The dissonance of several dozen sandals stomping over the unpaved path echoed through the quiet of night. Most of the men they belonged to were dressed in similar garbs, implying a cohesion they did not deliver on. Two more were walking in midst of these men. They were surrounded and did not follow their rhythm either. The light steps of a young man mixed with the slow and tedious dragging feet of an old man.
“Is it much further?” Hegord asked with a grunt as he heaved his limping leg across a pile of hardened earth and mud. In response to his innocuous question several of the Athenian guardsmen around him seemed to tense up.
“Would you be quiet old man? You are being arrested here! Your constant, hm, distractions, they really… er… distract me.” The leader of this bunch was walking ahead. He was holding the torch awfully close to the walls of the surrounding houses and occasionally bumped into parked carts.
“I reckon this’s the same damn alley we’ve been to twice already.” The old stable master was anything but shy about his dissatisfaction.
“Of course not! What would a half-blind geezer like you know?” The man seemed to explode from indignation.
“Captain, I think he is right. The guardhouse is-” One of his men finally found it in him to point it out, but he was instantly forced to be quiet by his superior’s swift hand. The captain covered his mouth and grimaced.
“I know where the guardhouse is!” He insisted loudly. “Even with this black veil trying to, really, proverbially pull the wool over our eyes, I shall still guide the way.” The torch swerved in his hand and he determinedly point it in the opposite direction. The exact way they had just come from. Shockingly that was actually the right direction, so they turned around.
“Who died and made this ox captain of the guard?” Hegord huffed and held on to Perseus’ shoulder as he heavily turned around. If he at least hadn’t lost his stick when they went down a hill near the river, perhaps his mood would not be so abysmal.
“Don’t you dare mock the death of our beloved captain Trifos!” The current captain said with great emotion spilling from his throat.
‘So someone really did die.’ Perseus noted in his head, with a tired expression on his face. He was perhaps even more impatient than Hegord to finally get this over with.
“Trifos ya say?” Hegord muttered. “Wasn’t he on the side of the usurper Archon at the battle for the Akropolis?”
At those words all the guards around them lowered their heads and the atmosphere cooled down even more. The night breeze had not been quite so chilly before. Their march continued in silence for a while as they finally made it to the street with the guardhouse at its outermost corner.
“Captain Trifos was a hero to me.” The new captain was the only one who responded, even if with delay. His words seemed tinged in a deep regret he could hardly express. Then he bumped his head into the door frame. “Ungh, what mad architect would construct a door, like this one, so inconveniently, by Hephaistos hammer!?” He kicked the door and pushed his torch in the designated holder on the wall.
“The door is in the same place it’s always been.” From inside they could hear the voice of a stationed guard who seemed to be quite unhappy to receive a flying door to the face. “Haven’t gotten over your night blindness yet, Erasmos?” He smacked him against the helmet and then took a look at their company. His face made clear that he wanted to know who they were.
“My eyesight is fine, no no, it is hawk-esque even.” He retorted loudly and pushed his way through to find a room for them.
“Hawks don’t hunt at night.”
“You know what I mean!”
The other guards all stayed quiet as they pushed Perseus and Hegord into the hallway. The night watcher who mustered them suspiciously and stopped Perseus with his arm. Their eyes met for a heartbeat, but then Perseus averted his gaze.
“And who are these strays?” He asked over his shoulder.
“They are suspects, dangerous, very dangerous for attacking us, the upholders of the law in this city! Don’t let the boy get his hand on a blade, by Athena’s spear.” The captain shouted back from a room further back.
“Taking in common thugs again, hm?” The night watcher roughly shoved Perseus further inside and then nodded his fellow guards to continue. “What a rowdy night.”
“Over here!” The captain pushed his head out of the door frame and looked at them sideways in a comical manner.
When pushed inside the two found themselves in a sparsely lit room full of chest and piled up furniture. This was no better than a storage room. The captain had settled down on a chair that was only standing on two of its legs. He made a motion for the two guards who had dragged them in to close the door and position at each side of it.
Perseus pulled a chair over and let Hegord sit on down on it. The old man seemed at his limit, as the shaking of his limp legs showed. He did not sit down himself, though. Instead he looked around to assess his options. There was a tiny window behind the stored piles, not big enough for him to slip through. The three guards (including the captain) would not pose much of a threat to him alone, but he could not protect Hegord in this tight space.
“Out with it, who are you working for?” The captain suddenly asked with an angry expression and slammed his fist against a random plank of wood.
“Pardon?” Perseus twisted his mouth.
“You were quite ready to, well, raise a blade against an Athenian guardsman! A captain, like me, no less. You’re clearly a foreigner, so you must be… a spy?!” It seemed more like he was asking genuinely than actually piecing anything together.
“I am not a spy.”
“Prove it!”
“How?”
“So you confess!”
“No.”
“Argh, you’re a tricky sort, I can tell.” The captain groaned and rubbed his hurting fist. The other two guards were decidedly pretending not to be here.
“Enough of this nonsense.” Hegord finally interjected with a raspy tone and glared at their captors. He had recovered his breath enough to exhale angrily. “Ya came to my home to arrest me. Stop foolin’ around with the boy and tell me what you want.”
“Yes yes, Hegord, stable master from the western gate, very good. We’ve been looking for you.” The captain changed gears and nodded hastily.
“Ya found me.” He replied with tired eyes and little patience.
“That weee diiiid.” He stretched his words in a low voice as he got up and circled them.
“And?”
“Say, old man, do you know what the Archon could want with you, in particular?” He stopped behind Hegord and squinted his eyes.
“Th’ Archon? Which one?” He seemed a lot stiffer all of a sudden.
“It matters not, which or whom, but you’re of interest for some reason. This is, to be frank, very unusual and uhm… not good.” He scratched his clean shaven cheeks and returned to circling them. “There’s a lot going on that even we, Athen’s finest, don’t understand.”
“You’re not exactly the best this city’s got to offer.” Hegord muttered and then glared directly at the captain’s face, which made him jump back in slight surprise. “Is that it? Ya dragged an old man from his well-deserved rest, because some Archon fancies him?”
