry me!” she exclaimed.
“Get over your pride! It’s not like I am doing it to brag to my friends.” Huh, I wonder who my mentionable friends would be. I didn’t really have many friends to brag to. “Plus only you and I will know. If you really want me to I might be able to forget about it later.”
“Yeah I’m sure that you could.” She told me sarcastically. Then she seemed to contemplate over which option she should choose.
“Fine I’ll let you carry me, but you had better forget all about this,” she said after awhile without much hope at all of it actually happening.
I was glad that she had finally given in. It was a pain with her being so persistent. I told her that I would try to forget about it and that was kind of true. It wasn’t as if I would hold desperately onto the memory but it wouldn’t be as if I didn’t enjoy myself at all.
As I picked her up I felt her warmth. It always seems that my body is so much colder that everyone else’s, especially women’s. I found that her body was nice and soft and very light. Her body curved nicely in my arms though she did seem uncomfortable. I was definitely enjoying myself, but not to the point where I would disgrace myself and forget what I am suppose to be doing.
I started off with a jog hoping to gain some of the ground that we had lost. I knew that I couldn’t beat the horses in racing, but if they are walking them then I should have an advantage. Still there was the risk that they might catch up to us. My life be so much easier if I was optimist though because there was also a chance that they weren’t following us any longer. She didn’t seem to think that though and she probably knows the situation better.
“Even at this pace we might have to get off the road if I think that they are coming. It might be useless but since there are a lot of trees they may not notice,” I told her.
“As long as you don’t get all perverted on me it should be fine. The sooner that this whole problem is over the better it is for me. I do want an advance warning before you dive into the trees though.”
“Don’t worry I’ll give you one,” I said leaving it at that.
We walked without talking for the rest of the time. I wondered if she didn’t like me. I guess she wouldn’t have any reason beyond that I saved her life to like me. Other than that I guess I have been a little mean. Oh well, I’ll just have to tell her sorry. Sure she might not accept my apology but that isn’t really my problem. Either she will or wont there isn’t much that I could do either way. I was sorry for being mean but I would have done it the same way a second time.

Chapter 2 –
It was probably about an hour and a half that passed in the time it took us to get there.
We were just walking into the village and the sun was rising and I said, “I am sorry for being so mean to you.”
“Mean I think that is an understatement and sorry makes it all better. Is that what you think?”
“Not at all, I just wanted to tell you that.”
“Oh well, you will just have to make it up to me later. Just remember that you owe me one,” her tone changed completely; almost like she was plotting.
Oh wonderful, I thought; now she is trying to make me owe her, just great. Wouldn’t you think that rescuing her would be enough for most people?
“You say that like I plan on staying with you. I got you away from immediate danger so what makes you think that I would continue my journey with you,” I said.
She seemed to ponder it for awhile but then quickly said, “As I said you owe me so you will just have to accompany me on my journey.”
“So you think that I will stay just because you say so. Do you really think that will work?” Which of course it would, I have a problem with telling beautiful women no.
“Yes I, Althea, charge you to accompany me and to do what I see fit for as long as you are needed. All you need to do is what I say and remember to keep your hands to yourself.”
Perfect, I thought, the best companion you could ever want, a beautiful women who tells you to keep your hands to yourself.
“What are we to do now then, My Lady,” I said figuring that saying that would annoy her.
“Oh, so you do have manners. I must say I am surprised to find that some man that runs off with me in the middle of the night has manners.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I had taken a recent liking to that phrase and was glad I got to use it.
“I can’t judge it by anything else for I can’t read so keep your little comments to yourself. You were doing so well before with your manners,” She sighed.
“I could teach you to read if you would like,” I told her. This idea brightened her eyes for a minute. The eyes that I know saw with the morning light were black. There are so many great things in books that can only be attained through reading them. I think that everyone should read and if I was going to spend a lot of time with this girl than she was going to have to be literate.
Now that I really looked at her in the morning light though I could really describe her in detail. She was maybe two or three inches shorter than me putting her at about 5’ 5” or 5’ 6”. Her hair was obviously well kept (before the trip through the woods). It was soft and long and was pitch black just like her eyes. She had a nice lean shape that after a few weeks of travel would be nicely fit with muscle. She also had a nice rack. Over all probably the best looking woman I had ever seen or at least in the top two. She would be a perfect assassin.
Time was passing quickly though and since we were lucky not to be caught yet I wanted to keep it that way. So before she had a chance to respond I said, “But we can talk about that later right now we need to do something whether it be to continue on our journey or to stop and rest.”
“Well, um, yeah, uh, I don’t really know what we should do maybe you could suggest something.”
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you wouldn’t know what to do,” I sighed.
“Hey I’m not an idiot; it’s just that I don’t know much about travel. I was born in the village and I haven’t needed to go anywhere since.”
“Sure whatever there is always a reason. I think that we have been lucky not being caught yet. So unless they really want you they probably won’t pursue us much farther. I am not tired so I would go find out what news there is and then gets some horses and leave,” I told her that with the intention of finding out for sure if it was her they were after. Of course at first I said it by accident but I realized that it would be a good thing.
She looked tired herself even though she hadn’t walked for awhile. She said, “I think that we should probably just keep going. The morning has just started and they will most likely be going to find us.”
“Thank you, you just told me what I needed to know. Of course you will need to tell me why later.”
“What do you mean?” she tossed the question through her head. “Oh,” she exclaimed. “Hasn’t anyone told you not to look through a woman’s past?”
“Yeah I have heard that one, but I don’t really care for it when it involves my present or future.”
“So this is how it begins, I meet some random man in the city, actually I don’t know if I should even call him a man, he kidnaps me, and then digs through my past, at least you haven’t acted that much like the normal slim of men yet I guess.”
“I don’t really care for what you think of it; let’s just get some horses so that we can leave. If you are hungry then you might want to get some food. I’ll go find some horses and the news.”
“No that’s where I come in. You go get the food we will meet outside of the village on the far side.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” I said.
“Let’s just say I am a people person. I think that I can get horses and the news easier than you could so I will sacrifice my time to do it.” I just stared at her and decided it was best to not give myself a headache trying to fight with her and to just do what she says for now. Of course after she brings the horses I will most likely have to come up with some sort of excuse to go get the good horses. If I find a woman that can actually buy proper horses then it would be a miracle and I wouldn’t mind if she traveled with me. Of course then I would have to teach her how to read.
I walked away from her to go get the food. I wonder how much she eats. I haven’t ever traveled with a girl before, other than a girl horse and maybe a girl dog, so all I know is how much I eat. I just figured that she would eat about two thirds of the amount of food that I eat. So I went to the market with that figure in mind. With all of that food we would have to get an extra horse. I take that back when I go back to get better horses we would need an extra horse. Unfortunately there weren’t many people out selling their goods yet.
On the other side this was when you could get all of the best stuff so I won’t complain too much. All of this food will cost some guys arm and leg though. Not mine because I wouldn’t trade him for food unless I was extremely desperate. Of course some of the money that I am spending I might have got from one or two wanted men’s arm and leg, well head to be specific but who really cares.
As I enter the market I was surprised to see the market so full of people. The market was by no means impressive, but that was to be expected considering this wasn’t a very big city. The market was very well kept though. The stalls were in nice order and they were put together quite nicely, none of those raggedy old stalls that look like they were put together last minute and would fall apart if you blew on it to hard. Also for how early in the morning it was the fact that almost all of the stalls were filled already. It seemed like the market was what everyone woke up to and if you were a merchant in the market then you would have to wake up an hour earlier.
I went to the area of the market were all of the food was. It was probably the nicest looking part of the market, of course that might just be my stomach talking, but why not everyone wants there food to be clean and fresh. The selection of food was amazing for being the middle of winter. It is always warm around here though so I guess that with a little irrigation the crops would be the same.
So I got all of the essentials, bread, meat, fruit, vegetables blah blah blah. I got everything that people said was good for you and everything that I think tasted good. Well I wasn’t for sure how long we would be gone so I got enough food to keep me comfortable for a week.
On my way out with the cart of food (I couldn’t carry it all in my arms) I walked past some old lady selling herbs. I figured that although I only know how to use the minor herbs to clean cuts maybe Althea would be able to use them.
“How much are these?” I asked the old woman.
“It looks very much like you will be on a long journey young man. It depends on what you want.”
“I don’t know how long I will be on a journey but it is always good to be prepared. Oh and as for the herbs you tell me what I will need.”
“Let me see your palm for it will tell me what I need to know.” When she said this I thought she was a little wacked, but I had no reason to think that she meant harm so I gave her my hand.
She was gazing at it for awhile; tracing patterns over and over like she was re-checking her work. It was almost as if she wanted to know my hand as she knows her own. Then she let go and shook her head a few times.
“Very interesting, very interesting indeed,” she said. She shook her head again, but not in a way like if she denied something but as if she couldn’t believe it.
“I sorry, but what does this have to do with herbs.” I said this being very confused with what happen during her private conversation with my hand.
“Young man it seems that you have a very interesting future, ah if only I wasn’t so old then I who accompany you to see it unravel myself.”
“What?” I said having made absolutely no sense of what she had just said. How is it that the older that you are the more confusing you are?
“All will be understood in time. When you arrive at the great city of Athens you should find the herbalist there. Her name should be Aithra and you should tell her ‘Chryse said that the red one has come again’. She will be there to teach you of herbs for you hands don’t know much of anything of them.”
“Sure I’ll remember that but what does it have to do with the herbs that I want now?”
“All in good time my dear, as for the herbs take this for it is the only thing that you can use. Don’t worry about payment you have entertained me and I am grateful but if we do ever meet again you will have to tell me of your adventures” She told me this while she handed me the only herb that I knew of. I discarded the ‘how the hell did she know that’ and was very thankful.
We said our goodbyes and I walked away. As I walked away a woman in tattered clothing walked up to the herbalist. Then I heard the herbalist say “Usually I charge customers three gold for this but you look very desperate so for you I will charge five gold.”
I took my cart of food up a hill to the meeting place that Althea and I had agreed on. I was surprised to see her up ahead. When she finally saw me coming she had a shocked look on her face for some reason. I wondered where it came from. Was she surprised because she thought that I would leave her or was it how I looked? As far as I could remember I hadn’t changed the way that I looked and I said I would be here. Was it that she didn’t trust my word? Oh well I will probably find out soon.
“Did you get enough food?” she shrieked.
“Oh is there not enough; I didn’t know how much you eat so I just guessed.”
“How much do you think I eat?” She shrieked again.
“I don’t know about two thirds the amounts that I do.”
“How much do you eat? We have someone like you in our village his name is Taylor and if you knew him it would explain itself,” she said really freaking out.
“I bought food for the whole trip not just tonight.”
“That’s not any better and how do you plan on carrying this food? Will you be walking while the horse carries it?”
“Yeah about the horses….”
“What about the horses, Axios, and don’t make me hurt you!” she said. I think that she had probably had a little too much shock with all of the stress that she already has.
“I don’t know if you want me to tell you.” I said in a calm voice hoping she would quiet down a little. I was starting to get that headache that I had avoided earlier.
“Oh well it is a little late for that now isn’t it?” she said a little quieter though it might have been because she was gritting her teeth.
“Not really I could still not tell you.”
“Damn it Axios, tell me.” She said very loudly. She had been doing really well before with the quiet voice. I sighed.
“Ok, ok just keep your voice down,” I waited and she said nothing so I continued “The horses that you got aren’t very good.”
At first she didn’t scream back and I thought I was off the hook. Then I looked at her face and I realized it was quite the opposite. She was thoroughly ticked off at me. I don’t really see why, I just told her the truth. Well if there was any chance she was starting to like me it was gone now.
“The horses look just fine to me and they were guaranteed by the dealer.” She said practically yelling.
“Well there is the problem, it was guaranteed by the dealer. They would do anything to make a little money.”
“Even trick a beautiful woman”
“Especially tricking a beautiful woman but done worry this I expected.” I said then I whistled. Three beautiful stallions came running up, one black and two white. “I get the black one.”
Chapter 3 –
Wow, when I will look back at this memory (I’m sure that I’ll remember it forever) it will give a new definition to the word anger. I was speechless while she was slowly cooking in her own steam, most of which was because of me. I didn’t see too much reason for her to be mad though. All that happened was that I thought that she ate a little more food than she does and I didn’t trust her ability to buy the right horses. Maybe it was all of the stress of the situation on top of it that is the problem. I figured that I should say something though, if she would let me.
