Chapter 2: Stormy Seas

The rest of the night passes uneventfully. And most of the morning too, actually. The kings' insistence to leave at first light was barely manageable on their own fronts, let alone most of the men. But the delayed start is a pleasant reprieve considering your sleep was at first accosted with the inkling that something was wrong, that you would finally see monsters, that the vision wasn't all in your head.

The sky is blue and clear, oblivious to the chaos of the night before, let alone the decade. The twins grant their parents a tense farewell, though Menelaus insists that if they don't make it to Sparta, it will be through no active choice on his part.

Finally, to the sound of shouting and singing, your reduced fleet sets off. The wisps of cloud in the sky seem to act as arrows home, or perhaps serpents.

....AND THEEEERE ARE GREAT RENTS IN IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

Oh, Sinon. Being beat up by the Trojans who accepted the horse did nothing to dampen his spirits, it seems. He leans over Kouru's shoulder, cheeks pink, and grins.

I got a gorgeous girl waitin' back home. Weren't married yet when we left, but it'll be worth it. He holds up his wrist and shows off a ridiculously worn and tattered braided bracelet of colored cloth. A poor gift, but honest. I bet yer kids'll love to hear about all this.

Chryseis thanks Iantha yet again for helping her find her new gear. I was thinking, there's a whole generation of boys who haven't been tested in battle yet over in Sparta. If they were willing to take orders from a couple women, this hydra fight might be an interesting way to test their mettle, and a good peacetime gesture.

Mikros and Kallon, two of Nikias' men from the group who tended the twins in the temple, stomp onto the deck with clear frustration.

Captain, the shorter Mikros begins. Respectfully. That girl will not shut up. She's convinced there'll be a shipwreck or something. It's really getting to the folks below deck. And look! He gestures broadly to the deep evening sky.

Below deck the other two men guarding the twins step out of the way. Cassandra sits gripping her cloak tight around her body, sweating and exhausted.

Raging stormclouds...Scattered shields...Death on the rocks...

Helenus appears to be sleeping, but speaks up.

She gets like this. I tried telling your men they'd just have to get used to it.

That's more what I was thinking, Chryseis chuckles.

Oh, hey, Fledgling, you're back.

Helenus shoots up with the bravado of a campfire storyteller.

These tragic children of defeated Troy were born twins under a prophetic star. And indeed, from tender youth, were blessed with Foresight. He drapes his arm over his forehead. Yet such gifts come at a cost, and plagued, as well, were the children, with such suffering as you see here. He gestures broadly to his sister, then reaches for the sky. On the eve of adolescence, Lord Apollo in a flash of radiant light presented himself to the twins with a proposal. If they would serve in his court for the duration of his lessons, he would teach them to alleviate their symptoms. He continues with a certain self-aware melodrama, part proud, part trying to distract Cassandra, probably part mocking the Greek observers. This servant accepted such great honor, but the fair maiden, in devotion to Pallas Athena, refused, and thus continues to suffer as in her youth. Nay! Perhaps more. He bows with a flourish, and whispers an aside as he rises.

I think I got the better cut of the deal, if you ask me. Lord Apollo was not thrilled that Cass refused. Her visions have been nonsensical ever since.

Helenus rolls his eyes and flops back to a sitting position, grumbling. No flair for the dramatic.

Six or seven years. It's Cassandra who answers, some color returning to her face. I saw him too. Helenus was in a trance for a few days. But you don't have any reason to believe us. She sighs and leans back against the wall of the ship. She'll spare your lives for the mercy you've shown if you're careful. But she won't spare the ship.

Her words are tired as if she knows they'll fall on deaf ears. Yet... the impulse of Ajax. The carelessness of the soldiers. The cracked Palladium. It doesn't take a genius to see why Athena would be angry.

Cassandra blinks in disbelief that someone - anyone - is taking her seriously. Then she shakes her head and gets to work.

It's the people, not the artifacts, and a storm has collateral damage. If we can make landfall fast enough we can wait it out, but...

On deck, you hear sailors shouting maneuvers with the sails that imply a change in the weather has begun.

The Amazonians make it below deck to hear the planning. Chryseis lets out a loud sigh.

Zeus has thunderbolts and Athena's his daughter. If she's really that mad shell just call in a favor for precision strikes. Why fluster the crew and waste resources to delay their homecoming even more?

Nikias spots an island in the distance. It's somewhat to the north, but considering the oracle's warning, it's worth the diversion. Under good conditions, your men would be able to make it in about half an hour. Yet even as the island grows on the horizon, storm clouds boil in the sky. The regular crew of the ship - at least, what survived the war - handles her well, all things considered. But soon enough, the sheet-like rain and the bucking waves make it difficult for even the most experienced sailors to keep steady.

Steady.....Steady.....

The island grows closer, and you're minutes away from starting landing procedures. The roar of the storm barely covers a guttral screech from below, but you certainly hear the poor deck hand who's snatched into the air! One dark tentacle grabs him by the waist, three more clutch the side of the ship, and a final three swat at the deck looking for more victims. The hit to the ship knocks Iantha off her feet. In a flash of lightning you see the purplish creature has hooked limbs and cold blue eyes, stretching a solid ten feet in length.

Iantha's cry rallies the startled crew and gives Chryseis a chance to position herself better, flanking a tentacle with her Amazonian sister. Nikias leaps into the fray and cleaves the tentacle from the beast with a mighty swing, dropping the would-be snack to the ground! The beast burbles in rage, but then Kouru's voice bellows over the storm. The creature pauses, anger still in its eyes, but somewhat confused by the challenge - a perfect opportunity to react.

Iantha's attack strikes true and the creature screeches in pain! Slick black blood sprays on the deck, mixing with the pounding rain. That doesn't hold Nikias back. His blade finds its mark and the defeated beast peels off the ship like a wet garland.

The men aboard cheer, but are interrupted by the bucking of the ship. A massive surge threatens to swallow you into a wine-dark grave. New shapes form in the waters, and for a moment it's easy to fear an even bigger monster has arrived. Kouru can identify them first from his vantage point, and the others can soon after.

Dolphins!

Dozens of the beautiful sleek creatures issue from the waves, larger than you expected, and glistening with unseen moonlight. They surround the ship like bees around an apple tree, unfazed by the anger of the sea. You realize they're guiding the ship to safe harbor. In far less time than you could have managed on your own, you make port in a little cove on the island. The dolphins chatter and disappear back into the darkness, and you are safe for the night.

Helenus squirms oddly and then busts out laughing.

Foresight isn't a constant communication, Helenus pipes up. And Cassandra's are even more fickle. He puts a hand on her shoulder. Are you sure you're all right? She nods with a lucidity that she didn't have back in the temple.

Helenus continues. If you can get me some small game for a sacrifice, I can see what I can discern. My sister should rest. As you saw, there was no "death on the rocks" among us. A major point to miss, don't you think?

Helenus, I'm fine. Cassandra speaks softly but firmly, then looks to their captors. I'm not scared anymore. I think it means she's not mad at you and your men. So you're as safe as you can be off course at sea.

No change in her eyes means it's an educated guess, not a vision, but she seems confident.