“I don’t appreciate your sacrilege,” Diophrastus snapped.
“It matters little,” Menphon said. “When you rise to power, you’re going to end your alliance with Macedonia and shut down the universities?”
“That is my plan,” Diophrastus said.
“That’s good enough for me,” Menphon said with a broad smile.
For the first time since coming to Athens, Lysiemon was concerned about the allies he’d made. He wondered if they would still stand together once their unifying cause, the hatred of Demosthenes, had been dealt with. Such concerns unsettled him.
Chapter 18
Titanspawn
By the time Heliodas and Thermiandra made it to the water-front, Pelephon and Archetus had already made arrangements for passage to Athens aboard a cargo ship called Hermes’ Arrow. The vessel was as large as a trireme warship, but was different in overall design. It was wider than the powerful military vessel, and it lacked the third row of oars. The design sacrificed some speed and maneuverability for extra cargo space while benefiting from the durability innovated with the trireme.
“How long can we expect this trip to last?” Heliodas asked.
“The captain said that it will take just over a week, as long as there are no unexpected stops along the way.”
Heliodas knew that the predominant winds blew south, and they were especially strong this time of year. The ship would hug the coast and row north against the winds for a couple of days, then be blown south as they sailed west across the Aegean to Athens. “That certainly beats the seemingly unending number of days that it took to march here from Athens.”
“Indeed,” Pelephon agreed, “though you should keep in mind that there will be no break in the heaving and swaying of the ship on the water. Have you ever served aboard a ship?”
Heliodas shook his head. He had gone out for short stints on fishing boats when he was younger, but he had never served with the Athenian Navy.
“Hope that you have a calm stomach, or you may find yourself retching over the railing,” Pelephon cautioned.
“I wonder how the horses will fare,” Heliodas said.
“They’ll be stabled below decks with the rest of the cargo. I expect them to be jittery by the time we disembark, but they should be alright.”
“What else did you find out? How many soldiers do they have onboard?”
“Including us? Twelve.”
“Not much protection if we run into pirates,” Heliodas commented.
“The captain said that he’s been making the run between Ephesus and Athens for five years in this ship, and he’s only run into trouble with pirates a handful of times. He’s signed the papers of the Merchant Marines, so he flies the flag of Athens. That’s deterrent enough to keep most pirates from attacking since an attack on one is an attack on all,” Pelephon said.
“And how much is this trip costing us?” Heliodas asked.
The large Macedonian smiled widely. “The journey will cost us nothing.”
“How did you manage to negotiate that?”
“I told him that we were messengers with Alexander’s army. I said that if he gave us a good deal on passage, I would convey our good fortunes to Alexander when we see him next. I might have hinted that he would get better docking fees in any port under Alexander’s control if he made it an extra good deal.”
Heliodas laughed and slapped his friend on the back. “What do you think are the odds that Alexander would honor that?”
“Alexander did not become such a powerful king by easing the taxes on his people,” Pelephon said with a grin.
“No, I don’t imagine so,” Heliodas said.
Heliodas suggested that Archetus and Thermiandra find their quarters onboard the ship while he and Pelephon would retrieve their horses. Ephesos was no small polis, so the walk to the stables took about an hour. They each rode a horse on the return trip, and they roped the third one behind them. Upon their return, they were forced to coax the reluctant beasts below deck using the steep ramp that was designed for men carrying cargo, not animals.
With their mounts stored, Heliodas and Pelephon went up on deck and met their two companions. The crew above deck included the ship’s navigator, the other ten hired guards, the captain, Heryonax, and the hired deckhands. The captain was a tall bearded man who had a sharp, pronounced nose, and bound his long gray hair in the back.
The captain seemed light and nimble on his feet as he strode up to Heliodas and his friends. “I’m pleased to meet you,” he said, offering his hand in greeting.
“And you,” Heliodas said. “Hermes’ Arrow seems to be a fine ship. Let’s hope for a fast and trouble free voyage.”
“Indeed. Now that you’re here, we’re going to set sail. Once we’re away from land, you’re welcome to stay on deck, but I want you to keep your eyes sharp and watch for everything and anything on the horizon. I don’t care how minor it looks. It could be pirates, it could be a storm. The sooner I know about it, the better I can prepare for it if it comes near, which will make this voyage go smoother for everyone.”
Heliodas agreed. He’d heard many stories of ships of all sizes coming to tragic endings on stormy seas. The Aegean Sea was not to be taken lightly. Between the high winds, the tall waves, the lightning, and the possibility of pirates, there were many ways for men to die out here. No matter how able the captain and vessel, there was still no guarantee of a safe arrival.
“I have duties to attend to now,” the captain said. “Unless you spot something, do me a favor and keep to yourselves.”
“We won’t be any trouble,” Heliodas assured him. With no other business with his passengers, the captain moved off to bark orders at his deck hands.
Archetus inhaled deeply. “There is something about the sea. I am always happy to be back on the water.”
“I’m glad you’re happy,” Thermiandra said. “A few years ago, my father decided to take our family on what was supposed to be a relaxing cruise for a single day. That night, there was a storm and the ship was holed by some jagged rocks. We went down short of the shore and five men drowned. I don’t like the ocean.”
