by Wilbur Arron
“That is a base they can no longer support,” Xanphos said. “That is why they pulled most of their troops out. A year ago, I would have agreed with you, but now it no longer matters. The Zilar recognize we have either captured or destroyed most of the Lantian fleet. Their position along the north coast has become untenable, and they know it.”
Pallas stood up and looked directly at me. “Speaking of destroying the Lantian fleet, I have a question of Mage Council Member Sopholus. Exactly how did you destroy the Lantian flagship? What I was told by Chremon is that you did not just set it on fire; you burned it to the waterline in an instant. That certainly impressed Polemarch Areisius and his troops. It also put the fear of the gods into my troops. Care to tell me how you did that?”
I looked around the room and felt the eyes of all on me. I looked over at the Megas Mage who just shrugged.
“You have to tell him, Alex,” Philocrates told me. “They will find out soon enough in any case.”
So, I told them, but it did not go down well.
The room went silent. Some believed me and some did not, but they all looked on in stunned silence.
“It is true,” the Megas Mage told the others.
Soon afterward, the meeting broke up, and I decided to take Melina and leave for the forest. This reminded me of the time I destroyed the Zilar army that came here. They were impressed with my deed but feared me. Now they looked to be in awe of me and frightened to death of my power. I figured the best way to handle this was to put distance between me and the others.
For the next few market intervals, I tended my fields and relaxed with my wife. I practiced some magik and spent time with my friends. The Zilar made no further attempts to scout my forest. At least once a market interval, Melina and I would go into Korpolis through the secret passageway to see our human friends and to play with the children. Time passed in peaceful quiet for a while, but only for a while. It was mid-spring when our friends detected a rider coming into the forest. It was Iolaos, and he was riding in a hurry.
He rode up to our house and jumped quickly off his horse. “I must speak with you,” he said, still breathing hard. His horse looked exhausted. Something was up.
We took him inside where Melina poured him a cup of straight wine that he took and downed in one gulp.
“You need to go to Arginnia,” he gasped. “Sysgros is sick. His doctors think he is dying, and he had asked to have Pallas, Diomedes, his other archons, Cleon, me, and the Mage Council come at once. He also wants to see Laodamus. He has particularly asked to see you.”
That could be tragic, but not unexpected. The ethnarch was an old man in his seventies. Just why he wanted to see me, I had no idea.
“When is Cleon leaving?” I asked.
“He will wait for Diomedes to come from Erinia and they will both ride hard for Arginnia. Most likely, they will leave the day after tomorrow. He wants you to ride with them. I will be going with you. Cleon would like Melina to stay with Philie and Theresa, both to help with the children and to help Theresa if anything happens while we are gone.”
“Who will command the troops in the north?” I wanted to know.
“Nomiki and Tetrarch Gordias will stay with the troops if something happens. No one is expecting trouble, and we are keeping Sysgros’ illness secret from the people.”
We need to pack fast,” Melina said. If we can leave by noon, we will get there before nightfall.
“I will need a fresh horse,” Iolaos said.
I sent a message to Keros to bring five horses to our door and to stay. I needed to talk to him. I packed a bag of my robes, personal items, and the crystals. Melina packed her personal items and some clothes. Melina and I saddled two horses, used the other two for our baggage, and Iolaos saddled a fresh horse. I explained to Keros we would be gone and to keep a close watch on the forest. He was to let the Old Ones know what happened. After that, we rode quickly for Korpolis. We got there at the change of the first watch. Servants took our bags and took us at once into the palace.
Dinner was light and hurried. The talk was muted. The passing of an ethnarch is always a tricky time in any vasíleio. Unless there is a firm hand at the control of the state, some men will take advantage and decide they would make a better ruler than the successor. That is how civil wars start; although we had not had one in Argina since Sysgros’ grandfather took power during the unification almost a hundred years ago. I spent that night in a loving embrace of my wife. We both knew it might be a while before I was back.
