Chapter 4: II – TROJAN PRINCES

1

I walked in circles for at least half an hour, and had it not been for a particular looking rock, I would probably still be in that garden.

I remember how I approached the rock on all fours because my feet hurt.

Being barefoot is no good after a certain time.

I kept looking at its strange surface, it was like the shell of a snail. Then, I laughed a little at how silly it was.

I had already seen this stone about five times!

Thank God no one was there to make fun of my lack of orientation.

I left the garden after finding a dirt path into a forest, I didn't have a map so I was just trying to find any trace of civilization.

They must have put a warning on the side of the road before entering the thick wilderness of Pergamon.

I don't know, something like: "Beware of the demonic beast!"

The first time I saw it I wasn't too scared, for it looked like a lion; I had killed one of them before with sheer brute force, but then I saw its bat-like wings and scorpion tail.

I hid behind a bush and thought how cunning it was for thinking it wouldn't find me, of course, until I felt its hot breath right behind my head.

Roar!

—Damn it!

From that moment on I kept hiding, crawling like a snake just to avoid making noise.

However, something unexpected happened.

While I was lying on the ground, camouflaged with various branches and fallen leaves from the trees, I saw a girl running for her life right in front of me. She was being chased by two big guys in armor, who looked like soldiers.

—Please don't hurt me, I'll give myself up voluntarily! —she pleaded in fear, as she failed to escape.

While she was backing away, she tripped over a branch and fell to the ground.

But...how strange...her voice sounded a bit thick for a girl's.

—It's too late for that now! Our boss will give us a nice reward when he sees your head on a silver platter!

Damn it...

—Hey, you! —I stood up and pointed at them with the tip of the sword I was given, then I added—: You'd better leave her alone....

—Who the hell is this vagabond? —asked one of the soldiers, interrupting me—. You'd better stay out of this, so go back to the corral from whence you came.

What did he call me?

—I'm not leaving unless you two come at me and show everything you've got.

I buried the sword in the ground and stood on guard. They immediately began to sneer.

—Well, it was time for some warm-up! —exclaimed the other soldier.

Both came in my direction with their long swords, laughing like maniacs... until the beast reappeared and attacked them.

My eyes went to the terrified girl, not only because of her pursuers, but also because of the monster that was tearing their bodies apart with all ferocity.

—Hey, come here! —I whispered loudly towards the girl after picking up my sword from where it was—. He's busy eating, run to me before it's too late!

She hesitated for a second, which was understandable, no one trusts a stranger that fast. She noticed my weapon and muttered something I didn't quite understand, then to my surprise, she quickly came to my side.

—Follow me, watch my back —she said.

I nodded silently and ran after her looking behind my shoulder every so often to make sure the beast wasn't following us.

The girl found her way out of the forest and soon we were at the edge of a town.

She leaned over and rested her hands on her knees, inhaling and exhaling air like crazy because of the run we had made.

I was very curious, because now, being out of danger, I saw in detail her clothes; they were those of a boy.

—Thank you for helping me... sir...

—Samson! But you don't have to call me sir.

The girl had blonde hair, almost porcelain white skin and... A frontal protuberance on her neck?

I shook my head, I must be imagining things.

—What's your name, girl?

She frowned at me as if I had offended her.

Did I say something wrong?

At that instant, a middle-aged woman approached her from behind her back.

—Prince Troilus! Your brother said not to be separated from me!

Oh, I know what I did wrong.

—I'm sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. —I said uncomfortable with the situation.

The woman raised an eyebrow, having just become aware of my presence, which was odd; I'm almost six feet tall.

—You! If you did something to the prince...!

But the boy; corrected, intervened:

—It's not how you think nana, he helped me escape from two soldiers.

—Two soldiers? What an offense! And to think that we were here to make a treaty with the king of Pergamon!

—Samson...

My sight was lost for a moment, when suddenly, the boy caught my attention again.

—I'm sorry for looking at you wrong, it's just....

—It's okay, it was me who made a mistake.

—Still... Why don't you come with our caravan? I'm sure my big brother will receive you well, Troy is a very nice place.

Troy? I frowned in confusion and then for the first time, I felt someone else looking at me from afar.

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I felt a shiver as I heard a female voice in my mind.

