The Laughing Gods

by Wilbur Arron

  I sent Chremon and Nomiki out both north and south to scout, and they came back saying they saw no one. We quickly crossed the road and disappeared into the dense woods. We moved on until just before dark when I noticed it looked to be getting lighter up ahead. Both Chremon and Nomiki were still behind us guarding the rear, so I left Gyras in charge while Carenos and I walked forward by ourselves. We walked for maybe two stadia when the forest thinned out. Out in front of us was open land with many tree trunk stumps sticking out. Someone had cut down a lot of trees. They were all oak. The open space went on for a while, both up into the higher hills and below toward the sea. There was some new plant growth taking hold along with some stubby saplings growing back, but this place was completely exposed. We could not cross this place in the daytime—we would be seen by everyone. I could see all the way down the hill over the walls and into the port. It was well lit up, which I found unusual. The polis itself was lit as usual, but the dock area was blazing in light. Something was going on.

  “We will need to cross this tonight,” Carenos whispered, although there was no one near us.

  “I agree,” I said and looked down at the port. “Something is going on down there.”

  “I have a looking-glass the Megas Mage gave me. When we cross, I will look.”

  We went back and told everyone we would have to cross an open area: no noise and no lights. After tying any loose metal down, we all walked into the open and kept walking across the open expanse for the early part of the night before we reached the end of the cut area. The forest had been cut down for over three milio which meant they needed a lot of trees. Many of the stumps looked worn and rotten, so they had been cutting trees here for years. Carenos stayed behind looking down at the port with his seeing glass.

  We moved on until after midnight. Nomiki told me that we needed to stay here for the next day to give the horses a chance to rest up. It was only then Carenos caught up to us. He looked excited when he told us what he had seen.

  “I saw maybe twenty Lantian Trierse and ten to fifteen pentekonters in the harbor. They are all getting ready to sail,” he told us. “It looked like they were taking on supplies for a voyage.”

  “Who are they going to attack?” Chremon asked.

  “Argina has no fleet, so unless they are going to be escorting transports, they are not invading,” I said.

  “That leaves the Zilar,” Nomiki realized. “Why attack them now instead of waiting until they attack Argina?”

  “Unless those ships down there plan to attack something else,” Chremon said. “I think they are going after the Megas Archon and his companions.”

  That made good sense. It would be easier to destroy them on the water than dry land.

  “They need to be warned,” Carenos said.

  “Can you try using the crystal again?” I asked.

  “I can try,” the Master Mage said.

  “It also explains something else that has bothered me,” Nomiki added. “Why no one is closely following us even though I am sure they know we are around.”

  We all turned and looked at the lochagos, wondering what he was talking about. Nomiki saw our stares and knew he had to explain.

  “Look, after Argura, the word must have gotten out about us. We have seen signs someone is watching us from afar. Why have we seen no one? I am sure it is because they are afraid of Alex and Master Mage Carenos, but even I know if you charge with two thousand troops at once from all sides, I do not care how powerful you are, they will easily wipe us out.”

  I did not find the topic tasteful, but the guardsman had a point. Nomiki continued, sounding like an instructor at the Academy.

  “The reason they do not attack is that they do not have to. They have us trapped on Lantia. Our only way out of this land is those ships the Megas Archon and the other mages have. Destroy them, and they can destroy us at any time. Pytheas has decided his son and those senior mages are the real threat, not us. He would be right.”

  Gyras shook his head no. “Yes, but if he fights them, will not those mages do to Pytheas’ ships what Alex did to that Zilar Trierse?”

  “No, because they do not know how to do that,” Carenos said. “Our mages know how to defend themselves, but to fight in an organized way is not something the Brotherhood is familiar with. They certainly have not been taught how to fight in a sea battle. Alex, however, knows this. To an extent so do I, now that I understand what he did. The others do not. The Mage Code prevents us from doing that, except in an extreme emergency.”

