THE INSUPERABLE: Death and Decay

Part 8

Kalib slept peacefully, a bit of saliva rolled down his cheek, his snores were thundering. A fly zoomed above his head making an irritable sound. Kalib however was sleeping far too soundly to notice. The fly landed on his cheek, it stood still for a while but then out of nowhere flew into Kalib's nose. The man jumped up from his slumber and landed feet first on the bed. "Malaka!" Kalib yelled, scratching his nose violently. During all the chaos Acastus fell from his chair. "Kalib you barbarian, what in Hera's good name are you doing? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Acastus exclaimed, standing up from the floor. Kalib observed his surroundings with a confused face. The room was large, Kalib did not have to duck his head, for the roof was high, the bed was perfectly his size, it might even be a bit larger. Next to the bed stood a cup that could fit perfectly in his hand. "Acastus? Am I dead? Or did I shrink?"

Kalib observed himself intently. "No Misthios," Acastus laughed, "we're inside Azgultan, everything seems massive to me, but I knew you'd like it, you fit in perfectly," Acastus chuckled. "Azgultan? How... how did we get here?" Kalib tilted his head. "Well after you pulled the sack over my head and tied me to that post, I merely heard screaming and fighting, then silence. Suddenly everything got bright and the sack disintegrated from my face. It was hard to see due to the incredibly bright light but I saw a golden lady. She floated in the air then the ship raised from the water, we flew all the way here. We landed in the middle of town, the minotaurs immediately grabbed you and took you to this room." "The lady, where is she?" Kalib asked. "She asked that once you recovered you should come to see her, there are two minotaurs waiting outside, they'll escort us."

Kalib nodded his head and proceeded to get dressed. He started looking around frantically. "Where's my pickaxe?" Kalib became uneasy. He started moving things around searching tirelessly. "Kalib calm down." "Where is it?!" Kalib yelled. Acastus was shocked he had never seen Kalib so angry. "Relax Kalib, it's probably still on the ship."

Kalib extended his hand out, rotating around the room trying to see if the pickaxe wouldn't fly to his hand, it did not.

"Kalib stop it, you look ridiculous, come we'll go see the lady, maybe she has it with her," Acastus spoke in a calming tone. "Fine, I'm sorry, you're right Acastus, there's no point in getting worked up, it is probably just with the lady," Kalib got dressed and the two left the room.

Outside stood two minotaur warriors. They were gigantic, they resembled bulls, but stood on two legs, they were extremely muscular, not a shred of fat could be found on their chiseled bodies. Acastus marveled at the impressive beasts standing before him, but to Kalib they did not seem too impressive. The one minotaur stopped in front of Kalib, he stood so close Kalib could smell his breath. "snort, you're a big one, Snort." The minotaur snorted, sending snot flying everywhere. He had a powerful voice, Kalib squinted, for the minotaur's voice hurt his ears. Acastus reached just below the waist of the minotaur, he had to look up at the beast. Kalib however looked the minotaur straight in its glowing eyes. "And You're smaller than I thought, " Kalib smiled. "To regular humans we look like gods, snort, but you...well, I don't know what they feed you, but it's working, snort," The Minotaur had a serious look on his face, he observed Kalib up and down, then suddenly began to laugh. "Snort relax guza, I'm not trying to pick a fight, I heard what you did to those sirens, I'm not about to piss off a man that killed six sirens snort," the minotaur chuckled. Kalib smiled, "Where did you hear that story?" "Snort, you can stop being modest guza, the lady tells no lies, only truths. Granted you got your ass handed to you in the end, but only by the seventh one, I haven't heard of a single being that survived one, Snort, you have my respect, guza," the minotaur smiled.

"Well, consider me honored, I am Kalib of Ambracia and this is my companion Acastus," Kalib introduced himself. "Snort, there's another one? Forgive me, guza, I did not see you down there. Snort, this is as you guzas call it humorous. The biggest guza I've ever seen and the smallest." The minotaur laughed loudly. Acastus covered his ears. "I'm not that small," Acastus murmured. "He might be small, but that works in his favor, he's quite nimble, quick on his feet," Kalib smiled. "Snort, well consider it a pleasure, I am Grozak, son of Gormaz the chieftain of the long claws, snort," Grozak slammed his fist onto his chest and gave a subtle bow. "You have a chieftain? I thought the lady ruled here?" Kalib asked curiously. " Snort, oh, she does guza, you see minotaurs have clans. Here in Azgultan, there are five, in your tongue they are, the long claws, razorbacks, iron tusks, chargers, and death mongers. Each has a chieftain, the chieftains oversee everyday matters, together they make rules and keep order, they are allowed to do what they believe is right, as long as it's within the lady's beliefs, snort," Grozak explained. "So the chieftains rule together, no conflict or fights?" Acastus asked. "Snort, your fathers might have told you stories, calling my people savage animals that act first and ask questions second, and yes some of that is true, but we don't fight amongst ourselves, we are a rational people, especially under the lady's guidance.snort. Come guza, there will be plenty of time to speak afterward, it's rude to keep the lady waiting, and I warn you, not all minotaurs are as civil as me, stay close".