by Ravek Hunter
Akakios thought for a moment, “Then it must be a vision rather than a fantasy. I am encouraged to find Anesidora as she has implored me to. Now the question: How do I find her?”
Miltiades considered the question. “In your visions of Anesidora, what were her surroundings, the lighting, sounds, and any environmental factors?
“She seemed to be high in the mountains where it was cold, and her hair and clothing were buffeted by winds constantly changing directions.” He remembered it clearly.
“Hmmm, that could be anywhere in the Othrys Mountains.” The Hierophant sat on a lone stool while Akakios paced the small room, leaving footprints in the thick layer of dust on the floor.
“My impression was that she dwells in a temple, perhaps her own or one of Kronos or Metis?” Akakios offered while trying to remember more details.
“There are no temples to Kronos at a very high elevation that I am aware of.” Miltiades thumped his fingers on a hardbound book he held. “Although it is said his palace is built among the highest altitudes of the Othrys. And there is also a legend of a shrine to Metis high in the eastern peaks near the Sea of Waves. That would seem the more likely place to find this Anesidora.”
“Then that’s where I shall begin.” Akakios was excited about pursuing his vision now that he believed it might be more than just a dream.
“I caution you in this, my friend. The Othrys Mountains are a dangerous and mystical place where the gods’ creatures ply their fancy. Would you consider an escort of priests and explorers for your safety? It would devastate our community if the Fire-Bringer never returned from his calling.”
“I must do this alone. If I am to find and rescue Anesidora from her turmoil, it would not look well upon me to have brought an army to do so. Don’t worry.” Akakios played a series of flames across his fingers. “Your old Fire-Bringer still has a bit of heat in his belly from the old days.”
Miltiades clasped him on the shoulder. “Well then, as you wish, and when you return, I will give you this key. I have learned everything the gods choose for me to know. In the meantime, let’s return to my office and decide who will oversee your duties while you are away.”
~~~
Akakios dismissed his acolytes and walked the way home alone. It was nearly evening, and the temperature had dropped to a brisk crispness. The sun setting behind the mountains to the west bathed the city in the last illumination of the day, casting a vibrant, reddish orange light to reflect off the white marble, stone buildings, statuary, and columns. At this time of the day, Sesklo was at its most beautiful.
Akakios passed many temples on his way home. There were many small temples in the city dedicated to Gaia, Nyx, Ourea, Aether, Hemera, Metis, and others. They were the gods of Hellas’s pantheon, known as the Protogenoi. They formed the elements of the universe that included the domains of earth, air, water, sky, darkness, light, the Underworld, night, fire, procreation, and time. All were revered throughout Hellas, yet only Sesklo claimed Kronos as their patron deity, while the other cities chose patrons of their own.
Or rather, the gods chose them.
Out of all the gods, Akakios elected to stop only at the Naos of Metis and say a prayer. If he was going to find one of her earliest shrines from antiquity, it might go easier for him if the goddess favored his cause. There he stayed only briefly, showing respect to the lone priest on duty and making an offering of sanctified water blessed by the Hierophant himself.
Akakios arrived at his home a short while later and slowly climbed the steps to the front door, which was promptly opened by one of his servants. He was exhausted by the eventful day and excited about the journey he would undertake the next day. Eating only a little dried fish and a honey cake to satisfy his sweet tooth, he washed and immediately retired to his bed. Sleep came quickly as he slipped quietly into the nether of his subconscious. He looked forward to telling his young love that he would finally be on his way to find her soon.
Chapter 5
Ἀτλαντίς
Going Home
“What is that thing?”
