Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Snitch

The pounding at the door caught all of them by surprise. Tinges of fear and anxiety were visible on all four faces but it was Demetrios that was the first to react, moving quickly to the door.

“I know who you’re hiding in there, Demetrios!” raged the newcomer. “You know the penalty for sheltering Spartan enemies!”

“What are we going to do?” hissed Lysandra as she backed away from the door. “Should we make a run for it?”

“Stay where you are,” urged Demetrios. “I know who this is. You must remain calm!”

Demetrios threw open the door to reveal a short and ugly creature. The newcomer was a man with crude and ill-defined features that Praxis guessed were as ugly as his intentions. His dark, beady eyes and misshapen mouth glared at Praxis first and then Lysandra next.

“Argives!” he snarled, pointing his finger at them. “Demetrios, you know better than to give them aid!”

“Who I choose to consort with is hardly any of your concern, Orcus,” replied Demetrios dryly. “What business do you have at my house?”

“You will bring the Spartans down on us!” hissed Orcus. “They must die! They must die quickly and their bodies must be obliterated!”

“These two are in my care,” said Demetrios. “One is wounded but they are not Spartan enemies as you fear.”

“You lie!” yelled Orcus before he barged into the house and stormed over to Lysandra.

By instinct alone, Praxis placed himself between the man and his woman. He glowered at the beady-eyed creature but Orcus looked beyond him to her.

“Her features are a giveaway,” continued Orcus, pointing at Lysandra once more. “She is an Argive. Now, speak your mother tongue and give rest to any doubts!”

“Lysandra, keep quiet,” said Demetrios as he tried to push Orcus away. “Say nothing to him!”

“Speak, you redheaded wench!” yelled Orcus. He lunged at Lysandra with his teeth bared, as if he were no more civilized than the creatures on the mountain. His last movement scared her enough to jump away.

“What’s wrong with him?” she asked, breaking her silence. “Why is he like this!”

Praxis had enough at this point. He grabbed a fistful of Orcus’ chiton and flung him across the room. He followed quickly, pulling his sword free and placing it against the man’s neck.

“You won’t go near her again or I’ll cut your throat,” growled Praxis.

“Argives!” yelled Orcus before his beady eyes settled on Demetrios. “I’ve heard it! I’ve heard the girl speak. You lied to me, Demetrios!”

Instead of being angry, Demetrios looked like he was ready to panic. Even Rastus looked afraid, which caused Praxis to make his next offer.

“Say the word, Demetrios, and I’ll take care of him right now,” said Praxis, tightening his grip. “He won’t trouble you again.”

“Pull your sword back, Praxis,” replied Demetrios quietly. “We cannot kill him.”

Praxis gave Demetrios an uncertain look. “But he’s a troublemaker? Why would I?”

“He’s also one of the village elder’s sons,” said Demetrios. “Put your sword away!”

It was only with reluctance that Praxis put his sword away and backed away. Every instinct he had told him to ram the blade into the man’s throat.

“Now you’ve set your dogs to threaten me,” yelped Orcus as he scrambled to his feet. “You hide Argives in your house and then you try to have me killed!”

“Name your price, Orcus,” said a defeated Demetrios. “I have no wish for trouble. What will it take to have you go back to your home without mentioning this?”

A cruel smile appeared on Orcus’ face. “Many laws you have broken today, Demetrios. Your punishment would be severe, perhaps even as deadly as the one that faces these two Argives. I don’t know if you could afford the price of my silence.”

“Name your price,” repeated Demetrios. “And then be gone from my house forever.”

Orcus started to pace around the house, looking at everything of value that he could see. It made Praxis profoundly angry to watch the creature look for a prize so lecherously. At one point, Orcus stood directly in front of Lysandra, even grabbing at her dress as if to see what was underneath. Praxis moved quickly.

“You touch her again and I’ll use your eyes for dice,” he warned.

Orcus waved his hands in front of Praxis’ face. “You have no idea where you are, do you? I’m the power here, Argive. Luckily for you, I have better tastes than your wench here.”

With those words, Orcus stormed away until he landed in front of a small necklace that was hanging from the wall. The pendant of the necklace was a piece of silver that was shaped like a bird.

“That’s my price,” said Orcus triumphantly as his greedy fingers took the silver. “I want the pendant.”

Demetrios couldn’t have looked more distraught. “That is not for me to give! That’s the only possession I have left of my daughter! I cannot give that away!”

Orcus only shrugged. “Not my problem, you fool of a healer. You broke the law and now you’ll pay the penalty. It’s either the pendant or nothing at all. Nothing in this house speaks to me otherwise.”

“What about my sword?” offered Demetrios. “I’ve had it since I was a boy! Hasn’t been used in years either. I’m quite certain it’s the best sword in the entire village, if not all of Arcadia.”

Orcus spit on the ground. “I have no use for swords. Others do my fighting for me, as it should be. I’ll take the pendant. Otherwise, I will go tell my father and the rest of the elders who’s in this house and all of you will die. The choice is yours to make, Demetrios.”

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Praxis didn’t think the situation could get any worse, especially with Orcus’ demand but to his surprise, Demetrios seemed to actually be considering it. It was just one step too far.