She spoke first saying, “What is wrong with the horses that I got?” I noticed that she said got and not bought and wondered if it had any significance, ah well I shouldn’t over think things.
“Oh, is that all you want is specifics well then that is very simple. The first one here his legs are too short and his head is too small so he won’t run as effectively and probably not as smart so he wouldn’t get himself out of dangerous situation without being told to. Then there is the second one and I figured that this one would be self explanatory for he is a little fat and his muscles aren’t very strong.”
“What are you trying to say with this,” she questioned narrowing her eyes.
“Well I guess we could keep your horses which in that case we both will have to ride the same horse so the other one can carry our food. This also puts us in greater danger. Of course we can use my horses.” I said this being quite proud of myself but also at the same time quite fearful for my life.
“Ok,” I said, “I see that you need some time to think this over so I will give you some alone time.” I tossed her a few gold coins. “There is bound to be somewhere around here that you can take a bath and be a woman and I’m sure that if you ask someone nicely they will show you. We will have to have at least an hour behind the village before we camp though so meet me back here before then. Also once we get out there remember that it is a man’s world so take care of your woman stuff here because you won’t be able to find it out there. Oh,” I tossed her a few more gold coins. “You should probably buy something a little less revealing we don’t want to attract attention.”
I ran away quickly. I didn’t want to see all of her anger from the last comment I made. I hoped that she wouldn’t hate me too much. I would have to make up to her some how. Huh, it never occurred to me how hard it is to please a woman. What could I possible do to make her happy? Why is this such a hard question? It must be that I don’t know her well, yes that’s it.
Come on, there has to be something that she wanted. I know I will just have to teach her how to read, she would like that, I think. She did seem excited by the idea. That’s what I’ll do. I will go to the market and find some paper and some ink. There may even be a good book or two that I could buy. It is only mid day so there should be some left.
I decided to stop running because she wouldn’t catch up anyway. It was about noon and the sun was hot above my head. I absolutely hated the heat. Of course it didn’t affect my ability to perform in any situation, it was just a pain. I prefer the cold to warm which might be why I am so much colder than everyone else.


I walked up to the first merchant I found and asked him where to buy the things that I wanted.
“You should be able to get anything that you want around this corner expect for the books,” he pointed a finger to the castle of the town, “they keep all of our books right up there”
“May I ask why?”
“Of course you can,” the man said. He just paused looking at me.
“Why?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s because the ruler of this town doesn’t want to chance the books getting damaged or stolen.”
“Why that jerk, why the hell would he do something like that? Ok, whatever, how do I get one?”
“Good luck,” he said and then walked off. I felt like screaming ‘you damn ass hole, thanks a lot for all the help you gave me’ but I resisted the urge.
That is just fanfreakingtastic. The idiot is hoarding the books. I had a bloody friend who was just like that. Well I don’t know if a friend is a good word for it. I guess there are very few people that I have known as well so friend I guess is an efficient enough word. Wow, it sure does bring me back though.
A few years ago I was on one of my little escape journeys and I went to a very little town, like the who that I was just living at, to rest for the night and to trade books for I had read all of the books that I had with me. When I asked villager after villager I realized that only one person had books in the area. Not just the village but a good 10 mile radius of this place he had all of the books. So I went to his house to get some books.
I found him quite easily and we started talking I found out his name was Engenes. Somehow he had enough money and initiative to buy all of the books in the area. He had gotten all of the books fair and square though without cheating them of anything. This guy was just a rich book worm who really liked to read. So he was just like me. Ok, that is not at all true, the only thing we have in common is the fact that we both like books.
We sat there talking for hours on end. We discussed the stories that we had read and I talked about my travels (leaving out the parts he doesn’t need to know of) and he seemed to think of my travels as just another story that I had made up or as an exaggerated tale of my life. I did realize that he avoided any talk about his past though.
Eventually I brought up why I had come, which was to get some new books and possible sell some of the ones I already have. He was, of course, completely ready to buy the new books off of me. So as he was looking through the books that he has already read for some good ones he casually asked what I was doing next. I told him that I was on a long journey and left it at that.
After the transition was done and I was about to make my leave Engenes started begging for me to take him with me. He just looked so pathetic and of course I couldn’t say no. For some reason this guy reminded me of a helpless woman, huh that’s interesting.
At this time and still to this day I don’t know why he was so desperate to come with me but eventually I gave in. The only problem was he wanted to take all of his books with him (they filled his entire house). I thought he was insane. Through my own special brand of persuasion I got him to hide all of his books in a safe place where no one could find until he came back for them. I decided to hide some of my own personal books that are very dear to me with them and unfortunately to this day haven’t went back and got them.
We both left together but due to some unforeseen problem there was a skirmish where we both got separated. There were just so many people and unless he was of equal skill to me we couldn’t have made it out together. He had his skill to a point but wasn’t really that great for he clumsily wielded the axes but for some reason he was trying to knock the people out instead of killing them. It looked like he didn’t even maim them. Don’t get me wrong I do try to avoid killing most of the time but there has definitely been a lot of spilled blood on my account.
Now on to reality, I decided to pay that idiot book stealer a visit. I ended up at the front gate of the palace (if it could be considered palace). I went up to the guard and asked “How do I get an audience with your ruler?”
He seemed to look me over before answering me. “What does a wanderer like yourself want an audience with the king for?” he paused then asked, “Do I know you?”
“Well let’s just say it is personal and a soldier like you has no need to worry yourself over it and no as far as I know I have never meet you in my life.” I said. It isn’t very much fun if you straight up give them an answer plus he didn’t need to worry himself with my problem.
“Why you rude little peasant, I ought to give you an audience with my king with you in chains awaiting the noose.” He said. I thought that over for awhile because I would get to talk to the king but I still need to protect the girl and if I wasn’t let go bad things would happen. It would be funny to watch the awe on all of their faces when I escape though.
“Does that mean that I can’t have an audience with the king,” I asked hoping for a different response than from before.
“No, of course not, now get away before I cut you down.”
Now that was funny, he cut me down. I broke out laughing. I was walking away at the same time but it was just hilarious. I think that I really ticked off the soldier though because if he wasn’t on guard duty he most likely of charged after me. In which case he would have been put on the ground either unconscious or without a limb.
Of course this was a problem because I couldn’t talk to the king. Well I could either just be a good civilian and go back without a gift for Althea and a book for the road, or I could do it the fun way and sneak into the castle and steal a few books. Option two would be hard in day light but I think I will make due because it is only a smallish town.
I went to work trying to get past the wall of the outer castle. I found an area that wasn’t currently guarded and scaled the wall. When I landed on the other side I didn’t waste anytime trying to figure out where to go next.
A found a nearby tree and climb it. I was up it with about three seconds to spare for then a guard rounded a corner so they could see where I would have been had the tree not been here.
I did a little recon from the tree and I found where I would go next. I would run across the yard and into the open door in which I can see a stair case. I would go up there (Library are usually on the second floor) and look around for the library. It seemed simple enough.
When the guard rounded the far corner I dashed across the yard and was at the door in less than ten seconds. I ran into the building without slowing my pace. I like to think it was skill but it was most likely luck that there was no one around the door and staircase at the time. So up the staircase I went.
I didn’t want to be seen just yet so I went into the first door I found and hoped I wouldn’t be found. I turned around not wanting to be surprised from behind but I couldn’t help but be surprised. I walked right into the library. Damn, I am lucky, I mean skillful, yes skillful, that’s it.
“Hey who goes there,” a man’s voice said. So much for luck, I mean skill. I snuck around trying not to be heard. I went towards the voice so I could knock out anyone who was in my way.
I turned the corner and I think that surprise was used too much but I can describe it any other way. Well maybe shock. No I think I like the word astonished, yes that’s it.
“Well hello Axios.” The man said.
“It’s been a long time Engenes.” I said.
“What by chance are you doing here?” Engenes asked.
“Well I could lie to you and say that I was here looking for you, or I could tell you that I was sneaking in here because this is the only place for a ten mile radius with books and well you know me.”
He started breaking out laughing. I wasn’t really in a funny mood but I could only think that this was a good thing. I would have one more day that I could rest a little before the tiring trip with that girl. She was going to make the journey take twice as long.
“Hey,” I said. “I have your hospitality right?” I figured from what happened he was a king, or well whatever they call the ruler here.
“Sure, why not?”
“Ok then I am going to be back and I will make sure that the guards know me on my way out I’ll be back I have to go get something. (No I didn’t purposely refer to Althea as a thing) By the way you have a lot of explaining to do.”
He was going to question me but I quickly slipped out the door. Genius, absolutely genius, I can’t believe I thought of it so quickly. It worked so much better than things usually do too. Maybe that girl is a good luck charm. Oh well now to have a little fun. I just want to make sure that every guard knows my face. So I walked into the place I considered was probably the middle of the castle.
“Hello, whoever is out there that is suppose to be guarding the castle. Come and get me because you’re not doing a very good job. I really would like to see if you could capture me alive!” I shouted out.
I was lucky today, and the taunt was dead on. Well most people wouldn’t consider it luck. I was right next to where most of were the soldiers who weren’t currently on guard are staying. When they came rushing out they had just weapons and no armor. That was lucky as well because with the armor they would be harder to disable. Oh and I see my little friend from the front gate too.
“Are any of you soldiers real men? Who will attack me first then?” I announced. I hoped that this ploy would let me have a little one on one fun first.
“I will,” said the man that I meet at the front gate “I am Eniopeus and I challenge you. You will fall by my hand.”
“You sure are full of talk. Why not let that spear do the talking?” I told him. That’s right me with this sword is going up against a seven foot spear. Most people wouldn’t like the prospect but a sword is just a more convenient stealth weapon.
This man was completely predictable. Even though I easily got through the guard without being seen he took me for an idiot without any trace of skill because of the fact I revealed myself. So for his first move he simply thrust his spear towards my center. I quickly side stepped. Without losing a second I went towards him. He sent his spear with such momentum that he couldn’t pull it back in time and I was able to get up close and slash his upper thigh.
Then while he was crumpling his pain but also still standing and holding the spear I spun around and held the sword to his throat. The cold steel suspended only centimeters away from his throat and thirsting for the warm scarlet blood pulsing through Eniopeus’ veins. Eniopeus dropped his spear.
“I guess that means I win,” I said.
“So you think that you will escape because you beat one man?”
“Of course not,” I said. Then in a louder voice I announced “Who’s next?”
A man stepped out from the crowd, and Eniopeus ran back behind the crowd to tend to the wounds that I blew to his honor. There were gasps coming from the audience. This was exactly the type of thing I was waiting for. There is always one fighter in a force that is stronger than all of the rest. I think it is this man. Now I can test my skill. Of course I won’t be on my A game because it has been awhile since I have slept.
“Tecton is my name and I will be your next and last opponent.” The man said.
“Well aren’t we a little confident.” I said mocking him.
“You are just a young, cocky brat who needs to be put in his place.” Tecton said.
“I don’t see anyone here who can though; unless you know someone else for I doubt you can.”
The man didn’t break out into an out burst like I wanted but instead closed his eyes like he was trying to calm himself. All of a sudden Tecton started to charge forward without any arms. During the exchange I had put my feet in between the spear that Eniopeus had dropped. Now I had grabbed the spear with my feet and jumped up in order to put it in my sword hand with my sword in the other.
I through the spear right at him and since he still had his eyes closed I was hopping for a dead on hit. Of course he side stepped the spear throw. Now I had his fighting style. He stopped his charge.
“What do you think of me now brat? I will put you down without any weapons.” Tecton announced in a very cocky voice.
“Yeah, and I’m the cocky one, right?”
Once again he closed his eyes and went after me. I didn’t really feel like becoming a pancake so I ran in a semicircle to get behind him. By that time he had already turned around. I picked up the spear again though.
“That spear isn’t going to do you any good,” he said without opening his eyes.
I ignored his ignorant talking and once again threw the spear. This time I used my forward momentum to run forward behind the spear. He looked like he was at indecision for he stuttered for a moment. He made his decision and grabbed the spear shaft. I continued about four feet behind it. When he grabbed the spear (one of two possibilities that I saw him do) I did a jumping round house kick to the side of his head. I continued all the way through the kick and the force cracked his skull.
He stumbled backwards but held his ground. This was definitely a man of power. By this time he would be extremely light headed.