  I did not know if that was meant as a compliment or not. In any case, it did not matter; I was here, and the others were out on the seas someplace. “I would try using your crystal again,” I told Carenos. “Nomiki is right; if they destroy those ships, it is a long swim to Argina.”

  We rested the remainder of the night and the entire next day. There was a small stream nearby, and we watered and fed the horses. Nomiki, Chremon, and Gyras went out into the nearby forest looking for intruders. Although they found nothing, all of them told me privately, they were sure others were watching us. The only really troubling thing that happened was that Carenos was still unable to use his crystal to contact anyone.

  Before dawn the next morning, we were off again traveling westward. Carenos led us higher into the hills, and that slowed us down a bit. The ground was also rockier and the trees thinner and shorter. From time to time we could see through the trees at the shore of the sea just beyond us.

  For the next three days there was nothing, then near the evening on the fourth day we heard a noise from ahead. There was clanging noises and many voices speaking. Nomiki went forward and came back saying it was an infantry troop marching down the road to Crenae. It was the same road we had used what now seemed years ago. We stayed where we were and lit no fires that night. Well after dark when the road traffic ceased, we went into the open to look down on the major port of Crenae. Even with the seeing glass, it was too far away to see any detail. The large camp on the south side of the polis was plain enough. There had to be at least three thousand troops there. Pytheas was going to make sure his son would never be able to land here.

  I was sleeping that night with Melina when just after midnight, Carenos called my name. Both of us woke and looked at Carenos who had Nomiki, Chremon, Gyras, Zila all standing near him. “I have heard from Mage Council Member Pentheus with the Megas Archon,” he said with glee. “They are nearby.”

  “You told them what we saw?” I asked.

  “Yes, he knows. They are putting into port for supplies for about seven days. He said tomorrow night they will send three hoklas to a small bay about ten milio from here, but the ground is rough.”

  “Will they not be seen?” I asked.

  “No, they will not be seen at night,” Carenos said. “The soil is poor and rocky, and the fishing is poor, so no one lives there.”

  “That means we need to move fast,” Nomiki said. “It means leaving the horses. It also means leaving now.”

  “Does anyone know this place?” I asked.

  “I have heard of the place and know about where it is,” Carenos told me. “One of our acolytes is from Sycion and knows the place, he thinks.”

  “Thinks,” Chremon said indignantly. “We get lost out there, and we are dead.”

  “It will have to do,” I said. “We leave the horses here and the supplies. We take what is on our backs, a water bottle, weapons, and maybe some dried fish. I think we should also light a few small fires. Anyone following us may think we are waiting for the Megas Archon to show up and leave us alone.”

  “Good idea, let us go,” Nomiki said. “I want to be gone by dawn.”

  We unloaded the horses and traveled as light as possible. I set a few small fires, and before long, we left. We crossed the main road and disappeared into the woods on the other side.

  It was not easy going, but with the acolyte and Carenos’ help, we found the bay late the next day. It took us a while to make our way down the cliff.
It was night when we got to the wide beach. We went near the water and strained our eyes to see our rescue. It was near the middle of the night when someone shouted they saw a shadow on the water. Three large shadows were coming from the sea. At that moment, I heard faintly from my back,

  “Loose!”

  “I spun around and pulled Melina in close to me. “Archers!” I yelled out. Immediately, I put up a sphere of force around Melina and myself, as I heard several arrows land in the sand around us. They were shooting from the cliff.

  I heard several screams from within our group. In the dim light, I could see four figures on the ground. I turned to face the cliff and saw a lone figure stand at the edge of the precipice.

  “Ready,” I heard.

  I did not wait. I pulled as much energy out of the realms as I could and sent a lightning bolt at the figure on the cliff. My lightning bolt can travel farther than the fireball. The distance was about two hundred paces.

  There was a loud bang and a scream followed by the ghostly image of a figure falling off the cliff. I pulled even more energy out of the realms and cast the greatest fireball I could at the cliffside where the fallen figure had been. It struck just below the cliff edge. A moment later I saw another fireball hit close to mine followed by half a dozen smaller fireballs that did not make it to the cliff.

