The Peddler

The people awaited, chattering about at what was happening. Some were whining about what a mistake they’d made leaving the Empire for this place, they had been living good easy lives and they’d traded it away to the life their servants probably went through every day, only more labourious.

They all went silent as Tyronis walked in front of the group, arms raised to get their attention. They all looked, knowing that whatever he said would change their lives for good, for better or for worse was still undetermined.

Lowing his arms, other ministers behind him he began, " People of New Eradonia, after great deliberation we have now formed a government, I am your leader now and I promise to all that I will work to make New Eradonia a better society, a victorious one."

" Whoever wishes to join the army, as I am guessing most soldiers will, contact the war minister Dominic, the one with the black armour and pointy ears, all other posts will be placed in the New Eradonia hall. Thank you and resume whatever it is you were doing."

As they applauded, hailing their new leader Dominic said mockingly, " All hail Tyro, brother of the one responsible for a hundred thousand deaths. If they only knew. I wonder what Ares is up to anyway?"

Tyronis ignored him, walking into the castle that was still under construction, rooms were added every day, it would almost be completed so until the throne room was constructed he’d have to settle for his room. Sitting on the bed he rubbed his temples, pondering himself what Ares was up to that very moment.

***

There was an astoundingly surprising quantity of temples that mise well have been rubble as he got to them, completely desolate of worshippers, in these parts of the world Christianity had run amuck, but the empty lot would be necessary for their own temples.

He knew about his father’s plan, about the twelve although he’d never been told who or where they were, only that they lived not in Eradonia. Before being a dictator he was a traveller, he’d met the natives of North America, learnt much from their hit and run tactics, about using camouflage and timing rather than two facing armies.

He’d been to the Aristocratic land of Great Britannia, and he’d made sure to disperse his twelve selected ones across the world, and henceforth gain a bigger tactical advantage. This was one of the last towns that even had temples at all, watching as yet another temple crumbled to the ground he sensed his father’s presence behind him, " This is far too easy a task, outside of Athena our work was mostly done for us by disciples, temples were abandoned. Are you here to give me a real mission?"

Turning to face him his father did not smile as most would, his face carved into a permanent stern face, " Time for you to gather the first of the twelve, he has not even reached phase one yet, all you have to do is go get him."

Grinning largely, although this malicious grin had no effect on the Emperor being more evil than himself, " Where might this future god find himself? In the midst of a ferocious battle? Waging diplomatic wars?"

***

The sound of the piano and loud chatter filled the bar, smelling of sweat, beer and aromatic smoke from pipes forming a indoor cloud. Strange place to find a god, but the current gods had some nasty history themselves.

His father had indicated that he would be easy to find, known only as the peddler, he was the supplier of arms to many, cowardly, dirty fighter, always won. He liked the sound of him, people did not fear him in this place, that was a change for Ares.

But of course most of them were piss drunk, they probably wouldn’t have run away if the bar was on fire. As he walked a random guy crashed into him, hugging him tightly he said loudly, " Hey friend! Have a drink!" Sighing in annoyance he pushed the man off, punching him out he walked over him.

It was crowded, pushing himself by a bunch of drunks who were right beside each other but yelling as though separated by ten leagues, another turn and he caught two men making out at the table. What a crazy world, did no one have any control over their emotions.

He had kissed Jolene once, he had felt something special toward her, and part of him still did but that was the past now. Brushing hair out of his face he finally spotted the peddler, wearing worn brown boots, toes sticking out of the end.

Colour worn striped pants with the bottom ripped exposing much of his hairy legs, wearing a shirt of the same manner all topped off by a trench coat filled with holes and a broad sword on his right hip. Smoking a pipe Ares sat across him, the peddler erupting in a fit of laughter said, " A noble and a duck were taking a walk, the duck asked what is your name and the noble answered Paul. But when the noble asked the duck’s name he yelled duck! The night nodded and the axe cut his head clean off his neck, the duck shaking his head saying, told ya"

His chair tipped backward as he erupted in more laughter, clumsily finding his way to his feet he tried to raise the chair back up, simple task as it was he could not figure it out, giving up on that he walked over to another table and pulled the chair with the person still sitting on it.

As he landed hard on his ass the Peddler placed the chair back, trying to sit straight but finding himself all crooked, Ares smiled, " So your the peddler, you’ve been summoned by the..."

Leaning forward the peddler yelled out, " By the dark duck? Is the dark duck of chaos finally here to kill me? Damn that duck!"He tried to reach for his sword, missing each time and grabbing air.

As he did this Ares continued, " The Emperor has summoned you, he told me you’d be drunk but that if I told you that it was time for a promotion you would understand." Looking up beside him, eyes glazed he did not respond for a minute. Erupting in a sobbing cry he put his head in his arms.

