Chimera Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Petra sat, still as a mouse, once again by a palace. This time, however, the castle lay within a large mountain. It was a truly magnificent sight, with the bright red sunset in the background. Beautiful and intricate runes lined the towers, and statues of past heroes stood at attention, their unseeing eyes laid upon the distant mountains of Volos.
Petra remembered, years ago when her family used to travel here, she would gaze at the palace in wonder. She remember her father used to tell her what the runes meant.
“See this one?” He’d say as he helped her hand trace them. “This is for strength. And that one over on the left? It’s for speed.” Petra remembered she used to love the runes, the feeling of power and comfort that they conveyed. Now, though, she stood at the very same place, terrified. Terrified because she knew she would die here.
Only nineteen summers old, and alone, in a strange place. She’d die a prisoner, an outcast, and a criminal. The thought made her want to strangle one of the guards.
There is not time for self pity. A queen pities no one.
Yeah, well maybe I wouldn’t make a very good queen.
As if on cue, a tall, burly man behind her pushed her on with the brunt of his sword. She stumbled and pointed to the shackles. After a moment the guard roughly took them off, then pushed her again. She snarled but walked forward. Petra looked up at the ominous arch of marble above her. She had to admit, King Lobates knew how to intimidate. The floors were, if possible, even shinier than those at Tiryns.
She heard a noise, coming from the ballroom, and wandered toward the sounds. She heard the guards call her back, but she paid no attention to them. She was going to die anyway right?
Petra peaked around the corner and saw a sight she hadn’t seen in a long time. A party. A lively, busy, party, filled with happy courtiers, dancing and laughing. Like nothing in the world was wrong. The sight made her miss her old life. She turned away, but a voice behind her stopped her.
“Leaving so soon your grace?” A man says from behind her.
Petra turned around and sees King Lobates standing right there.
“Y-your majesty I-I didn’t wish to intrude-”
“Nonsense! You are royalty aye?” Petra gave a numb nod. “Therefore you are welcome at my feast.” He put a gentle hand on her back and led her in. “Please, I insist.”
“B-but y-your m-majesty, y-your son-”
“Ah, my son can wait! Whatever he sent you here for cannot be so important as to skip a feast!”
As if on cue, a tall, burly man behind her pushed her on with the brunt of his sword. She stumbled and pointed to the shackles. After a moment the guard roughly took them off, then pushed her again. She snarled but walked forward. Petra looked up at the ominous arch of marble above her. She had to admit, King Lobates knew how to intimidate. The floors were, if possible, even shinier than those at Tiryns.
She heard a noise, coming from the ballroom, and wandered toward the sounds. She heard the guards call her back, but she paid no attention to them. She was going to die anyway right?
Petra peaked around the corner and saw a sight she hadn’t seen in a long time. A party. A lively, busy, party, filled with happy courtiers, dancing and laughing. Like nothing in the world was wrong. The sight made her miss her old life. She turned away, but a voice behind her stopped her.
“Leaving so soon your grace?” A man says from behind her.
Petra turned around and sees King Lobates standing right there.
“Y-your majesty I-I didn’t wish to intrude-”
“Nonsense! You are royalty aye?” Petra gave a numb nod. “Therefore you are welcome at my feast.” He put a gentle hand on her back and led her in. “Please, I insist.”
“B-but y-your m-majesty, y-your son-”
“Ah, my son can wait! Whatever he sent you here for cannot be so important as to skip a feast!”
He has no idea.
He laughed heartily and disappeared into the crowd. Petra stood still for a moment, soaking it all in. Then she too set off into the crowd.
What are you doing? You were sent here for a sentencing, not a party!
Then I should have one more night of fun before I die, shouldn’t I?
She grinned and headed toward the snack table. Pushing the thoughts of death and demise out of her head, she grabbed a tart and shoved it in her mouth. She hadn’t had a good dessert in a while. The guards searched for her, but she managed to avoid them. One thing she had become good at.
Just a little fun, she thought, just one night.
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Eight days later Petra sunk onto her bed and sighed. After nine days here, and nine feasts, the king had not decreed her punishment. The guards had given him the note after the first feast.
Petra had suspected to be hung the next day, but the king said nothing other than to invite her to the next feast. And the next, and the next, and the next. Petra was confused but didn’t dare bring it up.
She had thoroughly enjoyed the feasts, but the suspense was killing her. She almost wished King lobates would just read it, so she could get it over with. She fell asleep that night, wondering if she would live to sleep again the next night.
The next morning, she woke up to see a servant girl standing over her face.
“Sorry, but the king wants to see you madam. In the throne room.”
Petra’s eyes widen and she stood up quickly.