“Now now, we aren’t the villains in this tale. This is also for your, er, best interest.” The captain raised his hands placatory. “But you did attack us!” He suddenly pushed his finger against Perseus chest.
“You seemed like bad sorts who wished to harm this innocent man. I was not aware that you were protectors of the peace.” He replied truthfully.
“Just a stray stranger, coming into, this, this, legitimate arrest?” He did not believe it for a second. Perhaps his instincts were not completely off.
“Back off th’ boy and answer my question already!” Hegord lost his temper.
“Ugh, this is not going as planned.” He looked at the two other guards who lowered their eyes in shame. “We’re under a lot of pressure right now, you old dotard. Athens is about to be in a lot of serious trouble and you’re of interest. If you can tell us, well, what makes you special, we would consider lowering your sentence, even without the judges getting involved.”
“My sentence? Ya didn’t even accuse me of anythin’ yet! Poseidon’s trident is less twisted than your words.”
“Alright, fine, we had an order to capture you and bring you to the Archon’s office, truly. But to be honest, I don’t trust-“
“Hey, how long’s this going to take?” Suddenly someone called from outside the door and knocked furiously.
“What is it now?” The captain groaned.
“Erasmos, is it true that you incarcerated the witness we were supposed to deliver?” The night watcher who had greeted them before pushed open the door and hit one of the guards in the face with it.
“We can’t rightly, well, uh, take him to the Archon without being sure it’s him!” Erasmos stumbled over himself to justify his actions.
“You bumbling oaf, the Archon is already on his way here!”
“What?!”
“One of his personal men told him about our plans and you took him to the guardhouse instead of bringing him straight to him! Do you know how bad that looks?” He slapped Erasmos helmet and glared at Hegord and Perseus. “We were busy taking in two thugs who vandalized the statue workshop in the Craftsmen’s Bowl. I thought you were just going to round up more of their friends.”
“Vandals in the workshops…? Who would dare deface the magnificent art of our fine city?”
“You don’t know left from right tonight, huh?” He sighed and then turned to look around the door frame. “We’ve got little time. He’ll be here any moment. If you want to squeeze something out of them, be quick.” He patted the captain’s shoulder and left.
“This is, spectacularly, terribly, unfortunate.” Erasmos looked rather wound up now. He even bit his nails. “Look, old man, for whatever you are worth, tell me right now what crimes you were involved in. If the Archons want you executed then we – nobody - can stop them.”
“Executed? This city is going to the shitters.” Hegord grinded his teeth. “I did nothin' reproachable or worth of death penalty."
“Are you sure, very sure, that you are not involved with the traitorous Archon’s camp? In the last lunar cycles anyone associated with him has been hunted down. There is no hole or any manner of, also, hideout you’d be safe from the group that burns them out of their rabbit holes.”
“I wasn’t hidin’.” Hegord responded curtly.
“Listen closely, you stubborn mule, you, impertinent…” He rubbed his temples below the tight helmet. “The Archons are the rulers of this city! If one of them doesn’t like you, no matter how secure you feel, they will get rid of you. The battle for the Akropolis has left us backstabbing our own brothers. There is no trust, no stability, without a guiding fist. There are only three possibilities for who’s going to come through this, and any other, door.” He pointed at the door that was still shut. “If you’re unlucky it will be the worst one.”
“You’re a guard captain, so what’s the matter? Y'sound like ya don’t like your bosses.” Hegord glared back.
“I would never-! This is, truly, a very complicated…” He flinched and looked back towards the two guards who were pretending not to hear him. “I don’t want to see an innocent man getting hanged.” He whispered.
“You are trying to protect Hegord?” Perseus asked with surprise.
“Shh! I am not trying to, absolutely, protect him in particular.” Erasmos grimaced. “The Nightwatch’s special traitor eradication unit has been running rampant in recent weeks. It is no understatement, overestimation, that they have executed people for merely making contact with the traitorous Archon. The conspiracy runs deep, but so does the blood in the streets…” He bit his lip.
“You’re sayin’ that they are overeager and ready to cull anyone who knows too much.” Hegord said gravely.
“I did not, never ever, say such a thing!” He refused bluntly. “My integrity is more solid than the armor of Ares.”
“Hegord is a good man. He would not wish harm upon anyone.” Perseus said all of a sudden.
“Yes, perhaps- No, wait, who are you actually? Why would you jump in to protect this old man?” He asked suspiciously.
“I am-” Perseus raised his voice to respond, but then tensed up. He had heard loud banging from the hallway and then a lot of people began arguing.
“Oh Athena’s Aegis… they are here already.” Erasmos covered his face with one hand. “If you are speaking the truth, then both of you will have to convince him with everything, mostly truth, and whatever else you’ve got.” He quickly pushed the door open and was greeted by the Archon’s personal guards. Their rock like chins could have cracked bones.
“Relinquish the suspects to the Archon.” They said in unison.
“We intended j-just that.” He hastily stepped aside and let them enter.
They were tall and far better equipped than the regular guards. Their spears were well crafted, but they had put them on their backs, as they served no purpose in tight hallways. Instead they were holding their shields ready to bash someone’s skull in. Perseus crossed his arms and returned their cold stares. He was standing in front of Hegord to shield him. If they were really here to execute him for crimes he had not committed, then he would have to protect him. It would tarnish his honor if he did not repay the man.
“Enough of this animosity already.” An unfamiliar voice joined the room and Perseus caught a glimpse of a finely crafted himation behind the tall guards. The owner must have been of higher standing. The Archon.
“I assure you, great Archon, no such animo-monstrosi-mosity exists here. We were preparing the suspects for your, yes for, the interrogation.” Erasmos quickly saluted and stepped aside. “We leave them in your care now!” He clicked his tongue and his two men left the room. He looked back one more time and crossed gazes with Perseus, before leaving as well.
“That captain always seems to be chasing his own tail when I meet him.” The Archon said with slight amusement as he watched him leave.
