Forest of Allund Part 2(Wilbur Arron) CHAPTER TWENTY: JUDGMENT

It was well into the morning when Lochagos Nomiki and the others woke up. It had been light for some time. By then I had searched the area and found no one else nearby. I had also dressed the unconscious trooper in a mage’s robe, and I dressed in his uniform. It was a loose fit, but I could pass for a trooper in it.
The change in wardrobe took some explaining to Nomiki and the others. They doubted my story until I held up my blanket with the half-dozen dagger thrusts through it. As for my would-be assassin, I decided he could be of great use to me. By dressing him in my clothes, I could now pass him off as me. This lowered my chances of becoming a target once we reached Arginnia. It took the rest of the morning for us to rig a makeshift sled to carry him. I had used Life Magik to drain his vital energy, but not to the danger point. I wanted him to stay unconscious until we arrived at the polis.
Recovering from the effects of the drug and building the sled took us into the early afternoon. It was well after dark by the time we reached the front gate of Arginnia. Inside the gate, the watch took us immediately to the ethnarch’s palace. There, Pallas — the ethnarch’s oldest son — met us. After a brief explanation, he showed us into his father’s presence.
I presented myself and told the ethnarch of what I had found at the way station and the attempt on my life. He was very interested.
“You are sure a mage destroyed the way station?” he asked.
“No doubt in my mind, which is why I did not communicate my arrival to the arch-mage,” I said.
“You suspect the arch-mage?” the ethnarch asked in disbelief.
“I suspect a mage,” I replied. “I did not want to alert whoever is responsible for this attack of my safe arrival. That is why I ask the ethnarch to put out a message saying I have been gravely wounded and placed under the care of Physician Timagoras in his infirmary.”
The ethnarch smiled. “You are setting a trap. Good. I will assign my best men to guard it.”
“Since whoever comes will likely be a mage, I would also like to be there,” I said.
“I agree,” the old man said. “Now I have one more thing I want to discuss with you.”
“I know — Archon Lycus,” I said.
The old man looked at me with cold, gray eyes. “That death has angered a great many people: many in my palace, many in the temples, and a few close to the arch-mage. They think you took too much upon yourself. You must answer for this, Mage Sopholus.”
I nodded. “That is why I came here willingly. I came prepared to appear before you, the arch-mage, and the archiereas to answer. I am further prepared to offer a full explanation, not only for what I did, but also for why I did it. For this reason, I request a hearing with the three of you.”
The ethnarch got up from his chair and looked at his son. He walked toward me, his look softened, and he said in a fatherly voice, “Based on your rank and past service to this vasíleio, you are certainly entitled to such a hearing. I will not confine you to a cell, but will ask you to give me your solemn oath you will not leave Arginnia.”
“You have my oath,” I said and bowed my head.
“I thought I would get it,” the old man said and looked toward his house servant. “Mage Sopholus will be a guest in my palace until after the hearing. Provide him with fresh clothes and a bath. Treat him as an honored guest.”
“Yes, ethnarch,” the manservant said with a bow of his head and showed me to my spacious quarters. It was certainly better than a cell in the dungeon.
The next morning, refreshed and relaxed, I met with Arastos, the palace guard commander. We met in a room next to the ethnarch’s audience chamber. As soon as I was inside, he closed the door.
“This needs to stay between us,” he said seriously. “Word is out today that you arrived last night in bad condition. For now, the guardsman who attacked you has agreed to stand in for you.”
That struck me as strange. “Why would he make himself a target like that?”
“Most likely because the ethnarch told him that if he did not do it, he would be strangled by morning.” Arastos grinned. “If he survives this, he will just be banished from Argina.”
I was curious about something else. “Did he say why he attacked me?”
“The oldest reason — money,” Arastos said, still grinning. “A man he does not know gave him twenty-five gold drachmae with a promise of another twenty-five when he succeeded. Most likely he would have had his throat cut when he came back to collect, but he was not bright enough to think that far ahead. He is under a loose guard now. The physician has drugged him and arranged his bandages to make him look hurt.”
“Sounds like you have prepared well,” I said.
“Not quite,” the guardsman disagreed. “If we do have a mage involved, trying to capture him is something my men have no experience with.”
“That is why I need to be there,” I said. “If it is a mage, even if you are able to tie him up, he will still be dangerous. You will have to bind him securely, so his hands and arms cannot move. You will also have to cover his eyes. A mage needs to see to cast magik as well as have his arms and hands free to help him. If you catch him in the act, holding his arms up, fall on the floor and shoot him with arrows. Depending on his strength, a mage can do anything — from killing a single person to burning down the palace.”
“I know,” Arastos said meekly. “Polemarch Xanphos was very clear about what you did to the Zilar and their stone throwers.”
That ended the meeting, and we went to where “I” was lying injured. The infirmary was a mostly open room with a soft bed on which my alter ego lay unconscious. To the side were shelves full of scrolls and bottles of medicine. I could see the physician and two assistants examining patients in other rooms. Arastos and I hid behind a bookshelf and waited. Several of his men, all armed with bows, hid behind furniture and in other places. I charged my crystal necklace. The best way to handle this would be to use a force ball to knock down whomever it was, stunning him long enough to bind him. It was as boring as watching water drip, standing guard for the day. The day turned into evening and then into the night. This was when I would have attacked if it had been me.
After the guard changed for the second night watch, I heard it: a dull click. I had heard that sound before, when Melina had sneaked into my room at the palace. I nudged Arastos and together we got ready. Although it was dark in the room, I could pick out a part of the wall that was moving slightly in the office of the physician. It was another secret passage. Slowly, the wall slid open and out walked a figure dressed in a dark cloak. He looked around and then, almost silently, came forward. I started pulling power from the realms and waited. The hooded figure walked up to my other self.
He stood over the sleeping form and I saw him start to gesture.
“Pyra,” he whispered, and a blue ball of flame started to form in his hand.
“Now!” I yelled and shot to my feet.
The mage lost his concentration and turned to look at me. The blue ball flew to the ceiling. I did not wait.
“Energeia,” I called out, and a ball of force flew from my hand, hitting the hooded figure hard in the side. I was not gentle. It sent him flying against a column.
“Quickly, restrain him!” I commanded the others, who were coming out of their hiding places. Several men rushed out from behind the bookcases and wrestled the hooded figure to his knees. One started to bind him.
“Aeras,” he called out, and the two closest men went flying backward. But two could play that game.
“Aeras,” I said, and a ball of wind pushed him into the wall with a thud. Arastos ran by me and across the room, sword out. For a moment I thought he was going to cut the mage’s head off, but instead he delivered a blow the side of his head with the flat of his sword.
The hooded figure moaned and then lay still.
“Quick! Before he recovers — bind him and cover his head,” I ordered the men.
Two men already had rope out. In moments, they tied his hands together behind his back, then tied both feet together before tying the bound hands and feet together with the third piece of rope. It was exactly how I had been taught to bind someone at the academy. While they were doing this, a third guardsman put a black woolen hood on the mage’s head and tied it closed.
I gave further instructions. “Search his body and remove anything that he is wearing or that is in his pockets.”
Not only did they do that, but they cut his robe and his clothes off him, leaving him dressed in a simple loincloth. They also stripped him of an amulet he wore around his neck. While a guard held a torch for me, I went carefully over the still unconscious figure. On his left shoulder was the tattoo of a small flame. He was another mage from Syrina.
By that time, the commotion had brought the physicians out of their sleeping quarters. Other than a scorch mark on the ceiling where his errant fireball had flown, there was no damage from the mage’s attack. Arastos looked over at Timagoras.
“Wake him” — he pointed to the other me — “and bring him to the audience chamber. The ethnarch ordered me to wake him, day or night, if this happened.”
Two guardsmen stayed behind and the other six half-dragged and half-carried the assassin down a flight of stairs and into the audience chamber. They propped our unconscious mage in a chair and tied him securely with chains. This man was going nowhere. It was only then Arastos looked at me and smiled.
“That worked out well,” he said.
“He was not a smart mage,” I said. “A good mage would never let himself be surprised like that. Now may I suggest a bucket of water to wake our friend?”
One of the guards got a bucket of water. We waited for the ethnarch. It was not long before he appeared along with his son. Both were still dressed in their night robes.
“Mage Sopholus, I see your plan worked,” the old man said and sat regally upon his throne. “Now let us have a talk,” he said deliberately. “Invite the guest of honor to the conversation,” he commanded.
Arastos poured the bucket of water over the hooded figure, who immediately started to cough and spit out the water.
When I was sure he was awake, I turned to the ethnarch. “If I may?” I requested.
