Charlotte A. Michaud's: Earth Man

490 BC

The very first Greek games are underway.  Centuries later they will be called the Olympics.  Today they are a contest for trade status and to honor Zeus and the new gods.  Every Greek national participates by sending their best athlete.  Alezander who is from the secluded polis of Coronea, just outside of Delphi, is Coronea’s sole athlete.  His body shows the years of dedicated training, as muscles and tendons flex with each breath he takes.  His dark eyes surveys the terrain of the first event, wrestling.  he pulls his tressed hair back and takes a deep breath, his chiseled jaw tightens as he enters the arena.
Across from him stands his opponent, a hulking man from the polis of Tanagra.  Alezander smiles to himself, he loves to fight.  As in the tradition of games past, wrestlers must bring their opponent to the ground three times.  The match goes to some length of time, until finally there is a winner.  Both athletes stand and await the declaration; the victory belongs to Alezander of Coronea.
Alezander raises his hands to the sky and cries out “Nike!”
He basks in the applause of the spectators and then readies himself for the next event.  Event after event he reaps victory after victory, culminating in being crowned champion.  After days of celebrating the games end, Alezander walks the 22 miles back to Coronea.

Upon his arrival, Alezander goes straight to his place of worship, the last surviving temple of Gaia.  Upon entering, he puts on a bland robe woven from hemp cloth.  Alezander is not only Coronea’s best athlete and warrior, he is also a priest in the service of Gaia.  Alezander is joined by 19 other men of the same purpose and they congregate in front of a fifteen-foot shrine.  The shrine consists of a ten-foot statue of a woman’s torso and head, seemingly looking to the ground.  The statues’ gaze is loving and soft.  The men gather and kneel before it.  Before a word of prayer can be uttered or a candle lit, the service is abruptly interrupted by 80 soldiers entering the temple from the banished Greek tyrant,  Hippias.  Angered over his banishment, Hippias sought revenge over Greece by joining Persia.  Now working for the Persian King, Darius, Hippias leads raids into Greece, looting and razing settlements along their way.  Hippias led an army of 40,000 Persians unbeknown by the 20 priest of Gaia, who stand ready for battle. Such insolence will not be tolerated, by any such number of men. 

General Hippias enters the temple followed by an additional 100 soldiers, who surround the temple priest with spears.  The general glances at the statue of Gaia.  His demeanor shows a lack of respect for the carving.  Hippias questions the priest,  “Why do you pray to this, when Zeus is the supreme god?”  Alezander steps forward to respond,  “ I have heard of you, Hippias.  I have also heard that you no longer worship Zeus and that you have taken with foreign gods”.
Hippias smiles,  “Yes, I have much taken from me, the Greek states have seen to that.  Now I have been given so much more…and the opportunity to take revenge”. Hippias lets his words echo in his mind briefly.  A slight smile appeared upon his face, as it seemed like he was lost in ecstasy.  The priest stand awaiting his next words.  Their pulses racing and muscles tightening as they prepared for what is next to come.  The Persian soldiers grip their spears tighter, poised to strike.  Hippias turns to leave the temple, as he crosses the threshold he orders,  “Kill them and destroy this temple”.  Hippias mounted his horse and rode to where his army awaited him.  With those words, the Persian soldiers rush forward, seeking a quick kill, but the 20 priests were not just priests.  Most were hoplites and Greek hoplites were far superior to Persian soldiers for a hand-to-hand fight.  The Greeks stood in formation and when the Persians attacked, they were able to counter by grappling the Persian soldiers.  Taking cut from spears and swords than the deadly deep thrust of either.  By now, Hippias was long gone with his army, totally oblivious to the fate of the priest, leaving only a handful of soldiers to execute his orders.  Long minutes turned to hours, as what was thought to be an easy massacre, turned into a tense standoff.

