Autolycus

The name's Anthony, Anthony Stiles. At least, that's what I am known as now. At one time however, very long ago, I was known as Autolycus, The King of Thieves. This is my story.

Most people wouldn't believe me about this, but I really did in fact, know Hercules and Xena, personally. Some of the things you may hear about them are of course, exaggeration, and some, just straight up malarkey. But that's not the point right now. No, what I wanted to tell you was my story after my dealings with Xena and Hercules, particularly how I became the way am today. Now given, the Big Guy did have quite a positive influence on my life, don't get me wrong, as did Xena several years later, but there was one man that really changed me, made me want to live for something better.

I'll start by bringing you up to speed with when some of the things that happened with Hercules and Xena, so I can tell you about why I left Greece, why I came back, and what was basically going on after I got back. Ok, so I may not really have the dates absolutely spot on, but hey, after 3,000 years, who's really counting? I guess it was about 800 BC, maybe a little after, that I first met Hercules. It wasn't until nearly 500 years later however, that I met Xena. By that time, I had become a bit of a myth myself, heheh; "the legendary King of Thieves," who had been "popping up periodically over hundreds of years." Hercules was still around, somehow-to this day, I don't really know WHAT he was, but he definitely wasn't one of us-in fact, he may still be around today, who knows. You see, I was never with the both of them together, so they never caught on to me for what I really was. Hahah, Xena must of thought I was some kinda "copy cat" criminal POSING as "the legendary Autolycus." Ok, sorry, I got side-tracked. Well anyway, after about 15 more years, I left Greece, I was getting tired of just running around as a thief, and besides; the damn Romans had started trying to take over everything. I figured, "Hey, I'll come back in about a century or two, this 'Roman Empire nonsense' will surely be finished by then"

Ha! Boy was I Wrong! So I headed South, across the ocean to the land of the burning sands. I must have died several times out there in the desert just from thirst and overexposure to the sun. For several years, I traveled through the desert, to many various places. After several decades, I reached Egypt, where I worked as a thief for several years. I left there, and continued following the Nile southward until I reached the Jungles. Then, I started seeking out big treasures hidden in the Jungle. What I mainly found, was many new and colorful ways to die. Well, after spending over a hundred years in the jungle, I went back up to the savannah and spent many years with several wondering tribes. I finally decided to head back up to Greece to see what was going on there. Only this time, I took the long way, AROUND the sea. Well, by the time I returned to Greece, it had been nearly three hundred years, and let me tell you, the whole Roman thing had NOT blown over like I had hoped it would. In fact, they had now completely taken over all of Greece. So, I returned to what I'd always done best: sneaking around as a thief. Only now, it was much harder, and much more interesting, what with all the Roman guards snooping around.

Well, one day, I got really bored, and when I saw a military caravan traveling down a road in Macedonia, I decided to try and rob them. Well, it just so happened, that as I got closer to them, there was that feeling again, one of them was an Immortal. Good thing I started carrying a sword with me, I thought. (I had learned That lesson the hard way back in Africa-again, long story.) Well. I cautiously approached the group, my hand on my sword. I found a rock, near the road, several yards ahead of the line. I studied the group; they had one lead man, who thankfully, was NOT the Immortal, which meant I still MIGHT be able to use stealth to my advantage. On the sides, there were two men on each side, on in front, and one in back. One of these, the right, front man, was the Immortal, I would have to "kill" him first. I jumped out from behind the rock, and slashed at the Immortal, he was much better than I had hoped he was. I might could have bested him alone, but his friends immediately jumped in, and before I knew it, I was slashed and stabbed through.

The next thing I remember, is waking up with some water being poured out of a leather pouch right onto my face. We were sitting next to a small creek, by the way.

cough hack "Huh, what'd you do that for!?", I said, looking around. It was then that I realized what had happened, and where I was. "Oh," I said. "Okay, the whole-"this isn't a spectator sport" thing, so you pulled me out here away from the group to fight me. Well, that's just fine with me, let's get it on then, heh-Hey, where'd my sword go?"

"With my men," he replied, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, that's just great. So, you're just gonna slay me then. Real smooth, tough guy!"

"I don't want to kill you, yet. I figure someone that is 'bold' enough to try to attack a group of armed Roman soldiers, one of which is an Immortal, is either someone very special, or a complete fool."

"uh heheheh!" I was grinning now. "You don't even know who I am, do you? I don't even know how old you are bub, but if you knew anything about our culture, you probably would have heard of Autolycus, King of Thieves."

He reserved a slight smile "I'm sorry, can't say I've heard of you."

"Well," I replied, "I know you 've heard of Xena, the Warrior Princess"-I wasn't even About to bring Herc into this and start That little debate. "Well, I knew her personally. In fact, she called on me several times to steal for her."

"Hmm, so, the cocky thief that was mentioned in the Xena scrolls. Well, Autolycus, I am Marcus Constantine, at your service. So it is true. I often wondered whether you were one of us."

"You better believe it, buddy. Over eight centuries, now"

"So, have you been a thief most of your life"

"Well, yeah, pretty much, as if it's any of your business"

"Well, my pardons, but I my, myself was fortunate enough not to ever need to steal, so I was just wondering what it must be like for you."