The old man motioned for me to continue. I grabbed the hood and spoke into it so all could hear.
“Look, moros, you are bound to a chair with chains. Your hands and feet are tied behind you. Four rather large men have war bows pointed at you. I am Alexio Sopholus, the man you tried to kill. At the first hint I think you are invoking, those men will shoot arrows into your body and I will fry you with a fireball, so do not do anything stupid.”
“Remove his hood, mage,” the ethnarch ordered.
I did, and the face that appeared was young, nice-looking, with long red hair. A guard brought a torch near to illuminate it so all could see.
“It is one of the cooks at the Golden Dragon Tavern,” a guardsman called out. “His name is Eutychos.”
“Yes,” the ethnarch said, grinning. “That makes sense. For large affairs, we use their staff to supplement our own. I seem to remember him. Perhaps I know now where the poison came from that nearly killed me and the others.”
“He also knew of one of the secret passages,” Arastos reported.
“Interesting,” the ethnarch said, pulling on his white beard.
“He is also a mage from Syrina,” I said and pointed out his tattoo. “He comes from the same school as the mage who was serving the former Archon Lycus.”
“Oh!” the ethnarch exclaimed and glared at the guest of honor. “That is also interesting. Care to tell me more about yourself?”
“Pathetic old man,” the seated figure said in a strong voice. “When the Zilar get here, I will take delight in flaying you all.”
I drew back and suppressed my urge to fry him.
“Ethnarch, if I may offer a suggestion,” I said. “It may be wise to look for other such tattoos in Arginnia. If this school of magik has decided to ally themselves with the Zilar, we must find them. I also suggest telling the arch-mage so he can communicate with the Megas Mage on Lantia. We may all be at risk.”
I shuddered to think of a mage war between the two schools. It could be a disaster for this planet. This was suddenly a lot more dangerous than an invasion and treason.
“You are correct, Mage Sopholus,” the ethnarch said with a broad smile. “I will also communicate this possibility to my other archons and the other vasíleia.”
At that point, the two guardsmen brought in the rider from my party who had tried to kill me. “Bring him here and have him look at the prisoner,” the old man commanded.
They marched the trooper up to the prisoner and raised the torch so he could get a good look. I saw an expression of recognition immediately.
“Is this the man who paid you to kill Mage Sopholus?” the ethnarch asked.
The trooper just nodded and dropped his head. The ethnarch pointed toward the door of the chamber and the trooper left without further comment. The ethnarch then turned to face me.
“Once again, this vasíleio and this ethnarch are grateful to you, Master Mage Sopholus, for your help in thwarting a plot against us. However, I must still ask you to remain in the polis.”
“Thank you, ethnarch,” I said with a bow. “I do have one request.”
“Speak,” the man commanded.
“I wish to make a formal testament of my actions before my hearing. May I ask for pen, ink, and parchment to do this?”
The ethnarch turned to his son. “He is within his rights to ask. Provide him with these items and a suitable desk.” Then he turned to the bound mage. “Put this one in the deep pit. Let him use his magik there.”
The hood went back on and the chair was carried out by four large men. The four bowmen went with them. The ethnarch left the chamber and his son followed. So much for court proceedings.
For the next several days, I wrote a full account of my time since my arrival the previous year until my recent arrival in Arginnia. This took time because I wanted it to be as full and as exact an account as possible. I wrote several drafts, then went back and added things I remembered. The only documentation I had, with the exception of my memory, was the documents I had found in the archon general’s bag in the North Pass, and then in the saddlebags after I killed Lycus and the others. I thought these were at least conclusive proof of the archon’s treason.
In this document, I wanted to be as objective as I could, outlining facts as best I remembered. I also gave my reasons for my actions and outlined my concerns for the safety of the vasíleio. I wrote four drafts before I had a document I thought was as correct as I could make it. It filled four scrolls. I called in the chief scribe and had him make three copies. When he finished, I gave one copy each to the archiereas, arch-mage, and ethnarch. After that, there was not much more I could do. I spent time in the library, reading scrolls on the topics of natural philosophy, geography, and mathematics. I also looked for references about the Zilar, but with no success. It was the best way of passing time until my hearing was set.
After twenty days went by with no news of my hearing, I asked the chief servant about the delay. All he would say was that the ethnarch was gathering more information and I had to have patience. Thirty-seven days after I handed in my scrolls, Arastos found me in the library and informed me the hearing would be the next morning. I gathered my documents and notes together. Later that afternoon, they gave me a new mage robe. I bathed that night. After a mostly sleepless night spent rehearsing my testimony, morning finally came.
The morning was cloudy with some rain. We were entering the season when the central plains of Argina got most of their rain. I hoped it was not an omen. After breakfast, I dressed and Arastos took me to the ethnarch’s audience chamber. There on the dais sat the ethnarch, with the archiereas on his right and the arch-mage on his left. I was taken in and made to stand behind a table on which I laid my documents.
“Let what is said here be recorded,” the ethnarch pronounced. That was the sign for the five scribes to start working feverishly.
“Master Mage Alexio Sopholus has requested this hearing to review his recent actions in the elimination of a plot to invade and conquer Argina by a race of barbarians known as the Zilar. We will also look at the treachery of the former archon of Erinus, who is supposed to have aided the Zilar. Finally, we will look at the actions of Master Mage Sopholus taken to counter these threats.
“For this hearing, we have received documents from Master Mage Sopholus as well as Oligarch Cleon of Korpolis, his wife, his sister, our Polemarch Xanphos, and the polemarch of Korpolis and his wife. The three of us have examined the documents and we are ready to issue our judgment. Before we do so, does Master Mage Sopholus have anything else to say?”
I walked into the center of the room to address the dais. “I will say only what I have said in my report. I know I took extraordinary actions to combat these threats. Some of these actions you may consider extreme. My only plea is for recognition that the Zilar had shown by their actions in the sacking, enslavement, and murder of the inhabitants of the Polis of Dysiasty that they were set on the destruction of this vasíleio. They also attempted to invade our lands near the Forest of Allund and the North Pass of the Central Mountains. In this attack, the former Archon Lycus, whose treachery I feel I have proven beyond doubt, helped them. Because I was told troops could not be deployed from Arginnia in time to stop a possible invasion through the North Pass, I took it upon myself to do whatever was necessary to prevent this. I will remind this court that I, and I alone, am responsible for my actions and that any guilt is also mine, and mine alone, to bear. With that, I am prepared to hear judgment.”
“Very well,” the ethnarch said. “In cases when there is a religious aspect to the hearing, we let the gods, through their representative the archiereas, speak first.”
The white-robed man of about eighty years old looked at me with cold, piercing black eyes. “I will admit to this court that upon first learning of this matter, I was almost certain the master mage was guilty of impertinence against the gods, showing impiety of their actions, and blasphemy. Now that I have read his and other statements, I can see that was a hasty conclusion. I can find no evidence that Master Mage Sopholus ever committed blasphemy against any of the gods. I also know now of his many conversations with others, where he questioned his own actions and wondered if he had imposed on the power of the gods. This is not the mark of impiety. Nevertheless, on several occasions, he acted in such a manner as to convince the barbarians that he was or spoke for the gods. This is impertinence. Granted, he did this to lessen possible bloodshed; however, his actions cannot be totally excused. Owing to the extraordinary circumstances of this incident, I feel the full punishment of death or ostracism for life is not warranted for his actions.”
With that, he stood and looked at me. “As Archiereas for Argina, I proclaim that, starting at the fall equinox of this year and extending for three years, Mage Alexio Sopholus will be denied the religious rights of entrance, sacrifice, or sanctuary in any temple in Argina. Following this time, we will restore his full religious rights. Failure by him to comply with this punishment will be considered defiance of the gods and will be treated accordingly. Any further punishment I will leave in the hands of the gods.”
With that, he sat down. The ethnarch did nothing until the scribes caught up and acknowledged they were ready. The ethnarch then rose again. “We normally do not have the arch-mage participate in deliberations with us when we discuss possible criminal cases. However, a mage is under investigation, and therefore I invited him to be part of this hearing. I have asked him to listen, read the testimony, and render his own judgment. Arch-Mage Herion, you may now speak.”
