by Zachary Howe
Chiron ran at blazing speed, and after ten minutes, Gordie was panting while still trying to hide his fatigue. He started to lose a little ground on the centaur. Soon he was repeatedly whipped in the face by leaves as the trees were hopping back into position right next to him. A thick branch caught him in the chest and exploded in a shower of wood chips as he blasted through.
“Are you okay, Gordie?” Bridget yelled into his ear. He wanted to tell her that he could hear her just fine and yelling wasn’t necessary because it hurt, but he didn’t have the energy for such an explanation.
“I’m fine!” he panted back at her. The terrain began to climb, and soon his legs were burning as much as his lungs. A stitch in his side began calling for him to stop, louder and louder as he lumbered on. Just when he thought he was going to collapse face first in the leaves, the trees thinned and the hiking trail became visible. Chiron burst out of the tree line—his hooves clomping in the dirt audibly now that there were no leaves to muffle the sound—and slowed to a trot.
Gordie jogged the last few feet of forest until his bare feet slapped the dirt of the trail. They throbbed, but the dirt felt cool and soothing. He took a few steps and then doubled-over before Bridget sidled off his back.
“Ah, so it seems you do have a limit, Gordon. Do not let me forget that we must work on your conditioning,” Chiron said with a smile as he stopped and turned back to Gordie.
Gordie puffed and tried to respond, but settled for raising a wobbly thumbs-up before dropping his hand back to his knee.
“Are you okay, Gordie?” Bridget put her hand on his back.
“Yeah,” he gasped. “I’m good.”
“That was really impressive, you know,” she said, which somehow made Gordie feel worse: she had known he was trying to impress her.
“Thanks,” he breathed, and rose to a stand despite the fact that he felt like lying down in the dust and taking a nap. They stood on the path right where it entered the forest at the foot of Chiron’s cave. Ellie and Atalo hopped off Chiron, and they all walked the earthen ramp up to the cave’s entrance with Chiron leading the way. The hundred-yard incline felt like as many miles to Gordie, but his bravado carried him to the top. Chiron weaved his way through the tight entry-corridor with the others following in pairs until they emerged into the expanse of the Great Hall.
“Wow,” Bridget whispered into the vastness.
“Welcome to my home,” Chiron called back over his shoulder as he made his way to the table.
Gordie tugged on Bridget’s arm because she had stopped in the entryway to take in the view. Atalo and Ellie sat, and the old man started popping fruit into his mouth.
“We just ate, Dad.”
“Riding makes a man hungry!” He smiled with a date squeezed between his teeth.
“So does running,” Gordie agreed, and popped in a fig. Its sweetness was overpowering, so he reached for a ceramic jug of water and took a long draught, spilling much of it down his front.
“You people are animals,” Ellie said, but then she shot Chiron a nervous glance and exhaled when he seemed not to notice the unintended slight. Bridget giggled. Chiron stood at the head of the table as usual and folded his hands in front of him.
“So, Gordon, if you wouldn’t mind, could you please recount your experience today?” He looked at Gordie patiently, who had noticed the timidity with which the question was posed and tried to restrain a smile. He popped a fig into his mouth and chewed it pensively, enjoying his momentary position of power—it wasn’t much, but it felt good. Gordie swallowed and crossed his arms on the table even though it was at chin height. He drummed his fingers on the cool stone as if he were trying to refresh the memory, which was, in fact, crystal clear, as the events had transpired only hours earlier. Then an idea came to him.
Gordie reflected on his experience with Apollo and the grudge that existed between him and Chiron, and further back when he saw the two speaking on Chiron’s star-porch, when the centaur made no effort to hide his contempt for the god.
“I’ll tell you what we talked about,” Gordie straightened up in his seat and looked into Chiron’s stolid face, “if you tell me what happened between you two.” Gordie smirked, but his feeling of triumph faltered when he saw a flash of anger in Chiron’s eyes. It disappeared so quickly that he wasn’t sure if he had imagined it or not.
Under normal circumstances, Gordie thought he would not be able to pry such sensitive information out of the reserved centaur, but now, with Chiron walking on eggshells around the Leonharts, and eager to hear about Gordie’s powwow with Apollo, he thought he might be able to get him to talk.
