An Odyssey Yarn
Chapter One
New Blood
Nikolaos raised his fist to halt his men and yanked his horse to a stop. He ignored the irritated stamp of the gelding's hoof as his gaze caught sight of the smoke rising into the sky from the east. Bandits? Persians? Unknown invaders or some drunk fool and his torch? He gritted his teeth and pointed to the column of smoke. His wife and young son would have to wait a bit longer. He swung his head to meet the eyes of each man that rode with him. They were all exhausted and had been returning to the main camp to be granted leave. He hadn't seen his family in two years and he'd just turned 30, which meant it was time for him to trade active service for active reserve. He'd earned his right to go home to his family. And while his wife was more than capable for a woman, it was time for him to see to his son's training. He would have three years with his son before he would be sent away at seven for agoge training.
Despite the grim faces, there was acceptance in his men's' eyes. They were going to investigate. It was their duty to Sparta. "We ride," he shouted as he kicked his heels into the gelding's side.
The horses' hooves were like thunder in his ears, the vibrations of each strike of hoof echoed through his body. He was grateful his mount's mane was still braided, preventing it from lashing him in the face. The whip of the wind kept the sweat from dripping down into his eyes, which was far more preferable than rubbing dust covered hands across his forehead. He was filthy enough; he did not need to add to it.
Instead of traveling down the road and straight into the village, he led the men through a copse of trees, weaving between the trunks to hide their advance as much as possible. The scent of burnt thatch and charred flesh caused his stomach to roll with discontent. Whatever happened, must have happened a few days ago. He swallowed hard and tried to ignore the sounds of retching that threatened his own gag reflex. He was no stranger to death, and the coppery scent of spilled blood, but sun-bloated corpses that were decomposing in the summer heat was something he doubted he'd ever get used to. Regardless, he gritted his teeth - determined his men would not see any weakness on his part.
He slowed Arcus to a walk as the tiny village came into full view. The two stone brick buildings seemed to have survived…at least the shell. Most of the clay brick homes were crumbling or severely damaged, the wood and thatch homes were little more than charred ruins, some still glowing with red-hot embers. But the fields were pristine and bountiful. The destruction was too finite to have been an accident and it was obvious they were too late to help the village, but they could bury the bodies and check for survivors.
Sliding down from the bay gelding's back, he rolled his shoulder to drop the strap the held his shield. He gripped the handle with his hand before it fell. His fingers curled tight around his spear. Some of the bodies looked to have been freshly piled and lit ablaze. He shuddered over the thought of the burning bodies. Why would anyone desecrate a corpse like that? He motioned to the men to show them the bodies a few paces to the left. He scanned the shell of a village, but there was no sign of motion. "We are not alone." But were those in hiding survivors or responsible? His voice rose to carry his next words. "I am Nikolaos. We know you are here. Come forward now or stay hidden and proclaim your guilt!"
For the barest of moments, he could swear there was an absolute, unnatural silence. A shiver raced down his spine, but he held his ground. His heart resumed beating when an eagle's cry broke the silence and the nearby bonfire resumed crackling. He raised the shaft of his long spear off the ground when two bears, a white lion and a white wolf stepped out of the rubble of a partially collapsed clay brick home. His stomach heaved when he noticed each animal's jaws were latched onto bloated corpses.
He nodded to his men and took a step closer and beat his spear against his shield to startle the beasts into dropping their prey. The animal's ears twitched, but gave little other indication that they acknowledged the advancing men that were beating on their shields. He heard a soft murmur of something soothing and saw the animals dragging their burdens towards he and his men. Fight or flight. That was how animals reacted…not…not whatever this was. He raised his spear at the wolf that pulling on a child's body…a naked boy that reminded him too much of his precious son, Alexios. He met the wolf's bright blue eyes. He'd never seen such a wolf before. Wolves were not as white as the snow on a mountain's top. Wolves did not have blue eyes that put the sky to shame. Neither did lions.
A little girl with soot streaked, pale golden-white skin, golden hair and eyes stomped forward, one hand clutched to her chest, the other held out towards him. "Stop!"
His world tilted in a brief moment of vertigo. When his vision cleared, he tried to lower his spear but it was if his arm refused to obey him. Instead, he looked at the little girl, with eyes so gold they all but glowed. No…they more than glowed. The color of her golden irises seemed to move as if they were alive, flowing like molten metal or waves on the sea. Such eyes were not possible. Surely, it was a trick of the light and shadows. But more than just her eyes seemed 'off'. She did not look Greek - with her pale, gold-dusted skin that gleamed pearl-like in the sun, light gold hair and those strange eyes. Perhaps she was from the north? Yet she spoke the language as if it were her own and looked no more than six. A couple of years senior to his son.
Loris briefly glanced at the other men, but it was the bearded man that led them. She focused her attention up at him. "You are too quick to raise your spear when you do not understand," she told him. "Look to your left and you will see that my friends are not eating those that have departed to the underworld." She pointed towards the fire.
