Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Megara by the Sea

After a brief window of sleeping, Praxis arose just before noon that day to set out in pursuit of Telestes alongside Agemon. That meant a journey over to the city of Megara. The city of Megara was the same distance from Corinth as Argos was but it was in the opposite direction. Whereas Argos could be reached by traveling southwest, the road to Megara headed east.

“If we hurry, we can get there before nightfall,” said Praxis, setting a quick pace once they were outside of the city. “I’d rather not have to sleep under the stars if that means giving him another day to get away from us.”

“How are you so sure that he’s going to Megara?” asked Agemon. “He could be going anywhere really. Especially if he knows that we’re out there trying to kill him.”

“Megara is his base of operations,” replied Praxis. “We know he has a house there, and it’s the first place he’s likely to go. I agree with you that he might run from there but I think in the short term, he’ll stop at that house first. And that’s why it’s crucial for us to get there as soon as possible. We need to gain some ground on him.”

Agemon gave him a big grin. “I’m good to run some of the way to Megara. That is, as long as you think you can keep up?”

Praxis returned the grin and started to run. “I was hoping you’d ask that!”

The two men began to run along the coastal road that ran alongside the Saronic Gulf. This body of water was separated from the Gulf of Corinth by the city of Corinth, and its majestic blue waters were truly a sight to behold.

The two men continued on at a steady pace for the next hour before stopping for a breather. Along the way, they saw various merchants and families making their way in each direction, and none of them paid much attention to the two warriors as they ran by.

It was nearly dark by the time they reached Megara but their brisk pace had chopped off nearly an hour of time. Megara the city was small even by ancient standards. Barely four thousand people called the city home, all of them packed together on the coastal plain near the Saronic Gulf. The city was close to the water but it was so flat that the waterline couldn’t be seen from her streets, obstructed by the natural flora that grew along the coast.

In earlier times, Megara had close ties to Corinth but those links had largely disintegrated by Praxis’ lifetime. Now, only an uneasy truce existed between the two states, and they usually kept a wide berth between them to keep that peace.

The Megarans were not a naturally cosmopolitan people. They were very suspicious of outsiders due to their small size, and that couldn’t have been more obvious when they were questioned by a guard upon entering the city.

“Stop right there,” said the guard, holding up his hand to both Praxis and Agemon. “What business do a Corinthian and a Messenian have in Megara?”

Praxis scowled at him. “I’m an Argive, not a Messenian. And our business is our own. Are you going to let us through?”

The guard looked Praxis up and down as if to determine how big of a threat he was. Not liking what he saw, the guard gave way.

“Could have fooled me,” he grumbled. “I can let you in as long as you’re not here to start trouble.”

“Not at all,” lied Agemon. “We’re just here for business and then we’ll be on our way.”

The guard didn’t challenge that verbally but his eyes did. He studied them for another moment before he reluctantly moved to the side, permitting entry into the city.

“Just here for business?” asked Praxis with a side grin as he looked at Agemon.

Agemon shrugged. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? He just didn’t need to know what kind of business. Besides, he wasn’t going to fight us anyway. He took one look at us and I already knew he was going to let us through.”

“Let’s hope that every encounter we have in this city goes just as smoothly,” quipped Praxis.

The two men made their way into the center of the city, which was dominated by a decent-sized marketplace. At this time of the evening, the stalls were starting to empty out since most of the patrons had gone home.

“So where do we start?” asked Praxis as he looked at all the empty spaces. “We know what he looks like and we know he has a house but that’s about it. And if we ask too many questions or ask the wrong person, we might just spook him. So what gives?”

Agemon thought about the question for several moments, kicking a small pebble between his feet. Praxis thought they just might have to settle on finding accommodations for the night instead when a look of confidence appeared on the big Corinthian’s face.

“I got it,” he said, looking around the market. “Come with me.”

Agemon spent the next few minutes questioning the remaining traders until he had narrowed his net down to one merchant in particular.

“What’s so special about this guy?” asked Praxis as they closed the distance. “How is he going to lead us to Telestes?”

“Telestes has expensive tastes, doesn’t he?” asked Agemon with a grin. “Remember how he looked in Dion’s house? Fancy, white chiton and expensive sandals? My guess is that there’s only one place that someone can get wares like that in Megara.”

“Hello there, friend!” called our Agemon once they were near the merchant. “We were hoping you might be able to help us.”

The merchant gave them a wary look for a brief moment. “And what can I do for you two?”

“A friend of ours invited us to stay with him here in Megara,” said Agemon, waving his hand in a nonchalant way. “We’re here all the way from Argos, and it’s been a terribly long journey. The heat has been brutal as you know.”

“That it has,” agreed the merchant, softening a little. “But how can I help you locate your friend?”

Agemon smiled. “Well you see, my friend enjoys all the finer things in life. He’s always the best-dressed man anywhere he goes. I swear, he doesn’t even own a stained chiton—not my friend Telestes.”

