Book 1: Episode 2 – The False King
Zeus sent down a mighty strike from the heavens, seeing the state of Kal. The blast forced Charybdis to shoot Kal back out into the sea. Kal lay adrift for a week, the seas calm and unaware of his survival. Athena was restless, unable to focus on other wars because of the man she spared as a child. Athena wondered where he was after Zeus saved him from the Sea beast Charybdis. Athena spoke to Helios about the whereabouts of Kal. “Noble Helios, Titan of the Sun, have you seen a man called Kal? The Wooden Shield Bearer?” Athena asked as Helios sat in his palace. “Indeed I have Athena, Goddess of War and daughter of Zeus. He should be on the island of Naxos by the time I ride to start the day.” Helios spoke with a calm demeanor, stoic and was sympathetic towards her cause. “Should you require an eye from above you need not but find me here.” “Is there anyone on Naxos who could help?” Athena asked, Helios obliged. “Why the eccentric as ever Wine God, also a son of Zeus, Dionysos. He took up residence there with a mortal.” Athena rubbed her temples, vaguely annoyed just recalling memories of her distant brother. Athena thanked the Titan and made her way to Naxos to speak with Dionysos. The marble peaks of Naxos rise in the background, upon the lush hills of the Island; An estate fit for a God, it sprawls on the bright green pastures of Naxos, spanning the hills near the coast for a couple miles. A beautiful woman, draped in a purple gown, tends to clean clothes, hanging them to dry. Walking up to her from the vines, a tall, lean figure with a faint glow to him; the in exile God of Wine. He takes a long drink from his golden chalice. “The drink of the Gods is certainly the only drink one could ever need,” Dionysos says with a smile, his wife however glances past him, down the hill towards the sandy shore. “I fear he may need some.” She points downhill at Kal, who washed ashore after his week adrift at sea. Before Dionysos could react, Athena appears before the two of them. “Brother, hear me now!” Athena declares, shining bright with her spear and sword in hand. “Ah! Perhaps you should hear me! We can enjoy the little time we have together since I am not welcome on Olympos.” Dionysos scoffs. “That is for another time, the man washed ashore is in dire need and is under my guidance!” “Oh! Are you certain he is not from Colchis? Or maybe he hails from Macedonia? I don’t have to welcome those into my domain!” Dionysos wants no part in this. Athena remainds determined, a growing frustration boils behind her eyes. “You care for the worship of mortals, yet you won’t interfere when a mortal may need your help?” Athena asks. “I haven’t the time with you! He is Achean and thus is granted, Xenia!” Athena leaves in a flash, and a frustrated Dionysos heads towards the shore to find Kal. Kal opens his eyes, seeing the light of Helios and seagulls overhead, the sound of the sea, and then the image of Dionysos appears before him. “I don’t recall drinking at all,” Kal remarks. Trying to get up from the sand. “No, but I can offer you some that will heal those wounds.” Dionysos helps Kal up and leads him to his home. The main house on Dionysos' estate is a rather small complex compared to the size of his land. A modest palace with only a handful of rooms and a single courtyard; only a couple of servants populate the palace grounds. The group eats in the grand hall, the largest room made for extravagant parties; for now only a small table resides here. Kal drinks some of the healing drinks and eats at their table. “Well, you know who I am, now I desire to hear your end of the story!” Dionysos remarks. “I am Kal, adopted son of Marcus, an Argonaut who ventured to find the Golden Fleece, however, I do not know of my real parentage, unfortunately, but I am on a quest to find them!" Dionysos scoffs, unable to hide his bordom. "I suppose I could use my godly wisdom to find your parents. I get around, where are you from, Kal son of....someone?" Kal finishes a sip from a cup. "Naxos" “Never seen you before and I’ve been here a while!” Dionysos says, to confusion from Kal. “Never seen you here either, God of Wine. I didn't realize this was Naxos.” “A lot of you mortals are unaware that I am a God, a son of Zeus! You will participate in my festival if you know what's good for you!” Dionysos said. Kal takes a moment before answering “That may be, but I don’t care for such things, I must get to Argos! My wife granted to me by Fate awaits me!” Dionysos makes a concerned look. He then looks to his wife, sharing the same. "You should tell him" She says. “Argos isn’t the best place to be, Boy, not for a couple of years.” “You know this?” asked Kal “Yeah, I was told by your father, or adoptive father anyway.” Four Months ago.... The palace was stormed by soldiers, sending smoke and desolation into the skies above Argos, the King was deposed by his brother, King Ornalisos, but the former king had escaped. He made his way to the port, with some loyalists. They set sail from the burning city, and the former king made his way towards a new goal: Syracuse. The king had visited the Oracle in Delphi, personally, who told of another prophecy. That he would one day be killed by the man behind the wooden shield, satisfied that he escaped his first prophecy, one concerning his firstborn son, he went home unsure of who this man behind the wooden shield is. Upon his return, his brother staged an uprising against him. “No longer will you plague the people of this city with your wretched hand!” Ornalisos proclaimed, facing down his brother. “Maybe so, brother, but I am not ready to die yet! The king was able to dash through a column of soldiers at the palace gates, and he and his followers fled the city. The former king faces his remaining subjects, aboard his ship “Fear not, loyal servants, for I am destined for kingship! I was shone in a dream, leading the distant city of Syracuse. We shall make our way there!” “But my lord, what of the royal family there? How can you marry into the family so quickly?” one man asked. “They are but an obstacle in the way of my prowess!” Him and the crew sailed away, out of view of the city. A day later, during a sudden storm, they ran into a fisherman’s ship, near the coast of Naxos. The ship was commanded by Marcus, father to Kal, while Kal was away with Jason he continued fishing without him. The former king boards his ship, and demands supplies. “I beg your pardon?” Marcus asked, setting down an empty net. “I am the king of Argos! I demand you give me and my men food and shelter for the night!” “I am no citizen of your kingdom sir! However I do recall a trader had told me of how you lost your first son, and I found a child in Argos! Surely it was your son?” Marcus says, excited. “You speak true, where is this boy now?” Marcus went from excited to sad. “He went off to Argos, and I was told he joined a hero named Jason on his ship I think.” The former king grows increasingly more worried, could the prophecy about his son killing him be true? He thought for sure he had taken care of that problem years ago. “Your first mistake was not adhering to my demands.” He puts a sword to Marcus’ throat. “Your second, was caring for that boy.” Marcus pleads with him “Please, take all you need, but spare my life!” The former king would not comply. “At least spare the boy, he won’t harm you!” The former king, for a moment considers walking away, but by then, was too far gone. “The Gods won’t protect me from him, nor protect you from me.” the former king says, as he pulls the sword back and sends it through Marcus’ lower body, making him drop to his knees and leaving a bloody mess on the oak of the ship. The guilt of killing in cold blood, begins setting in his mind, but he refuses to yield. The men part from the ship, which collides with the shore on Naxos, and the former king and his men disappear into the night.
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