  “Pick up the wounded and swim for the ships,” Nomiki called out.

  I ran to the nearest fallen figure and looked at him. It was Kimon. The arrow went through his skull. No Life Magik could help him. The next stricken figure was staggering to his feet. Melina and I grabbed him and pulled him away. An arrow had gone through the acolyte’s shoulder and partly out the other side. Melina and I helped him into the water. Thankfully the shooting stopped. By now the ships were almost to the beach. Several men jumped over the side and helped all of us into the boats. I turned as the shore disappeared into the darkness and saw only two figures still on the beach. Neither was moving.

  The rest of us made it to the three ships. I went to work with Life Magik pulling the arrow out of an acolyte’s shoulder. At least he would live to fight again, as would the rest of us.

  We were safe for now.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SPLIT

  Our journey out to the small fleet of ships was uneventful. By first light, we were well out of sight of any land. Before me, I saw a small fleet of ten trierse along with a dozen large hoklas nearby. Carenos and I were taken to what looked like the largest trierse while my wife and the others went to a hoklas. Once on board, we raised sail and headed south. At least I think that is the way we were going.

  I managed to get up a small rope ladder. As I struggled to climb over onto the deck, two firm hands pulled me up. In front of me stood two figures: one dressed in a black robe with a red hood; the other dressed in light leather armor commonly found on men who fought at sea. I walked up and bowed out of respect for the Mage Council member.

  “I am Master Mage Alexio Sopholus, Ambassador from the Ethnarch of Argina,” I said.

  The robed figure walked past me without a word and embraced Carenos. “Thank the gods you are safe,” the old voice cracked. “I thought we had lost you with the others. Did you save the acolytes?”

  “We lost Kimon and an acolyte in an ambush on our way here,” Carenos said. “We might have lost the rest without Master Mage Sopholus.”

  The hooded figure turned around, and I saw the old wrinkled face glare at me from under the hood. “Yes, Master Mage Sopholus,” he repeated with scorn.

  “Yes, Master Mage Alexio Sopholus,” I repeated again. “I assume I address, Mage Council Member Pentheus?”

  “Yes,” the old voice said. “You are right, we have never met. I only know you by your reputation.”

  There was a cough from the figure in leather armor. “I am Megas Archon Laodamus, son of Pytheas,” he said, almost as an afterthought.

  I had been foolish. I quickly turned and bowed. “Forgive me, Megas Archon, I thank you for rescuing us. May I ask our destination?”

  “You are welcome, Ambassador,” he said respectfully. “As to our destination, it was Crenae, but your warning stopped that. I was planning on sailing directly to Argina and the port of Aegae.”

  “A wise decision,” I said. “We should get there in three days with luck.”

  “I plan on adding to my luck by having you and Master Mage Carenos remain on this ship. I have heard how you sank a Zilar trierse.”

  “So have I,” Pentheus said. “I hope we do not have a repeat of that slaughter,” he said.

  “Slaughter,” I repeated. “Since when is defending yourself against people who want to kill you considered a slaughter?”

  I saw the old man stiffen. “You are not a soldier, Master Mage Sopholus,” he said with disgust in his voice. “You are a mage, and we mages do not kill lightly.”

  That comment made me angry. “I have never killed lightly,” I said, gritting my teeth. “However when people try to kill you by marching an army over you, or try to run you down with a ship, or try to feather you from ambush, or invade and destroy an entire polis with its people just to make a point, that is not killing lightly. You stand in my shoes and see and feel what I did and then you can call what I did killing lightly.”

  The old man let out a huff. “Philocrates was right,” the old man said, looking me over as if I were an insect. “He told me you were as stubborn as you were talented. No matter, the past cannot be changed. We will all have to live with your actions.”