The next morning Cleon led a party of Diomedes, Iolaos, two good cavalrymen, and I out the gate at first light. We had three pack horses with us. When we got about halfway to the new mage polis, we passed three master mages coming north. Master Mage Tychaeus was leading them.
“The Mage Council already left for Arginnia,” he told us. “The Megas Mage ordered me and the others to go north to help out in case the Zilar came back.”
“Remind Nomiki to send messages every day,” Diomedes called out.
With that, we continued on the main road until we came to the way station. There we changed horses and kept going. We traveled well into the night before we stopped and rested. My backside was sore, and I knew we had a few more days of travel to go. Next morning, we were up before dawn, ate prepared meat, and fed the horses. Just after sunup, we were riding.
This continued for the next five days, stopping and changing horses at each way station. We reached Arginnia in the late afternoon of the fifth day. By then, my bottom was raw, and my temper bad. I was really starting to hate hard riding. Once we arrived, we were escorted quickly into the inner compound. Diomedes went into the palace to look upon his father while the rest of us took a nice leisurely bath in hot water. I had my robes cleaned also. From the servants, I heard that the other three archons and the Mage Council members had already arrived. I had assumed there was just going to be a big meeting where Pallas would be named the new ethnarch and that would be that.
One thing still did not make sense to me. I could see why the archons and Megas Mage were here, but not Cleon, Iolaos, and me. We were not high position royalty. I was therefore surprised when Arastos, the head of the palace guard, came to our building and asked to see me privately.
“The ethnarch has asked to see you alone,” he said in a hushed voice.
“Now?” I asked.
“Yes, please come with me,” he said and led me to the main palace, past several patrols of guards and into the private quarters of the palace.
I had never been here before. I was taken to a room with two large doors made of bronze with cast mythological reliefs of our ancient past. I could see no seams, so it had been cast as one piece. It would require the bronze to be heated so it flowed like water. That required a mage. It was a marvel of metal magik. The mage that did this was indeed a master. Arastos knocked and opened the door. Inside was a grand bedroom with couches, worktable, shelves with row upon row of scrolls. All of it in the finest marble and wood. In the back of the room was a large bed in which one figure lay. Sysgros had his head propped up by several pillows. Next to him was Timogoras, the court physician and a couple of court officials. In the back of the room, stood Pallas and Diomedes.
Timogoras looked up and walked quickly over to me. “The ethnarch has asked to see you. I must tell you he is gravely ill and may die at any time. He wants you to use your magik to try and restore him.”
I took a deep breath. “Magik does not work that way,” I explained. “Life Magik can only support the body as it heals. It cannot restore the vitality once it is lost by age or severe injury. At most I can give him maybe one or two days of life, but I cannot stop his death.”
“Come here,” the old voice crackled.
I walked up to the foot of the bed and bowed. “I have come as you requested.”
“Tell me what you told my physician,” he ordered.
I told him exactly what I had told Timogoras. His face remained impassive and his voice weak. “I u
nderstand, but I need to be alive and strong until tomorrow. I can feel myself failing, and I must be carried to my throne room. Can you do that for me?”
“I can try,” I told him. “I cannot guarantee what will happen. Your body may not accept the use of magik power and just collapse. It may also not respond to my efforts.”
“I would still like you to try,” the old man stammered out.
I looked over to both his sons. Pallas just nodded his approval.
“Very well,” I said and removed my red hood. “I will need a moment to prepare. Please uncover him and lay him flat on the bed.”
I walked over into a quiet corner of the room and concentrated. Soon the many realms appeared, and I took power and let it infuse both the Power and the Life Crystals until they were about half full of energy. I would not need more. When I was ready, I walked over and placed both my hands on the old man’s chest and let the power flow from me into Sysgros.
