Chapter 9
The speed of the fox is so quick that the world becomes a blur of images passing before Vasos’ eyes changing the journey time immensely, but even though he can’t see the details of the landscape there is no mistaking the fox is taking him on a route of great beauty. Part of him wishes he had more time to see everything and have some adventures but he knew that he had to make good distance from his Spartan home.
Mixed feelings bubble to the surface with the thoughts of the seeing his city again, aside from the problems he now had with the gods and their children, the Spartan guards were after him for the murder as well. He missed his city terribly, even though he had gone through the hard life of a Spartan soldier in training he wouldn’t have traded it for anything, he knew that it was only a matter of time before the King of Sparta and the gods noticed his skill and sent him on quests that would make him famous.
Now here he was speeding across Greece on one of Pan’s creatures from the wild towards the sea on a quest from Zeus himself, maybe it wasn’t the way he had imagined getting a quest but nonetheless he had one now and that’s what mattered most.
Entering a large open field with a lake the fox swiftly slows down trotting up to the edge of the lake for a long drink as it pants in between slurping. Thinking about it Vasos slides off the fox landing near the edge of the lake himself to take a drink and splash some water on his face but the moment his feet touch the ground the fox gives him a giant lick across his entire body lifting him completely off the ground and tossing him a few feet into the shallow of the lake soaking him completely.
“Thanks.” He mutters wading his way back to the shore.
Kneeling down at the edge he takes a long drink himself feeling refreshed and invigorated until crashing out of the forest the boar screeches heading full force towards them.
Growling the fox stares at the boar while laying down for Vasos to climb on its back.
Scrambling up the side of the fox onto its back Vasos leans down to its ear. “Go my friend.”
“You can’t escape me Vasos! No matter who helps you or what you do I will be the end of you, I will chase you to the end of the world!” Yells Christos wildly.
As the fox turns running back towards the tattered road to Olympia Vasos turns on the back of the fox facing the boar.
“You’re dreaming Christos! I will be a champion of the gods and the people! You’ll never be anything more than a lap dog of Ares!” He laughs.
Screaming in rage Christos shoots several bolts of lightning out of his hand towards the fox narrowly missing both him and Vasos.
“Your aim is as bad as your looks.” Wails Vasos in delight throwing his sword through the air at the head of the boar.
With amazing speed the boar dodges the sword closing the distance.
“Pathetic!” Yells Christos “You missed.”
Without answering Vasos just smiles at him making Christos wonder what he’s up to. Instinctually Christos looks behind him to fins Vasos’ sword flying straight at him, at the last second Christos falls backwards narrowly dodging the sword that grazes his shoulder.
“What’s a matter Christos, nothing to say?” Questions Vasos catching the sword as it flies back to his hand.
Christos gets back to his feet just staring in anger at his wound before looking back at Vasos.
“I’ll have your head!”
“You’ll have to excuse my laughing Christos but you and I both know that you are a loser that can’t defeat me!”
Turning back around, Vasos straddles the fox again grabbing on to the fur tightly. “Run Teumessian, run as fast as you can. Get us to Olympia.”
With a burst of speed the fox bends the world around them covering distances that would normally take weeks to traverse, struggling to not fall off Vasos turns his head to see the boar following closely behind them still.
Cursing under his breath Vasos turns back around to see the city of Olympia coming into view on the horizon.
“Come on be there.” Says Vasos.
In a matter of seconds they’re on the outskirts of the city, as the world returns to normal the first thing he can’t help but notice is a giant hammock swinging in front a little ways from the city with a young man leisurely eating grapes and drinking from a flask.
Sliding to a stop in front of the young man he lazily looks up at them unfazed by the scene. The young man is five foot nine with dark brown hair and eyes to match. Visibly he is well built despite is appearance of being completely lazy.
“Please tell me you’re not the help I was promised.” Sighs Vasos dropping to the ground shakily.
Looking up with a tired frown the young man replies. “You almost got dirt in my drink.”
Looking from him to the giant boar closing fast in the distance Vasos just stares at him in disbelief for a moment.
“Oh heaven forefend, how will you ever survive?”
“It’s ok, didn’t you hear me? You almost got dirt in it. You didn’t actually get anything it. I can still drink it, not that a little dirt would have stopped me anyway after all this is good stuff. I make it myself you know.” He smiles dreamily.
“That’s wonderful and I hate to interrupt but you and I have more pressing concerns at the moment.”
Raising an eyebrow while staring past him at the boar the young man simply shrugs his shoulders in response before going back to his grapes and flask.
“Really?” Questions Vasos trembling in anger as to make things worse the fox howls in the air before running off into the forest in the distance.
“You seem tense pal, how about a drink?”
“Gee I’d love to, but we’re about to be trampled and eaten by a giant wild boar so as you can see we kind of have a previous engagement, thanks though.” Replies Vasos sarcastically.
“Maybe you’re going to be devoured but that would interfere with my drinking so I’ll have to pass.”
“Tell that to him.” Says Vasos changing his sword into an axe and bringing it up to the ready.
Responding to the threat the walls of the city flood with soldiers ready to defend Olympia.
Seeing the soldiers rallying Christos brings the boar to a sliding stop a few feet from Vasos and the young man.
“They will not save you Vasos.” Smiles Christos pointing at the soldiers on the wall.
“I don’t need them to save me Christos. If anything you need help but if you surrender now we will allow you to live.”
“You must be completely deluded Vasos did a bird strike you in the head while you were riding the fox, which by the way seems to have run off to chase some sticks or something. Without the fox you are a dead man, you don’t stand a chance against the boar let alone me with it.” He cackles.
