Chapter One
The Island of Niebos, ca. 500 B.C.E.:
It was my first journey by ship. Up to that time, I'd been a slave in the household of Archelous, a general of Thebes. He was not by nature a cruel master… simply an impatient one some times. I have no memories of life before his household… so cannot tell how I came to be there.
While still very small, I learned that if I were quick and clever, I could avoid mistreatment at either his hands or those of the house manager. I carried firewood, I carried platters of food, and I carried gifts for my master… accepting them from those who offered them… and being the one who brought them for his inspection. As I grew older… I became a food taster. Most households had them… poison was all too common. I came to sleep in my master's room… and sometimes in his bed. As far as I was concerned… life was as it should be.
I was warm, cared for, and well fed.
The Theban king selected Archelous to lead a force from Thebes against Assyrian invaders massing on the western shores of what is now Asia Minor, and was concerned as the local priests foresaw some problem for this campaign… but could say nothing more. Archelous, therefore, determined to visit one of the oracles. Perhaps because its location was on his way to the shores of battle, he chose to drop anchor at Niebos… and the Oracle of Poseidon. He took me with him.
I was about twelve at the time… not yet old enough to fight… yet too young to remain behind. He'd been training me some with the use of spear and sword… and had promised me my freedom when I was old enough to serve in combat. Like most boys of that age… I was eager for the chance to prove myself in battle. Ah… the impetuous nature of youth that sees only the glory… and not the carnage of war.
As it was… Archelous dropped anchor near what is the village… at the time… only a cluster of stone huts huddled on the shore. The great stone dock was there as it is now. The villagers then as now… believed in the power of the gods… and saw their lives as ones of service and protection. I didn't know it then, of course. I stood by the rail of Archelous' ship and stared at the village, the villagers going about their normal activities, the mountain that led to the temple complex at its summit, and the long winding path, filled with pilgrims who also sought a word with the oracle.
I knew nothing of the reverence the pilgrims felt as they made their way slowly up the mountain. Nor did I know where the oracle was. I only knew we were here for Archelous to ask his question about the coming battle… and that then… we would leave.
As the ship weighed anchor next to the dock, villagers plied the ship's complement with offers of fresh fruit, bread, cooked meat on skewers, bolts of fine cloth and small statues carved from the obsidian found on the mountain's sides. Those who came without proper tribute for the gods sometimes purchased it from the villagers, or sometimes… it was just food for the journey up the mountain.
My master waved them aside indignantly. He'd brought his own tribute… an ebony chest filled with gold coin and precious jewels collected from his many campaigns over the years. Archelous thought he understood the greedy nature of priests… and that his tribute to the oracle would facilitate our being ushered to the front of the line. He bade me carry the open chest behind him as he and I departed the ship and headed toward the mountain.
He was in for a surprise.
No amount of tribute would turn the heads of the novices ushering penitents onto the trail that zigzagged up the face of Mt. Niebos then as it does now. We would have to take the long trail up… and wait our turn. He realized it might be several days before our turn arrived to stand before the oracle.
It was then that he chose another course of action… one that had profound effects on my life. He broke the rules.
Archelous noted pilgrims arriving in the village by a path along the shore. He'd also noted them along this path from sea… and that it had led from the small cove where the oracle read the words of the gods in the sea-spray at low tide.
I can still recall the glee on his face as he realized that no one was guarding that path. He motioned for me to follow and led the way along it. I recall passing a few people who looked at us strangely, but being a boy… and a slave… I thought they were staring at the tribute in my arms. Until the night Reagan and I buried Valeraine at the cove… I've never gone that way again.
My first sight of the cove of Poseidon was a stunning one. The sun was high in the sky and warm sea breezes blew on my face as I saw the jagged cliff-face towering above the crescent of white sand. Along the steps carved into the cliff, were pilgrims awaiting their turn. All along the carved stairs were white-garbed young novices… assisting the pilgrims… helping them as they waited and descended. On the beach itself was an old man I came to later know was Orpheum, the chief priest. He strummed a lyre and chanted as each pilgrim came forward and knelt in the surf to cry their question to the oracle.
