Chapter Twenty-Six
“WHO WAS ON guard?!” Pellax doesn’t bother hiding his anger as Helia, myself, and a few others gather in his chamber.
Helia had pulled me along despite not being an officer.
Bellius and Andra are among the attendees, and everyone bares grim looks, though Andra carries a wariness when looking my direction.
I don’t blame her; I know what she saw in that alley.
No one speaks and the vein along Pellax’s neck thrums with fury.
I cough, purposefully drawing eyes to me.
“If I may Strategos, I don’t believe it would have mattered who was on duty.
” Bellius shoots me a look of caution, urging me to hurry.
“This was the second run-in with these people in Hecalon. Did any of the bodies have a Solon-emblazoned gold coin?” Pellax’s eyes narrow as he nods, motioning for me to continue.
“This was the same group then. They all fought fiercely and seemed driven by a singular purpose; if that man wanted to kill himself, he would have found a way no matter who was watching him.”
Helia flashes a grim smile, proud of the simple yet sound deflection of our leader’s anger. Pellax’s vein slows, though remains visible. The strategos leans over the desk toward me. Guess I’m not out of the woods yet.
“Well Skion, now that you are up and walking, the officers and I would like a debrief.” Helia bristles and makes to open her mouth, though whether to correct him or deflect attention, I am unsure. Bellius surprises everyone when he steps in before Helia has the chance.
“Strategos, Skion may be walking and talking, but given the period of time he has been asleep, his memory will be unreliable. I recommend we stick with the reports from Captain Andra and the others. Sir,” Bellius finishes, inclining his head in deference.
Pellax swings his narrowed gaze to Bellius; weights and measures being added to some scale in his mind.
Helia shoots me a questioning look as Pellax relaxes back upon the pillows in his chair.
I give the barest shake of my head; now’s not the time.
Apparently satisfied, Pellax sighs signaling the assembled officers and myself to sit.
“You’re right nephew. I was hoping that young Skion here would be able to provide more information. Gods, he was right near that freak lightning strike according to Andra. Well, nothing for it then. Let’s discuss next steps; open forum, no bad ideas.”
Too stunned by multiple revelations, I sit back and listen as the others start chiming in with ideas; bounties, double the watch, run another bait scheme, and the like.
Bellius is Pellax’s nephew! He keenly avoids my eye, focusing on the conversation. I swivel my gaze past him to Andra, catching the veiled fear in her eyes before she quickly looks away. Clearly she didn’t tell the whole truth.
“Care to weigh in Skion? You seem to be at the center of things so you must have an opinion.” Pellax looks at me expectantly, drumming the fingers of his hand on the desk.
I force a neutral look while rushing to get my brain running. This might be the perfect moment to lay the foundation for the next leg of our journey.
“Sir, we know these attacks are connected to the ones in Nolphi and Athos. We know they all carried Solon-marked coins.” I look over at Helia, hopefully emphasizing my next words. “Perhaps it would be best to track them down to their source.”
I don’t know what Helia’s plan is to travel to Askepollo outside of finding some Lunite priests, but I imagine having the band with us will help. Helia’s eyes widen a fraction, before working to smother a grin.
“I agree. We could ask some questions around the temple district, see if that might give us a lead. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have an encampment some distance from the city.
” Good. She picked it up perfectly. Not that I had any other expectation of my commander, my Aspect.
I suppress a giggle at that thought; I wonder what Helia would think of that.
None of the others voice any objection.
“Well, that sounds the most promising. Commander Helia.” We all stand at dismissal in Pellax’s voice. “Hunt them down; lead your Spears to victory.”
***
Helia and I walk through the streets of Hecalon much later in the day, winding our way to the temple district that watches high over the city.
Simple cloaks pulled over our heads despite the heat; a small attempt at stealth.
It was decided that just sending two would be the most likely to succeed given how last time went.
Besides, it’s not like we’re unprotected.
I still barely understand what I did with the lightning.
The memory of the fight had slowly come to me over the course of the day.
I remember the sheer vibration of energy shooting through my body, the blinding light, and the vile smell of freshly charred human remains.
I also remember the pain. That was the first thing that came back to me. Power takes what it is owed.
“Eyes up Itho. We’re getting close.” I savor how my name sounds on her lips.
Helia was right. The main road through the city brought us to the base of the promenade.
Looking up the road as it climbs, little shrines dot the side of the road dedicated to beings of the lower pantheon, with small temples off in the distance as the road curved back on itself.
I nod and we start the climb in the shadow of the hill.
Hopefully we can make it to the main temples with enough time to watch the sun set on the other side.
The plan is simple. Mingle with the crowds milling about the temples and ask about Lunos and Solon.
Originally, Helia planned to make contact with the temple of Lunos, but apparently something had happened and the Lunite priests had been driven from the city.
If we ask around about both, we might pull the attention of someone with more information.
“Itho, do you mind if I ask you a question?” Helia’s voice sharpens my attention as we continue to make our ascent.
