017: Convenience

Asterion compulsively scratched the thin scars on his arms, almost any wound that is not immediately mortal can be healed by Laconia blessing, but deep cuts always leave scars, the cuts caused by Niko will remain as memories of their brief confrontation.

-I've never seen someone blessed by Hephaestus heal someone.

Lita talked to Asterion while they were on their way to Helena.

-I've only seen Laconia and one of the archons do something like that, normally the phalanxes always look for someone blessed by Amphitrite to heal wounds.

-So, are we going to enter through the main door as if nothing happened?

-That's right, we'll simply say that you are our slave.

The polemarch pointed to the new gloves where the cynocephalus hid her fifth finger.

-Just make sure they don't break again.

-Even so, I don't have my ear pierced.

-Can't you pierce it with your blessing and then retrieve it?

-… You are a very annoying guy.

Creating a claw in her hand, the cynocephalus pierced her left ear, a mark placed to recognize purchased slaves.

-I have a question Lita, I see that with your blessing you can generate bones, hair and flesh, but what you used to destroy the automaton was none of this.

-Is it relevant that you know my secrets for the mission?

-Of course.

-Mmh.

From Lita's hand emerged what seemed to be a tiny tree, full of leaves.

-Can you also generate plants?

-It's a trick, I can only generate cypress wood, along with its leaves.

-Eh, but the bones and claws you generate?

-I just have to play a little with the texture and color, even if you break them, the old and dry wood is not so different from abandoned bones.

-And the hair?

-Thousands of small roots with a strong brown color, even if you touch it, it is difficult to notice the difference.

-Then your ear…

-I can't heal wounds, Artemis certainly gave me a rather useless favor, don't you think?

Lita, a free cynocephalus decided as if it were no big deal to place a permanent mark of slavery on herself in order to ensure the success of the mission.

…

The forest had been left behind, the eyes of the four travelers were filled with green fields that received with full plenitude the flavor of the sun and the caresses of the wind, in front of that image was Helena, an enormous city facing the sea, surrounded by gigantic walls almost twice as big as a cyclops, these walls were completely made of marble and also multiple towers and watchtowers were directed outwards and over the wall, on these there were ballistae loaded with bronze tips that allowed them to absorb some favor making them even more destructive, from outside only the wall and the acropolis could be seen, where the Parthenon was located. Asterion moved forward to embrace his companions.

-They've been through a lot in just one week, today I'm giving you the day off, tomorrow let's meet at the guild at dawn.

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Niko saw the scars left by his attack.

-What will you do, captain?

-I'm going to meet with Jason, tomorrow we'll put the plan into motion.

Laconia took Asterion arm off her shoulder.

-… Be careful.

They were about to reach the entrance, but Lita stopped her steps, it had only been a few days since she and her companions had escaped from the polis, a mixture of fear and disgust prevented her from continuing, the polemarch returned to help her.

-Are you okay?

-Yes… They're just bad memories, come on.

At the entrance there were only a few hoplites, they all welcomed Laconia and opened the doors for the phalanx to enter the city, Lita was worried about her appearance, but the guards only looked at her ear to confirm that she was a slave from one someone in the group.

Asterion entered the bar where they first met a week ago while the rest of the phalanx waited outside, the place was packed with various other groups, missions in and out of the labyrinth were filling up again as another month began and it was the perfect time to gain favor with some archon, the manager recognized the polemarch.

-Asterion! You're alive, I can't believe it, the labyrinth is blocked. How did they get back?

-We came back by another route. What do you mean by blocked? I understand that the mycenaeans blocked a path to Skiathos, but it should be free again by now.

-Minotaurs attacked the city through the labyrinths, they found our routes from last month, we repelled them easily but…

-But?

-It's better if the archon explains it to you, you already know where to find him.

Laconia entered the bar and stood next to Asterion.

-Is something wrong?