Upon hearing the name, the merchant softened completely. “Ah, Telestes! Yes, I know of him. You’re right about your friend. I don’t think he would leave his house if so much as one hair was out of place.”

Agemon snapped his fingers. “You have Telestes down to a tee! I had a feeling a fine merchant like yourself might remember him as a patron. So tell me, would you happen to know where he lives in town? We’ll be on our way once you tell us.”

“Of course,” said the merchant, pointing down another street. “Just go down this street until you’ve passed three intersections. Turn right on the third and it’s the fourth house that way. You can’t miss it!”

“Many thanks to you, good merchant!” said Agemon, nodding his head. “We’ll tell Telestes that you send your regards.”

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“And tell him to stop and see me again soon!” called out the merchant as they walked away. “I just got some brand new goods directly from Asia! I’m sure Telestes would love them!”

By the time they were out of earshot, Praxis was nearly doubling over with laughter.

“You really surprise me sometimes,” he said to Agemon. “How’d you come up with that?”

“Merchants will tell you anything if they think they can get a sale out of it. A guy like that with expensive wares? I figured there was now way he didn’t know Telestes and he’d open up about if we said the right thing.” Agemon started beaming with a smile as he brought his thumb against his chest. “I just happened to know the right thing to say.”

“You certainly did,” said Praxis, laughing. “And a good thing you’re here with . . . me.”

Praxis stopped speaking at that moment, only because both men saw a very familiar sight in front of them. A very shocked-looking Telestes had halted in his tracks, spotting them at the same time. A distance of perhaps fifty feet separated them, and Telestes certainly looked like he’d seen a ghost as he looked at them.

“Telestes! Imagine seeing you here,” said Agemon jovially as he withdrew his sword. “Why don’t we sit down and have a conversation?”

Telestes didn’t bother responding. He simply bolted, running as quickly as his feet would allow.

“Let’s get him!” yelled Praxis, bursting into a run after him.

Telestes was every bit as quick as he was the day before. For an older man, he moved with the speed of a much younger one. He managed to weave in and out of alleyways, leading them on a chase throughout the darkening city.

“We can’t let him get away,” said Praxis to Agemon after a minute of the chase. “We’ll never find him in the dark if he tries to hide!”

Agemon’s pride looked wounded. “Are you trying to tell me I’m too slow?”

“No, I’m telling you to pick it up!”

“That sounds like the same thing.”

“Horn of Hades, will you move your big ass!”

The two men were gaining ground on Telestes, especially as he approached the southern part of the city. Soon the narrow streets opened up to fields not far from the coast, and this made Telestes a bit easier to chase since they didn’t have to lose sight of him.

Finally, the older man just ran out of steam. Telestes tripped over a fallen branch as the sound of the waters lapping at the shores of the gulf became ever clearer.

It was Agemon who closed the distance first. The big Corinthian kicked Telestes directly in the ribs, causing the former king to howl in pain.

“Check him,” said Praxis to Agemon. “Make sure he doesn’t have any hidden surprises this time.”

“Please, I beg of you, let me go,” said Telestes, coughing up blood. “I’ll give you anything you want!”

“Don’t you remember our conversation yesterday?” replied Praxis. “You have nothing to offer me. Your little stunt yesterday has a very real chance of embroiling Corinth in war with the Spartans. If war does erupt, their blood will be on your hands.”

Telestes seemed to figure out he wasn’t going to get out of this one. His tone became more defiant.

“They’d deserve it for what they did to me!” he raged. “They kicked me out of my own city! For that, I wish a thousand deaths upon them! No measure is too small. They deserve everything that happens to them now!”

“I think I’ve seen enough,” said Agemon, unsheathing his sword. “This time, we don’t have to bring him back alive.”

Telestes quickly paled. “No, you can’t kill me! Not like this! Horn of Hades, I won’t be killed by the likes of you!”

Praxis knelt down to look directly into the eyes of the older man. “We’re heading back to Corinth to undo all of your work. Your time has run out.”

“And too long it was anyway,” grumbled Agemon.

With that last statement, Agemon stabbed the older man in the stomach, not stopping until the blade completely pierced his body. Telestes gasped for air for several moments before his glaring eyes locked on Praxis.

“You’ll never stop the Spartans. You and your people are doomed,” he croaked, just before he stopped breathing.

Just like that, Telestes of Corinth was dead.

Agemon pulled his blade free of the body and wiped the blood from it on the grass beneath his feet.

“I imagine Cypselus will be pleased to see that he’s dead. Should we bring him back with us? Show off our prize?”

Praxis shook his head. “Leave him here. He can be a warning to anyone who might try to do the same thing.”

Agemon sheathed his sword. “What do you think about getting some rest in his house tonight? Think he might have any wine in there?”

Praxis grinned. “I bet you he probably has the finest stuff around. Let’s go.”

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