I projected the energy very carefully, and as I did, I felt my senses enter his body and follow the blood flow. The flow was sluggish, as I followed it to the heart. The beating was labored, and the organ was failing. I infused power into the heart giving it strength. I felt the beating get stronger and more regular. I followed the blood flow into the lungs where I felt a large amount of congestion. Applying power into the lungs, I pushed out the contagion inside his breathing pathway. Mucus drained out of the lungs. Sysgros began to cough. As he did, bright yellow mucus came out of his mouth that Timogoras caught in a bowl. I looked at his other organs which were in good shape. I lastly returned to the heart and very gently, infused more power into it. That was as much as I could do so I pulled out. I felt dizzy and sat down in a nearby chair.
“I have done all I can,” I said after taking several deep breaths.
“Thank you, mage,” the old man said. “The main reason I wanted you to come here was I wish to say something before I leave for Hades.” At least the voice sounded stronger. “I want to ask your forgiveness for the way I treated you in the past. As an old man who has seen more than his share of rebellions, insurrections, and social disorder, I could not believe someone with your power would not use it to take control of the vasíleio. I did not trust you, yet in all this time you have made no attempt to take power. I swear to you I did not send that assassin to kill you, but I did order my son to control you by any means possible.”
I nodded my understanding. It really did not matter if he was telling the truth or not, but men usually tell the truth when they know they are at the end of their lives. Sysgros took a deep breath and continued.
“I can see why the Zilar are so frightened of you. Their kind seeks out the greedy, the vengeful, and the gullible, the ones who care only for themselves. Someone who acts out of conscience and for the greater good is beyond their ability to understand. It was mostly beyond my ability. Now I hear you have become even more powerful, yet you still do nothing to use that power for yourself. You are truly amazing Alexio Sopholus. I thank the gods you are here.”
I just bowed in acknowledge.
“Now the last and most important thing,” he said, now showing some effort to get the words out. “I wish to ask your forgiveness for my poor treatment of you. I misjudged you Mage Sopholus, and I regret that.”
My sensitive skill told me he was telling the truth. But I also remembered this man made my life miserable and made the lives of my friends harder. Part of me said to turn around and walk away. There were practical, ethical, and moral reasons why I should forgive the old man, but I could not forget what happened. I simply resigned myself to do the noble thing.
“I accept your apology, Ethnarch Sysgros,” I said simply and bowed slightly.
His eyes seemed to brighten for a moment before he yawned and pulled himself up on his bed. He fell rapidly into a deep sleep. That often happens when magik is used on someone.
I walked out of the room. Pallas and Diomedes followed me out. Once the guards closed the large bronze door behind us, Pallas stopped and called out.
“How is my father, mage?” he asked pointedly.
“There is little I can do for him,” I answered honestly. “Your father has reached the end of his life as we all will one day. What I have done may give him one or two more days, but no more. I am sorry Pallas, but very soon, you will be ethnarch. You should prepare for that.”
Pallas bit his lower lip and turned away. “Thank you for what you have done,” he said with his back toward me. “There will be a meeting in the great hall tomorrow at the third hour after dawn. My father insists that you, Cleon, and Iolaos should attend along with the rest of our nobles. I will send someone for you tomorrow morning.”
I went back to my room and slept like the dead until one of the house servants woke me up during the second hour after dawn. I bathed and dressed quickly, and at the appointed time a guard of honor escorted the three of us to the palace. There, the main hall was filled. The three other archons of Argina were there along with their tetrarchs who I did not know. The Mage Council and Megas Mage were there. Xanphos was there, along with Laodamus, and the archiereas. Many of the local officials were there, as was the court. The three of us walked in and immediately drew the notice of everyone else in the hall. I heard murmuring in the background. A few whispered, “Is that him?” I did not know if it was for Cleon or me.
Finally, the Head of the Household banged an ivory rod on the floor. “Crave silence citizens of Argina for Ethnarch Sysgros, victor over the barbarians, son of the divine Pallas the Conqueror, beloved of the gods, arbitrator of justice, and unquestioned ruler of Argina.”
That was the short version of his honors. They were not laying it on too thick for the old man. A dozen guards carried the throne to the dais. His two sons walked behind him. They put the throne down with a thud.