“Don’t mind him, sir.” The night watcher who had warned them before joined the group and closed the door. “He’s not used to filling in his predecessors shoes yet.”
“Ah, that does make sense. I had a somewhat similar experience recently.” He sighed woefully and then stepped around his guards who were having a staring contest with Perseus. He lethargically pulled over the captain’s barely used chair and sat down. The night watcher pulled a dusty table over and put it down between them, causing dust trails to shake the candles’ flames.
“You!” Hegord suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“Hm?” The Archon looked up and showed them an expression of innocent curiosity. His dark skin was creating a weird contrast in the weak light. His ink black curly hair was hanging a bit into his face, but his deep brown eyes still stood out anyway. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his spread legs. “Do you remember me?”
Hegord turned quiet and seemed to sink into deep thought. “’Rhodian bootlicker’.” He said plainly.
“Oh come on! I was certain that horrible nickname had left my heels by now. You’re a really cruel old man.” The Archon lowered his head with a depressed expression.
Perseus looked back and forth between the two with barely hidden confusion.
“So they’ve been tellin’ the truth about yer selection.” Hegord said with a more amicable expression. “Congratulations, ya made it to the top without any powerful blood or inspiring deeds.”
“Ouch. Out of all the insults thrown my way these days, somehow you manage to eclipse them all.” He rubbed his head and smiled sardonically. “I would have liked to talk to you sooner, but I wasn’t quite sure how to approach this situation.” He rubbed his stubbly chin.
“And what blasted situation is that? I didn’t think some newly elected Archon hothead would drag me out of my home when I lay down tonight.” He leaned on the table and glared at the rather young looking Archon.
“Please take it easy on me. It wasn’t my idea.” He returned the glare evenly and showed a surprisingly relaxed body language. “I only found out about your impending arrest mere hours ago.”
“What?” Hegord didn’t hide his surprise.
“The truth is that I could have come talk to you at any time. But it seems my colleagues had different plans. One of them put out an order for your immediate arrest.” He said with a sharp gaze.
“Whose horse did I run into a ditch to be this reviled?”
“It’s not you they care about, to be quite honest. It’s your connection to… Typhos.” He replied apprehensively.
“You are after Typhos too?” Perseus said with shock.
“By the way, just who is he?” The Archon asked with a wry smile.
“Just some lad who needed my help with directions.” Hegord said swiftly.
“Oh my, how friendly you act with people other than me.” He chuckled. “So how do you know Typhos?” He said and instantly switched to an antagonistic expression.
“Ya don’t have to tell him nothin’, boy.” The old man pushed his hand against Perseus’ arm to hold him back. The young man hesitated and kept looking at the Archon.
“This is really not my style. When you hackle for wares and when you start negotiations for a big purchase, you need to follow certain procedure.” The Archon chided himself and then surprisingly rose from his chair. “Could you give us some privacy?” He asked his personal guards and the night watcher.
They couldn’t refuse an Archon’s order even if they looked displeased. After they left, the room felt less oppressive already. He stretched forward his rough dry hand for a handshake.
“My name is Themistokles of Rhodes. Albeit my wife tells me to say ‘of Athens’ now. Can’t get used to it yet.” His inviting expression was completely different and lost its tired wrinkles.
“Perseus.” He replied curtly and took the hand. The Archon’s handshake was firm and honest. He clearly had experience with such gestures.
“Perseus, really? Like the founder king?” Themistokles raised a brow. “Your parents must think the world of you.” It was meant to be a light jest, but Perseus did become tenser in response. “My parents, whatever tract of land their bones may reside in, didn’t really think much about it. They just named me after my grandfather. There was a time where I tended to avoid using it. Back then people called me Zosimos.”
“A fittin’ name for someone so undeservedly lucky, I reckon.”
“Did Rhodians steal your purse in the past? Or do you just despise me in particular?” He sighed ruefully.
“If you are the Archon, that means you are the king of this city.” Perseus interrupted their banter. “Do you think your actions are just?”
“I believe that we are doing our best.” Themistokles responded honestly. He could tell that his reply didn’t impress Perseus. “Justice isn’t quite as blindingly obvious as this city’s patron goddess would make it seem. That’s my belief anyway, but don’t tell that to the head priestess.” He smirked.
“From what I have witnessed since my arrival, this city is filled with greedy and evil men.” Perseus said with crossed arms.
“I can’t deny it.”
“But.” He loosened his arms slightly. “There are also good men here.” He thought of the inn owner that had treated him with rough hospitality and Hegord who had welcomed him in the dark of night, like some returning son.
“Hearing that makes it worth keeping this city safe.” Themistokles said with a warm expression. “For that very reason I need your full cooperation. The situation has become somewhat dire as of late. The reason for that is our common acquaintance, that long dead scholar, Typhos.” He brought them back on track.
“We all agree that he’s reached th’ Underworld by now, so what’s the sudden commotion about?” Hegord grunted.
“I should not share this confidential information with you until I know what Perseus is doing with you and how he fits into the picture.” Themistokles insisted.
“Typhos was someone who impressed my king. He set out on a journey that he never returned from. I did not work for him or call him a friend.” Perseus repeated what he had already told Hegord.
“Your arrival here can’t be a coincidence, though?” He poked further.
“Let him off th’ hook, ya numbskull.” Hegord intervened again, quite vehemently. “He’s here on his own business and I’m sure it’s got nothin’ to do with yer insufferable politics.”
“Sorry, I suppose you’re right.” He actually backed off. “These insufferable politics are quite suffocating to be sure. And he one being choked is Athens herself. We are at an imminent crisis. You must have picked up at least something by now, right, great stable master?”
“I’d heard this and that.”
“I fear this is quite accurate, as is that.” He joked, but then raised his hands in defeat. “We are at the cusp of war with Thebes.”
“War…” Perseus clenched his fist in response.
“And the Typhos lad’s involved in this mess?”
“That is the complicated part.” The Archon sat down heavily and pulled out some parchment. “We have received an ultimatum. Thebes asked for reparations for the damages caused by Achaeus’ plot.”
Perseus looked at Hegord questioningly.