Here it comes. Like a lamb to the slaughter.
“D-do you know why?” She winced, fearing the worst. The servant girl looked at her sympathetically.
“Nay, your grace.” She said, “But His Highness did sound thoughtful.”
Petra dismissed the girl, then went to the sink to wipe the sleep from her eyes. She looked in the glass and fixed her plain brown hair in a neat bun. Then she slipped into a simple but pretty green-hued dress. She pulled on a pair of black slippers, then headed to the throne room. Her hands had not stopped shaking.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she took deep breaths, trying to prepare herself for what the king was sure to say. As Petra imagined the scene, she cringed inwardly and said a prayer to the gods.
She walked into the large throne room, acutely aware of every step she took. When she dared look up, she saw the king, sitting on his throne with his head resting in his hands. A thoughtful look spread across his face. Petra whispered another prayer.
Petra had always wondered what it would be like to die, but the worst part, she thought, was the fear. The ineffable fear rising within her. She wondered if she would faint right then and there. Just as she was beginning to believe she would, the king looked up.
“Ah, Petra.” He nodded to her, and she managed an awkward curtsy. “I trust you’ve slept well?”
Petra managed a nod.
“Good, I regret having to wake you so early, but I have something I wish to discuss with you.”
Petra nodded again.
“D-do you know why?” She winced, fearing the worst. The servant girl looked at her sympathetically.
“Nay, your grace.” She said, “But His Highness did sound thoughtful.”
Petra dismissed the girl, then went to the sink to wipe the sleep from her eyes. She looked in the glass and fixed her plain brown hair in a neat bun. Then she slipped into a simple but pretty green-hued dress. She pulled on a pair of black slippers, then headed to the throne room. Her hands had not stopped shaking.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she took deep breaths, trying to prepare herself for what the king was sure to say. As Petra imagined the scene, she cringed inwardly and said a prayer to the gods.
She walked into the large throne room, acutely aware of every step she took. When she dared look up, she saw the king, sitting on his throne with his head resting in his hands. A thoughtful look spread across his face. Petra whispered another prayer.
Petra had always wondered what it would be like to die, but the worst part, she thought, was the fear. The ineffable fear rising within her. She wondered if she would faint right then and there. Just as she was beginning to believe she would, the king looked up.
“Ah, Petra.” He nodded to her, and she managed an awkward curtsy. “I trust you’ve slept well?”
Petra managed a nod.
“Good, I regret having to wake you so early, but I have something I wish to discuss with you.”
Petra nodded again.
Flip, flop, flip, flop….
Her stomach tumbled in a dance, like the many dancers her father used to bring into court.
“It has to do with my son, Proetus.”
Flip, flop, flip, flop...
Petra felt sick. She clutched her skirts tightly.
“He sent you with a note, saying that I ought to have you executed, on account of your apparent attempt to murder his son.” He paused a moment before adding, “My grandson.”
There was a horribly long silence before Petra finally found her voice. “Sire, I am sorry to say that there has been a terrible misunderstanding.” She turned her face to him and pleaded. “The crown prince threatened me, and I attempted to escape. That is all. Surely that is not a crime worthy of death!”
He was a kind man, she thought, softened perhaps with age. “I do not wish this upon you, child. I would not murder an innocent.” He paused again. “However, my son has demanded a punishment, and unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it. If this had all taken place in Lycia, then I may have been able to help you. But that is not the case.”
Petra felt her heart drop to her stomach. Nothing he could do. He would let her die, though she had committed no crime.
She felt nauseous at the injustice. Before she could say so, the king spoke again.
“I do believe, however, that you may not need to die.”
Petra’s ears perked up.
“There may be an exception if you complete a task in favor of the people.”
Petra raised her eyebrows. Her heart started racing. “What task must I complete? I will do anything, truly.”
The king looked down on her kindly. “I admire your bravery. I must consult my son, and see if he might pardon you in this way.”
Petra nodded, trying not to get her hopes up.
Petra felt sick. She clutched her skirts tightly.
“He sent you with a note, saying that I ought to have you executed, on account of your apparent attempt to murder his son.” He paused a moment before adding, “My grandson.”
There was a horribly long silence before Petra finally found her voice. “Sire, I am sorry to say that there has been a terrible misunderstanding.” She turned her face to him and pleaded. “The crown prince threatened me, and I attempted to escape. That is all. Surely that is not a crime worthy of death!”
He was a kind man, she thought, softened perhaps with age. “I do not wish this upon you, child. I would not murder an innocent.” He paused again. “However, my son has demanded a punishment, and unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it. If this had all taken place in Lycia, then I may have been able to help you. But that is not the case.”