His head turned, despite him not wanting it to, and he saw a massive white jaguar, with unusually long legs, drop a babe into the flames as gently as it could without getting burned itself. Another white beast with blue eyes. Another beast that should not exist. He blinked and lowered his spear, resting one end on the ground as he turned back to the child that spoke as an adult. The shock appeared to have worn off and his body was his own once more. He could hear the shuffling and cursing from his men as they too were released from the strange stillness. Adrenaline coursed through his blood, keeping his muscles tense and ready. By this time, the other animals were drawing closer to the flames with their grisly hauls. Why would animals dispose of the corpses? With a shake of his head, he forced himself to ignore what he could not understand and focus on the little girl. He slid the strap up his arm and swung his shield onto his back before he knelt down to better reach her eye level. "Did you see what happened here?"
She nodded and then shook her head. "I was down at the stream bathing and washing clothes as dawn rose to greet the sky. The smoke alerted me." So had the cries of pain that reverberated through her head. "I called to my friends. Those nearby came. I sent my eagles, Phoenix and Ikaros, to investigate, while I followed on foot. My other friends joined me when they could." She had seen a great many horrible things through the eyes of her creations. But she was helpless to get there any quicker. Even astride Leonidas' back, she arrived too late save anyone. "But we were too late – at least to save anyone from the village. I do not know why we were raided. Nor do I know why they killed everyone, but all that remained in the village met Charon." She frowned. Charon, like the Gods, may no longer exist. Perhaps her mother or the echoes would tell her later.
The fire leapt with a hiss as another body fed its flames. He eyed the large beasts warily. "You may release your…friends. My men can see to the dead." And by that, he meant bury them properly. But at least now the burning made sense. The bodies were beginning to decompose and the child lacked the strength to dig a grave.
She tilted her head in confusion. "Release them? I have no hold over them. They helped me because they wanted to." She blinked as she felt his unease. "Oh." The men were frightened of her friends. Unlike the village, they were not used to seeing large hunters. "My dear ones…" She waited until all of her friends were looking at her. "Return to your homes with my appreciation and my love. Your aid will never be forgotten." The two bears rose up on their hind legs and waved a paw. She giggled and waved back. A few large cats and wolves slipped silently into the shadows and out of the dead town. Leonidas, the lion, and Theos, the overly large jaguar, leapt to her side and rubbed their faces against her shoulders unwilling to depart. She raised her hand to pat the head of a large, white wolf with blue eyes. "Axios, Leonidas and Theos stay with me. We are packmates. I am their alpha."
Nikolaos blinked at that. The little girl must have been blessed by the Gods to control beasts with words or a mere thought. A blessed child that was now orphaned. "Your parents…."
She shook her head, her light golden hair glistening in the sun. The people chosen by her mother to raise her had not survived the attack. Her sire was little more than an echo from a long-dead past. The mother she was born to, she only saw in her dreams. But there was no need to talk of them, the man was referring to the family chosen to raise her. "My parents, Melita and Alector did not survive. I was too late to save them…" Her hand waved absently at the village. "…to save any of them…" she murmured.
He rose to his feet. Alector. A man he'd heard of but not met. A Spartan soldier a few scant years older than he was. "Take care of the bodies," he told his men and then moved to stand in front of the little girl. He knelt once more. Ignoring the large beasts, he settled his hands on the little girl's shoulders. "No, little one. Your mater and pater would not have wanted you to die with them. The Fates kept you alive because you have a greater destiny." He was not just trying to sooth her; he meant every word. He was sure she'd been blessed by the Gods, which meant she had a destiny. She was too important to die in a smoldering ruin.
A reflection caught his eye and he glanced down to see twin small daggers tied to her hips. His gaze rose to meet hers. "Do you know how to use them?"
Her lips tightened that he would even ask such a question. What good would her daggers do her if she did not know how to use them? "Of course. Pater trained me since I could run without falling."
Interesting and daring. Spartan daughters were not trained in battle as the sons were. They were educated, trained to be fit and honed – athletic and strong mothers who could bear and raise strong sons…Women that stood their ground, spoke their minds and defended their homes - but not true warriors. Not…unless they were blessed by the Gods. "If you would have me as your pater and join my family, then I will continue your training," he told her. She was a strong girl, blessed by the Gods and without fear. What man could ask for a better daughter?
He waited patiently while she studied him, her golden eyes narrowed in thought.
She could not feel any deception or malice in him. He was a strong and confident man. One that others looked up to. He reminded her a lot of her pater. "You have a family?"
He nodded. "A wife, Myrrine, and a son, Alexios." His eyes were automatically drawn to Alexios, his best friend and son's namesake, before lowering to meet her golden gaze once more. "They would welcome having a daughter and sister. It would make our family complete." He and Myrrine had been trying for years to have another child, but the Gods did not bless them with one. Perhaps this little girl was the reason why.
A family. She knew she needed a family. Orphans, in her village, were always taken in by family or neighbors. A lone orphan quickly became prey to those that would use them. And since she was not yet as strong as she needed to be to survive on her own, she needed what he was offering. Even better, he seemed to really want her – not just taking her in as an obligation. "Ok, pater. I am Loris and I will be your daughter."
He grinned and nodded at the small, golden child. "My family is blessed to have you in it." He heard a chirrup and looked down to see something waver in the palm cupped to her chest. "What do you have their, Loris?"
Her lips drew down into a soft frown. "Phoenix," she said as she slowly pulled her hand from her chest until a chick fuzzed in the color of burnt orange raised its wobbly head, eyes sealed shut, hooked bill open, cries of hunger emanating from it.
