by Wilbur Arron
“How did you find out about that?” Philie shouted.
“We do not know, Melanthios just told us,” the taller one blurted out.
“Is Melanthios in Korpolis?” Melina asked bluntly.
“He comes and goes,” the tall one said. “We see him every market day in the square at noon by the steps of the temple. He tells us what to do, and we report to him. He gives us our money then leaves. Where he goes after we meet him, we do not know, and we are not encouraged to ask.”
“Market day was yesterday,” Philie mentioned. “Somehow this Melanthios has a source inside the palace.”
“What else?” I said.
“Nothing,” the one cried out. “That is all we know.”
“What were you to do if you saw Xanphos meeting with me?” I asked.
“Nothing,” the smaller one shouted out. “All we were going to do is report back to Melanthios.”
“It is a pity he did not tell you about this forest,” I said. I looked at Melina and Philie. “Do any of you have anything else to ask?”
“No,” Philie said, still looking closely at them. “I will need to talk to Cleon. We also have to catch this Melanthios and find out who inside the palace is giving away information. That person will have a very bad day when that happens.”
“What do we do with them?” Melina asked.
“We will not do anything,” I said. I walked up and put my hand on Philie. As with our friends, she can speak to me with her with my mind if we touch.
“You want them?” I asked.
“No,” she said simply. “It would be best if they never mention anything about what they saw here.”
“I agree,” I said and broke contact.
I looked at Lycos, Kypos, and Kapria. “Once we leave, they are yours. I know it is not much. Bury their clothing and bones so no trace is found.”
With that, I motioned to Melina and Philie to come with me. We walked back toward the big clearing.
“That was interesting,” Philie said.
“This means Pallas does not even trust Xanphos,” I told Philie. “He needs to know that. And Cleon needs to know he has a traitor in his house.”
“I will talk to both as soon as I get back,” Philie said.
As we got to the large clearing, there were faint cries in the distance and then nothing. I looked at both Melina and Philie. Neither appeared to have any problems with what happened.
It seemed the best way to deal with uninvited guests.
CHAPTER THREE: TURNS
Three days after our two spies left us, Aetos called to me again. At least this time it was during the day.
“Alex, someone comes along on the road from the desert,” he said. “It may be the same man as before.”
“Just watch him,” I said, “And let me knows what he does.”
This time the rider did not stop at the forest edge but came straight down the road. I noticed he had a packhorse with him. I met him at the same place.
I greeted him pleasantly. “Well, Gyras, I see you have returned. What is your message this time?”
The man smiled at me. He actually looked friendly. “My mistress and I will be here tomorrow with an escort of fifty,” he said, bowing slightly. “As you asked, only five guards will ride with us back here, and the rest will camp near the edge of the forest.”
“Very well,” I nodded. “I can accommodate your mistress in my house, but the others will need to sleep on the ground. I also do not have the supplies to feed five others.”
“I understand, we are bringing our own supplies and tents,” he said.
“When will they be here?” I asked.
“In the morning,” Gyras said. “My mistress said what she has to tell you is very important.”
“I will be eager to hear what she has to tell me,” I told him. “Please tell your mistress and her followers not to go deep into the forest. It is fine to collect wood along the edge of the trees, but do not go where the trees get thick and dark. I do not want there to be any unfortunate incidents.”
“I understand completely,” Gyras said, looking around him. “I can feel eyes on me now.”
With that, he rode off and camped by the edge of the forest. No doubt, he was waiting for the others to arrive. I called all my friends to meet me at the house. Even the two large golden eagles came. I waited until all ten of them were there along with Melina and started to speak aloud so Melina would understand at least my side of the conversation.
“Tomorrow, fifty people will arrive here,” I told them. “Most will stay next to the forest near the dam, but seven will be coming here. They say that they are here only to talk, but we all know what happened the last time that many men came. I will tell you I do not trust them.”
“Do you want us here?” Keros asked.
“No, I want you and Kerina, along with Aetos and Aerra, to watch the group by the edge of the forest. They should all stay there while we meet. I want you to tell me if they do not. Aetos can also watch and make sure no one else comes to join them.”
“I understand, Alex,” Keros said. “You know that man who was just here could feel us watching him—I could feel him like I feel Philie.”
“I know,” I said. “He told me he could feel you watching him.”
“He may be a sensitive,” Kerina added.
“He is not a mage, I can tell that,” I told them with certainty. A mage can usually feel the presence of another magik user. It is like looking at someone wearing bright colors in a crowd wearing grey. They have an aura that stands out from the normal people. I am sensitive to that aura, especially with the help of the Speaking Stone.
“What about the rest of us?” the big red deer Alkos asked.
“You will stay here, hidden,” I explained. “There will be seven people. If they do nothing, then leave them alone.”
“If they try to attack, we eat well again,” Lycos growled.
“Something like that, but be careful. There is something different about these people,” I warned them. “They look smarter, so be on you guard. They might have tricks, too.”
“We will watch,” Kypos said. “But if they try to hurt anyone, they will be like the others.”
I quickly told Melina what my friends said. She nodded and then added, “I think you should tell your Old Ones friends there will be people close to where you destroyed that Zilar army.”