“Wasn’t traveling by ship your idea?” Pelephon asked.
“It was,” Thermiandra replied. “Regardless of how I feel about it, it will still get us there weeks ahead of riding our horses to Athens.”
“I do not fear these things,” Archetus said simply.
Thermiandra arched an eyebrow. “Can your magic calm the sea, or keep rocks from tearing holes in the hull?”
“I cannot do these things,” Archetus said. “What I can do is keep waves as tall as this ship from smashing into us, or make the wood planks of the hull whole after the rocks have done their damage.”
“That’s good to know,” Thermiandra said. “And what if we’re attacked by pirates?”
The large cultist opened his palm and a flame suddenly appeared. The fire grew to fill his entire hand, though it didn’t appear to harm him in any way. He then raised his hand to his face and blew lightly. The fire took the shape of a ball and flew from his palm and out over the docks, landing in an empty spot in the stone roadway. After landing, it continued to burn.
Heliodas noticed several people a few feet away who were visibly shaken by the unexpected appearance of the flames. One of them grabbed his cloak and started beating at the fire, trying to put it out, only to have the garment start burning.
“That was small compared to what I can do,” Archetus said. “I can make a much bigger fire.”
“I can see why people fear you,” Thermiandra said to the cultist.
“Titan magic is useful, but there are not enough of us in the world to deserve their hatred. Besides, we do have our limitations.”
“Like what?” Heliodas asked.
“The priests of the gods can do things I cannot. I cannot make an injured person whole. Nor can I alter the weather, or place a blessing on a person.”
“It’s also a good thing you aren’t unit
ed by a common cause,” Pelephon said. “I helped fight against one of you. I’d hate to have to deal with a group of you at one time.”
“This is true,” Archetus agreed. “We are just as likely to be working at cross causes as we are to be working together. There is nothing more spectacular and deadly than two of us fighting each other.”
Suddenly they felt the deck move as the deckhands pushed away from the dock with long wooden poles. Once the ship drifted a few dozen feet away, the oarsmen below deck lowered their oars into the water and began to row. In little time, the ship was gaining speed as it headed out of the harbor.
Night fell and the moon was high in the cloudless sky. Three days had passed and the trip had been smooth thus far. There was a sense of well-being among the crew, and Heliodas and his friends enjoyed dining on freshly caught fish. Tonight they remained on the deck, watching as the ship cut through the calm waters.
The first indication that something was wrong was when Heliodas heard a soft thunk from the ship’s stern. “What was that?” he asked.
“Let’s go take a look,” said Pelephon.
Heliodas, Thermiandra, Archetus, and Pelephon passed several deckhands who continued working, apparently having heard nothing. Heliodas arrived at the railing and looked over the edge. The thing that looked back at him from near the waterline was like nothing he had ever seen before. The creature was translucent, with four short but thin appendages, each of which ended in a single claw that appeared to be about six inches long. Four tentacles sprouted from the thing’s back, and its head was round and dominated by large milky white eyes on the sides. Its mouth hung open, and Heliodas could see sharp fangs within.
“What in Hades is that?” Thermiandra asked.
“I don’t know,” Heliodas said.
“I do,” said Archetus. “Titanspawn. A creature called a Malthoic.”
“What’s it doing?” Heliodas asked.
“It does not matter. We need to kill them. Quickly!” Archetus shouted.
Thermiandra raised her bow, leaned out over the railing, aimed down, trained an arrow on the creature, then released it. The deadly shaft flew true and sank into the creature’s midsection. It shrieked, then splashed back into the water.
Heliodas frowned. “That seemed too easy,” he said. “What did it want?”
“It was not alone. We are about to be overwhelmed,” Archetus said. “They want me. They possess an instinctual longing to be with the Titans. They sense my connection to them.” He paused for a moment, then raised his voice and yelled toward the others, “Take arms! We are about to be attacked from the sea!”
As the warriors aboard the ship drew their blades, Heliodas saw the water begin to roil as tentacles reached up and latched onto the ship’s hull. The creatures appeared all along the waterline, and they began sinking their clawed appendages into the wood of the hull, clawing their way up the ship’s side. Thermiandra drew her bow again and let another arrow fly. Once again, the arrow found its target and a creature splashed into the water. But where the one fell from the ship, several more appeared. “We’re going to be swarmed with these things!” she shouted.
Heliodas and Pelephon grabbed their own bows, strung them, and began shooting at the creatures. The sound of whistling filled the air as the other warriors aboard followed suit, shooting the creatures crawling up the sides of the ship.
Archetus pointed at a group of them and unleashed a ray of electricity. The air crackled as the electrical bolt lanced out toward the creatures, and Heliodas saw one blacken and fall from the hull. Thermiandra continued raining arrows down upon the creatures, but Heliodas could tell that despite the number they were managing to kill, they were losing ground quickly.
“How many of these are going to come?” Heliodas asked.
“Unknown,” Archetus replied as he released another bolt of lightning at the creatures. Two more scorched Malthoics fell from the side of the ship, and Heliodas saw a black mark appear on the hull.
