Chapter 2
ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Thou famous Athens, divine city;
shining, violet-wreathed pillar of Hellas
- Pindar
Sergio first saw Athens at sunset. They had taken shelter for the day in an empty farmhouse that Sebastos seemed to know about. Sergio was beginning to suspect that this country was riddled with places where a travelling Cainite might sleep. At that time, with the dawn imminent, he had not troubled about the view. Now he stood at the eastern window, watching in wonder, and the Sun’s final rays caught a rocky prominence that jutted majestically up from the plain. For some minutes they lingered there, glorifying this jewel of nature, before surrendering the precipice to the night.
“It is a wonderful sight.” Sergio had not realised Sebastos had joined him. The other man smiled. “I never tire of looking at it, especially when at a distance. When I walked the under sun I never paid it that much attention, and now all I can see are these glimpses. I think that is the only thing that has ever given me pause about the current situation.”
Sergio nodded slowly. “For me, it is one of many.”
They stood there a moment in silence, each with their different thoughts. Sergio recalled what proved to be his last sunrise. It was etched into his mind, as the dawn-light shafts caught the tops of the domes and minarets that gleamed golden, while below the city had already begun to wake. He shook away the beguiling image, and looked again at the now darkened mount. From about it the night-lights of a city were just visible. Sebastos turned.
“Come, we should not tarry. We ought to reach the city this night. My Sire in his message will doubtless have told of the date of our departure, and Demos will wonder if we are late.”
Sergio turned from the window, and together they went to the stable. “Do we have a means of entering the city during the hours of darkness?”
“Of course. The Piraeus gate is always open, unless there is some danger. There are many that reside in Athens that do business in Piraeus, and not all return by nightfall. One must possess or permit, or a suitable bribe.”
Sergio raised an eyebrow. “A bribe? So much for the honour of the Athenians that you were telling me about.”
Sebastos laughed, and they started out on their way. It took them roughly a couple of hours, or so, before they were approaching the gate. The Akropolis now seemed paradoxically smaller than it had, partially blotted out by the city’s walls. As a guard called out, and Sebastos stated their business, Sergio took a long look at the stonework. The gate, and wall nearest him were solidly constructed and well maintained, but the signs of age were upon them. The stones were weathered, and the mortar in some places had wasted away.
“Sergio.” Sebastos voice brought him back from his reflections. “This man will lead us to a place where we can wait until we are received. It is nearby.”
First the man, a guard of some sort, directed them to a stable, where Demetrios and Juan were to wait with the horses. Then he led Sergio and Sebastos to a small house, just a couple of doors away. The man showed them to a pleasant, room within, and then he withdrew, bowing.
“So what now?” Sergio asked, looking around. A generous selection of chairs, couches, and stools were scattered about the room. In each corner was a full-size statue, and in two of the walls there were several niches that contained delicated peices of art. Above the ceiling was decorated with a fresco from a mythic scene that Sergio could not identify, and below the floor was made of polished marble.
Sebastos took a seat, and put his feet up on a stool. “Now, we wait. I imagine a messenger has been sent to inform the authorities of our arrival. I suppose it was not strictly necessary, we could have snuck in, but it is easier this way. Avoids any possible unpleasantness.”
Sergio turned his attention to a small bust in one of the niches, beautifully carved, though he could not guess the name of the subject. He strummed his fingers on the little ledge. He saw Sebastos watching him, and smiled. “You must forgive me a few nerves. After all, you are hardly the outsider here.”
“Well, I’m not precisely an insider either, but I take your point. Shall we try out more of your Greek to pass the time?”
Sergio chuckled. “I should probably practice. We have done little since the attack. Your grammar is most strange.”
An hour passed, or perhaps a little more, and Sebastos was just finishing what Sergio suspected was a rather embellished tale from his mortal days, trying to demonstrate various word-forms, when the door opened. Sebastos continued, but Sergio ceased to pay attention and looked at the newcomer.
