Born from lightning, a destroyer emerges. The fall of Olympus in his hands. - Oracle of Trophonius
“Lord Androkles? Are you awake? Lord Ares is requesting your presence.”, a hesitant, almost scared voice called from the other side of my door.
“You call yourself a soldier of Ares…” a separate voice whispered as if reprimanding the other.
“Oh, please, like you’d be any more forceful. He’s the destroyer.”, the first voice whispered back.
I groaned, pulling my pillow from under my head, and pressed it against my face to contain my scream.
I HATE that word. I hate that prophecy. Fuck the Oracle of Trophonius.
“I’m awake! Stop whispering like gossiping old women outside my door, and get back to your duties!” I bellowed as I threw off my blanket.
The sun wasn’t going to rise for over an hour. What in the name of Zeus could Eugenius want with me? Granted, I’ve just been lying here working up the enthusiasm to get out of bed. I have tasks I should be doing and probably should hit the training yard before them. I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face thinking of everything I ought to be doing.
“Um, Lord Androkles?” the hesitant voice was back.
I groaned, fastening my blood-red cloak with the mark of the heir as I pulled the door open. I looked down at the soldier and narrowed my eyes.
“What? I told you to return to your duties, and I was awake. It is still over an hour before the sun rises.”, I questioned, looking from him to the other soldier outside my door.
I accepted, or I like to say I accepted it, that people would be afraid of me. But no matter how much I say I accepted it, it still hurts to see them flinch and shrink. After all, the prophecy says I’m going to destroy Olympus. It doesn’t help that I’m 6’6” and 260lbs making me taller and broader than Eugenius.
“Um...well, you see Lord Androkles…” the second stammered. And he’s the one that was calling the other out for being hesitant when trying to wake me.
Yeah, real brave soldiers, you two are.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Stand up straight and speak clearly. You wear the armor of Ares, so act like it. Now state your business quickly and concisely. I have duties to attend to.” I order. That seemed to reach through their thick skulls, and they snapped to stand as straight as a spear.
“Yes, sir. Lord Ares has called for his war council. A Chimera was spotted in the northwest territory. A battalion stationed nearby is engaging with the creature and sent a request for backup.”, the first responded, no longer hesitant.
A chimera? Hmm, I haven’t killed one of those.
I’ve killed catoblepas, cerastae, manticore, ophiotaurus, odontotyrannos, and even a stymphalian bird… but never a chimera. Father always seemed reluctant ever to let me face one. Is Eugenius going to do something my father is against?
“I see. Then I should report to Lord Ares. You two are dismissed to return to your regular duties.” I nodded, heading away from them to the main hall where Eugenius likes to hold all meetings because he can sit on a throne. He’s as pretentious as my father.
I nodded to the soldiers and House staff as I passed them. There aren’t usually this many people up at this hour. This chimera business must be important if it can cause such an uproar here at the House in the capital. I pushed open the heavy double doors of the main hall to find generals stationed at a central table with a map. Lower-ranked soldiers were hurrying about with scrolls and house staff bringing in trays of food and drinks.
As a serving girl hurried past with a tray of cups of coffee, I stole a cup and snatched a pastry from another girl’s tray. “Thank you.”, I mumbled behind a mouthful of food.
The pair of nymphs blinked and shrank away when they realized it was me. “L...Lord Androkles.” one stammered out, bowing her head.
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and instead made my way to where Eugenius was sitting on his throne, watching over everything, barking orders at the generals. I glanced at the map, pausing. Without speaking, I reached over and moved a figure from where they’d just moved it back and reached further across the map to move a different figure.
“What do you think you’re… Lord Androkles..” a general started to get angry, ready to reprimand whoever had touched the map but paused and back-peddled when he saw it was me.
“Lord Androkles, may I inquire why you made this change?” he asked less forcefully and even with some hesitation.
Great, even my future generals are afraid of me.
“You are trying to determine from what forts you should send reinforcements. Who should fight the chimera? Who should stay to guard the fort closest to the attack that has been left defenseless.” I stated.
“Well, yes.” he nodded cautiously.
“The chimera is heading for Pella. Judging by the map, a unit from Pella was sent south to try and stop it before it reached the city.” I started to explain my reasoning.
“You are trying to send forces from Daskai, but that’s a small fort, and sending troops from there would take longer and use more resources.” I pointed out. “Edessa is closer and currently has more troops stationed there. So they could spare the troops as backup without taking so long to arrive and using more resources.”
“I would also recommend a unit from Stagira being sent to support Pella. In contrast, the other units try to contain, redirect, and, if possible, kill the beast.”, I explained calmly. The five generals blinked as they looked at the map and considered my suggestion.