Suddenly Tecton opened his eyes and swung the spear like a bat at me. I put up my sword with just enough time to stop the blow but the force shook my arms and shoulders to the point any normal man would fall. At any case my muscles screamed in agony. I hoped that the vibrations had gotten to him like it did me. Unfortunately it appeared to have no effect.
With his other hand Tecton started reaching for me. Not wanting to be caught in his grasp and having nothing to fend off his arm I jumped back. I walked backwards until there was about seven feet between us while he stood rooted in place. Now at a safe distance a saw the blood slowly trickling form his skull.
Not wanting to waste time I charged forward. He had his eyes closed again so he was most likely back to his old games. I went for the easy right in the middle thrust but knowing it wouldn’t work adjusted the blade so that it would go towards the arm the spear was in.
The man sidestepped but it was obvious that he had slowed because I left a nice cut on his arm. During this the man, sorry I mean Tecton, only sidestepped and did nothing else to counter.
I stood behind him not wanting to fight a man who had already given up. Tecton slowly turned around and faced me. He opened his eyes.
“If this does not end in one of our deaths then we will have to talk if we ever meet again,” He said.
He started charging at me with the spear prepared. When he jabbed the spear at me I sidestepped and then to make it harder for him to pull the spear back I chopped at the spear further throwing of its path and weakening the wood.
We repeated the same steps over and over. This was obviously the man’s weakness. He couldn’t think of anything better to do than thrust again and again with the spear. He had lost hope and was very desperate to win an up hill battle. Or so I thought.
After a few more of his useless attempts at jabbing me in the stomach the spear broke in half. For a moment I celebrated my victory but that was the thing that the man… I mean Tecton was waiting for. As I went in for a final blow he stepped forward with me and as I slashed at his shoulder he use the half of the spear that he still had in his hand. With his free hand he grabbed the broken end of the spear and caught me between his body and the broken spear so I couldn’t escape. He kept slowly tightening his grip but being like my almost normal self I didn’t want to give up so while being nearly broken in half I continued to drive my sword deeper in to his shoulder.
Fortunately for my sake, I won. My sword went too deep and his arm went limp, and his arm dropped the half spear. Without his grip on me I was free but his body was still too close for comfort so I kicked him and he fell to the ground. Then I held my now bloodied blade over his throat and mumbled, “So much for no weapons.”

Chapter 4 –
The victory was mine. This was the part that I didn’t know what to expect. Obviously I would let this man live but the question was how the others would react to his failure. I figure they will either, be scared out of their wits and let me be, or they would all attack me at once.
Both ways were fine with me. The first would entertain me with their expressions and the second I would have fun escaping. I guess the second would be preferable though. It would instill even more fear in their eyes when I return.
I kicked the half spear out of Tecton’s hand. Then I turned around to see what the crowd had waiting for me.
“For Tecton!” one of the soldiers screeched.
“I’ll see you soon Tecton, so be sure not to forget my face,” I said.
The body of soldiers started to charge after me. The details after this I am not for sure of for at that point my body reacted mainly on reflexes. My body was moving through a crowd of armed warriors so quickly I couldn’t distinguish much in great detail. Here is what I could pull from the skirmish.
The first thing that happened was that they didn’t hold any type of formation so they didn’t all come at me at once. The wall they formed of themselves had many holes. So I went head on and simply deflected a few blows from a single soldier before another attacked.
Then I struck the first soldiers sword with such strength as to whip the blade from his hand. He ran with fear and then the other soldiers had made it upon me. I decided that I had had enough fun and since I didn’t want to replace any of my garments from little cuts or on the off chance that major blood be spilled.
So to make it so I simply picked up one of the stray spears that had been collected on the ground after fighting a few of the soldiers and then charged forward with it out in front of me. They all got out of the way of the spear and I just kept running right out of the castle where I dropped the spear. Sure I probably looked like an idiot when I ran out of the castle but it was effective so oh well.
When I ran past the guard at the gate, who was half asleep, he looked at me with wide eyes as I ran off. Now that the easy part was over I slowed down a little. I still had to take care of the hard part though; talking to Althea, I have no idea what kind of trouble there is to face there. Luckily I have read many stories and have a good idea on what I should do. I hope that it really works though. Ah who am I kidding, I’m screwed.
After I prepared for the storm that I had in front of me I went to the hill where we had agreed to meet. There was something that I had not anticipated there. The woman that I had rescued was a beautiful woman, but the woman standing on the hill was a goddess in the flesh. With all of the sleep washed out of her eyes and all of the grim of travels washed away she could only be beaten in beauty by the goddess of beauty herself which of course is Aphrodite. It was just amazing what a little cleaning up and make up could to someone. She even had the less revealing clothing on. Huh, I wonder what she would look like with the more revealing clothing on. No, stop thinking like that you idiot.
Once again it took awhile for her to realize that I was coming, probably even longer this time though because I wasn’t carrying the food. She looked bored from having to wait her for me. The rage that I was afraid would be thrown at me was not shown on her face.
I walked all the way to her without her doing anything but staring. If it was anything I should be the one staring. Before I got there she yelled at me in a worried tone saying “What the hell did you do?”
At first I was confused. I mean I didn’t remember doing anything that she would have found out about yet. I looked myself over and realized what she was probably freaking out about. I still had blood on my cloak. Oops.
Of course I could use this to my advantage a little. I just have to look pitiful and act like I am fine. She will feel sympathy for me and it will make my ordeal a lot better. Shut up little voice in my head. I know it’s shameful to lie to her like that but it will make things easier for the both of us.
“Are you hurt?” Althea asked. “Have you been hurt?”
Isn’t it amazing how quickly they can turn their mood around?
“I am sorry Althea,” I said in a painful voice.
“It is all right. Do you need anything? Do you want some water?”
Bingo. I am off the hook. Perfect. Well now I just have to keep up this farce up a little longer.
“Althea,” I said in an agonized voice, but what I almost said was goddess. That would have been embarrassing. “These are for you.” I stretched out my arm making it wobble a little and gave her some flowers and a little note. “Oh, and thank you for getting less conspicuous clothes.”
She took them and then said in a caring voice “You know I can’t read.”
I sighed, I had completely forgotten actually. I took the note back and read aloud with a weak voice:
I know you are mad
I am sorry that you are sad
So for you I have a gift
Your spirits I hope it lifts

She was silent for a long time and then she smelled the flowers. “Well thank you for the flowers. Apology accepted. Why didn’t you just read the poem to me? I didn’t take you for the type of person that writes poetry,” she said.
“What you think that the flowers are the gift? I don’t think that flowers are a good enough gift for this situation.(Though it would have made things easier) No I got you something much better. Oh, and I don’t write poems. That was the first one that I have actually. I don’t really write much at all only read but I decided to write a poem because I thought it would help. I didn’t read it out loud because it would have been a lot easier for me if you just read it.”
She stared at me like I was a whack job then took back on a caring face. Of course there are others would agree with that. “Then what is the gift?” she asked smelly the flowers again.
“Right the gift. Well what I got you was a one night stay at the castle. I guess that it could be more than one night if you wanted it to be though.”
She looked at me quizzically as if she questioned my sanity. “I don’t believe you,” she said.
“Well denying the truth doesn’t make it any less true. Anyway just follow me and find out for yourself.”
“That’s not what I meant, oh forget it,” she said.
I called the horses over and started leading them away. Althea followed diligently. We walked all the way to the castle in silence. I would have to break the habit of there not being much conversation between them. I was staring to get really bored of the quiet. I think was still worried about me. Maybe I should have mentioned that this wasn’t my blood.
I walked right up the castle gate and the soldier, who I recognized as the first to charge after me, opened the gate. I started to walk through with the horses and turned to make sure that Althea was still with me. As she walked past the soldier he put his hand on her shoulder.
“I was told that you were allowed through, but I heard nothing of a girl.” The soldier said.
“If you like your arm then keep it off of her,” I growled before she could say anything.
“Yes sir,” he said quickly removing his hand. It looked like he was trembling as we walked away into the castle. I almost broke down laughing.
At the entrance Engenes stood waiting for us. “My old friend,” he said. “It has been to long. We have a lot to talk about. Oh and who is the absolutely astonishingly beautiful young woman that you have with you. She looks of royal blood a princess maybe.”
She had a strange look on her face. Surprise, irritation, or maybe just being amazed of the compliment, whatever it was she quickly removed it from her face.
“Axios,” Engenes said, “We should get to the library to talk. This young lady can come if she wants but otherwise I could get someone to show her around.”
She was about to answer the question herself when I said, “Althea would love to be shown around.” She through me an evil stare after I said it too. I guess she didn’t like my idea.
Engenes laughed. “Althea, that’s quite an interesting name. Calchas!” he called. A middle age woman came walking up. “I need you to take Althea and show her around.”
“Yes sir,” she said.
“I see you later honey,” I said.
She was pulled away quickly before she could retort anything. Then Engenes started to give me a quizzical look.
“No we aren’t together but if all of the soldiers think that we are they won’t be so stupid as to try to get into her bed.” I said.
“That’s pretty smart but I was actually wondering why you bought all of this food I could have given you some. Also it doesn’t look like you are going to be on a very long journey knowing you with only this much food,” he said.
“Well I bought it before I came here but you can repay me the money if you want. For now let’s just go to the library to talk.”
He called someone over to get the horses and food and then we walked to the library. When we got there I found the most comfortable chair and sat down. Engenes sat across from me. He looked a little sad because I got the most comfortable chair
“I want to be a rock star,” I said out of no where.
“What?” Engenes said.
“Nothing, it is an inside joke and I guess your not inside.”
“Anyway… so you’re traveling with a girl. Althea, she is really beautiful you should consider yourself a lucky guy.”
“It is not like that. Hell I don’t know how exactly how to explain it. Why don’t you just ask her if you are really interested? Personally I don’t think that is what you really care about. I want to know how you are the ruler of this small village because the person that I knew was just a book worm with a large amount of money.”
“Well I didn’t exactly like the idea of ruling so I ran away and ended up in that town where you found me. The people that ambushed us where the soldiers of the kingdom that were looking for me. I wasn’t killed but brought back here to rule and I had all of my previous book collection brought here. Including, I believe, some of your books which or course I will give back to you.”
“Huh, well that sure is an interesting turn of events. Thank you I will want my books back.” I said. Then I gave him a simple run down of what had happened to me.
“Well much has happened and I think that I will call for a feast in honor of your arrival,” Engenes said.
“That’s exactly the type of thing that I like to hear,” I said. “I think that I am going to call it a night after dinner. I have had a very tiring last few days and I think I want to catch up on my sleep.”
“Whatever, it is your loss. I will just stay up with Althea.”
“Sure you do that,” I said. I’d want to hear about that in the morning.
He left the room and I followed. He went to the kitchen which I had to admire. If I ever ruled a kingdom I would have to get myself one of these only twice the size to double the output.
The feast didn’t take that long to prepare and we went to the dining hall. A little while afterward Althea and Calchas appeared and she went to sit across from me and beside Engenes. She glared at me. I wonder why.
I wasn’t able to ask her though because all of the other people started to flow in and then came the food and wine. She was probably just mad that I made her run off and take a tour instead of being able to listen in on my and Engenes’ conversation.
I ate all of the food in front of me and gained a look of amazement from all but Engenes. He had seen me eat before. Even Althea’s eyes were full of wonder and astonishment. I figured that she would have know from all the food I got but I guess seeing is truly believing.
After the men and women got their fill of wine the feast went downhill. I personally didn’t drink any and wasn’t really paying much attention to everyone else but it seemed that they drank a lot. Through all of the commotion I noticed that all of the soldiers stayed clear of me. Smart men. I must have left an impression.
It didn’t take long before I got fed up of all of the people’s insolence and I decided to go to bed. As I was getting up from the table I realized that both Althea and Engenes had already left but I didn’t give it to much thought because I was tired. When I got out into the hall there was a maid waiting for me and she took me to my room.
The room was nice and big, I think. All that I really noticed was the awesome bed lying in the middle of the floor. I walked over, lay down, and was out in seconds.

Chapter 5 –
Wow, that was a nice sleep. You just don’t sleep like that in the wild. I do like the scenery better in the wild. With the open sky full of so many dots of light that I don’t care to count, and the nice air of the open stretch of land without the stink of human waste around.
The only problem was that I woke up really tired like I could fall back asleep at anytime. I didn’t want to mosey around though. If Althea saw me being lazy then she would think it was ok for her to be lazy later. Any one who is traveling with me can’t be lazy. It just doesn’t work well. If she doesn’t pull her own weight (which hopefully isn’t much) then she would get left behind in the wild.
