The Laughing Gods

by Wilbur Arron

  “I am appointed Arch-Mage of Lantia,” he reminded me. “As such, I am going to go with Laodamus back to Lantia, both to take up my post and to help him in case he runs into mage troubles from Syrina.”

  “That will be a difficult task,” I answered. “I do not envy you in the least.”

  “I know,” he said. “It is not the fear of the Zilar or those pathetic Syrian mages that concerns me the most. It is the fact that I cannot communicate with any of you. I will have, at best, limited help from any mages Pytheas did not bother to kill.”

  I could sympathize with him, however talking to another mage, even with the Power Crystal he possessed, could not be done over a distance over four hundred milio. I learned if they both had multiple crystals, that was something else—then the range became almost unlimited. I knew Carenos had no Life or Metal crystal. But, suppose I could get him a Life or Metal crystal? It would not only allow him to talk to me but also give him more power to help Laodamus. I excused myself from Korpolis and got a fast horse and rode to my house. As I approached my house, I called out to the Old Ones to meet me.

  There were there when I arrived. I explained my problems and asked for their advice.

  “The gods do not allow us to give out crystals,” the rumbling voices said in my head. “One was given to Malcor, one to each of the arch-mages here, two to the Mages Mage in Lantia, and two more to you. The guardians feel if too many are given out, there is a great danger.”

  “I am here,” I heard from above.

  I looked around, trying to see where that new voice came from. I felt a familiar bump on my shoulder. I turned my head eyes and looked to my right. A white owl was sitting there.

  “Thank you for coming,” I said. “I have a problem you might be able to help with.”

  “Our help is limited,” the owl told me. “We know of your request. We must say no.”

  “It would certainly help,” I said.

  The owl stared at me like I was a mouse he was ready to eat. “We know, but there are already too many crystals out in the world now. Not everyone would use them as you have with reluctance.”

  I was in no position to argue with the gods. “Very well, I accept your judgment.”

  “What we can tell you is where the deceased Megas Mage hid his Life and Power Crystal,” the owl said.

  “They have not been destroyed in the fighting?” I asked. “Carenos could use those in his duties as Arch-Mage of Lantia. Could you please tell me where they are?”

  The owl answered me quickly. “In the temple of Megas Zeus in Lantis, at the Mage Gate you used to enter the temple to take your vow. In that gate is a faded mural of Zeus defeating the great Titans.”

  I knew it well. We all passed that mural every time we entered the temple as acolytes on feast days. “Yes, go on.”

  “Place your hand on the head of the defeated titan and count to your right six building stones. There will be a gray stone with a small touch of white in the center. Use force on that spot, and it will open a secret compartment much like the secret compartment Malcor has in your cave. Both crystals are in there. They are the same as your Power and Life Stones.”

  I repeated what the owl told me to make sure I had it right. There was no way I would write this down. “Thank you,” I said and bowed my head. Without a word, the owl flew off into the forest to disappear among the trees. I stood up and walked back to my house. The Old Ones and all of my friends were there.

  “The gods have told me what I need to know,” I told them. “I must now return to the polis. Melina and I will be back soon, hopefully for a long while this time.”

  I had Keros bring me a fresh horse, and I rode swiftly back to Korpolis. When I returned, I asked Carenos to walk with me outside the walls, and when I was sure we were alone, I told him what the owl told me. I explained how to use a Life Stone and most importantly, how to avoid the power feedback.

  “With that crystal, you will be more powerful than any mage Syrina will train,” I told him. “You will also be able to talk with me. Just be careful how you use it. It does not grant you invulnerability, so you must be careful. Go easy with them at first until you are used to them.”

  “I understand Alex,” he said and shook my hand. “I will guard both carefully.”

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “I know you will use them like I did, reluctantly, but if it becomes necessary, then strike and strike hard. Call to me if you need my help.”

  “I will,” he said.

  “Then go, the fleet will leave in a few days. Laodamus will need all the help he can get. If you find any of our Brothers left alive, send them here. We will have much work to do, even after we destroy the Zilar.”

  “I will,” he said, and we both walked back to the palace.

  The next morning, I stood on the north wall and watched Carenos and two escorts ride away to the north. As they disappeared, I saw Melina come up the stairs.

  “Sorry you are not going?” she asked.

  I shook my head, no. “No, not this time,” I said sincerely. “I have done all that I can for now; the others are more than ready to act. It is time to let them fight the Zilar. Argina is safe for the moment, and I am content.”

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, looking surprised. “What brought this on?”

