Twelve
Earth, Malta
We came out in a cave, which, if I remembered my history, was about par for the course in Malta. Using a cantrip, I cast a minor light spell so I could see better, and saw the words Visit the Famous Malta Traveler's Center! inscribed on the wall, and under that was an address in Saint Julian's.
"Makes me wonder if they've been getting a lot of business through here," I said, nodding at the inscription.
"Wouldn't surprise me if there were a slew of portals around the island," Evean said. "This place is still a smuggler's haven."
"Done business here?"
"No, but I did a lot of business with folks who did during my time in Japan."
"Well, let's find out where we are, and see about going there so we can find out what we need to catch a flight to someplace closer to Ithaca than this."
"Can't we go straight to Ithaca?"
"There's no airport on the island. There is, however, one on Cephalonia, a nearby island that I hope we can get a flight to. I'd rather not fly into Athens again. The drive from there to the western coast is brutal, and then we have to find a boat."
"Why didn't you fly there before?"
"Because we were flying from London, and they couldn't land the big jets there."
"This place is famous, then?" Suzona asked.
"Yup, for a lot of different things. It's a trade hub, or was at least, a smugglers hub, and I think a pirate haven of some sort or other, depending on who you asked. It's been attacked a lot, conquered a few times, and I can't remember what all else."
We came out of the cave, and we were on the beach, so we started walking along it until we eventually found a way up to the land above. Finding a road, we walked along it until we saw buildings.
"Well, let's see if we can find a place to eat, then perhaps get our bearings?" I said, looking around.
"Works for me. Wonder if they speak English?" Evean said.
"Pretty sure they do. We also know Greek now, and they probably know it, as well."
"Hopefully, we can barter some of the silver coins to get a ride to that shop and pay for breakfast."
"That would be nice."
We found a café a lot sooner than we thought we would, and they even helped us get a ride into Saint Julian's. I don't know whether we overpaid or not, and I honestly didn't care.
"How may I help you?" the woman behind the counter said as we walked in.
"We just came from here," I said, tapping on the map that was sitting on the counter. I noticed a dot where the portal was, and there were quite a few other dots, as well.
"Haven't had anyone from there in a while."
"Martial law in the area; there's a war on, and they got hit bad there."
"Huh. Interesting."
"Can we get a flight to Cephalonia from Malta?"
"What do you need to go there for?"
"We're champions, and we're on business." I didn't see any reason to hide what we are. "There's a portal in the area we're headed to."
"I wasn't aware of any over there."
"Eh, they're everywhere. We need some Euros for when we get there, and we also need to see about some edged weapons and stuff, either from here or a place to buy them when we get there."
"Right now, you'd be better off taking a boat."
"That bad?"
"Everybody's worried about terrorism right now. There was a big attack on the United States last year."
"So I heard, but why does that matter over here?"
"They're searching people a lot more carefully when they travel now."
"So? We're not bringing any firearms or explosives. We'd like to get some low-tech weapons, clothes, and maybe some simple armor. We'll just put 'em in our luggage, pay the usual bribes, and be on our way."
"Do you even have passports?"
I checked my pants pockets; I was pretty sure Fel had taken care of it.
That was one of the small side benefits, the little things you needed, if you had them in a place in the past, they showed up when you came back.
I had two passports, my own and the nice one Evean had gotten me when we'd been to Japan.
Suzona had the one Evean had given her.
Evean had five.
"What? I like to travel!" she said, grinning at us.
"These are all good," the lady said, looking through them. "Who made these? Your god?"
"This one's from the US," I said, tapping my original passport.
"I made all the rest," Evean said with a shrug. "I used to do a lot of smuggling before I became a champion."
The woman shook her head, then sighed. "Come around back, I'll show you our swords, and you can pick through the clothing and the rest."
Two hours later, we were in a car on the way to the airport with several packed bags. Evean had bought a couple of expensive digital cameras.
"What's with the cameras?" I asked.
"Oh, it's simple. You and Bridget, there, are the stars in a new sword and sorcery film we're scouting locations for."
"Bridget?" Suzona asked, looking at Evean.
"Bridget Nelson is a buff, sexy, and athletic film star.
You look a lot like her, so that's who your passport says you are.
Will, I'd say just travel as yourself. Me?
I'm a scenic scout for a small production company in Japan.
We're flying around the Mediterranean, you're gearing up in costumes, and we're taking scenic shots of different places, which I'm sending back to my bosses so they can decide which locales to film in.
We can't use the Middle East, of course, because of the war. "
"You really do love making up these stories, don't you?" Suzona said, and then surprised us both with a big smile.
"Movies were all I had as a kid," Evean said, grinning, and added, "so yeah, I do."
"For all that it was only six years ago that we first met, a lot has happened," Suzona said slowly. "While I know you went through some hard times, William, I must admit, my life has been better for having known you. You, too, Evean."
"Really?" Evean said, looking over at Suzona.
"I was too full of myself; I can see that now.
I was rarely among equals until I met the two of you.
Everyone always bowed to me, either out of fear or because they wanted to get me into bed.
It may have been a harsh wakeup call for me, but it was one I needed.
Isengruer once told me that I came back a better woman after we dealt with that kaiju. I can see now that he was right."
Evean leaned over and gave Suzona a hug, which made her smile.
The car dropped us at the airport, so grabbing our luggage we picked up our tickets, checked our bags, paid the baksheesh, and found ourselves quickly cleared through security into the terminal.
"Ah, the joys of true civilization," Evean said as we sat in the passenger lounge, sipping coffee.
"Hmm?"
"Any civilization that doesn't recognize and acknowledge the practice of greasing the wheels is one that lies to itself about everything."
"Greasing the wheels?" Suzona asked.