What? "You said you sent Phoenix and Ikaros to scout ahead?"
She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I did. But we weren't expecting you to show up. We weren't expecting help from anyone and we needed to…clean up. We needed a fire that would burn hot enough to…to…leave nothing behind. Phoenix agreed to give up her life so that we could have the cleansing fire needed. She was…reborn in the flames but she is not the same Phoenix I knew. We are still bonded, but our friendship is kindled anew. Come…I must feed her so that she can grow faster." She turned away, trusting her new pater would follow and led him the clay brick home that had been hers.
It fared better than the other homes because it was farther away from the village's center. She opened the wooden door and went straight to the kitchen table where a broken egg rested. The egg, itself, almost seamed made out of stone, but it was iridescent.
Phoenix. She wasn't telling him that was just the name for her pet – she was telling him that it was an actual phoenix. An eagle that died and was reborn in flames. He had not truly believed that such a creature ever existed, but it would explain why the fire raged so hot that it was blue and white rather than red and orange. He also hadn't considered that the phoenix would be female, though if it had to lay an egg as it died, that did make sense.
He turned swiftly when he heard the beat of wings. A large golden eagle swept close enough for him to feel the brush of its wing tips against his cheek. It settled on the table and dipped its head into the main body of the egg. He could see something that glistened like blood, yoke and egg white as the large eagle devoured the rest of the egg's contents. It then lowered its head over the chick and regurgitated its meal into the chick's eager mouth. The men were having to deal with enough odd happenings today, it was best that he, alone, saw more.
The chick quieted with a full crop and dozed. She carefully picked her up. "Pater…hold her for me while I make a sling to cradle her."
He blinked. If someone told him this morning that he would meet a child blessed by the Gods, welcome her as a daughter and hold a magical creature in the palm of his hands, he would have thought they were suffering from a clout to the head. He cupped his hands and held them out to her. His palms tingled when the chick was placed into them, followed by a warmth and low hum that flowed into him. He stared down, fascinated, at the creature he held. A creature that shouldn't exist – but did…just like the white beasts with blue eyes.
He grunted when his daughter returned. Not willing to admit he'd lost track of time staring at the phoenix. He lowered his hands and watched as she gently picked up the chick and placed it in a cloth looped around her neck. He also noticed the cloth blanket tied at his feet. She had apparently packed as well. He bent down to retrieve the knotted blanket. "Come, daughter. I will take you to my horse, Arcus. Then I will help my men with their duty."
As he led her to his mount, he worked the contents of the tied blanket into two smaller piles on either side of the blanket and tossed it over Arcus' withers, so that the weight settled evenly on either side of the horse. He grinned when he saw her stroking Arcus' lowered head, in deep conversation with his gelding. A part of him wondered if the steed understood what she was saying. Normally, he never would have entertained such a notion, but that was before he met Loris. "Stay. I will return soon."
"Yes, pater," she told him as she continued to croon to the bay. While her new father was helping his men bury the rest of the dead, she took the time to introduce Axios, Leonidas and Theos to the horses and ox. Her hunters would be running with them and she wanted to make sure that all of the animals worked together and felt safe with each other.
Sometime later, she could feel Phoenix moving in the sling she'd made. She pulled back the fabric that cradled the chick and smiled when she saw pin feathers bursting out of quill sheaths and yellow eyes gazing up at her. She was growing so quickly. The chick had consumed the last of the egg and blood mixture, so for now the large chick would have to live on blood and the energy she continued to pour into the chick until she got access to meat she could dice up.
She had no way to cleanse her dagger, so she did the only thing she could do. Hollow, needle-sharp fangs slid down from her gums and she sliced one across her palm and then retracted them. She held her wound over the hungry chick's gaping mouth and squeezed her fist. The flow of blood briefly sped up before it ebbed away to nothing. She opened her hand to see nothing but a pink line where the wound used to be. Even the blood had been absorbed back into her skin.
With the chick now sated and sleeping, she released the cloth to shroud the phoenix once more. She blinked as the pain of loss nearly overwhelmed her. Everything was gone. Her home, her friends, her family…only ashes remained of her life up until now. She'd already grieved. The pain was still there, but she could not keep feeding it. She rubbed her eyes before tears could fall and looked up in the direction of the sound of footsteps.
"We will camp here for the night. The men are ensuring the fire will not spread and then we will move out in the morning if the fire has subsided," he told her.
"It won't spread like a normal fire. Phoenix fire does not spark. For it to spread someone would have to physically move a burning branch – and even so, it burns hot but brief. It may not have time to finish the last of the…dead," she explained.
He nodded. That was a relief. As hot as that fire was, it could do unsurmountable damage if it got out of control. "Then we will remain until the fire goes out and bury anything left." He searched the sky with a frown. "We will have to wait for morning to hunt for food. We do not have the time tonight."
Her lips twitched. "There is always time to hunt. Build a fire, pater."
He found himself smiling again. He'd been doing that more since he met her than he had the last two years of his life. She was a bossy bit of goods, but that charmed him more than anything else. He watched her call the beasts and eagle to her side and sent them off with a few words. "They will hunt for our dinner?"
She nodded. "Yes – as well as their own." She watched him lay down a ring of stones. "Will you teach me how to make a fire?"
