Pirate's Hideout
I left Sparta with Atalante. We decided to move quietly, concealing our identities. First, we boarded a small boat at Sparta's harbor and sailed down the Eurotas River.
As we floated along for a good while, the city at the river's mouth came into view.
"Is that Helos? Atalante."
"Seems like it. This is my first time coming this far south, too."
Helos was Sparta's ally and a port city. Since Sparta had no navy of its own, they borrowed ships from ports like this whenever needed. Though called allies, it felt more like a vassal state under Sparta's influence.
"I can already smell the sea. Makes me crave some seafood."
"Couldn't agree more."
Atalante looked genuinely sympathetic. Truth be told, we'd suffered greatly from Sparta's wretched cuisine in recent times. I vented my pent-up frustration.
"Atalante, their tables were brutal. Crusty barley bread and black blood sausage reeking of pig—those were the staples. And everyone ate the same slop, from slaves to nobles."
Once, I'd even seen an Athenian envoy at the palace complain that pigs back home wouldn't touch such fare. No wonder I was thrilled at the prospect of seafood.
"Seafood's so good, you barely need to cook it. Our hardships end here."
"Right. Grilled clams or shrimp are delicacies on their own. When you said you were leaving the palace, I was itching to follow—my butt was practically bouncing."
"Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
At the docks, boats that had gone out at dawn were returning laden with catch. The small vessels hadn't even touched shore yet, but workers were already leaping into the sea, racing to unload first for extra pay. They hustled fish after fish ashore, and soon the market stalls opened.
"Atalante, I'll pick the fish—you grab some charcoal."
"Got it."
I bought heaps of sea bream, clams, shrimp, and more, settling in a quiet corner by the beach. Soon Atalante arrived with a wineskin of grape juice, charcoal, and bread. We lit a fire right there and grilled the fish, clams, and shrimp.
Sizzle.
The savory aroma wafted everywhere. Even the ever-stoic Atalante swallowed hard in anticipation. In moments like this, she still seemed girlish—endearingly so.
"Atalante, dig in. These grilled shrimp are out of this world."
It had been ages since a proper meal. Liberated from Sparta's culinary hell, we devoured the bounty, faces smudged with soot, grinning like fools.
"Peleus, try some bread."
Atalante tore off a piece and handed it over. Sharing a meal like this suddenly made us feel closer. Then again, we'd sworn blood oaths before the goddesses of vengeance—our bond was unbreakable now.
We were reveling seaside in high spirits when footsteps approached—crunch, crunch.
"Um..."
A small voice drew near. It was a ragged urchin boy, barely ten, lower half scantily wrapped in cloth.
"Haven't eaten in days... The smell drew me here. Can I have fish scraps?"
He sucked his fingers, eyeing even the tiniest scraps on the bones. Filthy and reeking as he was, I fetched a large rock and made him a seat on the spot.
"Come here. No scraps—you eat with us."
Atalante rose, took his hand, and sat him beside us. She even deboned fish and fed him herself. She had such a tender side. She'd make a fine mother someday.
"Hungry? Eat as much as you want."
"Really? Thank you! Can I bring my siblings?"
"Of course. Go fetch them."
"Yay!"
The boy dropped his fish and bolted. But I was stunned when a horde of kids swarmed us.
"Where are your parents?"
So many urchins—how?
"...Gone."
"Gone?"
"Yeah. Su-sin's minions took them."
"Su-sin's minions? What do you mean?"
The sharpest, oldest one—the gang leader—spoke for them.
"Su-sin's an evil god. The fiendish sea demon worshipped by the half-fish 'seafolk.'"
"Seafolk?"
"You land-dwellers must not know. Monstrous things live in the sea. Poseidon kept them in check before, but lately they're rampant—who knows why."
"They kidnapped your parents?"
The leader's face clouded with grief. Oops, I'd been too blunt. Atalante pinched me reproachfully.
"S-sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up pain..."
"It's fine. Water under the bridge. Many fishermen vanished, snatched by Su-sin's minions. Boats return empty, crews gone. Folks pray to Poseidon, but it only worsens."
All the kids had lost parents the same way, he said.
"Seafolk are half-human, half-fish, right? What do they look like exactly?"
"Fish faces, gills on necks. Human bodies, but toad-like skin. Way stronger than us. Some as big as whales. Be careful if you sail, mister."
"Hmm..."
An unexpected sea problem. I whispered to Atalante.
"Poseidon's a great god—even Zeus treads lightly. Su-sin, though? Lowly minor deity, not even in the Olympian pantheon. Infamous for evil, sure, but he can't strut in Poseidon's domain... right?"