Qel could hear the fear in Havacian’s voice. He felt it too as they lay in the tall grass on top of a hill overlooking the broad swath of the savannah that stretched out for leagues before them. They left the North Road less than a league from where they lay now to watch an endless herd of hartebeests graze their way across the landscape while they nibbled on a snack of mahiz and allowed the horses to rest for a little while. So numerous were the hartebeest herds on the grassy plains of the Emerald Isle, they flowed like oceans of fur and flesh for leagues. Qel loved to watch them as a child, and he loved to watch them now. He was fascinated by their methodical purpose to consume the long grass and remain in a cohesive group, leaving a broad path of lighter-colored short grass in their wake that they would revisit the next season, after it had grown again. Their destruction upon the savanna was temporary, leaving the roots of the weeds they consumed intact and renewable.
Qel and Havacian had been chatting while they enjoyed the wildlife when Qel noticed a disturbance at the edge of herd not a stone’s throw from the hill where they sat. At first, it was just a confusing burst of sudden movement, with hartebeests running a short distance in every direction. The brief frenzy drew the attention of the entire herd, and thousands of the hartebeests stopped cold in their tracks, swinging their heads up to listen. For a moment, the silence was profound. And then a sharp, primal scream rent the still air before it was cut off almost instantly. The herd bounded away virtually as one and thundered toward the west at fantastic speed.
What was left behind was shocking. The area where Qel had noticed the initial disturbance was covered in blood that contrasted sharply with the bright green grass. Of more immediate concern was the large creature bent over the mutilated body of a full-grown hartebeest. Slowly, Qel gestured to Havacian to move behind the hill so as not to be noticed. Fortunately, the horses were down the other side and out of sight as well. Then they crawled back to the summit to get a better look at the terrifying beast.
“I don’t have any idea,” Qel whispered. “Look at the size of it.” He honestly wasn’t sure what he wanted to do more, watch with morbid curiosity or run away like the hartebeests.
The creature was bipedal, with greenish-brown leathery skin and patches of dark red fur all over. Parts of its body were clothed in mismatched scraps of fabric that didn’t quite fit, and a pouch that hung on a belt at its side, which gave Qel the impression that it was an intelligent thing. He wondered idly if it could speak. There was a massive club on the ground beside it, but it used its massive claws to tear through the body of the hartebeest as easily as if it were covered in light gossamer silk.
“Do you think there are more of them?” Havacian’s eyes were wide with fear, darting in every direction, at the edge of panic.
Qel glanced around as well, but he saw no other movement. “I don’t think so, but we should probably leave in case there are.”
Just as they started to back down the hill, the thing’s head shot up, and it began to sniff the air. Qel stopped Havacian, and they lay flat with their chins digging into the roots of the soft grass and watched. It continued to cast its gaze around the immediate area, sniffing the air as if it were looking for something. The hartebeests were long gone toward the horizon and out of sight. Nothing else moved except their horses quietly grazing down the hill behind them. Qel prayed they didn’t make any noise.
It was an ugly creature, to be sure. Blood covered its entire face, and a thin, formless strip of flesh in its long, sharp teeth dangled sickeningly when it shifted its head. It had bushy red eyebrows that matched the hair on its narrow chin that defined a heavily muscled jaw and large ears that ended in a point on top similar to an elf. But it was the eyes that struck the most fear into Qel. They were red, so red that they seemed to glow from the inside.
After sniffing around a bit more, the creature dropped the bloody remains it held in its claws and moved in one direc
tion and then another seemingly in time with the shifting breeze. When it ran, it crouched, and its long thickly muscled arms grabbed the earth and pulled itself forward as much as its legs propelled its heavy bulk. Qel was surprised at how efficient the movement was and guessed that it could run extremely fast for at least a short distance if it wanted to. It had captured a hartebeest, after all.
One of their horses stomped a hoof distractedly, and the awful thing looked up the hill precisely where they lay hidden. A cold streak went through Qel, and his heart began to pound. It stood to stare very still and quiet in their direction for a long time, often sniffing at the air. Qel was never so terrified in his life. He had to clench his teeth together to keep them from chattering so the thing below them might not hear. It might not have excellent eyesight, but it seemed to make up for it with its hearing and sense of smell. Then the breeze shifted again, this time down the hill from their position, and the creature sniffed again . . . and emitted a low, guttural growl.