Together they searched for tinder, gather twigs and wood and he showed her how to create sparks that would ignite the tinder and then how to fan the sparks into a flame. It was tedious, but satisfying work.
Within an hour, they were all settled around the fire – well outside the village, with the smell of fish and hare roasting on sticks near the fire. If anyone thought she was odd for thanking each animal for its sacrifice, no one said anything. Likely, because they were pleased to know that they would soon have full bellies. The phoenix's fire had also gone out, allowing the men to rest easy.
Alexios leaned over towards Nikolaos. "Some of her…friends died fighting the invaders. Do you think she will mind that we took their pelts and teeth?" he asked quietly. They'd also moved their bodies into forest for the wildlife to feast on.
He glanced over at his daughter and saw her feeding the phoenix chick bits of raw fish and hare. "I don't think she would mind. She is a strong and practical girl." His words fell silent as he looked at the chick, who'd grown weeks in the matter of hours. Feathers were half open, displaying their burnt orange coloring, with golden flecking. Its piercing yellow eyes could be seen easily in the glow of the fire.
"I don't mind," she said as she looked up to meet their eyes. "They gave their lives in battle – I think they would be pleased to know they could continue to defend and protect - even if it is only against the elements."
"That's my girl," Nikolaos replied with pride.
Alexios grinned. "You already have a son."
He knocked his friend's shoulder with his fist. "And you already have a daughter, my friend. You are too late – I am her pater now."
"I get the next one," Alexios grumbled teasingly.
Nikolaos laughed. "That you do, my friend." Of course, he hardly needed to point out that they were the oldest in the group and both of them were putting in for active reserve. But the agreement was a promise. The next orphan they rescued together would go to Alexios. Not that he believed such a thing would occur.
"Pater…I removed the armor and weapons from the invaders. I put them in the temple of Themis," she said as she pointed to stone building that appeared untouched by the fire.
He looked over at where she pointed and nodded. "You have impressed me, daughter. We will look in the morning. Maybe it will tell us who did this."
She fell asleep a few feet from the fire, her new pater on one side and Axios on the other. Phoenix was nestled between her and Axios. The cats slept at a distance, watching over them. She was not asleep long, when a hand shook her.
"Wake up, daughter! You must wake up!"
A melodious voice called out to her and she sat up quickly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. A glowing, golden-haired, blue-eyed woman looked down at her. "Mother – are you taking me through the portal?"
"There is no time for that. Take Alexios to the foot of my statue. He will find what he has been praying for – but you must hurry. He is running out of time."
"Mother!" But her mother had already faded. The dream jerked her awake. This time when she sat up, her father stirred his sleep and Axios lifted his head to look at her. She scrambled to her feet and crept around the fire until she located Alexios. "Alexios!" she called out as she gave him a shake.
His hand reached out for his spear before his eyes opened. He blinked as he looked at the little girl's golden eyes that shimmered in the moonlight. "Loris? What's wrong – has something happened to Nikolaos?" He sat up and swung his head over to see his friend also rising.
She shook her head. "You must come with me now – Alexios. There is something of yours at the base of my…Themis' statue." She tugged at him to get him rise. "We must hurry. We are running out of time!"
With a final tug, she released him and ran towards the temple. She didn't look back at her new pater or Alexios, but she could hear their footsteps running behind hers. She grabbed Phoenix between her hands and held him tight to her as her bare feet flew across the burnt and crunchy grass. A small cry burst from her lips when powerful arms scooped her up. She clung to her pater as the men raced to the temple. They took the steps two at a time. "At the base of the statue!" she yelled, pointing at a cloth-covered bundle.
Axios passed them and nosed the blanket away. He breathed in the soft smell of baby and licked the small cheek. He looked up at the approaching humans and whined in the back of his throat. He nudged the child with his pink nose and licked his cheek again.
"By the Gods," Alexios breathed out as he dropped down next to the babe, who looked no more than two. Though it was covered by a thin blanket, it was shivering. He dropped his spear and pulled the swaddled bundle into his arms.
Loris squirmed out of her pater's arms and darted over to look at whatever Alexios clutched to his chest. The toddler had thick black hair and a small sickle shaped birthmark near his right ear. She let out a surprised gasp. "That's Theron! How did he get here?" She shook her head. "Water! He needs water! He hasn't had any for three days!"
Nikolaos caught her before she could leave the temple. "Stay with Alexios, Loris. The dead ground was cutting your feet. He motioned towards the bloody footprints. "I will return with water," he told her.
He couldn't know that she healed quickly, but it was senseless to argue. "Yes, pater." She watched her father rush from the temple and then returned to Alexios. "This was his second summer. He loved drawing pictures in the dirt with a stick." She smiled softly. "He loved discovering new things he could do with a stick. He loved sticks so much that his old pater, Soleus, carved him a special one. It had a dragon coiled around it on one end and wooden blade at the other end…It would not have survived the fire."
She settled her hand on Alexios' shoulder and touched her finger to the child's soft cheek. "Wake up, Theron." His large, brown eyes flickered open, surprise dancing in their depths. He grinned when he saw her and then blinked in confusion at Alexios.
"Alexios is your pater now, Theron. He will be taking you to meet your new mater and sister.
Be strong and show him what a dutiful son you can be." Through touching them both, she set up a bond between them, allowing their feelings: fear, wonder, acceptance…to pass freely between them until both were comforted. Only then did she back away. She watched the tears dry on his apple cheeks as he stared at the man holding him.