Petra felt her heart drop to her stomach. Nothing he could do. He would let her die, though she had committed no crime.
She felt nauseous at the injustice. Before she could say so, the king spoke again.
“I do believe, however, that you may not need to die.”
Petra’s ears perked up.
“There may be an exception if you complete a task in favor of the people.”
Petra raised her eyebrows. Her heart started racing. “What task must I complete? I will do anything, truly.”
The king looked down on her kindly. “I admire your bravery. I must consult my son, and see if he might pardon you in this way.”
Petra nodded, trying not to get her hopes up.
Proetus may just have me killed anyway, and either way, I could die, depending on the task.
She thanked the king and fled to her chambers.
Petra had heard tales and legends about heroes taking on the evils of the world, but had never pictured that hero being her.
She had always been the thief, the bandit, the outcast.
Petra had heard tales and legends about heroes taking on the evils of the world, but had never pictured that hero being her.
She had always been the thief, the bandit, the outcast.
Murderer.
Never the good guy, or the hero. She had always just been Petra.
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She sat on her bed that night, wondering, even if she wasn’t to be executed, what the task would be. Would she be hunting a man or a beast, searching for some hidden treasure, stopping some plot? Petra had not the slightest idea what she would be in for. She just hoped she would come out alive.
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Petra dreamed she was free. In her dream, she ran once more along the golden fields of Corinth, all her worries cast away with the warm east wind. She dreamed of lying in the great, seaside palace, feasting on Corinthian grapes and reading Corinthian books.
The dream was sweet, pleasurable, but it was not to last. Once again she was woken by an intrusive voice. She muttered something incomprehensible and rolled away from the voice. A moment later, strong hands were shaking her shoulders mercilessly. She groaned and opened one eye.
“Go away, I’m trying to sleep.” She muttered, attempting to push her waker away. An unfamiliar quiet, distinctively male voice responded, “Not now you’re not.”
Petra’s eyes flew open and she sat up straight in bed. Instinctively, she pulled the covers up to her chin. To the left of her, she saw the now open window, light flooding in. To the right, there stood a giant bookshelf, and in front of it, was a young man. A very strange young man. He had dirty brown hair and strange green eyes. He smelled faintly of sandalwood and lemongrass. An aura of light asda green floated off of him, almost invisible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She sat on her bed that night, wondering, even if she wasn’t to be executed, what the task would be. Would she be hunting a man or a beast, searching for some hidden treasure, stopping some plot? Petra had not the slightest idea what she would be in for. She just hoped she would come out alive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Petra dreamed she was free. In her dream, she ran once more along the golden fields of Corinth, all her worries cast away with the warm east wind. She dreamed of lying in the great, seaside palace, feasting on Corinthian grapes and reading Corinthian books.
The dream was sweet, pleasurable, but it was not to last. Once again she was woken by an intrusive voice. She muttered something incomprehensible and rolled away from the voice. A moment later, strong hands were shaking her shoulders mercilessly. She groaned and opened one eye.
“Go away, I’m trying to sleep.” She muttered, attempting to push her waker away. An unfamiliar quiet, distinctively male voice responded, “Not now you’re not.”
Petra’s eyes flew open and she sat up straight in bed. Instinctively, she pulled the covers up to her chin. To the left of her, she saw the now open window, light flooding in. To the right, there stood a giant bookshelf, and in front of it, was a young man. A very strange young man. He had dirty brown hair and strange green eyes. He smelled faintly of sandalwood and lemongrass. An aura of light asda green floated off of him, almost invisible.
Must be a sorcerer.
Nay, to good looking for a sorcerer.
Well, whoever he is, he’s a stranger, and he’s in my room.
Say something you fool!
However before she could say anything, the stranger had a hand over her mouth.
“Sshh, don’t worry. I’m not here to hurt you.” His deep voice held a sage note, suggesting a much older owner. He carefully removed his hand. “I’m here to help you.” He stood to his full height and then added, “But I can’t do that if you won’t get out of that bed.”
Petra’s eyes were wide open, but her mouth remained shut. Whoever this was, he didn’t seem to be her enemy, but she wasn’t prepared to trust him either. When she finally deemed it alright to speak, her mouth seemed extremely dry. She cleared her throat then, “Really?” was all she managed.
However before she could say anything, the stranger had a hand over her mouth.
“Sshh, don’t worry. I’m not here to hurt you.” His deep voice held a sage note, suggesting a much older owner. He carefully removed his hand. “I’m here to help you.” He stood to his full height and then added, “But I can’t do that if you won’t get out of that bed.”