-No! There are no problems. I have here the rewards for your expedition to Skiathos, some hoplites informed us that the temple halfway there was razed a day before returning for the labyrinth change, then civilians returned to Helena.

Three bags with enough tetradrachms to live a full year without working.

-You already know where the archon of the polemarch of light is, I need you to inform him what happened in Skiathos.

-Understood.

Asterion took the bags and left the place, outside Niko and Lita were waiting for him, who were looking at the ocean in tranquility until they were interrupted by the polemarch.

-Niko, thank you for your services.

The polemarch handed him one of the bags.

-See you in two days.

-Huh?! This is too much for just one mission. What was that?

-Silent ones eat twice, my friend.

They both shook hands and then the young thracian left with a huge smile on his face.

-Laconia, could you investigate what happened in the labyrinth? That the minotaurs attacked there is very strange, it is practically suicide.

-You said that before, in Skiathos.

-Then it can't be a coincidence, something weird is going on here.

Laconia took her bag, gave the polemarch one last look and left for the base of the acropolis; the place where they entered the labyrinth a week ago.

-Heleny, can we go now? I'm tired of this place.

-Come on.

The heleny and the cynocephalus walked away from the guild, Asterion was looking for a specific temple, Jason should be in one of these playing petteia. What was said was done, the archon was quickly destroying player after player while talking to other phalanxes.

-Archon.

Asterion said it while kneeling before his presence, he grabbed Lita's arm so she could follow his example.

-Asterion! I knew you were fine; you never cease to amaze me how-.

-Dioscuroi.

-… Gentlemen, it was a pleasure to play with you, unfortunately I have to ask you to leave the temple, there are military matters that I must discuss with my polemarch.

The dozens of heleny who were resting and talking in the temple left without disturbing, the archon words were orders and they had no problem going to another nearby temple. As soon as everyone left, a curtain of light covered all the entrances to the building and Jason murmured very lightly.

-Archon?

Lita looked very nervous, she hid her hands out of pure instinct, but her expression changed when she saw the archon reaction.

-HAHAHAHA What did I tell you Asterion? We just had to be a little patient, it was only eight years of waiting, but we finally have all the pieces. So, did you tell him the plan?

Asterion scratched his eyebrows, he was slightly angry but also relieved.

-Gather as many cynocephali as we can, make them flee through the labyrinth and when the dioscuroi and his phalanxes chase them, kill him in there.

-She has to kill him, remember, losing all his phalanxes could be a hard blow.

-But it's not that easy, you know the level of reflexes of that archon.

Both strategists continued talking, leaving Lita aside, who hit the polemarch arm hard.

-Are you going to explain something to me, perhaps?

-Ah, sorry this is-.

-Jason, nice to meet you, you don't know how long we've been waiting for someone like you.

-Huh?

The archon approached to observe her, but the woman hid behind the polemarch.

-Young lady, you are the key to finally put an end to this war between the heleny and the mycenaeans, me and Asterion will tell you what to do and in exchange, we will free all your people.

-Those are very big words for a guy like you.

The hairs on Lita entire body were bristling, but the fear she felt against the archon was not enough to overshadow her rage against the heleny.

-How do I know they won't betray me?

A claw pointed at the polemarch neck.

-How can I trust you?

Jason sword was placed on the neck of the cynocephalus, he could have cut off the doe head in less than a blink.

-Because it suits both of us.

Fear dominated Lita mind, but she could no longer back down.

-Why?

-... Let's go to the Parthenon, we have a lot to talk about.

The curtain of light fell apart, immediately Lita retracted her claws and without even realizing it Jason had already put away his sword, the triad walked slowly towards the acropolis, the cynocephalus despite having just threatened Asterion could not let go of his tunic, fear clouded her mind more and more, she could not think of anything other than that she made a bad decision.

-Asterion...

-You're going to be fine; we've been planning for eight years now-.

-Please, don't betray me.

-… Alright.