“Nobles and citizens of Argina,” the weak voice said. The strength of the voice was gone, I could hardly hear him. “I ask you to listen carefully. My voice is weak, as is my body. I have called you here to settle the matter of my succession.”
A crier then repeated what he said in a much louder voice. Once he finished repeating the words, Sysgros went on.
“My body is failing me, soon you will have a new ethnarch,” he said.
When the crier repeated that, there were cries of ‘no,’ and ‘you will get better.’ Sysgros was having none of it.
“It is true,” he said as loud as he could. “Soon I will pass on, but while I still live, I am passing my title and power to my eldest son Pallas, named after my illustrious father whose shade I will soon join in Hades.”
Once that was told to the crowd, and sycophantic cheering died down, he went on. “My son, Pallas, come before me and kneel.”
Pallas dressed in his finest armor did as ordered. When he did, the old man took the golden diadem of olive leaves off his own head and put it on Pallas’ head. He then took off his golden signet ring and put it on the second finger of the right hand of Pallas. Finally, he called for his ivory staff and gave that also to his son.
“As of this moment, my son Pallas is Ethnarch of Argina,” he called to the crowd. “You will obey him as you have obeyed me. I ask you all now to give your oath of loyalty to your new ethnarch.”
The archiereas stepped forward and held the golden cult statue of Father Zeus. All the military and political leaders swore an oath of loyalty, obedience, devotion, and service to Pallas unto death in the presence of Megas Zeus. Break that oath, and you would end up in Tartarus according to our religion. Not that I believe it, goddess or no goddess. None of us mages swore the oath since our loyalty was given to the gods directly when we graduated in the Temple of Megas Zeus in Lantis. When they all finished, Pallas was officially Ethnarch. He rose and went to the edge of the dais and spoke.
“Thank you, my lords,” he said loud enough to be easily heard. “As my first decree, I appoint my younger brother Diomedes as Megas Archon. He will remain in this position until any future son I have reaches the
age of maturity.”
Diomedes knelt before his brother and the silver diadem of olive leaves Pallas had worn until this time was placed on his head. Those present swore oaths of loyalty to him.
The new ethnarch then spoke up. “I will be spending most of my time with duties here in Arginnia. My brother will act as my eyes and ears throughout the vasíleio. This will force him to give up his title of Archon of Erinus. As of this time I appoint Cleon, Tetrarch of Korpolis to take that position. He has proven his worth in battle, siege, and with his advice and service to us. I will allow him to pass his office down to his sons if they prove worthy in my eyes.”
There was applause from the crowd, but I could see some of the other archons looked disappointed. They wanted one of their tetrarchs to take the position to further their power at court. Obviously, Pallas understood that too. Cleon did not look surprised, so I assume he knew about this beforehand.
Cleon raised his hand and called out, “If I may speak?”
“I recognize Archon Cleon to speak,” Pallas said.
Cleon stepped forward and faced the crowd. “Since our Ethnarch has conferred this new title upon me, I am forced to give up my positions of Tetrarch of Erinia and Oligarch of Korpolis. For tetrarch I will appoint Sophanes, son of Theron, to take that position. I also appoint my Polemarch Iolaos as Oligarch of Korpolis.”
Iolaos did not look surprised either. I was beginning to think this whole thing was planned well before we even left the polis. I was happy for my friends, but it meant Melina would need to go a further distance to see her brother.
“The last thing I wish to take care of is to appoint my Royal Council,” Pallas said. “As part of that council, I will keep the four archons of the vasíleio, along with Polemarch Xanphos and his new assistant Nomiki of Peles. Since we will now be home of the Mage Academy, I further appoint the Megas Mage to my council.” Then he turned toward me. “For his many services to Argina, I also appoint Mage Council Member Alexio Sopholus to the Council. I give all council members the titles of Advisor to the Ethnarch and Magistrate of Argina.”