Petra’s eyes were wide open, but her mouth remained shut. Whoever this was, he didn’t seem to be her enemy, but she wasn’t prepared to trust him either. When she finally deemed it alright to speak, her mouth seemed extremely dry. She cleared her throat then, “Really?” was all she managed.
“Aye.” The stranger said, “I’ve come to help you with your task.”
Petra cocked her head to the side. “Generally when someone wants to help you, they don’t sneak into your room when you’re asleep.”
The stranger nodded acceptingly. “Like you said; generally.” He smiled apologetically. “Unfortunately, this is no general situation.”
“Oh, and on that note, what exactly is this situation?”
The stranger nodded again. “I am here to help you with something very important.”
Petra dragged a hand through her hair. “Yes, but what!?”
He chuckled. “I apologize. I wasn’t aware that you didn’t know.” He looked her in the eyes. “I am here to help you with the Chimera.”
Petra’s eyes opened wide. “What in Olympus is the Chimera?”
“The Chimera, Miss Sarpedon, is a mythical creature, who just so happens to be real.”
Petra nodded slowly. “What kind of mythical creature are we speaking of?” She asked, scared to know the answer.
The stranger’s expression was unreadable. “Well, it has been described as a lion, with the head of a goat arising from its back, and a tail that might end with a snake's head.”
Petra’s eyes widened. “Might?!” She exclaimed, “What madness is this?!”
His face remained blank. “Well, Miss Saedon, as you also may know, the king is willing to set you free if you complete a task for the people.” Something flickered in his eyes that Petra couldn’t quite place. “The beast I described, is your task. Or rather, the killing of it.”
Petra almost fainted. “I am supposed to kill something that great warriors haven’t? That’s impossible!! How does the king expect that I do this?”
The stranger made a small, strange noise in his throat. “Well, quite frankly, he doesn’t.” At her look, he explained. “King Lobates’ son wants you dead, aye?” She nodded. “Well, the easiest way to accomplish that, without raising a riot, is to have you sent off as a hero, to kill the mighty Chimera.” He swallowed. “When you meet your almost certain death, the people will see it as an unfortunate coincidence, rather than tyranny.”
Petra once again found herself feeling woozy.
“W-what?” She said, falling back on her bed.
The stranger gave her a sympathetic look. “I know, it is horrible.” He paused. “But King Lobates has given you mercy.” A faint smile danced across his face briefly. “In the form of me.”
Petra snorted. “And why would you be considered a mercy?”
His smile faded. “Nobody told you?”
Petra rolled her eyes. “Nobody here tells me anything.”
Ignoring her comment, he explained. “Well, I may have some, um, talents, that could be of use.”
Petra groaned. “Pray, do me a favor and get to the point!”
The stranger waited a moment, then nodded. “Well, my name is Elias, Seer of Lycia.”
Petra stared at him for a moment. A Seer. It couldn’t be true, could it? Those with the Sight had been outlawed seven years ago, after the Apollo-Aeris war. It must be a setup. But why? Petra decided it best to play along for now.
“I’m Petra Saedon, Princess of Corinth.” She said. “But you clearly already knew that.”
A small smile played across his lips. “Indeed.” He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. “We really should be going, the king wishes to see you one last time before you go.”
She gulped. There was something about the way he said it, that made her think it really would be the last time. Petra nodded anyway. “Where are we going?”
Elias smoothed his dark apparel. “Well, the Chimera currently resides in the north, but if we take the given path, we will have ourselves a good week of riding ahead of us.”
“So?”
“Well, the king’s timeframe is two and a half months, meaning we will have about two months left to prepare and defeat the Chimera.” He paused. “And, well, that’s just not enough on our own.”
Petra’s stomach turned again at the enormous task in front of her. “What are we going to do about it?”
Elias thought for a moment. “It is my strong belief that it will be nearly impossible to slay this beast alone. Therefore, I suggest you employ the services of some other beast.” He paused. “Fight fire with fire.”
“I understand.” Petra agreed. “What other beast do you have in mind?”
Elias knelt, reaching into his pack, and pulled out an enlarged map of Lycia Minor. There were notes written in some other language covering the borders. A red line encircled a city in the far east, labeled in the same language.
“There is a legend, about a creature that lives in Chrónos. It has been referred to as Πήγασος.” He pointed at the city in red. “Pegasus, I believe, in your language.”
Petra’s heart faltered. Pegasus. Her heart pounded.
Petra cocked her head to the side. “Generally when someone wants to help you, they don’t sneak into your room when you’re asleep.”
The stranger nodded acceptingly. “Like you said; generally.” He smiled apologetically. “Unfortunately, this is no general situation.”
“Oh, and on that note, what exactly is this situation?”
