After the army was dealt with, we had to tend to the wounded. The Myrmidons were uninjured for the most part; other than the occasional cut, their tough carapace had protected them from injury. Nyka was a different story.
She had lost a lot of blood, so much that she had passed out. One of the riders who had come with Vienna had a first aid kit and was trying to stop the bleeding. The rest of us gathered around in a loose circle. After a few tense minutes, the medic stood up.
“I stopped the bleeding, but we need to get her to Argos. There is a drop point in the mountains that is easy enough to fly to, but brutal to get to on foot. We don’t have enough mounts to get everyone back.”
“You fly and take Nyka,” Vienna said. She then turned to the other person with her and said, “Lee, you go with him. Make sure they both get back safe. I am going to stay with the Myrmidons for a little while to discuss our alliance in further detail.”
“Alliance?” I asked. “When did this happen? For that matter, how did you know where we were?”
Vienna smiled, “Isn’t it obvious? Your little friend here came to get us.” She gestured at Ranger, who I could have sworn smiled. “He also found the Myrmidons and told them about a couple of travelers who needed some help. As for the alliance, I was just talking about it with Kryllos, the Myrmidon Alpha.”
I reached down and scratched Ranger around the ears, getting a sound somewhere between a cat’s purr and a dog’s pant in response. Vienna spoke again, “Since I am staying here, we have room to take one of you home. Any takers? Don’t worry, Titan won’t bite.” She nodded towards her four-legged eagle.
Kam and I looked at each other, which was more than enough to confirm what we were both thinking. I nodded, and he said, “I think we are both technically still your bodyguards. If you are staying, we are too.”
We all turned to Donovan, and he said, “You guys are crazy. I will take a ride back to three meals a day and a warm bed!” We all laughed. It felt good to laugh after so much betrayal and darkness.
Lee spoke up, “Well, we should probably get going then. Jay, let’s get Nyka onto the back of your mount.” He and the medic, Jay, lifted Nyka between them and carried her over.
Donovan walked over to Vienna’s ride and Kam followed. He said something that I couldn’t hear and they awkwardly shook hands. He rejoined me and I raised my eyebrow at him. He mouthed “apologizing,” and I nodded.
We watched them fly away, waving at them as they disappeared into the clouds. I finally spotted Ari, who was standing vigilantly with a few Myrmidons in case any of the Dark Legion’s monsters got over their fear. I walked over to her side. “Any more baddies?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Nope. They have all either run or melted away. Kryllos dispatched a few squads to hunt down the stragglers.” She glanced back at Kam like she was making sure he was still there. “I have guarded Phelix’s spirit for hundreds of years, but each person he inhabits is always different. Some aren’t the best kind of people, others are heroes. Your brother though, he is something different altogether.”
She trailed off, lost in thought, until she noticed my confused look. “Don’t get me wrong, I like him. He is one of my favorite wards so far. But there is something different about him than the others I have protected before. Actually, there is something different about both of you. It’s like you have a special aura or something. You have a special future ahead of you. It’s going to suck to watch both of you die.”
The last part shocked me a little bit. “Wait, what? What do you mean watch us die?” I asked.
She glanced at me like she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “Sorry, sometimes I forget that death is permanent for you guys. You have to understand; I have watched those before you die over and over again. Each time, it means I have failed my duty. I have grown used to it, but you guys are going to be sad. I have only known you a short time, but I have already grown to like both of you.”
The compliment took me by surprise. I stood there awkwardly, not really sure what to say. Tell her the truth, said a voice in the back of my head. “Well, you did pretty good today. Neither of us are dead, and not for lack of opportunity either. And who knows, maybe we will die of old age.” I smiled at her, and she laughed. I turned and walked back to Kam and Vienna. They were talking to Kryllos, apparently telling the whole story of what happened and why we needed their help.
Once they finished, Kryllos said, “Sounds like a worthy cause to me. We Myrmidons don’t fight for just anyone, but for you, Vienna Mayfield, we will fight. I pledge my service and the service of the soldiers under my command to the Argonaut cause. However, even with my help, it will not be easy to defeat the Acephali and the Dark Legion working together. On top of that, your enemy Hector has stirred the Kouretes into a frenzy. We will have to stop them before they try to destroy the world again.”
Kam held up a hand, “What do you mean ‘again?’ They have done that before?”
Vienna waved the question away. “Thank you for your support, Kryllos. We will discuss battle plans as soon as we have the details.”
After a second of hesitation, Kryllos said, “Our camp isn’t far from here. Shall we convene there, then continue on to Argos?”
Vienna nodded, “Good. We will move you into the Aegean Quarter when we reach Argos. There should be more than enough room for your people there. Now, let’s head for your camp.”
As soon as Kryllos moved in that direction, all of the other Myrmidons turned and marched like clockwork. We followed, and I thought about the days ahead. It was not going to be easy, and surely I would lose friends and allies. But as long as I have Kam, I am good. And maybe Ranger and Ari too. I had grown kind of fond of them. As long as we stuck together, we could handle anything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nate Van Dyke is a young fiction author who started writing in high school. He continues on his writing journey through college, learning and creating all along the way. Five years after it was started, his book, The Wish Box, makes its way into the world as his very first published book. He attends college full time at Fresno Pacific University where he is pursuing a degree in English and history.
The Wish Box Page 17