  I smiled gently, “A very sore backside that still aches at the thought of more hard riding,” I added. “We have also made peace for now with the Ethnarch and the Brotherhood. Most importantly, with the Zilar gone from Argina, the need for action has passed out of my hands. It is time to go home, relax, and prepare for another day.”

  “You do not really believe that, Alexio Sopholus,” my wife chided me. “It is not totally out of your hands, husband,” she said and stood close to me, resting her head on my shoulder. “It will never be out of your hands. Like the gods, you will never be able to rest fully. I know that and accept it.”

  I knew it too. I kissed her, and we went back down the stairs to take care of other problems.

  EPILOGUE

  “It has been a wonderful two years,” I told my wife and lifted my kylix of well-watered wine.

  “It has been wonderful to be here,” my wife smiled and sipped wine from my kylix.

  We were swimming in the pond under the small waterfall that was the source of our fortune. It was on this day two years ago, as best I could calculate it, that Melina agreed to become my wife. We had decided to celebrate the day by doing nothing except enjoying each other’s company here by ourselves. We had previously been more intimate in that mutual appreciation, which is why the wine tasted so good. Below me was our house, and our fields that were starting to darken indicating the harvest was near. The late summer orange sun cast its light on us making the day warm and the water cool, but not frigid.

  “Well it is certainly more peaceful this year than the last two years at this time,” my wife said and leaned against me.

  “Thank the gods for something,” I said. “Let us hope Ethnarch Laodamus has continued success with the Zilar.”

  “Well, he is Ethnarch now,” Melina said. “And he has at least Lantis back in his hands and no sign of rebellion from what is left from Pytheas’ followers.”

  That was good for me. As long as Laodamus ties up the Zilar as tightly as he had, there was no threat to Argina. The supposed masters of the world had found the Lantian people not the easy conquests like the desert tribes here or the people of Syrina. There were plans in the works for Diomedes leading a force of Arginnian troops to land in Lantia next spring to push the Zilar off the small part of that vasíleio they still held.”

  “Let us hope this peace continues,” I said, leaning back against the rocks. “I fear though we will only have true peace when we destroy Zilar himself.”

  I closed my eyes and started using my hands to massage my wife in a manner I know she likes. Unexpectedly, she pushed my hand away. I opened my eyes. She was not looking at me but on the other side of the pond.

  “We are not alon
e,” she said with irritation.

  I looked over, and sure enough, a white owl was standing on the edge of the pond looking at us. For a moment, I wondered if it was Aphrodite looking to observe our antics. Gods or not, I think we deserve some privacy.

  “Can I help you?” I said out loud.

  Surprisingly, the owl spoke openly and not mentally. “I have news for you Alexio Sopholus,” it said. Even my wife looked amazed.

  “Thank you. Forgive us if we do not stand up,” I said.

  The owl smiled. “I am here to tell you that Carenos has found the Power and Life Stones. He is using them now.”

  “Great,” I said. “It will give the Zilar even more reasons to regret their actions.”

  “We hope he uses them as well as you did,” the owl added.

  “Carenos is a good man. I think we will have no problems with him. Like me, he may need guidance. Will you speak to him as you speak to me?” I asked.

  “No,” the owl said plainly. “We will talk only to you.”

  “Of course, they will not speak to Carenos as they speak to you,” my wife blurted out. “I doubt even the gods can put up with any more mages like you.”

  Melina broke out into a smile, and I had to smile too. I heard a peeping noise, so I looked at my guest.

  Even the owl had broken out in laughter.

  THE END

  For Now

  APPENDICES

  Appendix One:

  Greek Word Glossary

  Appendix Two:

  Code of the Brotherhood of Mages

  GREEK WORD GLOSSARY

  Aegae

  Major port north of Erinia on the north shore of Argina

  Aeras

  Air

  Alitis

  Tramp or Vagabond

  Anthesterion

  Early spring month

  Anoitios

  Idiots (given as a direct insult)

  Anthesterion and Gamelion

  Late winter to early spring in the Greek Calendar of lunar months

  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 unknown and unexplored

  Argina

  One of the three kingdoms, considered of moderate development and culture

  Arginnia

  Capital of Argina

  Chiton

  Standard Greek dress, a gown or tunic with or without sleeves

  Doron

  Length of a human palm

  Drachma

  Standard Greek silver coin worth about 4.3g silver, a daily wage for a skilled worker. Drachmae is plural.

