Nighthawk Chapter Seven

 “Death is not the greatest of evils; it is worse to want to die, and not be able to.”

-Sophocles

     We were walking through the woods until the sun began to peak through the thick foliage. Myrah was slouching occasionally but forcing up as if attempting to look serious. Sadly, her face was on the same page. (When is it ever?) She let out a loud groan, at last, and fell back to “walk” beside me. She ended up leaning on me. Notos glanced back at us. I glared at him. He shrugged and looked forward.

“Are we almost there?”

“Yes. There is a temple nearby. I, alone, cannot focus my powers whatsoever, so we must go to Aeolus’s temple or other sacred sites for me to channel.”

The trees broke away to a clearing, revealing a peripheral building. Overgrowth wound the chipped columns. Some pillars seemed to be buckling in on themselves. The temple had various carvings still visible, paint still embedded in the crevices. Notos walked into it without hesitation.

Yeah, I’m not going in that, Myrah thought bitterly.

Not sure we have a choice. You could go ba-

No. And, with that, she followed the elf-bird in.

There seemed to be steps but they had long been obliterated. Ducking down to avoid dangling lichen, I nearly ran into Myrah.

“This place is-“

“Stunning? Grand? Glorious? I know.” Notos looked around proudly.

A statue in alarmingly good condition stood in the center. Candles, glowing a greenish blue light, illuminated it from its base. The statue was a man, supposedly Aelus, with windblown facial hair, which, along with the rest of his head, resembled a lion. Delicate carvings of Kingfishers dancing on the temple walls, seemed as though to be alive. Notos kneeled in front of the statue and began to chant.

You know what? I quit. You think he’d notice if we just left?

No idea, he is pretty focused. Either way, I’m staying. Go ahead if you want.

There was no chance I was leaving Myrah.

The kingfishers now seemed to be swimming. Caught in a riptide. Myrah took a step back, standing beside me. I lifted my chin, placing my palm on the hilt on the Xiphos. The entire temple swirled; but the ground remained stable. Ground. Focus on the tiles. Myrah dropped her gaze but remained to lean on me.

She was leaning on the sword side, I noticed irritatingly. The spinning stopped. Notos stood up.

“Where are we?” I ask, looking around to see a meadow.

“Currently? Hissarlik. That forest at the end of the field is the boundary of Troy, though.”

“So why are we out here and not already there?” Myrah queried, turning to Notos. She wobbled slightly as she moved away from me.

“Troy hath- has, forsaken Aeolus. His powers haven’t been able to reach the town since Zephyrus, the last of my brothers to betray him, was locked up. Zephyrus was the worst of the three. I am able to pass through and all those who have been touched by the gods.Or accompany one.

“Eh. Let’s get this over with.” Myrah raised a brow at me as I shoved past a flustered Notos. What god I was related to didn’t matter. Sure, Selene told Myrah that she had certain powers, I still knew how to fight.

Myrah followed me down a hill towards the line of pines.

“Well, then,” Notos scoffed. He hopped down after us.

“Do you know where any of them are?” I asked Notos over my shoulder.

“Er, yeah. Troy. Let’s go.”

Oh, helpful, Myrah snarked, rolling her eyes as Notos passed her.