I am so incredibly sorry that I've taken so long to write a new chapter. It's been a tough semester at school, and I've barely had time for anything. But I am managing my time more wisely now, so I shouldn't take forever to update. Anyways I hope you like it and let me know what you think : )
I sat on the chair facing the window. My eyes fixed upon the window that showed the stormy night I had sought temporary shelter from. I stared, yet I could not see. My mind was leagues away and all I had with me was the devastating ache of a broken heart. There were countless of thoughts in my head, thoughts I dared not pounder for the fear that they might bring forth more ache.
I sat in the dark, hearing the voices of the guests, who below sat with their friends and comrades. Voices were tainted with joy, or with seriousness and there was even carefree laughter that I fiercely envied.
Waiting and lost in my dilemmas, I lost count of time. I could not tell if minutes had gone by, or if hours had passed since I had heard the words that ended it all. When Arsenios opened the heavy wooden door to his room, the noise below was nearly non-existing, telling me that I had waited much longer than I believed.
The sound caused by his heavy footfalls echoed through the room. The candle he carried with him casted a warm golden glow in the room. I could the lines of his face strained with exhaustion, even more obvious when his travelling gaze missed my sitting form.
"Arsenios." My voice sounded strange to my ears. It was not tainted with emotions; it did not seem alive but rather toneless and haunting.
"Liah? Lass you can frighten an ol' fool to death sneakin' aro'nd at such times." Arsenios had a voice that was loud and deep. It was a Double-edged sword, I thought. It could serve to cause fear or give the illusion of safety.
"Forgive me, it was not my intent to frighten you." I replied softly.
"Tis well." He moved across the room, placing the candle on the table before the window, close enough to me to illuminate my features. Once again I lost myself gazing at the dancing flames of the candle. The color of the vibrant color of the flame brought images of flame-colored silky hair. I closed my eyes; shut my lids with force, willing away the memory of him.
I opened my eyes to see Arsenios before me with a worried look upon his face that cause more weight upon my soul. It caused me great pain to see the look of worry in this man's face.
"What is it, Liah? What's happened."?
"I have to go Arsenios." They were simple words that took more strength than I had. More will than I possessed.
"Go where, lass? Tell what 'as happened and don't you dare lie to me, I see the look of heartache in your eyes. What has given you that look?" This was a moment in which he chose to use his warming soothing tone. I did not want to hear it so, I wanted brutal words that would demand that I remained strong and defiant, not warm and comforting tones that made my eyes water and made me long for a tomorrow where all would be great.
"Brennus is not who I thought he was. He...I have to leave the city." I pleaded with my eyes that would ask me no more.
"What are you fleeing from, has he harmed you, cause if he has I'll flay-"
"Nay, Arsenios. He...he...is a spy. He lied to me to find things of my old land...He knows that I've discovered him and I have to flee before he finds me." Guilt waited my heart for not speaking truths with the person who had granted me friendship, shelter and food when I desperately needed it. But how could I tell this simple man that Ares, himself had stood against the Amazons leading us into defeat. How could I explain to him that the demented god had chosen me as his toy, and that he was Brennus. Would he even believe me?
"You've never spoke of ye land." His dark eyes spoke of the small resentment he felt towards me for keeping him from many truths. I owed him some truths that much I know. And perhaps if I survive through the land I would return one day to explain every truth.
"I hail from Trabzon...The land of the man-eaters, as many call us. The Amazons. News has traveled far enough, so that you are aware that most of my people perished under the battle with the Greeks. I was among the survivors. He...Brennus, he was in the battle. But I did not recognize him from that battle, but he recognized me. Always have. I did not realize he fought in that battle until I overheard a conversation which helped me realized what a blind fool I've been… I must go before he finds me." In words of half-truths I gave him a piece of my history I so fiercely guarded.
"What will he do to you?" Arsenios voice picked the tone that would help me remain strong.
"The best I could hope from him is death. But knowing him, hell ruthlessly obtain what he wants and keep me as a pet afterwards...Help me avoid this fate." I failed to describe how he had already ruthlessly taken the single thing I had left, my heart. I could bear to admit that truth out-loud.
"How can I?"
"I need Kohl, Arsenios." Kohl was the wild stallion he kept in his stables. He owned two great horses and I did not dare take Mara from him. Kohl ran like the wild wind, he was a strange horse, much like the ones my people rode.