I’m an Ares. War is part of my power. I know strategy. It annoys me when they second-guess me like this. Do they need to think about it?
“Lord Ares?” a general looks to the throne.
I glanced at Eugenius. He’s not as young as he used to be. Like my father, he has been Ares for 39 years, and since I still have three more years till I’m of age to be crowned Ares, his reign will span 42 years. To most, he looks like a strong Ares as ever, but I spar him.
While I’ve grown stronger since being named heir, he has also grown weaker. I can see how age has changed him beyond the grays that outnumber the dark brown of his hair.
Rather unsettling to think that his most recent bride, Kyltië, is only a year older than me and already two months pregnant. I don’t know why a woman who’s only 19 would want to marry a man who’s 60, even if he is Ares. Then again, I don’t know why he was looking for another wife. His last wife died four years ago, and she’d already given him three sons, all older than me. Even my father didn’t bother trying to remarry after he divorced my mother.
But then again, he’d gotten what he wanted, me.
Maybe fathers and their daughters realized marrying my father was not worth the trouble, especially with how he mistreated my mother and his two wives before her. Perhaps they didn’t want to get saddled with caring for a stepson prophesied to be the destroyer of Olympus. Whatever the reason, I am glad my father did not remarry after he sent my mother away.
I can guess why Kyltië married Eugenius despite their age differences. She wanted to be Lady of House Ares and probably hoped he’ll die soon enough, given his age, and she’s left a wealthy widow. I’m not sure who should tell her he is in excellent health and doesn’t go to the front lines anymore, so he will probably live another twenty years or more.
Though she might not mind that either, right now, Eugenius dotes on her and gives her all the luxuries she asks for. I feel bad for their child having to grow up with two self-centered parents.
Eugenius takes his time getting off the throne to come to look. Either it’s intentional, or he’s just old and lazy. His eyes looked over the map and nodded.
“Follow Lord Androkles’ instructions.”, he commanded before turning to me.
“Good morning, Androkles. As you can see, we have quite a mess to deal with. I will send you along with a unit to escort a group of Apollo medics. The company will set up a field medic station and guard the medics as injured are brought in. You are to travel directly then on to join Battalion Leader Evaristus where the battle is taking place.”, he instructed.
“So I will get to face the chimera?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.
“It’s possible, though, my troops may have it already dead by the time you arrive.” he shrugged.
“Go gather what you need. The guard unit will be waiting for you with Apollo’s people.”, he dismissed with a wave of his hand.
“As you wish, Lord Ares.” I bowed my head before taking my leave. I quickly stopped in my room to put on my armor and grab my sword, shield, and battle ax.
A unit was ready at the gates with wagons of Apollo healers. My horse, Atlas, waited, already saddled. I looked over the two dozen soldiers I was to take with me and then to the half-dozen wagons of Apollo physicians we were to protect.
“Let’s move out. We have nearly a full day’s ride to Pella. We will have to stop and camp along the way.”, I instructed once in my saddle. With a nudge, Atlas started as we led the way from the northwest capital to Pella.
My nose wrinkled as my sleep was interrupted by the smell of smoke and the ringing of alarm bells. “Miss... Miss Ismene-Eirene… you need to wake. The village is under attack.” My maid’s fear-filled voice filled my ears as she shook me gently. “Rea? What? What’s going on? What time is it?” I asked, sitting up. “The village is under attack. I don’t know by what, but we must evacuate. Your parents are waiting.” she said, pulling me up by the arm. “Hurry,” she said, pulling me along. I suppose I should be used to this. It has been the way of my life since I was born. I was born without sight and have never been without my parents or a servant guiding me. Though generally, it was not in such a rush. I could hear yelling outside and hurried to keep up. I didn’t know what had come to attack our village, but I didn’t want to be here when it got closer. “Yes, let’s hurry, Rea.” I agreed. “Rea… Eirene… over here. Hurry. Leander and Eline are waiting.” the distressed voice of Alkaios
I shouldn’t be here right now. I’d been told to head directly to the commanding officer for the unit upon arrival. I wasn't supposed to stop. Lord Ares wanted me to see and learn but not take risks. It didn’t matter that part of my gifts made me more robust than most. I could still be injured, and I could still die. I’d kept my eyes forward as my small unit moved through the ruins. I tried to ignore the cries around me. I kept reminding myself that it wasn't for me to clean up and tend to the wounded. But then something told me that what people tell me I should do doesn't always make it right. I’d been the one to notice her. To witness her stumbling. The others kept moving forward, and I should’ve too. Yet something told me to stop and help. So I broke from formation, and here I am, tending to the wounds of this blind girl. I don’t even know why I told her my name is Andy. Only Diokles calls me that. I’m not particularly eager to lie. But then again, it isn’t a lie. Andy is a sho
