The castaway merchant and the priestess spent all noon searching the beach and cliff side for stranded cargo. The waters around Sarpedon were not lacking in wreckage and sunken pieces of old ships, but their target were relatively new looking pieces. Eugenia felt the texture of the wood and tried to evaluate its age by the state of decay. Although both of them were not strong, they somehow managed to gather the chest and barrels at the entrance of the temple grounds.
Themistokles was still exhausted from nearly drowning, yet he kept moving even after Eugenia capitulated and took a rest on their loot. She wiped her sweat with a rag and regained her composure after sipping some water. If she had counted right, overall they ended up with thirteen wooden boxes, six barrels and one chest (which was made of iron and thus heavier than the rest). Yet whatever the merchant was looking for didn’t seem to be among them.
“We were lucky that the iron chest didn’t sink.” She said while wiping the wet metal with her left hand. There was only a single one, so the others must have sunken to the depth. These chests were expensive in their own right, but their contents were supposedly something that needed extra protection. In that case the most valuable wares were also gone. She felt bad for the man who tried to change his standing on sheer determination alone.
Only a bit later Themistokles returned with ragged breaths. He was dragging his leg a bit, because of the slight sprain he had received before, so it was easy to tell it was him. Additionally his feet seemed to sink deep into the sand, which meant he was carrying something.
“Did you find more?” She called out to him.
“Yes! I finally found my treasure…” He was overjoyed if at the brink of complete exhaustion.
“What could it be?” Now she was excited as well and jumped off the chest.
“Sorry – phew - I need to rest for a moment.” He dropped to his behind without another word and sank into the sand. Something heavy was pressed against his chest and he didn’t let go even after passing out.
“Hm.” Eugenia was too curious to resist temptation. She carefully took the smaller chest from the merchant’s arms and put it down on a barrel. It was about the size of her head and also reinforced with some metal. When she tried to open the lid it didn’t budge at all. After feeling around she realized there was a lock on it. The type that required a certain sequence of pictures engraved into wheels to line up. An incredibly complex mechanism, the like of which she had never personally encountered. The scholars in Athens would have loved such tinkering. “How disappointing.”
It was for the best, because if the lock required a key it might have been washed away, but if something had happened to the owner nobody would know how to unlock this one.
“Touching someone’s belongings without their consent? You are a failure of a priestess.” Medusa sounded almost happy for some reason. Of course Eugenia had heard her approach long before she spoke up, but she was surprised that the Gorgon got involved. Her words gave away her true purpose though. She just came to mock Eugenia again.
“I was just checking if the lock was intact.” The girl replied as stoically as she could manage.
“What an odd contraption.”
“It’s impressive, right? This is advanced craftsmanship that only rich people will ever get to see.” For some reason she was boasting about someone else’s property.
“Then he was not lying.” Medusa glanced at the sleeping figure on the ground next to them. “At least about amassing riches.” She added with contempt.
“You shouldn’t doubt people like that. I am certain that Themistokles has worked very hard for his Eopia.” She folded her hands together and smiled girlishly, smitten by the separated lovers’ tale.
“He should have worked harder on making it to shore then.” The Gorgon shrugged.
“Hngh…” The man twisted around and rubbed his sweaty face. His dark hair hung down like seaweed after the exertion. It almost looked like he had been dragged out of the ocean all over again.
“You have to be careful not to look at him so much.” Eugenia said seriously.
“Oh? Do you give me orders now?” She immediately glared at her companion.
“No. I am asking you with all respect.” The priestess lowered her head. “Please do not harm him.”
Medusa sighed. “It is none of my concern what happens to this human. I shall not hunt him down, but if he dares approach me carelessly that is his own fault. I will not change my ways to appease an intruder.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear. I will make sure that he doesn’t look at you directly or disturb your sleep.” She guaranteed it unwaveringly. Her earnest nature was troublesome as always.
“Eo… pia.” Themistokles muttered under his breath.
----------------------------------------
“My apologies! I didn’t intend to drift off to sleep.” He straightened his oily hair with shame.
“No problem at all. In the meantime I made sure that the cargo is intact.” She replied with a chuckle and handed him some water.
“R-really? I cannot thank you enough for your kindness!” He took it gratefully and gulped down as much as he could.
“Why are you talking like this anyway?” She tilted her head.
“How do you mean?”