Atalante tilted her head.
"I've heard Su-sin only stirs minor trouble at sea. Fled from Poseidon's sons after rampages."
"Exactly. If he's sane, he wouldn't dare."
At my puzzlement, Atalante ventured a guess.
"What if something's happened to Poseidon? Some crisis leaving him unable to mind his seas?"
"No clue what that could be."
I knew zilch about the deep. No mermaid pals for gossip. What was brewing down there?
Questions aside, I wouldn't halt for Naxos Island. Securing Endymion was our sole strike against Artemis now.
"Let's find a merchant ship to the Cyclades. Even rough seas won't stop traffic there."
Cyclades had inhabited isles like Amorgos, Andros, Syros, Naxos. Regular cargo runs—easy hitch with fare.
I gave the kids some silver and scouted ships. Routes thinned due to Su-sin's minions, but we found one.
"Welcome. From Sparta? Thought you lot had no coin—what'll pay passage?"
The captain seemed decent. I offered an Athenian 'owl silver'—universally prized. He beamed.
"Plenty. We sail dawn tomorrow."
"Heard seas are treacherous lately—is it true?"
"Aye. But I've sailed these waters thirty years. I know safe paths—no worries. If Su-sin's goons show? Kiss your ass goodbye. Haha."
Cheerful fellow. Ship departed as promised: thirty meters, loaded with wine, olives, staples.
"Ah, the sea breeze. Now if only pirates show—perfect adventure."
I half-hoped. Legends always tangled with pirates once. Even Caesar got nabbed.
"Too many adventure epics, Peleus. Captain said safest route."
At Atalante's jab, I feigned offense.
"Kid like you, no dreams? Old soul? At sea, you gotta pirate-wrestle for romance."
"Fine. I'll pray to Poseidon for pirates special."
She joked, but two days out—no sign. Instead, something far worse.
"Aaaagh!"
Screams as folk tumbled. Storm hit. Our 'big' ship? Toy in the swells. Capsize any second.
Whoosh! Torrents poured, thunder cracked.
Rumble! Boom!
"Captain—flooding!"
"Jettison cargo! We'll sink!"
Chaos. Crew dumped goods, patched holes nonstop. Sea-noob me huddled, vowing never again.
"Gods... Secret One, help."
How long? By dawn, calm as if dreamed.
"Poseidon saved us!"
"Thank you! We live!"
Crew and merchants bowed seaward. Landlubbers Atalante and I just gaped, pale. She'd been scared too. I took her hand; she leaned limply on my shoulder.
"It's okay now. It'll be fine."
But trouble brewed then. That evening, captain tore hair, howling.
"No idea where we are!"
Lost. Storm swept us off course. He had zero bearings.
"Hard to reach Naxos now?"
He shook head.
"Not Naxos—any land."
"Damn."
Adrift. And we'd dumped most food, water. Too many aboard—days at best.
"Unbelievable."
Sea terrified. Even me, Calydonian boar-slayer, cornered.
My rations? Soaked mush. Grain flour—thirst trap.
"Sigh."
Five days passed.
* * *
"Ugh... dying."
Regression's worst? Triumphs crushed by sea. Starvation's bearable; thirst? Agony. Salt wind parched us worse.
"Atalante, you okay?"
"...Holding."
She slumped against me. Shared suffering bonded us fast. We'd bickered over the last water sip.
"Glad you're here, Atalante. Solo would've broken me."
"Same, Peleus."
We clung hands at rail, dazed. Others mute, vacant. No wind, rowers spent. Captain quit; ship drifted blindly.
End my apocalypse-avenger saga here? Powerless mid-ocean.
Then—a thrilled shout.
"Ship! Ship!"
What?
Folk surged railward.
"Real ship! Saved!"
Captain teared up. But glee turned dread.
Closer, identity clear.
"Pirates. Definitely."
"Armed!"
Terror gripped all. These pirates merciless: loot all, enslave rest. Resist? Dismembered, fish food.
"Dead... we're done."
Despair. Some pitied Atalante—stunning beauty's fate obvious.
But she bloomed radiant smile. First time so bright.
"Peleus, pirates mean food, right?"
I grinned too.
"Obviously."
Bliss. Legally loot, smash—rushing right to us.
Heh. Lips curled wide.
"Atalante, since it's come to this, raid their lair. Ship's wrecked. Raze base, enslave 'em as rowers to Naxos."
"Brilliant. Brand 'em slaves. Pirates deserve it. Perfect catch."
Starved, parched, venomous. Me too—eyes spun at sight.
"Kuhuhu."
"Uhuhu."
Sinister chuckles poured from us unending.