The crispy and salty sea air caresses the face of Kassandra the Eagle Bearer. The Adrestia goes to the port of Chalkis on Euboea.
"Bring us to port Barnabas." Kassandra orders.
"Aye commander. Crew take us to port." The crew scrabbles across the deck and slowly bring the Adrestia to dock.
"Time to collect my reward Barnabas." Kassandra goes to a chest behind her and takes the following items. A statue of Aphrodite and the blood-stained tunic and helmet of the bandit captain who stole it.
"Let me help you deliver it to the Magistrate Kassandra."
"Thank you, Barnabas." Kassandra hands off the statue, tunic and helmet to Barnabas. They disembark from the ship onto the wooden pier. The wood creaks underneath all the crowds on the pier. Fishing and unloading supplies from smaller boats. To their left is a warehouse. Kassandra looks at the warehouse and reminisces.
"Hey Kassandra remember that time you stormed that warehouse to when you first arrived here?"
Kassandra laughs. "Stormed is a strong word. You know how cautious I am Barnabas."
Kassandra and Barnabas journey to the market. The market is bustling with activity as merchants hawk their wares. The wares on display include olive oil, wine, fish and slaves. Chalkis had one of the largest slave markets Kassandra had seen. She grimaces and looks away from the slaves and the merchants selling them.
She eventually reaches the Magistrate who stands underneath a colonnade. He is wearing his laurel crown of office and a blue tunic. He is face is old and wrinkly. He has a gray beard. Next to him stands a skinny young man. He has messy hair black as night. His skin is lightly tan. The only thing he wears is a loincloth.
The Magistrate smiles and waves.
"Ah hello Kassandra did you kill them?"
Kassandra shows the Magistrate the blood-stained tunic and helmet.
"I took care of them every last one."
"Excellent. You have done me a great service. Now for your reward." He points to the young man standing next to him. The young man steps forward and kneels before Kassandra. He is gives Kassandra a pouch of gold. Kassandra takes the light pouch and stares at the boy.
"Um. Okay. You are a little light on drachma." Kassandra grimaces. The young man still kneels before her.
"Um why are you still kneeling here?" Kassandra inquires and the Magistrate chuckles.
"He is for you. His name is Nicias. He will be your slave boy." Kassandra is aghast by the offer.
"Oh ahhh.. I never had a slave before."
"Yes, I know that. You really do need a good slave. If the great Achilles had his Briseis. Why can't Kassandra have her Nicias to tend to her needs?" Kassandra blushes see looks down at Nicias who smiles meekly and blushes.
"Please accept him, Kassandra. He will have to go back to the market." Kassandra reluctantly accepts. She snaps her figures to signal her slave.
"Ahh. Nicias follow me." The young man follows his mistress.
Barnabas looks at Kassandra biting his lip.
"So Kassandra what do you.. think about.. him?" Kassandra glares at Barnabas irritated by him bringing up the issues so soon and with the Magistrate in ear shot.
"We will discuss this later."
They lead Nicias to the ship and leave him there before they go off to a private location to discuss the situation.
"Well Kassandra. What do you plan on doing?" Barnabas inquires.
"Malkas Barnabas this is uncomfortable."
"Me asking or you getting a slave boy as payment?"
"What do you think genius?" Kassandra replies sternly.
"I'd say both." He grins sheepishly.
Kassandra hangs her head. "Ugh. I don't like having a slave Barnabas."
"So why not just let him go?"
"Because if I do it right here. The Magistrate will try to return him to me. He would also be terribly offended if I rejected his gift. I don't want to burn any bridges for future employment."
"Fair point. Also, if you try to free him here. He could get returned to slavery." Barnaba's face gets deathly serious. "His new master may not be as good as you Kassandra. If anyone would be a benevolent mistress it would be you, Kassandra."
Kassandra cracks a smile. "Thanks Barnabas." There is a pause as Kassandra ponders what is the right thing to do.
"I'll hold on to him for now Barnabas. We will sail for Athens. Drop him off on the docks."
"Alright Kassandra." Barnabas and Kassandra leave their private location and join the crew on the ship.
"Men set sail! We sail for Athens!" The crew of the Adrestia scrambles across the deck and sets the sails. The cool salt breeze of the Aegean is welcome as the hot rays of Apollo beat down on Kassandra and the crew.
Kassandra stands at the helm and watches over her crew as the work. Tying the ropes, keeping watch and rowing. From the helm Kassandra gazes upon the scars on the backs of some of the men who serve her. Scars from battles and struggles during and before their service with Kassandra. The most unpleasant of the scars are the old branding scars.
Former slaves have rallied to the Adrestia to find freedom. It would be hypocritical and insulting for the captain of these freedmen to own a slave.
Kassandra looks away from the men and takes in the beauty of the nature surrounding her. The sea is bright blue. The mountains tower over her.
Beside her on the right stands Barnabas. He comments on everything they pass and tells stories about the gods. He is eager to tell stories to Nicias filling his head with absurd superstitions about Cyclops, sea monsters and angry gods.