I got up and saw a change of clothing waiting for me. There was also some water to wash myself with. Not wanting to ignore the hospitality I grabbed the clothes and dipped them in the water and wash my face with them. I don’t like wearing clothes that I didn’t pick out myself. It just feels weird like they aren’t mine and it doesn’t work for me.
I walked out the door and once again found a maid waiting for me. That was getting really creepy having someone waiting for me like they knew that I was getting up soon. I was going to have to talk to Engenes about this whole people following me around.
Well I guess she didn’t know when I was waking up because she looked really bored like she was waiting for awhile. She also seemed surprised that I wasn’t wearing the clothes someone had left there, which means she probably left them. This girl was young and pretty though so if I had to wake up to any one her face was a good one.
“Hello sir, my name is Briseis. My lord has told me to take you to him as soon as you woke,” the maid said.
“I am not sir, you can call me Axios. Also I don’t care for Engenes as a lord so please don’t call him that around me it will drive me crazy,” I said. Then I sighed. Next time I will sneak out the window so I don’t have to deal with this crap so early in the morning. Ok, I take that back now that I look at the sky it looks about noon.
“Yes s…, I mean ok Axios,” she blushed.
“Just tell me how to get to Engenes, I can get there a lot faster without having to follow you,” I said.
She gave me the directions which were surprisingly simple and then I walked away. I could feel her eyes on my back until I turned the corner. I sure hope that she isn’t the stalker type.
I walked into Engenes’ study and with no surprise it was well lit and had many bookshelves packed to the brim with books. He was also reading a book at the time. When he looked up as I entered the room I noticed a nice big bruise on his cheek. It might be a more interesting story than I first thought it would be.
I walked into the library and found Engenes sitting in (my) most comfortable chair. He looked extremely tired like he didn’t have a good nights rest. I guess he should have followed my example.
“Well, well, well Engenes. What were you up to last night? I would really like to know. Of course I could always ask Althea right,” I said.
“I think that she got the wrong idea. I might have been suggesting something without realizing it. All that I wanted to do was talk but of course I wouldn’t have minded if a got a little action. Maybe my body was acting for me.”
I broke down laughing. That was hilarious. It gave me a little warning but I wasn’t going to try anything all the same so it doesn’t really matter that I have warning. She sure is lucky though that she is traveling with me because otherwise Engenes could have whatever he wanted. I doubt that he would force his way on a women though.
“I believe these are yours,” he said trying to distract me. He waved his hand over a pile of books and other random items.
“Do you have a pack that I can put these in?” I asked.
“Over there,” he said pointing to a closet. I went to the closet and found three backpacks there. What was it with the number three? It is always three this and three that is there a problem with two or four. I quickly got over it though and grabbed the black backpack. Then I walked out of the closet and back to Engenes.
“I am sorry to say that I have bad news for you,” he said.
“Don’t worry about it. It has been around a day since my last account of bad news so it was only a matter of time before it happened again,” I said, then sighed realizing how true that statement was.
“Ok, well I doubt this will surprise you that much but there have been accounts of three people (freaking three, what is it with you people) in black hooded cloaks roaming through the village asking if they saw anyone that said they had just escaped from the attacked village.”
“I haven’t thought about it much since I have got here actually, but no, it doesn’t really surprise me. I guess that this just means that it is time that I make my leave.”
Engenes sighed. “It doesn’t really feel right. Just letting you go off without me coming with you. It makes me feel wrong, but I can’t help it. I have become attached to this place.”
“I actually have a question. What exactly do you rule over?” I said.
“Well it may not look it but this town is actually quite big. Much of it is hidden by the trees. This town and villages for about five miles east and west and about seven miles north of here is the land of which I rule. Obviously you know that there is nothing except for the small town of Geraestus to the south, which is where you can from but they are self governed. Overall people wise I have maybe around three thousand strong men with a growing population because we have even more than that in women. This kingdom doesn’t have very many old people though. Once children reach the age of sixteen they are considered men in my kingdom but they start their apprenticeship when they are fifteen so after they become men they come to me and tell me what they are doing for a life or if they want to become a soldier. I told you this because I have a good many children about to reach the age of manhood in a good one to three years. Also there are around half a thousand soldiers currently enlisted and I didn’t include these soldiers in my earlier count but we have enough weapons and armor for about two thousand soldiers. The big hush hush project right now though is that I am trying to get enough armor and weapons for the whole kingdom in case of attack. The only problem that we have is food shortages. To fix the problem I had planned an assault on the town of Styra because currently that village has no ruler except for supposed scattered bands of thieves. So I can take the land for myself and use it for mainly farming to supply food for my people. I want to get do this quickly so that we can take the land by next planting season and use it to increase on crops. Then we will stop the assault for the time being allowing us to make use of the land and regroup so that this kingdom can possibly take even more land.” Engenes paused likely out of breath for talking so long. “By the way, this is the Kingdom of Dryopes.
“Well allow your throat to rest awhile,” I said. “I am glad that you trust me with that information. I am glad to hear that I have such a powerful alley on my side. After I find some type of safety I think that I will come back here. Right now my plan is to get to Country of Attica main land. Once there I will go to Athens because I have some business there. Afterwards I think that I will head west.
“By what means do you plan on getting to Attica? I hope you don’t plan on walking.” He stifled a laugh.
“Actually walking is a big part of the plan. To avoid taking the obvious path I will go from here to Styra then to Zaretra. After taking a rest I will go to Dystus and then on to Eretria from which I will sail to Attica. I am not for sure on where I will go on my path to Athens.”
“I don’t advise that. Think on how much harder that will be on Althea. And you for that matter. I mean sure, you definitely have experience on travels despite your young age but why take a much more difficult path.”
“I am, by taking this path I can get her to absolute safety, it will just take a bit longer. In the long run if we don’t run into trouble then this would be the easier path. A few weeks of very little comfort will be worth it for me. Since she is the one who is following me it will just have to be good enough for her. I don’t think it wise to tell her though. I don’t want her to freak.”
“I can see that I won’t be able to sway you so I will just have to assist you. It may not be safe to carry much money through that region but I will fund your journey. Also I will send you with a few more comforts including three of my fine soldiers.”
“No!” I screamed.
“But I must help you!” Engenes screamed.
“What I mean is don’t you dare give me three soldiers. I don’t mind two or even four but I am sick of things in threes.”
“Oh, ok, I can do that. Four it will be then.” He said laughing. I didn’t find it funny.


After some discussion on some other topics including a little about the tactics for when the Kingdom of Dryopes attack Styra and the problem with the maids I left to tell Althea to get ready to go. Also so Engenes could prepare for my departure. I wanted to leave with at least four hours of light left in the sky.
I walked out into the hall and was glad to find that there was no maid waiting for me. I was glad until I saw Briseis down the hall. Luckily she scurried off as soon as she looked at me.
Wanting to meet my personal deadline I jogged down the hall in the opposite direction. It took me a minute or two to remember that I have no idea where I was going. I saw a door that looked like the door to the room where I slept. I went in there and sure enough it was where I slept. I grabbed the clothes and walked back out of the room resisting the urge to fall on the bed and sleep my self into the Abyss. I figure that the clothes will have some use even if it is just used to patch up a wound.
I went down stairs to kitchen. I decided that I couldn’t look for Althea on an empty stomach. The kitchen was grand as ever when I went in there and thanks to an extraordinary amount of good luck Althea was there as well. After grabbing a mouth full of bacon and a plate of eggs I walked over to her.
“Hello Althea,” I said.
“So you finally dragged your ass out of bed,” she said.
I stuck my tongue out of her. (childish I know but it gets the point across, also it is fun and you now it) “Well we are leaving soon so say all of your goodbyes,” I said.
I walked away and grabbed another mouthful of bacon along with some more eggs and a little milk. I left the hall and since I didn’t exactly have anything to do I walked around endlessly. I ended up in the armory. I decided to look around for anything useful. I search around and found some semi useful armor and another sword that I could use as a twin sword. I also grabbed some chainmail for Althea and a bow and around three dozen of the best arrows that I could find.
I wondered farther and saw the wonders of the castle. There were great things here and there all over the castle but the grandest thing that I saw was the garden. I spend much of my time out in the wild so I have seen a big variety of plants. What I haven’t seen is a big arrangement of the most beautiful plants. I just see everything in a random fashion with all of the plants together in a big mash pile called the wild.
Of course there were roses included in the bunch of plants so I stopped to look at those. I found that there was every possible color of roses in the bunch. There was the traditional red rose and then there were roses with the colors of purple, blue, pink, yellow, and green. They even had black roses. I also found some roses with two colors like the red and blue or purple and pink. The only thing that I found disappointing was that the garden didn’t have a rose combination of my two favorite colors, red and black. I said screw it and picked up a black rose. It smelled amazing too.
I wondered farther into the garden and found some amazing trees. They were nice and big and perfect for climbing. Maybe when I come back I could challenge some of the soldiers to competition to see who could get to the top first. The shock on their faces would be grand why I was at the top eating a little lunch waiting for my opponent to make it up to me.
I looked up at the sky and saw the sun had moved a little too far. Remembering the deadline that I had set for myself I walked back into the castle to where Engenes had told us to wait for him.
I walked up to the waiting spot and found everyone with bored expressions on their faces. Huh, is life really that boring without me. I sure do keep people waiting for me a lot. Oh, well. I am worth the wait.
“Well it took you long enough,” Althea said. “Were you planning to leave this year or the next?”
“Aw, I missed you too. Here take this is for you,” I said handing her the rose.
She stared at the rose and actually had nothing to say. It was then that I looked at everyone else. I knew all of the faces there but two of them I didn’t know the name of. Assembled here other than Althea and me were Engenes, Briseis, Tecton, Eniopeus, and two other soldiers.
“A black rose?” Althea questioned. Well almost completely at loss for words.
“Well if you really want a different color I could go get a red or a blue one,” I said. “Personally I think it would be a waste of time. So is everything ready Engenes? Why is Briseis here? I won’t need her help to get out of the village. I am pretty sure the soldiers will know the way.”
“You remembered my name,” Briseis shrieked. Well there is a name for this type of situation. Awkward.
“No Axios, Briseis will be accompanying you. She can do many things. Even if all you need is a bright face to attend to whatever you say. Don’t worry she will be completely obedient,” Engenes said.
I knew what he was suggesting that I use her for, a person to keep me warm at night. I had other plans in mind. “Briseis, since you will do whatever I want this is my first command. Stay here and do not follow me,” I said.
“That is not being very nice!” Briseis exclaimed.
“No it is not. Axios be reasonable. She can use herbs and things like that. Patch up wounds and even sing songs. She will be a great help to the moral of the soldiers,” Engenes said.
“Oh, by the way what are those two soldiers’ names,” I said pointing to the soldiers names of which I didn’t know.
“My name is Antenor, sir,” the first soldier said.
“My name is Meges, sir,” the second soldier said.
I was about to tell them off for calling me sir when Briseis said smiling “He is not sir. His name is Axios.”
Huh, ok she wasn’t bad. I guess we could keep her. I should probably ask Althea first though.
“Hey Althea,” I said. “Do you think we should bring Briseis with us on our journey or not? It is up to you. If she follows anyway we will tie her to a tree right outside the village.”
She seemed to ponder it but not for long. “I see no reason to leave her here. She can be help to us somehow. By the way my favorite color is red,” Althea said.
This means that she didn’t get the hidden meaning of why Engenes wanted her to come. I am really glad that her favorite color is red though because I don’t feel like arguing over the best color when it is obviously red.
“Well that settles it,” Engenes said. “Briseis is coming with you.” Briseis sure looked happy with that decision. I wonder if any of these people know what they are getting into. I doubt it because Tecton is the only one who might have a chance of surviving out there. Well hopefully I could keep them all alive.
“Well I hate to say goodbye but it has to be done. I will see you later Axios. Good luck to you all,” Engenes announced.
With that we gathered all of our things and set out. I didn’t want to be in a very large group so we didn’t bring many horses. Just two extra. The soldiers split up two and two on those. One of the white horses that I bought was carrying a whole bunch of stuff including food. That meant that either Briseis and Althea would have to share a horse or one of them would ride with me. That was quickly decided when Briseis volunteered to share my horse. I didn’t really enjoy riding with others but Briseis was really warm and comforting so I couldn’t complain.
