ii. They Are Wolves
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He ruled his kingdom and went to war when he saw her.
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They believed the raven was associated with the god Apollo; a symbol of bad luck. They were the messengers to the gods in the modern world. In the ancient tale of Apollo, he sent a white raven to spy on his lover Coronis- mother of Asclepius. The raven had told Apollo that his lover was being unfaithful to him and out of rage, the god burned the white raven. Scorning its feathers black and in return, turned Coronis into a black raven.
The large bird had landed upon his forearm, covered by a leather brace to keep its talons from digging into his skin. The raven ruffled its feathers; tired from its journey. He touched the bird's chest with his finger and lightly rubbed against the bird. His oldest and only friend that he had since his permanent stay in the world of the Greeks.
But all was not what it seemed.
"You must be exhausted my friend." He spoke with such a tone that would be one of a master and his beloved pet. His grey eyes had looked to the raven- one he had raised since it was abandoned after hatching from its egg. Its black feathers shined against the rays of the sun that shined in the sky. Another day has been blessed by the gods. Not his gods, but gods nonetheless. There was something that did not feel right. It lingered in the air, just that he was not so sure of what it was.
"Since I saw her, the woman has been in my thoughts. Her touch is so soft. I want to feel her skin once more under my fingertips." He was talking more to himself and was hoping for the bird to show some sort of familiar emotion. Humanizing animals is not so farfetched when one has been alone for a long time. Some even say that certain animals associated themselves with gods and heroes. Unfortunately, he was no hero in his own story.
A lonely man who wanted purpose. Wanted something that maybe the gods could give. Kamir was a man who wanted something that was worth more than the Oracle's sight.
"They walk past me. Eyeing me with judgement. A foreigner in their land that speaks their language. What would one know when they even go to war with themselves?" His grey eyes could see the line before him beginning to dwindle. One by one, mortals wanted something. They always wanted something. They glanced his way with curious eyes. Afraid even, to even walk close enough for him to slash at them. But Kamir knew better then to lash out. He stood out like the outcast he was and none would dare to approach.
He sat upon the stone wall that faced the temple of Apollo. A magnificent work of structure, like many works of art in the Greek lands. Surely, some of its art could not compare to any other culture. The Greeks held themselves in a higher manner. More civilized then his own people, whom some would consider savage. Dark skin that glowed and eyes black as the most darkened stone. He was- in many eyes- the work of wonder by his black hair that curled at the bottom and eyes grey.
He was unusual when some would look upon him. Grey eyes were rare in any part of the known world. His very people saw it as an omen of ill and cast him out from his homeland when they looked upon him as a babe. His own mother could not save him from the wrath of his own father. Dying by his hand and he- a helpless babe- left to be eaten by scavengers. Until he was saved by them.
The raven cawed when people passed him by. Some had no choice but to walk past him. Were they truly scared of him? A man that came from a land not their own? Truly so. Threatened by the mysterious man with grey eyes and a large raven upon his forearm would make some want to consider their footsteps. The way he dressed was not so much suited for the hottest of days in the warm climate. He still wore his darkened robes and covered his face; even when among them.
"Rest easy my friend. The time for answers shall be upon us. The girl, will be mine." He gave the raven a piece of meat from his pouch and fed it to the bird. He moved from his place upon the stone. The raven flew high into the sky to wait upon his master.
He walked towards the large doors where many people would wait in line to have their questions asked by the Oracle. Many have asked for their future; their destiny. When he had walked through the doors to the smell of burning incense, the young woman had quickly spoken. Her eyes were closed, but one could see that she was shaking. The guards that had surrounded her had kept their hands upon their swords.
He walked in front of the dying crowd, being faced with the priest. The older man would not dare speak to Kamir. He knew the man and his dangerous killing stride. The Oracle had spoken truth when she saw blood on his hands. A man of danger sent by a wrathful and vengeful god. To right wrong. To seek truth. To seek something more than gold. The priest looked to the temple guards to open the doors to let Kamir inside.
Those in line did not understand what was happening. But the priest had assured them that the man was one of the temple guards. He was sent on a task that required him to go inside immediately. Many were unsure of this news and others shrugged it off as nothing that would affect their fate. Kamir smirked under his scarf as the door closed loudly behind him.
"Still one always to refuse the mask?" An older woman voice spoke from the mist of incense.