Herion spoke in a clear and distinct voice. “I, too, have been caught up in the extraordinary circumstances of this case. The Mage Code states clearly that a mage will not act out of anger, nor kill, unless it is to protect the innocent or himself. In the case of the Zilar invaders, this point has been proven beyond a doubt and no blame should fall on the master mage for his actions against them. Regarding his hunting and killing of Archon Lycus, the case is not so clear. Granted, he was a traitor and was plotting to overthrow his lawful ruler. Granted, this would have brought on a civil war that could have killed thousands. This, according to Polemarch Xanphos, the master mage has prevented. His arguments that there was, first, no time to follow normal legal procedures due to the imminent threat of invasion and war, and, second, no means to oppose the invasion, do have merit. Still, a mage is not sole judge or jury, and he is certainly not an executioner. He has also brought to our attention a plot by our Syrinian mage brothers to ally with the Zilar to the detriment of all the lands. We can argue, in this case, that he did all this to prevent massive bloodshed. However, many died during this incident, many in violation of the Mage Code. We cannot excuse Alexio for these deeds.”
The arch-mage then rose and looked directly at me. “Since Master Mage Alexio Sopholus’s rank was given to him by the Megas Mage and the Mage Council, only they can punish him for his deeds. However, I have written to the Megas Mage and recommended that, because of these questionable actions, the rank of master mage be suspended from Alexio Sopholus for three years, starting this year on the fall equinox. Following this period, his rank will be reinstated. As the archiereas stated, any other punishment is best left to the gods.”
After Arch-Mage Herion sat down, the ethnarch nodded and looked at me. “In a serious case like this one, I also ask my son Pallas to review the case. I will now ask to hear from him.”
“Thank you, Father,” the young man said and bowed. “In a case such as this, in which murder is committed, the penalty is well known, and that is death. There is no doubt that Alexio Sopholus killed Archon Lycus and others. This matter is, however, not as simple as the usual murder. I find I must agree with both the archiereas and the arch-mage that this crime involves extraordinary circumstances. Mage Sopholus is correct when he says he has proved beyond doubt that Archon Lycus was a traitor and most likely would have been condemned at any trial. There was no trial, however, and while I feel that Mage Sopholus’s actions may have prevented a civil war and invasion, this does not excuse him from the law. Due to the mitigating circumstance, I hereby recommend that Mage Sopholus’s punishment be reduced from execution to that of ostracism from this vasíleio. That penalty includes banishment for a period of ten years. I believe he can find refuge in Lantia. He should return to Korpolis under guard and be given ten days to set his affairs in order, then be escorted to Aegae and put on a boat for Lantia. If he returns in less than ten years, he will be executed on sight.”
There were gasps from the people in the hall. I swallowed hard. Banishment for ten years was a heavy punishment. Pallas was treating me like a regular criminal.
Attention turned to the ethnarch, who had the final say on this matter. He nodded at his son and began.
“I will not repeat what was just said by the archiereas, the arch-mage, or my son. My conclusions are similar. Your actions, Mage Sopholus, have prevented a possible civil war and invasion. My own polemarch has told me that such action more than likely saved the lives of thousands. I can also see that the actions of the Zilar, and our own problems in combating this threat, did give you some justification for your claims. The people of Argina owe you much. However, even as a magistrate, you do not have absolute power over life and death. For these reasons, I have decided the following.”
With that, the old man stood and addressed me. “First, I hereby revoke your title of magistrate permanently. I will not have a judge in my lands acting as you did, no matter the reason. I will instead give you the title of advisor to the ethnarch. This will allow you to communicate directly with me and will not result in a loss of your status.”
The old man looked at me with disapproval. “I think the conditions of this case are more in Mage Sopholus’s favor than my son states, although everything he said is correct. As such, I am also prescribing the punishment of banishment on Mage Alexio Sopholus, but for only three years, starting on the fall equinox of this year. Since the Zilar might return during this time and because of his previous service, I declare that this will be an internal and not an external banishment. Mage Sopholus will be confined to the Forest of Allund, the Polis of Korpolis, and the western wastelands for this period. I will also give authority to the future Archon of Erinus to remove this ban should his mage services be required in any future conflict. This punishment will be made known to the oligarch at Korpolis, who will have the responsibility of monitoring Mage Sopholus during this time.”
With that, he sat down, still looking at me. “Do you have anything to say, Mage Sopholus?”
What could I say? Despite what his son had said, the ethnarch had let me off lightly. “I accept your judgments,” I said plainly. “However, if I am to be banished starting on the fall equinox, I will need to leave Arginnia shortly.”
The ethnarch nodded. “My son Pallas will be leaving to oversee the new administration in the north as I am recalling my polemarch. You will go with him to Korpolis. He leaves the day after tomorrow, and during this trip you will be in his custody.”
“So be it,” I said.
“So be it,” the ethnarch replied and left the room with the others.
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: RETURN

Two days later, I was in the main courtyard early, before dawn. Arastos told me that Pallas and his party wanted to make an early start. I dressed in light travel clothing given to me by Arastos the previous night. He also said they did not want me to wear my mage robes because it would bring unwanted attention. There was something else: I was not the only mage traveling. Maleos was with us, and he was also dressed in plain clothes. I had not seen him since I had sent him there after the old archon died. Besides him, Karipos, a senior priest from the temples, accompanied us. Arastos told me our senior priest Zagreus, in Korpolis, was getting on in years and had requested help.
The party consisted of the three of us, fifty cavalry troops, Pallas, and many packhorses for supplies. Pallas led the party through the inner gate of the palace compound, through the darkened polis streets, and out the front gate. We proceeded at a trot, as if Pallas wanted us through the polis before the people started their daily business. It might have been a sensible precaution. In any case, we were on the wide plains of central Argina as the sun came up.
About our trip back to Korpolis, there is not much to tell. Pallas avoided the main road — for safety reasons, he told me — and went across the country. In this way, we could avoid any merchant parties or other travelers. We also avoided other poleis. Peles was the main polis located slightly over halfway from Arginnia to Korpolis. I would have expected to stop there, but we camped well outside it. Instead, several of our party led our pack animals into the polis to buy supplies for the rest of our journey.
During our travel, there was little in the way of idle conversation. At night after we camped, everyone except for Pallas and me slept two to a tent, which was standard. Even Maleos shared a tent with the priest. At night, the after-dinner conversation was subdued. When I had come there with Lochagos Nomiki, the troops had been more open and vocal, especially at night. Although they had locked me in a room most of the time, I could still hear outside. These troops were quieter.
Pallas kept tight control over his men. He posted guards every night and changed them twice. Every man took his turn at guard duty. At first light, he sent two troopers who had not stood guard duty the previous night ahead to scout the path. They reported in the afternoon about what was ahead and the location they had chosen for a camp that night. I saw Pallas, on many occasions, get up at night and slowly walk the perimeter. He was taking nothing for granted. He gave few orders and never repeated an order. The men obeyed him instantly and genuinely seemed to respect him. One time when he took a bath in a small stream, I could clearly see his old injuries. The scars on his body were consistent with battle wounds. The ethnarch’s son and heir had done his share of fighting.
Very little conversation was directed at me. Even Maleos avoided me whenever possible. When I managed to corner him and ask why, he told me the ethnarch had reappointed him as mage to his younger son, Diomedes, who would be the new archon. When I asked him about the other men, he admitted to me privately that Pallas and the men were frightened of me. They knew what I had done. They knew about the judgment against me. So, they had decided the best way to handle me was to keep me at arm’s length.
I saw that for myself the night we camped about two milio from Peles. It was after sunset, just after our meal of bread and preserved vegetables with dried fish.
“Halt,” I heard off in the darkness.
Instantly the camp came alive. All men grabbed their arms except for two who poured water on the fire. We were instantly in the dark.
“Stay where you are, or I will shoot!” I heard the guard shout again.
“Everyone, stay down,” Pallas ordered in a loud voice.
Nothing happened for a while. I heard Pallas curse. “It is too damn dark to see anything.”
“I can light the ground for you,” I told him.
There was a moment’s delay before I heard him call back, “Go ahead, mage.”
I gathered the power and cast a fireball to rise into the air, over the heads of anyone out there.
“Pyra,” I called out, and the blue ball of flame rose high over the grassland, rising higher in the air in the direction I had heard the guard shout from. The blue light lit up the grass below. As it did, I could clearly see the guard standing with bow in hand and ready to fire. Something was moving beyond him. The ball exploded in a flash that outlined a large herd of cattle in the distance. They were the only things moving.
There was immediate laughter from the men in the camp. Men were making fun of the poor guard about defeating his great enemy. Pallas would hear none of it. “The next time it may be bandits coming to slit your throats,” he yelled out. “When in doubt, you call out. It is better to be alive laughing than dead quiet.”
The bantering stopped immediately, and they all went back to getting the fires relit. It was then I saw all the men looking at me with suspicion. Some even made the sign to ward off evil. I had tried to help them, but all I had seemed to do was make the troopers even more wary of me.
