To Troy (20)

The resurrected priestess now dressed in normal wifely garb woke them early the next morning. I held back as I noticed the dreamy smile and her messy hair from an active night. Once Sert and Meli had cleared the room, I finally moved forward to join them while the woman still waited by the door to this section of the inn.

“I thank you Melchia for this gift to share with Lord Anubis.” she whispered to me as I passed by her.

“Remember that Thoth must still pass judgement on you for the life you now live.” I returned. We moved toward the front of the inn where Anubis had returned to his human guise. “And giving Serif a little half sibling might not be what he has in mind as a good deed.” I added with a smirk. She blushed but said nothing else while Anubis chuckled as he smiled.

“Until next time old friend.” Anubis said. We grasped arms in warrior fashion before I parted without any other comments. We walked quickly in the empty streets to reach the docks. I noticed all the skiff still in port though fully manned. The captain of our skiff to Troy stood block the plank with a sour look on his face.

“Word from one of the ships that arrived this morning places the Greeks moving to strike at Troy by midday.” he reported to me. He remained barring the plank. “I can get you to the edges of the beach if the Greeks have not reached it yet.” he concluded. He stood waiting for my agreement to this minor change.

“Does it change the original price we discussed?” I asked through gritting teeth. The captain shook his head looking ashamed by my suggestion. “Fine, we land further up the beach.” I agreed forcing a pouch of coins in his grasp. The captain stepped aside as we boarded and placed ourselves around the mast for what would hopefully be a short sail. Our baggage sat with us on the deck as the captain screamed order to his two lone deck hands.

The trip felt slow even if uneventful until we neared the beach at Troy. A forest of mast was heading our way quickly while flying the banners and flags of Greece. One shout from the captain had the skiff spinning on the edge of the surf while a deck hand tried to drop the board for us to depart quickly.

“I suggest you head toward the forest away from Troy as quickly as you can.” the captain screamed at us. “The Greeks will view anyone on the beach as enemies and attack you on sight.” he added as warning.

Sert loaded most of the gear on his back vaulting over the side into the surf to rush the beach. I made Meli follow him. She darted down the plank with her healers' bag and a bundle of books on her back. I disembarked last ordering them to the tree line to wait for me. Both were reluctant to leave me as skiff shot out back to open water with the lead Greek vessel closing quickly.

“This is the land of my adoptive mothers.” I stated to them. “I have business with those arriving to make war.” I added bluntly. I motioned them toward the trees while I turned to assure the skiff would escape. My companions obey reluctantly as the water hissed and boiled around the skiff. The catapults of the lead ship had fired but luckily missed the small target the skiff offered them. I raised my hand and ship shot away faster as both wind and water added together assisting it to flee before the Greeks could fire once more.

The armada stopped short of landing allowing the lead ship to anchor first by me. I could sense that Meli held Sert firmly in place even if he fought to rush back to my side to face the complete Greek army. Over two dozen armed Greek soldiers surrounded me with weapons ready while I stood casually in their midst. They seemed confused by my lack of weapon ready to defend myself keeping them at bay. Agamemnon stepped forth with Achilles to slowly march to meet with me upon the beach of Troy. I had let my skin darken during our passage through Egypt hiding the Roman origins of this body.

“You are not Greek or a man of Troy.” Achilles stated as they stood before me. “Who are you and from whence you came?” he asked glaring at me. Little thunder chose this moment to show himself as his flew in to land upon my shoulder without a single sound.

“A small bird Lord Achilles, Lord Atrides.” I returned with a quick bow. “Here to whisper words of caution or you shall be trapped in this battle for much longer than you could imagine.” I added. I let my eyes go wide and roll loosely in their orbit as I spoke. The regarded me in silence as I smiled a grin that only the maddest of prophets would wear being of the insanity their gift placed upon them.

“A kestrel upon your shoulder so 'Kestrel' must be your name to call yourself a small bird.” Agamemnon replied calmly. I could sense his intrigue and the disbelief of the madness I feigned having.

“As good a name as any I have worn so far.” I replied with a half sane smile.

“Touch him not Achilles!” a child's voice thundered at my side. Eris stood looking as a little harmless girl beside me. “My son's words are truthful even if shrouded.” she told them calmer. “Tell them what you must my son.” she added softly.

“The gods and goddesses of your lands will walk with you to face the gods and goddesses of your foe but it will be of no use if remain entrenched here longer than a year, Achilles.” I stated harshly.

“We Greeks will crush these insects of Troy and reclaim what is ours.” Achilles retorted angrily at me. Agamemnon stood silently watching all this. “If this is what you have to tell me, then be gone son of chaos.” he added. He turned to signal orders to the fleet to make landfall taking most of the soldiers that surrounded me with him. Agamemnon still remained with a handful of soldiers who stood more relaxed now.