“Ask anything you’d like, Commander.” She awkwardly scratches the back of her head, perhaps not wanting to be the “commander” at the moment.
“We’ve grown close over the past few months and clearly, we’re attracted to each other. But we haven’t been able to just talk and get to know each other. Well, outside of a few important things.” Helia ends with a chuckle; we’ve certainly shared deeper moments than most.
But, she’s not wrong about not having moments to just talk.
Most of my nights while on the march had been cooking or training with Bellius and Andra.
Even with our relationship growing, I asked for no special treatment.
That meant few fireside chats in the company of others nor any sharing of a bedroll. I nod, encouraging her to continue.
“Tell me about your life before everything happened.”
“Oh, well there’s not too much to tell. Athos was an out of the way village, so we had to make most of what we needed.
I worked in the wheat fields for my uncle Porto; the one you nearly killed.
That was the moment I knew I wanted to know more about you; my mystery savior.
No one stood up for me like that with my uncle, with such conviction. I wanted to learn that for myself.”
Helia blushes as our journey continues up the road, the temples and shrines getting larger. “Well, he deserved it. You showed more courage that night than he had his entire life. I can guarantee that. Uncle…so your parents…”
“He wasn’t my actual uncle, but he was the closest thing to family I had.
According to the Speaker, one night my mother stumbled out from the woods barely alive and far along her pregnancy.
The village took her in and not too long after that, she died giving birth to me.
” The gravel churning under Helia’s sandals calms as she stops in her tracks; just as we crest the top of the hill.
I turn, seeing the fire of the setting sun casting a radiant glow on Helia’s face.
A sharp contrast to the sympathy on her face.
“I’m so sorry Itho.”
“Thank you. I came to terms with it eventually and maybe I’ll get to see her when I pass.” According to the Speaker, when our spirits leave our bodies, we meet the spirits of passed family and loved ones. Maybe I’ll get lucky.
I look around the promenade’s large plaza, taking it all in with the fading rays of gold and crimson.
A long pool of water runs through the middle of the plaza, with cypress trees dotting alongside it.
There are benches of hewn stone for passersby to sit and commune with the pantheons.
Braziers crop up here and there, some being lit in preparation of the coming night.
I cast my gaze along the edges of the plaza, taking in the holy sites.
The temple of Stratas is the largest, sitting at the far end of the plaza overseeing the entire city. Considering this is the capital, that made sense. A smaller temple to Nia stood off to the side directly across from one devoted to Solon.
I nod at the sun-kissed temple, bringing Helia’s attention to it and away from my tragic origins. Helia shifts in front of me as we rotate along the opposite side of the promenade for now.
I lose count of how many people we talk with.
Despite the impending night, worshipers mill around, discussing theology, myths, and the occasional scandalous gossip.
We move together, though I end up doing most of the talking.
Helia’s imposing nature isn’t the most conducive for getting answers.
It is comforting though, having her presence at my back; especially when the Solonite priests cut a path toward us through the evening crowd. Finally.
Five priests approach. The one in front is elderly, wearing a flowing tunic emblazoned with a sun on the front, long white beard reaching his chest. The other four who follow are younger, clearly newer acolytes.
The small crowd we are conversing with quickly disperse as they near.
The priests spread out behind the elder as he steps forward.
“You are not welcome here. Leave before we call the guard!” The elder’s voice is unexpectedly soft, despite the tone. I feel rather than hear Helia move over to my side, ready to unleash violence. We had left our armor and weapons behind, but Helia is deadlier than a raging bear; armed or not.
“Sir, we have done nothing wrong. My friend and I are just enjoying pleasant discussion pondering the wonders of Lunos and Solon.”
I barely hear Helia whisper behind me; something about being more than friends. Biting the inside of my mouth to stifle a laugh, I focus on the priests in front of us.
“Lunites have no place here! Not after what you did!” One of the younger priests spits as he yells, malice bare.
I raise my hands in peace; despite our attackers carrying Solonite coins, that didn’t mean all worshipers of Solon want us dead.
Besides, something must have happened to warrant this rage.
“Sir, we just got into town a few days ago and I can assure you, we’ve never been here—”
“Enough! Our temple was desecrated last month by Lunites, our altars stained with symbols of the moon, our offerings destroyed. Lunos has no place here anymore! We drove out the rest and will drive you out too!”
Helia and I share a look. I’m sure not all followers of Lunos are completely peaceful, but it seems out of place and at odds with what we know of Lunos’s plans. Helia clears her throat, the rumble of it and the sight of her bare arms take the edge off the fire in the priests.
“Did you catch anyone?” she asks. Fierce nods and smirks from the priests confirm her suspicions. “Did they confess to be a worshiper of Lunos?” The elder nods and reaches a hand inside of his tunic, pulling something small out. He tosses it to Helia, who catches it easily with alacrity.
“She had that on her. Pretty damning, don’t you think?”
Helia opens her palm and inhales sharply before tilting her hand to show me. In the dying light, rays of fire and burnished wheat glint across a gold coin emblazoned with the sigil of a crescent moon. The sigil of Lunos.