“I heard you talking in your sleep. You weren’t speaking so formally.” As she pointed it out he seemed to lose his spirits and sunk back into the sand.
“You heard that? I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t speak my mother tongue in so long or somethin’ like that, but it’s hard not to speak like a merchant.”
“Like a merchant?” She was confused by his wording.
“Yeah. Merchant folk always talk flowery to seem more competent. It’s a real bother!” He dropped his stilted speech and already sounded much more like a commoner.
“The merchants on the market never talked like that.” Eugenia put a finger to her head as she recalled Lamia’s markets.
“I ain’t talking about your average street merchant!” He laughed amicably. “I didn’t wanna sound pompous or anything, sorry if I came off that way.”
“You want to raise your standing, so it’s only natural.” She gave him an understanding smile. “It made your story sound more like a legend, which is wonderful.”
“I have a knack for that, is what I was told.” He nodded.
“Do all Rhodians have this odd accent?” She wondered.
“Odd?”
“Ahh, I didn’t want to sound rude! I am sure to a Rhodian my Athenian accent sounds weird instead.” She realized her offensive slip up and hid her face.
“No, it’s not that. This probably doesn’t sound much like back home.” Themistokles crossed his arms and leaned his back against the large iron chest. “I was traveling around a place where they barely spoke any familiar tongue.” Before he could elaborate he mustered his surroundings as if looking for something.
Eugenia realized what it was and handed him the smaller chest carefully. She was a tad nervous, unsure if her tempering was visible. She had turned the wheels a little… hopefully he didn’t remember the previous combination!
“Thanks. This hunka’junk really didn’t break after all these years.” He was caressing the chest for a moment before turning the wheels. Eugenia could not see the symbols, but she heard every single click and turn. Three times left, one middle and six right. The chest opened with a quiet clang sound. “Thank the goddess.” He released his stuck breath after looking inside. The treasure seemed to be safe.
“May I know what your treasure is?” She asked with a mix of shyness and guilt. After touching it behind his back she didn’t feel deserving to know.
“Of course. I can’t say no to my savior.” He grinned and then pulled the treasure out of the chest. “Look at this. That’s worth more than the entire temple here!” He held it up for her to look at, but she didn’t give him any reaction. He was surprised and looked at the object to see if something was off, but there was nothing wrong.
“What is it?” Eugenia asked excitedly.
“Er... as you can see, it’s a map.” He explained and unfolded it, which made the paper rustle. “Good thing the chest was water tight. I’d have been ruined if this thing got soaked.”
“A map? Is it really worth that much?” She was partly impressed and a bit disappointed.
“Haha, if it was any ol’ map you’d be right. But once you read this…” He pointed at the top of the map where a word was written in big letters. “…it all makes sense, yeah?”
Eugenia tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brows. This lack of reaction made him very self-conscious.
“What does it say?” She again asked patiently.
“Huh? But… I am sure it’s written in our tongue?” He spun the map around and eyed it intently. The words were written quite clearly. The confusion only increased. “You said you were a priestess.”
“Yes. I serve the great and wise Athena.” She replied automatically.
“Do they not teach you how to read in Lamia? I never went there, but I heard it’s well in the Attican area of influence.” He scratched his chin stubble, lost in thought.
“I can write, but not read. Not unless it is carved into wood or stone anyway.” She explained slowly.
The confusion was written on Themistokles face.
“I am blind.” Eugenia finally pointed it out.
“Blind? Is that a title?” He blinked a few times without recognition.
“You don’t know what blindness is?” Now it was her turn to be surprised.
“Is it a common word? I’m rusty.” He was really concerned now. “Could you explain it to me?”
“My eyes cannot see.”
“As if they were gouged out?” He gasped.
“I suppose.” She nodded hesitantly. “You never met a blind person before?”
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
“I saw people lose their eyes in battles… It was gruesome.” He sounded disturbed by the memories. “So it’s the same as that. Your face looks untouched and the way ya move is too natural. I really didn’t realize.”
“In my case I was born that way. I have never seen the world with my own eyes.” Eugenia didn’t sound remorseful, but it was unusual to explain this to an adult.
“Is that why- why your eyes appear milky white?” He started to connect the dots.
“I never saw them myself, but that’s how people often describe them to me.” She smiled wryly.
“Naturally, how insensitive of me. This is all so unexpected. I made someone with such a terrible lot help in my search. My shame is unspeakable.” He carried genuine dejection in his voice.