“Lord Achaeus is the Archon who’s recently been arrested for plottin’ against the Ionian alliance and nearly draggin’ us into a war with Persia.” He explained.
“That is only the sword tip of his crimes. He has caused many conflicts in the region and destabilized cities that are quite angry at us now.” Themistokles wiped some sweat off his brow. “To claim that we are at the edge of getting into a war with the entire Greek world may not be an understatement anymore.”
“I see.” Perseus remembered the warships gathered at the harbor and the hostility of the citizens to strangers. It started to make sense.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“We have sent out every diplomat we had at our disposal. Athens has paid reparations to most cities, especially Eretria.” He smiled weakly. “Eretria has been a good ally in the negotiations. Their representatives really saved our hides. We managed to pacify the Ionian alliance more or less.”
“Then why is Thebes sharpening its horns?” Perseus wondered.
“That is what I would like to know! We sent fathe- I mean Lord Kleitos to negotiate. He hasn’t returned in several lunar cycles and his last message was attached to the ultimatum.”
“What did it say?”
“Only one name. ‘Typhos’.” He said gravely.
“Why’re you not just payin’ them like you did everybody else?” Hegord asked to break the tense silence.
“Their demands are unreasonable. The treasury is beyond exhausted as is, but they even demand the expulsion of the former generals that retired near Boeotia. They see them as threats to their independence.” He pushed his hands on the table and grit his teeth. “And finally they demand the head of Achaeus himself.”
“Impossible.” Hegord looked equally distraught now.
“Why can you not give it to them? Do you not wish to bring the traitor to justice?” Perseus could not understand their hesitation.
“It must be so easy for a foreigner.” Themistokles responded a bit annoyed. “The fact of the matter is that we cannot kill him. By the decree of Athena herself the man is sentenced to eternal imprisonment.”
“Athena judged him?” That was indeed exceptional news.
Hegord and the Archon’s reactions were surprisingly not very firm. They both were looking down with melancholy, but said no more on the matter.
“Then you must tell the Thebans the truth. They must not oppose the gods’ judgement.” He pointed out.
“I don’t believe they will take our word for it.” The Archon said sarcastically.
“Lad, ‘tis politics. These demands ought to be no more than an excuse for war.” Hegord tapped the table angrily.
“The old man is right. They know we can’t comply. That’s their true aim.” He scratched the parchment with his nails. “For now we have sent a messenger asking for clarifications and a renewal of negotiations to buy us time. We also need to find out if father is still well.” He seemed far more worried than initially obvious. He had hidden it quite well.
“That ‘Lord Kleitos’ is your father-in-law?”
“Yes, he is my dear Eopia’s father. His business sense is beyond anything some stray gutter boy like me could ever achieve.” He said humbly. “Eopia is a strong woman. Strong enough to wait several years for a foolish promise that should have been impossible. But I think she has grown tired of waiting. After waiting so long for me, waiting for Lord Kleitos’ return from enemy territory is simply too unfair.” His sadness was genuine.
“You have my sympathy, Archon.” He lowered his head slightly.
“Why, thanks. It’s not me who needs the support, though. Eopia keeps blaming herself for letting him go and- Why am I telling you my life story?!” He shook his head. “Your mien is terrifying. Good listeners scare me.” He joked.
Perseus let a small smile slip for the first time.
“It’s like the Sphinx’s riddle, this one. Can’t make heads or tails of it.” Hegord had inspected the note with Typhos’ name on it. There didn’t seem to be any additional information.
“All I can gather is that Typhos made a deal with Thebes and his disappearance has caused more issues. Like we needed his specter to haunt us in these trying times. If he hadn’t gotten himself killed playing hero on that gods’ forsaken tiny island at least…”
That single line changed everything. In an instant Perseus face turned form contemplative to rigid. His entire focus was on the Archon’s dry lips. Themistokles felt the intense gaze on him and looked up.
“You know where Typhos went?” Perseus asked penetratingly. “You know the location of Sarpedon?”
Themistokles’ expression changed equally quickly and he forgot all about his political troubles. They were both checking each other out as if they had met for the first time just now. The Archon carefully adjusted his hands and cupped his chin. Hegord rubbed his long grey beard anxiously, knowing full well that things were about to get ugly.
“Why would I know its location?” He asked with a heavy dose of suspicion.
“You sounded resentful just now. As if you knew the isle well.”
“Ain’t you a sharp one?” He dropped his polite act and lost his dignified air. “What would ya need the location for?”
“I am on a quest.”
“And Sarpedon’s one of the stops?”
“It is my target.”
“You look a bit young to be treasure hunting.”
“I hunt only for the monster.”
“Even worse.” He squinted his eyes. “Haven’t ya heard? The monster is dead.”
Perseus clutched his fists and looked even more determined. “Typhos failed. I am certain of it.”
“He may have perished, but he took the beast with him. The crew who returned has retold the tale many times.” Themistokles said with sharp finality.
“Is that true?” Perseus turned to Hegord.
“I’ve heard their tales, aye.” He admitted. “The monster went up in flames and was destroyed.”
“Why did you not tell me this when we spoke before?” Hegord’s response was clearly contradicting his actions from before and Perseus could feel the truth at the edge of his perception.
“Tell me lad, would ya have stopped if I told ya?” The old man asked tiredly.
“I cannot.” Perseus replied truthfully. Too much was pinned on this quest. To return empty-handed was unacceptable. “If it has already been slain, then I must find its remains to bring back to Seriphos.”
“Seriphos? That secluded king’s island?” Themistokles picked up quickly.
“The Gorgon’s head will be my trophy, no matter what.” Perseus replied with his fist raised before his chest.
“You don’t know what you’re involving yourself with here, brat.” The Archon was completely hostile now. Although they could not have been awfully far apart in age he was treating Perseus like a rambunctious child. “That place is not for you or anyone to waltz into. I can’t believe you were protecting him, old man!” He pointed accusingly at Hegord.
“I’ve no right to tell ‘im what to do.” The old stable master turned away with regret.
