Children of Troy
A Troy sequel by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: See previous chapters
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, I know it has been a really REALLY long time since I updated this, but since it hasn't been really popular I haven't put too much energy into it. This is my attempt at reviving it.
Chapter. 14 Apolix
Astynax felt sick to his stomach. Here he was being forced into the fighting circle armed with only a sword and no armor. He was desperately trying to recall the sword lessons he had with his uncle. His "friend" Foxtail hadn't been too helpful either when Astynax asked for advice.
"Don't die," Foxtail had said, "You're alive now. Do whatever you can do to keep it that way."
Astynax looked up nervously at his opponent. A hulking man with long dark hair and rancid breath. He looked down at Astynax and laughed uproariously. The supporters on his side of the circle were all wearing smug smiles. "This one will be a quick one!" one man yelled.
Astynax gritted his teeth grimly. He would not be bested so easily.
A skinny man who looked like a weasel entered the ring and waved his arms around for silence. "Today," he yelled over the crowd, "We have a sixth level fighter." He motioned his hand over to the hulking man. "A bold warrior known as Crush and Snap." The man raised his sword nobly and the crowd went wild. Astynax could hear chanting in the background. CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH!
"Fighting Crush," The skinny man yelled, "Will be a new recruit. A first level fighter, The Last Trojan."
The mystified crowd whispered to each other excitedly. A Trojan? Astynax felt a small sliver of pride for his fabled people. Crush was less than impressed. He strode forwards, "Bah! There will be no more Trojans once this fight is over!" The crowd went wild. The chanting grew louder.
The skinny man leapt out of the circle. He waved a white handkerchief in the air, "On three you fight. No rules. Ready? Fight!" The man dropped the handkerchief and scrambled away from the fight.
Astynax barely had any time to react. The man charged at him. He kicked Astynax hard in the stomach. Astynax crumpled to the ground completely winded. He threw his hands up over his head expecting to feel the sharp cold steel of the man's sword. Surprisingly, it didn't happen. Crush lifted Astynax up with one hand and threw him a distance away. Astynax lay there feeling pain jolt up and down his body. Crush roared and listened to the crowd's loud boisterous chanting. He's playing with me! Astynax realized.
Astynax's anger roused his fighting spirit. He got to his feet and charged at the giant's back. The man suddenly realized that Astynax was standing there. He whirled around, but Astynax managed to slash his arm quickly. Crush hollered with pain and for the first time the crowd ceased their chanting.
Crush glared at Astynax. His arrogant attitude had suddenly vanished. He swung at Astynax with his bare fist. He hit Astynax hard across the jaw. Astynax let out a gasp of surprise. He could taste blood in his mouth. Crush came across and hit him again. This time from the other side. Astynax stumbled and Crush took advantage of the moment. He kicked him hard to the ground.
Astynax lay sprawled on the ground. Crush looked down at him like he was a crushed insect. Astynax let his eyes remain closed. He slowed down his breathing. He laid there ,very still, feigning death. Crush's arrogant manner returned. He chuckled boldly and roared out to the crowd again. Their cheering intensified louder than before.
This was when Astynax saw his chance. He leapt to his feet and sprang forwards as swift as a gazelle. He plunged his sword into Crush's unprotected back. Crush halted mid-roar and fell face down into the dirt.
The crowd looked down at the giant Goliath for a few moments. Then, they suddenly burst out into more cheers. Astynax stood there panting hard, bleeding from his mouth. They enjoyed this?! The barbarians!
The skinny man raised Astynax's hand. "The winner!" The crowds roared louder than ever. Astynax felt sick. He wanted nothing more than to run away. To hide from these horrid people.
Finally, their cheering subsided and Astynax returned to the tent. He received a thump on the back from Foxtail, but that was all the praise he received. He lay there on his pallet weeping hysterically. Oh Gods! Please forgive me! One terrible thought lingered in the back of his mind.
I still have six more levels!
-888-
"Why don't you like your sister?" Theron asked Djadao and Nanu. The three of them were sitting in the royal gardens. Isis was a short distance away. She watched them with wide eyes as always. Theron had not been permitted to see the pharoah, but Djadao and Nanu had assured him that he was overjoyed to learn that the children were safe.
"She sold us into slavery!" Nanu said, "At least that's what we think."
"You and half the kingdom," Sadji grumbled.
"Why would she do that?" Theron asked in shock.
"Because she hates us!" Nanu grumbled.
"Why?!"
"Because she wants to rule," Djadao said, "And she can't do that while me and Adjo are still alive. She can only rule if there are no male heirs left."
"We don't know much about the men that grabbed us either," Nanu said, "They just snatched us while we were in the market."
"Hmmph!" Sadji grumbled, "They could have left me and Isis behind!"
"I would never leave Nanu!" Isis declared. Nanu smiled at her handmaiden gratefully.
Djadao frowned sadly, "We're probably in more danger here than anywhere else." He looked over at Adjo sadly. His younger brother was playing around in a flower bed. "We're so close to her and her assassins."
"Wait," Theron said suddenly, "Do you have control of the barges?"
"Well, I suppose we could get one if we really wanted," Djadao shrugged.
"Then I have a plan!" Theron said, "One that will work out for both of us. We'll go to Kerbero. You can lay low there. You'll be safe."
