24 AD

"What an interesting trio we make." Cinix snickered.

Helix, Eslein, and Cinix stood on the deck of a ship bound for Aquileia by way of the Montaron port. It had been an argument, but at last Cinix convinced Helix that he could find five hundred people just about anywhere and that if they stuck together it would cut down on a good deal of traveling. So here they were. A witch, a wolf, and an otherworldly aos si.

Eslein rolled her eyes stepping closer to Helix. Although barely noticeable, she seemed uneasy with the ships sway. Her eyes darted and though she looked relaxed, a muscle in her cheek twitched every now and then.

"You alright?" Helix asked her, low enough where only the three of them could hear.

She nodded stiffly saying nothing until Cinix snorted.

"Don't worry sweet, if you fall in I'll save you. Just like last time."

"Shut it ass." She left the males staring after her as crossed the deck and vanished below.

"What was that about?"

Cinix shrugged, "Ask her how we met sometime." Leaning against the ship's rail he ran a hand through his hair. "I would still love to know how you think an army of just five hundred will be enough?"

He had asked Helix the same question more times than the other male cared to count over the past week. Helix wasn't ready to share his plan with anyone. It still reeked of improbability. For now, he needed to grow his circle of trusted allies and gather more information about Zeus and Decuma.

"You will see."

In the distance, a disturbance in the water caught Helix's eye. With it, he felt the prickling sensation of being watched. Narrowing his eyes, Helix studied the spot where the water moved unnaturally against the waves. His eyes responded to his curiosity. The image became clearer, enhancing to the point of seeming like he was looking at something much closer to the ship. Realizing what, or rather who he was seeing made Helix swear softly under his breath. A few hundred yards away, Poseidon was watching him.

Cinix flicked his gaze to Helix's face. Instantly noticing his hooked attention the aos si followed his stare but saw nothing. "What do you see?"

"How is the god of the sea for company?"

"Eh. Depends on his very fickle mood. He and I do not often cross paths." Cinix shrugged then sobered, "Why do you think he is out there?"

"I do not think. I know. Guess my eyes are better than yours." Poseidon met his gaze a few moments longer before vanishing into the swells. Helix half expected the broad-chested mountain of a male to appear on the ship deck as he'd once seen happen in his youth. Yet, time flowed by without any further preternatural occurrence save the steady feeling of being watched.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Five years and not much had changed in Aquileia. The marble buildings gleamed a brilliant white, accented by the graceful green and vibrant flowers of the cultivated plants. Elegantly carved, but woefully incorrect, statues meant to depict the gods in all their glory stood resolute before the many temples. It was late afternoon as the trio made their way through the bustling streets. The strong scents of food washed and unwashed bodies, refuse, flowering plants and animals would have been a pleasant change from the constant salty fish smells that permeated shipboard life, save for Helix's over the sensitive sense of smell. He winced as a particularly disgusting man brushed past them. Focusing, he forced his acute senses as far down inside himself as he could manage. It helped. But only a small bit.

Eslein looked just as bothered by their surroundings as Helix was. Cinix, on the other hand, had the same easy manner he maintained seemingly everywhere. A fact that annoyed Helix. Glowering slightly at his own thoughts, he almost missed the sound of his name being called.

"Helix Lycon, is that you child?"

A wide grin split Helix's face as he rushed toward the older dark-skinned woman. "Marjani!" In one swift motion, he had lifted her, white robes and all into a spinning joyous embrace.

"Oof! Ya going to squash the life right outta me!" She scolded through her wide, white-toothed smile.

Gently he placed the old woman back to her feet, an impish smile turning up the corners of his mouth. "Sorry."

Once on her feet again, Marjani tilted her head, liquid brown eyes boring into him. She looked him up and down, then settled a far too observant look into his eyes. "Ya have changed abroad."

Her words, spoken low so only he could hear should have unsettled him. Instead, he felt all the tension drain from his muscles. The familiar urge to tell her everything rushed through him stronger than ever. If not for her attention shifting past him, he would probably have started his tale right then.

"Don't tell me ya forgot my manners lessons? Introduce me to your woman."

"Oh she's not..." but then Helix realized that Eslien kind of was his woman. Then that Marjani had stepped past him and was taking Cinix's hand, to pull him into an embrace a sly look on her face.

Switching into what had to be her native tongue, she spoke, "As I live, I never thought I'd see your rascally self again."

"Marj, you look as lovely as the first day I laid my eyes upon you." Cinix returned the healers embrace then kissed both her cheeks, speaking in the same tongue as her.

She slapped the blond male's chest with a firm, thump. "Ya wily bastard." Then of all the bizarre things, Marjani giggled.

Helix raised an eyebrow, "I see you know each other?"

Of course, he'd understood them. His strange new senses apparently including a complete understanding of all spoken languages. One of the more handy additions to his person, Helix decided. Eslein stood staring like she could not comprehend what she was looking at.

Marjani switched back to greek, "We were lovers once." She smiled at Eslein then, "Is this the feisty hellcat that made such a mess of her guards in my halls?"

His eyes flickered with surprise. The world seemed both bigger and smaller in equal parts. Before he could regain his voice, Eslein stepped cautiously forward speaking in thickly accented Greek, "I am Eslein. Good to meet you."

Helix stepped to the witches side, sliding a reassuring arm around her shoulders. "We need a place away from the Roman guard's eyes to stay for a few days. Have anywhere that might work?"