As the light of day began to fade, four of the priest laid slain while the handful of 100 Persian soldiers had been withered down to 70.  The Persians, taken surprised by the ferocity of the priest, withdrew from the temple while still keeping the priest contained within.  Then, as an act of desperation, the soldiers set the temple on fire!
Inside, the trapped Greeks struggled to keep their composure and fight their way out.  However, between the fire and the thrusting, slashing spears and swords of the remaining soldiers, it seemed their cause and lives would be lost.  Alezander clutched a fallen comrade, looked upon the scorched statue of Gaia and asked, “Why have you forsaken us?”  As if answering his question, the ground began to shake and quiver.  Rocks rolled from the high ground and thunderclaps filled the night sky.  The Persian soldiers outside the temple saw the ground open up around them  as flames burst upward.  The sky rain fell with torrential force.  Believing that the Greek’s deity was taking revenge on them,  the soldiers began to flee.  Inside the temple, what was not still burning, was being shook from its place of origin.  The statue began to crack and pieces fell to the ground.  Stunned and confused, the remaining priests began to pray, all except Alezander who continued to struggle to find an exit.  The violence of the quake seemed like it would last forever.  The floor in the temple cracked open as lava pushed its’ way through.  Alezander turned to see the head of the statue break off and fall into the incoming lava.  The haze from the heat is so intense that Alezander is not sure he sees what he thinks he sees;  a woman’s face.
Her features are soft and adoring.  Her look is as a mother to her child.  As the apparition lingered among the flames, she gestures to him to come closer.  He slowly walks towards his vision.  He cannot hear the pleas of his fellow priest, nor can he feel the singe of the quickly extinguishing fire upon his face.  He wipes the sweat and dirt from his eyes as he sees her reach out to him.  In  her hand he sees a  blue object.  As the falling rain douses the last full flame, he hears her say “Partake of this and serve me forever”.  Alezander  extends his hand and grasps the blue flask, which glows in the dark of the night.  For a moment, Alezander is unaware of his surroundings.  His lips part as he brings the flask to his mouth and drink, then there is darkness.

Slowly Alezander opens his eyes and slowly survey’s his environment.  It seems like he is in a tent and gradually he becomes aware that he is in a bed and his wounds have been cared for.  Most of his body is wrapped in bandages of cloth.  He sits up still groggy and unsure of the ordeal he has been through.  He stands up and is suddenly taken over by dizziness.  He falls to his knees and grasps the dirt floor.  The feeling of weakness does not bode well with him.  Again he stands and again he falls to his knees.  He clutches the earth, driving his fingers into it deeply, out of anger and frustration.  Then he feels the rumble of the ground again.  Another earthquake!  The ground shakes angrily.  Alezander forces himself up and flees out of the tent that encompasses him.  As soon as he sets foot from the tent, the ground settles slowly.  It is daytime and the light from the sun is high overhead.  A young woman runs towards him with a look of concern:  “Are you alright?” she asks.  Her eyes are full and brown.  her cheeks caress the pouty lips ever so softly.  She wears colors of fire, red, yellow and orange clothes and her black hair highlights all of her beautiful features.  Alezander is taken by this woman’s beauty.
He is so taken, that he barely hears her when she asks for the third time – “Are you alright?”  He nods slightly in response.  She continues, “The others we found with you have long since recovered.  You are the last to arise.  We thought you delivered to Hades and he may be fighting Aphrodite for possession of your body.  You layer still for over 10 nights, yet you did gasp for air”.  Alezander quickly asks, “How long did I sleep?”  The woman repeats to him, “10 nights”.  As Alezander ponders what has happened, the woman further approaches him and cautiously touches his bandaged body.  Upon her touch, Alezander’s attention focuses back to her.  In a poetic tone he asks, “How are you called?”  The woman looks boldly into his eyes and responds with a smile “ I am Lexine, daughter of Ozias”.  Alezander replies, “I thank you Lexine, daughter of Ozias.  May Gaia reward you”.  Lexine smiles briefly and proceeds to step away from Alezander and silently whispers to herself, “she already has”. Alezander removes the bandages from his body and sees that he had totally healed.  His body bears no scars or burns.  Then he walks towards one of his fellow priest, who was sitting on a nearby stone tending to some goats.
“Cadmus, my friend,  are you in the service of Gaia still or this goat?” he playfully asks.  Cadmus looks up to see Alezander standing next to him.  He quickly dismisses the goats and stands to greet his friend,  “Praise Gaia, you are whole once more.”  “Yes my friend,” Alezander responds with a smile, “Not even the fires or wishes of Vulcan can take me from my duties to Gaia”.  Cadmus nods his head in agreement, then meticulously looks over Alezander’s entire body, “You have healed well and miraculously fast Alezander, surely Gaia did touch you”.  Alezander’s eyes widen and he grabs Cadmus’ shoulders, “Then you did see it too? The flask of blue given to me”.  Cadmus nods, “Yes, yes all of us who live saw great Gaia offer you a gift.  A gift of mystery, but, we all did see the flask”.  Alezander is comforted and yet still disturbed by the turn of events.  “Cadmus,” Alezander starts, “How many of us survived the Persian attack?” Cadmus replies, “We lost Isidore, Cyril, Titus and Demas.  At one point we had thought we had lost you”. Alezander forces a reassuring smile to his friend, “We must all gather to confer upon the past events.  Our temple lay in ruin, our goddess has been destroyed and I feel forever changed”.  Cadmus nods in agreement, “Yes, I will summon the others at once!”  As Alezander watches Cadmus walk away, he catches a glimpse of Lexine, whose own gaze is fixed upon him.  She smiles at him then turns her attention to the several goats she is feeding.  Alezander’s heart swells with a euphoric longing.  He knows he has fallen in love with this woman.  He will speak to her father later, now he must talk to the other priest of the temple.  As he walks off toward their meeting point, he does not notice the patch of newly grown grass where he stood.