Qel realized it could smell them, or the horses, but before he had time to react, the thing was bounding up the hill toward them at a fantastic sprint. Grabbing Havacian, Qel pushed off the incline, and they went tumbling down the back of the hill. When Qel looked up, the beast was standing where they had just been lying, sniffing alternately at them and their horses as if to determine their identity by the scent. The horses saw the massive creature as well, and unsure of what it was, they stomped and whinnied nervously, on the verge of panic.
Qel barely had time to stand up when it bounded down the hill smashing into Havacian’s horse. The poor beast never had a chance to escape. Qel’s horse, seeing the danger, immediately took flight, to where Qel didn’t notice, his eyes were glued to the carnage taking place before him. Within seconds Havacian’s horse was on the ground screaming and terrified as the creature tore into it.
Havacian was standing again, and the two slowly backed away from the violent scene, shocked and staring. That could have been one of us, Qel thought. It will be one of us if we don’t do something. Thinking fast, he summoned his strength and focused as best he could. A small jet of flame shot from his hands and impacted the monster’s thigh. The creature made a sound he interpreted as surprise and turned its head toward them.
Qel’s veins felt like ice was running through them. All he had succeeded in doing was getting the monster’s attention. Now it would come for them. Yet it paused, regarding them as if it was unsure if they might be a threat to it. Then the moment passed, and it was rushing toward them. Qel had only seconds to act, and he conjured a ball of flame that he sent streaking toward it. At the same time, he felt as much as heard lightning crackling from the fingertips of Havacian. Both landed their blows squarely, causing the charging creature to turn away, protecting its face, but it kept coming, seemingly more annoyed than harmed by their assault.
With it nearly upon them, Qel felt helpless fumbling for another spell. Then the impossible happened. Two imperial warriors dropped out of the air and took the full force of the creature’s charge on their Aurinium shields just steps away. Both Qel and Havacian fell backward, expecting an impact, but none ever came. The warriors pushed off the beast and lashed out with their Aurinium longswords, scoring hits on its arm and ribcage that caused green blood to spout from deep wounds. The creature roared and struck back, grabbing the edge of one warrior’s shield and pulling forward while the other warrior danced around its heavy bulk, landing slashing blows with every step.
Qel was desperately trying to stand and still keep his eyes on the battle raging only steps away. He had to help these brave men. Then, without warning, a line of fire shrieked over his head and between the two warriors, hitting the creature in the chest. Qel instinctively ducked and jumped away. The flames exploded over the monster’s entire body, knocking the warriors off to the side and sending Qel back to the ground next to Havacian. Then there was another shriek and another as more fire engulfed the thing now screaming and flailing wildly in every direction. The stink of its burning flesh was putrid and nearly too much for Qel to take. The warriors, apparently unaffected, stood back and watched until the fire did its work and the creature was nothing more than a charred mass on the ground. Then they walked over and poked the remains with their blades to ensure no life remained.
“Why are you here?” a powerful voice behind boomed, nearly causing Qel to jump out of his boots.
He turned around quickly where he was, half prone on the ground, to see who had spoken and was amazed at what he saw. A man was hovering on a luminescent disc shoulder height above the ground. He wore black robes and a very serious expression. Qel did not have to study the symbol on the gold medallion hanging from a thick Aurinium chain to know that he was in the presence of a Battle Wizard.
Havacian spoke first. “We were resting on the hill there when that thing came upon us. It killed my horse and was intent on killing us when you arrived, Exalted One.”
“And where are you going?” The intense gaze from the Battle Wizard demanded that they tell him whatever he wanted to know.
“We are on our way to the estate of my family, House Mekali, two days north of here, Exalted One,” Qel spoke up, his voice cracking from nervousness.