I actually still don't know why, to this day, but somehow I felt intrigued to talk with this man, even as he was intrigued by me.

"Well, first off," I said, rising to my feet, "I'm getting tired of sitting around this little place. So, now that I have all my body parts back in place, why don't we go for a walk, besides, I'm hungry. Oh, by the way," I said, now remembering his situation. "I'm sorry, but what about you and your company?"

"Ah, well fortunately, I have become rather well acquainted with General Parthius; I am considered his favorite. He already considers me a very honorable man, and I told the other men in my company that I had gone to bury you."

"Heheh," I smiled, 'always a classic."

"Besides," he replied, "As a matter of fact, I am actually moving up the ranks too far, it will soon be time for me to die to the world," he said, a slight air of disappointment in his tone.

So, as we walked upstream, I began to tell him peaces of my early story, how I had grown up living off the streets, how I had even tried getting a job, but it just didn't work. I told him that later, I had been taken in by another thief, who was the leader of a group of thieves which I soon became a part of. It was not long after, that I was killed by a man who's house I tried to rob, and learned that like my new friend, there was something special about me.

'Yeah, I was soon moving up the ranks," I continued to tell Marcus, "and my new friend," (Elpis, was his name) "didn't like that, so he tried to take my head, and thus, I received my first Quickening. Yeah, I could have taken over as the new leader of the group, but instead, I went off on my own, now that I knew what I was. Using my new found speed and the combination of mine and Flavion's thieving skills, I soon became the greatest thief in all of Greece. But then you Romans showed up-oh sorry, but I mean, Really! So I got tired of it all and went south to explore Africa for a couple hundred years, and now, here I am.

So what about you? What's your story, soldier?"

"Well, as I said, I was born of a rather wealthy father. He loved our family very much, and from a young age, I learned to respect him as a man of Rome, and as a soldier. One day, he went off on a campaign, and did not return. My mother and I were both devastated. Later on, when I was a little older, I myself enlisted in the army. I was doing rather well for several years, moving up the ranks; my commanding officer, Gallus Lucia, was even planning to promote me to general he had said. Then one day, it happened. This was a day I will long remember. Before we had gone out into battle that day, he had given us some very insightful words, reminding us that what we fought for was not just the glory of Rome, or even for the favor of the gods, but for the lands and its people. He said that upholding Rome was for the good of all. The Roman Republic grants rights and privileges to its citizens which no one else can provide them. "So just remember,' he had said, 'when you fight, you fight not just for your country, or to earn money for your families, but you fight for the good of everyone.'

"Later that day, me, and a group of my friends were held down in a small gully in the woods. We were cornered, and we knew it. We had to make a choice now; we could either surrender, and possibly be spared, or we could go down fighting. We knew that after they got past us, it would only be a matter of minutes before they closed in on our leader, giving his regiment no time to hold up for reinforcements. I must admit I was scared. I was not prepared to die, but those words rang true in my mind. Then, I took charge and led the troops ahead. We fought with all of our hearts, taking down as many of their men as we could, knowing we would die, but hoping they we just might be able to buy our comrades enough time for reinforcements to arrive.

"The next thing I remembered was waking up wondering what had happened to me. I was fortunate, for normally they would have burned all the bodies of dead soldiers. I had no idea why I had come back from the dead. All I could think was that must use my second chance to fulfill what Gallus Lucia had said, and fight for Rome for the benefit of all. A short time later, I met my first Immortal Teacher, Flavius Sulla, who taught me what I was. Eventually, I got back into the military and have been here ever since. So you see, Autolycus, I am not saying that you must join the army and fight for Rome, or even that you should believe in Rome, for surely you must have every reason to be against our country. No, what I am saying, is simply that you should have Something in your life to live for, to fight for. My many years of Immortal life have taught me that that is one of the main things that keep us going, and I think one of the very reasons for our Immortality, to have a purpose to life."

I am not even sure why, considering how I was at that time, but something about his little story and all he had said, struck me as meaningful. Still, I was a tough egg to crack, and I didn't want to give just yet.

"Yeah, well I got a purpose, buddy. I search through out the world for treasure, and sometimes the other kinda booty, if you know what I mean, heheh."

Geeze, that sounded Soo Pathetic! Even I didn't believe me!

"But, I tell you what, pal, when we get to the next town, wherever that is, we'll have a couple of drinks, and we can exchange some more life stories, eh?"

"Well, I wish I could, but I must get back to my group. However, like I said, I am overstaying my mortal welcome; I must die soon, anyway. The small town Griteeze is about 20 miles upstream. If you will wait for me, I will meet you there in two weeks and buy those drinks myself."

"Wait," I started, surprised, "you want me to just wait there for you to come back, two weeks from now!?"

"The choice is yours, but I would like to talk with you more. It maybe less, maybe a little bit more."

"Whatever," I said with a sigh, turning my head.

"Farewell, Autolycus," he said as we began in our separate ways, "I look forward to, and hope for another meeting with you soon."

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