We did not travel at a fast pace, to keep from tiring out the horses. On the morning of the ninth day, Pallas sent out two scouts in the early morning and told the rest of us we would spend the night in Korpolis. We were all glad the ride was over. That relief was quickly quashed in midmorning, when one of the two scouts came back at a gallop. He was upset about something.
“Megas Archon*,” he called out to Pallas by title. “Korpolis is under attack.”
That got everyone’s attention. “How?” Pallas shouted out.
The scout looked as exhausted as his horse. “There are perhaps thirty men around the polis, shooting arrows at the guards on the walls. They have shut the gates. We saw bodies of citizens in front of the polis. They looked dead.”
“Any siege engines?” Pallas asked.
“No, Megas Archon, just men shooting at the walls. They are only keeping people in the polis, not trying to besiege it.”
“Where in the pits of Hades are Xanphos and the army?” Pallas said.
“I do not know,” the scout reported.
“Where is Herodes?” Pallas wanted to know about the other scout.
“We drew close to the polis and saw what was happening. He stayed behind to watch and sent me back. He is also telling anyone on the main road not to go to Korpolis.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“I do not think so, and Herodes is well hidden in the forest near the main road.”
Pallas turned and walked away, thinking. “One does not keep people bottled up in a polis without a reason,” he said.
“Maybe they are waiting for more troops,” one of the troopers called out.
“That is my guess,” Pallas said. “We will ride to Korpolis, but I want to stay off the road. I want no dust cloud to warn them. We will not ride fast or hard. I want to get there around sunset. We will see what is there and then deploy. I want to give these people a surprise they will not forget.”
“If I may ask, did the scout see if the attackers were wearing any uniforms?” I wanted to know.
“We were too far away. We did not want to get that close,” the scout answered.
Pallas turned to face his troops. “Let’s ride, with no unnecessary talking or moving. I want to surprise them and not the other way around.”
I looked around. We were on a flat plain. I looked over and to the west. At the horizon, I could see the green of the forest and the mountains rising to my left.
“May I make a suggestion?” I said to Pallas as we rode.
“If you must,” Pallas sneered.
“We are all in the open out here,” I said, looking around. “If we went to the west, we could approach under cover of the forest.”
“I saw that,” Pallas answered. “Our attackers can also hide scouts in the forest, so we will not see them. They could warn the others. Out here, we are all equally in the open, and I doubt they can see us from the forest unless they are high up in the trees.”
That made perfect sense. I had not thought of that. “Sorry,” I said.
Pallas said nothing and continued to ride.
We rode until late afternoon and then stopped at the bottom of a rise. I saw a trooper there signaling and thought it must be Herodes. We rode to him. Pallas motioned us back as he approached and they talked for a while. The ridge blocked any view of the flat plain in front of the polis, and we would also be invisible from the polis and those around it. Pallas climbed the ridge with his backpack, took out two pieces of glass, and held them both up to his eyes. He moved one back and forth until he smiled, then scanned the area in front of him. After talking to the trooper for a while longer, he came down from the ridge.
Pallas motioned for everyone to gather near him. “I count twenty-six men,” he told us. “Only seven are up near the wall. The rest of them are in a camp. It looks like they just want to keep everyone within the walls. There is no chance they can take the polis. I want us to leave the horses here. The two mages and the priest can watch them. The rest of us will split into three groups. I will take twenty-five men and attack the camp and the north wall. Herodes will take twelve men and attack along the western wall. Chremon will take the rest, sneak around to the south wall, and then come up along the east wall. We will leave after dark and move quietly. On my signal, we will all attack together.”
“What will be the signal?” Chremon asked.
“I can send up a fire arrow,” Pallas said.
“Let me handle that,” I said. “I can send a signal that everyone can see. There are people in Korpolis who will know it is me, so hopefully they will not shoot at you by mistake.”
“That sounds good, mage,” Pallas smiled. “I just need you to wait until we are all in place.”
“How long do you want me to wait?” I asked.
“Count to two thousand slowly and then signal,” he told me.
The men got their weapons. Maleos, the priest, and I staked the horses to the ground. We all kept quiet and waited. Pallas kept everyone close until the 342 stars were fully visible, then gathered his men together. They separated into three groups.
“Start counting,” Pallas told me, and everyone went quietly over the top of the ridge.
It felt like it took forever to count to two thousand. I was sure I was taking too long, but Maleos and the priest counted with me. When we reached the last number, I put as much power as I could into a fireball and cast it upward as far as I could. The blue ball flew in the air, then arched and fell toward the ground. Instantly, the night was full of yells, followed by the sound of metal on metal. Screams of pain and death were clear. This continued for a while and then all was dead silent. It was well after midnight before six of our men came back to collect us.
“How did it go?” Maleos asked the man whose name I did not remember.
“We killed eighteen and captured five, but three escaped down the road into the forest,” the man said.
“Did we lose many?” I asked.
“We lost five dead and six wounded,” the man said grimly. “We need to go to the polis. Pallas wants us to bring the horses.”
It was early morning before we walked through the gate. There the polis met us with obvious relief. Iolaos and Philie were there in front. Cleon, Theresa, and Melina were also waiting for me in the palace. I was relieved. The first thing I did was kiss her.
Pallas, Maleos, and I followed them inside while Cleon told the story of what had happened. Four days before, 130 men on horses had arrived, led by Archon Ptolemy. The guard at the gate had a warning from the lookout and they closed the gates in Ptolemy’s face. That did not stop the invaders from killing everyone they could find outside the walls. They demanded entrance and threatened to kill everyone in the polis if it was not granted. Unfortunately for them, Cleon did not scare easily. After a day of shooting arrows, Ptolemy and most of his men rode into the Forest of Allund. The next day, everyone could see fire coming from near my hut. That was it. No one ever saw another sign of the former archon or his men. The ones they had left behind kept a nuisance bow shooting for three days to keep people inside the polis. Then we arrived.
The next day we got the rest of the story from our captives. After some strong encouragements that are best left unexplained, we learned Ptolemy’s plan had been to escape the ethnarch’s army by taking his senior followers through the forest, turning toward the fort at North Pass. They were going to plunder the local farms for supplies. Before that, Ptolemy wanted to settle a score with me, so he took most of his men and went to destroy the forest, burn my home, and kill me. No one had seen them since. They were already two days late when we got there.
Cleon, Philie, Iolaos, and Melina all knew, as I did, what had happened. I just hoped none of my friends were hurt. The first thing I wanted to do was go see them.
“You do not know if any of Ptolemy’s men are still in the forest,” Pallas told me.
“Megas Archon,” I said respectfully, “I have no doubts there is no one left alive in the forest. I know what is in there, and I am almost sure I know what happened to the former archon and his men. You will see neither again.”
“I will think about it,” he said and then dismissed me.
The matter resolved itself later that afternoon, when two things happened almost simultaneously. The first was Xanphos and Diomedes appearing with a large force of cavalry. They appeared at the gates and the two of them went to the palace. We learned later that Ptolemy and his men had escaped from near Erinia just as Xanphos had taken control of that polis. The party had circumvented Xanphos and his army by traveling through the forest just as I had. Once clear, they headed south to escape to the Zilar camp through the forest. Although using the North Pass would have been easier, after what had happened to the others, they did not want to try it.
The second event was the guard patrol found one of Ptolemy’s men walking up the road from the forest. He was one of the bowmen who had escaped the previous night. When they found him, he was hysterical with fear. They brought him to Korpolis and he was still babbling incoherently about monsters. To calm him down enough to question him, they had to get Phillipos the physician to give him drugged wine. Once he was almost unconscious, Pallas started on him.
“Where is Ptolemy?” he said, grabbing the man by his torn collar.
The man stood bolt upright and grabbed Pallas at the shoulders. Before anyone could move, he looked at him, wide-eyed with fear. “Dead,” he whimpered. “They are all dead. The monsters killed them. The Cyclops came down from the hills and crushed both Crios and Korax under their huge feet. We fired arrows, but they bounced off as if the beasts were metal. They stomped on both Crios and Korax. The Cyclops crushed them to a pulp. I ran.”
The man slowly eased back into the chair. “I ran,” he repeated and broke into tears.
Everyone’s head suddenly turned toward me. I nodded sadly. “Yes, what this man says is likely true. Like the Zilar before him, I fear, former Archon Ptolemy went into the Forest of Allund looking for violence, and he and his men found it.”
“He had over one hundred elite warriors with him,” Xanphos said, looking stunned. “Those men were his best troops. They are more than a match for any hundred men of mine. You are saying that what lives in your forest killed all of them?”
