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Arbephest rode alone in the darkness, not once letting up on the galloping steed, though he had a secret soft spot for the welfare of things, and though in the face of an army of murderous barbarians he did not know fear, being all alone in the dark in the midst of the countryside was a place no man wished to find himself.
Little was distinguishable to the warrior’s vision despite his impeccable senses, they only made his paranoia greater, the thought of a hungry gnarling beast springing from the flora could be triggered at the sound of an imaginary disturbance.
On a number of occasions the rugged war veteran was startled by rustling foliage or disturbed branches far away in the darkness, but all his paranoia would come to a climactic combustion at the moment he heard the deep grunts of those most bloodthirsty clawed beasts of the wilds.
The rate of his beating heart trebled in an instant, he whipped harder at his horse’s reigns despite her powerful legs already pulsating at her greatest pace, faster, he whispered for he could hear many of them now, but he could not see them. In the pitch dark of the deceitful tranquillity he heard the padding paws and the heavy pants. They were watching him. Tracking him.
Arbephest yelled aloud at the steed, even at sight of the smallest patch of firelight upon the horizon he did not stop whipping at her, he knew he was not safe. The panting breaths were now either side of him, the low grunting huffs cut a shrill shiver through him for memory of seeing what he hoped was not in the darkness shrouded his mind.
The sound of their pounding paws began to speed up, he could feel them encroaching yet all he could do was crack at the horse’s reigns with a dire urgency. He knew it would not be enough. Withdrawing his short sword he held it to his chest, glancing all about with rigid head movements in anticipation of attack. He felt the nape of his neck twitch before a symphony of quiet laughter resonated in his mind. The padding paws and loud panting grunts slowly resided back into the night. Upon sight of numerous Athenian shields dimly reflecting the moonlight he felt a tremendous surge of relief.
Breathing awkwardly the warlord did not slow his horse up until it was between the blockades of Athenia. The guards each stood stiffly with shields raised, as they recognised Arbephest’s unique face their battle stance stood to one of respectful attention.
“Warlord.” The word muffled amongst them.
“Athenians,” he nodded slightly, “has it been long since Leteos arrived? A troop captain from Cele.” The men’s gazes fell to confusion, some of them shook their heads.
“Warlord? A troop captain from Rhoma has been our only visitor this evening, Halos awaits you in the king’s chamber.” Arbephest looked back into the darkness and shivered, he had not known the giant predators to come this close to Hellenic towns in the past, nor that any were even still alive. He had only laid eyes upon a great cat once, it was deceased, though its bloody, ghastly mouth and huge hanging claws had taught him all he needed to know about the dangers of the wilderness. His battle scarred face hid his worries, such a naturally remorseless expression he had. “Was he expected, my lord?” The guards continued to stare at their leader.
The warlord made no gestures to them, he simply urged his mount lightly onwards between the wooden blockades of Athenia, “keep your wits about you.” The men nodded at his words, still appearing puzzled.
The streets of Athenia were quiet, fires lit the town up yet there was no life amidst the walkways unlike the chaos in Cele. He made haste to king Peremes’ fort, and dismounting his steed bound her to a wooden post. Heleon nodded at the warlord and escorted him into the ancient building without words said.
Still shaken from his ride through the wilds, and thoughts of Arbicos’ guard captain succumbing to the feral beasts of the darkness, Arbephest shuddered. He stepped into the open chamber in which Halos already stood. Heleon joined them as the men awaited their king to speak.
“Where is warlord Arbicos?” The small man lifted his chin from his fist looking upon Arbephest uneasily.
“Warlord Arbicos has a matter dear to his heart to attend to, my king, he apologises for his absence.”
“What matter could be dearer than to attend a summoning by your king?” Arbephest sighed staring back at Peremes.
“A matter I’m sure he’ll share when the time is right, my king.” While Arbephest spoke Peremes’ adolescent face glanced between the captains, he feared what the warlord might say in front of the men.
“Halos, Heleon, you may leave. We have little to discuss.” At these words Arbephest’s thoughts fell to confusion.
“My king.” The men muttered, turning to leave, they bowed their heads slightly.
“Halos,” the warlord stopped his captain, placing a heavy hand upon his arm, “wait for me outside, we’ll ride to Rhoma together.” Halos nodded once more, then left the chamber. “My king, you will not grant the warlords of Greece command of the Hellenic armies?”
“All that I have commanded still stands, Arbephest, you may take five hundred of your men and search the coastline, to march the entire Athenian army to the north of Greece because some fishermen claimed to have seen a few boats on the ocean is not something I shall allow.” Arbephest simply could not understand his king’s attitude, the high priest’s words had almost certainly been confirmed, and still he dismissed them. “Did you send word to the Egyptians, Arbephest? To inform them of what you have done?” On more occasions than he could recollect, the warlord had wondered to himself how his country had fallen into such frail hands.
“Peremes,” he knew not what words to utter, instead he sighed again and turned about to make his leave from the quarters.
“Do not turn away from me, Arbephest!” His king squawked at him though he paid no heed, stepping into the cool passageway that lead back into the streets of Athenia, “disobey me and you shall be stripped of your title, Arbephest!” Peremes’ child like voice continued to reverberate throughout the structure as Arbephest stepped back into the night. He nodded at Halos and the men remounted, hastily making their leave.
The Echoes of Solon Page 12