Chapter III: The armoury.
"Where were you?" Pythagoras asked while he stood waiting in front of the tavern.
"I saw something that I found interesting." Icarus said joining his friend once again.
"What was it?" He asked curious.
"Nothing really." Icarus said with a shrug and walked inside joining Hercules and the man.
"There you are." Hercules said and padded the empty chair next to him, inviting them to sit down. Icarus and Pythagoras both sat down at the table and looked at the three piles of silver coins.
"These three stacks contain fifteen coins each. This is your payment for travelling with me." The man said while they all collected their payment. The man said no other word and walked away.
"I think it is best if we return to Atlantis tomorrow." Pythagoras said after some time, breaking the silence.
"I think that is a good idea." Icarus agreed watching their two friends. Pythagoras, Icarus and Hercules spent the entire day in the tavern, watching the people or thinking. In the evening, they ate together and when it was dark, Icarus and Pythagoras retreated for bed while Hercules stayed for some more wine.
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At dawn Pythagoras rose and awoke Icarus before awaking the loudly snoring Hercules. Hercules grumbled of being awoken so early, but it was best they would leave early instead of wasting daylight. They all three ate and drank something before they bought supplies for their way back to Atlantis. When dusk finally came that day they made camp. That morning they had not seen or heard from the man who they had travelled with and when they had visited the stables all seven of the horses where gone. Hercules had complained even more because now they had to walk the whole way back to Atlantis giving Icarus and Pythagoras almost a headache. They almost dragged him with them through the gates of Helios for they could not afford a horse. At first Hercules protested loudly at being dragged, but after some time grew tired of fighting Pythagoras and Icarus and reluctantly followed them.
Icarus fed the fire with dry twigs while Hercules munched on a piece of bread. He watched the vial with the clear liquid he was holding thinking if he would add a drop to Pythagoras cup but decided against it. It would be too dangerous for if they would be ambushed Pythagoras would not wake from his slumber and he could not help them defend themselves. He put the vial away and handed them their cups. When they all had enough, Icarus and Hercules lay down. Slowly the hours passed and somewhere halfway through the night Pythagoras awoke Hercules to take over the watch. He would have easily stayed up all night, but surely Icarus would be mad on him for doing so, so he lay down closing his eyes hoping he would have at least an hour of sleep tonight.
"Good morning sleepy head." Icarus voice murmured in his ear making him open his eyes.
"Good morning." Pythagoras said sitting up and looking around. Hercules was awakening too. They all ate something and drank something before they put the fire out and were on their way. So they continued to travel all the nine days it took them to reach the gates of Atlantis.
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"Ah, finally." Hercules grunted while he sat down at their table. His feet were sore from the long walks on the uneven and with stone filled soil their had walked over the whole trip.
"It is good to be home again indeed." Pythagoras said with a little smile while he looked through the room.
"I better go and see my father first. I need to go and bring him the money I earned." Icarus said still standing by the door.
"You will come back then?" Pythagoras asked walking back to his boyfriend.
"Depends on what my father says, Pythagoras. Otherwise I will return tomorrow to you." Icarus said with a little smile his eyes focused on his lips.
"All right then. I will wait for you here." With a kiss, Icarus vanished again on the streets of Atlantis on his way to his father.
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"Father?" Icarus called standing outside of their house, waiting for the door to be opened.
"Icarus." His father greeted him with a hug when he had opened the door and let him in. "How was your trip?"
"It went fairly well." Icarus said and showed him the ten silver coins that were left after their trip. He took them from his son's hand and put them in his own pouch. "Is there anything I need to do for you?"
"You want to be off again?" He elderly man asked sitting down. "You want to leave your old man yet again after over two weeks being gone after five minutes?"
"I wish to go back to Pythagoras, but if you wish me to stay, I will stay here for tonight." Icarus said sitting down as well. His father clasped his hand in his own.
"I would like that yes." He said with a little smile. Icarus spent the rest of the day with his father, telling him about the journey. He listened to his father about what he had to tell. Overall, he enjoyed the time he spent with his father, and his father as well. He never liked it when Icarus had to leave, especially for longer periods but he should not complain about he brought money with him.
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In the morning, Icarus said his father farewell and walked over the market bringing some bread and grapes with him on his way back to Pythagoras and Hercules. When he stood waiting for the door to be opened he rearranged the supplies in his arms so he had one hand free. When the door opened, it revealed a very sleepy Hercules.
"Good morning." Icarus said stepping inside. "I thought it would be nice to bring you something to eat." He put the bread and grapes on the table.
"Morning, thanks." Hercules replied while he shut the door again and sat down at the table.
"Where is Pythagoras?" Icarus asked not seeing him to greet him.
"His room, probably asleep. He supposed to open the door for you." Hercules said before he popped some grapes in his mouth. Icarus nodded and walked in to the bedroom of Pythagoras.
"Hi." Pythagoras said, still sitting on his bed.
"Good morning." Icarus said while he sat down on Pythagoras' bed.
"How was your father?"