Melina was right. I did not think they would attack on their own, but why take chances? The Old Ones have lived in this forest since before Man came to this land. They are built like the Titans from the Days of Myths, and they are as strong as Atlas.
“I have known them longer than any of you, I will tell them,” Keros said and then disappeared into the forest to find them.
“Are there any other questions?” I asked.
“Only that we need to prepare the house for guests,” Melina said.
We spent the rest of the day cleaning the house and preparing a small feast for tomorrow night. By the time it was nightfall, both of us were tired and after a quick bath, fell fast asleep.
Zila and her escort were prompt. By dawn the next morning, fifty people, both men and women, were camping at the edge of the forest. Aetos told me they set up a fortified camp the previous evening and arranged their tents close together. Keros reported to me at least eight fully armed and armored troops were on guard both day and night. The guards included both men and women. They all looked well trained.
After sunrise, a party of seven came down the road. Four troops in the front, then a woman riding by herself, followed by the other two behind.
“Alex, they know I am here,” Keros told me, sounding astonished. “Some of these people are sensitives, especially the woman riding alone.”
I wondered if that was a coincidence. I somehow doubted it. These were not like the typical Zilar I had seen. I decided to meet them on the road in my robes with a fully charged Speaking Stone in my pocket and Melina with a bow in the orchard. I waite
d on the road and watched as they approached. I held up both my hands as a gesture of peace and approached slowly.
“Greetings,” I called out using the magik to make my voice louder. “I am Alexio Sopholus, Mage and protector of this forest. You are welcomed here.”
The woman riding alone moved easily through her front guards and came to within ten paces of me. She got off her horse effortlessly and approached. She was wearing a pale blue riding uniform like the others: wide and loose breeches, a long sleek top, riding boots, and a wide hat. The uniform looked better made than the other Zilar uniforms but was not much different. She took off her hat.
“I am Zila, first-born daughter of Zilar and leader of these troops. I bring you greetings.”
“Lady Zila,” I said with a slight bow. “I offer you the hospitality of my humble house. I regret it is not big enough to accommodate your other guards, but there is ample room for them to camp in the clear area. If you follow me, I will show you the best place to camp.”
I led on, and Zila came up and walked alongside me. I noticed Gyras walked his horse about five paces behind us, keeping me closely under view. As we walked past the orchards, I saw Zila looking around closely as if studying the forest. She closed her eyes for a moment as if concentrating. I felt the power from the realms flow into her. She then looked at me.
“When were you going to tell me about the creatures and your woman who watches my every move?” she said, the voice sounding a little shrill.
“When you told me you were a mage trained in Syrina,” I replied with a smile.
That got her attention. The shrillness in her voice vanished. “I see the stories they tell about you are true,” she said.
“I am a simple mage,” I replied.
“I seriously doubt that,” she muttered.
I looked her over. She was a nice-looking woman, younger than me. She was a little smaller in height and build than Melina. She had a nice-looking face and an ample body the loose-fitting uniform could not hide. She had one attribute that could not be overlooked: she had eyes the color of mage steel, and they were harsh looking. “You have friends that are watching us. I cannot tell what they are, only that they are not human. They study us intently as if they expect us to be hostile. I said we come in peace.”
“You will have to forgive them, my Lady,” I answered. “The last three times troops looking like you entered this forest, they tried very hard to kill all of us. My friends are not evil or hostile, but they are wary.”
She took a deep breath. “Yes, that was my brother’s and father’s doing,” she said with a sigh. “Very well, I understand their concern.”
“If I may suggest, please tell your troops both here and outside the forest that they should not venture more than a hundred paces into the deep woods to collect wood or dig a latrine. You are right about your feelings, there are creatures here that are not human, and your troops will not want to meet them. Like I said before, they are not trusting of strangers.”
She turned quickly to the man behind us. “Gyras, did you hear that?”
“Yes, my Lady,” he said with a bow. “I have already so informed Dianna with the guards at the edge of the forest, and I will tell our troop here while we set up camp. Considering what has happened here in the past, I do not think anyone will need encouragement to listen to Mage Sopholus.”
By now, we were at the front gate of the house. I stood back and let Zila walk past me into our house. I walked behind her, and Gyras walked behind me. From the forest, Melina walked in without her bow. My wife dressed in one of her fine white dresses and wore the diadem of her rank on her head.
“Lady Zila, I am Melina, daughter of Clytomedes, and sister of the Tetrarch Cleon.”
“Any my darling wife,” I added.
“I have also heard of you,” she said with a polite nod of her head.
“Nothing bad, I hope,” Melina said with a smile.
Zila returned the smile. “What I heard is that only a fool would cross your late father, your brother, or you. We heard your bother was the only one who kept his nerve when Ptolemy came to your gate after your husband dealt with the traitor Archon Lycus.”
“You have my thanks,” Melina said and showed Zila into our house. “I am afraid we have no servants. May I offer you refreshment?”
“Well-watered wine,” she said. She looked about and saw into our bathroom. “If you excuse me,” she said and walked in. Melina, Gyras, and I waited in the formal dining room, and shortly, she joined us. Melina gave both her and Gyras a cup of well-watered wine.