“It’s not so bad. This is the first time I’ve been seen as a…” Eugenia hesitated for a moment. “Normal person.” It made her feel unexpectedly glad.
“Alright. Then I shall treat you that way henceforth. With small concessions.” He put on his noble merchant voice for a moment and then unfolded the map again. “This map is of a distant land. Its name is Persia.”
“P-P-Persia?!” Eugenia was so taken aback that she almost fell off the chest. “The land of the barbarians!”
Her reaction was only natural. The large empire to the east of Greece was uncharted territory that no Athenian would dare venture into. The people over there were violent and their armies even more so. She had heard many horrific stories of their unholy rituals and defiance of the gods. They believed in fake dark deities that asked for human sacrifices and unending bloodshed.
“Just that place.” He couldn’t help but snicker at her reaction.
“How did you obtain a map from those uncivilized men?”
“It was actually quite easy. I drew it myself.” He replied as he rolled the map back up.
Eugenia was shocked. The implication was just now sinking in.
“T-the distant land you traveled!”
“That was Persia.” He confirmed. “There was barely anyone who spoke my language, so I had to learn their tongue. Honestly, that was probably the worst part of goin’ there.” His relaxed attitude after the reveal was certainly meant to calm her.
“You traded this with them?” She patted the barrels in stupor.
“Almost everythin’ here is from the Empire. Pretty amazing, huh? It’ll fetch lots of owls I’ll assume.”
Eugenia nodded frantically. It was absolutely rare to have anyone trade with the Persians beyond the border cities of Ionia and Lydia. Phoenicians were the largest distributors for both sides. Persian wares were sparsely shared and usually at an outrageous price. The Archons had put embargos on the export or import of Persian goods itself, but there was a black market for anything. At least that’s what Themistokles told her.
“If you have all these goods, why is the map the most precious item?” That just didn’t make any sense to her.
“This map is relatively accurate. I asked ‘em for their local maps wherever I stayed and then stitched this together. It ain’t perfect, but you will find none of its kind anywhere in these lands.” He put it back in the chest with a serious tone. “This is one of a kind. A complete map of the Empire is - well it’s pretty desirable.” He locked the chest and stared towards the evening horizon.
To the priestess this sounded like a tall tale. Even if other merchants might want to venture into Persia to trade, they wouldn’t need a map of the entire empire. Only the borderlands would suffice. Who would buy it for such an outrageous sum?
Yet Themistokles was so confident that she could only believe him. If this was his trump card, his greatest treasure, then she was glad that he managed to retrieve it. With this he might just have been able to gain the monetary power he needed.
“You saved my life Eugenia and that is worth more than any of these wares.” The man smiled softly. “But if this map hadn’t been here with me, I might have lost my will to go on. I’d have given up right when I told ya my story.” He adjusted his rugged chiton and loosened the dirty binding around his legs that had left deep impressions in his tanned skin. It seemed to give him a sense of relief that matched his emotions. “I owe your Lady for this.”
He was referring to Medusa’s words that had reached them just at the right time. Like a messenger of the gods she had known exactly what to say.
“Lady Medusa always keeps calm. She knows exactly what’s important.” Eugenia nodded with a fond expression.
“I want to thank her personally.” He seemed to remember something. “I feel like someone mentioned a monster, though?” The trauma they had given him had blocked out most of the events surrounding his arrival.
“You must be mistaken.” Eugenia replied whimsically. “There are no monsters on this island. Only a very grumpy Lady.” Perhaps her words would cause trouble in the future, but this is how she truly felt.
“Then may I meet her now?”
“Uhm, y-you can meet her, but she doesn’t like visitors. She will only yell at you and throw you out.” She flailed her hands around nervously.
“I see! I know my way around hostile nobles, I can tell ya stories.”
“Not this kind of hostility.” Her lips were shaking a bit. “Lady Medusa is… cursed, yes, cursed that’s it! You cannot look upon her face under any circumstances.”
“Is she ugly?” He asked plainly.
“Ssssshhh!” She pushed her hand against his mouth with more force than intended. “She may hear you!”
“Mmghmm.”
“Her looks are not important.” Eugenia whispered. “Her eyes are bewitched. If you meet her gaze your body will turn to stone.”
Now the merchant finally turned pale. His eyes darted around anxiously. Eugenia let go of his mouth.