We were riding out through the market which wasn’t really that smart because there was a chance of meeting the people in cloaks. I noticed the old woman with the herbs and decided to talk to her again. I told the others to wait here and I walked over to talk to her.
“I came back to tell you of my adventures,” I said.
“Well I doubt much has happened but let’s hear it,” she said. So I told her of what had transpired. I made sure to make it sound just a little more interesting than it really had been.
“Small steps are the start of a grand adventure,” was all the woman had to say to my tale.
“Try a psychiatrist,” I said then started walking away.
“Wait!” she said. Then she pulled out two bags. “Give this to that girl and this to the other.” She indicated which to give to whom.
I walked back and with no shortage of confused expression I gave both Briseis and Althea their bags. The soldiers seemed a little disappointed that they didn’t get anything though. I had no desire to wait around in this place. I wanted to get far enough away from the village by nightfall. I rallied everyone up and with Briseis’ warmth against my back we left the village.

Chapter 6 –
Right after the first five minutes of excitement that you get when beginning a journey is possibly the most boring part. You don’t exactly have much to do other than enjoy the surroundings and sit back and relax. The part where the first attack comes is usually when it gets really exciting. You have that high from battle and then for the rest of the journey you are always on the edge. You’re always prepared in case you should be attacked again.
Though I seemed bored out of my mind Briseis couldn’t be enjoying herself more. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was holding on to me tightly the whole time I might have thought that she was so happy to be away from home. Of course she might have been afraid of falling of but I doubt it.
She was just talking on and on and on about everything imaginable. She talked about her family, friends, her house, her memories, the books she has read, about how much she liked working for Engenes, and many, many other things. The weirdest part about it was that Meges actually seemed to enjoy all of what Briseis said. I would have to keep an eye on him. I didn’t want that type of problem under my command.
That’s a weird combination of words. My command. I haven’t really commanded anything before this. I am not use to telling people what to do. I don’t really like the idea that these soldiers are practically my puppets on strings. I will have to make sure that they don’t have any strings attached and rather are just loyal so they will act of their own accord on my behalf. Unfortunately that means work on my part. I sighed.
My boredom continued though and it seemed that I would have the whole first day of journey a boring one. Maybe tomorrow I would read a book. The sun had only maybe an hour left in the sky when I thought that I heard something first.
I gave the soldiers a secret signal that we had set up that we would indicate of each other in case we thought that we would be attacked. The signal was rather simple and personally I really like it. All we had to do was say “That pie was really great” To warn them. Though it did have a nice ring and it was funny to watch Althea’s and Briseis’ confused faces. Tecton had much more experience with this sort of things so he warned everyone else of how many enemies there were by saying “I had three slices” so if you couldn’t guess that would mean three enemies.
I was actually quite surprised that we had run into them so soon because we were still a good day away from Styra were the bandits would be highly condensed. Nevertheless they attacked only about ten seconds after I warned everyone.
Three people in black hooded cloaks came dashing out of the forest and towards us. They were brandishing a combination of swords, spears and shields.
I reached for my bow and readied an arrow. I wasn’t an excellent marksman so I waited awhile and fired when they got around ten feet away.
The arrow reached its target of the middle hooded man in the middle with the spear and shield. The arrow hit his right thigh and he crumbled to the ground. I then grabbed my twin swords and jumped of the horse and commanded it to run away before the remaining two fell upon us.
The soldiers were equally prepared and when the cloaked men had reached us I was standing next to Eniopeus and Tecton was leading the others being careful of his injury against the man with a sword and shield. Eniopeus and I got to take the man with the spear and sword.
I still was not completely trusting in anyone’s other than Tecton and my abilities so I attacked the man with no plan of help. While the man thrust his spear towards me I use my twin swords to catch the blow. Then coming in close while still holding the spear off I used my foot to kick the sword out of his hand before he could raise it.
I had planned to hold a sword to his neck but Eniopeus was there with his spear so I could keep a firm grip on my swords and not risk the mans spear going anywhere.
I looked around to view the damage and was mad to see Althea holding a sword to a man’s throat. It was the man I had shot with an arrow. Other than that there was nothing wrong except a little cut on one of the soldiers arms. Briseis had even walked back and had all of the horses with her.
“Althea, what do you think you are doing?” I yelled.
“Protecting your ass! Isn’t that obvious?” she yelled back.
“It looks like your making my job of protecting you harder!”
“He got up so I knocked him down and kept him down. Tell me what is wrong about that?”
“You’re lying! He wasn’t wielding a sword that is yours. You were planning to put yourself in dangers way.”
“So what of it?!”
I took a few breaths otherwise I would say the things that were completely true but since I didn’t want to hurt her feelings I had never said.
“I just don’t want you hurt,” I said. “Leave the fighting to me. I will do my job and protect you. I will not be so incapable to need help. Though I am thankful for the soldiers I mostly took them to make Engenes happy. I am confident that I will be able to do it by myself. It will be me protecting you.” I ended on a quieter tone.
All that I got from the crowd was silence.
Unfortunately I just realized that I am taking the job too personal. Damn it. I had protected women before but I didn’t make it personal. Now I cared to keep her alive for more than just to prove that I can. Now it actually seems important. At least more than usually.
But why? Why does this matter so much more? I just don’t get it. This is the most confusing job that I have taken so far.
Wait! The men in the hoods! I almost forgot about them in my confusion. I looked back at them and looked at the one that Althea was on. I saw that he was fatter than your normal warrior would be.
“Althea, get off of him now!” I said.
“He is unconscious! He is no threat! You don’t have to yell at me!”
“I am sorry for yelling and you’re right he isn’t a threat. Just get off.” I wasn’t mad any more. Actually there was an interesting turn of events.
Althea got off of the man. With Eniopeus still keeping watch of the other man I walked over to the on that I had shot. The man that the soldiers had attacked was dead.
Without pulling off the hood to look at the man’s face I went to where the arrow was protruding from his thigh. Then I started twisting around the arrow trying to cause the wounded some pain.
“What the hell Axios!” the man said. “When did you start torturing your victims?”
“Just as I thought,” I said. “I see you still haven’t lost the fat, Corvinus.”
“So I’ve been given away.”
“I hope that you have come in good faith. If you didn’t you know that I will have to kill you right?”
“Yes, yes I know. I came to kill you Axios. Then I remember all the good times we had together and I saw the beautiful women that were accompanying you and I decided that we should work together. I see that you already have a claim on the girl that was on top of me. To think I have only known her for a few minutes and she is already lying on me. How long did it take you?”
“Well I see you haven’t changed in the slightest Corvinus. It is not like that though.”
“I see that you are going through denial but that is ok. I will just take the other beautiful young lady.”
“I’m sorry but she is staying with me as well.”
“Damn Axios! Why do you keep all the women from me? Just like old times I guess.” Corvinus said. I was about to reply when he said, “Oh, is that food!”
Corvinus got up and started limping towards the horse with the food.
“It is because I know what is on your mind,” I said but he wasn’t listening the food had hypnotized him.
The horse started to run at the sight of the fat man charging. I would run too.
“Come back horse,” Corvinus said. “I haven’t been feed well recently. Just give me a little food.”
Well I couldn’t complain about this new turn of events just yet. Another was warrior at my side and a skilled one at that. There will never be a conversation that isn’t somehow related to women or food or both at the same time. Of course, now will have to hunt for food if we want to be able to survive just to the next village with this food vacuum. If nothing else at least this journey won’t be boring any longer.
The almost forgotten problem of what to do with the other man who beyond worked for the same organization that I use to, I didn’t know. He refused to join up with us and since I didn’t trust him I wouldn’t have let him anyway. Now that I trusted Eniopeus enough I had him transport the man back to Engenes during the night, so he could be back by morning.
All was good though because we had yet another great warrior. Once his wound is healed. We were all sitting around the campfire except for Eniopeus who had already left. I felt that I had a quiz from everyone coming on.
“Axios,” Althea said. “Are you going to explain where Corvinus came from, how you know each other, why did he started attacking you if you are friends, and why he stares at me in the creepiest way?”
“I guess I could,” I said.
I waited while everyone expected me to answer. I liked waiting in silence while everyone gets mad at me for being quiet. It looked like Corvinus was going to say something but he had a face full of food and Althea spoke before him saying, “Now.”
“Corvinus came from his mothers whom. We were friends when we were little. He had to trick the other men. I don’t really want to tell you why but it would be better if you know. He wants to get in your pants. He is a perverted creep that thinks only of food and pleasuring himself. He is my friend but don’t give him any ideas for he will take complete advantage of it. Right now he is probably imaging you naked and on top of him.”
Ok, I was glad that I told them. They knew what was really going on and I didn’t have to lie to them. Also because right after I was done talking both Althea and Briseis came up and slapped him so he had red marks on both sides of his face. Then they stomped off.
“What?” Corvinus yelled. “I would squash you if I was on top.”
Then I saw Althea pick up a rock and throw it. It hit him square in the back of the head. The rock was big enough that Corvinus fell backward and started to bleed.
Both me and all of the soldiers started to laugh except for Meges. Damn, what was wrong with that guy? It looked like he was admiring Corvinus. I would have to get him into shape before Corvinus knows and starts to take advantage of him.
I decided to call it quits for the night. The tents were already up and I was tired so I went to my tent. I had a tent all to myself. Briseis and Althea shared a tent and the soldiers shared two tents. Corvinus also had his own tent which was good because I think even the soldiers were terrified to fall asleep with Corvinus around.
I always used the same tent and there was no way that that was changing anytime soon. This tent was made in an extremely special way. How I am not for sure but it is said to be blessed by the gods. I wasn’t exactly sure of the idea but the tent is great. I have slept great since I used it. Not as good as in the castle but still pretty good. It almost seemed like the outside world didn’t exist while I was in there.
I wrote a note to explain the basic situation to Althea. If she really wanted to know much more than she already knows then she will just have to learn to read. Now just as long as Corvinus doesn’t explain the situation to her tonight then she will have to wait to find out. I don’t think that she will allow him near her after what I said so we won’t have a problem. I would also have to command everyone to not read it to her.
After I was done writing I put all of my stuff except my bedding together so that I could leave in a hurry if need be. I lay out on the soft blanket and drifted into a world of absolute perfection without pollution.
I dreamed about a land far away. It had a power source beyond our imagination. Power that was so great that the Greek gods would have had to obtain their strength from this place. It was not in the open though so unless you knew about it you wouldn’t find it.
In this world peace was spread through the land. Everybody had their fill of meat and fruit. The people were so pure that they were like gods without power. So pure that the gods themselves would walk with them and not be noticed in the crowd.
No war was fought by the nations. It was really just one big nation without a ruler. There was no need of a ruler in this place nothing could go wrong. It was a place full or caring and love and sharing. There was no crying and no lying. It was so full of this that no one died except from old age.
Everyone was a peasant and everyone was a king. If someone would sing everyone would sing along. No one was higher than anyone else except for the gods; and even them just barely.
I looked to the sky and saw the brilliance of the stars. Here they were bright and vivid and so enchanting that they almost look alive. Like they are dancing in the sky.
Then in a second I saw it all set ablaze. The whole place went up in smoke. Buildings were burning and all of the fields were alight. In the center of the madness stood one man. I looked at his face and knew who he was. This was the man that both changed my life and destroyed it. For his terrible deeds I told myself that if I ever saw him again I would kill him. I charged at him with a new vigor now though because he had destroyed this perfect utopia.

Chapter 7 –
I woke up and scrambled for my dagger and almost destroyed the wall of my tent. I realized what I was doing and stopped. It was just a dream. A dream that turned into a nightmare. I almost had him just a few more seconds and that man would have been dead. Just like every other dream it ends at the worst possible time.
I got up and organized my things that were now spread out over the floor of the tent. I wanted to get up, eat breakfast, break camp and leave. Without incident. I don’t can for mornings full of pandemonium and confusion. They just destroy the rest of the day.
I left the tent and found that everyone was up and staring at me. Including Eniopeus, this means that he got back with ease and was going to sleep on the journey.
“Well what do you have to say for yourself, Axios,” Althea said.
I was about to reply when Corvinus broke in with, “Damn, you are lazier then me.”
“You have been keeping us waiting forever,” Meges said.
“Eniopeus was able to get back and have a full rest,” Antenor said.
“You guys aren’t being nice,” Briseis said. “We just have realized your exotic sleeping behaviors.” She always had good things to say.