"Bribes," I supplied.
"Oh!" Suzona looked thoughtful for a moment, and taking another sip of her coffee, she nodded. "Hopefully, we can avoid such places."
"I just hope we brought enough for Greek customs."
Six hours later, we were standing outside Kefalonia Airport on Cephalonia asking the taxi drivers if any of them knew where we could catch a boat to Ithaca.
Surprisingly, several did, so off we went.
It probably helped that we were all speaking Greek at this point, and while Evean was definitely Asian, Suzona and I could have passed for citizens, even if she was a blond.
Evean made small talk with the driver, telling him that we were here to shoot some scenic background shots for the studio so they could decide where to shoot the outdoor scenes.
It was getting dark by the time we got a boat, and full night by the time we were dropped off at the port I wanted to go to, which was on the other side of the island.
I hired a kid to drive us up the hill to the gate, which was just as abandoned as it had been last time. I paid him a nice tip and, using my champion's voice, I told him to leave, and he left.
"At least this leg of our road trip was easy," Suzona joked as we got out our armor and weapons, then stripped down to put them on. "Any idea what we should expect?"
I shook my head. "Not a clue. Used to be, coming through here during daylight would get you slaughtered, but at night, there'd be absolutely nobody."
"That does not sound good."
"Nope, but Aryanna said it was under new management now, so…?" I shrugged.
We got our stuff packed back up. I wondered if the cameras would make it through. I knew my passports would just disappear—how Fel did that, I don't know, but I knew if we'd shown up in NY, I would have had my license back, and possibly even my old car if I needed it.
Some of the rules I still hadn't figured out.
Once we had everything ready, I checked my armor to be sure that if I had to shift, I could do it without hurting myself or breaking anything. We all lined up then and stepped through.
I was surprised that I still remembered this place. It was a lot neater and cleaner than it had been in the past. Someone had definitely cleaned things up.
Of course, the large number of lit torches and the armed guards who turned to look at us and drew their weapons was unexpected, as well.
"Well, shit," I said, putting my hand on the hilt of my sword.
"Halt!" a voice called out. "Who are you, and what brings you here?"
"I am Suzona, champion of Aryanna, and these are my traveling companions. I am here to collect Aryanna's due per her agreement with the Goddess Selini and the God Lofos!"
A woman walked forward then, a very old woman. She stopped a moment and took a good look at me.
"I remember you. I do not remember these other two. She is as she claims?"
I nodded. "Yes, she is, and what she says is why we have come."
The old lady turned back to the others. "They are as they say. Would someone please show them a place to stay? In the morning, the priestess and the priest can greet them."
"Thank you," I said as a pair of guards, one man and one woman, put their weapons away and came over to us.
"You paid, and you were polite," she said with a smile. "The goddess of the night was most pleased."
I smiled. "Again, thank you."
The two guards led us away from the portal to a street that led to the town.
Everything was in much better shape than I remembered.
True, many of the places still looked unoccupied, but they weren't full of rubble or brush.
Somebody had cleaned up the buildings and the area.
While they still needed rebuilding, I had the impression that in due time, they would be.
The city, when we arrived, was also clean and in very good repair. We'd avoided it last time, so I had no idea what it'd looked like back then. They took us into an inn and woke the innkeeper.
"These three need rooms; they're here to see the Goddess' and the God's people. They are honored guests."
"I'll take care of it, thank you," the innkeeper replied and bowed to the two guards, who bowed back to him, and then left.
"Three rooms?" he asked.
"No, just one with a large bed," Evean said, smiling.
"Of course. One moment." He turned to a cabinet behind him and took out a key.
"We have a nice guest suite for visitors to the two temples. You can have that."
"Do you get a lot of guests visiting the two temples?" I asked.
"Surprisingly, yes. The Goddess Selini and the God Lofos are respected and revered by many, near and far. They have brought a change of fortunes to Ithaca, and life has improved immensely."
"Do they run the city?" Suzona asked.
"No, but they do appoint the mayor, who runs it according to their wishes. Now, let me show you to your room."
We followed him up a flight of stairs, then down to the end of the hall. Using the key, he opened the door on the right and then handed it to me.
"Have a pleasant night. I will send someone up to wake you when breakfast is ready in the morning. Chamber pots are in the nightstands."
"Thank you," I said as he bowed, and I gave a slight bow back.
"I will return shortly with a pitcher of water and a pitcher of beer," he said.
We went inside, and the room was nice. The building was stone, with two large windows looking out. The bed was huge with a nightstand on either side. There was a wardrobe, a couple of clothing stands, and a table with four chairs.
"This'll do." Suzona sighed and immediately started stripping, Evean quickly joining her, and they both hung their clothing on the stands.
I only partially stripped and waited for the innkeeper to return.
When he did, I took the pitchers and noticed his eyes widen as he saw Evean and Suzona.
Suzona was, of course, incredibly hot, and for all that Evean's base form wasn't as hot as her champion form, she still had an amazing body.
"Good night," I told him. He blushed and quickly walked away, so I pushed the door closed with my foot, put the pitchers on the table, and then went back and locked the door.
"Should I go down and get some cups?" Evean teased.
"Give me a minute." I sighed, unlocked the door, and went down to get them myself.
"I could have done that, William," Evean purred when I came back, now in her champion form.
"I'm afraid I might have had to hurt someone if I let you do that," I said, coming over and passing out the cups. I then stripped down and shifted, as well. "Ah, always feels good to be me again."
"Truth, William. Also, I think we both prefer you that way," Suzona said in a husky voice.
I accepted the cup of beer that Evean had poured for me, and took a long, refreshing drink, followed by popping a cure poison, just in case.
"Bed?"
"Yes," they both said, smiling at me. "Bed."