Kamir would have rolled his eyes at the scrutiny tone of the woman's voice. They all judged behind their masks. Throughout the years, Kamir has learned to not dwell on it.
"I rather cover my face with a scarf that my people wear then hide behind a mask of disgusting features. I hear many of you will gather soon. It has truly been sometime since many have come together. Should Deimos show herself or will she only appear when she seems an opponent worthy?" He said as he walked through the large halls that lead down to a tunnel below the earth. The woman was following him with a sneer and a hatred glint in her eye. Kamir was always one to speak so loudly without consequence.
Why any of the higher ranks let him speak so, was beyond reason. Kamir was a top-notch fighter and tracker that many thought him to have a better sense of smell then a hound. Kamir was known for his skin and eyes, but many called him the hound.
"You speak so openly about her. I know you two have crossed paths before and have had a dislike for one another, but it be best to keep one's tongue from slipping." She warned. Hound or not, like all mutts, they should know their place.
"Should I fear one who many believe is born of a god?" He turned around with much of a threatening stance. He towered over the woman and some of the temple guards took much notice. Kamir was not to trifle with. He was unpredictable.
"Best believe to be careful." She warned again.
Kamir was not moved by her warning. There were already others who have told him time and time again to watch what he said. Such words could have killed him, but Kamir will never keep his tongue in check. This women's words where like the rest of the cult. They intimidated under the mask, but when confronted, they cower like mice.
"Deimos is no threat to me then the eagle bearer." He said. His tone dropping low. The woman was visibly shaking underneath the robes and the mask. Kamir could see her eyes shifting. Trying so hard not to look him in the eyes.
"You should fear Deimos. What makes the eagle bearer of higher standing then she?" The little petite woman stood her ground on faulty land. Kamir bent down just so close to her face. His grey eyes burning with something sinister. Fear had already crept it's way into the woman. Kamir was just as feared as Deimos, but many of them believed him to be the son of something evil.
"He has what I am trying to claim." He reached inside of a hidden pocket and threw the woman a vile of red liquid. "The woman belongs to me. You and the other cult members may have been praying for the offspring of your deity, but her blood is pure. Having her will make me a king and if you think that by pushing me aside because I gave you her blood will stop me." Kamir's grey eyes were dark.
The woman looked to the side. The guards were readying themselves for an assualt.
"She is of importance to us. Your obsession for you throne has blinded you. Your skills may be phrased here, but they will see what kind of threat you are." She held the vile tightly. She was shaking under the hard glare of Kamir.
"Call off your dogs. I expect my pay and dues. She will come to me and you will have your power and I, my throne." He walked pass the shaking woman. The guards had kept their weapons held high. Kamir was a true threat and did not care for who got in his way. Once his eyes were set on a target, blood will be spilled.
"I hope you are opened wide with your entrails dragging on the floor!" She yelled.
Kamir grinned under his scarf as he left through the open door. The smell of incense heavy in the air and darkness lingering in a place of worship.
She liked the way the fabric felt against her skin. So soft to the touch that it was light of weight. Alexios was surprised to see that she was wearing it and questioned where it had come from. Dakota had a hard time explaining to him that it almost seemed that she was speaking nonsense. How could she explain away something that even she did not understand. When she spoke of the raven, Alexios seemed rather distant and trying to make sense of its meaning.
The moment they met up again, he seemed a bit confused. There was something new about Dakota and it was the piece of clothing that was on her.
Is it possible he thinks me a burden still? I know I have not shown my true fighting potential. I am tired of feeling weak. This is not who I am! I should not have to rely on others to come to my side. They were reaching the village where the docks were located. The smell of the sea was heavy with salt and it had a nostalgic sense to Dakota. It did not calm her already troubled spirit, but the memory of going to the beach in the summer had brought back the memory of holding hands with her parents. Their toes digging into the wet sand and running away from the waves.
There was a field of reeds. Swaying gently in the wind.
Dakota took a deep breath. All memory and images flooding through her mind fast. Crashing in segments of her brain. Memories of laughing. Memories of heartache. Memories of things Dakota had kept inside of her mind for years. Coming back so often and Dakota only wanted them to fade.
"Please don't make me think I went insane. Bad enough that there were some that thought of me as such. Left me an outcast for a while." Her words were solemn at best. Dakota did not have to relive being told that events did not happen and that they were the result of combat stress. Who the fuck tells that to a soldier? This was not combat stress. This was beyond that. Dakota has not seen a therapist since she began training because fighting kept it all out of her mind.