"My father was happy to see me again, that is why I stayed with him overnight." Icarus explained. Pythagoras nodded and got some closer to him.
"I'm happy you are also back here." He said pulling him in to a hug embracing his warmth. Icarus hugged him back, burying his nose in Pythagoras' curls.
"Do too. I understand you did not want this on our trip, for Hercules' sake. It was very hard for me not to do so." Icarus said softly not letting Pythagoras move an inch.
"I knew I asked much of you, but you know it is much better than to have an upset and grumpy Hercules."
"I know. I hope he finds someone or something soon to brighten his life."
"I do too, I do too." Pythagoras muttered in his shoulder.
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"Here I am again." Icarus announced himself while he entered the room.
"Hi." Pythagoras said looking up for a moment from his triangles. A week had passed since they had returned from their journey to Helios.
"I have good news." Icarus said while he put the supplies down on the table.
"What is it?" Pythagoras asked while his eyes where once again glued on his parchment.
"My father had found a job for me." Icarus announced with a smile.
"And what could that be?" Hercules huffed, totally bored with Pythagoras and his triangles.
"I'm going to be a mechanic for the armoury of Atlantis."
"How much does it pay?" Hercules asked.
"One silver coin a day, which is just enough to support us and my father." Icarus said with a smile. "What do you think Pythagoras?"
"What do I think about what?" Pythagoras asked. He had only heard half of what Icarus had told.
"What do you think of my new job?" Icarus asked confused.
"Oh, eh, I think it is good that you have a job." Pythagoras said and managed a smile. "When do you start?"
"I start tomorrow, an hour after dawn." Icarus said. Pythagoras nodded as well as Hercules.
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"Pythagoras, please." Icarus said watching his friend cracking his scull once again over his triangles. It had become already late and Icarus had become tired.
"No, not yet. I'm sure I will have it this time." Pythagoras replied his eyes fixed on one of his drawn triangles. Icarus sighed yet again and rubbed his hand over his face before he suddenly remembered the vial he had bought in Helios. Icarus stood and poured two cups of water, adding a drop of the clear Valerian liquid to one of the cups.
"Here you go." Icarus said while he put the cup containing the drop on the table while he held his own cup.
"Thanks." Pythagoras said looking up for a moment to Icarus. It took for sure ten minutes before Pythagoras finally picked up the cup and took a large sip. He took a moment to think before he set the cup down and continued to watch his drawings and scribbles. When Icarus thought he had spent his money on just water, Pythagoras let out a yawn.
"You are tired, Pythagoras. Let us go and sleep." Icarus said and placed his hand on his shoulder drawing his attention. Pythagoras tried to hide another yawn, while Icarus shook his head. Icarus got hold of Pythagoras' upper arm and got up himself. "Come, please."
Pythagoras took a deep breath and slowly got up. Icarus gave him a hug before he looked in the sleepy eyes of Pythagoras. They dressed for bed and Icarus did not have the chance to say a good night to Pythagoras, because he was already soundly asleep.
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It was just getting dawn when Icarus awoke in the arms of his lover. Pythagoras was still soundly asleep, looking peaceful at last. He untangled himself from his arms and placed a kiss on his cheek before getting up and dressed. He ate a piece of bread with cheese and drank something before he was off for his first day of work. Atlantis just got awake when Icarus arrived at the armoury.
"You are Icarus?" A large man in armour asked when Icarus walked up to him.
"Yes." Icarus said while he looked at the man.
"Then come with me." The man said and walked through the wooden door in to the armoury. The man was built strongly with big muscles. He wore a simple but effective armour, well-polished. Also all the leather protectors as well as his shoes were worn, yet taken excellent care of. Dark eyes took him in. "I am Alessandro and I will oversee all your work." Icarus nodded and simply followed the man. "You can start with polishing the armour. When done, you come and get me."
"I will." Icarus said simply and set to work, polishing helmets and breastplates. Done with the helmets and breastplates it had already turned to noon and Alessandro came in and set a plate holding bread and a cup with water on a nearby shelf before he has him another glance and left again. Finishing the last breastplate Icarus got up and ate and drank before continuing with the shin protectors. When he had finished the arm and shin protectors he got up and searched for Alessandro.
"I'm done polishing." He softly announced to him when he had found him watching all kinds of maps. Alessandro looked up and gave him a nod. He walked back to where Icarus spent his day polishing and looked if he had done right.
"Not bad." The man said looking over the pieces of shining armour. "You can go home now." He said handing him a silver coin. "I expect you tomorrow at dawn again."
"Thank you." Icarus said with a smile, accepting the coin and putting it away. When he came outside he noticed it was already later in the afternoon, so he quickly made it over to Hercules and Pythagoras.
-Hi there, I hope you enjoy my story. I know it may take a bit long, but that is all part of that what I choose that should make him sick. So make a guess! I also must sat I know that I am numbering in roman numbers. I can count to ten in greece because of my education but I was not sure if the doc manager would take it, and as well to spell them looked a bit stupid if you asked me ;)-