by Wilbur Arron
“And exactly who was this visitor?” the Megas Mage asked impatiently.
“I am afraid if I told you that, you would most likely declare me insane.”
“Who, Alexio?” he said, raising his voice.
So, I told him. I could see he did not believe me, so I opened my mind to him. One sensitive cannot hide the truth from another sensitive. I took him to the cave, and I let him read over the scrolls and showed him all the crystals. It was just before dark that he finished reading.
“Well, you are correct, Master Mage,” he said, looking at me from my study. “From what I have read and felt from inside of you, I conclude you are either telling the truth, or you are insane. I am not sure which of those alternatives I fear the most.”
He looked over my scrolls and shook his head. “I always suspected the former Megas Mage and his brother had found some new power of magik. I knew about the Power Crystal and suspected Pentheus had found something new on his travels. Something he never shared with the rest of us. This explains everything. Ye gods, if you are right, and you were never wrong much, then you have taken much of the power of the gods. I shudder what others would do with this power. I understand why you kept it to yourself.”
“I was going to tell the council when I felt ready,” I explained.
“Who knows about this?” he asked.
“Myself, my wife, my animal friends, and now you,” I explained.
“Keep it that way,” Philocrates’s voice cracked. “We do not want knowledge of this getting out, or every third-ranked mage will be running to this place trying to become a god.”
“We both understand that,” Melina said.
“I will go back to the Mage Council and privately tell them about this. You, in the meantime, keep these crystals safe.” Philocrates looked outside. “Too late to go back tonight,” he mumbled. “I must ask your hospitality. I will leave in the morning.”
“You can stay in the spare bedroom,” I said.
“Very well, thank you for explaining this. I hope the council doesn’t declare me insane after I tell them this tale. Mage Council Member Sopholus, you do have a way of surprising the Brotherhood. I only ask one thing.”
“That is, Megas Mage?” I asked.
“I would like to meet your animal friends tomorrow before I go. All I have heard of them are stories from Malcor or his brother.”
“I can arrange that,” I said with a grin.
CHAPTER TWENTY: BETRAYAL
After the Megas Mage left, it was quiet and peaceful with nothing much to relate. I decided to finish planting as soon as possible. Soon the season for military campaigning would start, and I expected either Zilar or Pytheas would make some move. That would pull me away again from my forest and my fields. After the fields were planted and watered, I practiced my magik and spent time with my loving wife, who I am happy to say, assisted me in everything except the magik.
We were soon into early spring; the season of life in the forest. New green leaves appeared on the trees and other plants. The forest animals went into the season of new birth. My forest friends would be busy, and their duties would keep them away from here. As soon as I finished planting, I decided to take Melina into Korpolis. She had seen no one except me for most of the winter, and I know she missed company. We both rode into Korpolis after packing enough clothes for a few days. I do not know why, but on little more than a premonition, I took the crystals. I used the trip to see just how long I could project a sphere of force around both of us as we rode. I was able to keep it up at full strength without tiring myself until we got to the farmlands.
Iolaos was standing guard at the gate and, to my surprise, Philie was with him. It was good to see her again. She showed little sign she had given birth to twins the previous fall. After we exchanged embraces, Iolaos brought over three more armed guards, and we all walked to the palace after I left the horses with the stable boys.
We met both Cleon and Theresa in the new nursery inside the palace. There, all three children were playing on the floor. Perseus was calling out loud he was hungry, and once the six of us were alone, Philie sat down, took off her armor, and pulled down her chiton exposing her two large swollen breasts. Theresa did likewise, and both women proceeded to feed their children. By instinct, I went to turn away, as any stranger should, but I quickly reminded myself was this was just normal behavior of women feeding their children. Once Perseus had his fill, Philie handed him to Melina who put him on her shoulder and gently patted his back. Theresa did the same with Clytomedes whom she gave to his father. It was only after Philie finished with Diana that she handed her to me. I recoiled; despite all my power I was still a bit clumsy, and I was afraid I might drop her.