Praxis pulled Demetrios to the other side of the room. “Tell me you’re not about to give him the pendant.”

“What other chance do I have?” asked Demetrios. “If I don’t give him something, he’ll lead the rest of the village up here and you’ll both be put to death, with me alongside you for harboring you.”

“He’s bluffing,” said Praxis. “He won’t do it.”

“You don’t know Orcus,” warned Demetrios. “He’s a vile man and his biggest concern is for himself. I’ve never gotten along with him as long as I’ve lived here, and I have no doubt that he would take the first chance he got to destroy me. This is his chance, Praxis. He won’t squander it.”

“What if we leave your house right now?” offered Praxis. “Lysandra and I could get a head start and get moving. We could be far from your village by nightfall.”

Demetrios gave him a sad smile. “You wouldn’t escape this village so easily. You might be healing, Praxis, but you’re not healed yet. They would catch up to you and kill you anyway. At least this way, I will buy you some more time.”

“But at the expense of your daughter’s memory. I couldn’t ask you to do that, Demetrios.”

“That’s good because you’re not asking. I’m offering, Praxis.” The old man then took a deep sigh. “Besides, it’s just a piece of silver. My daughter’s memory will always be with me. Even a foul creature like Orcus can’t take that away from me.”

“I still don’t like it,” said Praxis. “There has to be another way. Let me offer him my sword or my cuirass. Both are worth money.”

“What’s done is done,” said Demetrios with a tone of finality. “Let us speak no more of it.”

With those words, Demetrios turned away from Praxis and walked the short distance over to Orcus, who was waiting with greedy eyes. Demetrios bowed his head.

“You may have the pendant as long as you keep quiet about what you’ve seen in this house. But I’m warning you, Orcus. If word gets back here that you’ve betrayed me, the consequences will be swift and severe.”

Orcus could only sneer in return. “So wise you are, Demetrios. And so thoughtful as well. Very well, we have a deal.”

The small man extended his hand. Demetrios took it only reluctantly to seal the bargain.

“Now leave us,” ordered Demetrios. “Your presence here is insulting enough.”

Orcus nodded his head toward Praxis and Lysandra. “A piece of advice for you, Demetrios. You might want to get them out of here as soon as possible. I can’t protect them if someone else notices their movements outside the house. An intelligent man like yourself shouldn’t take any further risks.”

With that warning, Orcus made for the door, slamming it with his exit. Praxis could help but grind his teeth in anger, wanting nothing more than to take the pendant back and to kill the demon that took it. Even still, it was Demetrios that stayed his hand.

The old man’s head hung low as he stared at the closed door. After what seemed like minutes, he finally turned to look at Praxis.

“Such is life, I suppose,” said the defeated Demetrios. “Let’s focus on getting you healed so that you can get on your way. I don’t trust Orcus further than I can throw him. A few more days and then I’ll be able to let you go with a clear conscience.”

Praxis intended to beat him to the punch. He gestured for Lysandra to move to the other room with him. She gave him a confused look once they were alone.

“I don’t intend to give him that many days,” whispered Praxis. “I think it’s important that we leave now.”

“But Praxis, you’re hardly in the shape for long travel.”

“I made it up the mountain today, right? I can travel if needed. And I think with our situation, it’s definitely needed.”

“But we bought ourselves safety,” countered Lysandra. “Or rather, Demetrios bought it for us. The pendant has to count for something, Praxis.”

“With an ordinary man, it might count for something,” replied Praxis. “But it’s clear to me that Orcus has no integrity. I don’t trust him and I want us to get out of here as soon as possible. Before he has a chance to go back on his word.”

Lysandra didn’t seem pleased by what he was suggesting but Praxis could tell she wasn’t going to fight it. She nodded her head a moment later. “We’re not safe here anymore, are we?”

“No, we’re not. Let’s at least spare Demetrios and Rastus the fury of their own village,” said Praxis.

“I’ll start gathering our things.”

It only took a few moments for them to grab everything they had. They appeared before Demetrios in the other room, leaving no doubt as to what they were doing.

“You don’t have to go,” said Demetrios, his words lacking confidence. “You’re not ready for the outside world right now.”

“Maybe not but I can’t keep you in danger like this,” replied Praxis. “This is what we need to do. You’ve been great to us, Demetrios. I can truly say that I’m only alive because of you and your care. You’ve done your best for me and now I have to do my best for you. I have to leave before I get you into any further trouble.”

Demetrios didn’t like the answer but the old man nodded his head. “I understand. When you leave, go to the north around the mountain. It’s the safest path—”

Before he could complete his sentence, all of them froze. Just beyond the house was the sound of voices—many of them. They came closer and closer until they were just outside Demetrios’ door. This time, they didn’t knock before entering, leading several older men into the room, followed by that worm, Orcus.

“Demetrios!” yelled one man in particular, a seasoned man with nearly snow-white hair. “So what Orcus says is true. You’re harboring Argives!”

Praxis grabbed his sword and lunged at Orcus. “Hera’s fiery ass, I’ll kill you!”

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