“Do you share his views Atrides?” I asked calmly. He looked at me as I truly was without the mask of madness upon my brow. He smiled sadly before answering.

“Best to believe and keep hope than disbelieve and go mad in a war over a jilted heart.” he answered quietly. I saw some of his soldier nod in agreement. “Best to leave before he decides to make a spectacle of you Kestrel.” he suggested in a whisper.

“My words to you Agamemnon, Lord Atrides.” I announced softly. “Save the maiden Briseis from his grips for as long as you can.” I added in a lower voice. I turned without waiting with Eris at my side and little thunder upon my shoulder. The remaining soldiers clear a path for us as we headed toward the forest.

“What have you done son?” Eris asked. I glanced down to spy the twinkle of mischievousness in her eyes that told me she knew I had just been a very bad boy.

“If the war goes too long, the maiden Briseis will fall into their hands.” I began explain to her. “Agamemnon will now take her as a war-prize to protect her which he is much better suited than Achilles could ever be.” I continued slowly. I measure my words with my pace so she would be seen by my companions. “This will cause a conflict between the two making this war not end for many decades.” I concluded with a wry smile.

“You are vicious my son.” she complimented me with a giggle. “Too much like me and cousin Discordia not to be our son in spirit.” she continued giggling louder. I knew Meli and Sert had been watching and wondering who this little girl was that walked at my side like family. “If they cannot listen to reason, then they deserve to fight themselves to death and I shall not interfere with what cousin Discordia has started over a silly golden apple.” she concluded. We had reached the treeline. She turned to smile prettily at Meli and Sert who stared dumbfounded back at her. She gave them an elegant curtsy before disappearing in a burst of lightning with the thunder replaced by her giggles. My companion stood slack jawed staring at the spot Eris had occupied.

“It was my adoptive Greek mother making sure they would not harm me as I warned them of the folly they start with this little war." I explained. I had the time to transfer half of Sert's baggage before either reacted to my statement.

“Who is she?” Meli asked. She grasped my shoulder to force me to face them. “What is she?” she added wide eyed.

“Lady Eris, the Greek goddess of chaos and on of the two deities in this region that have adopted me as their son.” I answered slowly. “Her cousin in the Roman pantheon is named Lady Discordia, she is the cause of the war at Troy, and my other adoptive mother.” I added. I believed that this was enough information to silence my companions' questions about my unofficial lineage. I hoped that my adoptive mothers did not make appearances during the remainder of this trip unless it was truly important. With my warning to the attackers of Troy completed, I had no other duties than to show my companions the small slice of the world we travelled through.

“But she is just a child!” Meli exclaimed aghast. Sert nodded his agreement in silence.

“How old are you Meli? And you Sert?” I snapped back bluntly.

“One hundred and fifty six.” Meli answered shyly.

“One hundred and eighty three.” Sert replied. I began laughing softly at them.

“She may appear as a child but she is older than both of you put together by quite a few centuries.” I returned jovially. “She chooses to appear as a child because it is easier to cause mischief and chaos without it seeming intentional.” I explained mirthfully. “Most of the ones we are meeting would give Meli fifteen and Sert eighteen.” I informed them. “But unlike Atlantis where both of you are still viewed as children until two hundred years of life, you are seen as adult in this outer world.” I explained. They nodded slowly at me. “Sert would have to be a veteran of a dozen skirmishes and Meli be ready to birth her third or fourth child by now.” I added. Their eyes widened as realization sunk in.

Both nodded at this statement still looking fearful of the prospect of living in the outer world permanently. It was both a gift of the slowed ageing process upon Atlantis and a curse for those that left Atlantis. Most Atlantian, if they left the mystic isle would need to return every year for a week just to be able to remain looking their Atlantian age and not begin an accelerated ageing process that would kill them. It was also for them to recharge their magic and abilities that would not function properly outside the Atlantian shield once their reserves dwindled which happen very quickly to most. The outer world was not made for magic and drank the practitioners dry very quickly unless they were either touched by a deity, of deistic blood, or something older than the planet itself like myself. I refrained from explaining this to Meli since she was, by Atlantian standards, too young to learn of such things.

Unlike most, I refused to use my power without a good purpose. If my weapon or keen wit could be use instead, I value holding back my full powers and resorting to small magical tricks if needed. This meant that my powers would appear amplified in Atlantis making my minor tricks look like great feats of magic keeping on guard while there. I could easily decimate all of Atlantis if I used my full abilities and my full powers that I have chained in my own mind. The Atlantian net could never hold that much power nor could the Heartstone remain in one piece if limitless power were unleash at it.