As Pegasus flew south Orion's spirits rose. Having successfully killed and skinned the Griffon, his next mission was to give it as a sacrifice to the Furies and then return to Delphi to hear the rest of the Oracle's message. As the air grew warmer and once again trees, still blazing in all their autumnal colors came into sight, his beautiful female passengers squealed in delight. All having grown up in the icy plains of the north, such leafy abundance was unknown to them and they were eager to begin their new lives in the civilized and rich Greek world.
Flying over the first major Greek city of Byzantium, Grid's two companions giggled excitedly as they looked at the wonders beneath them. Markets, abundant food, running water were all on display and these were delights they did not know existed. Setting Pegasus down outside the city gates, the two blonde beauties rushed off her back and hurriedly gathered their belongings. No more mud huts, smelly Vikings and raw meat for them, they (with the help of the considerable gold they took from the Griffon) would become women of leisure in this new world. Each kissed Orion goodbye as they scampered inside, eager to experience all of the pleasures that civilization could bring them. Grid however did not join her friends.
"Are you not going with your friends?" Orion asked. He was sad to see the other two blonde beauties leave, as he had enjoyed their bodies immensely on the trip, but, where he was going they could not follow.
Looking up into his eyes with a determined stare she answered. "No Orion, I am going with you to the furies. You will need my help and only after you are safely in Delphi will I start my new life." As Orion opened his mouth to protest, she placed her fingers on his lips. "There is no use arguing Orion, you are stuck with me for now."
Orion was moved, and had to admit he certainly did not mind having a few more nights of horizontal entertainment with this gorgeous viking girl, but he could not allow her to join him in his journey. It was far too dangerous and having to worry about her safety, as well as his, he knew she would be a distraction. Rather than argue however, Orion bit his tongue.
As they journeyed on to the furies, Orion discovered that Grid eventually wanted to go to Athens and become a devotee of Athena. Being an exceptionally intelligent girl, as well as ravishingly beautiful, the choice made sense, and with her newfound wealth she would live like a queen. Each night, under a clear and cool Agean sky she would pepper Orion with questions about Athens as well as the Greek Gods before they rolled around like horny eels on the soft leaf strewn ground. Orion smiled as she asked her questions, attracted almost as much to her ravenous mind as he was her ravishing ass. As she ran her fingers through his hair as he softly kissed her left inner thigh, Orion grew sad as he knew this was their last night together. Tomorrow they would be at the base of the dark mountains of the Carpathians and the entrance to the land of the Furies and they would have to part ways. He would have to be devious to prevent her from following him into the mountains, but a plot had been hatched in his mind.
As they flew towards the mountains, the air turned sharply and decidedly chilly. The cold matched the atmosphere, as a more evil looking place did not exist anywhere on earth. The furies were feared by all, even the Gods, and those who came to worship or sacrifice rarely had good intentions. At the base of Mount Erebus, a temple of solid black volcanic rock had been erected and the Priestess to the Furies stood watch as those seeking vengeance came forth with their sacrifice. Blood flowed almost continuously into a great roaring fire with a seemingly unending line of revenge seekers coming forth. The burning sacrifices created a great deal of smoke, which was dark green and black and smelled of sulphur. Evil intentions infused the smoke and added to the considerable gloom of the place. As Grid and Orion saw this scene beneath them, he felt her grip his stomach and scoot closer to his back.
His mission would not involve the temple so he flew on towards the mountain directly. Seeing the mountain now up close, he realized that Pegasus would be useless here as the entire surface was covered in mile upon mile of twisted grey and black branches bristling with thorns. He gulped as he saw the vast thicket before him, wondering how on earth he would ever be able to traverse such an awful terrain. Landing now, Grid clutched him tightly and shivered as she looked at the dreadful forest.