“Yes,” I told them. “That is why I feel I must go back to my forest, to see what has happened. It is best if I go alone.”
“They can do this without leaving a trace?” Pallas asked in disbelief.
“Yes, easily,” I said and pointed to the sitting trooper still sobbing like a lost child. “They gave us a warning they are not to be disturbed. That is why I will go alone.”
“No, you will not,” Philie spoke up sharply. “I know some of what is in that forest and you will not go alone. I will go with you.”
“As will I,” Iolaos said.
“And I,” Pallas said. “I want to see these monsters.”
“Brother, no,” Diomedes spoke up. “You are megas archon, and soon the ethnarch. This is now my eparchia. I will go.”
Pallas took a deep breath. “Very well,” he said. “You will leave tomorrow.” Then he looked at our prisoner, who did not look as if he could threaten a chicken. “What do I do with him?” he asked.
“Put him in with the other prisoners,” I suggested. “I am sure they will find his story amusing.”
That got a laugh from everyone.
Pallas went on to explain to everyone why he was there, and then he explained to the others about me and my punishment. It did my heart some good to see the many objections from Cleon, Melina, Iolaos, Philie, and even Xanphos. Pallas waved them off. The ethnarch had already made the final decision, he said, and discussions were over.
Later that night, after I had managed to get some rest, Melina came to me — our noble guest be dammed.
“What happened when Ptolemy showed up?” I asked.
She came in and lay next to me. “Not much to tell,” she said. “Lykos came to the hut, obviously upset, and pulled me away. I knew something was wrong, so I followed him and the others. They took me through the woods to one of the secret palace entrances they seem to know all about. I never even saw who came until I talked with my brother. I only saw the smoke rising over our hut from the top of the palace walls.”
“The Speaking Stone?” I asked.
“I did not have a chance to get it,” she explained. “It is still buried where you left it. Enough of that,” she said angrily. “What about you? They have banished you for three years? That is unfair.”
“Unfair or not, that is what it is,” I said with a shrug of my reclining shoulders. “At least I am not going to leave for the next three years.”
“Well, that is one good thing.” She smiled. “What do we do about our home? It sounds like our hut and the rest are burnt-out ruins.”
“We shall have to rebuild,” I said. “At least we will have time.”
“Let me worry about that,” she said, now openly grinning. “I have not seen you in over two months.”
The rest of the night passed quickly. Before dawn, Diomedes, Philie, Iolaos, and I had backpacks with four days’ worth of supplies. The other three armed themselves as if for battle, and we left.
The four of us snuck out of the polis using one of the secret passages. That got us into the farmlands, and after that it was easy to walk unhindered into the forest. I waited until we were well clear of the polis before I started to pull energy from the realms into myself. I called out silently.
“It is Alex. I have returned. I am walking into the forest near the farms. Philie, Iolaos, and a stranger are with me. Can any of you hear me?”
There was silence. Without the Speaking Stone, the distance was still too great.
Dawn only shed some light past the thick forest canopy and onto the ground. It was enough to see where I was going. We walked almost the entire morning before stopping near a rivulet to drink and relieve ourselves. I excused myself, went off into the forest, and again called out.
“Alex,” a loud, heavy presence entered my mind. “You are back.” It was the Old Ones.
“I heard what happened,” I said. “Is everything all right?”
“Your home, fields, and everything else was burned to the ground by those evil men.”
“Are there any left in the forest?” I asked.
“No, they are all dead,” the Old Ones said with finality. “They tried to burn down the forest. We will not allow that. They tried to hurt us and the others. They failed, and then we killed them.”
“Was anyone hurt?” I wanted to know.
“No,” he said.
“Good,” I said thankfully. “I am approaching the far clearing closest to the farms. I have Philie and Iolaos with me. The son of the ruler of this land is here, too. He is a friend.”
“I hear,” the Old Ones said. “I will ask Kypos to go to you.”
“Thank you. I will meet him in the small clearing.”
I broke contact and returned to the others. They were all eating some cheese and olives we had packed. “Our friends will meet us in the nearby clearing,” I told them. Then I looked at Diomedes.
“You are about to see some strange creatures,” I warned him as seriously as I could. “They will look to you at first as monsters. They are not. They are your friends. Do not take out a weapon or try to shoot an arrow.”
The young man nodded but looked apprehensive. Iolaos and Philie got up and put on their packs. Diomedes followed, looking only slightly anxious at what was to come.
I led them through the darkened forest. With the leaves, we made little noise. We saw and heard many of the forest animals, but the larger animals easily avoided us. A short while later, we broke into the deep red sunshine of a small clearing. It was not as big as the one with the pile of rocks, but there was room.
“We wait here,” I told the others. “Kypos will be here soon.”
I explained to the new archon exactly who Kypos was. He stared back at me in disbelief until we heard the quivering of branches and the pounding of large hooves on the ground. The huge boar walked calmly into the clearing. Diomedes’s mouth dropped open and his hand slid instinctively to his sword. Iolaos reached over and grabbed his hand, holding it still. Iolaos shook his head. Philie ran up to the big boar and hugged him around the neck. Kypos nuzzled her side with his huge head in obvious affection.
“I have missed you,” she said. “Is everyone else all right?”
“We all missed Philie,” the huge boar said lovingly.
Iolaos petted the boar’s side, and Kypos returned his affection.
I stroked Kypos behind the ears. He loved being scratched there.
“I have also missed you all,” I said. “I am sorry I was not here when trouble came. I thank you for taking Melina to safety.”
“We could not stop them from burning your hut and cave,” Kypos said. “They laughed after they did it and then got together and held a big party with the wine they had and the meat from your smokehouse. They did not laugh for long.”
“Who was the leader?” I said.
“One of them,” Kypos said, looking amused. “Lykina jumped on him. She said he was tough to chew. He had a gold chain around his neck. We took it.”
Philie, who was still petting the boar, heard that also. “He will have an interesting tale to tell in Hades,” she said.
“Very well,” I said. “Please take us to the others.”
Following the large boar was not a problem. He took us to the larger clearing where I normally met my friends. They were all there, including the Old Ones. Diomedes gazed in wonder but said nothing.
We walked toward my hut while my nonhuman friends explained in turn what had happened. It took me a little while to understand, but it soon became clear enough. After the riders had arrived there, they had searched the place well, including my cave. They then set fire to my hut and everything else. Just how thorough they were was not clear until I got to my hut. Everything was ash: the hut, the mill, the bellows, the workshop, the smokehouse, and the fields; they had even burned the outhouse. I saw they had set fire to the furniture in my cave but had found nothing that was hidden — all of that was safe behind rock walls. I left it all there. This made me angry, but at least my friends were well — the archon and his men were not.
“After they burned your hut, they had a big meal,” Lykos explained. “They drank much of their wine. They decided to try to burn the forest down, starting with your orchards. That was when we all attacked them. All of us and many Old Ones came. The humans all died. Most were good eating. My pack and many boars ate well for two days.”
“Many of my kind came with me,” the Old Ones told me. He sounded satisfied, even happy about what had happened. “We crushed them all. Many ran away. No one ran far.”
“We helped the Old Ones dig a pit near the road,” Kapria said. “After we all ate our fill, we put what was left over there.” She pointed to a large patch of newly turned ground.
I passed along what Lykos, Kapria, and the Old Ones had told me, leaving out what had happened to most of the bodies. I doubted Diomedes would understand. To the wolves and boars, human bodies were just another source of meat, no different from other animals in the forest that were killed and eaten. To Diomedes’s credit, despite being obviously shaken, he showed no fear of my friends. Iolaos stayed close to him in case he tried to do something stupid. Two archons of Erinus were already dead, and we did not need a third.
Other than a lingering smell of death around my hut, there was no sign a major fight had occurred there. Philie had a great time talking to all of her friends, both human and otherwise. She even seemed to befriend the Old Ones.
One of the Old Ones came up to me, holding something in his massive hand. He dropped it on the ground. It was a gold chain of office with the newly inscribed words "Archon of Erinus.” I picked it up and gave it to Diomedes.
“This belongs to you now,” I told him.
He took the solid gold medal and held it for a moment, then shook his head. “It does not belong to me; it belongs to all of you,” he yelled so everyone could hear his voice. “The victory here belongs to all of you, not to me. You keep it.”
He walked over to the Old One who had given it to me and gave it back. “It is little enough to show for your courage.”
Even though the fight had been a combination of a battle and an impromptu feast, there could be no doubt we had seen the last of the rebellion in this eparchia. The rest of the night was spent in close company. By the time we all went to sleep, Diomedes had managed to warm to most of my animal friends, but I could tell the new archon was still uncomfortable around the Old Ones. The last thing I told all my friends before we went to sleep was that I would be back soon to rebuild. We left at dawn.
