Tides of Fate

Chapter Seven: Seafaring

Theodoros

I stood at the bow of the ship, the wind whipping my hair from my face as I gazed out at the endless expanse of sea.
It still excited and enthralled me, just as it had since I was a kid and my mother, Chrysa, would take me on walks every evening just to see it.
I missed her dearly.
Six years had passed since Phoebus took me under his wing and we'd left Delphi.
I'd grown into a strong, fierce warrior, strategist, and sailor.
I'd face monsters and men, learning from the best fleet commander and his crew that had gained a name for themselves as the Heroes of the South.
Apollo's temple had been recovered from the rebels, our fight for the Gods taking us further north than Phoebus had planned, wanting to stay away from the waters near Olympus.
We'd saved another two temples, one of Athena and another of Zeus, but we knew our efforts would be in vain if we didn't do something...drastic.
For my sixteenth birthday, Phoebus let me command his forces into battle against one of the rebels main fleets.
We'd lured them into a narrow cliff strip near a lair of sirens.
All we had to do is collect enough beeswax to ensure the songs couldn't penetrate and lure one of our own.
That had honestly been the hardest part of the whole plan, but it had worked nonetheless.
It had taken us two years to venture back.
I now stood as tall as Phoebus, though not as wide, I held my own in battle and on the ship, earning the respect of the crew well past the adoration they had for me as a boy.
Rumours even swirled among the men - if I had to bet who'd started it, Polites would be my only bet - that I was a God in disguise, but I knew the truth - I was the grandson of Eros, though I'd never breathed a word of it to anyone.
I'd known since I was eight, after first meeting Phoebus and having my first vision from the Gods.
Since then, I had many visions and found my strength and healing abilities were well above the average mortal after I'd recovered from an infection when Lykos had broken my arm when I was twelve.
These and the personal gifts I received from the Gods ensured I had to be careful.
The presence of rebels who hated the Gods, even their mortal-born children, threatened not only our temples but our very lives. They had grown in numbers in the north, where a lot of mortals gave up long ago, too far gone that any small token of love to the Gods was overshadowed by the bloodshed and greed of the mortals.
I hadn't even confided in Phoebus, my commander and mentor. Not because I didn't trust him with my life, I saw the man as a father figure, and he's raised me as his own since he'd met me.
But, because I had my suspicions about him and Polites, his second-in-command. They seemed almost... divine.
The way they moved with effortless ease, their uncanny strength and agility in battle, the way the seas themselves seemed to obey their commands.
That and their almost defiant display of their patrons' emblems.
And Polites damn laugh.
I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on my work, excited, replacing my 'wild theories' as my mother called them.
We were finally heading back to Delphi, and I couldn't wait to see her again. I hoped she was waiting for us, that she'd remained safe and sound in our absence.
I hated leaving her, but the visions and gifts I received, and the ones I know she received as well, told me we both had our own destinies to follow.
I'd been concerned about Lykos attempting anything, only for Polites to reveal he'd had the man restationed.
On a desert island near the lair of Scylla.
Without a boat or town in sight.
Phoebus approached me, his eyes squinting against the sun. "Theo, my boy, we're almost to port. You ready?"
I nodded, my heart swelling with emotion. "I was born ready, Commander." I stood, grinning up at him. "Think Ma will be proud?"
He clapped me on the back, a small smile playing on his lips. "You've become a true warrior, son. A credit to your family's name. Your mother will be more than proud. Just like I am."
I felt a surge of pride at his words, but also a hint of trepidation.
Would Ma even recognise me?
I touched the breastplate of my armour, beneath was my opal shell, the one my mother had the other half of.
I prayed every night, to every God, even those long dead, just as she'd taught me, knowing she was doing the same thing in the temple or our small home.
Sometimes, I prayed to her, hoping she could hear me like I imagined I heard her some nights.
I cast a glance across the ocean, seeing the islands starting to come into view as minute smudges on the horizon, my heart racing.
I turned. "Hey, Uncle Sophos!" I called, spotting the large man unfurling rope.
He rose his head, the sun shining off the freshly shaven dark head.
"What boy?" He clipped, still pissed at me for beating him in an arm wrestle last night.
I smirked, grabbing my golden spear from the rack of weapons and seeing Sophos' face light up. "What'd you say we go fishing?"
Both Sophos and I were the strongest swimmers, behind the commander of course - if you could ever get him in the actual water - but we were also the best fishermen onboard.
Within the hour, we had stripped and dove ahead of the ship into the cold, serene depths.
With my net set up dragging behind the ship, we used my spear-throwing accuracy and Sophos hawk-like eyesight to pull back a haul enough to feed us for the rest of our three-day journey back home.
We'd even managed to spear a Goliath groper, a fish I hadn't seen in the waters of Delphi before.
Phoebus chuckled at my awe, asking if I was really surprised my mother had appeased the Gods so well, they brought them to our waters.
I simply asked him if my mother had pleased him enough he did it.
I had to run away, thankful for my quick speed and dodging ability, so I avoided the chock of wood he threw at me in response.
Polites, Sophos and Mikos had laughed, each copping their own pieces of wood to the sides of the face.
Phoebus got me back later by shoving me into the tide with the longboat when we'd pulled into the isle of Marka for a meeting with another fleet.
My armour was wet for an entire day.