"I don't know," Djadao said, "If Woserit found out. She would come after us. And then she might get your country involved."
"We're not worth risking a war over," Nanu said, "Imagine the trouble Kerbero would be in."
"Woserit would have to find Kerbero first," Theron said, "Kerbero is a very small kingdom. Egypt doesn't trade with us. It would be like you sailed off the edge of the world." Nanu and Djadao exchanged anxious looks. "Do it for your brother," Theron whispered, "Doesn't he deserve to grow up without having to worry about assassins?"
Nanu and Djadao both nodded. "That settles it," Djadao said, "We'll begin the necessary preparations."
"You're not going without me!" Sadji cried suddenly.
"Me neither!" Isis declared passionately.
"Very well, very well," Nanu said, "If you two want to risk your lives..."
"We do." Isis said, "I'll begin packing immediately!"
-888-
"Another date with Medea," Mara said bitterly. She had spent the past few days living with Jason in King Aeete's guest chambers. It had been a comfortable existense, but she hadn't seen much of Jason in the past week. He spent every moment with Medea. One night he had come back with strange marks on his neck. She heard the crew members joking around about having a wedding in Colchis. For some unknown reason that infuriated Mara.
"It's not so much a date," Jason said, "I'm prying information!"
"Oh?" Mara muttered, "I find that hard to believe!"
Jason glared at Mara, "If I'm enjoying her company as well is that a crime?"
"You're just proving to me that all men are pigs!" Mara spat, "Evadne was right."
"Evadne?" Jason asked.
"She's an acolyte in my kingdom," Maragon scowled, "She told me that she became an acolyte because all men are pigs! And all children are animals." Mara smiled at the memory. Evadne had told her that after Maragon had tried to steal Paris's horse. Evadne had been the one to discipline her.
"Well, if you don't believe then come along," Jason retorted.
"What?!" Mara asked anxiously.
"You heard me come with me," Jason snapped, "If that will help get rid of your moody attitude. Your face is cloudier than the a maelstrom at sea!"
"Maybe I will come!" Mara said boldly.
"Be ready in five minutes," Jason ordered curtly.
"Fine!" Mara yelled. She stomped back to her room hoping that Jason wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.
-888-
Astynax was wakened by Foxtail prodding him. "Go away!" Astynax grumbled. He had been at the War Games for several weeks. He had made it through two more fights... and won. Dumb luck on both counts. One man had been sick with the plague for weeks before. He still fought like a madman. He had nearly chopped off Astynax's head, but Astynax had managed to yank a dagger from his belt and stab him in the rib cage. A healthy man would have leapt out of the way without a scratch. The other man had been suicidal. Apparently this lifestyle made him want to die. He had fallen on his sword two minutes in. The image still haunted Astynax's nightmares.
"I have food," Foxtail said.
"What?"
"Food!" Foxtail said impatiently, "Eat it or I'll give it to someone else."
Astynax sat up and looked at the bread in Foxtail's hand. "We already received our rations."
"Yeah, well I pulled some strings, okay?" Foxtail said impatiently, "Do you want it or not?!"
Astynax eagerly accepted the food and crammed it into his mouth. Foxtail never told him to slow down. He knew that if the others boys caught him with it they would beg him for more. Foxtail watched him eat.
"My name is Alopix," he said quickly.
Astynax looked up in surprise. "I thought we only..."
"Went by nicknames, yeah I know," Foxtail said, "And don't tell anyone that you know. It'll get people talking."
"I'm Astynax," he popped the last piece of bread into his mouth, "Why did you tell me?"
Foxtail shrugged, "I don't know. I like you I guess."
"Oh."
"Look," Foxtail said with a sigh, "If can ever find a way to escape. I'll tell you. Maybe we could get out together."
"Why are you telling me this?" Astynax asked.
Foxtail let out a heavy sigh, "I dunno. I've been at this a long time. My damned uncle sold me once he went broke. I always figured I die here. I'm not that great a fighter."
"You made it to level five," Astynax pointed out.
"Mostly dumb luck," Foxtail shrugged, "I'm a very good cheater. That's how I kept alive."
"That's not fair," Astynax said.
Foxtail laughed out loud, "Is anything in this circus fair?" Astynax frowned. "You see my point," Foxtail said, "Doesn't matter whether its fair or not. So long as it keeps you alive." He looked at Astynax, "Like I said. I figured I would die here. But then I met you. No offense, but you should've been died in the first fight. They didn't call that guy Crush for nothing." Astynax frowned at Foxtail's words. "But you survived!" Foxtail continued, "You survived for two more rounds! And I figure if you can survive, anything's possible." A faint small crossed Foxtail's face. "Who knows? Maybe I will get out of here."
"I hope we both get out of here," Astynax said, "We could both make our way to Kerbero."
"Kerbero?" Foxtail asked.
"My kingdom," Astynax said, "My uncle is the king. You'd make a fine guard."
"A guard huh?" Foxtail asked, "Alopix, the guard. I like the sound of that!" Foxtail chuckled and shook his head, "That's crazy."
"You said so yourself," Astynax pointed out, "Anything is possible."
"Yeah," Foxtail grinned, "You're right. Anything's possible."