“Listen fellas I don’t mean to be rude but I’m going to be trying to take a nap here and you’re being really loud so if you could move your little stand-off death duel thing somewhere else I would appreciate it.” Yawns the young man with his eyes closed still.
“Who the hell are you?” Questions Christos annoyed by the man.
“By the gods can’t a man take a nap without someone bothering him? Go away you little pimple, before I…” He pauses yawning “…Sander, the son of Dionysus smite you.”
“You’re a demigod?” Questions Christos incredulously.
Sander has already fallen asleep ignoring the two of them.
Laughing uncontrollably Christos looks back at Vasos who is holding the bridge of his nose while shaking his head slightly.
“This is your help? Really? This is who the gods sent to aid you?”
“Yes well, ahem, don’t underestimate him he is much more powerful than he looks.” Says Vasos with half confidence.
Raising an eyebrow at the demigod again Christos concentrates sending a bolt of lightning at Sander shocking him so hard he flies fifteen feet into the air.
Closing his eyes with a disgusted look Vasos frowns. “Attacking a man while he’s asleep? That’s a new low even for you.”
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br /> “Just making a point Vasos and giving you a preview of what’s about to happen to you.” He replies evilly.
Abruptly the boar rears up shaking its head over and over as if it’s confused. Then in one fluid motion the boar squeaks weakly falling over onto its side asleep.
Stunned Vasos looks around expecting to see one of the gods but instead sees Sander stumbling towards them “I could forgive the fact that you woke me up, I can forgive my grapes being destroyed and I can even forgive the fact that you tried to kill me but making me lose my flask, that’s where I draw the line!”
“You?! You did this?!” Questions Christos getting to his feet after falling off the boar during its roll.
“Of course I did it and now for you.”
Christos raises his sword to fight him but instead of drawing a sword Sander focuses with his hand forward. Erupting from the ground silently dozens of grape vines wrap around Sander locking him in place.
“Release me!” Yells Christos struggling.
“Oh relax, you know what your problem is? You need to get drunk and have some fun.”
“And a woman, and new personality, and looks, oh, oh and better body odor. If you were a totally different person it’d be great!” Adds Vasos.
Their answer comes in the form of the wind picking up so strongly it nearly carries them both away followed closely by lightning striking Christos, frying the vines nearly releasing him.
Struggling against the wind Sander crawls his way towards Christos who is floating a few feet above the ground glowing with power and lost in the rapture of what he’s doing. Finally he reaches the ground just beneath and a little behind Sander, with a deep breath he closes his eyes concentrating as hard as he can. After another minute vines again explode from the ground lifting him up till he’s right behind Sander who is still lost in the power.
Determined Sander reaches out grabbing Christos’ head from behind focusing his power to overcome Christos’ free will. Desperately Christos fights against the power but in the end Sander over comes his free will forcing him to feel drunk and happy.
As quickly as it started the storm stops when Sander lowers to the ground awkwardly walking towards the city gates.
“Impressive.” Says Vasos grudgingly walking up to Sander who is franticly searching in the sand for his flask.
“What’s that? Oh yeah, no problem. If you really want to thank me do me a favor and help me look for my flask.” He answers.
With a sigh Vasos heads over to a nook in the tree Sander was near while lying on his hammock.
“It’s right here; I saw it fly in here when he blasted you. What’s so special about this thing anyway?”
“Oh thank you.” He yells running over and snatching the flask. “It was a gift from my father, it refills with wine automatically and it’s indestructible.”
“Useful.” He says “So anyway, I’m Vasos, son of Aphrodite and descendant of Hercules. The gods told me you were meant to help me on two quests.”
“Yeah, I think I remember my father coming to me and saying something like that. I don’t know the details I was pretty hung over.”
“I’ll explain along the way for now let’s get into the city and get some supplies, we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”
“My thanks to you Sander.” Comes a new and playful voice. “You have no idea how upset I was when Ares forced one of my creatures to chase after a demigod, no offense Vasos but the children of the gods are not known for their kindness to the animals of the wild.”
The two young men turn to see Pan, god of the wild stroking the side of the boar as it begins to wake up, and quickly both of them drop to one knee in reverence.
“Lord Pan, to what do we owe this honor?” Questions Vasos.
“Please stand my young heroes, I do not need you to kneel before me. The other gods may demand such respect, however I do not. I have plenty of Satyrs that are required to do such things but to tell you why I am here, that is simple. I wish to reward you for the gentle treatment of my boar.”
“Thank you Pan.” Smiles Vasos eagerly.
With a mighty grunt the boar gets to its feet bowing to Pan for a moment before running back into the far off forest.
“What gift are you giving us?” Questions Sander happily.
“I will give you aid on the way to Mantinea, tomorrow when you leave the city head south into the forest there you will find one of my creatures of the wild that will speed you on your journey.”
“You are too kind Lord Pan we will be in your debt.” Says Vasos bowing again despite what Pan had said.
“Think nothing of it. But beware that Ares has not forgotten or forgiven what happened between you and his child despite Zeus’ decree and many of the other gods Norse and Greek, have taken a great interest in both of you and the Norse demigods on the quest.”
“Great just what we need, a bunch of all powerful beings intent on watching us, in my experience when the gods watch they also interfere.” Sighs Sander drowning himself in other swig.
“So it is with the gods, just beware and be careful, things around you will not be as they seem.” He replies dissolving into the ground.
“Cheerful.” Smiles Sander clearly buzzed.
“What would a quest be without a few challenges to the death by all powerful family members?”
“A good day.”
“No matter what challenges we will have great days my friend trust me, now let’s go and get those supplies and some rest. For tomorrow we are in the hands of the fates.” Says Vasos halfheartedly.
Immortals Children Of The Gods Page 9