Alexios tore his eyes from his new son to look at her. "For a moment I felt him. I don't know what you did – but for a moment my son and I were a part of each other. How did you know he was here?"
She felt heat rise in her cheeks. "I didn't know he was here. I had a dream…a woman told me that you would find what you were praying for at the base of the statue and that you were running out of time," she admitted.
He looked up at the statue of the titan goddess bearing a sword and scales. "Themis be praised. Thank you for answering our prayers." His eyes slid to the little girl and then back up at the statue, his mouth falling open. The resemblance was uncanny. "Themis?" he asked the girl in strained voice. Would a God appear as a child?
Her cheeks burned. "No. I'm Loris." She didn't want him even thinking along those lines. The time of the Gods was over. It had been over for many, many years. As far as she knew, she and her twin brother were the last. And she wasn't even sure if he was alive, Themis had separated them at birth for their safety. It was time for the people to stand on their own – because she didn't want to carry the mantle. She would not allow power to corrupt her as it had the other Gods. She had seen that corruption, despite how long ago it happened. For as far back as she could remember her mother would visit her in her dreams and take her through a portal to a realm in the past, where the Gods reigned. But outside of her mother, the other Gods had all perished in the war against the Kin. So, the Gods of the past that she'd met – her family, were merely echoes of what once was. It had confused her for a while, since they interacted with her as if they were still living – but nothing she could do or say would impact their future or what happened - the arrogance that brought about their downfall. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs of the past. "But thank you…I think," she teased.
He knew his grin didn't quite reach his eyes. His instincts told him there was something she wasn't telling him. About herself – not what happened here. But he owed her and Themis too much to delve into what wasn't his business.
"My pater is returning," she told him as she turned to face the temple's entrance. A moment later Nikolaos appeared with a waterskin and soft fur in his hands. She took the water from him while he spread the fur over his arms. Alexios placed his son in Nikolaos' arms and wrapped the fur tightly around the boy, before taking the babe back into his arms. She uncapped the waterskin and handed it to Alexios, who made sure the little one only took slow, small sips. When he handed the waterskin back to her she capped it and tied the small thong to a tiny, metal loop on his chestplate.
Nikolaos watched his friend leave the temple and then held out his hand to his daughter. Warmth flowed through him when she took it. "Tell me what happened, Loris."
She told him what she'd told Alexios about the dream she'd had. He'd asked what the woman looked like. And she told him how she glowed…that her hair was like gold and her eyes bluer than any sky. He glanced up at the statue of Themis. While her features were fine and beautiful, he did not know the color of her hair or her skin. Though, like all Greeks, he believed her to be dark like they were. Olive skin, be it light or darker, dark hair and eyes – but now he couldn't help but wonder if that was arrogance. He looked down at his daughter and back up at the statue. Without a doubt, he knew what his daughter would look like as a woman, no matter how impossible it seemed. But who or what was she? Was she Themis in child form? Was she related to the God? Or was she simply blessed by the God or Gods? Those were questions he would not find an answer to unless she chose to tell him. What mattered most was that she was his now. His kori – his daughter. "Come. Let us get back to camp. I will take next watch since I am up."
-BREAK ONE-
Come morning they ate the food left over from dinner and then she watched Theron toddle around while the men dug a second grave for the corpses that didn't completely decompose on the pyre. She'd also found that Theron's stick had survived the fire, it was clutched in his small hand inside the blanket he'd been wrapped in. She still couldn't begin to know how or why he was at her mother's statue, but she was relieved not to be the sole survivor.
Axios was patient and forgiving when Theron fell on him or pulled his fur too hard. Enough wet licks and the little boy would wander off to do something else. The cats, were absent…not wishing to partake in toddler love. Phoenix and Ikaros kept well away from little hands. Of course, that was far easier for Ikaros than Phoenix. Phoenix looked nearly like her adult self now – or at least she was adult in size, but her feathers were not completely unsheathed yet. So, when the baby came towards her, she would claw her way up the closest arm, her large wings beating painfully hard, until she was able to perch on her creator's shoulder, out of harm's way.
"Go away!" Phoenix screeched, flapping her wings at the baby.
"Shhh!," she said, shushing the bird. "You draw too much attention when you talk like a human!"
"So do you!" Phoenix reminded her creator.
"At least I can pass for human," she hissed softly.
Phoenix slowly turned her head nearly all the way around.
"Don't do that!" she snapped with a shudder and frowned when the bird laughed softly. Even if it was a new Phoenix, the bird's personality carried over and it was fast learning what she liked and didn't like. At that very moment, she preferred Ikaros. Ikaros could understand everything said to him, but was all bird. Immortal…but bird. But Phoenix was her baby – her first creation. When she made her, she'd wanted a friend she could talk to that could never die, a friend that could go with her anywhere. She'd chosen an eagle because she'd thought they were majestic and the thought of being able to see through their eyes as they flew through the heavens was all it took to make up her mind. But you are bound to stumble the first time you do anything. This had been no different. She'd put too much of herself into her creation. She doubted she'd ever love anything more than Phoenix, but like a friend or a sibling, the bird knew how to push. Regardless, not once did she ever doubt the eagle's loyalty – their bond was too strong.
