Chapter 21

Arios stood, rooted to the stone. Rivulets of cold rain ran down his person, pooling in his boots, freezing him in place. The steel pressing into his back shifted tearing at his skin, and a thin stream of blood joined the falling cascade. The grip on his shoulder was ironclad, a vice-like clasp that bruised his flesh. There would be no escape from this man.

“Go on then,” the words tumbled from his lips, “make it quick.” It had not sounded as heroic as he imagined it would. The words squeaked out in a high-pitched whine, betraying the fear in his heart.

“Arios?”

The hand pulled on him, spinning Arios around to face his captor.

“Darios!?” It was the captain. He was not in uniform and his face was covered in a grizzled beard but there could be no mistaking those eyes. Relief washed over him and his legs buckled, gasping he tumbled forward.

Darios jumped catching his fall—concern etched on his brow.

“What are you doing here!?” He whispered urgently, “What did you see?”

Arios stared up at him. There was a wildness to his look. His hair was a tangled mess matted and slick. His eyes darted nervously, seeking out an unseen peril. And he gripped a short sword in his right hand still stained red with Arios’s own blood. But that was not all. He was covered in blood, on his head and hands. Little specks of it sprayed across his face. Arios had not bled nearly that much. This was the blood of many men, Darios had been fighting.

“Darios are you well?”

“Tell me!” Darios grabbed him by the cloak, pulling him up. “What have you seen?”

“I-I-I was following a man! He led me here to a group! They must be Kyrithon, here to destroy more storehouses! Darios did you see them; have you been fighting? I saw bodies…”

The bloodlust faded from the captain’s eyes, “Arios, forgive me…in the heat of battle…sometimes…Where are the Kyrithon?”

“They were on the street over. Just around the bend. Should we call for help?”

Darios peered around the corner, “I do not see them.”

He was right, the streets were empty. Arios pointed to the nearest storehouse, “They were under that awning, they must have gone inside.”

“There is no time,” muttered Darios. He took the shield off his back, “Take these.” He handed Arios the shield and bloodied sword, pulling another blade from his cloak for himself. “We will take them together. Do you remember your training?”

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“I do”

“Then prepare yourself.” Darios crept forward in the shadow of the portico, Arios at his back. They made their way through the rain and to the first storehouse.

“Are you sure it was here?”

“Yes, they were gathered around this door.”

“Stay behind me.”

Darios placed his hand carefully on the latch and slowly slid the door open.

The hall was dark but between shelves of grain and lentil, Arios could see the flicker of candlelight. The Kyrithon were here. He looked to Darios. The captain grabbed his arm and quickly pulled him down a row with no light.

“We must find their leader.”

“But how? It is too dark to see.”

“We will take them one candle at a time.”

A shiver ran up his spine. There had been at least a dozen men. Did Darios expect to defeat all of them with only Arios by his side?

They crawled along the shelf, following the candle on the row over. Ahead of them was a break in the shelves and when the candle passed Darios slipped behind it.

In the light, Arios saw two men. They walked down the row, great sacks held over their shoulders. They were filling them with all the rations they could carry.

As they slowed to take on more Darios came up behind them. He slit the first man’s throat. He let out a gurgling wheeze as he fell, choking on his blood. The second man turned eyes wide with shock. He meant to scream, to call out to his companions but Darios was too fast. He caught the man’s neck in a stranglehold and the scream died there, lost in his last breaths. The man died with a whimper.

When he was done, he turned to Arios, “That was too close. You will need to take one next time.”

Arios nodded but his knees were weak. He couldn’t fail Darios, not now. They extinguished the candle and moved on.

Deeper in they saw another light. Two more men. Two more sacks of rations. Something was not right.

“You there!”

Arios jumped! The voice came from behind them. He whipped around in time to see Darios rushing towards another two men. He cut through the first man before he had even drawn his sword. One piercing scream echoed down the rows. The second man brought his sword up just in time to deflect the blade off his hilt but at that moment Arios rammed into his legs, upending him and sending him clattering to the floor. The man had no chance to parry the captain’s second strike.

“Well done!”

Shouts came from all around them now. Men approached them from both sides. They were surrounded! But to Darios this was nothing. He danced through the flickering flames. Weaving through jabs, parrying wild swings. He held his blade in one hand, using the other to maneuver Arios away from any danger. The assailants stood no chance. Their numbers were useless in such narrow walkways. Darios was too quick for them, his steel sang, three ringing notes followed by three loud thuds as men hit the floor, triumphant drums to complete the song. The final man ran and Darios taken by the frenzy pursued him.

Arios was alone now. Toppled candles lit his surroundings. He could hear the terrified screams as Darios ran down his prey. If these were the Kyrithon’s best then Kenosia was in no real danger. They had not seemed like soldiers, perhaps their spies were not fighters.

The screams faded and Arios began to hear the sound of movement. Was Darios already returning?

“You there, boy?” Across from him, down the walkway appeared four figures.

“Stay back,” he cried! “See your men slain around me! Do not test me as they did!”

“We should kill him!”

“No, the boy is innocent.” The figure directed his words to Arios, “Though it grieves me to see so many of our friends fallen before you, we have no wish to fight. You are not our enemy.” He turned back to his companions, “We must leave before the other returns.”

They disappeared one by one into the darkness.

“Arios! Don’t let them escape!”

The last shadow stopped. It looked back at him, “Arios?” Then it shook its head and ran.