Ah… the oracle. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Taller than any woman I'd met, she swayed hypnotically in the water. From where I stood she seemed to float above the surface of the waves and dance in the crashing surf. Her low voice hummed and chanted her replies as she moved about and waved her arms in the dance. She was a sight to behold.
Her black hair was loose about her shoulders and drops of water sparkled in the sunlight on her long locks. Like the others, she was dressed in white linen. I could see no jewel or sparkle of gold on her or on any of the others. When she answered the pilgrim's questions… he or she would rise and bow and leave along the path we'd arrived on.
Archelous stepped forward onto the beach. I remember Orpheum glancing up at him with a startled expression and two of the novices swiftly descending onto the beach. The oracle was suddenly motionless in the water as the waves continued to crash about her and pound the beach.
My master fell to his knees and bowed low… prostrating himself in the water. "Oh mighty Voice of the Gods… one comes humbly to ask guidance," he said. I stood quietly behind him and bowed at the waist… afraid to meet her eyes.
"My words are for those who journey up the mountain… not for thieves in the night."
"I bring great tribute and my need is great." He motioned me forward so that my feet were in the water. Again I bowed, but I'd noted her looking at me intently. I held out the box of tribute.
"I have no words for you," she replied and motioned for the novices to escort my master and me off the beach.
"Great Lady," Archelous continued, shrugging off the gentle hands of the two who tried to take his arms. "I lead my troops into a great war. I ask for guidance and the blessings of the gods. My need is great and time is of the essence."
"Time?" she replied with a laugh. "Time is important for all who come to hear the truth. If others can climb the mountain, even the old and sick, can you not who are young and hearty? Be gone! I have no words for you!" Again she motioned.
My master snatched the tribute from my arms and stepped further into the water until he was waist deep. He held it out to her. "Many can benefit from my gift. Send me not away!"
She moved some steps closer. Again it seemed she walked the water's surface. The effect was dazzling as the waves crashed around her and the sunlight shone through the spray like a thousand diamonds. "Then climb the mountain." She turned and walked back to where she had been.
From the cliff-face came jeers and taunts of others that we were holding up the line. Never had I seen my master so angry. His face was livid as he stormed out of the water and shoved the chest back into my arms. He hesitated as if to turn and press his case once more, then he turned to storm back along the path upon which we'd come.
I followed, but evidently not quickly enough. He grabbed my shoulder angrily and pushed me ahead of him. I stumbled and fell… the tribute was scattered on the rocks and sand.
I was never clear on what happened next. He began lashing at me angrily so that his blows fell one after the other and his foot connected with my chest several times. All the while he was calling down curses on my clumsiness. I recall an explosion of pain so great that I nearly blacked out and felt sick to my stomach. I pulled in and began to retch upon the sand.
His blows stopped and I realized that the oracle and her novices had pulled him off of me.
"There is no reason to take out your anger on the child!" I heard her say.
"He's my slave! What business is it of yours?" He must have pulled free of her restraint as he kicked me again. "Get up!" he shouted at me.
"I am making it my business," she replied.
I rolled over on my back, realizing that my right arm was broken. It flopped and waves of fire and pain traveled along it. Understand… I'd never been beaten before… well not like this. I was having trouble even seeing by this point, much less in understanding what I did see or hear.
"You offer tribute? Then hear now the words of the gods. None shall return from this fool's crusade. Death will claim all of you." Her voice seemed filled with great sadness.
My master snarled and pulled me to my feet. I screamed in pain as I fell to my knees and his blows descended on me again.
Again he was pulled off of me.
She knelt beside me and I felt her cool hand on my fevered brow as I wept. I was vaguely aware that she picked up a great diamond that lay not far from me. "I accept your tribute. But I return to you this stone in exchange for the boy." She rose and held it out to him.
My master sputtered… evidently determined to take me with him.
"Touch him not again," she said. "Or death will find you long before you leave this place."
Archelous pulled free of the two novices holding him and straightened with all the dignity I had ever seen of him. He held out his hand for the stone, then pivoted and marched away along the path. It was the last time I ever saw him. I recall reaching out to him with my good arm and calling his name… but he never turned.
The oracle knelt beside me once more. "I need to set his arm and tie it down. Carry him then to the temple." She ran a hand through my hair and, leaning close to my ear, whispered to me to sleep… and I slept.