The others turned to look at Gordie with mild curiosity, and then in unison turned to look up at Chiron who was stony-faced again. He stared at Gordie for a minute, who started to falter, until Chiron turned his attention to the surface of the table. He swiped his palm over it and looked down at the stone as if he were trying to see his reflection. He continued to stare at it for a while. Gordie was about to speak up and say forget it, but then Chiron lifted his head to speak.
“Apollo had a son named Asclepius,” he sighed and looked down again. The name rang familiar to Gordie who racked his brain.
“You showed me his constellation, right? You said he was your favorite.”
“Indeed. He was a great healer and my greatest student.” Gordie let the slight wash over him as he listened to the story. Chiron looked straight ahead and continued his tale. “Upon his birth, Apollo brought Asclepius to me and asked me to raise him. He believed the child was destined for greatness, sensed that the child had been imparted with the same medicinal prowess for which he himself was renowned. In short time I discovered this to be true.
“The boy was uncommonly kind, compassionate, intelligent. He nursed animals back to health, he travelled the land healing those who needed healing, often the old and the poor . . . He even taught me a great deal of medical science. He was uncommonly good.
“When the war broke out between the titans and gods, he implored me to let him fight. He was not a fighter and I told him so, but he said he could be a field medic of sorts.” Chiron smiled through glossy eyes. “I forbade it, but then his father came to my home.” Chiron’s smile melted and his jaw clenched.
“Apollo demanded that I allow his son—the boy I had raised as my own—to aid the gods in their war,” Chiron snarled. “I was powerless. I argued, but in the end, Apollo loaded Asclepius onto Pegasus and flew off to battle. The boy waved at me, thrilled to be going off to war with his real father.
“Apollo came to me after the war.” Chiron dropped his head again. “He told me that Asclepius acted bravely in battle, even healed Heracles’s wounds—that I should be proud of his sacrifice. I asked how he died. He said that he was killed by an errant bolt of lightning tossed by the King of the Gods,” he growled. Gordie felt a fresh wave of anger with Zeus: he knew how it felt to lose a loved one to that tyrant.
“I sent Apollo away. He could barely hide his glee with his and his ilk’s triumph. I was only filled with remorse. I never should have allowed him to go and I will never forgive Apollo for his heartlessness.” He looked down at his hands folded on the table and was done. Gordie, Ellie, and Atalo also looked down at the table in silence. Bridget was gaping at Chiron. Gordie saw her mouth hanging open and smacked her on the arm.
“Wha-oh-sorry.” She looked down as well.
“You shouldn’t blame yourself,” Ellie spoke up in a soft tone. “It sounds like he would have found a way to go with or without your permission. Kids have a tendency to do so.” She glanced at Gordie.
“He never could have gone if it weren’t for Apollo—he who only cared for victory. I have no doubt he still reminisces fondly.” Chiron pounded the table with a clenched fist. Bridget jumped.
“You’re wrong,” Gordie said. He studied the lines of his hands as everyone turned to look at him. Chiron glowered at him as if he had just spat in his face. “He does regret it,” he said. Chiron sn
orted, but Gordie kept on. “No, it’s true.” He looked up at Chiron now. “Apollo told me about the war. He told me how foolish he was and how much he regretted it. He didn’t tell me what happened between the two of you, but it was obvious that it hurt him. Maybe he was blood thirsty, or just wanted glory, but that’s not the case anymore. He’s remorseful. I could see it in his eyes.” Gordie looked back at his hands. Chiron just stared at him.
Gordie wasn’t sure why, but he felt this was an important fence to mend, and he felt he was justified in doing so. After all, he only spoke what he thought was true. It was clear that Apollo regretted his past, and Gordie thought Chiron deserved to know. It then occurred to him why Apollo might actually be afraid of the constellations: he didn’t want to see his son accusing him night after night. It seemed the stars were only for the pure of conscience.
“So, what else did Apollo tell you?” Ellie prodded him. Of course she knew as Gordie had already told the story, but she must have thought it was time to change the subject, so Gordie told the story of Apollo, Orion, and Artemis again as Chiron listened.
