****** I'm back with another update! Please enjoy! If you have any recommendations about future events in this story, please feel free to leave a comment or PM. Please review! No negative comments please. If you don't like the story, go to the next one. Thank you*****
Like her father had said, Dacia was dull and gray. The sun was hidden behind heavy gray clouds. An hour had passed since Patroclus, Merina, Menilos and the myrmidons had crossed the Miesian border. Despite the gloomy weather, the terrain was different from Greek terrain and was beautiful to look at. Merina gazed at the vast mountains and hilly plateaus. The weather in Dacia was cooler than Greece and Egypt. She wasn't used to cold weather.
"Achoo!" Merina sneezed.
"It is cold here." Patroclus shivered. In order to gain warmth, Patroclus placed his armor on. His armor covered his torso and his hands. The red shirt he wore underneath the armor could be seen. The armor had gold trim on the torso. The armor on his kneecaps and shoes was half blue and silver with the Achaean emblem engraved into it. The gold sword that Patroclus carried was in its sheath on his back. "How much longer until we reach the palace of Crobyzes?" Patroclus asked the myrmidon steering the chariot.
"Not too long." The myrmidon replied. Menilos sat beside Merina sharpening an arrow. Patroclus sat beside Menilos and crossed his legs. He looked at Merina. He remembered the story Merina had told him. What if it was true? Patroclus thought. Patroclus gazed out the chariot window.
"You're not used to this weather, right Merina?" Menilos asked Merina.
"No. My homeland's terrain is desert. We have valleys and some hills but, everything is dry unless you reside by the Nile."
"Your country sounds interesting. I was reading a book and your country holds one of the seven wonders of the world. The py-py." Menilos had a hard time pronouncing the word 'pyramid'.
"Pyramid's of Giza?" Merina said correcting Menilos.
"Yea! That! I'd love to see them some day. How do you say, 'Pyramid of Giza' in Egyptian?" Menilos asked.
"Ahramat Aljiza." Merina replied.
"Your accent is so cool. Do we have an accent to you? What I mean by 'we' are us Greeks." Merina chuckled.
"A bit. I'm used to speaking and hearing Greek- "Suddenly, the chariot came to a screeching halt. The sudden stop caused Menilos, Merina and Patroclus to fall out of their seats. The wagons and chariots that were behind the one that contained the trio crashed into one another. The sound of neighing could be heard from the horses. Patroclus stood up holding his head after hitting it on the edge of the chariot bench. He ran outside into the cool air.
"What the hell was that?" Patroclus asked the myrmidon.
"I-I don't know. This girl just appeared and started petting the horse." The myrmidon replied. Patroclus peered over the horse and saw a girl petting it. The girl wore a long white dress with a brown cloak on top. The cloak had a hood with fur around the edges. The girl was pale as snow with long white hair. Half of her hair was tied into a braided bun that was held by a red ribbon. Her eyes were a light gold.
"There, there precious pony." The girl said trying to calm the horse down. "There's no need to be afraid." Patroclus stared at the girl. She seemed to be no more than 17 years of age. Her beauty was captivating. Patroclus felt like he was staring at the goddess Aphrodite. Patroclus watched as the girl calmed the horse. Without moving her body, the girl looked into Patroclus's eyes. She smiled. Her smile was beautiful however, it was eerie.
"Why did you block our path?" Patroclus asked the girl.
"I saw the horses and I wanted to pet them." The girl replied.
"You never saw a horse before?"
"I have but, your horses were more appealing to me." Menilos and Merina joined Patroclus outside of the chariot. When Merina saw the girl, she felt a chill go down her spine.
"We are in a hurry madame. We must get to the king of Crobyzes and Obulenses. So, if you would please excuse us. We'd like to take our leave." Patroclus said with a firm voice. The girl smiled. She let a childlike giggle escape her lips. "What's so funny?" Patroclus asked.
"Nothing." The girl replied. The girls bright golden eyes turned to Merina's. Merina's heart jumped when the girl made eye contact with her.
"If you want, I can lead you to the palace." The girl offered.
"Why should we trust you?" Patroclus asked growing wirily.
"I was just trying to be friendly." The girl started to walk towards Patroclus. For some reason, the girl moving made Patroclus uncomfortable. The girl sniffed Patroclus.
"What a lovely smell." The girl said. Patroclus stiffened. His eyes met the mysterious girls' golden eyes. "What cologne do you wear?" She asked. The girl buried her face in Patroclus's chest.
"Patroclus." Merina said.
"I know." Patroclus went to grab the sword from its sheath. Just when he was about to do so.
"Vitanzia!" A voice yelled. A tall man came running down the hill to the left of the Greeks. The girl released her grasp from Patroclus's armor. "I found you!" The man said panting. He was out of breath. Vitanzia looked up at the man. He was also pale. His hair was blondish white. His eyes were golden too. He wore white pants and a dark blue cloak over his clothing. He had a silver piercing in each ear. His eyes looked sleepy. "Are you crazy!? Why are you out here!? You can't be out here!"
