Chapter II: To Helios

Two days later:

Pythagoras fastened the belt with the short sword around his middle. He thought they looked ridiculous but others might think they even now would think that they were underdressed as guards.

"Ready?" Hercules asked while he swung the bag with food and the water skins around his shoulder.

"It will not get better the longer we wait, so let us go." Pythagoras said while he picked up the two bedrolls and opened the door. He stepped outside and watched the sky. In a half hour it would be light so they luckily did not have to hurry to make it to the gates. Halfway to the gates Icarus stood waiting for them.

"Good morning." Icarus greeted when he saw then.

"Good morning." Pythagoras and Hercules greeted in unison. Together they walked up to the gate where the man stood where Pythagoras had spoken with two days earlier. The man only glared at them and walked them out of the gates where three horses stood loaded with three chests and three other horses saddled. The man gestured and with a nod all the got in to the saddle and left all with a load horse in tow. Soon the man joined them on his own horse and from the corner of his eye he could see Hercules roll his eyes.

Slowly they walked and slowly the day crept on and an hour before it would become dark they stopped and slid oud of the saddle. Hercules moved a bit stretching.

"We make camp here." He man said glaring at the three. Icarus and Pythagoras set out to gather firewood while Hercules took care of the bedrolls, the man took care of the horses. Soon the there was a little fire and Pythagoras was cooking dinner. Surrounded with only the sounds of the thin forest they were staying in and the crackling of the fire was the only sound. It was more an awkward silence than a comfortable one. When his stew was ready, Pythagoras handed everyone a bowl and they ate the simple meal. Hercules took the first watch when the rest would sleep. Pythagoras lay on his side facing Icarus while he listened to the crackling of the fire. He was asleep not very long when Hercules woke him so he could take over his watch.

"Sleep well." He said softly to not wake the others while he sat up and fed the fire with twigs. He watched Hercules go to sleep, to soon hear him snoring. When the moon stood high amongst the stars on the bright night awoken from his thought he softly awoke Icarus. "Your turn." He said softly before he lay down on his bedroll. Icarus kissed him.

"Sleep well." He said with a little smile and watched Pythagoras go to sleep or so he thought. Pythagoras had closed his eyes trying to get rest which had a tough time coming for him. Soon enough the man had awoken them all making Hercules complain because it had jet to become light when they all ate some bread and drank water. Soon the fire was out and the horses ready for departure.

And this went on for days. They were traveling over a small pass when suddenly from higher up fell a few little stones, alarming them from a possible companion in the pass. On their guard, they continued and just before they were out of the pass there stood a dozen men with their swords drawn.

"Surrender or you will die." The man in the middle, probably their leader yelled.

"Get ready for a fight." Hercules hissed while he drew his own sword.

"Over my dead body." The man yelled back and pushed the horses back while Pythagoras and Icarus drew their weapons and came to stand by the man.

"As you wish." The leader of the bandits said and in a blink of the eye they were in a fight. It was a two to one fight but the luck was with them. Most of the bandits were stupid as cows as Icarus played a little game that managed to let both bandits to kill each other giving him the chance to help Pythagoras who stood with his back to a large boulder, no way to run. Getting their attention, Icarus killed one while Pythagoras killed a second one. Together they killed a third. Half of the company of bandits slayed, they gave Hercules a hand who denied he needed the help that he could have handled it himself. On the same time the man had slayed his own rivals seeing the leader far away fleeing for his life. When they had collected their horses again who had become frightened by the smell of blood, Pythagoras dressed some little cuts before they continued.

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On their eight morning, finally the city came in to sight.

"Finally." Hercules grunted. He was tired of the horses and the lack of wine and food, not to mention his bedroll that would not do anything for the humps and bumps on the ground. They were all happy to finally see the city and more than ready to get back to Atlantis. At the time of dusk, they finally had reached the grand entrance of Helios, and in the blink of an eye they had found a tavern. Hercules was the one who was inside first and sat down at one of the tables. When the horses where cared for Icarus, Pythagoras and the man came inside all carrying a chest. Soon they had rented a room for the night and they were waiting for their food over a glass of wine. They are the simple but filling meal and after another two glasses of wine they all retreated to their room even if Hercules wanted some more wine. When finally washed they all where fast asleep. It was the first time Pythagoras fell almost instantly asleep, instead waiting up to an hour or two to fall asleep. Pythagoras knew it was not healthy that he had trouble falling asleep, but that would go away after a time, would it not?

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was Just after dawn that the man awoke them all. It was the last part of their journey, the delivery. They dressed again and finished some dried meat, bread and cheese before they made their horses ready again. Leading the three horses with their precious load through the crowd, they finally ended up at what appeared the rich part of the city. It was less crowded here leaving more place to walk. Soon they had reached on of the biggest of them. Their walls decorated with plants that carried flowers yellow and white.

"Finally, there you are." A young girl said leaning from her balcony. She was dressed in a light green dress while her long dark hair flowed in waves over her shoulders. Soon the grand doors were opened and three servants came up and took the chests from the horses.

"Let me see, let me see, let me see!" The girl said impatiently pushing the servants away. When she had peaked in to the chests she threw a bag at one of the servants who brought it to the man who accepted it.

"Thank you." He said shortly before he started to walk back to the tavern. Icarus walked in the back when he heard someone call softly.

"Hey you." An old lady said waving to come over at Icarus. He let fall back his pace till the others were further away, before turning and walking up to the old lady.

"What do you want?" He hissed at the woman.

"You seemed troubled." The woman said from under her hood.

"Get to your point." He said glaring. She held up a little vial with a clear liquid.

"This will help you sleep in the night, it seems you need it. It is a draught of Valerian." The woman said.

"What do you want for it?" Icarus asked after he had given him some thought. He knew Pythagoras had some difficulty getting his rest for it was one of the reasons he would go on till dawn. Besides, Valerian was a plant used for healing, right?

"Two silver coins." He woman said. Icarus retrieved his pouch and pulled out the last two silver coins that were in there and gave it to the woman.

"Here you go. One drop at the time it will be enough for a peaceful night. Try not to drink the whole flask for you might never wake up again." After handing Icarus, the vial, she disappeared in to the shadows. He put the vial in his pouch before hurrying back to the tavern.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Jason paced back and forth while Ariadne watched him. Ariadne sat on the chest that stood at the foot of their bed.

"Calm down Jason. This is not healthy." She tried for the seventh time without success.

"You know very well that we cannot rest till we have her destroyed for ever." He answered.

"I know, but can you not relax and enjoy the peace for a moment?" She almost pleaded, she was tired of this obsessed behaviour.

"You know this is only the silence before the storm. Do not fool yourself."

"I do not fool myself. I just wish to live my life." She said slowly losing her calm. She stood and went to stand right in the path Jason was pacing and looked at him. "On the moment, everything is going well. You should send word to your father if you wish him to help us." She said and slipped her arms around his waist letting her head rest on his shoulder. Jason embraced his wife and exhaled slowly trying to calm his nerve. He slowly inhaled the scent of Ariadne's hair.

"A day or two earlier or later would not mind, would it?" He softly questioned.

"A day or two? A week or two, you surely mean." Ariadne said and lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. "Everything will be all right, you will see." She smiled. "The citizens of Atlantis are on our side. And We still have Hercules, Pythagoras and Icarus who will help us when we ask them." Ariadne kissed Jason retrieving a little smile from him.

"They indeed will help when we ask. Maybe we should ask them to come over some time and let them use a meal with us. Surely Hercules will like that."

"I think Hercules indeed would like that." Ariadne said with a smile while Jason let out a chuckle and finally seemed to relax a bit.