In a small clearing not far from the shepherd’s camp, the 16 surviving priest of Gaia assembled.  First among them to speak was Cadmus, one of the older priest, “My brothers we are here by the grace of Gaia to determine how to better serve her”.  The men all nod in agreement.  Cadmus continues, “ It is by her power to which we are still in her service today, if not for the vengeance she brought down upon our enemies we would all have perished”.  An older priest sitting among them stands and speaks, “we have all seen the vision 10 nights ago.  She bestowed upon young Alezander a gift”.  Alezander stands to continue, “this is true, and we all bore witness, and yet I do not know what this gift or gifts are.  I know that Gaia would not have given me her blessings without it not serving her better”.    The older priest interjects, “ I know not of what her purpose, but I do know that I will not be deterred from following my oath to her”.  Again the men nod in agreement, save one.    He sits among his peers and slowly shakes his head.  He slowly stands to address the others, “My brothers, I cannot stand with you no longer”.  Shocked, the others ask why.  Cadmus asks, “But, Cyrus, you were there too. You saw with your own eyes, with the rest of us. Why do you lose faith now?”  Cyrus turns his head slightly to hide his shame, “No Cadmus,  I saw nothing.  While the temple was in flames and the Persians lay siege upon us, I sought to hide.  As I crouched cowering like a child, my prayers for salvation did not go out to Gaia…..but to Zeus”.  The area falls silent as if the air had stopped moving. Cyrus continues, “At the moment of despair, I lost my faith in Gaia.  I can no longer serve a deity I no longer believe”.

Several of the remaining priests call out in rage  “Traitor!
Coward!  We should slay you where you stand, for your sacrileges remarks!”  “No!” a thunderous voice interjected.  It was Alezander.  Alezander approached Cyrus and looked him into his eyes.  “Cyrus, if you do not believe you should be among us, then go in peace.”  One of the angry priests spoke out,  “You would have us let him go?”  “We are few now!”  Alezander replies, “Then killing him will not add to our numbers either.  We serve Gaia, not the god of hate.”  Alezander turns to Cyrus and extends his hand to him.  “Cyrus take my hand and know that I promise no man here will harm you.  If you are fated to follow the new gods then so be it.”  Cyrus takes Alezander’s hand and grasps it tightly, “ I am sorry Alezander and I thank you.  I shall leave at this moment.”  Alezander smiles at him and nods,  “Safe journey my brother.”  And with that, Cyrus gathered his few belongings and left.  One of the priests is heard saying  “And now we are 15.”  Cadmus looks at the remaining men and asks, “Is there anyone else who wish to abandon his faith?”  The men look among each other with caution, but no one else among them spoke up.  Cadmus then says “Then all who are present swear to each other that we shall, our children shall and their children shall and generations to come, will always be in service to Gaia.”  One by one each man takes a dagger, cuts his hand and spills some of his blood on the ground in Gaia’s name.  Alezander  takes a dagger and cuts his hand letting the blood drip to the ground as well, then to the group’s amazement, a single flower blooms where his blood fell.  All eyes looked upon Alezander as he himself was in shock as he looked at his cut hand.  The wound healed quickly, leaving no scars.  Cadmus grabbed Alezander’s hand and examined it for himself.  “You have the gift of healing!” Cadmus declared.  The other men gather around Alezander to see for themselves.  They then all chanted, “Praise to Gaia the giver of life!”