  Energeia

  Energy or force

  Erinus

  Province. Name of the area that contains Korpolis and the Forest of Allund

  Erinia

  Provincial capital of Erinus

  Eparchia

  Province

  Epihipparch

  Commander of 1000 horsemen

  Ethnarch

  King or ruler over a land

  Euergetes

  Benefactor: a tile given to rulers who donate to the public good

  Forest of Allund

  A forest that is to the west of Korpolis and marks the western edge of Argina, known to be a place of mystery and danger

  Hipparchus

  Commander of 500 horsemen

  Hoklas

  Greek trading ship or transport

  Hoplon

  Large circular shield carried by Greek infantry

  Hyparchos

  Military officer, similar to a captain

  Hypnos

  God of Sleep

  Iroas

  Hero, or more common, savior

  Gamelion

  Late winter month

  Gryphon

  Griffin

  Kampines

  Toilet or water closet

  Khaire

  Hello or greetings, usually called out loudly

  Keravno

  Lightning

  Kobalos

  Mischievous creatures fond of tricking and frightening mortals; Kobaloi plural

  Korpolis

  City closest to the Forest of Allund

  Kylix

  Clay shallow drinking bowl, mostly for wine; Kylikes plural

  Lantia

  Oldest of the three kingdoms, considered the most advanced and highly cultured

  Lantis

  Capital of Lantia

  Lochagos

  Military officer, similar to a major

  Lyre

  A stringed instrument like a harp with between four to ten strings.

  Megalopsychus

  Man of great spirit or soul

  Megas

  Great or powerful

  Megas Archon

  Crown Prince. NOTE! This title was used mostly in the Byzantine period. Used here for clarity

  Milion

  Greek unit of measurement, equal to eight stadia or close to a Roman mile; milio is plural

  Mina

  Unit of money, equal to 100 drachmae, or unit of weight, slightly less than a pound; Minae is plural

  Moros

  Fool or idiot

  Navarch

  Leader of ships, an admiral

  Obol

  Greek coin worth 1/6 of a drachma or 0.72g silver

  Oligarch

  City magistrate or ruler, similar to a baron

  Pentekonter

  Early warship design rowed by fifty men, succeeded by the trireme

  Podi

  One foot; podia is plural

  Polis

  City; poleis plural

  Poli-kratos

  City-State, an independent city

  Polemarch

  Military leader or commander

  Praxikopi̱ma

  Coup d’état

  Pyra

  Fire

  Schoinion

  Measuring ruler or chain

  Selas

  Light

  Skata

  Dung or shit

  Stadion

  Unit of length equal to 600 podia; stadia is the plural

  Stele

  Funeral marker for the dead, similar to a tombstone

  Stratigos

  Military General

  Syntechnia

  Organization or guild

  Syrina

  One of the three kingdoms, considered the most backward of the lands

  Syrinnia

  Capital of Syrina

  Syrinx

  Also called Pan Flute. A multi-tube flute popular in ancient times.

  Tagmatark

  Military rank equivalent to a Lt. Colonel

  Talent

  Unit of weight, approximately 57 pounds, or unit of money equal to 6000 drachmae

  Tartarus

  Hell, a special place of punishment for evil souls

  Tetartemorion

  Coin worth a quarter of an Obol

  Tetrarch

  Ruler of a quarter of a province, similar to a count

  Trierse

  Trireme, a three-bank war ship used for fighting

  Vasíleio

  Kingdom; vasíleia is plural

  Vasiliás

  King

  Vasílissa

  Queen

  Vios

  Life

  Zari

  Die

  Notes:

  Words presented are 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. Also, my word processor does not write in ancient Greek. I have also chosen words akin more to Modern Greek than ancient Greek to make it easier on the reader and my computer.

  The meanings of the words presented are the meanings the characters in the story would understand, not the exa
ct textbook definition although I tried to come as close as I could.

  The Code of the Brotherhood of Mages

  (Mage Code)

  1 A Mage is always truthful, even if it will embarrass or humiliate him.

  2 A Mage will not commit murder or steal from others using his power.

  3 A Mage is honest in his words and deeds.

  4 A Mage will be respectful of the gods.

  5 A Mage will always seek fairness and justice, never personal gain or revenge.

  6 A Mage will use his power to harm only when necessary to protect himself or the innocent.

  7 A Mage will never drink to excess or pursue pleasure to excess.

  8 A Mage will always show the highest commitment to live a moral life.

  9 A Mage will never act from anger, greed, or envy.

  10 A Mage will give a fair day’s work for his wage.

  11 A Mage will not take slight or insult at the actions or the words of others, nor cause harm to those who do these things to him.

  12 A Mage will give a fair and honest judgment in instances where he is called upon to act as magistrate, juror, or to judge a dispute.

  13 A Mage will never accept bribes or other illegal payments for any action he performs.

  14 A Mage will not seek personal fortune. Should he gather riches, he will dispose of them for the public good and not for personal gain.