"He's a dangerous one, if you must go then take Mara."
"No. I 'tis Kohl I need. I understand this horse, Arsenios, with all his wildness and boldness. He reminds me much of my land…we rode wild horses on their bare backs across the beautiful hills." The distant memory brought a wise smile to my lips.
"Verra well, then." A look of steel determination crossed his features and stood straighter and if today had not been a long day. I would hurt me to part form such a great person. "Remain here lass, I'll bring you warm clothes, suited for travelin', I duna want ye dyeing 'afore ye visit me again. And clean yerself, ye look like ye roll'd in mud." He said pointing to the large water basin in one of the tables.
He turned and left the room and I turned to distract myself with the petty tasks he had set for me. I cleaned my soiled feet and washed my face.
Arsenios as always, was true to his words. He returned to the room bearing clean clothes, a thick warm cloak and strong leather sandals.
***
Kohl's pelt was as dark as the night itself, truly black. He did justice to his name. He was one of the largest stallions I've ever seen and also the most untamable. I have always had a certain talent for horses, but during my stay in the inn it was rather difficult to befriend this one. Yet I somehow had managed what his owner had not.
"We are going to run free for a while, laddie. How's that sound?" I whispered into the horse's ear. Perhaps he understood me, for he seemed to nod in appreciation and nuzzle my chest in agreement.
"I wish there was another way to solve this." Arsenios stood a great distance from the horse and I. We had walked far to the outer skirts of Thebes, where the streets where no longer lined with cobblestones but with dirt and grass.
"It's the only way. I hope to go far, far away where Brennus cannot find me.... I shall miss you dearly."
"So shall I, lass, so shall I." He replied, daring to come closer to the horse and I, and embraced me.
"By the gods, I hope to see you again lass." His breath ruffled my hair.
"I will return in time, Brennus. Perhaps years from now. Stay alive till then old man." I attempted to joke. "Thank you so much for everything." I hugged him fiercely for a minute.
"Before I forget." He handed me a traveling pack. I could only begin to guess what was inside; food, water, and clothing. The thought brought me a small comfort for the trip ahead. I took it from his grasp and slipped it over my shoulder.
I remembered then that I wore an elaborate gold necklace that Br-Ares had given me. It was obviously a priceless piece. I tore it from my neck and placed it in the hands of Arsenios.
"Here, 'tis in payment for Kohl and everything, and do not dare refuse it." I smiled t him knowing by the look in his brown eyes that he was ready to refuse such gift. "It was from Brennus, and I want nothing from him. Please take it."
He held on to the jewel, his fist tight around the necklace.
I tried to memorize the face of Arsenios then, in the stormy night that surrounded us. He was not necessarily tall, but a bit above your average man, with a built of handwork and labor. His face was had lines of age, that said his age was a bit more than two-scores or years. His dark curly hair was tinted with gray, here and there, and there was a rare kindness in his eyes. IT was a kindness that countless of people loose during life.
"Thank you for taking me in. Perhaps in time I'll return." I needed a reason to survive my journey to an unknown destination. I would wonder the land for some time and perhaps settle in a place in disguise. The thought of returning to see my friend would give me strength. It would give me that which I so desperately needed; hope.
I clamed the horse in a swift graceful movement I was thought as a child.
"Goodbye, Arsenios." My voice was audible and strong despite the thunder and the strong winds.
"Goodbye lass. May the Gods be with you, and may luck smile upon you."
I nodded at him. I looked at Thebes far on his back, and looked at the ground that soon would turn into wild forest. I looked at him again. It took great effort to give him a smile, yet I did. I urged the horse forward and we rode through the lands as if Cerberus was on our heels. I lost all thought as the cold wind and rain splattered on my face. Kohl seemed not affected by my weight; his pace was one of wildness, of danger, and of urgency. We rose across the forest, across the mountains, stopping only when necessary. We rode to his home, wherever that may be.
***
The weak rays of the light of the sun filtered through the trees telling me that nearly an hour of sunlight remained. I walked by Kohl, holdings his reins in my hand as we searched the forest for a safe place to spend the night. We had crossed high mountains over the passed weeks and came through a forest that appeared to grow thicker the more we walked through. We had been in this forest nearly a fortnight. We were so very deep into the forest that the trees were no longer lithe and young. We were in a place where ancient trees stood. Trees so large they appeared to graze the sky in their great height and their trunks so thick that it was nearly the size of a small room.