The Battle Wizard studied them for a moment, then pointed to the charred remains of the beast. “Do you know what that creature was?”
“No, Exalted One,” they almost said in unison.
“It’s called a Mountain Troll. Normally they keep to the Atlas Mountains and away from the edges of civilization, but every few decades their population grows to the point that their territories overlap and a few are forced closer to the roads and villages to find food.” He sighed. “We have been looking for this one for several days.”
The two warriors walked up next to Qel, and one of them addressed the Battle Wizard. “Exalted One, he is irrevocably dead.”
“Good,” he replied. “Let’s complete our patrol before it gets dark.”
The warriors each mounted a disc that was nearby and floated up next to the Battle Wizard, who was turning to leave. Then he abruptly stopped and peered down at the two of them. “If you do not learn to properly defend yourselves, you will both end up being the meal of another Troll or Ogre or something else before you are a month into your Discovery. I am called Traegarlin, and I will see you again in three days at the estate of House Mekali.”
There were no farewells or words of thanks. The Battle Wizard just left, followed by his escort of Imperial Warriors.
Qel looked at Havacian. “We have already nearly managed to get ourselves killed.”
“I didn’t expect to be fighting for our lives only ten days out of the city,” Havacian laughed anxiously. “Fine adventurers we have turned out to be.”
“And a Mountain Troll at that! The last time I read about Trolls was in a children’s storybook before I was brought to the Enclave! I never imagined I would ever see one for real.”
“We have been sheltered in the Enclave for too many years,” Havacian conceded. “I hope that Battle Wizard keeps his promise and comes to teach us a few things.”
They gathered up Havacian’s pack from his dead horse and went in search of Qel’s Lambei. Half an hour later they found it shivering in a stand of trees, its eyes still wild with fright. Qel couldn’t blame his poor mount. He, too, was nervous and jumping at every shadow or sudden noise from every stand of trees they passed.
It was late afternoon by the time they were back on the North Road. There were only a few hours of daylight left, and with both of them riding his horse, they would be lucky to make it to the next inn before dark. To pass the time, Havacian spoke excitedly about the Battle Wizards, much of which Qel already knew mixed with and a few interesting things he did not.
“Everyone knows that Battle Wizards are trained specifically in the art of combat and war, charged by the emperor with the task of safeguarding the city and patrolling Atlantean territory on the Emerald Isle. They are also present in the palace and
provide protection for the emperor wherever he goes.” Havacian always took on an instructional voice when he was fully into his commentary on a subject. Qel didn’t mind. He enjoyed learning the little-known details that his studious friend always seemed to know so much about. “What is not well-known is that they do not come from a specific hall. They could come from any of them, and there is no tower dedicated to their class. Rather, their training and administration take place in a segregated, nondescript section of the Enclave that only they are permitted to enter. The honorific of Exalted One is similar to that of the most accomplished scholars and teachers, who are traditionally referred to as Revered Ones, signifying their elite status. The Masters of the Imperial Order of Wizards are among the latter.”
“You know, until today I had never considered the possibility of joining the Battle Wizards,” Qel said.
Havacian snorted. “If they would take you.”
“You don’t think they would take me?” Qel felt a little offended.
“Master Curatei says they only take the most talented wizards with the ability to perform under the most extreme pressure. Based on our recent performance, I doubt either of us would stand a chance.”
Qel couldn’t deny that, and he wasn’t sure that he really wanted to be a Battle Wizard anyway. He hoped that he would have a better idea about it after a little training from Traegarlin, even if he only learned enough to stay out of some horrid creature’s stew pot.
~~~
Qel was happy to get an early start the next morning. If they didn’t take any detours, it would be early afternoon when they arrived at his family’s estate, even sharing the one horse. He hadn’t seen his family in nearly a year due to his demanding schedule in the months before his graduation, and he barely had time to send letters. They knew he was on his way—he sent a pigeon before he left—and he was looking forward to spending a few days at home.