Thanos, close on Aythadis heels could hear the tall man mutter. He seemed to be worried about being called to task for whatever it was they were going to do that night. He wondered who would do such a thing. Aythadis seemed to him very self assured and not likely to owe much to what other people thought of him, but ever since this priestess, Lotis, had spoken the man had seemed upset.
This whole thing was growing stranger by the minute.
Aythadis led his companions first up the cliffs then down towards the shore. A large statue of Baal stood on a dais close to the waterline. Wood was stacked high behind it and and the bronze statue was glowing softly. The belly behind it's outstreched hands was a pale red from the fire burning inside. The large gaping mouth glowed as well and smoke, tinged with the smell of resin rose and curled around the horns on either side of the bestial face.
A smaller temple building was tucked to the left of it and on the other side, some smaller buildings were glued to the cliffside. A number of lightly armoured guards was posted here. Pacing up and down in front of a gate set in the cliff. A soft crying could be heard whenever the wind shifted and and drowned out the sound of the surf.
Edes' hand shifted to his weapon, but Aythadis stopped him from rushing towards the guards. A short whispered conversation later and Edes, together with Bartuc, Cerek and Zeos left their companions and started for a trail that would get them opposite the gate and its guards.
Aythadis kneeled in the sand, and with a gull's pinion feather wiped flat a piece of sand. He then used the sharp end to scribble symbols in the sand, that made Thanos think of bit's he'd seen of the works of Hermes Trismegistus. Some resinous wood was placed in the center and lit. Incense followed and the green-eyed man started to intone words accented in ways Thanos was sure no one had accented them for generations.
As he spoke, clouds slipped in from the see and covered the sky except for a small hole that allowed the crecent moon an unobstructed view towards the beach. Lightning started to crackle at the horizon slowly moving closer, but no rain fell. Wind picked up and waves rolled up the beach, licking at the dais.
Suddenly the chanting stopped and in the silence Aythadis spoke.
"Come."
Thanos follwed him, hiding in the shadows towards the gate. Suddenly a fire arrow arched out from the cliff behind them and came to rest on the stack of wood, quickly followed by several others. The guards started to shout, their voices lost in the sound of the wind that had taken on the shape of a storm, for a moment Thanos thought he could see Borealis, the god of the Northwind, striding accross the sky. Thunder increased in volume as the lightning increased in violence, yet still the moon looked on.
As the guards left their posts and ran for the supply of fire wood, Aythadis and Thanos found their way to the gate. Luckily the only thing keeping it shut were two beams of wood which were quickly dispatched by the two men working together. The gate was pulled open and Thanos could see the kids huddled togther. Boys and girls, none older than half a dozen years it seemed and many younger.
"Come!"
Aythadis voice sounded over the noise of the storm and still remained compasionate. The children came, running, clutching at each other, into the storm. Aythadis snatched up a little girl, no older than four, who was cowering in a corner, while Thanos led the others towards the trail.
Two guards came running back their swords drawn. Thanos, unarmed felt his skin crawl, he was going to die. There seemd no doubt about it as the first guard swung his weapon at him.
"NO!" Aythadis cried behind him and the weapons stopped as if it had struck a rock. The guard dropped it, clutching his wrist. The other turned and ran as lightning ran up along the beach and it's fiery tongues struck the burning wood.
Pulling himself together, Thanos rushed on. Followed by a river of children he led them up the narrow trail. He could feel Aythadis running on behind him, herding the frightened children. Yet none of them seemd to frightened to go on.
As he reached the top of the trail he stumbled to a halt. Before him stood a figure. Another bolt of lightning showed him it was Lotis, behind her several more of Tanis priests appeared. As he looked round to search for Aythadis he saw hiss other companions arrive, breathing hard from their excertions.
Then he saw a shape in the clouds, a bearded face he'd seen in many a temple. The eyes flashed and it's hair flowed in the wind. An empty hand reached back and threw. Where nothing was a lightning bolt appeared and widened, crackled, jagged and struck the dias in front of statue of Baal. Slowly the statue toppled forward, gathering speed as it fell and crashed in the surf. A wave washed over it and doused the fires burning in it's stomach. Behind him he thought he heard Aythadis say
"Now I've done it"
But as he looked round the tall man turned to Lotis, who took the little girl from his arms and smiled.
"Hello Cassandra, " she said to the little girl, then reached up and kissed Aythadis.
"Thank you."
Then she left them, her followers taking the children with them.
Aythadis sighed and turned to his companions as the storm lost it's strength and the clouds skidded away to the South.
"We'd better get back to the ship before anyone notices us."