The stranger nodded again. “I am here to help you with something very important.”
Petra dragged a hand through her hair. “Yes, but what!?”
He chuckled. “I apologize. I wasn’t aware that you didn’t know.” He looked her in the eyes. “I am here to help you with the Chimera.”
Petra’s eyes opened wide. “What in Olympus is the Chimera?”
“The Chimera, Miss Sarpedon, is a mythical creature, who just so happens to be real.”
Petra nodded slowly. “What kind of mythical creature are we speaking of?” She asked, scared to know the answer.
The stranger’s expression was unreadable. “Well, it has been described as a lion, with the head of a goat arising from its back, and a tail that might end with a snake's head.”
Petra’s eyes widened. “Might?!” She exclaimed, “What madness is this?!”
His face remained blank. “Well, Miss Saedon, as you also may know, the king is willing to set you free if you complete a task for the people.” Something flickered in his eyes that Petra couldn’t quite place. “The beast I described, is your task. Or rather, the killing of it.”
Petra almost fainted. “I am supposed to kill something that great warriors haven’t? That’s impossible!! How does the king expect that I do this?”
The stranger made a small, strange noise in his throat. “Well, quite frankly, he doesn’t.” At her look, he explained. “King Lobates’ son wants you dead, aye?” She nodded. “Well, the easiest way to accomplish that, without raising a riot, is to have you sent off as a hero, to kill the mighty Chimera.” He swallowed. “When you meet your almost certain death, the people will see it as an unfortunate coincidence, rather than tyranny.”
Petra once again found herself feeling woozy.
“W-what?” She said, falling back on her bed.
The stranger gave her a sympathetic look. “I know, it is horrible.” He paused. “But King Lobates has given you mercy.” A faint smile danced across his face briefly. “In the form of me.”
Petra snorted. “And why would you be considered a mercy?”
His smile faded. “Nobody told you?”
Petra rolled her eyes. “Nobody here tells me anything.”
Ignoring her comment, he explained. “Well, I may have some, um, talents, that could be of use.”
Petra groaned. “Pray, do me a favor and get to the point!”
The stranger waited a moment, then nodded. “Well, my name is Elias, Seer of Lycia.”
Petra stared at him for a moment. A Seer. It couldn’t be true, could it? Those with the Sight had been outlawed seven years ago, after the Apollo-Aeris war. It must be a setup. But why? Petra decided it best to play along for now.
“I’m Petra Saedon, Princess of Corinth.” She said. “But you clearly already knew that.”
A small smile played across his lips. “Indeed.” He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. “We really should be going, the king wishes to see you one last time before you go.”
She gulped. There was something about the way he said it, that made her think it really would be the last time. Petra nodded anyway. “Where are we going?”
Elias smoothed his dark apparel. “Well, the Chimera currently resides in the north, but if we take the given path, we will have ourselves a good week of riding ahead of us.”
“So?”
“Well, the king’s timeframe is two and a half months, meaning we will have about two months left to prepare and defeat the Chimera.” He paused. “And, well, that’s just not enough on our own.”
Petra’s stomach turned again at the enormous task in front of her. “What are we going to do about it?”
Elias thought for a moment. “It is my strong belief that it will be nearly impossible to slay this beast alone. Therefore, I suggest you employ the services of some other beast.” He paused. “Fight fire with fire.”
“I understand.” Petra agreed. “What other beast do you have in mind?”
Elias knelt, reaching into his pack, and pulled out an enlarged map of Lycia Minor. There were notes written in some other language covering the borders. A red line encircled a city in the far east, labeled in the same language.
“There is a legend, about a creature that lives in Chrónos. It has been referred to as Πήγασος.” He pointed at the city in red. “Pegasus, I believe, in your language.”
Petra’s heart faltered. Pegasus. Her heart pounded.
When was the last time I heard that name?
Her stomach clenched with memories of Pegasus and Chrysaor, happily together. Alive.
Elias gave her a look, and Petra buried her memories, her pain. She nodded slowly. “So we are to use Pegasus to defeat the Chimera? Won’t that simply add to the amount of time it takes to complete this task?”
Elias folded the map. “It may push our time limits, but it will most likely increase the chances of your survival.”
Petra thought quietly for a moment.
“So, princess,” Elias interrupted. “What say you?”
Petra ran a finger over the rune of bravery implanted on her arm.
“I will go.”
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Elias folded the map. “It may push our time limits, but it will most likely increase the chances of your survival.”
Petra thought quietly for a moment.
“So, princess,” Elias interrupted. “What say you?”
Petra ran a finger over the rune of bravery implanted on her arm.
“I will go.”
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