«You know what to do».

I looked at the sword I wielded in my right hand, it had an engraving on the steel blade that I only just noticed. The fake deity was going to recognize me by my weapon.

A moment ago Troilus saw my sword strangely... Could it be that he is...?

—It's an ancient Trojan sword, my dad has one of those in his armory. Your father must have been a great soldier, they only give them to exceptional warriors.

No, he can't be. The archangel said it was a woman, the boy in front of me looks like one, but that's only because he hasn't had a growth spurt.

Maybe it was a mere coincidence.

I sighed heavily and glanced up at the sky; what a fool I am... Coincidence? It all fit together well enough to be a coincidence.

—Yes, he... died in a battle before I was born, he left this sword to my mother. —I lied on the spot, trying to find the right words.

—And how is she? We can help you both.

—She's dead too.

I had to tell a pitiful story.

Not that it's indispensable, but having a backstory would keep me from telling who I really am and thus, any trouble to come.

—She... she just died yesterday. —I put on my most melancholic face—. Actually, Prince Troilus, it was you who saved me. I was about to take my own life, since I have no one else.

Whining in front of a child, well done Samson.

—I'm so sorry, I didn't imagine your situation was so bad —said the woman accompanying the young prince.

—It's alright, I...

—I know! I'll tell my brother to get you a job as a guard! —said the boy.

It worked too well to be true!

Troilus' nanny nodded her head in approval and said:

—Whoever saves the little prince will be rewarded.

—Nana, I'm not so little! —He pouted, then turned his attention to me—. It's decided! Welcome to the caravan!

2

—No.

From a distance I listened to the conversation Troilo was having with his older brother, Hector; a stocky man with a trimmed beard and black hair pulled back in a ponytail.

He wore a different armor than the soldiers guarding the caravan, with more details and a perfect finish that made him look glorious.

—But he saved me!

—Troilo, it's out of the question! The insolent king of this filthy nation just spit in my face! I'm in no mood for your games!

—It's not a game, Hector... he was going to kill himself. He said he had nothing left and that his father was an ancient Trojan soldier, he must be repaid.

The older prince laughed.

—We don't need a suicide.

Troilus followed his brother back and forth as he loaded heavy bags of wheat into the carriages. I don't know what happened inside the royal palace, though it sure wasn't good.

—At least give him a chance, face him and see what he's capable of... Or are you afraid?

Hector threw the last bag of wheat into the carriage.

—If I do that, will you stop bothering me?

—I promise nothing. —Smiled the young prince.

Hector rolled his eyes and when I least expected it, he turned to look at me; I thought he was well hidden behind some soldiers next to Troilo's nanny, but it was not so.

I took a step forward because I knew what was going to happen.

—The Trojan people are not in the habit of taking military personnel from nowhere. To become a soldier it is indispensable to pass a series of physical examinations. —Hector approached me, feeling the hilt of his sword hanging from his waist—. However, since you saved my brother's skin, I'll be a little considerate.

Now, it's not like I wasn't nervous, I don't know how to control a sword and deep down I wanted to say: "No need, I was just leaving anyway." But the voice that spoke inside my head earlier, hinted at what I should do.

I didn't have the luxury of being able to back out; this is just beginning.

—Let's see if I can at least get one good warrior out of this city.

The older prince drew his sword, all the soldiers around us backed off when they saw that I stood on guard. Some citizens likewise took their distance, however, that didn't take away their curiosity.

Fighting with a sword can't be that difficult. I defeated a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jaw, now that was a challenge.

—Gah!

No way! I barely got close and he threw my sword to the ground!

If I don't make a decision as soon as possible....

—I'll fight with my arms! —I exclaimed.

The older prince removed his astonished expression and guffawed.

—Well, no problem!

He dropped the sword and raised his fists, then said haughtily:

—If you give me just one punch in the face, I'll assign you as Troilus' personal bodyguard.

The boy looked at me and raised his thumbs in encouragement.

—Perfect —I said as I stood at attention.

However, one thought dominated my mind.

My strength... Will I still have it? My faith is stronger now than when I was taken as a slave, plus my hair is the length it used to be when I became a judge.

Whatever, if I've come this far, it's for a reason.

It's time to fight.

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