Greece: he had missed it dearly, as much as he might deny it. His eyes roamed around the rocky pass, across beige outcroppings and dusty brown patches of soil littered with golden grasses. The tall cliff walls on either side prevented the sun from filtering down so low, deep and cool shadows gracing their path. Kysis had developed a quiet smile on his lips the moment they entered the pass, not talking, just staring off towards their hidden destination as Atropos calmly plotted on.
The jumpy male horse calmed considerably since the earlier legs of the journey, head held high, gait more of a prance. It was obvious Atropos recognized the terrain, knew the routine. As feisty as he was, he could still fake at being cultured (something Arna often criticized Kysis for).
There was a slight saltiness to the air, suddenly noticeable as they rounded a corner. A few more snakes in the pass still awaited them ahead, Kysis keeping keen ears, eyes trying to take note of everything. The trip had been pleasant thus far. Kysis did not want anything to turn it sour. Ruffians from the almost chaotic Kreos would be a nightmare, Kysis keeping a mental prayer for them to remain absent constantly in his mind despite his calm demeanor.
If he did not force that icy calm on himself, he’d been chatting excitedly the whole way and never have the chance to hear trouble if it came.
Since leaving the Frankish settlement, a little explaining had happened. Kysis was trying to keep the contents of such discussions and the thought of his parents as far from his current mental-stream as possible. He had explained the whole ordeal with Helen and Rico in detail: his parents told him he would be marrying her in three days; the night before the marriage he left Kreos, for the dock with every intention of getting on a ship and never coming back; Rico caught up to him and they stayed the night at the docks; Rico escorted Kysis back to the Liari Keep; Kysis and Rico “explained” to Marcos that Kysis had hired a woman at the tavern so he was no longer pure and did not want to subject Helen to tainted goods, seeing as she was high stock; Marcos actually believed the story and excuse; the engagement was called off and plans for expanding business to the far north were altered to include Kysis. That was that.
As a safe guard, Kysis did not intend on letting Lam and Arna be in the same room alone for any amount of time, no matter how small. Arna had a knack for telling if someone was lying, or leaving any part out of a story (which was why Kysis and Rico spun their tale for Marcos, not Arna). He still felt guilty for leaving Lam and Alia alone in a room, and without introductions, so he would work hard not to make the same mistakes again. There would be enough uncomfortable questions asked because of his traveling with a woman, and un-chaperoned.
The pass opened abruptly up into a quarter-bowl the northern cliff meeting the dark sea with the southern area was occupied by rolling fields. Kysis flicked the reins, Atropos coming to a complete halt. The land sloped down from the crest they were currently upon, forming a large valley. In the center was the city of Kreos, buildings of beige stone and plaster and tile roofs. From there Kysis could see the thick wall surrounding the city, the different residential areas, the long streets of marketplace, still open.
Against the northern cliff was a dark streak, an aged Roman keep perched against a pale stone backing. The lands directly surrounding the keep were walled in, constructed in the same style as the city proper, much newer than the Keep had to be. Kysis shielded his eyes, squinting. Through his good eye he could see the Liari Guards making their rounds on the high walls, more than usual. Kysis swung his gaze back towards the water, a settlement (new construction could be seen on its outskirts) directly on the coastline. Two Ottoman ships were moored in the dock.
Trying to push back any sense of alarm he was feeling at the sight, Kysis forced his smile to remain where it had been for the last few hours, mustering up a voice as well. He almost started out in Greek but stopped himself before the syllables could ring out, “This... this is Kreos. As I said, just a speck of dust.” Kysis made a sweeping gesture with his right arm, encompassing the keep to the north, the valley city of Kreos, the farmlands and estates to the south. He was nervous. Quickly he lowered his hand, realizing it had been shaking that entire time. Either he was extremely hungry or scared or missing Greek food or a mixture of the three, but the butterflies in his stomach were near unbearable.
He wanted Lam to say something, anything. As long as she did not stare blankly or laugh at Kreos (which, he decided, would be as bad as someone laughing at a man’s manhood), he would be fine. Otherwise.... he might just fall off Atropos right then and there.