As we traveled, I explained to Diomedes why I would prefer he not tell anyone about what he had seen. He agreed, with two exceptions: his father and older brother.
When we arrived, Pallas asked his brother if anything interesting had happened while he was in the forest. When Diomedes described what he had seen, Pallas was speechless.
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: REVELATION

I had to tell Melina and the others that their fears were correct and there was no longer any home in the forest. I was not surprised that Melina did not seem to care much; the fact that now we had to stay in the palace meant no more hard living. The next morning, I went out into the market and shops to find someone to rebuild my hut. The gold dust was safe in my cave, so I could definitely afford to pay for the work. Whether I could find anyone who wanted to come to the forest after what had happened was another matter.
There is usually much bantering and sometimes yelling as people buy, sell, or trade goods in the market, but as I walked through the square, I noticed the crowd suddenly grew quiet. I began to feel a large presence in my mind. I stopped and looked around. There were probably three hundred people in the market, and they were all looking at me.
Old Mother Areaus walked slowly up to me. She was wide-eyed, as if awed by something. She looked at me. “Mage Sopholus,” she said, bowing, “thank you.” And with that, she put her arms around me.
Instantly, the rest of the crowd closed in on me, all shouting my name. I felt someone place something on my head. It was a crown of olive leaves. Then many hands lifted me and carried me through the market square. By now, other people were coming out of the shops and houses and joining the throng in carrying me onward. They were moving toward the temple.
“Stop,” I cried out. “I cannot go into the temple.” No one took notice of my cries. I finally had to call in power from the realms and make my voice thunder.
“Stop!” I yelled. The noise was deafening. The crowd immediately went silent.
“Please put me down,” I pleaded.
They lowered me slowly to the ground. I stood on the first step of the temple. “I am sorry, but I am not allowed to enter this temple or any other temple in Argina for the next three years. The archiereas has forbidden me to do so because of what I did to former Archon Lycus. The ethnarch also banished me to Korpolis and the forest for the same amount of time.”
Stunned silence hit the crowd. Then I heard some shouts of “This is not fair” and other things not so charitable in tone or content.
“What Mage Sopholus says is correct,” I heard from the top of the temple steps. I turned and saw our old priest and the new priest who had traveled with me. “He is banned from all temples for three years. This is the order of the gods that came through our high priest. Both we and Mage Sopholus must obey the order no matter what we think of it. You should all go back to your homes and shops now.”
Just as quickly as the crowd had gathered around me, it dispersed. I saw the old priest, Zagreus, come down the temple steps toward me. The young priest turned and went back into the temple.
“Alexio, I am sorry,” he said. “Many people still feel the need to thank you for saving them from the Zilar, Archon Lycus, and Ptolemy.”
“I do not want that type of adulation, Zagreus,” I said. “It makes me feel so uneasy.”
Zagreus smiled and patted me gently on the shoulders. “I know, but the polis sees you as their iroas*: not the ethnarch, the gods, or even the oligarch. I also agree that your punishment is unfair, but I cannot go against the orders of the archiereas.”
“None of us can,” I said. “I will live with it. The thing I need to do now is get my hut rebuilt.” I added, almost as an aside, “At least you have the help now that you requested.”
“I requested no help,” the old man said. “Karipos gave me a letter saying he was appointed here to help me, but I did not ask for him.”
“Oh,” I said. “That is not what they told me. They said you requested it.”
Zagreus slowly nodded his head. “I see,” he mumbled. “That explains it.” He saw Karipos now as I did: a spy for the archiereas. “Thank you, Alexio Sopholus, for the information; again, I am sorry about your banishment, but there is nothing either of us can do.”
I went back to the palace and told Melina what had happened. She was not surprised. “The polis looks at you as the one who saved Korpolis.” She kissed me and added, “As do I.”
I hugged her. “I still have to find a builder to rebuild our home. I will not have my wife sleeping in the open like some alítis.*”
“You don’t have to.” She beamed. “Do you remember that after you destroyed the Zilar army, the Builders Syntechnia offered to build us a new home?”
“Yes, but I turned them down,” I reminded her.
“Well, they have agreed to rebuild our hut; the syntechnia will do it this winter.”
I had almost forgotten about that. “That was nice of them. I can use their help now for sure. I hope your brother and his wife do not mind putting up with us until then.”
“They will not mind,” Melina said. “Speaking of my brother, there will be a meeting in the Assembly Hall this afternoon. Pallas is going to give a speech.”
I had not heard about that from anyone. Usually, mages are invited to assembly meetings. Melina and I ate a light meal of cheese, bread, and diluted wine before walking to the meeting. The building and the outside court were crowded with people, but two of the polis guards recognized us, escorted us inside, and found us seats near the front. Again, there was cheering and calling of my name by those around me. I merely bowed and offered my thanks to the crowd. I saw Cleon had brought criers to carry Pallas’s words to the throngs outside.
After a while, Pallas came in and took the center oligarch’s seat on the dais. He appeared regal in his purple robes and silver diadem of state. He looked over, saw me, and frowned openly. Cleon and Diomedes sat on either side of him. Diomedes did not look happy I was there either. After everyone took their seats, the assembly leader called for quiet.
Without rising, Pallas started in a loud, deep voice like his father. “I will speak slowly so my words can be carried to those outside.”
He stopped and let the criers repeat his words to those in the back before continuing.
“As you all know, the threats from the Zilar and the traitor Lycus are gone. There is peace in Erinus again. However, many of the former tetrarchs are now either dead or so badly injured that they cannot continue in their offices. For this reason, I have decided to name Oligarch Cleon the new tetrarch of this part of the province.”
Pallas stopped and there was applause from both inside the building and outside. Once it died down, he went on. “I am also naming my young brother Diomedes as the new Archon of Erinus. He will take up his office in Erinia.”
More applause as the news passed outside again. “Finally, I am announcing that from this day forward, Korpolis will be the seat of the local tetrarch. The latest invasion has shown us the danger point is here and not to the north. The regional assembly will still meet in Tyros because of its central location.”
Happiness showed on the faces in the crowd. Having the regional capital here would only bring in more business.
“Lastly, I want to thank Tetrarch Cleon for his bravery in turning back the recent attack by the traitor Ptolemy and his men. I also want to thank him for handling the recent crises. We all owe him a vote of thanks.”
There was applause but also some low rumbling within the crowd. People were talking to each other, and I heard my name several times. It went on for a moment before someone called out, “What about Mage Sopholus?” Then there were more shouts. Pallas stood up sharply. “This meeting is over,” he announced loudly, left the dais, and walked quickly out the door, turning his head away from me as he left.
“That was rude,” Melina said.
I looked up at Cleon, who looked back at me with bewilderment. Diomedes sat passively ignoring these events. I stayed put in my seat until the crowd thinned out. There were still many well-wishers with offers of thanks for me. I thanked the crowd and walked back to the palace with Cleon and a very quiet Diomedes.
Later, back at the palace, we all met. I said nothing to Pallas, but I was thinking I needed to speak to him privately. I was not looking for credit for what had happened, but I did not think I should be ignored either. After dinner, Xanphos, Pallas, Cleon, and Diomedes excused themselves and went in to discuss further details of the campaign in the eparchia. Both Philie and Iolaos were there and looked happy. I must say that marriage seemed to agree with Philie. She was more open and, I noted, did not drink as much. After some small talk, they stood and excused themselves. Philie came over and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Have a good night, Alex, and do not worry about that meeting today. I am sure everything will be fine,” she said.
From inside her head, I could hear her thoughts after she touched me. “Iolaos and I have been summoned to a secret meeting in Cleon’s study with Pallas. The meeting is about you. I do not like the sound of it.”
“Thank you,” I said out loud. “I am sure things will be fine here.”
Melina and I left the room and went back to our usual sleeping quarters. Once in the room alone, under the guise of kissing her, I whispered what Philie had told me.
“Why?” was all she could say.
I held her face gently and kissed her again. Then I whispered, “I do not know, but I am going to find out. Things are going on here I want to know about. I want you to lie here with your back to the opening. I am going to take the secret passage to the study room to overhear this meeting.”
She nodded, then undressed before me and lay under the covers. From behind the bed curtains, it was hard to tell how many were in the bed. I was sure Pallas would have someone watching. I slipped into the secret passage and made my way to the study. The door of the secret passage opened inside a false column and behind a drape, and I opened it slightly so I could hear well. I stayed hidden behind the false column front, but I could stick my head out and peek around the end of the drape. A little while later, I heard a conversation in the passageway. Sure enough, Pallas led his brother, Cleon, Xanphos, Philie, and Iolaos into the room. A short while later, in came the new priest for the temple, Karipos. Once he was there, Pallas ordered the guards to shut the large doors tight and stand well away from them.