I was a little lost. How long had I slept? I looked at the sky and saw that it was almost noon. Well I sure did get some rest. Huh, how to talk to the others. I guess I should start with all of their comments.
“Let’s see here. I have to say good morning and where is breakfast, for myself. Then I would have to say to Corvinus that there is no way that I am lazier than you and your belly would prove me right. Then to Meges I would have to say that if it had been forever that would be very amazing. Antenor, it is a good thing that Eniopeus got enough sleep is it not? Last but not least, Briseis, thank you.”
Briseis blushed.
“Anyway, why didn’t you just wake me up? As long as it was Althea or Briseis. I wouldn’t have minded waking up to one of your faces,” I said.
“What do you mean why didn’t we just wake you up?” Althea said. “Don’t you think we would have tried that already? We attempted to wake you in every way. When we yelled at you nothing happened. The smell of food didn’t entice you to wake. Then we attempted to get into your tent but it was locked or something and not even shooting an arrow at it or slashing at it with a sword had any effect. Pain in my ass!”
“What?” I said. “The smell of food didn’t wake me up. Wow! This tent really does keep me from the outside world.”
“Um… Axios,” Briseis said. “We were actually kind of wondering why we couldn’t slice through it with a sword or arrow.”
“Well when I bought it the lady said that it was a really nice tent. I guess it was just a really, really nice tent. I don’t know. Is it truly that weird that they can’t pierce it? I mean we have armor. Why not cloth that can do the same thing?”
I am not exactly educated in cloth. I have no idea what cloth is soft, which is sturdy, how exactly you make it and anything really. I don’t tend to use my mind caring about clothing. Not that I don’t care for clothing. I think it was a great invention (well there are some disadvantaged to it, sigh). It just not one of those extremely interesting subjects that I could read for hours on end even though it is non- fiction.
Corvinus sighed. It almost seemed like he was saying that it was useless trying to reason with me. Huh, that’s interesting. Hey, that’s-
Corvinus quickly spoke up saying, “You should just give it up. Weird things tend to happen around this man, for both good and bad. Don’t waste your time trying to tell him something that he isn’t interested in. You may think he is listening but he won’t be.”
At least I think that was what he said. I wasn’t really paying attention.
“Hey Axios,” Althea says.
“Huh,” I say stupidly as I snap back into reality at the sound of my name.
“I bet your hungry and you want some nice, sizzling, bacon,” Althea questioned.
“Yeah, I’m starved.”
“Then you should have got your ass up earlier,” she said then stomped off.
What the Hell? Did I commit a crime or something? All I did was sleep in a little. You know what? Even though it would be the most annoying device in the world, and many would come to hate the creator and think it was the stupidest idea ever, someone should make a device that creates an alarm that will wake you when the sun is in a certain position of the sky.
Ahh, well. Too late for that I guess. I will just have to take the last watch instead of the first now. Though they will have to find a way to wake me there too. Well, I guess I will think of something eventually.
Without much more conversation we packed up camp and got rid of as much evidence as possible that we had stayed there. Of course, we couldn’t hide everything but it couldn’t be helped. If someone was following us then they wouldn’t need a campsite to tell them they were going in the right direction anyway.
My breakfast consisted of some cold jerky. It was better than nothing but still didn’t compare to the lovely taste of nice, juicy, freshly cooked bacon. I couldn’t complain that much though, considering that it was my fault that I slept in.
We rode much in the same fashion. With the arrival of Corvinus brought two new horses. The horses were not as good as the ones that I had got but they were defiantly better than the horses that Althea got from a dealer. Corvinus rode one of these horses and I guessed that Briseis would use the other but in that notion I was incorrect.
When we started getting on them, Briseis happily jumped on my horse behind me. When I asked if she would like to use the other horse she put a hurt expression on her face and asked if I didn’t like her there. This, of course, was an unfair question. Luckily, after I stumbled for the right thing to say, she said that the soldiers should use the horse and how it would be easier to talk to me from here anyway. I didn’t think of the right then I should have said until after I was lost in thought ignoring her pointless stories, sigh.
So now our party consisted of seven horses divided between eight people and a lot of food. This was too big for my comfort. If we were being pursued there would be no mistake in which way were going and if we were under attack then there is a greater room for a mistake. Maybe I should have insisted on only two soldiers instead of the four we have.
Since Althea wasn’t in the best of moods I decided that I would wait and start teaching how to read and write till tomorrow. A few hours after we started off we ran into a river. At first we thought this would be a problem but when we got to the shore we saw that a little ways to the left. We crossed over the bridge and then we stopped and let the horses have a rest and get a drink.
I went to the river and filled up my water skin and then viewed my surroundings. We were still in the think of the forest and we hadn’t been attacked by any bandits yet (beside Corvinus’ group). This was probably due to the groups large size.
I looked up into the sky and saw lines of smoke on the horizon. That was probably from Styra. Since we only had a few hours left of light it was unlikely that we would make it to the village tonight. All the better I guess. It just means that we will arrive in the morning light instead of the dead of night.
Once we reach the village, Corvinus, Eniopeus, and I will go to the village to get supplies for the trek to Zaretra. The others will go around the village and meet us outside. I don’t like the idea of taking such a large group into a village occupied by bandits.
I snapped out of my current thoughts. Thinking of that type will have to wait until we come to the situation. I looked about at the troops and saw they were in a pretty good mood. It is always good to have soldier’s morale high.
Then I looked towards Althea. It wasn’t good. She looked really unhappy. Was it my fault for sleeping in? I hope not. Maybe it is just the fact that her home has been destroyed and now she is traveling across the country with a group of soldiers in no apparent direction. Yeah, I guess she could be upset about that too.
I sighed (I seem to be doing a lot of that). I didn’t want Althea to be so sad. I will just have to start teaching her to read now. At least it will give me something to do beyond ignoring Briseis and staring into the sky.
I went over and whispered into Tecton’s ear. Then I announced that we would be setting off. I rumbled through my pack and found what I was looking for. Then I started to write some things out on paper.
Briseis walked over and was about to get on my black horse.
“Hey Briseis,” Tecton called. “Why don’t you come ride with me? I have a few things that I want to talk to you about.”
At first it looked like she was going to refuse. Then after taking a glance at me she reluctantly walked over to where Tecton was riding his horse.
I jumped on my horse after quickly finishing what I was writing. I started to follow the precession. Althea was the last in line with Corvinus taking the lead. I guided to horse to walk beside Althea’s horse and then I asked, “Do you want to know how to read?”
That question seemed to brighten her doom and gloom of a day and without further ado I started teaching her how to read by showing her the alphabet.
From point the day seemed to rush by and when I started to notice the darken sky I told Eniopeus to ride ahead and look for a place to rest for the night.
I returned to watching Althea. She was progressing quite quickly and was a willing student. She already had the Alphabet down and was starting to be able to write simple words like cat and dog and names like Althea, Axios, and Tecton. This might be over quicker than I thought.
The smoke from the fires of Styra were a lot closer now and I could see that many of the soldiers wanted to just continue ahead and reach it in an hour or so.
I didn’t want it to be known that we were here however and when we set down for the night there were even more groans about how I didn’t want them to make a fire. I waved them off saying that at least they had a warm breakfast.
Night fell quickly as it always does and we ate are dinner by the light of a single lamp while telling stories. With the night fall came the cold. Antenor starting to complain and was practically begging for a fire.
“I you are so cold,” I said. “Then why don’t you cuddle up with someone and share your body heat.
Immediately several pairs of eyes turned to were Briseis and Althea (who wasn’t mad at me anymore, yeah! Well at least for now) were sitting. Briseis made a show of getting up and walking towards me. Then she sat down and hugged me to get warm. Althea suddenly feeling rather susceptible got and sat down close to Briseis and leaned her head against Briseis shoulder.
Corvinus, obviously feeling rather confident of himself, got up and started walking towards Althea. Althea, not being an idiot, slowly pulled out her dagger for emphasis. Corvinus sighed and sat back down.
After a little more talking including the story of how I came to know Engenes, I realized that Briseis had fallen asleep while still cuddling to keep warm. I asked Althea to move her head and then picked Briseis up and walked to the ladies tent to lay her down. After setting her down she was still holding me and I had to peel her arms away from my waist. It wasn’t until I got her off of me that I noticed how warm she was keeping me.
I walk back out to where everyone was. I threw Eniopeus a key and told him that I had last watch.
“Early to bed, early to rise,” I said. Then suggested, “Maybe you should follow the advice tomorrow won’t be easy, Althea.”
I am going to let Briseis warm up the tent a little before I go to bed. I nodded and then walked towards my tent.
“That’s a great idea. Meges go warm up the tent,” Antenor said while hitting Meges. Meges just hit him back harder in response.
I got into my tent and I left it slightly open this time so even though it would let the cold in I would be easier to wake in a hurry.
After a few minutes I heard Althea ask, “Why do you all listen without question to Axios. I mean sure you were ordered to but what about you Tecton you look plenty strong enough that you could take him and show him your place. Don’t you think he is being a little bossy?”
Tecton answered saying, “No, he isn’t being bossy everything he has said was completely reasonable and compared to other commands his have definitely been to the less of the degree. As for am I skilled enough to put him in his place and why we respect him without question, well lets just say I wasn’t wounded until after a visit from Axios.”
“You mean when he came back with all the blood on him…” Althea started to say.
I could imagine Tecton shaking his head and he said, “Well let’s just say it certainly wasn’t his.”
Corvinus broke out laughing and I heard him get up and say, “Good night,” and I heard him walk away probably to his tent while still chuckling.
There wasn’t much for conversation after that everyone slowly started heading off for bed. I fell asleep after it was only a single soldier left awake (the one keeping first watch).
I dreamed of walking through darkness then coming to a radiant light; a light that shined with all of the wisdom of the world. Then walking before my eyes was what seemed to be the great god herself. The best, and my favorite, goddess, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war.
The figure spoke to me saying, “Before you your fate spreads in two paths though one of the will be easy in the beginning it leads to great darkness were there is little chance to find the light. Choose carefully for this decision effects more than just your soul but that of yours and those closest to you and even more than those. It is up to you.”

Chapter 8 –
With that the dream ended with a start as Eniopeus was telling me it was my watch. I groggily got up and saw Eniopeus trudge off to his tent. I might have been dead with how tired I was. Damn, it was extremely tempting to turn around and let everyone fend for themselves but with that dream that I just had I wouldn’t dare leave them without me.
I looked at someone’s open pack and saw a skillet. It was then I realized how hungry I was but I decided to wait (much to my stomachs disdain) until everyone was awake. I walked over to a big tree and sat down to start my watch. I got bored rather quickly and my thoughts shifted to the dream I had. I wonder what she was trying to warm me of, or was it truly just a figment of my imagination.
My thoughts wonder so far that when someone sat down I was a little startled. I looked over and saw that it was Althea. She sat there for awhile and then she shivered. Then she leaned in to get warm with her head on my shoulder.
“Its cold out here,” she said.
I sighed. “Actually I hadn’t noticed but, you should go back to bed. Briseis will keep you warm. I will wake you when the sun rises and it won’t be so cold anymore.”
“I can’t sleep,” she said. She cuddled up even closer while she stifled a yawn. “I had a nightmare from the gods…,” she mumbled as she fell asleep.
I was cold out here. I guess I was just too tired to tell before. Althea is almost as warm as Briseis though so it wouldn’t be a problem but she had a dream too. I wonder if it means something.
After awhile with nothing happening in the surrounding woods I took Althea back to her tent and lay her next to Briseis so she would stay warm. As I was walking out of the tent I saw the sun rise in the eastern sky.
“Well, well, well, what were you doing in Althea’s tent during your watch mister,” Corvinus said. He had obviously just woke up.
“I don’t think I should explain myself to you,” I said then grinned. “Why are you jealous?”
He had a playful look on his face and he said, “Maybe a little.”
“Well your jealous over nothing, she just fell asleep when she came out here to talk to me and I put her back in bed.”
He grinned. “That’s a really good excuse I almost believed it.”
“Believed or not, the truth doesn’t change.”
“Yeah, yeah I have heard it before.”
I went and good some wood for a fire because now it wouldn’t matter too much if someone saw the fire and gods damn it, I wanted bacon.
When I got back Tecton was awake and talking to Corvinus. I don’t think the soldiers really trusted him but who could blame them. Together we started the fire and slowly the others got up as we made breakfast. Last was Briseis, and that left only Althea not awake. When breakfast was ready Briseis announced that she would wake Althea.