Marjani's sharp stare pierced into him, "Ya haven't gone deserter, have you? Word was sent that you'd died in the wilds. Yet there ya stand."

"It is a long story." In spite of her scolding, Helix felt no fear of what Marjani might do. She may not approve of his choices but she would not betray them.

Sighing the old healer nodded, "Come along. I have a rich patient with a big house that has been in a sleeping sickness for many a day." Her eyes narrowed at each of them, "Break nothing or I will get retribution on my charges behalf. Understood?"

Cinix laughed low in his throat but nodded. The other two quickly added their acquiescence as well.

The house was large but simple in design. Carved from the same white marble as many of the other buildings. A slightly overgrown garden extended a couple yards from the houses pillared veranda and main door. Marjani led them to a side entrance. After she knocked twice the door was opened by a young boy, maybe twelve or thirteen clearly a slave.

"Hello, child. How is your master today?" Marjani asked gently.

"G-good mi-lady. No c-change."

The healer nodded giving the boy a smile, "Well, my friends here are going to stay a couple days to see if they may help him. While they are her ya can go stay with your mother."

The child's eyes lit up, a big smile breaking his somber expression. "Thank you mi-lady!"

Marjani led them in, giving a tour of the house and showing them the owner. "Just glance in at him every few hours. I drop by four or more times a day to keep him alive. The families wishes, though I doubt he's much of a chance."

Once the sleeping arrangements were made they gathered in the kitchen. Marjani had cooked up a simple meal of bread and porridge. Over dinner, Helix hit the highlights of his adventures. Explaining his transformation by Ares and Ynyr's disappearance as best as he could. Marjani listened quietly. Not asking any questions or revealing anything about what she was thinking. As dinner wrapped up, Cinix excused himself saying that he needed some air. When Helix glanced her with a silent plea, Elsein also excused herself, stating that she needed a bath and a good nights rest.

Alone with Marjani Helix took a deep breath, preparing to make his request. For she was one of the people he had come back to Aquileia for. Before he spoke the healer's soft voice floated between them with the most unexpected announcement.

"Ynyr is back at his command. It was he who brought news of your death."

"What?" Helix could only blink in surprise. Ynyr was here? In Aquileia? Of course, it was more than possible. For some reason, he had not thought that the commander would return to the legion's service once free of Sal. But was he free of her? There was the possibility that when she'd fled the Fate that she had come back to bend Ynyr to her will. Ynyr's expression the last time Helix had seen him was still clear in his mind. The fear on his commanders face had been a sight he might never forget. "I have to speak to him."

Marjani studied her cup.

When she said nothing more Helix's suspicion rose, "What is it?"

"It is just that the commander is different since his return. He has become sharper, angry even, and far more exacting of his men. A rare day it is when I do not have one of his recruits to patch up."

Helix pondered her words. Ynyr Kornel was always hard on his men, but angry? He certainly would not want to see the commander angry. That would be something from a nightmare. "I will speak to him."

"Are ya not listening child? I am saying I'm not sure ya should speak with him. If you deserted he could strike first and ask questions later."

A soft smile crept onto Helix's face at her words, "He may find me a bit harder to strike than before."

"Don't ya go underestimating folk just cause ya have some new tricks. That witch be older and smarter than you even know."

"I won't, I won't." Changing the subject Helix finally asked her for the favor he needed, "Speaking of new tricks, I have a request. I am..." He paused searching for words, "I need a healer to help me in a dangerous endeavor."

Her eyes narrowed, "Oh?"

Deciding bluntness was his best course of action, he charged on, "I am going to kill Zeus and Decuma Salvius. I need a team to help me and I want you to be a part of it."

Helix decided that she probably would not have looked at him more aghast if he'd claimed to be the next emperor of Rome. Her jaw was open, eyes wide and her beautiful black skin took on a slightly lighter, greyish hue. Maybe he shouldn't have been so straight forward.

"Boy, you done lost your mind. Ya think you are going to kill a god?"

"I know it seems-"

She stood, her chair falling away behind her as she interrupted, "It doesn't seem no how!" She started rattling away in Ethiopian as she paced the kitchen.

"Marjani, please let me explain?" When she didn't stop pacing or muttering Helix stood gently, but firmly holding her hand so she could not pull away. Finally getting her to quiet for a moment he explained, "I know I sound crazy. I know. But there are things about the world I did not think were real and are. I am one of those things now. While I was away I also went to a place called the Specter. There I learned things about myself, about the gods, about the whole world really."

The healer stared at him listening intently, her whole body tense. Taking a deep breath Helix continued forward, "When Ares changed me he made a mistake Marjani. Instead of just being able to fight a god and standing a chance of walking away, I can actually kill them. I can finally get vengeance for my family.

"Perhaps that isn't the noblest cause, but it's the only thing left I can give my family. To succeed I will need help. I'll need you. At least consider it?"

Marjani swallowed, "I love ya Helix. Love you like my own child. But what you're asking for it's stupid."

"I know."

"What exactly would you need from an old healer like me?"

Helix smiled slightly, "Just your healing abilities when I get my stupid self injured."

After a long moment, she nodded, "Only healing. I ain't a fighter, and you won't make me one."

"Only healing, I give you my word." Helix grinned excitedly.

*~*~*~*~*~*

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