Stories Thread

[johnhughthom]

Two men sat beside a smouldering fire, a number of tents surrounded them, the desert sands swirled around the air. The larger man was poking the fire with an old sword.

"You can stop that Heronius, you will never get it started with all this sand flying about"
"I know that, it just gives me something to do. I am starting to grow weary of this damnable crusade. Who the hell cares what a bunch of Jews want, why didn't the Basileus just take their money and tell them to get stuffed. Bloody pagans, one God indeed..."
"You will soon change your tune when we get to Hierosolyma first old friend. Just imagine the fighting eh, first we will have to scale the walls. Then the fighting in cramped streets clambering over the fallen to get at your enemy, not knowing whether that house on your right holds cowering peasants or enemy soldiers ready to jump out at you. Finally the town square, the enemy holding tight, fighting to the last man even though they know it's hopeless, that final brutal clash as we kill them one by one"
The Corinthian veteran allowed himself a smile.
"Yes, I remember you after that battle outside Asaak. You were high for days, battle is for you what poppy and wine were for me. That was a long time ago now. Remember me when I stopped smoking? How I used to lose my temper at the slightest provocation, and snap at the simplest request? What is happening to you is similar, you haven't fought in so long you aren't yourself"
Heronius smiled again, he was fully aware of this but he didn't want to hurt his masters feelings, such insightful thoughts were rare for Lykikos
"You are right, I guess the best thing for me to do is to drive the men forward, try to win the race."
"Of course I'm right you foolish Greek, don't feel bad though, we can't all have divine blood. Becoming King of the Jews will only be the start of my rise to Godhood."

The two men stared at the fire, now completely cold, one dreaming of battle, blood and death the other wondering how he should address Athena when he finally became a fully fledged God.