“Another victim for him to grieve,” Chiron snarled, but Gordie thought there was less conviction in this remark.
“I think Artemis is in Dasos,” Gordie said with confidence. “The last time I went back, that werewolf’s body was gone and there was a little silver jaguar symbol on the ground.”
“Indeed?” Chiron looked surprised. “You had not spoken of this before!”
“Must have slipped my mind.” Gordie shrugged.
“It does seem quite likely that she is there then,” Chrion agreed. “That sounds like her sigil.”
“Exactly! So I should go! I mean, clock’s ticking, right?” He looked around the table and didn’t understand why no one else shared his enthusiasm.
“Gordon, I understand that the prospect of completing two tasks nearly simultaneously could be enticing, but we must be patient.”
“Two tasks?” Gordie asked.
“Well, yeah,” Atalo broke in, “I mean, once you find Artemis you’re gonna wanna complete her task, too! Not just get her to forgive Apollo and then go on vacation! C’mon, dippy!”
“Oh yeah!” Gordie’s excitement peaked. “Then why wait? Two birds with one stone! I still have my strength ‘til tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, but there is no point in rushing it,” Ellie said. “It would be better to wait until you have two full days in case something goes wrong and you need more time.”
“What could go wrong?” Gordie raised his arms. “Nothing’s gonna go wrong. You worry too much.”
“And you don’t worry enough. It’s my job to worry.” Ellie pursed her lips and stared at her son with an eyebrow raised.
“Miss Bridget, we have not heard your input yet,” Chiron added, and looked down at Bridget. Everyone turned to look at her with curiosity—Ellie with clear skepticism—and she looked back at all of them with growing fear.
“What? No! I mean, this really isn’t my place,” she stammered.
“You are here now and I am very interested to hear what you have to say.” Chiron smiled. Atalo smiled at her too, and Gordie looked at her imploringly. Only Ellie sat back.
“Well, when Gordie was gone, talking to . . . Apollo,” she shook her head, and Gordie tried not to cringe as the gesture reminded him of his mother, “he thought he was gone for like fifteen minutes, but it was actually an hour! So time is different in those, um, other places?” she finished, sounding as if she confused herself.
“Very astute,” Chiron said. “So, what do you suggest?”
“Well, if time goes faster for us here . . .” She looked at Gordie apprehensively, and he realized she was about to side against him—he was shocked. “If time goes faster for us here, then we have even more time ‘cause these . . . gods . . . won’t really do much, right? I mean, two weeks for us would only be like half a week for them. So we have a lot more time to prepare.” She shrugged and fell silent. Ellie’s skepticism had dissolved into a smile of roaring approval.
“Very good.” Chiron smiled as well. “Do you see, Gordon? There is simply no need to rush.”
“Yeah, but if time is slow in Dasos too, then I’ll have my strength for longer, right? If I go there, I’ll have like four days left instead of one!” Gordie jumped to his feet in his excitement.
“You have been to Dasos for an entire night. Did time seem to pass more slowly?” Chiron looked at him, and Gordie was sure he knew the answer—another leading question. Gordie thought back to his night shivering under the pine tree and had to concede that it felt like a normal night. When he had come back to the forest of Pelion, it was definitely early morning.
“No,” Gordie muttered and sat back down.
“No, indeed,” Chiron affirmed. “You see, time does differ between the realms. Some are the same as ours, some are faster, and of course, some are slower. Dasos is nearly identical to ours. So, again, there is no need to rush.” Gordie noted that Chiron’s spirits had lifted. It was very annoying.
“But what if Artemis goes too far away? Or leaves altogether?”
“You know that she cannot leave because of the restrictions between borders. And as far as her being too distant, all the more reason why you should give yourself adequate time to find her,” Chiron said. Gordie sneered and looked back at the table, annoyed at his own argument being used against him. He popped a date into his mouth and chewed slowly, giving himself time to think up a retort as the sweet nectar rushed over his taste buds. Nothing came to him.