"You see boy that is why you must beware those straits. I lost many good crewmen there before I met Kassandra."
"Barnabas don't make the boy superstitious."
"I'm telling you Kassandra they are real!" Barnabas says sincerely.
"Don't let him scare you Nicias."
At least they arrive at the Port of Piraeus. They reach the dock. Kassandra, Barnabas and Nicias exit the ship. Kassandra turns to face Nicias.
"Nicias." She says holding the pouch of Drachma given to her by the Magistrate.
"Yes Mistress. What is it?"
"You will not call me mistress. No one has the right to own you." She puts the pouch in his hands.
"You are free Nicias."
"But... Mistress." Nicias looks are her like a puppy being abandoned by his owner.
"Do not follow me. You must forge your own path." Nicias hangs his head and turns around. He slowly walks away cradling the pouch in his hands. Kassandra heart sinks. The boy looks so alone and sad.
Kassandra returns to her ship where her crew is busy purchasing and loading up supplies. While they work Kassandra checks out a statue of Hermes nearby. People tend to post contracts for mercenaries. Kassandra reads through the postings. All of them are low pay and boring mission. Except for one. There appears to be something mysterious on the Island of Andros that is killing travelers passing by. The reward is high and should make up for the last mission.
Kassandra returns to the helm of her ship.
"Where to commander?" Barnabas asks.
"To Andros there appears to be something killing merchants and sailors."
Barnabas goes dark and dead silent.
"Captain...." He pauses. "I heard stories that there is a great monster on the other side of that island."
Barnabas shivers. "A one eyed giant."
Kassandra slaps him on the back and laughs. "Hahaha. Barnabas how many times do I have to tell you there are no such thing as monsters. It is probably just pirates."
He nods and orders the crew to set sail. As the ship leaves port. Barnabas quietly prays to Poseidon. They sail past the Cape of Sounion and the pirate invested seas around Kea.
They begin to approach the island of Andros. The island where Kassandra had her spear upgraded. Kassandra takes out her spear. The spear head is more like a dagger than a traditional spear. Ever sense it was broken at the battle of Thermopylae. It hums in her hand as she gets closer to the island. The Adrestia is parked on the west side of the island.
"Alright Barnabas. I'll go keep the ship safe." Kassandra pats him on the shoulder. Barnabas smiles and pats her on the back.
"Good luck commander. You got this."
Kassandra leaps on the large rocks near the shore and makes it to the beach. The island is full of wild pigs. Kassandra stealthy makes her way past them. She really doesn't want to destroy the ecosystems of any more islands.
She searches the island and looks around for signs of violence. There appears to be nothing by the Ancient Forge where she first upgraded her spear. The Spear of Leonidas hums on her back as she gets closer to the door. The sensation massages Kassandra's back.
Kassandra turns around and circles the island north around the Abandoned Forest. She strolls the beach surrounding the island. The soft warm sand flows through Kassandra's sandals. Kassandra enjoys the sun, sand and the sound of the waves as she walks.
After walking halfway around the small island Kassandra notices a grave scene. Around six wrecked ships around a tiny bay. Kassandra draws her sword and the Spear of Leonidas. She hurries over towards the closest ship. She sees rotting corpses that appear to be chewed up. Alongside the skeletons of older victims.
The misthios Kassandra crouches down and whistles. From the sky descends her loyal eagle Ikaros.
"Ikaros did you see anything?" Ikaros shakes his head yes. He points his beak towards the cave in the bay.
"Ikaros stay close while I go towards the cave." Kassandra puts away her sword and spear. She switches over to her bow and draws in arrow.
Slowly and quietly, she sneaks over to the cave. She stays out of the water by walking upon the rocks.
Eventually she runs out of rock to walk on and slowly steps into the water. Kassandra wades into the cave and takes a peek inside.
Inside the cave she sees a golden light inside. Kassandra draws her bow and pulls back her arrow. She aims at the golden light.
STOMP! STOMP! The ground shakes and Kassandra fires her arrow towards the golden light.
"ROAARAARR!" A loud noise bellows from the cave. Kassandra backs away and sees the golden light coming closer. It exits the cave and revels its self.
The light was the golden eye of a massive cyclops. The beast was over three times taller than an man. It had a dark beard and long ratty hair. It a underbite with large sharp teeth sticking out. Its snot looked like that of a monkey and pig.
In its left hand it had a giant club made of stone, wood and bones. Tied together with what appears to be ship sails. Kassandra's arrow sticks out of its right arm. However, the beast appears to be treating it like a mere splitter.
"MALAKAS! Barnabas why did you have to be right!" Kassandra yells and draws another arrow and takes aim at the creature's golden eye. She fires but the blocks her arrow with his right forearm. He charges towards her swing his club. The ground shakes as if there is an earthquake.
Kassandra acts fast and dives out of the way. She fires another arrow at the cyclops's back. The arrow hits the beast and he growls.
He turns towards her gritting his teeth and staring at her with his shiny golden eye.
Kassandra sheathes her bow and draws her spear and sword.