“No, let her sleep,” I said. “We will leave some food for her and wake her before we depart.”
Briseis shrugged and we started to eat. The bacon tasted great, but there wasn’t much for conversation. I got reports from the soldiers that nothing of much interest happened during their watches. Actually absolutely nothing happened except during Tecton’s watch when he heard something approach but it ran off quickly so it was most likely a big animal such as a bear but one couldn’t be sure.
After everyone was done I had Briseis wake Althea and told her to sit with Althea while she eats breakfast. Althea didn’t complain when this transpired probably because she was too tired to care. The soldiers and I (with Corvinus laying on the ground staring into the sky) took down all of the tents (with the exception of Corvinus’, he could do it himself).
When I went back to the fire I found Althea’s breakfast half eaten and her sleeping with her head in Briseis lap. Briseis was stoking Althea’s long black hair.
“She sure is sleepy,” Corvinus said on his way back from taking his tent down. “I wonder what could have kept her up all night to make her like this. She seems to take after you a lot.” Then he leaned down a grabbed her plate of food.
I swiped the plate from his hands. “Thank you, I didn’t really feel like bending down (what, I was hungry). Oh, and who knows, maybe she had a nightmare.”
After that we left. Instead of waking Althea I set her on a horse against Briseis’ back. Then we set off. Since we were only about an hour away from Styra I told them my plan. I decided that only Eniopeus and I would go into the village. We only needed to replenish a few supplies so the horses load would be fine. Also around a village full of bandits one couldn’t be too careful so I wanted the group to have a little extra protection.
When we started to reach the edge of the forest I had the group start to circle around while Eniopeus and I went into the village. At first the village seemed normal. On the outskirts of the town were large groups of farms which were the sign that this village was still economically sound.
We walked to the main gate of the village and told the guard what our purpose in coming was and he allowed us to enter, for a fee of course. He seemed to eye Eniopeus suspiciously though. They shouldn’t recognize him as a soldier though because I had him remove his emblems declaring him as one of Engenes’ soldiers.
In villages ruled by bandits those who wanted to stay out of trouble usually went straight to the head bandit to get whatever they needed because it insured that the bandits made the profit for whatever business had transpired. That meant of course that the farmer or whatever other tradesmen of type would be cheated out of their work. Before my life as it was created to be now, I worked on a farm (ok, you can laugh now). I know what it is like to toil day in and day out to make a though respectable living one where only those great at the art lived in comfort. It wouldn’t be right to cheat them out of little they have to survive. So I of course I went to the villagers instead. The bandits had enough money (trust me I know). Plus if someone complained I looked young enough that I could simply plead ignorance.
We entered the market and found that many of the stalls were barren. It seemed to surprise Eniopeus for he was use to living in a city with a wondrous market, but it didn’t surprise me much for it was expected that the market would be bare with the bandits here to take whatever pleased them.
I walked up to the first stand and saw his potatoes. Huh, that would taste good in a stew. Stew sounded good right now. Maybe I would have Briseis make that tonight. I grabbed a few potatoes and asked how much it would cost for them.
“Just two copper sir,” the farmer said.
A handed the man a coin and started to walk away.
“But sir, this is a gold piece,” the farmer said in wonder who had probably never seen one before.
“No it isn’t,” I said while winking and walked farther away into the market.
The next stall had things like broccoli and other various green things, which we didn’t need or have a particular want for. I shook the man’s hand after looking over his goods and slipped a gold piece into his hand.
After looking in his hand in clear astonishment he said, “Thank ye sir,” and he gave me a smile that showed me the horrid condition of his teeth.
So for the next half hour I went through the market in much the same manner either paying them with a gold piece or slipping one to them. Except when I ran into another herbalist, the last one gave me the creeps and so I only gave her a silver piece. By the end I had spent half of my (personal) money. Maybe he should have asked Engenes for some money. I had been so good with money before how was I suppose to know that in a sudden burst of kindness I would give most of it away.

Chapter 9 –
Corvinus looked down at his feet which he could barely see over his oversized belly. Today he was looking forward to going into the village and at least see something a little interesting before they headed out into the open wilderness.
He’s hopes were crushed when Axios had told them his plan. Every since then he had brooded over it so much that he didn’t even take to his normal way of passing the day. That is imagining himself in the arms of some woman that wasn’t paid to be there. Once or twice he had imagine the woman as Briseis or Althea but those fantasies were over for it seemed that Axios had both of them locked up tight.
Axios always seemed to be in his way of things. Sure they were great friends and he knew that he didn’t do it on purpose he was just doing what he did best, that is being himself. It still got annoying sometimes how Axios always seemed the first to be promoted no matter how much he strived to impress their superiors.
Also, how none of the women even slightly interested in him when Axios was around. Not that Axios would pay the woman any mind for he was always so set on the task that he didn’t even notice how seducing the women were acting and not once had he seen Axios sneak in or out of his tent during the night. This was why he knew that he had been telling the truth when he walked out of Althea’s tent. He always seemed so unobservant of the things around him that really mattered.
On the bright side of things, it felt like his leg was almost back to normal. Soon he could probably walk without a limb at all. Corvinus was a quick healer and even though Axios had twisted the arrow around the wound wasn’t that deep.
Now he was stuck waiting the trees for his return and Althea finally came to. She was as bad as Axios when it came to sleep sometimes.
“Where are the others?” Althea asked groggily.
“They went into the village to get supplies,” Corvinus said.
“How long have I been asleep?” Althea questioned as if suddenly realizing what had happened.
“Don’t worry,” Briseis said in a motherly voice. “It has only been a few hours.”
Althea leaned her head back down against Briseis. She didn’t close her eyes and try to sleep, but simply rested her head there.
“How long has Axios been gone? (She completely forgot about Eniopeus’ absence.) Do you think we should go in after them?” Althea asked.
“Did you notice that the only thing that you have said since you woke up is questions?” Corvinus said.
“It’s ok Althea,” Tecton said. “They haven’t been gone any longer than expected. We will wait here awhile longer for their return. Then we can be on our way away from this accursed bandit village.”
Althea sighed and waited like everyone else, in silence. The time passed slow like a boring play. One that you are forced to go to and no matter how much you want to just run out of the theater you for some derange reason feel an obligation to stay and wait out the horror.
After awhile Tecton’s eyes suddenly jerked open which, let me tell you was a little scaring considering it was thought that he was asleep. Tecton signaled for the soldiers to follow him and Corvinus followed out of habit of following.
“No stay here,” Tecton said. “We need you to protect Althea and Briseis.”
Of course, he got stuck with a boring job like this. Oh well, it might be a bit better this way.
After a few moments Corvinus started to hear the noises of metal against metal. In his head Corvinus was imaging the fight from the sounds of clashing steel. As one sword bits down into one bandit and then another and another until they all fell to the ground with their scarlet blood watering the plants. As Corvinus listened he noticed that the sound didn’t stop. The battle was taking a lot longer than Corvinus anticipated.
Corvinus started to get worried. He scanned the forest for any signs of movement. To his right he saw the bushes rattle. Then from his left he saw an arrow fly towards his good leg.

Chapter 10 –
The trip through the market had taken longer than expected and Eniopeus and I quicken our pace so that we wouldn’t worry the group too much. In the distance I heard sounds of fighting and soon afterwards so did Eniopeus so I knew that I wasn’t imagining things.
I was worried for the group’s welfare. The best fighters were both injured and that didn’t breed good news. I remember a time when Corvinus had his left arm sliced by a sword and that through off his right arm so much that he was a wreck on the battle field. I could only hope that Tecton would handle injuries a bit more gracefully.
Of course there was always a slim (impossible) chance that it wasn’t the soldiers being attacked. Maybe just some other travelers who were unfortunate enough to get stuck in a bandits trap.
Ha, I laughed at the chances of that. Since the possibility was still there though, we went straight to where I had instructed them to wait. From where they were approaching they could see into the clearing without being seen back.
I saw only Althea, Corvinus, and Briseis in the clearing. That means Tecton probably went out with the soldier to the approaching danger. That made me feel better knowing Althea and Briseis weren’t in danger.
Although Corvinus was being awfully watchful of the woods around him and Althea had her head perked up. Briseis was the only one who didn’t show signs of worry seemingly in a day dream. Then Corvinus quickly jerked his head from left to right and thing out of the woods an arrow came flying. It hit Corvinus in his good leg and he collapsed to the ground.
I motioned for Eniopeus to go to the right. I started heading for the left to circle around the clearing. Between the trees I saw a man slowly walking towards Corvinus carrying a bow but slowly pulling out a sword with his other hand.
Then from the other side a man approached once again walking slowly to let fear sink into his victims. When the man got closer (and me of course but I wasn’t quite there yet)
Althea came to her senses and fumbled for her sword (I had allowed her to keep one just in case of situations just like this one). She held it out hoping to ward off her attacker. The bandits with some show of skill used his sword and easily flicked Altheas sword out of her hands and it fell to the ground.
Then he pulled both Althea and Briseis, would had snapped out of her daydream, off of the horse. They struggled but with the man’s strong arms they were helpless. He started dragging them both off, out of the clearing, and conveniently, right in the direction of were I was waiting in the woods. I had to hope that Eniopeus would help Corvinus because right now he was set on saving them.
At having to struggle to keep both of them under control the man was walking backwards and wasn’t watching were he was going. I walked up behind him.
“Hey,” I said in a deeper voice than usual. “So you need any help with burden.”
“Oh, thanks man, it took you awhile to-” he cut off as he turned around.
As he turned around I threw my fist at his face. It collided dead on with his nose. I felt a satisfying crack in his face and as I pulled my still clenched face away I could fell the beginning of a flood of blood that would creep its way out of his broken nose.
In his pain he let go of Althea and Briseis and fell to the ground. Now that they were out of immediate danger relieve flowed through his body and he turned his attention to where Corvinus had fell. He saw that Eniopeus had taken care of the man that was attacking Corvinus.
We walked back towards the group and saw that the others were returning blooding from an intense battle. Though both Meges and Antenor were limping they were both alive and seemed well enough except for being tired.
Corvinus was getting off the ground and asked “What happened with the other bandit?”
In my relieve, and the return of the soldiers I had completely forgotten about him and how I left him breathing. I looked back over and saw him on a horse that I not seen before. He was holding his shirt against nose to slow the bleeding. He gave me a baleful look then spurred the horse and dashed off into the woods.
I took stock of the situation. It could prove dangerous to give pursuit but when he got back to the village he would tell them we escaped. On the other hand the village would know when no one came back anyway. With the time it took me to maul over these thoughts it already gave him too much of a head start anyway. It looked like they would just have to take advantage of their lead and run now. But the question was how to go about running.
“Ok, he will get to the village and warn them of our escape so we should take advantage of our partial lead. I think that the best thing take we could do is to split up,” I said and listened to the complaints from the soldiers.
“So Briseis and Althea hurry up and rearrange the food so that we don’t need an extra horse to carry it and so everyone has about the same amount. Eniopeus go and fetch one of the horses that the bandits have left behind,” I said in a commanding voice.
While they set about their tasks I help take care of the soldiers wounds including Corvinus who didn’t really had a wound. Apparently he had worn a piece of leather that deflected most of the energy from the arrow. It was just that sudden burst of a blunt pain that had off set his already crooked balance, and how a fat man’s legs could only support so much and any pain didn’t help, that made him fall to the ground.
The others wounds weren’t that great but since we would be riding nonstop for the rest of the day I wanted them taken care of as best the could now.
It took only about ten minutes to this and luckily the horse that Eniopeus found had a saddle and pack for of provisions. Since it was about a ten minute ride back to the village they had about a ten to fifteen minutes head start. It was also noon so they would have to drive their horses for half of the day.
“Ok, Althea Eniopeus, and Meges you are coming with me. Tecton, Corvinus, Briseis, and Antenor will go in the second group. I will ride up the east coast and the other group should ride up the west. We will meet at Zaretra. If it takes more than a month for either group to get there then give up hope and return to Engenes.” I tossed Tecton about half of the money that I had left. “Tecton and Corvinus both are in command so remember to make decisions together.” I threw Briseis a sword with its scabbard. “Briseis is to receive instruction on use of the sword and if any of you have a bow then that too.” I then handed Briseis a dagger and whisper into her ear, “Watch out for yourself and make sure Corvinus doesn’t get any ideas.”
I walked back over to where my expedition group had converged and saw Althea’s shocked expression. Then I saw her hold her tongue with something to say on her lips.
