Chapter 11: Chapter 11
(Author's Note: Bonus chapter 2/10 for the week. Okay, since we have now hit ten bonus chapters, I will increase it to 10 bonus chapters from now on. I did not expect the first day I would get swarmed. Thank you so much for the support.)
(BCE Drakos POV)
Markos continued, "He keeps the eye in his house – it's too valuable to wear out—a wise choice, until you show him the error of his ways. Wait for the sun to set, sneak in, and then! Bring me the eye."
I could not help but chuckle, saying, "You do understand that he is going to die today, so why do we need to sneak in?"
They both look at me dumbfounded. To answer their look, I just shrugged.
Looking at me for a second, Kassandra looked back at Markos, saying, "Better be worth something."
"Do you know how much obsidian goes for on Kephallonia?"
"I've never seen it." She answered.
"Exactly. And not only is it obsidian, it's veined with gold. Gold! It's no wonder he saves it for special occasions." Markos said with excitement.
Then sounding a little embarrassed, she said, "I don't know where the Cyclops lives."
"Keep to the West side of the island… There, you will find his lair."
"Fine. But you won't get away with being cheap."
"Cheap? You wound me, Kassandra."
I then added my comment, "I agree you are cheap."
She added before he could say anything else, chuckling, "It's your defining trait."
Getting serious, Markos says, "Bring me the eye, and I'll prove you wrong."
Kassandra started heading for her horse. Walking up to her, I said, "I'll help with this little adventure. It sounds like fun."
"That would be great, thank you." She said, smiling.
Her smile blinded me, making me remember my teacher since she looked just like her. I thought, ' She must be an Ancestor of my teacher.'
We headed to the stable where the horses are. Mounting up, we rode to the lair of the Cyclops. It had only one entrance into a valley that opened up on the other side.
I told my men to stay at the entrance to ensure no one escaped. Then I took the right cliff, and Kassandra took the left cliff.
We climbed up the cliff and started heading for the other side of the valley. I encountered some people and a dog, but I killed them all before they could make a sound.
I then looked over to the other side of the valley to see how Kassandra was doing. I saw her sneak behind someone and run her sword through them, ending the life of the last person on her side.
I was amazed at how skilled she was at handling her sword and her sneaking ability. When then infiltrated the Cyclops' villa killing everyone we came across.
When we were sure we had killed everyone, we ransacked the place for the obsidian eye. After looking for a few minutes, we found it.
We considered burning the villa down but did not do it since I could make it my base. It was in an excellent defensive position just in case it was attacked by land.
Also, having three ships and one on the way, I should be able to defend it by sea. I could even build a dock on the coast for the ships.
Exiting the valley, I see my men waiting there as I order. I then called them to secure the place and tell Adonis about the place to build the base.
While riding back to tell Markos, we saw smoke in the distance. We decided to go toward the smoke to see what was going on.
When we got closer, we saw it was a village that was burned down.
I then heard Kassandra say, "This is the Village of Kausos. What happened here."
Dismounting from our horses, we investigated what was going on. Then we saw a pile of burned bodies in one of the houses.
"By the gods. What's happened here?" Kassandra said.
"I am not sure. Let us look around more, and maybe we can find an answer." I said, leading the way.
I then heard around the corner someone say, "Take them away!"
Only to be followed by a yell, "You're murderers! Murderers!"
Heading to the sound of voices, we saw three men surround a family of four. Getting closer, I could hear them say.
"If the gods won't help you, the sickness must be destroyed by our hands! We have no choice." The man I expect to be the leader of the three and also a priest.
Walking up to the group, the child seeing us, yelled, "Help us!"
The father then spoke when he saw us looking at them, "He won't let us go!"
Then Kassandra asked the priest, "What's going on?"
"Kausos was consumed by plague… We couldn't keep up with the bodies. It was spreading – we had to intervene." The priest answered.
The father spoke up again, "They killed our brothers! Our neighbors!"
Then the mother spoke, "We survived the massacre, but he'll kill us now!"
"The gods have abandoned us. The sick must join the dead if we are to save the living!" The priest said.
I then said, "Is there no hope for a cure?"
"Nothing has worked. Sacrifice, prayers…"
Before the priest could continue, the mother interrupted him, "Healers won't come near us, soldiers won't let us leave… The gods won't answer our prayers!"
Then Kassandra spoke, "You burned the whole village?"
"Many nights were lost praying. We had to take action – to scorch the blood fever out of Kausos." The priest answered.
"Theirs is nothing we can do." He continued to say.
"No!" The father yelled.
"If you intervene, I will be forced to defend the gods' wills." The priest stood between us and the family, saying.
Continued yelling, the father said, "Save us from him! Have pity!"
"We aren't even that sick! We'll get better!" The mother added.
Frustrated, the priest said, "Nobody gets better! This is the only way all of Kephallonia will save itself from extermination!"
"Please"
"We have children! Think of them!" Mother and Father pleaded with us.
"Don't regret stopping here, misthios…." The priest added.
I looked to Kassandra to make the call since I am still new to Kephallonia.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be involved in this." She said, which made me happy since this was the best way not to spread the plague.
"We don't have to die!" The mother pleaded.
"How many others will die if we free you?" I said to defend Kassandra's decision.
"You have blood on your hands!" The father spoke up to get us to change our minds.
I responded to him with, "I am a misthios. I will always have blood on my hands."
"You've acted on the gods' behalf. They'll bless you for this!" The priest said, trying to resolve our choice.
I said while we turned and walked away, "I do not do this for the gods but for the people of Kephallonia."
Weekly Power Status
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