From a rock not too far from where the priest were meeting, the woman Lexine was watching crouched low so that she cannot be seen.  As she slid back from her hiding space, a shadow loomed in the path of her retreat.  She turns quickly to see her father Ozias.  “Father”, she begins, “I was ..um…gathering the animals so that the Gaia worshippers would not be disturbed.”  Her father looks at her cynically and asks, “Then have you accounted for all of our stock?”  “Why, yes,” she replies.  Her father then takes a very stern tone with her, “Lexine, you know that women are forbidden to interfere in the affairs of men…and then these of all men, he pauses to collect his thoughts, “These men worship neither god or man.  What sane men would do that?”  “But father, if you are distrustful of them, why did we help them?” Lexine inquires.  Ozias’ tone softens as he tries to reason his actions as to his words, “They were in need and we did what was necessary.  Our actions may bring us blessings from Demeter and Athena.  In two days time we will move the herd to better pastures, then these fools will be on their own road to Destiny.”  He gestures for his daughter to follow him further from the group.  She solemnly nods and walks behind him turning several times struggling to see Alezander.

Meanwhile the priest tried to decide how they may fully measure the extent of Alezander’s gift.  Several men hoped to test Alezander’s healing powers, but, no safe method could be decided on, though Cadmus did point out that the cut from the dagger healed quickly and without a scar.  A priest named Galen, suggested that the men test Alezander’s effect on the landscape, citing the fully blossomed flower.  Unsure as to what to do or how, Alezander removed what robes he had on his body, leaving only a cloth for his loins.  His bronzed skin showed his heavily muscled body, that one priest compared to that of Hercules.  Alezander laughed and walked over to a medium size rock that was settled near a small tree.  Cadmus asked “Do you intend to move the rock or uproot the tree?”  Alezander thought a moment and replied, “Both”.  Alezander looked at the rock.  It was three feet high and partially buried in the ground.  It could  be part of a much  bigger stone.  The other men looked on in silence, awaiting Alezander’s next move.  Alezander studies the rock and determines the best place to grab it.  He places his hands and lifts.  His muscles strain, as he grits his teeth, his veins bulge through his skin as he pushes with his legs and yet the rock does not move.  After a few stressful moments, Alezander releases his hold and stumbles back in defeat.  He looks at his Comrades as surprised as they.  No one says anything as Alezander walks over to the tree.  He wraps his arms around it and tries to lift.  His teeth, again, grit together and his eyes close as he tries with all of his might and the results end up the same as the rock.
Disappointed and confused, Alezander steps back and looks to the others for explanation.  Cadmus looks to Galen for a reasonable explanation.  Galen looks to the ground for there is none he can offer.  Slowly the men silently disband in disappointment.  One by one they walk away from the demonstration grounds leaving Alezander alone.  He sits upon the very rock he attempted to move and stares at his hands.  His hands and arms have wrestled men to the ground, held and threw the sharpest of spears and wielded the heaviest of swords and yet he feels as though his hands have failed him.