“Now, Lady Zila, you have gone through much trouble to see us. I assume it is for a reason.”
“You are to the point,” she said. “I like that.” She turned to Gyras. “Go outside and bring in the maps. If I may suggest, let us move to the kitchen with its flat table. It is easier to unfurl the maps I brought.”
Gyras shot to his feet and almost ran out the door. We got up off our couches and sat around the table. I made room for the maps and took out four chairs. Melina and Zila sat down across from each other. I sat down with my back to the fireplace and waited. Shortly, a sweating Gyras ran back into the room with half a dozen maps.
Zila unfurled the largest map that showed all the land of Argina. She pointed to the North Pass. “You know my father has ordered a new supply base and fort built here after the old supply depot burned down.” She looked at me, warily. I was not sure if she knew I had burned that depot. “There is also another major fort to the north along the North Shore to the west of the Central Mountains.”
“Yes,” I said. “I have visited both locations, but not recently.”
Both she and Gyras stopped and looked at me. I could see that they were not aware that I knew about the northern base.
“Do you know of their purpose?” she asked.
“I knew of these locations before the Zilar came to our land,” I said. “As to their purpose, the fort by North Pass will allow one to two thousand light troops to invade the northern part of Erinus near the old polis of Midas. I know that pass well and know any invader cannot take any heavy equipment with them. The troops that come through there will run wild over the country while your father launches an invasion of north Argina through Aegae by fleet. This invasion will include heavy infantry, cavalry, and siege engines. Once they smash their way through this eparchia, they will march south to Arginnia along the main road.”
Both Gyras and Zila sat stunned in their chairs. “You can see the future,” Gyras blurted out.
“No, we can both read maps,” Melina informed him. “So can my brother, the archon, and our polemarch.”
More stunned silence. They confirmed my suspicions of the Zilar plans. “Gods,” Zila said as a curse. “And I thought to surprise you.”
“You have surprised me,” I said. “My surprise is why the daughter of Zilar is betraying his plans to his worst enemy.”
Zila sat back in her chair. “Then I suppose I need to explain my situation,” she said, looking around the room carefully. “My father and I have parted company, along with a hundred of my followers. We have left the horde, and, as of last winter, my followers and I are under sentence of death for our desertion.”
“I have gathered that much,” I added. “What I do not know is why.”
Zila got up and nervously started pacing around the kitchen, looking unsettled as if she thought someone was spying on her. She poured a full cup of straight wine. That is highly unusual for a mage. She downed it quickly. Melina and I waited silently until she felt ready to talk.
“My father believes that this world is in chaos and that only through his control can it be ruled effectively. He feels that control can only come about through military strength. That is why he seeks to conquer this world. He already has great influence in Syrina. The three main ethnarchs of Syrina are weak, and my father has placed many of his friends there to help the rulers of the vasíleia. He can take over Syrina at any time. He wanted to conquer this va
síleio next. Your ethnarch is strong, and so is his family. My father concluded that trying to usurp the government here would not work, so only a military conquest will give him what he wants. He decided it is easier to get the desert tribes to help him. So far, you have stopped that. Once he rules both lands, he will form a huge army and then invade Lantia. Once he has all three lands under his control, the other islands will be easy. Once he establishes control over our world, he means to keep it by the ruthless application of military force.”
That was certainly no surprise considering past events. “And what do you think?” I asked.
“I know my father is wrong,” she said. “Even if we succeed and take all three vasíleia, we will have to fight constantly just to keep them under control. Rather than use force, I told my father it would be easier to control through influence rather than by sheer might. My plan is to set up a group of trained men and women to go out and gain acceptance by helping the people directly. That way, we would achieve our control through superior wisdom, advice, and planning. The people will follow us because they will see our way is better, not because we will slit their throats if they do not.”
That actually made a good deal of sense. It is certainly a lesson our ethnarch and his eldest son could use. “I prefer your way to your father’s,” I said.
“I also do not want to see our soldier’s lives wasted by constant fighting. My father sees the lands he has conquered and the people in them as his personal property to use as he sees fit. You know yourself; several thousand of our troops are dead. Most of them are the desert nomads my father conquered and now uses as slaves. He will do the same to the rest of the lands. My father has little regard for human life other than his own. He has made that clear to his children.”
“Why has no one has tried to eliminate him?” Melina said. “That is the usual solution for tyrants.”
“There are two reasons for this,” Zila said. “The first is that my father surrounds himself by an army of loyal troops from the Argos Islands. These are all men who believe that my father is right when he tells them they are masters of the world. They would all gladly follow him anywhere. The second reason they do not kill him is because of fear. It is the same fear that I think keeps the Ethnarch of Argina from trying to murder your husband.” She paused and turned toward me. “Yes, I know all about how your ethnarch feels about you,” she said. “Our spies keep us fully informed about what goes on in Argina when you are not eliminating them. My father told me that trying to kill you was the only thing your ethnarch has done that he approves of. They all fear your power, Mage Sopholus. Frankly, my father fears it also, but he understands it because my uncle is also a mage.”