I don’t know how long I’d been out. I had restless dreams. A mixture of remembering the sounds of the chimera attacking, Rea screaming, Alkaios telling me to run, and the smell of his blood, my blood, for that matter. I relived the feeling of fear and desperation as I tried to navigate my ruined village. But then the fear faded, and I felt safe and could feel the steady rhythm of Andy’s heart beating. Andy?!I suddenly woke up, sitting up, trying to figure out where I was. I last remembered being on Atlas, supported in Andy’s arms. “Eirene...” I heard my father’s voice call out to me moments before I felt him pulling me into a hug. “Oh, my sweet daughter.” he sighed in relief, hugging me tightly. “F...father? Oh, thank the gods.” I sobbed, hugging him as tight as I could with my injured arm. He is alive. My father is alive. I felt fresh tears sliding down my cheeks, releasing my fears for him. “Is mother… is mother okay? What about Rae?” I asked, fearful of the answers. “Yo
We’d been fighting and driving the chimera back for four days before it was finally far enough into the mountains that we couldn’t go after it. Now we were marching back. Some soldiers would return to their posts while my unit and I returned to the capital. As we rode in formation, I was alongside the commanding officer at the front. I’d tried not to think about the blind girl during the fighting. Though I found my mind wandering to her in the hours, I rested. Holding the mati my elder brother had forged for me in the mortal realm.Often I’d found the mati would give me a sense of warning, of foreboding when someone had ill intentions. Often I felt this when my father or Eugenius would speak of my future. I also would feel it around town and even among the soldiers of Ares. Their fear of me differed from the evil I felt from my father and Eugenius. But with her, with Ismene-Eirene, the girl with two names, the mati didn’t give either of those reactions. It felt warm, like when I’m
Two months. That’s how long it took to get things settled in the village, and mother recovered enough to travel. We’ve begun to settle into the estate in Olympia. I’m still learning my way around the house and the property. I haven’t started to explore the city, not that my parents would let me anyways. “Eirene? Can you come and sit with us?” Father called me into the sitting room with him and Mother. Carefully finding my way with a cane, I managed to find a chair. “Yes, father?” I asked. “I know that much has changed for us. And that you are still mourning Alkaios.” Father started. “But given your age and, if anything, recent events showed us, we want to ensure you’ll be taken care of if anything happens to us.” Mother added. I frowned, knowing where this was going. “We don’t want to arrange a marriage in which you wouldn’t be happy.” Father quickly said. “Of course.” I nodded, taking a calming breath. I know they want to protect me. And to them, having a husband is
Yet another tedious session of the council. Mostly arguing about taxes and how much each House charged for its services. Poseidon argued that the fees Apollo, Athena, and Ares billed for the chimera attack on a village predominantly made up of members of his House were far too high. Zeno is still a young Poseidon, only having taken his title ten years ago. Well, young by some standards, I suppose. Diokles is the youngest council member but has the most power, literally and figuratively.“Lord Poseidon, that is enough,” Diokles stated in his rarely utilized commanding voice.The whole Parthenon went silent, from the council members to us heirs down to even the scribe that documents the meetings. Electricity was in the air making even the hairs on my
I was so happy when we returned home, and they allowed me to ride. Of course, that was dulled when I realized I would be confined to a pen on an older mare used to teaching children to ride. Father excused himself, probably not wanting to deal with my annoyance, as he headed to another enclosure to prepare horses to show a customer coming by, leaving my mother and a servant standing by the pen watching me.“Oh, I hate how he allows this...” I heard my mother sigh nervously. I know she loves me and, at her core, just wants me to be safe. But her overbearing behavior is going to drive me insane. She was always hovering over me as a child due to my condition. And it only became worse after my brother died. And now it has tripled since the chimera. I can't f
It felt strange talking to her like this. Not odd in a bad way. But I can't place the feeling. She's not afraid of me. She wants my company. Very few wanted my company, and even fewer were women. As she made a point about leaving, I looked up at the sky and realized the sun was going to set soon. Which meant it would be dinner time at Ares House. "I should. It is getting late. But I should also wait for Dio to finish his business. I did arrive with him." I sighed, looking into the distance, and saw Dio talking with a man I assumed to be her father. Dio was indeed a strange man. I'm unsure what he was playing at by introducing himself as Dio to her. Or when Dio intercepted Elaine to give us more time to speak alone. "I hate to say this, but if he loves horses half as much as my father, they'll be there until dinner is cold,” she said with a chuckle. She has a nice laugh. Wait, did I think that? "I could call someone to show you around. I wish I could show you myself if you w