Alezander is in such deep thought that he does not notice Lexine walk up to him until she puts her hand in his.  He looks up to her, “I believed I had the power of Gaia in me”, he offers.  She says nothing to him.  She is not sure what comfort she can offer or even that she should.  She does not believe in this man’s ancient god or the reasons he still does, but, she knows she feels something for him.  Lexine looks into Alezander’s eyes.  She sees the strength and determination in him.  Then she looks deeper and she sees the deep passion he has.  Without warning or provocation they kiss.  It is a soft, long kiss which extinguishes all doubt between them.  Lexine pulls back from Alezander shocked that she allowed herself to do that.  Alezander stands and reaches for her as she steps away.  “Do not fear me” he says to her.  She continues to back away as she looks at him.  Her eyes stays fixed upon his, she says “I do not fear you, I fear me.”  She turns and runs off leaving Alezander alone.  The events within the hour have been very defeating and frustrating for him.  This is not an emotion that is accepted among many men, most of all Alezander.  Out of frustration his anger grows.  He once again grabs the rock and lifts.  The ground releases its’ grasp as four more feet of the rock is revealed.  Alezander tosses the seven foot rock yards away from its original resting spot.  Anger and frustration turns to surprise and exuberance.
Alezander turns to the tree and grabs it with one hand uprooting it with ease.  He laughs out loud as he sets the tree down and watches it re-root itself.  As he steps to share his news with the others, he feels the ground lift and propel him forward with each step he takes.  In mere seconds he covers yards of ground he could never complete had he ran in the same time.  “Cadmus” he bellowed. “Galen” he shouted, “All of you, come forth!”  The Greek priests gathered as quickly as they could.  Lexine heard the commotion and ran to the place of the noise.  Her father was in the hills, tending to their herd, and did not hear or know what was taking place.  When all within sound was near, Alezander took hold of another heavy stone and lifted!  The stone came loose from the ground leaving a large gapping hole in the soil.  The priests gasped at what they saw.  Lexine was the first to speak,  “Great Zeus! He is as strong as Heracles.”  Cadmus, whose eyes were wide, slowly corrected Lexine,  “No child, he weilds the strength of Gaia.”  Galen stepped forward and looked at Alezander as he continued to hold the huge rock over his head.  “How? What took hold?”  Alezander gently placed the rock down and attempted to answer, “All I know is when I first attempted the same feat, I was merely trying to perform.  After my failure to do so, I was filled with such visceral emotions when I felt myself empowered to lift and hurl the first stone.”
He continued, “Even the tree was lifted and reset with ease.”  Cadmus offered an explanation, “Gaia is the mother. The caring, nurturing mother. Your power must come from a place of emotion, you have to care.”  Alezander ponders what was said for a moment then says, “As a warrior, we were taught to set aside such things.  Emotional response can interfere with true action.” “But emotion is what great Gaia is about,” Cadmus responds.  Galen approaches Alezander and places his hand on his shoulder, “Alezander you must find a reason to hold these emotions.  Such is the source of your power.”  Galen smiles slightly at Alezander as he allows Alezander to follow his eyes as he looks to Lexine.
She looks at Alezander not knowing what to do.  She knows he will not allow harm to come to her and yet she feels as though she must flee the area, and yet she knows how much she loves him and her heart tells her to stay.  Upon noticing how the two stare at each other, Cadmus quickly interjects, “Alezander, remember it is Gaia to whom we are in service to, the only woman we offer devotion to!”  “Take care Cadmus,” cautions Galen, “even we do not know what plans Gaia have for Alezander.”  Cadmus says nothing more.  His eyes study the demeanor of the other priest who are still in awe.  He quietly withdraws from the group.  He will seek out the woman’s father who will put an abrupt end to this madness before it begins. 


Meanwhile General Hippias, whose men destroyed the temple of Gaia, continued his campaign of terror and destruction.  Persia wanted to attack Athens and they left that duty to Hippias. Hippias’ soldiers grew from forty thousand to sixty thousand. Athen’s leaders became aware of the threat and requested help from the other Greek states.  The Greek commander in charge of the upcoming battle was Miltiades.  He was concerned by the reported number of men that Hippias had under his command.  Miltiade’s men currently amounted to 8,000.  The Plataeans, who were an alley of Athens, were sending 3000 men, but they had not yet arrived.  Miltiades knew Hippias was attacking and looting Greek islands on the way to Athens, but he did not know when he would finally arrive at.  Miltiades needed more time.  Miltiades’ plan was to meet Hippias’ army at Marathon.  He had dispatched messengers in all directions to send word of Athens’ need.  Two messengers had made their way to Delphi, but only one continued to Coronea.  The messenger stumbled into the ruins that were once Gaia’s temple. One of the priests had found him there and assisted him to where the others were gathered.

Galen and Alezander were first to see the exhausted messenger, as he lay on the ground.  Galen beckoned to one of the other priest standing nearby, “Quickly, bring him water.”  Alezander kneeled down to speak to the messenger, “Who are you?”  Taking gasps of breath the messenger spoke, “I am Apostolis. I am in service to Miltiades, leader of the Athenian army.”  Galen leaned toward him and carefully asked, “Why have you come here?”  Apostolis took another deep breath and responded, “A great army from Persia seeks to lay siege to Athens.  We are a few versus many.  We seek aid from Greek warriors.”  Alezander asks, “What of the Spartans, will they not come to your assistance?”  Apostolis shakes his head, “I know not.”  The water Galen requested arrived and he gave it to Apostolis to drink.  Galen asked,  “Where is this army of Persia now?”  Apostolis responds, “Twelve days away.”  “On my way here I encountered their scouts and we fought briefly.  I managed to slip away and continue.”  Apostolis stood to his feet slowly and looked around him and asked,  “How many Greek men have you?”  “We are but 15”, Galen answered.  Apostolis’ head drops in defeat,  “Then Athen is lost.”