“Why do you wish to protect that island?” Perseus got equally aggravated now. “What are you hiding from me?” He hit the table with his flat hand which made dust clouds spread all throughout the room.
“Careful, you are not in a position to make demands of me.” The Archon said threateningly and then turned towards the small window above. Moonlight streamed through the gaps. It seemed to soothe his mind somewhat. “Two people asking for that cursed place in one day? And both are no more than children. This can’t be anything but a bad omen.”
“What did you say?” The young man’s voice turned cold.
“Have you any comrades with you? Someone who came to ask around for Typhos and that damned island?” Themistokles response was quite foolish as he would soon realize.
“You… how do you know about Ajax?” He forcefully pushed the table aside, slamming it into the door at full force. Wood splintered across the room. “Those men who attacked him worked for you?!” He grabbed the Archon by the throat and rammed him against the wall. Surprisingly he had incredible reaction time and already put a knife to Perseus throat in return.
“Ghg… so he was your comrade after all.” Themistokles showed him his teeth.
“Answer me!” He tightened his grip despite the blade at his throat. The Archon already had trouble breathing as his throat was pressed shut.
“Let him go!” Of course the noise had alerted the guards outside and they came rushing in, kicking the broken table aside. They did not dare come close when they saw the situation the Archon was in.
“I don’t know the details.” Themistokles admitted with gritted teeth. “I put out a personal order to investigate - ggrkk – anybody asking for that island. I was told that someone inquired about it and Typhos today, so I ‘as gettin’ quite the headache-” He was slammed against the wall again before he could finish.
“Your men beat my friend to the brink of death! He has done you no wrong. Is this the kind of king you are?” His eyes were only a finger’s length away from the Archon’s and the low candle light made him seem almost like a vengeful spirit.
“I didn’t order any of that!” He replied stubbornly.
“You deny your guilt?”
“The point was to inform me of it first dammit! There is no use in killing citizens over this!” He spat out as he nearly choked.
“I don’t believe you.” He didn’t let go and the guards who were approaching stepped back when he turned his head their way for a moment.
“Let him go, you cannot believe you’ll survive this night if you do something foolish.” The night watcher urged quietly from behind the two personal guards. Perseus didn’t pay their threats any mind.
“Tell me why you are so desperate to protect the island. Why do you care about the monster’s remains?” He asked impatiently, close to the Archon’s face.
“I can’t betray her… ever again.” He wrought out of his airless throat. The grip on his knife loosened as his strength waned.
“The monster isn’t slain at all, am I right?”
“So what?”
“You are taking its side? You lie in bed with monsters?”
“Hah-hark… Not especially. The lady of the isle was never fond of me- I think.” He managed to smile somehow, beyond the pain. He shook his head when he saw the guards raise their swords, so they let them down again.
“Then who are you protecting?” Perseus was completely out of patience and pulled the knife out of Themistokles’ hand, throwing it to the feet of the guards, where it got stuck in the ground.
“She’s the savior of this city.” Hegord spoke up from behind them. He had dragged his limp leg all the way to them.
“She`s a… dear… friend.” Themistokles muttered. “I will not let anyone reach that island. No matter what.” His stance was the opposite of Perseus bold declaration. Their goals were utterly incompatible.
“I do not know who this woman is; this ‘savior’.” He looked at Hegord and then back to the Archon. “I am not after her. Only the Gorgon will taste my blade.”
“If you slay the Gorgon… it is the same as taking her life.” Themistokles said without a hint of doubt. “I will not allow you to trample all over her heart! I swore an oath!”
Perseus felt his control waning. He felt an unexpected rush of bloodlust in his very soul. These men who seemed to think of the best for this city and its people, these men who were respected by their subordinates and by the citizens, they would stand in his way? How could he have ever thought them decent people if they protected his target because of some woman’s personal attachment? It made no sense. It made no sense at all!
His hand was ready to crush the Archon’s throat. For causing the pain to his dear friend Ajax and for wanting to stop him from saving his mother, he would have to pay.
No, he could not. He needed the information. He had to calm himself and think beyond the fog of anger.
“Let him go.” This time it was Hegord who spoke those words and put a hand on his shoulder.
Perseus shook the hand off and made a choice. It would decide over life and death.
“Zosimos, that’s what they call you?” He said with a beastly presence. “Must be nice to achieve all of your goals by divine luck. If you are a survivor then you will make it through this moment too. I will give you a choice.”
“Hrgh?” He could barely stay conscious anymore it seemed.
“Your wife. You love her?”
“What are you-?”
“I am Perseus, the man who will slay the Gorgon. Not you, not your men and not this entire city can stop me from achieving that goal. I am not going to stop at the walls of a castle or at the door to your wife’s quarters.” He spoke with insidious determination. “I promise you that I will find Eopia. You will survive another day, only to miss your dearest for as many as you continue your pathetic life.”
“...you bastard.” He finally realized what he was getting at.
“Who is more important to you? That ‘savior’ or your wife?”
A cruel choice, a villainous ultimatum. Not even the worst scum would deserve to be put before the choice between the woman he loved and someone he swore an oath to. Oath breakers had a special place in the Underworld. A place of eternal torment. But to lose the love of his life was going to drown him in grief.
“I choose… neither!” With a glint in his formerly fading eyes Zosimos drew a hidden dagger from his himation. He had one more weapon in store and he stabbed Perseus without hesitation.
The young man’s powerful hand stopped the blade a fingernail’s length away from his throat. He had grabbed Zosimos’ wrist with his free hand and effortlessly held it in place. That was the last trump card of the desperate Archon.
“Wrong choice. One more time.” He rammed the dagger into the wall right next to the Archon’s ear. “Your wife or that monster’s woman?!”
“Grhnnn…” He struggled futilely and then seemed to give up. “KILL HIM! IGNORE ME AND KILL HIM!” His shout was so unexpected that Perseus grip even loosened a little.
The guards responded without hesitation and went to impale the impertinent man who threatened their Archon. Even if his neck was snapped, they would avenge him right away. That was the meaning of the final order.
