‘ They took Cassandra’, Argus repeated. He gritted his teeth and punched on the wall in anger. The hall shook. There was a pin drop-dead silence everywhere. Fabian was taken back to his chambers for immediate treatment of his injuries. His sister has always been his weakness. He loved her more than anything else in the whole world. It was not just the duty of a brother, but it was also a promise. A promise made to his mother. When his mother was dying, he swore to her that he would always be with his sister, protect her, guard her, and never lose her from his sight".
‘Friends! Listen to me’, cried the young man in white blood-stained chiton, whose sister has been forcibly abducted by the prince of this tribe. Everyone had gathered there to listen to what Argus had to say.Argus, along with Selene and a few others stood on a high platform in front of the fort, made especially for announcements and delivering speeches. Fabian has been carried to his chambers for rest and treatment. The corpse of Karm
When Cassandra opened her eyes, she felt a sharp pain on the back of her head. It felt as if someone was hitting her head with a hammer. Her hands were tied and full of red welts. Her legs were bound too. She looked around. It was a dungeon. A smelly dark place with a small flame burning on one end near the door. There was a small skylight above. The early morning light was streaking inside from it.
The dungeon was underground. They passed a network of the labyrinth of alleys, lanes, and broken chambers. Cassandra has already lost count of the number of turns they took and the cells they passed. Each cell had a number of prisoners gaping and gawking at her.’‘ Come on sweety! Come here!’, they hooted at her in obscene languages and signs.She had heard about Corinth. One of the wealthiest polis of Greece, a major exporter of black pottery. Although Corinth had an oligarchy, everything came under the rule of the king. The League of Corinth was formed when former king Phillip ruled. But when Alexander came to the throne, their powers lessened. Corinth had seen many battles between Athens and Sparta. The city had been ravaged and rebuilt several times each adding a layer of the prison of its own. The underground seemed endless, spira
“ He was a good man. A good father to all of us”, said Clytus, the most trusted man of Karmen. The good leader’s body was being washed and decorated with jewels and perfumed clothes to travel to Afterlife. His funeral rites were to be held in the Athenian way.
“What did you say? I would die after 15 days”, Karseus broke into a laugh. He laughed hysterically and so did his friends. All tumbling and clutching their tummies in laughter.“Friends, did you hear that? I would die after 15 days”, he mocked at her.“ No, Karseus you would be beheaded”, Morpheus rectified him.They were all jeering and catcalling at her. Cassandra simply smiled. She knew whatever visions Apollo showed her would happen in real too.“ Fine”, she snapped.“Fine, if you still don’t trust me, it's fine. You can have me, my body, and my soul after 15 days.”“ Really?” karseus was amazed at whatever Cassandra said.” Are you sure of this?”“Yes, I am sure. After 15 days from today, I am all yours if you stay alive.”“ Princess Cassandra, you better get ready then”, mocked Morpheus. “A hundred soldiers
“ He is keeping her as a prisoner”, cried, Argus. “ How dare he? How dare he does that? Doesn’t he fear death?”, he clenched his fist and unsheathed his sword.“ Argus! Argus”, Selene came up to him and tried to calm him down. “ Do not let your anger take control over you. Calm down. We have to think about it. You can't decide with blood boiling in your sinews”.He was breathing deeply. He closed his eyes and tried to subside his anger. After a few seconds, Argus looked a bit normal and his breathing became more relaxed.“ You are right. Anger won't help me to rescue her. We have to think of a plan. A strategy”.Selene nodded. She looked at Theseus and asked,” what do you know about the place ?”-“ There is a very big fort near the sea with an underground prison. It was built by King Phillip. Hundreds of guards are guarding the area. Karseus has started amassi
“ May I come in?”, asked a young girl standing on the threshold of Cassandra’s room.“ Yes please”, Cassandra replied. She was combing her long hair, standing before a large human-sized gilded mirror. The hot water bath has soothed her senses and cleared her mind. Father always used to say “ proper bath and food could solve any problem”. He was right. A few hours before, Cassandra was panicking. Now she was relaxed and calmed. She trusted her visions. She had faith in her lord and her brother. No matter what happened, he would surely come to save her.The girl came in. she was wearing a full-length white fustanella, her hair was neatly tied into a bun on top of her head. She had a pair of beautiful eyes and a pointed nose.“ My name is Myra. I stay and work here”. Saying this she placed a tray on the table. There were some herbs, bandages, and a bowl of clean water.“ What are these for”, C
The journey to Corinth began at the first light of dawn. Fabian was equipped with all the necessary paraphernalia. He was still limping a bit. Maybe a day or two and his leg would be fine as before. He has chosen Theseus and two other best Kraken spies: Olus and Hermes, twin brothers. According to the plan, they would reach Corinth and try to know the political situations out there. They would disguise themselves as fishermen and traders and would blend among the Corinthians.Corinth was also known as Ephyra, after the daughter of titan Oceanus, lord of the ocean who was later overthrown by Poseidon. The biggest port of Corinth Magna Graecia was known for having the largest docks in the country. People from Athens, Cyprus, and the Levant arrived in Corinth through that port and set up business and trades. Fabian and his group too would join these bunch of traders and step foot into the city. Then they would manipulate and bribe the sentries and guards of the castle and