“Take her.” Philie insisted.
Philie handed the little bundle of joy to me and then patiently showed me how to hold her infant on my shoulder. As I brought her near my head, I felt a slight tingling sensation in my forehead. It was like the feeling I get when I talk to my friends or any sensitive. It was not Philie I felt, and the rest here were not sensitive. I stopped, and without trying to project any thoughts with my mind, I put my head next to the child’s. I felt confused half-focused images and I realized the images came from the child I held in my hands. In the same moment, I saw Cleon, Theresa, Philie and Iolaos all staring at me as if in anticipation. It was then I knew: Diana had been given to me for a reason. I put the infant back on my shoulder and patted her back gently.
“Yes, I felt it, Philie,” I said. “You must have felt it too when you held your daughter. She is a sensitive, although I have never heard of one whose ability showed up this early as an infant.”
“So, it is true,” Iolaos said. “Philie told me she could feel my daughter, but I wanted to be sure. I knew of all men, you should know.”
The infant let go a small burp, so I just held her close to my body letting my mind generate very light feelings of affection. I picked up half-focused images of the room around me, but most importantly, I felt a warm glow of contentment from the child.
“This is fascinating,” I said, staring at the quivering bundle that I held. “When she is old enough, I want you to bring her to my house. I want my friends to meet her. If they can feel her, then it means you may have given birth to a powerful sensitive, maybe even a mage.”
“A mage,” Cleon gasped, “At that age?”
“Well, ask me that question again in five years,” I said.
I turned to Philie. “For now, do nothing special, but be careful how you talk to her with your mind. I am not sure if a mind as young as hers can accept strong mental feelings without damage.”
“I understand,” she said. “I am also a little scared.”
“Do not be,” I told her and the others. “If she does develop these abilities, you have some of the finest mages in our world nearby. They could teach her and help her control her power.”
“Would you help my daughter?” Philie asked.
“Of course,” I said. “I would gladly help any of these children.” I looked down and the little girl looked at me with the most beautiful blue eyes. “You are so cute,” I said to her with a big smile. I had to admit; my heart melted.
The baby just made a cooing sound and smiled back. I held her close to me, and for one of the few times in my life, I felt sad I would never have the chance to do this to my own child. I could understand better why Melina was similarly saddened that I was not able to father any children.
We ended up staying for several days. During that time, Melina helped with the children, and frankly, I had a lot of fun playing with the infants. I also spent time shopping for meats and cloth. I had three new robes with red hoods made for me. My only problem came in explaining my gray stripe on my hair. I simply passed it off as getting old, but Cleon, Philie and Iolaos did not believe it for a moment. Finally, I decided I would tell them. I had Cleon send for Zagreus the Chief Priest of the pantheon, and when they were all together, I told them my tale. I left out just how p
owerful my magik was when I used the three stones. The less said about that, the better. My friends did not believe me until I showed them the crystals. It was Zagreus that spoke out first.
“In the ancient scrolls, there are tales about men meeting the gods. Many had the same mark in their hair as you have. This means Alexio that the gods have shown you favor.”
“I have never heard of anything like this before,” Cleon said.
Zagreus continued. “It also means your banishment from the temples is even more of an injustice. The gods have judged you blameless. Nothing else matters.”
That was nice to hear but otherwise changed nothing. “Nevertheless, I will still not enter a temple until the fall equinox in two years,” I said. “All I want to do now is fully learn the power of the crystals.”
“Why now?” Philie asked.
“Athena told me there is a reason I have these,” I said. “But she did not explain, and I was hardly going to question her.”
“That was wise, Alexio,” Zagreus added. That was as far as he got before someone pounded on the door to his study.
“Tetrarch Cleon,” a voice shouted from outside the door. “An urgent message just arrived.”
Cleon got up and went to the door. One of the polis guards placed a small sealed scroll in his hands. Cleon broke the seal and looked.