  With that, the old man turned his back on me and walked down the forward steps to below deck. Once he was gone, Carenos spoke is a quiet voice. “I am sorry, Alex, Pentheus believes mages should not become involved with politics.”

  “I agree with him,” I said. “Only sometimes you get involved whether you like it or not.”

  “Well, I want you to get involved here,” Laodamus told me. “It seems like half the world wants to cut our throats.”

  “I am well aware of that feeling,” I said and went forward to look out.

  A trierse is a large warship. Usually, with one hundred fifty rowers, there is not much room. However, there were fewer than fifty rowers on board the ship which made us substantially underpowered. What rowers we had slept at their rowing stations. They ate the same as everyone else on the ship: oatmeal porridge three times a day. The rowers were slaves or prisoners that stayed chained to their stations with just enough slack to eat, drink, and empty themselves over the side. Still the ship stank. In place of the other one hundred rowers, we had mages and other people on board the ship as passengers and emergency rowers, a situation no captain would tolerate on a warship. With the passengers and rowers, the number of people on the ship was almost the standard two hundred.

  Our main problem was water. Two hundred people go through a lot of water in a day. Carrying that water is a problem. At most, a fully crewed trierse can load enough water to keep everyone alive for three to four days. The fleet had put into Mycalessus the night before where they took on a full load of food and water. They could travel another two days before they would need to put in again. Laodamus was no fool. He knew he would be out longer than that and arranged his hoklas to pick up extra food and water in jars so they could come up and resupply the trierse.

  We sailed south with the wind for the rest of that day and into the night. No one came out to challenge us, and we saw no ships this far out. We were not fast, and the hoklas were slower than us, which forced us to travel mostly under sail. That saved on the rowers but made us very slow and the ship a challenge to maneuver. By morning, our small fleet was alone in a vast ocean. Fortunately, the weather was with us with clear skies and a southern wind, which had the benefit of making navigation by the sun very simple. We sailed south under a decent breeze for the rest of that day and night. During this time, Pentheus avoided me—as did the other mages, with the exception of Carenos. From time to time I heard people arguing, and my name mentioned. There was not much I could do about it.
I could hardly take insult and walk away.

  The next morning, Laodamus called all ships together and signaled it was time to get supplies. The sea was relatively calm, typical for this time of year, and we docked to replenish food and water. All went well until we were almost done, then someone called out from the stern. “Sails to the steer board-side stern,” he bellowed. “Two white sails coming our way.”

  “Can you make out what ships they are?” Laodamus called to the stern.

  “No, but they are square sails like those on a trierse,” came the answer.

  “Damn them,” our captain cursed. He turned toward one of the men on deck. “Raise the signal for turtle formation: hoklas to the inside, trierse to the outside.”

  “Yes, Megas Archon,” the man said and started to wave a brightly covered pennant back and forth three times and then up and down three times.

  “Will they attack?” I asked, thinking of Melina on one of those hoklas.

  “I doubt it,” Laodamus said. “There are ten of us and only two of them. At least, I hope not. Most of our trierse have no rowers. We are the most combat-fit ship in our fleet.”

  We expected the two ships to get closer and then back off. We were wrong. Both ships came in with full sails and rowers. We watched as the sails grew larger, and the lookout at the stern called out. “They are not Lantian ships, Megas Archon.”

  “Zilar,” I yelled out.

  Both ships still came on at full speed. “They must be mad to sail into combat with their sails up,” Laodamus called out.

  “They want speed now and not combat,” I suggested. “With their sails up and their rowers going full they will easily overtake us.”

  “That is for sure,” Laodamus grunted. “If they attack the rear of our formation, they can easily destroy our two trierse there.

  He yelled to the rear. “Steersman, bring us about for those ships. Get the rowers to their station. And get as many of our passengers on the oars as you can.”

  Even I knew that with an untrained crew, we were at a severe disadvantage unless we could find a way to even the odds. “Carenos, come up on deck,” I shouted down into the bowels of the ship.