Alezander looked at Galen, “The army….it must be the same one that we encountered.  The army led by Hippias, who ordered our temple destroyed.”  Galen looked among the men, “Where is Cadmus? He must hear of this.”  Lexine, who was staying in the background, voiced out,  “I will seek him out.”  She turns from the group and heads up hill for a better vantage point.  From a cleared spot on the side of the hill she spots Cadmus speaking with her father in a field below.  Instinctively she gets a tight feeling in her stomach, but given the urgency of the news, she ignores it and makes her way down towards them.  As Lexine approached, she calls out, “Father!”.  The men stop talking as she comes closer.  Ozias walked out to greet her, “What is it Lexine?”  She looks at Cadmus while she tells her father, “There is a man from Athens here and the other priests seek the one called Cadmus.”  Ozias looks at Cadmus, who, having heard Lexine, begins to walk off towards the others.  Lexine begins to follow when Ozias reaches and grabs her wrist, “No child, not you.”  Lexine is halted in her steps.  “But father…” she tries to begin, but Ozias interrupts,  “Gather your things and the herd together the sheep and goats, we leave today.”  “But why father?” she asks confused.  “Do not question me child. I am still your father. Now go prepare to move on!” he says forcefully.  In shock, Lexine nods in agreement.  Her eyes wide and her jaw tight.  Again, she feels the illness in her stomach as before, only now she does not ignore it.

Cadmus returns to the clearing with the other priests in time to see Alezander suiting up with armor.  Galen turns to see Cadmus approach,  “Cadmus, we have grave news from Athens.”  Cadmus says, “As I am told. What has happened?”  Alezander says grimly “Hippias’ army intends to lay waste to Athens. I am going to see what I can do to stop him and have our revenge.”  Cadmus nods in agreement reluctantly, “We can follow.”  “No,” Alezander interrupts, “They are twelve days away. You cannot get there in time and even if you could, there is nothing that 14 men can do against an army of thousands.”  Cadmus closes in on Alezander and speaks to him in near whispers,  “Alezander , even with your great power, you may not survive a battle with the Persians. Why you are not even sure of the extent of these powers.  Let Athens fall and we can serve Greece elsewhere.  We need to learn what you can do and how to best serve Gaia!”  Placing a helmet on his head Alezander says to Cadmus,
“Dear brother, what if saving Athens is my service to Gaia and Greece? What if I were not meant to live beyond this time?”  Cadmus shakes his head, “No, No, you were meant for much more, yet now is not the time for you to explore these gifts.”
Alezander takes his friend’s shoulder and says, “Cadmus, I have no fear of dying and I know this is my duty.”  Galen who could not hear the extent of the conversation, but could sense the seriousness of it, “Is all well?”  Alexander responds, “Yes Galen. Cadmus wishes me well and hopes to have victory over the Persians.”  Cadmus says nothing and yet it can be seen in his eyes that he is thinking deeply. 
Having secured his armor to his body, Alezander lifts his shield and spear and prepares to leave.  The others wish him well, but his eyes scan the group and terrain for a sign of Lexine.  Having no opportunity to see her, Alezander departs.  His steps are heavy at first, then he feels the urgency of his mission and the pride of his resolve.  The ground lifts him as he steps, pushing him forward faster and faster.  The people he left behind look onto him with awe and envy.  They hear the ground move as well as they see it, and soon the noise is beyond hearing and Alezander is out of sight.