“T-Those statues? T-They-“ He stuttered.
She confirmed his suspicions with a grave nod.
He took a few deep breathes to calm himself. Despite his initial shock he was a grounded man and so he managed to focus on the things he knew best. A merchant could tell a person’s character just from a few exchanges. He decided that this Lady Medusa was not a bad soul. It was not possible if such a kind priestess was serving her.
“I see. So your blindness protects you from her curse. I have been so focused on my own misfortune that I barely took a look around.” The temple grounds around them seemed to be more real now. “Could you tell me more about this island?”
“I do not know much myself, but I would be glad to help.” It was a relief to the girl that he was not upset.
----------------------------------------
“And this is our garden.” Eugenia led him into the Greenhouse. His amazement was just as great as hers when she first discovered it.
“Mighty impressive. I reckon this would make even the old kings of Babylon turn red in envy.” His words were not just flattery.
“Lady Medusa appointed me to take care of it. I didn’t really get to do much yet, though.” The few things she had prepared this morning were hardly worth mentioning.
“So you get your food from here.” A merchant always had a logistical mindset.
“I hope I can grow something edible soon.” She laughed awkwardly.
“Do you have gardening experience?”
“Only a little.”
“I wonder how you can sustain yourselves with this little. Even if it’s just you two.” He cupped his chin.
“I make do somehow. Lady Medusa doesn’t eat much.” She added hastily.
“And it will hardly be enough for one more mouth.” Suddenly Medusa slithered by the entrance. Both humans stiffened up in response.
“Stop Lady Medusa!” Eugenia raised her hand and then pulled something from her robes. She handed it to Themistokles who put it on in a flash.
“Oh?” She watched the man put the blindfold around his eyes with curiosity.
“I am deeply sorry for not paying my respects yet.” He turned her way as best as he could without his vision.
“I do not care for human pleasantries.” She threw his words aside. “It is not my concern, but this island cannot sustain you both. Knowing this single-minded girl, she has not even given it any thought.” Her assumption was proven correct when Eugenia acted flustered.
“I won’t impose on your resources.” Themistokles said so seriously.
“It’s fine, we can ration everything! If both of us fish we will definitely catch enough-” She trailed off when she realized that he was not worried at all.
“The goddess was with me even in my most perilous times. Not only did she save my treasure, but also half of my wares. Among them is plenty of food that I bought at the port before setting sail.” He revealed his most pleased grin yet. “If you wish, I could share what I have with you.”
“Hmph. I cannot be bribed with offerings like one of your gods.” Medusa refused his offer on principle, but when she glanced to the side she saw Eugenia visibly salivating.
“Real food?” She seemed dazed, but had enough presence of mind to wipe the drool with her sleeve.
“Most of them are traveling rations, but I got a few more excellent wares that I wanted to sell. I can’t be stingy with my savior, though.” He winked.
“Thank you!” She cried out in joy and hugged the unsuspecting blindfolded merchant. He almost toppled over. “I would even love to eat some stale bread for old times’ sake!”
“I hope it didn’t turn stale quite yet.” He replied with a wry smile.
Medusa watched this display with squinted eyes and a downturned mouth. She had nothing to say to this of course. If they found such a compromise then the peace was kept for a while. But the cargo would run out eventually and then the true struggle began.
“I will treat you to some of my best food then. Do you really not want anything milady?” His words were honest, but it was clear that he still expected to improve relations with such a basic tactic. Medusa was not going to fall for that.
“Not a bite.”
“A shame. Wine gets ever better with increased company.” He was dragged through the door by Eugenia, but still managed to get that final line in.
“Wine?” Medusa’s ears perked up for just a moment. She didn’t manage to hide her changed tone completely. “Not interested.”
“A shame.” He repeated with a knowing smile.
“Less talk, more walking Zosimos!”
“Now you call me by that name too?”
----------------------------------------
“Sooo gooood!” Eugenia cried tears of joy as she took another bite of the salted meat.
“I, er, haven’t seen anybody devour their meal like this since I visited that famished village.” Themistokles watched her so intently that he forgot about his own food for a while.
“What is this? And that! And over here?” She kept pointing at the urns and bowls. She could only smell the food, but that alone almost drove her insane.
“Those are olives, that is a sort of honey they make into solid chunks and this is…” He patiently explained what each item was, but eventually he had to stop, because she would have opened all boxes and barrels on the beach if they continued.