"You will get better. Just talk it through. What happened out there was not your fault. You and your team went in and were ambushed." She said. Her eyes staring straight down the road. Calm yourself. She pulled the reigns of Captain. Pulling him to a stop, so she could get her bearings.
Alexios has not seen this side of Dakota. One where she showed signs of something that he did not understand too well. Dakota knew he wouldn't understand PTSD. They may have had a word for it here in these times, but soldiers who suffered these symptoms were not treated well. She had to keep herself sane. She just had too.
"I'm sorry. My mind got the better of me. This is all too much for me to handle. I do not want to continue to be your burden and I want to prove that I can still fight." She looked to him. There was something sad about her. Something like guilt, perhaps. Why would she feel this? Dakota was more than capable of defending herself with proper training; something that they knew time would not give. There was something strange happening and Alexios needed to find answers.
"Why would I think of you as such?" Alexios said. The more she doubts herself- and him- the more troubled she will become. No one wants to have to take care of a broken mind. Dakota was showing true signs of troubled thoughts from the outcome of war. Alexios has seen such before, but from a woman was something new. "I do not think of you as this outcast. I do not think of you unwell either. You are being tested by the gods and they want to break you."
"Gods? That raven did not seem very godlike. I know Zeus can take many forms and all, but that raven was not my idea of Zeus." She retorted. Zeus had a very weird way of getting women pregnant. That thought made Dakota gag a little. "That raven did not look bird. Ikaros is different because it had chosen you as its master; to be your guide in this life. The raven seemed to have been there on purpose. To give me this piece of clothing, but there was something else about it. It's not my guide, but its keeping its eyes on me. For someone."
Dakota knew that in some cultures the raven could mean anything. A messenger, a bad omen, a trickster, and the list could go on. Dakota was not sure what the raven meant to the Greeks as she did not particularly favor this part of history. If it was about the world wars, the crusades, what happened in Mogadishu, hell, Dakota would easily talk someone's ear off. But, Greek history was far more complex with its stories of gods and heroes. The culture was fascinating to see in real time and how they lived, but Dakota was stuck in the middle of a fucking war.
"Some would see a raven as misfortune coming. Ikaros is my only friend and has been there since… when I was a child. When I had nowhere to run after the attempt on my sister's life and my own. The raven you saw has ties with Apollo. You must have angered him." Dakota glared at the man and thought of pushing him off his horse. It would have made her feel better, but that feeling wouldn't last.
"I do not believe in the same gods as you. I do not believe in any if it appeases you. You always seem to attract trouble and a reward for your head. You should not judge my own outcome when you, yourself, are much a part of my misfortune." She eyed Alexios. She was not accusing him of anything unwarranted, but both parties seemed to attract the attention of something not seen. He may not say much in the matter, but it was a nagging feeling within Dakota.
"Do not put the blame on me for your curse. I have had my own problems before you washed ashore. It only seems to grow the more we travel, but I have no other choice in the matter. Your life and my own have crossed paths. Why I am stuck with you may be another matter. There is someone hunting you and I will not let you get hurt while under my care." Dakota would have rolled her eyes. It sounded like a nobleman's speech about peace and prosperity. Hell, she could have mistaken it as a confession.
Then something funny came into her mind. She cracked a stupid grin and gave Captain a pat on his neck. Poor animal had to listen to their conversation in the middle of the road.
"Maybe we both have something in common. Well, there are some things we have in common actually. I hate to admit it. Our upbringing may have been different, but we were alone in an unknown world. Don't look at me like that." Dakota said. Her cheeks were burning red as she was mumbling about nonsense; it made sense to her, but it just made her look crazy.
"Maybe you have not rested enough for the journey. You are making little sense." Alexios wanted to drop the conversation as it was going to lead to unwanted memories. Things about him that have been kept behind shadows and hidden in the depths of his mind. "What we both have in common is being traveling companions. Our 'upbringing', as you put it, may be different, but I am not alone in an unknown world. I know what lies beyond it and I know that you cannot survive out there without someone there to keep you from being killed."
Dakota clenched her teeth in anger. She lightly kicked the sides of Captain and moved him with the reins to get in front of Phobos. Captain's body blocking the horse as it lightly reared in agitation rather then fright. Alexios could see how angered Dakota was. Why was this woman being so off putting and trying to get some answers out of him, when he is trying to find the answers as well. Dakota was a stubborn bull and it showed to his irritation. The more she showed this side of herself, the more Alexios wanted nothing to do with her.