She rose from the log. "Come on, Theron," she said as she held her hand out to the toddler. "We're going to splash in the stream for a while." With his hand firmly in hers and Phoenix gripping her shoulder, she led him around the village to the stream. She felt her father's eyes and knew he understood where she was going and resumed working.
When they reached the stream, Theron darted into the water with a giggle, Axios hot on his heals. Leonidas and Theos slipped out of the brush. The lion stretched out on the bank, while the jaguar jumped into the water, causing Theron to giggle and splash the cat back. She quickly untied her dress and pulled it over the top of her head, allowing Phoenix to nest in it and joined him. She used sand to gently scrub off the dirt and grime that covered his body. She bathed daily, but she was the only one in the village with that practice. She frowned when she saw the lice in his hair, gritted her teeth and scrubbed his scalp. The adults were probably gone by the time she was done, but there was little she could do about the eggs. And since few bothered to keep up with removal, it didn't really matter anyway. Much to her relief, lice and other blood-sucking insects seemed to be repelled by her, so she'd never had to worry about catching what someone else had.
After he was scrubbed clean, she focused on herself. This gave the boy time to splash and have fun in the water. It didn't take him too long to become bored and want his stick. When he waded out of the stream, she squeezed the water from her gold hair and climbed out onto the bank. An eagle's cry brought her attention to a man. At first, she thought he was urinating, until she saw that his shaft was hard and his hand was stroking it while he stared at her and approached her and Theron slowly. She couldn't hear his mumbles, but that was probably for the best. Did he think her friends so well tamed he didn't need to fear them? She projected one thought: Ikaros! Axios! Make him leave! The cats rose and chuffed but did not leave the children unguarded. She bent to retrieve her dress when she heard the eagle's shriek. She yanked it over her head and tied the cord around her waist, before taking Theron's hand and helping Phoenix back onto her shoulder.
"I stop bad man," Theron threatened with a wave of his dragon-sword stick.
The man was already making a swift retreat back to the rest of her pater's soldiers, with Ikaros clawing his head and Axios nipping his heals.
"Loris!" she heard her pater bellow. She swung the baby up onto her hip and hurried towards the commotion. She could hear snarls and shrieks long before she reached the men.
"Control your pets before my men do!" he growled.
She eyed the men that were aiming their spears towards Axios, whose hackles were raised, snarling viciously at the soldier she did not like. "Ikaros, Axios. To me." She did not fear the men killing them. Her creations were immortal, but the men did not need to find that out.
"Bad man, pater! Bad man!" Theron seethed, pointing his dragon-sword at the soldier who stood apart from the rest. Axios had not let him get close to the others.
"Beautiful, golden girl. Your pater be damned…I'm going to fuck your mouth…your ass…and your tight, sweet-"
Before she could shush Phoenix, her father rammed his spear through the underside of the man's chin and out through the top of his head, silencing words that never should have been spoken. Lowering the spear, he kicked out with his foot, propelling the body off his spear. It landed with little more than a whisper of grass blades.
"Bury him with the others," he growled. That was more than the man deserved in his eyes. His fury demanded the man be stripped and left as carrion for the wildlife, but the Spartan in him demanded the soldier be given a more proper grave.
"Bad man, pater," Theron told his new father as he was scooped up into the man's arms.
"Not anymore, yios," Alexios murmured as he ruffled his son's hair with his hand.
Nikolaos squatted down and pulled his daughter into a hug, Phoenix jumped off her shoulder in a fluff of feathers, her tail jerking back and forth in irritation. "Were you hurt?" During a boy's agoge, his mentor that trained him might also seek him out sexually, but Spartan girls were protected into their late teens or later. He would kill any man that sought to dishonor his daughter or what it meant to be Spartan.
She shook her head. "No, pater. Ikaros and Axios chased him away. I didn't like the way he stared at me. He was watching me bathe – touching himself – saying ugly things." She hadn't heard what the man was saying – not until Phoenix spoke in the man's voice, replaying his crude words. The utter shock and fear on the man's face a moment before he was impaled - that was a memory that would stay with her. That was also when she knew Nikolaos would do anything it took to protect her. He was a worthy pater. Her arms tightened around his neck. "Thank you, pater – for keeping me safe."
Her words touched him and set off his protective instinct. He gently stroked her soft, golden hair. "Always, kori. Always," he murmured; grateful Pelias had not been able to act on his dishonorable intensions.
For two days after the massacre, she'd cried over what she'd lost: her village, her parents, her friends – and she slept. Even more hurtful, her true mother did not visit her dreams to guide her. Not even her creations could console her. The smell, by the third day, drove her to stop whining over what could not be changed and take care of what she could. She could not bear to leave the people she grew up with to rot where they fell. It was disrespectful to them and dangerous to the living for her to leave them. And somehow, this wonderful man had found her and given her back what she'd lost. She knew her new life would be different from the one she'd lived, but she also knew her future was with him. She did not need her true mother to tell her that.
He rose and patted the top of her head. "You will like your mater and your brother. Come, daughter, the day grows long." He mounted his gelding, Arcus, waited for her to pick up the fledgling and then held his hand down to her. With a tug, he pulled her up in front of him. Phoenix gripped onto the blanket between his daughter's thighs.