Just outside the south side of Thebes, Alezander encountered Drusilla, the messenger harpy of Arges, the Cyclops.  She sat upon an extended tree branch. Half eaten bodies of men layed at the base of the tree.  As Alezander approached the fig tree where Drusilla was perched, he slowed his pace and placed his hand on his sword.  The sight of the half woman half raptor made Alezander cautious. The creature had the head of a woman with a thin face and deep sunken eyes. The bird like body was large and the talons clutched the tree branch tightly, tearing at the bark.  As Alezander approached, Drusilla turned her cold stare towards him and asked in a raspy voice, “Are you the Greek from Coronea who serves Gaia?”  Eyes studying her every move, Alezander answers, “I am.”  The creature shifts its’ weight causing the branch to shake the tree. With eagle eyes Drusilla says, “I serve the Cyclops Arges, child of Gaia.”  The creature shifts again extending its’ wings for exercise.  It shakes its’ head flailing its’ matted hair back and forth. Small droplets of blood splatter at Alezander’s feet.  He does not take his eyes off the creature and keeps his spear at length.  Drusilla speaks to him again, “My master seeks audience with you oh man of Coronea.”  Alezander replies, “Tell your master I have matters elsewhere.”  The creatures feathers ruffles as it shakes its’ head in aggravation.  It tilts its’ head and says to Alezander,  “Perhaps my message was construed as a request.”  Alezander clutches his sword and asks, “What are you prepared to do to enforce your master’s wishes?”  The creature responds, “No, man of Coronea, the question is what are you willing to sacrifice to ignore it?”  Alezander’s grip on his sword relaxes, “How do you mean?”  “What have your master want of me?”  The creature eyes the bodies at the base of the tree.  Then looks around the surrounding hills and grounds.  It drops from its’ perch onto the ground among the bodies.  It clumsily walks to a corpse with an open torso and reaches inside with human-like hands and pulls flesh from the body.  It quickly shoves the meat in its mouth and raises its head to swallow.  Then it turns to Alezander and speaks again, “My master is an oracle. The single eye sees much into what will be”.  Alezander says nothing as Drusilla continues,  “My master has foretold of this very meeting. You would be wise to hear what is as yet to be”.  Alezander thinks momentarily, he believes he can catch up to Hippias’ army before they get to Marathon, so he asks, “Where is your master?”  The creature responds, “On the isle of Skyros.”  “How do I cross the sea of Aegea?”  The creature shakes its head again and responds, “My master told that I should carry you.”  Alezander’s body gives away his apprehension. 
“Fear not, man of Coronea. No harm will be brought unto you by Drusilla.”  Alezander thinks for a moment and plants his spear in the ground and replies, “Alright winged one, let us be on our way to your master.”  The creature spreads its wings wide darkening the sun from Alezander’s view.  It flaps its wings forcing air and dirt swirling around.  Slowly it lifts into the air.  The wingspan is huge as it continues to be airborne.  It flies in a circle gaining speed as it does.  Alezander shields his eyes from the dirt swirling around him.  For a moment he loses sight of the creature until he sees it diving towards him with its arms extended.  Alezander reaches up to grasp the incoming arms and at the moment the creature is upon him and they clasp hands and Alezander is yanked from the ground and they are both soaring through the air.  The creature does not seem to be slowed by Alezander’s weight as it picks up greater speed in flight.  Alezander looks down to see the Aegean sea shimmering below him.  The water is dark and blue with no signs of life or movement, except for the creature’s shadow upon the water.  He looks up to see the creature.  It pays him no attention, as it stays focused on their destination.  The wind is deafening in his helmet as he can barely hear the flap of the creature’s powerful wings.  He looks forward and slowly he sees the island of Skyros.

Little by little the small land mass gets bigger and bigger; until they are flying over the land towards a group of small hills.  The creature circles the hills once, honing in on one in particular.  Upon the ground lies a structure built of white stone.  The creature gently descends at the structure’s entrance.  Alezander’s feet, once more, touches solid ground.  The creature releases his arms and he hesitates.  Drusilla lands on a nearby rock and says to him “Be not afraid of what is unknown to you. Be wary of what is to become known to you.”  And with that, the creature spread its wings once more and took flight, leaving Alezander to slowly make his way inside the structure.  The entrance is massive as it should be to accommodate a giant.  Instinctively Alezander unsheathes his sword.  His steps are measured and stealthy.  His eyes search the massive chamber.  For something this big, it does seem elusive to find.  Alezander continues to move through the chamber until he sees a massive torch mounted to the wall.  The fire that burns on it seems like the sun has fallen from the sky. 