"What I am trying to say is that there is something out there that is trying to catch our attention. There are signs and I do not think it's the work of the gods." She said.
Dakota kept hold of Captain's reigns. Her knuckles were beginning to turn white from how tight she was holding them. Her body language was slightly slouched from having been riding and it gave Alexios more of an idea that she was sore. Dakota would move from one side to put off pressure and give her legs some leeway.
"I know you have noticed too. All of these events are no coincidence. Please do not deny it. If you do, then you are blind to the world." Her voice almost cracked. The rising pressure to argue was getting the better of Dakota.
"I am not so blind and have lived long enough to survive without getting attention of the gods. What do you know about the world around you when you were almost killed? Protecting you seems to be more trouble than what you are worth and when I try to do such, you do not want it. Step aside or else we will not depart from this island." Alexios was stern and truthful.
Dakota would not show the hurt the was within her. To see how serious, he could get when pushed has made Dakota feel small. Did she cross a line that should not have been crossed in the first place? Dakota had to shut her mouth sometimes and right now was one of those moments. Idiot.
"I do not need protection. I need answers. Why that man cut my palm and took my blood. Why he left me in that state! I know you see me as a warrior and not some weak woman. Do not feel the need to protect me when I want to fight my own battles." Dakota could feel tears building. Her palm was becoming agitated against the bandage.
"Maybe being stubborn should have taught you something. You want to go after the man that left you in such a state. You want a way home. Why must it be hard to accept that we are now traveling companions? You want answers and I want my own answers. Do not make this hard." Dakota could see the hard glare in his eyes.
There were boys fighting in a man's battlefield and it was no surprise that in these times, not many people lived fulfilled lives. In modern times, people could live to see 100 up. If Dakota were to talk about it so openly, they would think her mad. It made her wonder if her lifespan would be shortened. With a new diet, environment, and the possibility of dying in a war, Dakota was ready to embrace death.
But, looking at the man before her had changed all of that. Please keep those feelings to yourself. The smell of the open sea caught her attention once more. The wind gently blowing against her skin and hair. Her heart had settled against her chest and knew she could not win this battle. The more she tried to fight Alexios and herself, she was going to lose.
"Everyday it seems I am not getting the answers I seek. Why I am here. What is my purpose? He told me I am the keeper of the seed and they called for me. Why? When I find him and get my hands on him," Dakota sighed heavily. "I do not think I can kill him. I've only killed four people in my life. Two of them were the enemy and had us cornered. We had nowhere to run. One died trying get to safety while we covered him. He was struck down before us. Breathing still, but loosing so much blood. I cared for him and loved the guy. They are the reason why I turned to fighting in the ring. For people's entertainment and sport."
Dakota felt disgusted at the dire truth that she had revealed. She did not kill four people, but two. Her two comrades' death were not her fault, but she feels responsible.
"Killing the man would not bring you peace. To take a life is not for sport or cruelty. It is for survival and to fight another day." Dakota smiled lightly.
He could bring out the worse in you. He could bring out the best.
"So, the warrior has a good heart." Dakota said.
Captain flicked his ear at the unsteadiness of his master. Dakota gave the horse a simple pat at his neck to reassure that she was trying to keep her emotions from affecting him. No need to send off negative energy when animals are more prone to sensing those types of feelings.
"All you must do is not be stubborn. It is as if I am fighting a wolf pack." Alexios chuckled a little. Dakota covered her smile with her hands. This is how life should be for her. No negative feelings. No negative thoughts. What has always haunted her will be a part of her past. What was once good memories, would always be there.
They reached the port in better spirits. The sea was calm and the boat was huge. There, a much older man with one good eye smiled upon them. Waiting for their voyage across the open waters and into a journey that Dakota would have never imagined to ever be a part of. All that was left was to say goodbye to those who have helped her or were nice enough to let her stay.
There was a field of reeds and she was walking up the hill. The sun shining down and upon that hill stood a figure.
AN: And so, we get a name to our mysterious antagonist. He is going to be a great addition to the cast of characters and one whose obsession with Dakota will know no bounds. What does he want with her? Why is he trying to get his hands on her?
We will begin the next chapter with the goodbye of Markos and Phoibe.