In that moment Perseus pulled the weakened Archon through the air and held him before the attackers’ weapons. Their surprised eyes were visible through their helmets. With a painfully twisted maneuver they avoided their Archon and stopped their blades.
“Artemis’ light guide me.” Themistokles frowned, moon light hitting his paling face. Then he punched Perseus. It was like punching a wall. His kicks were not much more effective.
“Your choice?”
“I said you will touch neither of them!” He madly bit Perseus’ arm. The guards tried to get around him, but the Archon was always in the way. “I said ignore me and take him down!” He shouted his order one last time before he was let go. “Huh?” His clueless expression shifted to pain when he hit the ground and the two guards were disarmed by a swift kick. Their swords sailed through the air and got stuck close to the night watcher’s feet. Soon the entire ground would be covered like the back of a hedgehog.
“I now understand what kind of king you are.” Perseus said with a sigh.
The personal guards pulled their swords from the floor to attack again. Perseus didn’t even go into a defensive stance. Instead he kept looking at the confused man on the ground who rubbed his red throat.
“You… what’re you thinking?” He could not fathom what was going on at all.
“You did not intend to kill me despite putting the knife to my throat. To the bitter end you would not give up on those you love. To weigh between two people so important is impossible for those of honor.” He crossed his arms and ignored the swords that were held close to his neck. “You would rather abandon yourself to protect them. I will believe your claim that you wished no harm on Ajax.”
“You’ve got the guts ta test me?” The Archon rose unsteadily and pushed his guards aside harshly. “I have half a mind to kick your teeth in for that.” His threats felt empty after his dainty punches and kicks had not even left bruises on the young man before. “I need a drink.” He walked past Perseus and sat down on the fallen over chair.
“Master?” The guards looked perplexed.
“Stand down. I don’t want any blood on the outfit that Eopia picked out for me.” He waved them off.
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After a short time of rest (and a delivery of some cheap wine from the guard house’s hidden reserve) the three of them sat down at a new table. Perseus had quietly awaited their actions, but it seemed like Themistokles was tired of fighting. He just sat there, contemplating something and balancing on the hind legs of his chair.
Hegord had given him a very strained look for a while, but eventually rested against the pile in the back. His old eyes seemed to fall shut every few heartbeats. They had woken him in the middle of the night on his rare rest at home. Evil indeed.
“I cannot allow you to go to Sarpedon.” Themistokles finally repeated.
“I cannot stop my journey.” Perseus replied.
“Then I am certain you have someone important waiting at home. As important as her.” He mumbled into his hand.
“It is my mother.” He revealed. He had hesitated to speak of her at all for some reason. It made him feel uneasy.
“The one who gave you that imposing name?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t argue with family.” The Archon said almost jovially. There was a layer of self-depreciation in his voice. “I can’t let you go to Sarpedon, but I am quite busy right now. Keeping an eye on you will be a handful. I am not certain there is a jail that can hold you either.” His twisted smirk was quite pathetic.
“You will have to use an army to stop me.”
“Like I have the resources to spare!” He chuckled. “Use this opportunity how you see fit. I will not tell you how to get to that island; that is my only and final resistance.”
“I already got a lead.” He admitted openly.
“How unfortunate for me.” Themistokles sighed theatrically. “This is your doing Hegord?”
“Sorry. The lass deserves better, but the lad ain’t wrong either.” The old man snapped out of his drowsy spell and retorted honestly.
“I came here to protect Hegord, but it seems he will no longer be in danger.” Perseus nodded at the stable master.
“Didn’t need ya to worry o’er me.” He snorted.
“I originally wanted to find Typhos’ contacts to find a route to Sarpedon. It seems that we are looking for the same people.”
“What a coincidence!” Themistokles clapped his hands together. “I have already tried to find everyone connected to him of course. Hegord was the last, because I already knew him.”
“My boys told me someone’s been snoopin’ round the stables lately. Musta been your spies.”
“Pretty much.” He shrugged.
“Those men who attacked Ajax, did they search for them too?” Perseus suddenly asked.
“No? I don’t know exactly who my secretary hired, but they were only supposed to keep an ear out for people asking for the Gorgon’s isle.”
“Strange. Ajax told me that they were after Typhos.”
“What?”
“And I was attacked by some sort of madmen that wanted information on Typhos as well.” He added with a darkened expression.
“That can’t be right.” Themistokles shook his head. “Topos puts all his trust in the palace guard. Did Pamphilos act without telling me again? He must have given the order to arrest Hegord too.” He muttered to himself in worry.
“I think one of the guards mentioned that two vandals have been caught and incarcerated.” Ideas sparked in Perseus’ mind. “Is the Craftsmen’s Bowl a workshop for statues?”
“That’s right.” Themistokles chugged on his wine amphora. “Phaw. They recently got a commission from some faraway temple to make some statue of Zeus that is gaudier than what the grand temple of Athena has in our own Akropolis. I hope they didn’t damage it.”
Perseus decidedly did not show any reaction and recollected the fight he had there. There was definitely an oversized Zeus sculpture. Then the criminals who had been arrested were perhaps the same men who had attacked him…
“Ahhhh!”
“Stop them!”
“Umph!”
Distant shouting and tumult made them all jerk back. Something was going on at the back of the guard house. After a few moments the door was opened and the Archon’s personal guards made a report.
“The prisoners have broken out and are fleeing the premise!” One of them said in a booming voice.
“How could they possibly have gotten out of the cells?” Themistokles rubbed his face with both hands and groaned in frustration. “Help these incompetent city guards and capture them! They may have important information.”
“Yes sir!” They taped their shields and left for the back of the building.
“That timing is makin’ me jittery. There’s fate in the air.” Hegord said with a bad feeling.
“Agreed. This night has been far too long already.” He rubbed his tired eyes.
The sound of fighting outside got louder and they could even hear the distant scream of someone’s painful death. Knowing the absolute bull of a man that Perseus had to fight back then, he was not surprised even several guards were struggling with him. His sneaky ally was also deadly.
“I should go help them.” He decided and got up.
