Turning Tables and Broken Glass

Internal Strife

Let me go back to Mavros and explain what happened to him. After gaining immortality, he crossed over easily and came up to the southern city of Demaska. Before entering, he threw his mask in a nearby river. It hit a rock and broke in half, sinking to the bottom with the happy mask on top of the sad one. He ventured the city for a week collecting information about the outcome of the war; at night, he would observe the politicians. He believed that Kokkino and Kryzos had won even without his help so it came as a surprise when he overheard the politicians happily talking about the ‘m******e’.

Feeling sadness and heaviness in his heart, he tailed the politician he had overheard, to find out exactly what happened. When he cornered him, he pulled out his dagger and the politician spilled everything he knew. He told Mavros that the war was a huge loss for Ptolemy and that all had been slain except for the two generals who had been taken prisoners. “Where are they being held?” asked Mavros.

“In the Capital. Please spare me my Lord,” he answered squeamishly.

Immediately Mavros, upon hearing that his brothers were still alive, rushed to where they were. It would take him two weeks to reach the capital so he began walking. “By Heracles, I will free you my brothers!” He cried to the wind.

In prison, Kryzos and Kokkino’s cells were adjacent to each other. Just knowing that the other was still alive gave them even greater hope. They began planning a way to escape but found it difficult to remove the chains and open the cells. They both discussed what they would first do when they left their chains. Kokkino wanted to hit the bottle and Kryzos was dying for a night with a girl. They talked for hours until both fell asleep.

In the morning, Kokkino was awoken by the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. She came to bring the brothers food. “Who are you girl? Why are you bringing me food?”

“My name is Bianca. Its common courtesy to introduce yourself before you ask another for their name,” she replied with a smile.

“Where are my manners? I’m sorry, my lady, I am Kokkino, grand general of Ptolemy. And may I say that you are a gentle beauty, a true sight to behold for someone so wretched.”

“It’s nice to meet you sir. I’ve been asked to bring you food daily and will be coming around quite often.”

“Then everyday shall be a pleasure,” he said with a smirk, to which she smiled.

She then went to Kryzos’ cell to deliver the rest of the food. When he saw her, his heart raced and his blood began burning. “Lady Venus is that you?”

Bianca smiled and said “No sir, my name is Bianca. I’ve been asked to deliver food to you and the other man daily.”

“You are a beautiful woman, my lady Bianca. your face, your body, your hair, they all must have been crafted by the gods. My name is Kryzos and I would happily serve you.”

“You are too kind sir,” she said as she smiled.

As she left, both men sighed and sunk into the floor. They were both overcome with her pleasantries. Their minds danced around the idea of holding her, touching her and seeing her smile again. Their hearts had been swayed but they did not tell one another. Bianca came around everyday, for fourteen days, until Mavros finally arrived in the capital.

Bianca was a nobleman’s daughter. Her father was Duke Theseus, the man who governed the city. He was a shrewd man, one that Fortune favoured quite often. Bianca was a gentle soul. She had no hate anywhere inside of her. She volunteered to bring food to the prisoners, as no one else would even bother. Her kindness knew no equal, unlike her father. Bianca prayed to the goddess Diana daily. She honoured the goddess for keeping her a maiden and thanked her for her generosity. When Bianca was not helping out others, she would be at home assisting her mother with the housework. She was a girl every man wished to marry.

When Mavros came to the capital he inquired about the two prisoners and discovered that they were being held in the prison tower at the edge of the city. He hurried there to find out the prison was heavily guarded. Scanning from afar, he noticed an open window high up on the tower. He went back into town and purchased a spear and some rope. He tied the rope to the spear and threw it in the window. He was hoping that as he pulled on the rope the spear would secure him. It took a few tries before he got the spear into position but as soon as he did he was up inside the window. He noticed as he looked around that he was inside a large corridor with prison cells on either side. He walked quietly, for fear of guards, trying to find his brothers. “Mavros is that you?” whispered a voice.

“Who’s there?”

“Brother, its me Kokkino,” he said as he came towards the light.

“Kokkino, my dear brother, I am glad you are safe. I’ve come to rescue you by Heracles.”

“It’s a blessing to see you alive brother. We believed you perished at the southern border.”

“I did but Fortune was on my side. All my men were lost, unfortunately. I grieve dearly for them but to be able to rescue you is a gift from the goddess herself.”

“Kryzos is here as well,” he said as he called out for him, “with you here we can escape.”

The two brothers told Mavros where the keys to the cells were. Luckily Mavros was skilled in sneaking around and retrieved them from the prison guards within an hour or so. He freed his brothers and they all escaped down the window together. As soon as they escaped they ran out of the city towards the forest. There they dwelled for a time while Mavros would sneak into town to continuously bring them food.

“Alright brothers, what’s the plan? Shall we head out through the desert back to Ptolemy or shall we find a caravan to sneak us out?” said Mavros.

“We shall brother, as soon as I can find her,” said Kryzos.

“Find who brother?”

“The one who stole my heart; a maiden by the name Bianca.”

“Did you say Bianca?” hissed Kokkino, “Bianca belongs to me!”

“What is this treachery brother? Who has a claim to her but me?”

“Claim? Did I not talk to her first? I introduced myself to her and she was pleased. The girl is mine.”

“What is going on?” questioned Mavros.

“While in prison, a beautiful girl would bring us food. I found her quite pleasing and I wish to make her mine before we leave,” answered Kokkino.

“She belongs to no one but me.”

“She’s mine!” yelled Kokkino, pulling out Mars’ spear out of thin air.

“Woah, how’d you do that?” exclaimed Mavros.

“Fight me brother, the winner can have her.”

“I’m not stupid enough to fight a gorilla like you.”

Suddenly Kokkino jumped at Kryzos but he dodged and got out of the way. Kokkino followed with furious attacks but he missed and hit the trees, which crumbled as soon as the spear touched them. Kryzos fled towards town and Kokkino chased him, knocking down tree after tree, as Kryzos dodged his moves. Mavros ran after them but when he heard the sound of many footsteps he stopped and hid behind a tree.

Duke Theseus heard the commotion the brothers were making. He gathered a squad and followed the destruction. Mavros could see about 20 men with the Duke but he could do nothing to warn his brothers. In a moment, they were surrounded by Theseus’ men. “Wretched Ptolemies. You can’t even hide correctly,” he snarked. When they heard him they both turned around to see a squad of soldiers pointing their bows at them.

“Look what you’ve done brother. Now we must return to that prison once again,” Kokkino yelled at Kryzos.

“Me? Was it not you that attacked me first?”

“Look at the two rats fight. No wonder they lost, they can’t even work together,” remarked the duke proudly, “what’s the matter? Did you two have a falling out?” he mocked. Paying him no mind, the brothers continued arguing about Bianca. This infuriated the duke. “How dare you ingrates fight over my daughter? She is above the likes of you scum. Chain them up.” Mavros saw his brother being chained up and sent back to prison once again. He followed the soldiers to a prison within the heart of the capital. The place was guarded by dozens of guards; sneaking in was impossible. Mavros retreated so as not to be seen. He needed to figure out a way to free them again.