He continued firing into the mass of creatures creeping up toward them. His arrows found creature after creature, but there were so many that he could no longer tell that he was decreasing their numbers by any meaningful amount.
He glanced to Thermiandra and noted that her face and arms were now covered in sweat, and she wore a worried look on her face. One arrow after another flew from her bow in rapid succession. Heliodas and Pelephon fired into the same cluster of creatures directly below, and yet the monsters were now just a few feet from the railing.
Behind them Heliodas heard someone scream. He turned around and saw that one of the armed men on the deck had a pair of clawed appendages buried in his temples while the creature’s tentacles were wrapped around his midsection. The creature opened its fanged mouth and he could see something emitting a red glow pass into the warrior’s mouth. The man collapsed into a heap on the deck and the creature detached itself. One of the other warriors unsheathed his blade and buried it into the creature’s midsection. It shrieked as it fell to the deck dead. Even as that one died, Heliodas saw three more climb over the railing.
“We’re going to be swimming in these things in a minute!” he called out. “Archetus, is there anything you can do to kill more of them?”
“Yes!” he replied.
“Then why don’t you do it?” Heliodas asked.
“Because lighting the entire ship on fire would kill the rest of us. Do you really wish me to do this?”
“Never mind,” Heliodas said. He saw another flash of blue light as Archetus threw another bolt of lightning at the other side of the deck, and another creature flopped down dead.
Heliodas looked down the side of the ship and saw that they were now close enough that they could reach out and touch them. “Fall back!” he yelled.
The other nine soldiers were quickly finding themselves facing more of the creatures climbing over the rails and jumping onto the deck. “Draw your blades and form a circle around the mast!” Heliodas commanded.
The guards did as they were ordered. The captain grabbed one of the deckhands. “Go below. Tell them I’m ordering every man with a weapon to come up here and fight!”
Heliodas could see the terror in the deckhand’s eyes, but he disappeared down the hatch to carry out his orders.
More of the creatures skittered over the railing, their tentacles writhing as they charged toward the defenders. Thermiandra, who had no blade to fight with, kept bow in hand as she climbed up on a short platform at the base of the mast. She fired arrows over their heads, striking the creatures directly in front of Heliodas while he swung his spatha at them.
Despite their swarming danger, the Malthoics actually appeared rather delicate. His spatha encountered little resistance as it cleaved through the translucent skin and into their soft bodies. The creatures burst clear fluids as they fell to the deck.
Next to him, Pelephon swung his blade in large arcs, hacking through bodies and tentacles at once, severing bits of some creatures and slicing entirely through others. One of the creatures managed to make it past the swinging blade and sank a claw into Pelephon’s cuirass. Before the monster could hit him with another claw, the warrior brought his blade down and sliced through its body.
Archetus threw one bolt of lightning after another, clearing a creature or two each time. It seemed, however, that every time he created a clear patch, it would fill in with more. Despite the number of Malthoics they had destroyed, there seemed an unlimited number to take their place.
Heliodas was relieved as a stream of men came running up through the hatch from below deck. Some of them were armed with knives and daggers, but more than a few carried spears, or small swords that were designed for real combat. The circle of fighting men grew as their numbers swelled.
The men slashed and stabbed at the monsters. Heliodas saw one of the men who had just arrived from below catch a clawed appendage in his throat. He fell to the deck, and again Heliodas saw the creature deposit something glowing and red into the ma
n’s mouth before one of the other fighting men cut the creature down. He briefly wondered what the red thing was, but he had very little time to turn it over in his mind since he was mostly concerned with ensuring that none of the creatures made it past his blade.
He heard the screams of three others, and gaps opened in the circle. Thermiandra fired arrows at the creatures, keeping them at bay long enough for the fighting men to close the gaps. Just as soon as those were closed, two more men fell. Heliodas saw that one of the men was pulled down into the writhing mass of Malthoics. Again, the circle became smaller as the men closed in the gaps before the creatures could squeeze through and take down more of them.
Heliodas hacked and slashed, biting deep into body after body. Suddenly he felt a tentacle wrap around his sword arm. His spatha fell to the deck as his arm became numb. One of the creature’s clawed appendages made a clanking sound as it struck his bronze breastplate. He heard another hit, and then he felt a sharp pain as one of the creature’s claws found his calf. The side of his leg went numb. Heliodas stared into the creature’s milky white eyes, but only for a second. Pelephon’s sword bit through the creature, even as he saw the glowing red round thing emerge from its mouth. The creature fell back squirming, and Heliodas stomped on the strange glowing seed, felt a satisfying squish, and then grabbed his sword with his off-hand.
Feeling immediately began returning to his sword arm, but it was a slow process, causing an intense tingling. His sword felt strange in his hand and he wasn’t certain that he’d be able to wield it with his usual precision. “Get back out of the fight,” Pelephon yelled at him.
Heliodas nodded, then moved back to stand next to Thermiandra, who, he noted, was doing nothing more than standing there watching the horrific scene unfold, her arrows spent. “Take my arrows,” he called at her.
Echoes of Olympus (The Atheniad Book 1) Page 21