Favoured Ones

Chapter II

Midday. The sun was high.

The air was hot but not unpleasantly so, in another situation I might have stopped to bask in it, maybe sprawled myself flat against a large boulder like a snake and absorbed its warmth. However, in this moment, my skin was uncomfortably damp with sweat, legs heavy and eyes constantly pinched because of its intense brightness and the constant inclining gradient of the land.

Not long ago I had found myself on this mountain path, taken aback by the sudden change in scenery for a while, I'd simply stood, slack mouthed in shock.

From barren to bountiful. The landscape was no longer blank and void but bursting with colourful life. Just a few feet away, off of the red-dust path- was a field of wildflowers and clover; not far after were thick groves of yellow flowered gorse, broad grasses and stubbornly slanted trees of various sizes. Everything was growing in fertile abundance, making the rugged mountainsides look youthful and lush.

As I had been admiring a symphony of soft cacophonous songs from the native birds, I did not see the group of people round the corner, nor hear the noisy crunching of rock under foot and hoof as they approached.

"Hey!" I jumped, visibly flinching as I tore away from my reprieve. I stared mind numbed by the group of ten, all dressed in various earthy toned cloaks and white toga-like outfits, some sat on horses, stooped over in uncomfortable positions and swaying precariously.

The man who had shouted at me strode forth with gusto, glaring down at me.
"Woman, if you won't move forward then move aside so my horses may pass." he growled, face twisted in a scowl.

"Oh, uh sorry." I stuttered and stepped back into the grassy edge of the path.

I watched as they passed me, their clothes reminded me of the sort worn by people of ancient times, like the recreations I'd seen hung up on display in museums. I looked down at myself, I too was dawned a white toga... no way.

"Yer look lost." Someone said, stopping next to me.

An older woman, aged face framed by many swirling tendrils of silver hair, smiled expectantly at me. When words failed me, I nodded –only then remembering I needed to breathe out to gasp again.

"Well, we're heading to the temple, if yer wanna tag along." her face faltered when I again failed to reply; by now probably thinking I was a lone mad woman who had a spectacular talent for impersonating a dead fish.

"Ah, wait!" I called. Quickly, I caught up with the group, coming upalongside the woman now eyeing me with caution, "Sorry, just, where is this place?" She looked at me sympathetically, taking my hand and resting it in the crock of her elbow

"Yer in Delphi, and up there," she pointed upwards, speaking painfully slowly, "is a Temple of Asclepius, where you- we are gonna get some help." she definitely thought I was mad.

An Asclepius Temple, the prototype hospital started to pop up around ancient Grecian times.

"What...year is it?" hesitance writhe in my throat. She frowned.

"I don't know about year, but, the big 'fellas just made Athens the capital. If that helps yer."

I had to stop my knees from shaking as to keep my steps steady. I was along way away from home now.

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