He looked up, " Its time, on the name of my cow’s first nephew its really time. Wait here, I’ll get us some ales." Stumbling off the chair, he wobbled off to the bar, world spinning around him when he bumped into someone else. Turning to face him he said, " You are rude!"

Swinging to punch him he missed him completely, hitting a tall muscular man close by that was as sober as Ares. He watched as the Peddler started a barfight, the tall man punching him hard in the gut. Not feeling the pain he punched the tall man hard in the chest, using so much force that it killed him in one shot, stopping his heart.

With his death five more came at him, for a drunkard he was quite a fighter. Everyone against him he punched two men in one swing, kicking another in the knee he turned and tackled a man onto a table, the table breaking under impact of the combined weight, beer flying in the air covering the Peddler’s thick brown hair.

A man came from behind him, choking him with a bar the Peddler grasped for air, elbowing him in the gut he grabbed the pipe and swing it in an arc, hitting his attacker with such force that most of his teeth shattered upon impact. He was a remarkable fighter, he may have stumbled about but his reaction time was superior to any other drunk.

Ares could solve all in less than a minute, but watching the Peddler in action was funner. After half an hour the bar fight was finally over, men spread across the bar, some dead, the rest moaning in pain with black eyes, broken ribs and broken nose. Walking back to Ares he said, " We’ll finish this conversation tomorrow morning." With this he fell forward, hitting the ground hard he began to snore.

What a world, sitting all night he waited until the morning came. Light emerging in the sky Ares kicked the Peddler awake, looking up moaning with pain from the previous night and the hang over he said, " Damn I need another drink." Getting up to his feet he seemed to be more or less normal again.

Rubbing his temples as a migraine attacked him like a ramp smashing against a thick gate he noticed Ares, " Hold on a minute, I need a ..." Anticipating what was coming next he handed him a pint of ale. Looking at it he sat down, taking a long gulp he let out a long relaxed breath, " Good man, or whatever you are. So the Emperor wants me does he?"

Nodding Ares said cooly, " Yes, the time has come. The war for Olympia is about to begin, of course I am going to pretend to give you a choice here, do you want to come with me or die?"

Grinning largely at this, many teeth missing he replied, " Of course I’m gonna come, I asked him in the first place, and he seen my usefulness. Anyone else would kill a low breed such as myself, we going now or do I have enough time for another drink?"

***

He breathed in the salty air, waves splashing against the prow. He was tired of being around those people, and needed some space from Adonis or else he would end up killing him. Part of him remembered Adonis as he was before, the farmer boy who always caused him trouble, the farmer boy who’d saved his neck, literally.

But now he also seen Adonis as the cause of destruction, trying to distract the Empire he’d lost all his loyal land troops. When Dominic had assigned him as Naval commander he was very surprised, he shouldn’t have been but he was nonetheless. He loved the pirate laugh.

Sitting in his office he knew this wasn’t a healthy life style, hardly made any money but at least now he could do something. Suddenly as he began to doze off to sleep in the hammock the door swung hard, " Ahoy captain! Ships be spotted in the distance, bunch of bilge sucking Greeks!"

Not even getting fully dressed Malcolm jumped out of bed, nothing but his night trousers he quickly slipped his blue captain’s coat on, hat placed on head he ran up the stairs looking out as the crew was in hectic movements.

Quartermaster Riddick bellowing out orders Mal ran to the prow, spotting the two enemy ships he turned and yelled, " Prepare the guns! Ready your swords! We be taking them full on! No time for back up, No quarter!"

They all cheered with their rough pirate voices, Riddick repeating the orders as they were said the gun hatches were quickly up, guns at the ready. Mal considered his ship to be the best in the world, having to decks below each with seven canons each on both sides, giving them a total of twenty eight cannons, the hull was made of the strongest steel.

The distance between themselves and the vessels was now gone, pirate flag waving in the air he grabbed the wheel and with all his effort expertly got between both ships, obvious the captains of the ships were about to offer surrender Malcolm yelled, " Fire all!"

The canons blazed, the sound of exploding gun powder as both enemy vessels rocked under the assault. Loading quickly they fired a second volley, never leaving them a chance to retaliate he yelled, " Board the ships, kill the blaggards and take everything ye can!"

As the boarding planks were dropped between the ships, running with two cutlasses in hand he knew he had changed greatly. Coming to him he slashed the oncoming sailors, ducking under another strike he swung one cutlass at the attacker’s legs. Sending him to the ground he slit his throat and watched as the rest of his pirates began flooding on the ships.

Cries of mercy and surrender ignored as throats were slit, grinning at yet another victory he thought how strange it was that he had been such a land lubber before this time. Leaving the burning wrecks behind , cutlasses tucked in belt he watched as they approached the docks, Tyronis who had witnessed the battle awaiting, and he wasn’t there to congratulate him.