Throughout our journey the forest had been naturally silent. The only sounds of the forest were the soft whispers of the wind, and the sounds made by its inhabitants who despite how feared in the human mind, had no wish to taunt us or frighten us. But today had been a strange day. Halfway through the day I heard hooves at a distance, then to have the haunting sound fade, and leave wondering whether it was an illusion.
The moon had graced the sky once since my departure from Thebes. And for that time I had lived much like the wild horse. The animal I understood, it would never betray me.
In Trabzon we held hunts for wild horses, after all they were beasts suitable for battles. Some we obtained from those we defeated, others were claimed from the hunt. Our horses in Trabzon were much like this Kohl I now rode. Wild and untamable, horses that would run through the wild country and never tire. You formed a bond with your horse; they were never to be broken. This bond, this kinship will allow us to ride low on their bare backs as they sped across the land. There was no feeling better than the wind on your face as you rose at a neck-break pace. These were our horses.
We created a routine. We stopped to eat, to rest and then continued to run through the land. We had traveled through the dense forest and across the mountains, then through the thicker one after it, always shying from towns and people.
In the wild the light of the day and the strange liveliness of the land erased the thoughts of Brennus. Of Ares. I had nothing to remind me of him. But when the horse and I sought shelter each night, and the rest of the world slept, I could not keep at bay the thoughts of him. I could feel his warm arms around me, the way his body felt on top of mine, his smile, his hair, his smell. His tender caresses and his strong hold.
I wept every time I remembered such loss. Such betrayal. At times my sobs would softly through the darkened forest, or the mountain. Kohl it seemed had grown accustomed to my grief. For in nights like that he slept next to me, his warmth somehow comforting. The wild animal understood my grief.
A sharp sound drew my attentions from my thoughts. I turned to discreetly scanned the area, but found nothing.
I heard again the strange rustling of the trees. I could have cursed myself for being so foolish as to not bring a weapon with me.
At a distance I saw a shape on a man approaching me. He seemed to be running towards me, but the shape was dense almost as if made of smoke, yet the closer he came to me, the more solid he became. There was no mistaking whom he was when he stood in front of me. Hermes, with the tousled golden hair and the flushed bronzed skin. He shone, even as Apollo pulled the sun away.
"Do you realize there's only so many frights my human heart can take?" I said to him, demanding and answer from the golden deity.
"I am sorry I frightened you, 'tis was not my intention." Hermes' sky colored eyes shone with honesty. Could this god really be as honest as he appeared? Or was he as great an actor as Ares?
"Why are you here?" The morbid thoughts added tension to my barely used voice.
"I came in search for you.... I am sorry about what happened. But I am relieved you've finally realized who he really is." He leaned forward and grabbed the Kohl's reins from my hand, his warm hand touching mine in the process. He petted the horse and the horse leaned into the deity's touch.
"When I saw you that evening.... why...why did you not tell me that Brennus was truly Ares? Why keep it from me?" I wanted some answers from Hermes, but I also wanted to be done with this in much haste. I had to find shelter to weep in this night. For his very being here reminded me of my brutally savaged heart.
Hermes turned back towards me, making me the focus of his brilliant eyes, his golden brow furrowed under his eyes. "It was not my place. You have to understand that your lov-"
"He's not mine." I interrupted before he could finish the sentence.
"Forgive me, my lady. I wished to tell you, but I was bound under oath. The war god would tear my immortal heart from my chest if I were to be the cause of...your disengagement."
I nodded. "You have come very far to find me, Hermes. Why?"
"I bear great news. Something to give you joys in time of grief. I found your sisters."
He found my sisters, he said. I cooked my head to the side and for a second I could not understand his words.
"You...found them?"
"Yes."
"You found them." My voice was barely a whisper. My eyes widened at the very thought of being reunited with familiar faces.
"They are in Argos. I came to take you to them." There are words that can cause your heart to bleed. Yet there arte also words that can mend a small bit of your heart, bringing you unimaginable hope. His words could not vanish Ares from my thoughts. They could not tear this pain inside me. Yet they did help, they gave me strength when I needed it the most.
"Thank you." I said to him.
I hope you enjoyed it, don't forget to let me know what you think : )
Thanks for reading.