“Xanphos will be here tonight,” my friend said. “He has asked to see you and me as soon as possible.”
I knew Xanphos had spent most of the winter in Cos with Laodamus, helping to train rowing crews for the trierse as well as train more men for any possible invasion.
“Something must be wrong,” I said. “At least I do not have to go far this time.”
Xanphos arrived a short time before dark. Before anything, he asked if I was here. After being told I was here, he ordered Cleon and me to meet with him privately in Cleon’s study. This time several of his escorts stood watch outside the room, along with Iolaos to make sure no one would overhear.
“It looks like there will be another invasion of the north,” he said. “Since the spring, we have been sending pentekonters out to scout the waters near both Aegae and Vorepolis. The ship sailing north came across three Zilar trierse sailing south in formation. It looked to the captain like a reinforced scouting party. You do not send out ships like that unless you are either expecting trouble or planning a large movement.”
“It is possible,” Cleon said. “If I were either Zilar or Pytheas, I would still want a northern port on Argina as a base of operations.”
Xanphos nodded his agreement. “Diomedes, Laodamus, and I agree with you. This is why Diomedes is preparing the army to defend Aegae, and our garrison is fortifying Vorepolis. Laodamus is moving his rowers from Cos to Aegae and getting his trierse ready to quickly sail.”
“What do you want me to do?” Cleon asked.
“I want you to assemble the local militia from the nearby poleis and get them ready to fight,” Xanphos told him and then pointed to a place on the map. “I want you to march them to just north of Erinia and take up positions. Diomedes and I have already sent word to the oligarchs and tetrarchs of Erinus to meet you there. I have also sent word to Arginnia to march the imperial troops north to near here and await word. The militia from the other archons will assemble near Arginnia and march to the center of Argina and act as our reserve. I will take command of them.”
“And what of me?” I asked. So far, none of these preparations concerned me.
Xanphos eyed me carefully. “Carenos came to me two days ago and suggested strongly that if something like this happened, you should be sent for. He wants you with him near Erinia in case either Zilar or Pytheas used magik on us. Carenos said you would be practically useful but did not elaborate.”
I knew exactly what he meant. If there was an active magik user in the invading forces, then I, with help from Carenos, should be able to take care of it. “I understand, I will leave for Erinia as soon as I can pack.”
“Good,” the polemarch agreed. “I need to get going and get the other poleis ready.”
“Stop off in the new mage polis and let them know,” I suggested. “They will have more resources that can help.”
“Good idea,” Xanphos agreed before asking Cleon, “I need a fresh horse, mine is exhausted.”
“I will need mine too,” I said.
Cleon called out for his guard, issued orders, and off we went. I said a fast goodbye to my friends and suggested Melina stay here. While they were getting my things packed on a horse, I went to the roof of the palace and charged all three crystals. I faced the forest and called out.
“Can all of you hear me?” I said.
“I hear you,” one of the Old Ones called back.
“I am here,” Lycos said.
“I am also here,” both Kypos and Keros called out at the same time.
“The Zilar and our other enemies are returning. I must go to help. Melina will stay in Korpolis. I need you all to watch the forest. The Old Ones need to carefully watch to make sure no one comes near to the cave with the crystals. The Zilar may know about them.”
“I hear and will do as you ask,” the deep grumbling mental voice of the Old Ones called to me.
“We all hear,” Keros said.
I saw the prepared horses for me and Xanphos being led to the front of the palace by the stable boy. Xanphos was mounted in a moment.
“I must leave; I will see you all later,” I said as Xanphos got on his horse. “Goodbye.”
With that, I hurried down the stairs and into the palace. I saw Melina there with my other friends. Not caring what they thought, I stopped, kissed my wife passionately, and left with a simple, “Farewell.”
