Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“As you know, being an Aspect comes with granted memories. One in particular explained my mandate, my purpose.” Where is she going with this?
“To find me, right?”
Helia grunts in acknowledgment, still maintaining an unnatural stony coldness.
“Yes. Find you and bring you to Askepollo with priests of Lunos. But there is something more than that. Something I’ve been keeping from you.
Something eating at me from the inside and, I don’t think I can keep it at bay anymore.
” One hand flexes around the other, a futile effort to calm herself.
My breath starts to quicken. What in the pantheons has she been dealing with this whole time?
I wait, teetering on the edge of a knife watching the void below waiting to consume the both of us.
“Lunos was specific in her mandate. I was to find, escort, and protect you. And to never form a relationship with you. That, at the end of this journey, only oblivion awaits.” Her muscles quiver in anger and fear.
A mountain, quailing at an oncoming windstorm.
My heart quakes, threatening to break into tiny pieces.
“Wha-what are you saying? She said those words? Er, gave you the memory of them?” This is all too confusing. What is clear though, is the turmoil Helia faces.
“I don’t know what it means, exactly. But the intention is clear I think; I will be no more once I bring you to Askepollo.
For years, I’ve been okay with that. But now…
now I can’t bear the thought of leaving you behind.
” My heart shatters into a thousand shards, clattering deep in the dark abyss.
No! I won’t accept it. I place a hand on hers, pulling her focus and gaze.
Mist clouds Helia’s eyes, delivering a punch directly into my gut.
“You don’t know what truly awaits us in Askepollo, right? Gods and goddesses are enigmas; who knows what Lunos actually means.”
Helia shakes her head, a flicker of hope streaking her features. Placing my hands on her face I force her green eyes to meet mine. “I am not going anywhere. If you face oblivion, then I will be there and face it with you.”
I pull her close and steal her breath, fire igniting in us both. The breeze picks up as the kiss deepens and Helia wraps a firm hand along my waist, stirring a flutter above my stomach. Her tongue plays against mine briefly before breaking off, gazing silently into each other’s inner most depths.
I would fight any god or goddess, burn their temples and scatter the ruins across the land for this woman. Oblivion or no, I will use every ounce of my borrowed power to protect her.
Unexpected bravery sparks a fire as I plop myself down in Helia’s lap, wrapping arms around her neck, one hand playing with her hair.
Surprise colors her face, but only briefly.
A wicked grin quickly develops, touching something deep inside of me.
Helia places one hand on my thigh and the other pulling my neck close for a kiss.
“Get a room you two!” An elder enjoying the park heckles us, causing laughter to erupt as Helia grabs my hand and hurries us away, thieves caught stealing the archon’s laurel in the middle of the night.
The afternoon walk back to the estate is a heated blur as fall comes to a close.
My arms wrapped around Helia’s waist, possessive and comforting.
Helia resting a scarred arm on my shoulder, hand occasionally stroking my slowly growing hair.
That, and pulling me in for fiery kisses that would put Solon to shame in stolen alleyways and shadowed corners.
I’m not naive enough to think I’ve banished her demons for good.
But perhaps, given some hope where there was none.
As we arrive at the estate, I realize that I’m finally ready to go all the way. Whatever unease I have about my own body, our future, I don’t want to waste a single gods-damned moment we have.
Pellax ends that swiftly by calling an immediate officers meeting as soon as we step over the threshold, yet surprisingly inviting me along as well. To say that frustration permeates every fiber of my being, is akin to saying water is wet.
“I wouldn’t worry too much. Probably some new marching orders,” Helia explains as we walk through the manor to Pellax’s study, which does absolutely nothing for the sexual frustration flowing through me. Andra and Bellius are already in attendance along with several others who I don’t recognize.
“Ah! Perfect timing. Thank you for joining us; we were just about to start. And thank you for showing up as well Skion. I think you’ll understand why you’re here in a moment.
” We step forward and join the semicircle of officers around Pellax’s desk, bringing the count to seven.
“Commanders Julius and Farron are both out on separate assignments with their cohorts, so we’ll make due today with Helia and the estate guard. ”
Helia nor the others ever talked about the other members or cohorts of the company. Three cohorts and a standing guard was roughly about eighty to a hundred souls; a veritable small army of veteran mercenaries. Pellax has more power than I thought.
“As you should all know, two of our members were attacked in the city last night.” Pellax nods in my direction, causing me to shift uncomfortably, bandages suddenly itchy.
“This is just one of several incidents in the recent months where mercenaries from different bands and companies have been assaulted. Most have been mugged with little injury other than wounded pride. However”— Pellax slams an open palm on the desk emphasizing his rising tone—“this time they went too far.”
Pellax unfolds a scroll on the desk, revealing some kind of writing with a wax seal affixed at the end. A few murmurs emerge from the group, with a notable grunt from Bellius. Not being able to read, I wait in silence hoping for some explanation.
“Yes, you all read that correctly. This is a contract from the Archon of Hecalon to hunt down the assailants. Commander Helia, I want your cohort to run the contract.” The wizened strategos looks over to me, calculating, weighing scales.
“If the attacks are connected, they may come for Skion. I leave it to you all to act as you see fit; do not let these bastards get the better of the Spears.”
Turning to the unknown officers Pellax directs an increase of the watch around the estate, before dismissing us all. Sharp salutes snap in unison and the four of us adjourn to Helia’s quarters.
“A direct contract from the archon? That fast?” Andra blurts as soon as Helia closes the door behind us.
“Is that unusual? We got one from Gaius back in Ionos.” Andra mulls on my point before Bellius contributes his thoughts.
“Sure, but we were explicitly contracted for that ahead of time. This is different.” Bellius shoots an unreadable glance toward Helia. “Commander, I advise caution; this is fast and unknown hands are in play. The archon is not one to trifle with.”
Helia sits on the chair by her desk as I plop down on the bed, drawing a flat look from Andra. I stifle the urge to stick my tongue out.
“I know who the archon is Bellius.” She gives a meaningful stare his direction, communication passing effortlessly and wordlessly between them, Bellius returning the stare with resolve.
“Pellax is right in that these vagabonds crossed a line; crossed us. This is, however, a dangerous distraction. Skion, what are your thoughts?” I know what Helia is getting at.
No one else knows that the attacker was blessed by a god to kill me.
Andra and Bellius both raise their brows but say nothing.
The image of Olena leaning against the alley wall, blood trickling through her fingers, flashes through my mind just as the face of the man I fought does. Conduit. I realize I’ve been playing with the soft furs in my hand, a futile attempt at calming my mind.
“I agree with Bellius that there are unseen forces at work. However, ignoring it is equally as dangerous; perhaps the moon will shine on our path if we pursue this.” Helia’s eyes narrow for the briefest heartbeat, just long enough for me to be sure she understood my meaning.
There is no way only a single assassin is in play; taking the fight to them now is our best choice.
She claps her hands with decisiveness, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
“That’s settled then! I will let Pellax know in the morning.
For now, let’s discuss strategy. Ideas?” I lean forward, eager to participate in my first strategy session.
Bellius has been teaching me constantly, but theory and reality were as water and fire.
Andra looses a chuckle and we watch as a wicked grin emerges from the depths of her face.
She leans away from the wall fixing that devious smile on me causing a bead of sweat to trickle down my back.
“Simplest is best; bait.”
Well, shit.