“Didn’tyousayyouwouldtakemeonatourofyourpace?”askedCharinainsurprise.“Whyareyougingyourmind?”
“Zeusisthefatherofthegodsandthegodofallgods”repliedDimitriinaedmanner.“Heisomnipotent.Thoughhelikesmealotandisveryfriendly,treatingmeasanequal,anemperor’sheartishardtogauge.Heisnarrow-mindedandveryjealous.Hesentwordformetogoandseehimseveraltimes.I’mafraidit’sbecausemygoldpacehasbeeuncoveredandisagainbrightanddazzling.I’mafraidheisgoingtoreprimandmefoingbayword.Theouteisnotpromising…IamthinkingofleavingyouatasafepcefirstandthengoaZeus.Iamnotafraidtofacehisthousandsofcelestialsoldiersaloneonmysteed,butifyouarewithmeanditestomortalbat,Idonotwishanyharmtoetoythefight.Soitwouldbemuchsafertoleaveyouintheruinsofthepadaskmytwoloyalfriendstoprotectyou.”Charinalookedtowardstheleftandsawamagnifitgoldpacegivingoffasplendidandradiantbrillianderthesunlight.Shecriedout,
“Isthatthesolidgoldpaceyoutoldmeabout?”
“Yes”noddedDimitri.“Iorderedittobecoveredwithirontomaskitsdazzlingglitter,butunfortunatelyCyclopsandVioledthebarbariantroopsagainstmykingdmyabsendoccupiedtheGiantMountainsandthegoldpace.Theyorderedtheirtroopstotearofftheironcover;sonowthegoldpacehasregaisinalbrilliandisshiningradiantlyuhesun.ItisgranderandmuagnifitthanZeus’ownbronzepatheseventhheaven,whichissomethingthegodofheavencouldnotpossiblystomach.Hemustlookuponitasachalleohispowerandauthority.That,Ithink,iswhyhewantstoseeme.”Astheyweretalking,Lightniowardsthegroundiifurdedsurelyandaccuratelybythebanksoftheke.
KingDimitridismountedandthencarriedCharinadownfromthehorse’sbahisarms.Charinalookedaroundandsawutterdestru.Pilrshadbeentoppled,wreckageofthedestroyedbuildingyinruinsbutthescopeandexcellehefnifitpacewerestilldisible.Somepiecesofcssidluxuriousfurniturehadbeenbroken,butwithcarefulworkcouldstillberestored.ShesaidfidentlytoDimitri,
“GivehinkthatIwouldbeabletore-establishahomehere.”
“No,no,nodohinkaboutit”saidDimitrishakinghisheadandpointingtowardstheleft.“CyclopsandVioareinthegoldpatheoppositeshore.Anymovementherewilrousethesuspiofthebarbarians.Ifyouseeanyoneingtowardsthissideofthekebyboat,youmusthideyourselfinthedenseforests.Ohyes,Imustytwoloyalfriendstoeandprotectyou.”Sayingso,Dimitriputhisfingersintohismouthtoissueashrilldthe,“CortezandKojak,whereareyou?Areyounearby?Pleaseshowyourselves!”Theheadsoftwofiercetigerspeepedoutfromtheruins.Thoughtheiroldmasterhaddisappearedtotheyknownotwhere,theywereloyaltotheirpostofwatgovertheruinsofhiscastle.Seeingtheiroldmasterstandingbythebankoftheke,theyjumpedoutandrushedexcitedlytowardshim,tailsswitgiheygaveoutroarssoloudandferociousthatthesurroundingareavibratedandshook,sgCharinasomuchthatshehidbehindKingDimitri.Dimitrimadeasignforsilehetwoferociousbeastsstoppedsubmissivelybeforehimandsatdown.HepulledCharinafrombehindhisbadsaidtothetwotigers,
“ThisismygoodfriendCharina.Sheisaguestindosthatuood?”Thetigersnodded.HethenturoCharinaandmadeintrodus.“ThisoneisKojak.ThatoneisCortez.Theyaremygoodfriends.”ThetwotigerswalkeddocilelytowardsCharinaandrubbedagainstherlegslikefriendlykittensandCharinadidherbesttohideherfearandpattedthemonthehead.KingDimitrithenturoinstructthetwotigersontheirduties.“IfanyonefromtheoppositeshoreshoulddiscoverthatCharinaishereandetowardsthissideoftheketocaptureher,youtwomustprotecther,retreatintotheforestandaskforhelpfromMedusa.Isthatuood?”Thetwoanimalsletoutlowgrowlsandshowedtheirfierceteethtosignifytheyuoodandwouldguardherwell.KingDimitrismiledandsaidtoCharina,
“Ifyouareied,youcouldwalkthroughtheruinsofthepadlookfortreasures.Perhapsyoumightfindmaterialthatwouldhelpyourwriting.Iwillebackforyouwhenthemoonrisesandwewillgobaundaneworld.Sowe’llsaygoodbyefornowandI’llgoaboutmybusiness.”Sayingso,KingDimitrimountedhishorse.Lightningfppedhismightywingsaotheskies.
Thick,heavycloudsfloatedintheskieslikethetifloatingonthewideexpanseofobelostheyhethickclouds,theyheardloud,boomingsoundssimirtothethunderingoftensofthousandsofhoofs,mixedwiththegofallmannersofonsaleshoutsofsoldiersriseoeraseemedasiftwomightyarmieswerebattlingeachothertothedeath.Dimitri’shearttightened.“CouldsiccatastrophebehappeninginKingZeus’sseventhheaven?”hewondered“Ifso,Imustflythereandtrytohelpthemightykingofgods,whobefriendedme,overlookingthedisparityofourmutualpositionsaedmeasafriendandanequal.Iwillitmyselfevenuoproteghispersonandhisimperialpower.”Dimitrineverusedhiswhiponhisbelovedsteed;hejustsoftlycmpedLightning’sfnkwithhiskheirmutuallyagreedonsignal,andLightninguoodthathismastersetaurbedandwishedtorushaheadandfindoutwhatallthisotionwasabout.Hefppedhismightywingsandsurgedfullspeedaheadintothesky.
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