Alezander’s arms relax as he looks around the massive room.  His eyes move slowly from object to object until he hears a woman’s voice.  “Welcome warrior.”  Alezander’s head slowly turns as he looks upward to view the source of the greeting.  It is the giant Cyclops Arges.  Alezander does not utter a sound, but nods his head to greet the formidable sized giant.  She looks at him and says, “You are surprised that I am a female.”  Alezander utters, “I am.” “Stories were told that the giants of Gaia were all …. Men?”  Arges finishes, “That would be my brothers Brontes and Sterope’s doing ,” she offers.  Alezander smiles slightly and removes his helmet and held it under one arm while still gripping his sword in his hand.  He asks, “Why have you summoned me?”  Arges reaches for a flask and pours wine into a cup.  She offers Alezander some by extending the oversized cup to him.  He shakes his head no.  Then Arges starts, “I have seen your future time. You will do a great many things in the service of my mother’s name.  There are some things you must be made aware of.”  Alezander says nothing but listens very intently as Arges continues, “The army you seek to have vengeance upon, you will find them.  But do not destroy the entire army. Your gifts have made you very powerful, some you have yet to know.”  Alezander asks, “If I have the ability to destroy Hippias’ army, why shouldn’t I ?”  The giant smiles at him, “Every life on this planet touches another. To upset that balance of life is to lead to the destruction of all life.  What you do to the army will have consequences that will reverberate through all time.”
“How then would this be of concern to you?”  “Are you not immortal?” Alezander asks.  “No warrior,” Arges starts, “my size and foresight offers me no amnesty from time.  You however will continue as I will not.”  Alezander seems stunned at first then finally asks, “Why has Gaia blessed me with such power?”  Arges stares away for a moment, her body still and her breathing stopped.  Finally she inhales and answers him, “There will come a day to which you will be called upon, with all your knowledge and power to save Gaia.  Until then all that you do will lead to that.”
Alezander responds, “Your words are as puzzles that strike as bronze and iron.”
Arges says, “There will be one that will  replace all, at that time you will be the sole remnant of all that was.”  Alezander drops his helmet to the ground.  He steps towards the giant and asks, “If you see into the light of tomorrow, then answer me what is to become of me?”  Arges answers with slow deliberate words,  “You will always be, though not as you were. You will find love and marry. The woman will bear a child who is to be king of a great empire.  I can tell you no more.”
Alezander stands, awaiting further information but receives none.  Arges says to him, “Go now towards Marathon. Your destiny awaits.”  As he bends to retrieve his helmet, Arges tells him, “Leave those, you will have no need of them.”  Yet still a bit apprehensive Alezander picks up his helmet and places it on his head.  Arges says nothing.  Alezander turns to leave and the ground pushes him forward as before.

Upon exiting the chamber the light of the overhead sun blinds him briefly.  He regains his vision in time to see that he is at the islands’ edge by the sea.  He ponders how he will cross it without the benefit of the harpy’s wings.  He walks closer to the water’s edge and feels the water upon his sandaled feet.  The frustration of not knowing what to do and the anxiety of having to cut off Hippias’ army before they get to Athens, causes Alezander to concentrate hard on his goals.  A strong wind blows him into the water with his armor on.  Just when he feels he may sink, an under current begins to propel him forward through the water. Faster and faster he is propelled. Soon large waves are felt beneath his feet as if solid ground were holding him up. Wave after wave carries him across the sea and within hours he arrives at the shoreline.  He falls upon the wet sand exhausted but knowing what power he does possess.  He lies down with his armor still on his body and rests. He smiles to himself believing his fate and future is secure as foretold to him by Arges.  But what Arges did not tell him was that Gaia spawned many offspring with numerous lovers.  The last child of Gaia was also the most feared, Typhoeus!
Even as Alezander sought to rest his body before engaging in battle, Typhoeus waged war against the gods in Olympus.  So terrified were the gods that they fled Olympus and sought shelter in Egypt.  Knowing Olympus had been left abandoned, Typhoeus continued his usurping of the gods power by deciding to have men worship him as the supreme god.  To make his control complete, Typhoeus knew he had to defeat Zeus in battle and prove to men that he was worthy of their faith.  He also knew to gain faith he had to grant meager blessings.

Typhoeus walked the halls of Olympus looking for traces of its’ former inhabitants.
He sneered in aggravation with each empty chamber. These new gods did not know how to rule.  He loathed every one of them, most of all Zeus.  He came upon Zeus’ chamber and he looked at it…seething in his hatred for him.  He spat inside Zeus’ chamber and the chamber burst into flames.  Such was Typhoeus’ power.  He would destroy Zeus and replace him as the supreme god; he will rip his flesh from his body piece by piece, but first he had to find him.  As Typhoeus pondered his next move, he heard the faint noise of a body making its’ way towards him.  He spun around toward the sound and saw the drakaina, Echidna.  Typhoeus spoke to her,
“How have you come to Olympus?”  She very seductively answers him.  “ I am here on the wings of revenge oh mighty one.”  Typhoeus looks at her sharply as she continues, “I too have hostility toward those who inhabit Olympus.”  Echidna is a she-dragon with upper body of that of a beautiful woman and lower half of a serpent.  As she slithered closer to Typhoeus, her hands caressed his formidable frame.  Her eyes fixed on his own and she spoke softly to him,  “I will join you in your war against the house of Zeus .”  Typhoeus spoke in a gravely voice, “To what benefit would you be to me or I to you?” Echidna wrapped herself around Typhoeus’s torso pressing her body next to his,  “I will give you many children and you will give me the same.”  She pressed her lips against his and thus an evil union made.

To be continued.