“Thank you all for coming,” he said. “I need to discuss Mage Sopholus with all of you,” he said in a grim tone. “He is becoming far too popular and powerful for us to easily contain. We must do something about him.”
“Why?” Cleon said. “Other than to the Zilar and Lycus, how has Alex been a threat to anyone?”
Pallas turned as if annoyed. “It is the threat he may pose to us in the future, and not what he has done. You saw how the people supported him at the meeting today.”
“He was also mobbed on the steps of the temple by the people,” Karipos reported. “It was just as your father and the archiereas feared. The people hold him in high esteem, perhaps higher than you or your father. If he wanted to, he could make himself ruler of this vasíleio.”
“That is crazy,” Philie said. “He has never shown the slightest interest in ruling anything. If the Zilar had kept away, you would never have heard of him.”
“That is true,” Iolaos went on. “I knew him as a child. He was never interested in politics.”
“And suppose he becomes interested,” Pallas spat. “Can any of us hope to restrain him? Gods above, his friends just wiped out without a trace the finest small force we have seen in this vasíleio since its unification. He destroyed an entire foreign army almost by himself. The arch-mage told my father and me that he had no idea of the limit of Sopholus’s power, but it is far greater than his own power. Of that, he is sure. The arch-mage is afraid of him and so is the archiereas. After all that, what is to stop him from thinking he can rule here rather than my father?”
“Because he already had that chance and he turned away from it,” Xanphos said. “After he destroyed the Zilar army and killed Lycus, he could have easily taken over the eparchia. We could have done little to stop him. The prisoners we captured during the campaign were more afraid of him than they were of my army.”
“Exactly,” Pallas jumped in. “Our army is something they know how to fight. How do you fight someone who can turn an entire invasion force to dust, make scouting parties disappear without a trace, and eliminate senior magistrates in a flash of light? We have heard reports from the Zilar that even they are afraid of him and what he can do. Their number one goal is to find and kill him. That is what Ptolemy was trying to do when he died.”
That was useful to know. It would have been nice of them to warn me. I could expect more trouble in the future from the Zilar. I frankly did not know what to make of Pallas’s concerns. How could anyone fear my taking over when I had never indicated I wanted to play a political role in anything?
“I say you are making too much of this,” Cleon spoke up. “Iolaos is right; Alex has never shown the slightest interest in ruling. He certainly could have ruled here any time he wanted to in the last year.”
“Yes, he has shown remarkable restraint,” Pallas said. “Just how long will that restraint continue? Not only that, but he also seems oblivious to the fact that the people here adore him. That was the reason we rode here from Arginnia without stopping. I did not want him seen in the poleis. If he sees people thronging him wherever he goes, like today, he might get the notion he can be the ruler of this land. The chronicles tell us others have done so in the past.”
“Not only that, but I have seen the forces he commands in that forest,” Diomedes said. “If he confronted us in an open field with just what I saw, any army of men would run as if pursued by demons. For sure, they would panic and run for their lives after he threw his first fireball. We have no force that can stand against him.”
“Exactly!” Pallas yelled. “The only defense we have against him is ignorance — his own ignorance, for a start. He does not know his standing among the people, the Zilar, the mages, or anywhere else. We have to keep him ignorant of these facts. Why do you think my father and the others banished him here for three years? It was so no one, other than the people of Korpolis, would ever get to see him. His memory would fade, and his popularity would diminish throughout the land. The priests would not have to worry about a demigod walking among the temples, diverting the attention of the people from the gods. He could even get all the people to question the divine status of my father and family to rule. The mages would not have to contend with a power they do not even know how to handle. Here, he is isolated. It is also the reason my brother is now archon here. He is the only man my father and I can trust to watch someone like him.”
“You mean he was not banished for killing Archon Lycus?” Philie asked.
“No!” Pallas said as if annoyed at her stupidity. “You think my father, the polemarch here, or I care a bit about a hotheaded traitor? He got what he deserved. If Alex were not so powerful, we would hold a victory parade in his honor with games. We had to cloak his banishment in this lie so he would accept it. Suppose we had banished him, and he said no — what in the pits of Hades do you think would have happened? At least if we keep him locked up here, we can keep track of him. I even had to lie and say I wanted him banished for ten years. The absolute last thing we want is him wandering the other vasíleia, stirring up trouble, unwatched, unhampered, and uncontrolled.”
“I still do not think he is as much trouble as you believe,” Cleon said. “Watch him, yes, but my sister and his forest friends are all he has ever wanted. I will tell you this: do not make him your enemy! If you do, then you may find you are pulling on the tail of the dragon. I also know that even with any new forces you will send me to defend from the west, we will not be able to hold him if he gets angry. I have seen that anger, and you do not want to provoke it. Others did, and they are all dead.”
I was starting to shake with rage. They had treated me as a fool. They had turned my own morality against me. Not just the ethnarch, but the priests and my own brotherhood. For a moment I wanted to throw the door open and toss a fireball into the room, turning everything to ash, but that meant killing my friends too. I would not do that, but I would not stand for this, either. I had helped them survive, and while I was not looking for accolades, I was not expecting this as a show of regard.
“He must be controlled,” Pallas said emphatically. “And we must control him in such a manner that he does not resent us. I agree with Tetrarch Cleon about angering him.”
“Very well,” Cleon said. “So, what do we do after three years?”
Pallas hesitated. “Perhaps we find someone who can control him. Perhaps the people forget about him so his hold on them vanishes. Perhaps the mages can think of something to do with him. If we are lucky, maybe he dies.”
“In other words, you do not know,” Cleon went on.
“No, I do not,” Pallas admitted. “Right now, our best means of controlling him lies with your sister. She seems happy with him and he is happy with her. We must keep it that way. You must tell your sister to keep him close and to report anytime he leaves the forest or Korpolis.”
“She loves him genuinely,” Cleon said. “She may not go along.”
“She will go along,” Pallas said firmly. “One of the few holds we have over Sopholus is your sister. We could threaten her to control him.”
There was dead silence for a moment. “That is my sister!” Cleon shouted.
“This is my vasíleio,” Pallas shouted back, “and I will use anyone or anything to keep it that way, your sister included!”
That was as much as I was going to listen to. Pallas was just as bad as Lycus, maybe worse. I started to pull power out of the realms until my necklace and body were full. I slowly and quietly opened the column and stepped out from behind the drape. I cast a wind ball into the room, raising a tempest. A huge wind blew through the room, blowing parchments around and extinguishing all the lights. There were shouts of alarm and oaths to the gods about what was happening. Finally, I heard Cleon call out. “Someone light a taper so we can light the lamps.”
In the darkness, I stepped into the open. I directed power into my voice so it was loud, but not deafening. “Perhaps I can help,” I called out. Then I shouted “Selas!”
Instantly the room filled with light from my right hand and I saw them: some were getting up from the floor, some wandering around, all looking confused. Then, in the light, they all suddenly turned toward me.
I fought to stay in control of myself, but it was not easy. I walked up to where both Pallas and Diomedes were standing.
“You skata*,” I said slowly. “I save your little vasíleio and you treat me like a criminal. You use my own moral code against me. You threaten the people I care about. You keep me locked up, not for any just punishment, but because you fear for your own power. You are no better than the Zilar, and perhaps I should treat you both in the same way. “Energeia!” I shouted.
With that, I lifted both Pallas and Diomedes off the floor and shoved them hard against the door.
They both grunted in discomfort.
“Pyra,” I called out calmly and a blue ball of flame appeared in my other hand. “I should send you both back to your father as piles of ash.”
“Alex, no!” Philie yelled.
I looked at her and then cast the tiny fireball at the main lantern. It caught fire, filling the room with light. I dropped the sphere of light and everything else. Both men fell to the floor with a thud.
I stood in the center of the room, looking at Pallas and Diomedes carefully in case they did something else stupid. “Listen to me well,” I said slowly. “You worry about what I can do. Well, I am now going to tell you what I will do. First, as of right now, I reject the ethnarch’s judgment against me. I will go where I like and when I like. If anyone tries to interfere with me, they will regret it. That includes you two.”
I held up my right hand and took the master mage ring off. I put it on the table. “Xanphos, when you go back to Arginnia, take this ring and give it to the arch-mage. Tell him, as of this moment, I am no longer a member of the Mage Brotherhood. I reject their Mage Code and their other teachings. From now on, I make my own rules and my own judgments.”