That night, when they made camp, she convinced her pater that she knew how to ride and for the rest of the journey she was allowed to ride, Miteon, Pelias' gelding, once she'd proven to her pater that she could sit a mount.
Since Pelias had dishonored Spartan edict, his armor and weapons had been stripped from him before he was buried in the mass grave. They had refused to honor him by burying him on his shield. Spartan warriors normally had to bring their own equipment, but since Pelias had dishonored Nikolaos' family, the armor and mount were, by rights, awarded to him. It would be fine armor for his son to grow into.
Pride washed over him come morning when he discovered that his daughter had taught the gelding to kneel so that she could mount unassisted. He wasn't sure how she did it, though he assumed the beast was now one of her friends and willing to do what she'd asked. His daughter was touched by the Gods. He was sure of it and by the looks on his men's faces every time she did something unexpected, they knew it too. The Gods had left them alone for too long. Perhaps she was a sign that they were finally worthy of the Gods' attention again. Through her, his family and Sparta would be blessed by the Gods once more. Raising her as his daughter would be an indescribable honor.
She pulled her mount over towards Alexios when her father motioned her to do so. She watched him move his mount to the front of the procession. She and Alexios were surrounded by men, with the ox cart taking up the rear. She supposed it was their way of ensuring that she and Theron, who was riding in Alexios' lap, were protected. She looked up and found Ikaros was flying just ahead of them, occasionally making lazy circles to scout for any dangers. Axios plodded near the ox cart, keeping rear guard and the cats could only be seen from time to time as they flitted through the underbrush on either side of them as silent watchers.
Phoenix ruffled her burnt orange and gold feathers and shook them out. "Where are we going?" she asked in Loris' voice.
Alexios glanced over at the young girl, curious as to how she'd forgotten so quickly. "We are going to Fort closest to your pater's home. Commander Taleaon needs to release your pater and I for active reserve." Now that he had a son, he needed to be home to raise him. "We don't live too far from your pater – you'll get to see Theron as much as you want. I think you'll like my daughter too. Crisa, is your age." He glanced down at the eagle that was staring at him. He couldn't help but see intelligence in those unusual, yellow eyes. It was like the bird was actively listening to him.
She sighed. Since she doubted Phoenix would hold her tongue, no doubt she'd be giving Alexios fits. "Uncle…I did not ask that question. Phoenix did. She wasn't with me when pater told me where we were going."
He blinked, looked down at the eagle in Loris' lap and chuckled. "You tease me."
"Phoenix…show him it was you," she told the bird. The bird ruffled her feathers, squawked and started preening her feathers. "Phoenix!"
Phoenix looked up at her creator and sighed. She turned her head to look at the human called Alexios, who seemed startled that a bird could sigh. She turned her head to the side and laughed, mimicking the laugh Alexios had just made. "I asked the question," the bird informed him in Loris' voice.
The smiled slipped from Alexios' face, his gaze darting from the bird that had barely opened its beak to Loris and then back to the bird.
"Phoenix!" she poked the stubborn eagle. "Not in my voice. Use your own," Loris grumbled.
"Trickster bird!" Theron said as he clapped his hands. "Teases us at home." He squirmed on his father's lap. "I have to go."
Phoenix chuckled. "I've got to take a leak!" she bellowed in Alexios' voice.
Nikolaos rubbed his face and glared back at his friend. Normally, they did not stop for such a reason, but now that they had children with them. He reined his mount in. "You have five minutes! Make it quick!" he told his men.
Alexios was stunned to hear his voice come from the bird's mouth. "Gaos…" he mumbled. He'd heard stories of birds being able mimic speech, but he never thought he'd see it. This bird, however, was not mimicking – at least he hadn't said those words for the bird to repeat.
"Well?" Nikolaos asked as he moved in next to his friend. "You asked to stop…" he glanced down at the squirming toddler. "I doubt you'd appreciate riding in a wet spot," he pointed out.
Alexios blinked and cleared his throat. "Of course."
"You should take a moment too, kori," he reminded her.
She looked around as the rest of the men spread out to do their business. "I will, pater. But, pater? You should know that it was Phoenix who yelled out to stop us. She noticed the baby's agitation. Phoenix can speak in other…voices."
Phoenix flapped her wings. "Go, kori. Time waits for no child," she told her creator in Nikolaos' voice.
She smiled at her stunned father and nudged the horse with her toe so that she would kneel down. She slid off the horse and hurried to a bush that gave her a bit of privacy.
The bird eyed him intently. "Pelias – it was you who said those words."
Phoenix tilted her head to the right and then nodded. "I repeated the words he spoke to her at the stream. I protected her – and I expected you to do the same."
For a bird that could not yet fly, the phoenix had done what she could to protect his daughter. He dismounted. "It is good to know she is protected when she's not with me." It was odd that he was not embarrassed to be talking to a bird. But the fledgling bird seemed more mature than many of the men he'd fought with or commanded. He'd been concerned the kill had been dishonorable – if Pelias had not spoken those words, but he had – the kill was clean.
She hurried back to her mount, made sure no one was observing her and quickly slashed her palm with a fang and fed Phoenix more of her blood. As their journey continued, the eagle began flapping her wings in earnest. Loris waived a hand in front of her face to clear the sheath dander that snowed around her. Phoenix was slightly larger than Ikaros and fully grown. She knew Phoenix was just building up wing muscle, so she didn't begrudge the bird for a nose full of dander…even if it did make her sneeze…a lot.