Apart from an endless maze of sharp thorny branches, the entire area appeared to be choked in perpetual sulfur scented fog. Despite being a gloriously clear and crisp Autumn day, here at the foot of Mount Erebus it appeared almost dark as night. Grid, despite being terrified by the sight, was determined to go with Orion. She was a Viking and her nordic blood, although chilled by the sight, was not so afraid as to prevent her from moving forward. She knew Orion was worried about her and did not want her to go with him, but he had seemingly acquiesced and did not argue. Now with both of them standing at the base of the mountain, the entrance to the thicket was clearly visible. Twelve feet high and seven feet wide, a small opening in the tangled branches opened up and peering at the entrance it was pitch black inside. It would take all of her courage to enter with him, but she was determined.
Pegasus was very nervous and anxiously pawed the ground, seemingly begging her master not to enter. Petting her neck, Orion gathered his bag, the hide of Griffon, a full quiver of arrows and bow and began to approach the thicket. Turning to Grid he suddenly stopped and smacked his head with his open palm.
"DAMN IT! I almost forgot my amulet. Could you see if it is still in the saddle?"
Climbing onto Pegasus's back, Grid rustled through the saddle but found nothing. "I don't see it Orion!" she cried back to him as he irritatedly approached. Still sitting on the saddle her mouth flew open in shock when he suddenly pulled her wrists down under Pegasus's neck and quickly tied them together. Cursing him she struggled to get loose as he whispered into the horses ear. Before she could escape, both she and Pegasus had been launched into the air on the way to Athens. She had been tricked, and although she was pissed, she grinned as she realized he only did this because he feared for her safety. Turning back as they flew into the sky, she laughed and continued to curse as Orion winked and waved from the ground.
There was no amulet and Orion had instructed Pegasus to drop Grid off at the temple of Athena and then return to the foot of Mount Erebus a week later. The maze of sharp sinister branches was tight and Pegasus would have been shredded to pieces had she entered. Walking into the gloomy underbrush, Orion's senses were on high alert as he had no idea when or where he would encounter the furies so he had to be ready. Checking his bag for the small puzzle he had received from Hecate, he smiled as he felt it in his hand. Everything was here, so he was as ready as he was ever going to be and carefully crept into the green darkness.
As Pegasus flew, Grid finally was able to untie her hands. Now hundreds of miles away from Mount Erebus, she first gently tried to steer Pegasus back but it was no use. This was no dumb beast but a highly intelligent creature and she had one master and that was Orion. Try as she might, nothing she could do would stop her on the mission to Athens. Giving up trying to force Pegasus she began to whisper into her ear.
"Look Pegasus, I know you want to obey Orion, but we need to go back. I feel that if we do not he will be killed. I just sense it!"
Pegasus continued on, but did listen. She, like Grid, loved Orion and did not want to see anything bad happen to him and the more she talked the more she made sense. This was no weak puny girl but a strong woman and perhaps she was right, perhaps she could help Orion. For hours Grid made her case and even though Athens was now finally coming into sight, the golden rays of the setting sun causing the Parthenon to glow before her eyes, Pegasus suddenly turned. As the horse changed direction in mid-air and headed back towards the North, Grid wept in relief and petted Pegasus's mane.
Now approaching nightfall, the already dark maze Orion was struggling through grew even darker. Beyond the confusing labryinth of twisting thorns, the air itself seemed infused with hatred and he found himself growing weak and delusional the farther up the mountain he climbed. Prayers and offerings to the furies were non-stop over the earth and none were made will good intentions. Revenge, furious hatreds, and blood feuds all inspired individuals to ask for the furies to strike down their enemies and the focus of all of those offerings constantly collected on this mountain turning the very earth itself black and the air thick with rage.
Orion found it hard to concentrate, as his own emotions grew stronger, a stew of blind fear and even blinder rage invading his thoughts. Throughout the whole day his sense of dread grew as he kept seeing movements of something in his peripheral vision. Never lasting long enough to determine what it was, the vision was stark white and very rapid, suddenly darting out of his line of sight when he turned to see it. Not knowing whether this was his mind playing tricks on him, or whether the hunter was now the hunted, he decided that rest was desperately needed and soon he would need to make camp. Hacking through the maze was exhausting but he pressed on while there was still some light shining through the branches, which was quickly fading as the sun began to set.
