The city of Athens was their first stop, the city was known for its great people. It is said that the great god Zeus was seen here, in his human form. I have never seen the man before, but I would like too. A man with that amount of power intrigues me. The city looked different from the last time I was here, the place had been tattered and worn down. It seems like there had been constant battles here...
There were people in the many alleyways, stricken with fear from something or someone... “Who might you two be?” A man from the shadows asked. “We’re just passing by, we aren’t staying very long. Our business is in Sparta.”
“Sparta! What business do you have with those savages.”
“We need the help of their army.”
“Haha, with that King, HA! King Leonidas II is just as stubborn as his father. That imbecile tried to oppose the great Xerxes, and died foolishly. Well, if you want to test your luck, go on. Sparta is a quite a walk from here.” The man vanished back into the shadows.
The two began to explore the city of Athens. The dilapidated houses caught the eye of Sam. “Whats wrong with their homes, it looks like they’ve been attacked by something.”
“I don’t know Sam, lets keep moving. I have to get something to eat, maybe some fresh roasted venison.”
“You must like your venison.”
“THE CYCLOPS IS COMING! THE CYCLOPS IS COMING! FIND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND HIDE THEM.”
The ground began to tremble and shake, with every step the giant made. “Sam get out of the way! We can’t compete with a Titan.”
Liliana stood by the nearby alley, off the street. Sam just stood there in the street. There were people running by him, trying to get inside. “I thought you were a born fighter Lily. These people need our help.”
“Hey, we Tzarians know who or what to fight. We aren’t in Tzaria anymore. This is Greece, the home of freaks, and giants.”
The Cyclops stood up as high as the tallest building. The bulging belly of the beast resembled waves of the East ocean. His feet were the size of a man, and yet, the boy stood there. The giant beast approached Sam, and leaned down to ogle the boy. The giant eye examined him, the beast then started to laugh. “Haha, Haha, you stand my way little man. Why?”
“You won’t be hurting anymore people giant!”
“You expect to stop me. I am a Titan. The enemy of the gods. I don’t even know who you are BOY! How do you expect to beat me. Look at me, you are nothing more than a rodent in my eyes. I just have to give you a little squash!”
....Sam said nothing.
“Haha, I like you boy! I’ve decided to not to crush, but too keep you as a pet. I get lonely in my cave. I would love to keep a nice rodent for amusement.”
The Cyclops reached out his hand to grab Sam, but was cut by the edge of Sam’s sword. “Ah, you little pest!”
He reacted by flinging his hand at Sam, sending him back through the sky. He crashed on a wall made from stone. Blood was starting to trickle down his spine. He stood back up, sword and shield still in hand. He charged the giant again, The Cyclops balled up his hand, and sent a vicious punch down at the ground. The titan’s attack made the ground shake, it made the ground mimic the ocean’s great waves. Sam dodged the blow, and proceeded to run up the beast’s arm.
“Haha, I’ll crush you like a beetle, boy!”
He grabbed Sam with his left arm, clutching the boy’s body with great power.
“I thought you were fast, I’ve got you now. Well, now that I have you closer to my eye, you don’t look like a fighter too me. Now, your redheaded friend over there, she’s a real fighter. You’re just a little rodent. I’m going to squeeze the life out of you...”
The hands started to get tighter, the giant was bearing down on the boy. The sounds of screaming began to fill the city streets, there was blood coming through the gaps of the giant’s hands.
“Haha, I can feel you bones starting to dwindle boy. Not much longer now before you crack.”
“You’ve already lost giant. I had to get you focused on me, so that my friend could line up a shot on you.”
“HA! You think I wasn’t watching your red friend. She is still behind the alley cowering like the child she is.”
Liliana had not moved from the spot. Her fear of the giant had overcame her. The sight of Liliana backing down from an opponent was a rare one indeed.
“Haha, the sight of me always petrifies even the strongest of warriors. Now are you the strongest, or are you the foolishest?” The giant asked.
“Come on Sam, I have to break through,” Sam muttered to himself.
“Any last words boy?”.....
The glowing white had returned... It blinded the giant’s only eye. “Ahhh, what is happening? I can’t see! You pulled a cheap trick on me.” Sam then shouted out in the unknown language I haven’t since the dying dragon...
“DELA-SHALA-SCHOME-DELE!” He broke free from the tightened grip of The Cyclops. As soon as the beast let go, Sam stopped the fall by thrusting his blade into the palm of the giant.
Now hollering out in pain, the giant began to fling his hand around like he was trying to swat a beetle away. He wanted the sword out of his hand, but Sam was still hanging on by the sturdy handle. The handle was slippery from blood from both of them, still dripping through Sam’s blistered fingers. Eyes still white, he recovered his blade from the giants hand, while still being able to hang on. “I still can’t see. I know you’re on me, I can feel your tiny rodent feel tapping on my skin.”
The giant was right, Sam was running up his arm. He stabbed the beast again in his shoulder, but it was mostly bone. The sword sent back a violent recoil that shook Sam like an Okyrian belly dancer. The loud agonized filled screams of the Cyclops were ear-shattering.
“Beaten by a BOY? Never!” The giant screamed.
Sam had recovered and made one last lunge, he was going for the only eye the giant had. His grip of the sword could not have gotten any tighter, his knuckles were beginning to turn white. The boy had made contact with the eye, barely piercing the eye, Sam shoved the sharp blade even further inside of it. There was a fountain of blood that secreted from the wound, and it had covered Sam’s entire body. The beast’s legs began to wobble, back and forth, side to side, until it fell dead in the street. Sam was knocked off on impact, still soaked from the blood bath the beast gave him involuntarily. He stood up, still trying to catch his breath. Liliana came from the nearby alley, with other citizens emerging from there homes to witness the good news.
“The wolf-slayer has slain the Cyclops!” We are free from his tyranny.” One woman shouted to the townsfolk.
The many persons crowed around Sam, thanking him and giving him blessings. The children were giving him hugs and pieces of honey treats. Liliana stood back and watched, she was shamed. Her people’s pride was their biggest fault. She regretted not helping out the boy fight the beast, her fear had taken control of her. She grabbed Sam from the huge crowd of people, and pulled him aside.
“We must get going, Sparta isn’t far from here. Don’t forget why we are here in the first place! The Hooded Man is still killing people back home. We need the Spartans help to take back control of our land. No more helping people out! Do you know how much time we have wasted helping these fools out! Now lets go.”
“Liliana, are you upset? I know we are in a hurry, but these people need our help. I can’t just walk away from them.” Sam said with vigor.
“Yes, we are in a hurry, and everybody we meet doesn’t need our help. You cant’t save everybody. Didn’t that chained man teach you anything, you aren’t the only one who has a sword.”
The two began to exit the city. Sparta was right around the way...