“Persian food’s incredible!” She said while stuffing her mouth.
“Well, half of it is actually common over here too.” He scratched his neck while watching her pick up the case filled with olives. A priestess of Athena should recognize her goddess’ representative fruit at least, not that he would say something like that.
They ate until they were satisfied, although Eugenia might have eaten even more than that. Oversatisfied, she rubbed her belly and enjoyed the late evening breeze. The sun had already set. The fire they made to warm the food was still strong and lit the provisional camp with ease.
“Is she still watching us?” He asked cautiously with one hand on the blindfold tied around his wrist for quick access.
“Yes.” Eugenia replied with a well fed sigh. “I think she is curious about you.” They were of course referring to the snake-woman in the distance. Medusa was resting atop the bow of the fallen in temple, which Eugenia had climbed a few weeks ago.
“I would be glad to have a conversation with her once she lowers her defenses a bit.” He said as he stirred the fire with a stick.
“I am not sure she can lower them.” The girl replied with a shrug.
“You know her well.”
“Not well enough.” She shook her head. “If I asked her about herself she wouldn’t tell me anyway. She can be really stubborn, like a mule.”
“Kindred spirits I see.” He chuckled at her nonplussed expression. “Even a place this ruined still seems lively with you around. I have seen entire cities that appeared dead and rotten in comparison.”
“You traveled so far in barbarian lands. It must have been scary.”
“Maybe at first. But if there's one thing I learned on my travels it’s that everywhere’s the same.”
“Huh?”
“Not literally, no. I meant to say, well, it’s tough to explain this. There is always a market, a big palace and a bunch of drunken guards.” He twirled his finger in the air as if to recreate the image he head in his mind.
“They are always drunk?” Eugenia laughed.
“Judgin’ by their breath.” He joined in with her.
The fire crackled loudly and then the mood changed.
“I don’t think the Persians are barbarians. Although I did miss the bathhouses sometimes. Scratch that, a lot.” His woeful reminiscing of the sandy lands was not entirely joking. “And the sun’s even worse there. Helios must love Persia more than Rhodes. My skin got burned crispy all over.”
“I know how it feels. My skin is so dry and burnt.” She lamented as well.
“You’re barely even tanned compared to me.” He pointed out.
“Really? I didn’t know that.” She seemed glad to hear it though. A pale skin was the sign of a good priestess, at least in some circles.
“It’s true. Ink would be envious of my taint.” His sardonic chuckle didn’t go unnoticed. “Eopia’ll be surprised I reckon.”
Eugenia had almost nodded off for a moment when the satisfaction of the food and the warmth of the fire met in her body, but those last words snapped her out of it. She felt a bit sad for having been so cheerful when Themistokles was going through so much.
“Themi-“
“Eugenia.” He interrupted her and finally showed his most determined expression. “I will leave this island and return to Athens no matter the cost.”
“Mhm.” She just made an approving sound.
“I know it won’t be easy, but from what I’ve seen there is enough material around here to make a boat. If I work hard enough I’ll be able to finish in a few weeks at the most.”
“Mh.”
“All I ask is that you put in a word for me in front of your Lady so I may use what I can find and make some noise.” Although their eyes couldn’t meet, they were on one wavelength.
“I will talk to her.” She made an approving gesture. “And I will also help you build the boat!”
“Ah, I can’t ask this of you.”
“You don’t have to. If I can make your dream come true then that’s all the motivation I need.” She pumped her fists adorably and gave him a fiery smile.
At first he wanted to object, but his lips did not move. Who could honestly deny this kind girl when she made such a face?
“You’d give Heracles a run for his money, ya know that?”
“It would be great if I could lift as much as him too.”
“I can drink to that.”
He pulled up a bottle of wine and they both cheered to the night sky.
----------------------------------------
Medusa watched the two overly enthusiastic humans from the distance. They were so loud that she could make out chunks of their conversation. The last words about a boat were especially loud to her ears.
Could they truly build that on their own?
She had underestimated humans all her life, but recently she started to see just how much they could accomplish. Suddenly the impossible didn’t seem so unlikely anymore.
She bit her lower lip.
“Foolishness.”
With a new goal in front of them the humans cheerfully made their plans for the near future. The Gorgon alone stood rigid in her never changing world.