I then addressed everyone in the room. “I will say the following only once, so I suggest you all listen carefully.” I waited a moment. “Despite your petty fears, ambitions, and plans, all I have ever wanted to do is live peacefully in my forest. I am going to continue to do that and if you are very wise, you will leave me alone.”
I turned back to the ethnarch’s sons. “If I find out people are looking for me or seeking to harm me or those I care for, I will bring your father’s palace burning down around his ears. Leave me alone and I will do the same to you. What I will not do any longer is fight your battles for you. You can do that for yourselves. I will confine myself to my forest and this polis as I said I would, not because of any judgment, but because these are the only places I care about. What you do everywhere else is your business, but stay away from me.”
By then, the two archons were just picking themselves up from the tile floor.
“Understood?” I said and pushed them hard against the door again.
Both men meekly nodded. “Good night,” I said to the others and used force to throw open the doors to the study as I strode out like the demigod they were so afraid I would become. I went back to my room and found Melina still lying there. I told her what the others and I had said, as well as what I had done. She did not know if she should be glad or afraid.
No one came near us for the rest of the night.
 
EPILOGUE

In the morning, Melina and I ate in our room and then bathed. I went nowhere near the throne room or anywhere else I could meet Pallas, Diomedes, or Xanphos. I was still boiling mad. Early in the afternoon, one of the house servants told me that Pallas and the others, including the new priest, had left the polis with their soldiers. The only troops in Korpolis belonged to the new Tetrarch Cleon under the command of Polemarch Iolaos. Both Melina and I received an invitation to a private dinner that night with Cleon, Theresa, Iolaos, and Philie. There were no servants. We served ourselves a dinner of boiled beef and vegetables.
Cleon finally put his plate down and looked at me with disapproval. “Well, Alex, you certainly put the fear of the gods into Pallas and Diomedes,” he told me flatly. “You did a damn good job of scaring me, too.” His voice then lowered. “I will admit you certainly had reasons to be angry. I am disgusted at both the ethnarch and his sons.”
“Now what will you do?” Philie asked me.
“I am leaving for my forest tomorrow,” I said. “I want to buy some furniture for my cave first. I will live there until they can rebuild my hut. I will have to leave Melina here until that happens.”
“Why not stay here?” Iolaos asked.
“Because I would not put it past the ethnarch to send someone to kill me,” I said. “Especially now that he knows he has no control over me. It is too open in Korpolis. In the forest, they cannot get near me without my knowing. My friends will warn me. The ethnarch will not harm Melina while I am still alive because he knows what I will do. I meant what I said about burning his palace down. If he is smart, he will leave me in peace until the next debacle, when they will need me again. I am just not sure the old ethnarch is smart enough to figure that out.”
“So, you are not coming back?” Philie asked.
“Of course I will — but unannounced and mostly through the secret entrances. I will do my business quickly and leave.” I turned to Cleon. “Look closely at any new people in the polis. I suspect the new archon or megas archon will also spy on you to make sure you are not helping me too much. Beware of new faces and new friends.”
Cleon just nodded, sadly realizing what I had said was true. This was the start of a new life for all of us. It was not a life any of us wanted, but there it was.
It was so unnecessary, what had happened, yet I supposed it was inevitable, considering our world. To the ethnarch and the others, I was just as big a threat as the Zilar were. However, I was not going to let their fears stop me from living the way I wanted and with whomever I wanted. In philosophy class at the Mage Academy, they had taught that people who can only see the world as a series of threats could never see or understand what brings joy and contentment in life. They have no room inside to see what is good along with what is bad. Fear drives them, and fear is a hard master. Therefore, I would make them fear me, at least until the next danger arose that required my presence. The Zilar had not gone home or changed their minds about what they wanted. I seriously doubted I was the only one who had a problem with the ethnarch and his rule. Threats abounded, and that meant one day they would need me again. My long-term safety rested on that fact.
“Well, I need to get going,” I said, getting up. “There is a lot of work to do.”
With that, I walked out of the palace with Melina and to the part of town where the builders did their business. As we walked through the square, I heard a fluttering noise to my left and then felt something light land on my shoulder. I looked, and there sat a white owl on my chiton. Melina turned to look. The first thing that entered my mind was, why not ask the gods what they really thought?
“I have heard from the priests, the mages, and our rulers,” I said quietly to my friend. “I would like to hear from you. What do you have to say?”
“We say you have done the best you could,” the owl told me. “Despite what you think, Alex, you are not alone. You have friends, some you do not even know about. They will help you when it is time — and it will soon be time. Until then, mage, stay well. We will see each other again.”
With that, the owl flew off and disappeared over the front gate. Melina turned and watched the bird vanish into the afternoon light.
“Another friend of yours?” she asked with a smile.
“I think so,” I said, wondering myself.

THE END
FOR NOW
 
GREEK WORD GLOSSARY
Word in Greek Definition
Aegae major port north of Erinia, on the north shore of Argina
aeras air
alitis tamp or vagabond
anoitios idiot or fool (expressed as a direct insult)
apagorevetai forbidden
archiereas high priest
archon senior magistrate, ruler of a province, similar to a duke
Argos Islands islands to the west of Argina, mostly unexplored
Argina One of the three kingdoms, considered of moderate development and culture
chiton standard Greek dress, a gown or tunic with or without sleeves
doron Greek unit of measurement equal to the length of a human palm
drachma standard Greek silver coin containing 4.3g of silver, a daily wage for a skilled worker or rower (plural drachmae)
energeia energy or force
Erinus province within Argina that contains Korpolis and the Forest of Allund
Erinia capital of Erinus province
eparchia province
epihipparch commander of 1,000 horsemen
ethnarch king or ruler over a land
euergetes Benefactor, a title given to rulers who donate to the public good
Forest of Allund a forest to the west of Korpolis that marks the western edge of Argina, known as a place of mystery and danger to outsiders
hipparchus commander of 500 horsemen
hoklas Greek trading ship or transport
hoplon large circular shield carried by Greek infantry
Hypnos god of sleep
iroas hero
Gryphon
keravno Griffin
lightning bolt
khaire hello, or greetings usually called out

Korpolis city closest to the Forest of Allund
kylix shallow clay drinking bowl, mostly used for wine
Lantia Oldest of the three kingdoms, considered the most advanced and highly cultured
Lantis capital of Lantia
lochagos military officer, similar to the rank of major
megalopsychus man of great sprit or soul
megas great or powerful
megas archon crown prince, title used mostly in the Byzantine Empire, not in ancient Greece
milion Greek unit of measurement equal to eight stadia or close to a Roman mile (plural milio)
mina Greek unit of currency equal to 100 drachmae; Greek unit of weight, slightly less than a pound (plural minae)
moros fool or idiot, usually said in passing or description
obol standard Greek silver coin containing 0.72g of silver or 1/6 of a drachma
oligarch city magistrate or ruler, similar to a baron
podi Greek unit of measurement equal to one foot length (plural podia)
polis city (plural poleis)

polemarch military leader or commander
praxikopima coup d’état
pyra fire
schoinion measuring ruler or chain
selas light
skata dung or shit
stadion Greek unit of measurement equal to 600 podia (plural stadia)
stele funeral marker for the dead, similar to a tombstone
strategos military general
strigil Scrapper used to remove oil and dirt from the skin
syntechia organization or guild
Syrinnia capital of Syrina
talent unit of weight equal to approximately 57 pounds
unit of currency equal to 6,000 drachmae
Tartarus Hell, a place of punishment for evil souls
tetrarch ruler of a quarter of a province, similar to a count
vasíleio kingdom (plural vasíleia)
vios life
zari die

Notes:
1. Words are presented in an anglicized form of Greek so that the pronunciation is as close to the Greek pronunciation as possible. This will help the reader who does not know the Greek alphabet. I have also chosen words akin more to Modern Greek than ancient Greek to improve readability.
2. The meanings of the words presented are the meanings the characters in the story would understand, not the exact textbook definition although I tried to come as close as I could.
 
About the Author
Wilbur Arron is the pseudonym for a retired professional engineer who spent over thirty years in engineering and over forty years in technical management. An avid reader of fantasy and science fiction since childhood, he always wanted to take up writing. His interests also include ancient history, especially the Greco-Roman period. He has previously published stories on many fiction and fan fiction websites. His short story ‘A Decent Human Being’ was selected as one of the best short stories of the year by Story Star website and published in their anthology. This is his first novel.
Please feel free to leave comments about this book on his web page, www.wilburarron.com, or as a formal review.

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