*******I'm back and we are now on the main plot of the story. Please, enjoy and leave reviews*******
Merina paced back and forth in her bedroom. Her thoughts were flowing like a waterfall. Her mind was pacing. She had called Patroclus to her room. She figured she had to tell someone. The kings of Crobyzes and Obulenses replied to the letter that Peleus wrote. Like Merina thought, the kings did not heed warning. They refused to move their people. Both kings of each Dacian city stated that they would be prepared to go to battle if necessary. Merina read many books about the Dacians. Their army was nothing compared to the Achaeans army. Merina thought about her homeland. She imagined if her homeland was invaded and people killed her sisters, brothers, mother and father. If anything of the sort happened, she would be devastated. Achilles, Patroclus and the people of Greece had been so kind to her. She didn't agree with Agamemnon at all. She wanted to help Achilles. For him to receive such a task was horrible. Merina didn't want people to die. Merina pulled the string on her white linen pants. They were fitted to her ankles. She wore a black halter top that exposed her abdomen. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. She paired the outfit with matching black flats. Merina started to fidget with the turquoise dots in her earlobe. Knock, knock. She stopped pacing when she heard the knock at her door.
"Enter." Merina replied.
"Merina. You wanted to see me?" Patroclus asked. He was wearing fitted black pants, a fitted back shirt with brown boots. He wore a belt with the emblem of Achaea embed on the silver metal piece that held his pants up. He wore black fingerless gloves. His hair was pushed back from his face which made his bright blue eyes stand out more.
"I overheard Sir Peleus and Achilles talking. I'm pretty sure you know too. They didn't listen." Merina began.
"I know. It is very unfortunate; however, we are thinking of plan two before we depart for Dacia." Patroclus replied. Merina closed her eyes and sighed.
"Patroclus." Merina bit her lip.
"Yes?"
"I may be your plan two."
"What? What are you talking about Merina?" Patroclus didn't understand what Merina was saying.
"Please, don't be scared." Merina held one hand over the other. She generated a small ball of fire. She moved her hands apart to make the ball expand. Patroclus's blue eyes grew wide. His mouth dropped in disbelief. Merina folded her hands together to relinquish the flames. She looked at Patroclus waiting to see his reaction. His mouth remained open. It took him a while to speak. He was used to seeing mystical abilities from gods and goddesses but, he didn't expect Merina to have any special abilities. Finally, able to speak, Patroclus asked,
"How?'
"This is how I've been since I was born." Merina replied.
"Amazing. Why didn't you tell us?" Patroclus asked. Merina lowered her head in shame.
"I didn't want you or Achilles or anyone else to fear me like so many others back in my homeland did." Merina replied. Patroclus put his index finger and thumb to his chin. He thought for a while.
"We have to tell Achilles." He said.
"I know. If you would listen to me, I have a plan that may work. Patroclus, I don't want to see people die and war is unnecessary for a situation like this." Patroclus agreed with Merina. Starting a war was pointless because a king wasn't getting his way.
"We depart in an hour. Achilles is the commander, so, he needs to hear this. Shall I get him maiden?" Patroclus asked. Merina was hesitant to reply. It took her a while but, she nodded her head yes. "I'll be right back." Patroclus said exiting the room. Moments later, there was a knock at Merina's door. She answered. Her big eyes looked worried. There stood Achilles and Patroclus. Achilles looked down at Merina.
"You called me here?" Achilles asked. "What's wrong?"
"Come in." Merina said opening the door. Achilles and Patroclus stood in Merina's room with both of their arms crossed. Patroclus nodded his head to signal Merina to tell Achilles. She cleared her throat. "I overheard you and your father talking." Merina said to Achilles. "I know that the Dacians aren't listening. What do you plan to do?" Achilles leaned against the wall behind him.
"I will now have to go there myself and talk to the kings." Achilles replied.
"They already feel threatened." Merina reminded Achilles.
"That's the only option we have left."
"And if they continue to refuse?" Achilles bit his lip. "You have to trick Agamemnon. He must think you ransacked both cities. How will you do that?"
"If I talk to both kings face to face, explain the situation and get them to lie in a letter- "
"He would go there to check to see if you complied with his request. Won't he not?" Achilles thought for a while. Merina was right. "Achilles, I can help. I agree with you going to talk to the kings. Peace should always be maintained."
"How can you help?" Achilles wondered. "A mere woman?"
"I am not just a mere woman!" Merina paused. She lifted her right hand and created a ball of fire in her hand. Achilles's eyes glistened from the light of the flame. Merina closed her hand and extinguished the fire. Achilles blinked in disbelief. Patroclus looked at Achilles waiting to see his reaction.
"Mimi. How in the hell can you do that?"
"It's a long story. Anyways, this situation can escalate very quickly. Let me speak to the kings."
"And say what?"