"I made friends brother." Vitanzia.
"Friends?" The man asked. He turned to face a dozen pair of eyes that were staring at him. "Oh my." The man laughed. "I am so sorry. Did my sister cause you guys trouble?"
"A tiny bit." Patroclus replied. The man chuckled.
"Please forgive her. My sister can be a handful at times." The man said walking over to Patroclus. He extended his hand to Patroclus. "My name is Dazius." Patroclus accepted Dazius's handshake. 'His hand is so cold' Patroclus thought.
"My name is Patroclus. Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise. What brings the Achaean's to Dacia?" Dazius said looking at the emblem on Patroclus's armor.
"We are here to speak to the king of Crobyzes and Obulenses." Patroclus answered.
"Is that so?" Dazius questioned.
"Yes. It is important that we speak to them quickly."
"I see. Well, to recompence for my sister bothering you, I would be glad to escort you to the palace grounds." Dazius offered. "If that's ok." Patroclus walked to Merina. He asked:
"Should we trust them?"
"The girl is a bit strange but, her brother seems somewhat normal." Merina replied. Menilos cleared his throat wrapping his blue scarf around his neck.
"I think we should follow them. It's getting dark. It may be quicker to follow them." Menilos stated. Merina clenched her teeth.
"He is right. Soon it will be dark." Patroclus agreed. Merina sighed.
"Fine. Just be alert at all times." Patroclus turned to face Dazius and his sister Vitanzia.
"We accepted your request. You shall lead us to the palace of Crobyzes. But, be warned. If anything funny happens, we will not hesitate to strike. Do you understand?" Dazius placed his hand behind his head and laughed nervously.
"Totally." Patroclus moved aside allowing Vitanzia to enter his chariot. Dazius mounted the horse that one of myrmidons were on. "You have my word." Dazius smiled. As Vitanzia made her way into the chariot, she glanced at Merina.
"I'm not strange." Vitanzia said sitting on the chariot's bench. Merina's eyes widened. How the hell did she hear me? Merina thought.
Achilles sat in his elaborate chariot lost in thought.
"Lord Achilles?' One of the myrmidons called out to him. "Sir Achilles!" The myrmidon yelled loud enough to get Achilles's attention.
"I'm sorry. Did you say something?"
"We are soon to take our leave. Neoptolemus is here to bid you farewell sir. May I let him in?"
"Yes." Achilles replied to the myrmidon. The myrmidon stepped out of the chariot. Neoptolemus entered.
"Hello father. You forgot your scarf so; I came to bring it to you." Neoptolemus said handing an orange scarf to his father.
'Thank you. Please, do not give your grandfather any trouble while I am away." Achilles demanded.
"I won't." Neoptolemus smiled. Achilles patted Neoptolemus on his head. "Please bring me something back cool from Dacia. It can be something from nature. You don't have to buy it." Achilles smiled at his son's humbleness.
"Will do kiddo." Achilles heard one of his men announce that the were ready to depart. "Get back inside the palace." Neoptolemus hugged his father.
"Love you father. See you soon. Please tell everyone hello. Tell Ms. Merina that I am looking forward to hearing another one of her stories." Neoptolemus jumped out of the chariot. He waved goodbye as the chariot and entourage of myrmidons left the palace grounds.
"Speaking of Merina." Achilles said to himself. Prior to Neoptolemus entering his fathers' chariot, Achilles had remembered something. He was thinking back to the night when Thetis, his mother, asked him if he'd rather live a long life or die a hero?
Achilles followed his mother to the prayer room that was dedicated to the gods and goddesses. He couldn't understand why his mother would ask him a question like that? Achilles hid behind a pillar as he watched his mother kneel before a statue of Zeus.
"Oh, Father Zeus. My son has chosen his destiny. My heart is shattered. Is there anything in this world at all that can save him? I dipped him in the river Styx to give him immortality. Not to perish." Just then, the statues eyes turned a bright red. The arms of the statue moved. The statue used its hands to create a cloud. Thetis lifted her head and investigated the cloud. The statue began to speak.
"The fate of your son has been predicted by the gods. He himself has chosen his fate. When choosing one's fate, there are always two roads. Your son has chosen the left side of the road. That doesn't mean he can't choose the right side of the road. Arrogant, impulsive, bodacious and vengeful your son shall become but, there is a bright light in his future. An elegant flame that can cause your son to choose the right side of the road. That decision is entirely up to your son. A long life he can have because of this bright flame. His loyalty, love and devotion to his country maybe his doom. The choice is your sons." Achilles could make out bits and pieces of what the statue was saying. He couldn't see what his mother was watching in the cloud the statue had formed. Achilles heard laughter and children. The statues eyes soon stopped glowing red and returned to the position it was originally in.
"An elegant flame huh? Can't believe I forgot about that." Achilles said to himself. Achilles dazed out of the chariot window as it sped off towards Dacia.
*******Please leave reviews. Again, I am in my finals week so if I don't update frequently, I am sorry. Remember, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.