My trip to Erinia was fast. I changed horses in Cos and the way stations so I made the trip in three days of hard riding; which only served to make my backside sore again and make my good humor vanish like winter. I was further incensed when I got there and found Diomedes relaxing in his palace. There was no concern whatsoever about any invasion both from him and the army around him.
“I just rode like Cerberus was chasing me to get here,” I told Diomedes. “The way Xanphos spoke, I thought the invasion would have started before now.”
“So would I, but it has not,” he said. “All the trierse we have seen are small three-ship squadrons that sail south two days from the Zilar camp and then go back.”
I am not a military man, but that seemed strange even to me. “Why?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” the archon said. “Laodamus has his fleet south of Aegae beached in the forest. Carenos has put Master Mages on a few of the ships so they can communicate with him in Aegae. I have fortifications near the beach, but the majority of my forces are behind the polis ready to counter-attack any invasion. We have already moved the people out of Aegae except for those who are staying to fight.”
“What if they go to Vorepolis again?” I asked.
Diomedes opened a map of the coast and pointed to the polis. “I have scouts on the sea there, along with another Master Mage. Any Zilar fleet that sails past Aegae can easily be intercepted by Laodamus.”
The archon looked to have covered his tracks well. “This seems damn odd,” I said. “You would think they would try to surprise us, as we did to them in Vorepolis.”
“I would think so,” Diomedes said, shaking his head “Maybe they are overconfident.”
“Or maybe we are doing exactly what they want us to do,” I countered. “We have seen this before with Vorepolis.”
“I realized that too,” Diomedes said, pointing to the map. “But I do not see how. There is simply no place else they can put in along the north coast. That is why I sent Xanphos back to command the reserve, just in case we missed something.”
I had a bad feeling in my stomach that the Zilar were playing us for fools. “Very well, we have done what we can. I will stay here for tonight and tomorrow I will go to Aegae to join Carenos.”
“That is where I am go
ing tomorrow with the heavy cavalry my father sent me,” Diomedes said. “You can come with us.”
That still made me suspicious despite my talk with Pallas. If I wanted to kill me, that would be the perfect way to do it. I reached out with my mind to feel his emotions. I felt no deception coming from the young archon. Besides, I had a few new tricks of my own I could use.
I had a bath, a good dinner, and slept on a comfortable bed. The next morning, I had a fresh horse and my other things placed in one of the supply wagons for the heavy cavalry. We did not go very fast—which my backside appreciated. Behind us was a long train of supply wagons. An army eats a lot on a campaign. The previous night, Diomedes had sent several scouts to look through the forest. As we moved north, one by one they reported in. They all said they saw nothing except our own scouts sent from Aegae. Nomiki was in charge of Aegae, and he was taking no chances either.
It was late that night when we got to the polis’ walls. I went in with Diomedes and went to the small citadel which acted as our command center. The cavalry made camp outside the polis walls along with the rest of the four thousand spearmen and one thousand archers in our army.
As soon as we arrived, Nomiki called us into the main room of the citadel and started to explain the situation.
“We have seen no one, other than the three trierse of the Zilar. They look to be holding a position about twenty milio west of us. They change ships every two days, but we have seen no sign of any other ships. They seem to be waiting for someone.”
“I can guess who,” Diomedes said. “The only way they can possibly succeed is to have both the Zilar and the Lantian forces hit us at the same moment by surprise attack. Then the Zilar ruin any chance of such an attack. I like to know what they are up too.”
Nomiki went on after unrolling a freshly made map of the polis. “The plan of defense I have is to keep most of the troops behind the polis and out of sight from the sea. At the first sign of an invasion, I will bring the bowmen up and take a position in and behind the warehouses. I constructed a wooden wall there. They will be out of sight of any troops landing in the harbor. Once the troops begin to land, it will take them a little while to form up. The enemy could be easily disrupted during this time. The archers will fire volleys of arrows into the forming troops, confusing them more. Then the four thousand infantry will hit them. That should shatter any formation they have and let us push them back into the sea.”