“Then it is settled!” Chiron clapped his hands together. “Tomorrow we resume training. You should take the rest of the day off, Gordon. Yours has been busy enough. Why don’t you show Bridget the eucalyptus pool! Copulate! Be merry!”
Ellie’s eyes widened in shock while Gordie’s widened with newfound glee. Bridget looked mortified, turning red instantaneously, and Atalo looked wildly entertained.
“There will be no copulation!” Ellie shouted. “Chiron, they are children!” Chiron looked startled and nervous.
“I-I apologize,” he stammered. “In my time a sixteen-year-old was a man—”
“Well, not in this time, bub!” Ellie jabbed her finger at Chiron, and Atalo slapped a hand over his mouth as he snorted loudly. “Something funny, Dad?!” She turned on him.
Atalo leaned away from his daughter. “Not at all dear.” He shook his head with grave seriousness.
“All right then. I’m gonna go change and we’re all gonna go on a freakin’ hike! Got it?!” She looked around the table and stopped on Gordie with anger burning in her eyes. Then she stomped off towards the sleeping quarters.
“Humans are so strange,” Chiron muttered as he shook his head, looking shell-shocked.
***
A couple hours later the Leonhart family and their new companion, Bridget Clemens, emerged out of the rain and into the Great Hall of Chiron’s cave in the heart of Mount Pelion. The pitter-patter of the rain drops echoed in the corridor behind them, joining the chorus of those drips falling from their drenched clothes. They had been wandering the forest when the downpour started as a light drizzle through the boughs, but it became a torrent as they raced up the ramp leading to the cave’s entrance with their hands acting as makeshift umbrellas above their heads. Atalo shook like a dog while making a loud raspberry noise, sending water flying from his clothes and mouth alike.
“Dad! Gross!” Ellie chided as Bridget and Gordie giggled. Gordie hadn’t stayed angry with Bridget for long after siding against him on the debate over whether or not he should wait or rush off to Dasos in search of Artemis. During their hike she had apologized profusely and used other tricks at her disposal to convince him of her rightness, although she was hampered by his mother’s ever-watchful eye.
The small party made for the large table and took seats nearest the roaring fire at the end. Gordie looked up, wondering why water wasn’t pouring in through the skylights far above, until he realized with mild int
erest that it was being diverted just inside the openings, and flowing right into the stone ceiling. The group chuckled about their state of inundation and harrowing sprint without shelter from the storm. They ate fruits and nuts, and Atalo refilled his mug of brew repeatedly. After a while, Ellie excused herself to change and asked Bridget if she wanted some dry clothes.
“Yes, please!” she said, and rose from her seat to follow Ellie towards the sleeping chambers. Gordie watched her go with longing.
“Nice girl.” Atalo grinned and took another long draught.
“Yeah, she’s all right.” Gordie shrugged. Atalo spit ale back into his mug.
“All right? Son, she’s got you wrapped around her finger! Each and every one!”
“Whatever, Grampa! I’ve got it locked down!”
“You better, or your mom’ll take it from ya.” He sniggered into his mug as he took another swig.
“Where do you think Chiron is?” Gordie asked, red-faced and desperate to change the subject.
“Speak and he shall appear.” Chiron approached the far end of the table, making Gordie jump. The raindrops on the mountainside drowned the sound of his hooves.
“Oh, hey.” Gordie tried to hide his surprise. “Where does that water go?” He pointed up towards the skylights.
“It is diverted to perform multiple functions. It drains to a reservoir from which the plumbing you have access to in your quarters is powered. Some of it goes to my workshop, as well as a few other areas of need.”
“Nifty,” Atalo said looking up at the inflow.
“Indeed,” Chiron said. “Atalo, I wish to speak to Gordon in private. Would you be so kind as to give us a moment?”
“No problem,” Atalo said through a belch. “I’m soaked to my danglers anyhow. Best go change.” The chair squalled as he pushed away from the table. There was a slight sway to his body when he gained his feet. He exhaled sharply before making his way back to the sleeping chambers where Bridget and Ellie had disappeared to minutes earlier. Gordie was nervous about this unexpected request for his private audience. Chiron remained silent until Atalo’s heavy, irregular footfalls died out in the hall.