"Trust me. Please." Merina pleaded. "You can still command your men but, let me do the talking." Merina stared into Achilles's eyes. Achilles stared back into hers. Alluring, calm and sure her eyes were. For some reason, he trusted her.
"Fine." He agreed. Merina smiled.
"Good. You still need to leave from here two days after us for this to work." Achilles sighed.
"Fine."
"Alright so here's the plan." Merina began.
The time had come to depart. The sun was in the center of the sky. Merina put the hood of her cloak on her head. Patroclus helped Merina into the chariot. There were 10 wagons and 4 chariots full of myrmidons that would be accompanying them to Dacia. Achilles bid a temporary farewell to his friends. Menilos steered the horses and led the way north to Dacia. The further north they went, the colder it became.
"Damn. It's getting cold." Patroclus said wrapping a blanket around himself. Merina was reading a book. Her face looked worried. "Merina? Merina?" Merina ignored Patroclus. "Merina!" Patroclus yelled. Merina shook her head.
"I'm sorry." Merina replied.
"What are you reading?" Patroclus asked. Prior to their departure, Merina had visited Achilles's father's library. She wanted to brush up on the Dacian language. While she was searching for a Dacian language book, she found another. She remembered something her father had told her a while ago.
"Patroclus? When the letters were sent out to Dacia, to the king of Obulenses and Crobyzes, did they both reply?" Merina asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Did each king send their own individual letter?" Patroclus thought for a minute.
"I'm really not sure."
"Neither am I. From what Sir Peleus said, it sounded like two people had responded." Merina bit the nail of her thumb. Patroclus saw that Merina was lost in thought.
"What are you getting at?" Patroclus asked. Merina closed the book she was reading and placed the book in her lap. She looked into Patroclus's blue eyes.
"When I was a little girl, my father said something. I don't know why it just came to my mind. My father said there was a country in the far north where the sky is always grey, and the weather is cool." Merina opened the book in her lap. She turned the page to a map of the world. "Father said the country was right above Moesia."
"Ok?"
"My father said the king of Dacia has never been seen." Merina continued.
"What do you mean he's never been seen?" Patroclus crossed his legs.
"Usually people of a country see's their leader or leaders every once in a while."
"But Dacia is like Greece. There are multiple kings in Dacia like there is in Greece."
"If so, why did Peleus only send letters to the cities of Obulenses and Crobyzes? Why not send letters to the cities of Bastarnae or Britolages?"
"Because Agamemnon doesn't do trade there."
"Understandable but, why not trade with the rest of Dacia? They are weapon forging people. He can trade further north. He wanted Achilles to kill everyone in both cities." Merina's eyes widened. "He's trying to expand Achaean territory. It's not only about trade and not having his way. Take control of two smaller cities, then you could control four, then six, then 10."
"Then you control the country." Patroclus added.
"So, he really is having Achilles do his dirty work. Patroclus, something isn't sitting right with me."
"How so?"
"I studied about Dacia for a long time. Combining what I know and the stories my father told me, there should be only one king of Dacia. The capital of Dacia is Sarmizegetusa Regia. In a solo monarchy, the king usually resides there." Merina cleared her throat. "I wish Achilles were here to clarify the names of the kings of Obulenses and Crobyzes. You don't know who they are? Do you?" Merina asked. Patroclus shook his head no.
"I forgot their names." Merina looked out of the chariot window at the full moon.
"Have you ever seen a Dacian native before?" Merina asked Patroclus.
"I haven't." He replied. As Merina gazed out of the chariot window, she had a flashback.
"Like you Merina, the people of Dacia are cursed."
"Cursed? How so father?"
"Legend has it that the people of Dacia have been cursed for over a century. No one has ever seen their leader."
"How can that be? We see our king quite often." Merina's father laughed.
"We do dear. However, because of the curse upon the Dacian people, there are only two cities that neighboring countries can enter. Obulenses and Crobyzes. It is said to the north of Dacia, there is a wall that separates Dacia from its northern and western neighbors. Look here." Merina's father pointed to a map. "There's a wall between the Miesian and Dacian border too."
"I don't get it. Why?"
"Dacian's aren't too keen on outsiders so; I am assuming they built walls around their land. Dacia is one of the many lands where it snows. Not too much is known about the Dacian people. We know what they trade and their language but, not too many people from our land go there. From stories I have heard, there is a saying about the Dacians."
"What is that father?"
"Snow like skin bright and fair, vicious they can become so beware." Merina's father replied.
"Vicious they can become so beware…. It makes sense." Merina said to herself.
"What makes sense?" Patroclus still had a tough time following along. Merina faced Patroclus.
"Do you want to hear a bedtime story?"
*******************Hope you guys enjoyed. Please review. If I don't post for a few days, I am super busy with final projects for school and working on this story. I promise I will update as soon as possible. Thanks again! ****************