“Don’t worry,” I said to her. “You were the one who gave me the ides. You will get some sword lessons as well if you would like, and bow of course.”
I mounted my black horse which I had kept the whole time and noticed that Althea still had hers as well. It would be a lot easier with everyone on horses now.
“I don’t know how long we will be separated but for the sake of us all lets hope that it isn’t too long. We have stayed here for much too long so we both must be off. We’ll see you when we see you.”
With that both groups separated and we went are different ways already starting the horses out at a run.

During most of the rest of my day I was lost in thought. We rode hard and throughout the whole day we didn’t see a single sign of our pursuers. That could mean that we weren’t being followed or that they went after the other group but just in case I kept us riding hard throughout the day. I wouldn’t really be very enjoyable if they spotted us when we decided to slow our pace.
We rode without much conversation until the sky told us that it was nearing sunset. Then we started to look around for somewhere to rest for the night. I didn’t think that sleeping right on or near the road was the best idea so I had us get off of the road and look for a clearing from which would be well enough hidden from passing travelers but easy enough to find our way back from.
We were lucky enough to find a place quickly and we started setting up camp. I sent a pray to Hermes to protect us on our travel, since Hermes was of course the god of travels. Meges said he would go find some firewood but I waved him off saying that we wouldn’t be able to light a fire tonight.
He groaned about this prospect and I even though I didn’t hear a complaint from the others, from the sound of their shifting weight I could tell they didn’t like it. I didn’t like it either but there wasn’t much I could do about it.
There was much that needed to be accomplished before our arrival at Zaretra. Those things included shaking off those possibly (who knows for sure if they are really following us) pursuers, I wanted Althea to be able to read and I had promised that I would teach her how to fight.
Of course I am sure that Althea wasn’t the only who could use my help with the use of the blade. The soldiers were of coursed trained but that was in a group with little to no one-on-one time for them to get the experience they needed. The only true experience would come from a life or death fight but anything else would hopefully increase the chances of the group’s survival.
Too much to do, but if it is meant to work it will, if it isn’t I will try to make it otherwise. I don’t remember having to do so much since I was a bottom ranked soldier trying to work through the ranks. Let me tell you how hard all or that work was too. Taking care of everyone’s mess was a lot more work then one would think at first. Luckily I had shown promise to the higher ups and they noticed my vast improvements and moved me up the ranks. As soon as I was over those whose mess I had to clean don’t think that I didn’t exact a personal form of revenge. Yeah, yeah I shouldn’t have but it felt good and I would have done it again.
When the camp was finally set up the last drops and the golden sunlight was fading from the sky. Once again the group (though now much smaller due to the split) huddled around a single lantern to eat there could dinner. The freezing temperatures of the oncoming winter were seeping into everyone’s bones. Meges seemed about to complain about the cold but held his tongue.
Once again, though still surprising, Althea leaned her head against my shoulder but his time she brought her arms around my waist. Maybe this was just an attempt to be rid her body of some of the cold but it somehow felt like it was more than that. Like maybe this position was comforting for more than warmth, but hell, I always read too deep into things.
Maybe an hour was spent staring into the light from the single lantern when I decided that something be done beside the occasional attempt for conversation.
I stood up; carefully maneuvering out of Althea’s half awake grasp. “Unless something during the nightly activities happens then this will be the plan,” I said. “Tomorrow we ride hard like today but at a pace that can be kept longer as to not tire the animals. The next day if there is no sign of pursuit then we will ride the same as one always would and that night we will be able to light a fire. Althea your lessons will begin as soon as tomorrow night if you wish and as soon as we continue on at a normal pace I will pick back up on teaching you to read. Tomorrow will be hard so get some rest everyone. Meges you get first watch then Eniopeus and I will go last.”
With that I turned around and walked to my tent. I was so tired that I fell asleep almost immediately and I didn’t even bother at eavesdropping. The deep sleep also might have been the reason I had no dreams.

Chapter 11 –
No, five more minutes, I said desperately to myself when Eniopeus woke me for guard duty. For some strange reason I felt a debt to the group though. I tried to shake the sleepiness off. It didn’t work, but I did feel better afterward. When I was sure that I wouldn’t fall back asleep I sent Eniopeus off to bed and I left my tent to attend to my duties.
Just like the day before I found a big tree to lean against and I started my watch. Once again there was no report of any activity from the night before. Once again this was a good thing. I wasn’t too worried about being seen now. If they had gone through the whole night then they would have either found us of passed us. So unless they were laying ambush, which I would doubt because of our small numbers, then we would find no trouble from them. So unless there was some other danger, like a group of roaming bandits or thieves or maybe even, and probably more likely, a wild animal, then nothing should happen and it will be an uneventful watch.
It didn’t take long for my thoughts to drift away from watching the forest around me and to the problem at hand. Or maybe there was no problem at all. If there wasn’t a problem that would mean that the others were probably in trouble. That idea wasn’t very comforting either. Though I am sure that the rest of the group would be fine if they could stay out the bandits clutches I am not so sure about Briseis who is most likely scared to death. The constant fear of being captured isn’t something that a young woman should have to face.
Since they were riding up on the west that would mean that they should be able to see the sea. Hopefully Briseis will find comfort in the sight even though they wouldn’t be able to slow and enjoy it. Of course that was only if they were being followed and not us which wasn’t necessarily true. They could be pursuing us and like us took a break and set up camp.
All of my thoughts of that vanished though when I heard the sound of crumbling leaves. Then I realized that the sound was coming from the camp I turned fearful of an attack only to see Althea. She had a frightened look on her face and I noticed that I had pulled my sword out of its sheath. I put it back in and said, “Sorry, I thought that someone was attacking.”
Her face at least softened a little but those grey eyes of hers still showed a little bit of fright. “Can I join you?” she asked.
“I….um…guess so,” I said suddenly unsure of myself.
She walked the rest of the distance wearily and sat down beside me. She leaned her head against my shoulder just like the night before. Other than that she did nothing. Not trusting in a silence that hang over our heads I asked, “What are you doing up? Did you have another nightmare?” I asked this figuring that she hadn’t because I hadn’t had one and we both did the night before.
She seemed to shiver a little then she said, “Yeah, it was the same one as the night before too.”
That threw me off a little but I said, “Then you should probably get some more sleep while you still can.”
“No,” she said right away. “It is too cold anyhow. I will keep you warm.”
Her sudden reaction threw me off a little but I realized after awhile that my attempts were fruitless and I sighed. Althea, probably taking my sigh as surrendering on my part, relaxed and did just what she said that she would, keeping me warm.
This was starting to get a little annoying. Not that I was completely grateful for all of the company and the warmth but what she really should be doing is getting some sleep.
By the time I was done thinking this though, that was exactly what she was doing, sleeping. That made me feel a bit better. She was getting sleep at least even if it wasn’t in her tent where she should be.
Her company made my watch go by a lot quicker that usual. Which was weird considering that this watch was longer then last nights watch was. Soon I could see the emerging of the sunlight. I carried the sleeping Althea back to the camp and leaned her against her tent.
I went and woke both Meges and Eniopeus and when I came back I found Althea had woken up.
“We will eat on the road,” I said, “Lets pick up camp now. We should get an early start if we want to light a fire for dinner tonight.”
That got them going faster then I had dared to hope. In ten minutes we were off and leaving the camp behind. That was a relief because I was hungry and as soon as we got going a started munching on our provisions.
I told the group that in a few short hours we would be able to see the sea. That brightened everyone’s mood. Of course at the fast pace that we were moving there wasn’t much that I could do except keep the horse moving in the way that I wanted to. Since we had left we have been moving in a North-East direction which leads directly to the sea.
With nothing to do the day slipped by in an agonizing slowness but with nothing to do it was almost unnoticeable. So a few hours before noon we saw the sea. The beauty of the sea was astonishing but I urged everyone forward by telling them that we could play in it tonight.
The sand from the beaches wouldn’t have provided the horses with proper footing so we stayed in the trees next to the beach. Through the trees you could still see the beach and the sea with it. You could see many of the houses that people had built because of their love for the sea or maybe just because of convenience.
That wasn’t the only sight that was a good one to look at. For with a beautiful sea comes many beautiful women without a care in the world.
There was one that I saw who appeared to be bathing. Her perfect wet naked body was glistening in the sunlight which seemed to reflect the light perfectly. She looked up and seemed to see me through the trees and I realized that I was staring. I quickly looked away and welcomed the abrupt thickening of the trees and was suddenly embarrassed of myself. I looked to Althea and was glad to see that she hadn’t noticed. The only positive thing that I could glee from the situation was the sight I got to see and the fact that Corvinus wasn’t here because if he was then there would have been no way to contain him until the lady beat him to a pulp.
Other than that the passing day was rather uneventful. We didn’t see any pursuer behind or in front of us the whole time. That helped to ease my worry a little until I remembered that it might be the other group the bandits were pursuing.
Later that day with only a few hours of light left in the sky we ran across a small village that couldn’t be home to more than a hundred people. Seeing that the day was almost over and still no signs or pursuit I decided that we would rest there for the night.
I was sure the group would enjoy the comfort of a village since the cold camps of the last two nights. The spiced food and ale of an inn with the cozy warm rooms and hopefully not insect infested beds would be just the thing to bring the spirits up. The only downfall is that we will have to spend more of the dwindling funds. I am sure I have said this before but I wished that I had gotten some money from Engenes.
I motioned for them to follow me to the village gates and their sudden mood change was apparent on their faces. It seemed to scream, Hell Yes! Well at least they were happy I guess.
I looked back to the village and realized that even though they were a rather small village they seemed to be heavily fortified. The whole place surrounded by a wall which didn’t hinder the farms which had to be built farther into the woods anyway. In addition to the walls there was what I could only guess to be town militia guarding the gate. Also there were towers around the village to provide extra defense and a vantage point for the archers.
It’s a wonder how I hadn’t heard of this place before. This would have been a great place to live. I would have come here instead of my previous village. Of course the last one was a lot more inconspicuous and if I hadn’t been there to protect Althea who knows what would have happen to her.
The great defenses were a grand thing however because that means that the people would be suspicious and if they saw the bandits come here they would most likely be able to tell what they were and then expel them. That hopefully wouldn’t cause trouble for us at the gate though. It would be a terrible thing if after getting the groups hopes up they come crashing down because they reject us from the city.
We came up to the guards and they asked, “What is your business in coming to our village.”
I responded saying, “We are weary from travel and would like to find a place to lodge and take a rest before continuing our journey.” I probably could have said more to ease the suspensions a little more but I didn’t really want them to know too much of our journey for the less that know the better.
Then before the guard could say anything I decided that it was safe to say, “It would be nice if you could point us to a pleasant inn.”
“And what be the purpose of your journey. It seems a little that odd of travelers being a young man, two men seemingly fit to be soldiers, and a woman to be traveling anywhere in the autumn not to far for winter. You people don’t seem to be related either”
Damn, this man wants a story, I should have thought of that earlier. What to say, what to say? “Well, it is actually rather sad sir, you see me and my girlfriend have been in love for such a long time. A little over four years. When I finally got up the guts to ask her father for her hand in marriage with all the hopes of the world at my side he swatted me down. I thought my gift was fine enough. This fine horse you see and twelve of my family’s finest pigs along with all the love in the world for his daughter were it. I was raised in a nice family too, not one of those looked down upon in society. This man was just stubborn though and with nothing left to give I was in a state of wreck, let me tell you. Then my loving girlfriend came to ease my hurt and came up with a plan to escape. She was willing to forsake her life for my love. She said that we should leave there and find a better life up north and so that’s how we came to leave. We were to leave that night and I told some of my older friends that I knew I could trust and so they would not worry when I left. Them being the generous people they are and also I think because they were bored of the village and wanted a little adventure, offered to come with us and I was of course willing,” I said in a sad voice. I always found a sob story an easier one to believe. In this case it seemed to hit the spot for the guard behind the one that was talking to me was tearing up and the one that was talking seemed to have softened his features.
“Ok, of course you can come in. If you go straight into the center of the village near there you can find The Blue Ocean Inn. That should be a suitable place. If I can say so myself sir, good luck,” the guard said.
It was nice to know that a plan had worked. We trotted into the village without further trouble and I didn’t even get any questioning stares from my companions. It seemed either they don’t care or they finally understand what it takes to survive. It wasn’t like we were going to cause any trouble so what’s a little lie, right?