In that moment two guards stepped into the room. They looked a bit disheveled like they had just returned from a fight. They belonged to the Nightwatch, the group that would only operate at night, as the name implied. They were not much different from the other guardsmen, except that they always seemed to be in an ill mood. Working at night made men miss the light. Their equipment tended to be brighter so they could be seen well even in weak torchlight. These two wore the more subdued variety, better suited for scouting.
“The battle has escalated. We are here to protect you, Lord Themistokles.” They stood at attention.
“Are you really struggling that much against two criminals?” He could hardly believe it.
“They are aided by more comrades.” The third night watcher appeared behind the two. The same guy who had argued with Erasmos before. “Our light spoiled brothers are not too capable under the embrace of Nyx, I fear.”
“Then get out there and help them?” Themistokles wandered in circles and waved them off. His mood was at rock bottom.
“You are more important.” He said with a shrug.
“We need more information on Typhos, so we can’t afford to lose those criminals.” He replied brashly.
“I am sure. But you have gathered all the other acquaintances of that scholar already, no?” The night watcher said to calm him down.
“Not all, I would guess, but with Hegord and Perseus here I’ve probably found most already. Though that scholar has been incredibly tight lipped and selective with what he shared, so we didn’t get many results yet.” Talking to the guard seemed to help him order his thoughts.
“Intriguing.” The three night watchers walked in and took position.
Perseus, who was leaning against a wall, glanced at their weapons. They looked pretty rundown. The Akropolis did not fund them well.
“Archoooon!” With a lot of noise Erasmos suddenly slid to a halt at the door frame. He was out of breath and his hair was sweaty, hanging through the gaps of his helmet. “I mean, your lordship, sir, even if you’re not of aristocratic blood- f-forget I said that.” He caught himself at the frame and caught his breath as well.
“What is it, captain?”
“The escaped prisoners, are - oh how shameful - they are actually dead.” He admitted.
“Are you serious?” The Archon slapped his forehead.
“How did that happen?” Perseus asked curiously.
“Some kind of poison, perhaps more of a toxin, same difference, or not. Spectacularly disgusting. Foaming mouth and bloody skin. Very unnerving for my men, uh, one even emptied his stomach on my sandals...” He stopped his words when he felt the tension in the room.
“You are as useless as ever, I see.” The night watcher said mockingly.
“No need f-for such insults!” He replied hastily and looked at the people present one by one. “Hm?” His eyes got stuck on someone. He looked them all over and finally squinted his eyes. The low light may have been at fault again. “Do I know you two?” He asked the night watchers.
“Sir?” They turned around.
“You aren’t from this guard house.”
“We are stationed at the house near Eridanus River.” He replied immediately.
“That makes sense! I did need more men for this operation.” He nodded approvingly.
“Of course. Don’t ask weird questions.” The night watcher from this guard house clicked his tongue.
“Ah, but there is just one thing.” He rubbed his chin. “I worked at that guard house before, under our beloved captain Trifos. I never saw you there.”
Everyone turned quiet. The tension was palpable. The guards looked at Erasmos like he was a strange animal. Perseus noticed that one of them subtle moved his fingers towards his sword…
“They must have been hired recently. Isn’t it obvious?” The local night watcher chimed in again. “After we lost so many good men at the fight for the Akropolis we needed to recruit more.”
“Naturally, how scatterbrained of me!” Erasmos laughed and put a hand to his waist. Everyone released their tension and Themistokles shook his head in disappointment.
“So Trifos hired you sturdy young men? He couldn’t even spare you some clean armor and a new shield? What a cheapskate.” He said with a grin.
“Captain Trifos is very busy, so he left it to the seniors. They aren`t nice to new recruits.” One of them said and laughed as well.
That was when the local night watcher froze up.
“Oh, is he now? Busy?” Erasmos lost all cheer and grabbed his sword. “I suppose you could say that. Wandering the plains of the Underworld is a busy thing indeed.” He held his short sword in a threatening pose. “Who are you really?”
The two night watchers frowned and then drew their sword and immediately attacked him. He blocked their swings, but to his surprise he was kicked in the side by the third night watcher. They immediately turned and ran towards Themistokles.
“Traitors!” Erasmos rose up and sprinted after them.
Perseus jumped forward and tackled on of them down, but the other already grabbed the Archon. Hegord could not help, so there was nobody to stop him.
“Dagger!” Perseus shouted. Themistokles instinctively responded and pulled the dagger from the wall where it was still stuck from the previous confrontation. He threw it to Perseus and then rammed his head against the attacker’s nose behind him.
Perseus caught the dagger and broke the downed man’s ribs with a heavy kick. Then he threw the dagger with enough force to penetrate the cuirass of the other guard. He stumbled back in pain and shock and then received a hit of Themistokles’ wine amphora across the face.
Meanwhile Erasmos was fighting his comrade with a clash of swords.
“What are you doing? Why are you assisting these men?!” He asked angrily and started to overpower his enemy with each furious swing.
“You are such a fool. I can’t believe I had to work under a complete dilettante for so long!” He replied with barely hidden disdain and slashed him across the leg, which made the captain sink to his knee. “Die like a dog!” He used the chance to behead Erasmos.
“Rrraagh!” Erasmos let out a primal scream and raised his blade in an arc, which managed to disarm the night watcher, quite literally. While the blood still sprayed, he already follow it up and cut the man’s throat.
“Great. Blood doesn’t wash out easily.” Themistokles complained, as he had been victim to the spray. “Eopia’s choice. Too much white.”
“Who are you working for?” Perseus had picked up the man with the broken ribs from the ground. He was the only one able to reply.
“Wah… blarh.. krrk…” The noises escaping his mouth were about as intelligible as one might expect between all the foam that was gathering. The man twitched a few times and then stopped breathing.
“That must be the poison you mentioned.” Perseus let the corpse sink down the wall.
“Exactly.” Erasmos replied while holding his bleeding leg with both hands.
“By the gods, what are you doing?” Themistokles said with disgust.
“Roots.” Perseus had put his hand into the dead guard’s mouth and pulled out some black roots. They looked half digested.