The following day, Phoenix joined Ikaros in scouting, though she would have to come back to rest frequently. Within a few days, the fiery eagle could fly just as long as Ikaros. She was hunting her own dinner and no longer had to curl up with Loris at nights. Loris found herself missing the nights. Phoenix had a warm fruity scent to her…a comforting scent. But at least she still had her pater and Axios to keep her warm at night.
She noticed her pater was also keeping a closer eye on the men under his command. He obviously did not want a repeat of Pelias. With much of her power bound she needed protection until the binds were released. Her true mater assured her that her powers would be released as she grew. Normally, Gods were born at full power – but normally, Gods were born among the Gods and learned to control their power through contact with other Gods. She did not have that luxury or the protection that came along with it. So, her true mater had bound her and her brother in the womb to protect them. To keep the humans from fearing them. She needed to learn how to live and defend herself as a human…to fit in with those around her. The realm of the Gods had been destroyed in the war against the Kin. Someday…once her powers were unbound…she would journey there herself to see what was left of her birthright.
Whenever they stopped, she took over the care of little Theron while the men talked or hunted. In truth, the hunting was more searching for the slain prey her creations left for them. She watched the baby as he used his wooden dragon sword to kill reed stalks. Babies were so resilient. Despite whatever he'd gone through and what he lost; he didn't hang onto it. There were no signs of lingering sorrow. It was as if he'd forgotten his past life and was reborn under the statue of her mother. Had Themis locked away his memories or was the memory of babes fleeting?
Two large heads rubbed against her and distracted her from her thoughts. Leo and Theos curled up on either side of her and yawned, Leo's ears twitching lazily as they settled their heads in her lap. With the baby distracted by Axios and fighting reeds, they'd felt comfortable enough to spend some time with her. She settled a hand on each head and stroked their soft fur. She couldn't help but wonder what her new life would be like. From everything her new pater had told her, they lived in a far more populated area, which meant she would have to ensure the people knew her creations were not a threat. Her pater had also told her so many stories of her new mater and brother that it felt as if she knew them already. Not what they looked like, of course, but who they were. But the same could also be said for Crisa and Telis, Alexios the Older's family. The two families had been close for a great many years, both in distance and relationship. There was even hope among the father's that Alexios the Younger would marry Crisa and join the families together. Though, no words were spoken yet, she also suspected they hoped she might marry Theron someday. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. That would never happen. While, they were only a few years apart, she'd wiped his bottom too many times to ever be able to think of him that way.
They chose to make camp for the night and set out early the next morning. They were drawing near Fort Arcanos and the men were anxious to arrive. Most would stable their mounts, rest their backsides and await new orders. But Nikolaos and Alexios were going home.
By the time the sun reached the middle of the sky, the fort was within sight. The horses, without prodding, broke into a gallop, even the oxen pulling the cart thundered over the ground, eager for lazy days and sweet hay.
Armed soldiers rode out to investigate and followed them back into the fort's large gates. Her pater's soldiers moved in closer to her and Alexios, tightening the security as faces turned to watch them ride by. They halted near the paddocks and stables and dismounted. Alexios took her shoulder and drew her in next to him when her pater went to speak to a man wearing a ridiculously tall helmet, though most of it appeared to be horsehair dyed red. It was not practical at all, nearly twice the height of her father's ridiculous helmet. Horsehair looked much better on a horse than a helmet. Men could be silly sometimes…as if size mattered.
Axios, Leo and Theos formed a ring around her, Alexios and Theron. Her father's soldiers surrounding the animals. She watched through a small gap between the soldiers as her father took off his helmet and secured it between his inner arm and his side as he continued to talk. The other man waved him into a building.
The soldiers stepped back, tightening the ring around the three they were protecting as more and more people came to look at the new arrivals. She suspected her and her creations were a novelty. So far, she'd never seen anyone with her own coloration – except for her mother, but she didn't exist in the realm of mortals anymore.
She was grateful that the shadows of father's soldiers kept the sunlight from pearling her skin. Her eyes, light skin and gold hair were enough differences for them to take in right now and she wasn't sure that she was covered in enough trail dust to hide her unnatural skin sheen.
It took longer than she'd expected before she saw her father return, though Alexios simply grinned, much to her confusion.
"It is done then?" Alexios inquired as he rocked his small son in his arms.
His soldiers parted at his approach. "Indeed, my friend. We are reserve men now. It is time to see to our families." Most men took wives after they reached twenty years. But he and Alexios had kept far too busy to find a wife until their mid-twenties. That alone is why he still had time to teach his son what it means to be Spartan. Many men do not have that luxury, because their sons are taken away for their agoge training before the soldiers can return home as reserve men. He had many reasons to thank the Gods. A beautiful wife with the blood of a Spartan king. A strong, handsome son that he was proud of and now a beautiful daughter that was blessed by the Gods. No man could want for more.
"Then let us ride until we must part ways," Alexios told him.
The soldiers clapped the two men on the back, keeping between the onlookers and the reserve men until the two men and the girl mounted their horses and moved out. They watched the strange white beasts and the two eagles overhead follow the horses out of the fort's large gates, having felt like they'd been a part of something orchestrated by the Gods.