He stood at about Sergio’s own height, though he seemed a little slighter in build. A somewhat weathered face with steely grey eyes turned left and right, taking a glance about the room. Short, greying black hair, perhaps a day’s growth of beard on his chin, and down-to-earth clothes completed Sergio’s initial impression. Sebastos realised that he had lost his audience, and turned around to see the competition.
“Sebastos. As ever fond of your own voice?” The figure smiled slightly, and he spoke Greek with a slight accent that Sergio could not place.
Sebastos stood chuckling. “David, it is by far the most pleasant thing to listen to around here. Sergio here has a reasonable tone, but his Latin heritage betrays him, alas.”
The newcomer turned towards Sergio. “So you are Sergio? I am David, the Warden of Athens.”
Sergio frowned. “Greetings. Forgive the query, what is a Warden, precisely?”
David smiled. “I see our Sebastos has not provided you with the fullest of educations has he. Well, no matter. As Warden I do many things to help manage the city, and one of those is to meet our newest arrivals if they have the courtesy to enter Athens properly, as you have.”
“As I said Sergio, helps keep us out of trouble. So David, can we go to see Timeon now? Or has Sergio here induced Demos himself to venture out of his lair?”
“No Sebastos, Demos will not come forth just to greet a Latin from the west, not matter how intriguing he might be. We are to go to Timeon, if you are ready.”
“Ready! David, your man puts us in a room with nothing to keep us entertained. We’re bored, of course we’re ready.”
David raised an eyebrow. “You seemed to have made yourself comfortable enough.”
“Why be both bored and uncomfortable?” Sergio asked. “I am no Simon of Cyrene to shoulder unnecessary crosses, and I am certain that Sebastos is the same. However –.”
“Of course.” Sebastos cursed quietly, “I have forgotten about Timeon too. Sergio, Demos is the Master of Athens, but most of the business of the Domain he leaves to Timeon.”
David shook his head in disbelief, “Sebastos, I know you mean well, but perhaps instead of demonstrating the Subjunctive you might have considered telling your companion a little about the city into which he was arriving.” Sebasots looked profoundly embarrassed, but David let the matter lie, and addressed the question.
“Sergio, Timeon is what you might call a Regent. He effectively has full authority in Athens. So, from your point of view, you need to know that if you fail to match up to Timeon’s standards you could be ejected from the city or sent up to greet the dawn.” He paused a moment, and then added with a smile, “Not that I think that likely. Now come, let us collect your Servitors and be on our way.”
It took only a few moments to gather up Juan and Demetrios, though they left behind the horses for the time being. The walked through Athens. At first Sergio was more tense, but seeing Sebastos’ ease he started, however unwisely, to relax.
The streets were far emptier than Sergio had been expecting. For a moment he thought he might have misjudged the time, but after a moment he discounted that. The stars had not moved far enough for it to be much later than midnight. Ahead Sergio noticed a prostitute, or so he judged. She looked pretty enough, with raven-dark hair that spilled down onto her shoulders, but she also looked a little thin. Perhaps business had been slow over the winter. She was looking the other way, bored probably. Hearing their footsteps she turned, a willing smile on her face. Then she saw them, and the smile quickly turned into a gasp. She stumbled backward into the shadows, and down an alley out of sight.
“I see that the night-life know you,” Sergio murmured to David.
David kept on walking unconcerned. “After a fashion.”
“Quite a looker,” Sebastos commented. “Perhaps I will pay her a visit some-night”
Sergio chuckled. “If she is not dead from hunger, thirst, disease, or the predation of another, I’m sure she would be delighted.”
“All the more reason to see her sooner rather than later wouldn’t you say.” Sebastos grinned, and then asked, “David, where precisely are you leading us?”
“To where Timeon said to take you of course. But if you want a more definite answer, we call it the House of Attilus. It is not far now.”
Sergio looked up, and saw again the Akropolis. It dominated the city, a black mark against the night-sky. Now that he was closer Sergio could see that it was fortified, a great citadel perched on the rock. He could just make out small pricks of light, torches he guessed, at intervals along the walls.
David stopped them before a modest, walled house, not at all like Choronides’ grand dwelling or Lord Septimus’ palatial abode. Turning back to the others he said simply, “We are here.”