“That must be what killed him.” Erasmos inspected it after binding the wound on his leg. “Then they'd rather commit suicide than get caught.” His entire behavior was shockingly focused and his speech more clear.
“They were after Zosimos.” Perseus stated with a hunch.
“Why are you calling me by that moniker now?” Themistokles complained.
“They were asking about Typhos’ connections, so that’s probably what they want from you.” He ignored his complaints and put a hand on the Archon`s shoulder. “You should get those people to safety.”
“I agree with the rude boy. If they bought their way into the guard, then it’s not clear who you can trust. Loathe I to admit it, the palace guard is far more selective about who they recruit.” Erasmos joined them without showing much impediment to his movement.
“This is a disaster.” The young Archon seemed at the end of his wits. “Hegord, you’ll have to come with me. I don’t think your home is safe anymore.”
“Poseidon’s wart covered buttocks.” The old stable master cursed.
After a while the Archon’s personal guard returned with a few scratches, but still ready to fight. They decided to escort them to the Akropolis. Erasmos on the other hand decided to stay at the guard house to make sure his men were all still loyal.
“I will go to the harbor and find the sailor you told me about.” Perseus confided in Hegord.
“’Tis a dangerous night, but I trust in yer skill. Proved it well ‘nough, I reckon.” He nodded.
“I have a feeling I will need to hurry. He may be in similar danger.” He cracked his neck and loosened his legs for a run.
“Hey, Perseus.” Zosimos called him over from between his iron wall of guards.
“Yes?”
“I don’t like you.”
Perseus’ eyes dulled over in silent response.
“I may not like you, but you seem the honest type. If you find out anything that could help us avert war with Thebes, I’d appreciate if you told us. Having an Archon in your debt can’t hurt your chances of making it to that ghastly place.” He tapped his forehead and then walked off.
“He’s actin’ tough, but that Rhodian is barely standin’ straight.” Hegord commented dryly and then patted Perseus on the back before he left as well.
The weight of an entire city, bigger than even some kingdoms, was not carried by just one man. But the responsibility on this one man still far exceeded that of most in this large world. Perseus could hardly carry the duty of a single life back home. Having to protect thousands upon thousands was unimaginable to him.
His quest did not allow delays. The moment he received the knowledge necessary to make it to Sarpedon would be the time he left this twisted city behind. That was the path of his resolve. That was how it should be.
----------------------------------------
The harbor was even quieter than when he had left it. Of course he was going past the warehouses and shipyards, where things were slower. Somewhere around here was the shack he was told about by Hegord. Nothing really stood out, making it harder than necessary to find. Eventually he found himself at an intersection with a deformed herma. These ugly things really were placed everywhere all over Athens. It was half sunken into the dirt and the Hermes head pointed to the left.
Perseus looked left and saw a shack with a weak light coming through the gaps. Fortuitous.
He pressed the lapidated door open which made it nearly collapse. That boded well. Whoever lived here was doing so with quite a draft; that was certain. Perseus quiet steps would not alarm the sailor, but he still looked around carefully. There was a light source, but he wasn’t sure whether it was candlelight or a torch.
He walked through the small shack and found himself in front of a sleeping man. His body was covered in clothes at the brink of complete disintegration. He was shaggy bearded, long haired and generally looked as bad as he smelled. Animal bones and leaves proved that the man had eaten at some point at least, even if his limbs were skinny and his face skull like.
“Wake up.” He shook the sleeping man by the shoulder. After a while he seemed to slowly dig himself out of his hill of grime. His unsteady eyes made clear that the smell of booze on him was not just some leftover odor.
“Whossat?” He asked eloquently.
“I am here to ask you some questions. You might also be in danger, so don’t run away.”
“Dangwaaah?” He yawned.
“Mh.” Perseus had to hold his nose shut to bear the stench. “Sleeping with a living flame is dangerous too.” He pointed at the stubby candle remains that still glowed against all odds.
“Who is you?” The sailor really wasn’t quite there yet.
“My name is Perseus and I need to know about the expedition you were part of-“
“NO!” He suddenly shouted and pushed him away. “No more talk! No more questions about that!” He cowered under the mountain of dirty remains.
“Did someone else question you before?” He had a bad feeling about this.
“They came many, many every night. Locked me in, told me to not speak to anyone. Just gave food and left.” He crawled around and held his head. Only now did Perseus note the many dark bruises on his body.
“Did they ask you about Typhos?”
“AHHHH!” That name caused him to scream violently.
“Calm down!” But his attempt to reign him in only led to him getting covered in dirt.
“No more, no more, no more!! I don’t know, not me! Never trusted the captain, never wanted to work with scholars! Don’t know trade deals, won’t ever know why everyone got killed by the monster!” He cried and cowered like a small animal.
It seemed hopeless, the sailor was too agitated to converse properly. Whoever did this to him had severely broken his spirit and mind. He had been too late.
“Calm yourself good man. I will take you to a safe place, far away from those scary people.” He stretched out his hand in a non-threatening gesture.
“No more, no more, no more…” It was devastating to see someone reduced to that. He felt more anger towards the ones who had assaulted the sailor so, though.
If he took him to the Akropolis where Zosimos and Hegord were, they may have been able to calm this man down enough to give them proper replies. This tiny shack with its stench of abuse and feces would have to be left behind. For that purpose he got up and grabbed him by the waist.
Crrrrk.
Perseus' ears perked up and he swiftly turned around. The door had been closed as best as was possible with its loose hinges. Another creaking from above made it clear that they were not alone. No birds were that heavy. He stepped back-
CRRRRACK!
The roof collapsed. Perseus managed to jump forward just in time to cover the cowering sailor. It rained wood and hay, but just when he thought it was over, a big beam hit his back with full force. Perseus blacked out.
He had to stay conscious…
The weight on his back increased as the shack collapsed completely.
The sailor below him screamed until a tile hit him and knocked him out.
Perseus vision failed. He was buried alive.
The world around the hero collapsed, like a shallow grave. The weight of the rubble could never compare to the weight of his quest.