Charon Unguarded (Ferryman Saga Book 1) Page 17

  He did not hear the call to charge but, suddenly, they were moving forward at an astonishing rate. Erick had joined a comrade in taking down one of the smaller Ice Giants who now had several spears hanging out of his chest and was roaring in pain and rage. As Charon rushed past he took a chance and slashed his sword across the giant’s back as hard as he could, and the giant fell face first into the mud. Blood splattered across his face where the helmet did not cover but he kept going. He had never considered himself a killer, but this fight was a them or us situation. The battlefield had no place for pacifists. Charon was numb to the noise and the danger. All he knew was that he had to find Hermes. Anything else was a distraction. Once he had dealt with Hermes …

  It was chaos. Blood and mud caked his arms and legs and made it almost impossible to recognise anybody. He rushed past where Loki and Fenrir were locked in combat against Ares, who had already taken down Ephilates, and Dionysus had taken on Alcyoneus, a giant with a terrible reputation. Its long hair, which appeared to have had sharp stone chips sewn into the ends, flew out behind it as it spun and dipped to duck the arrows being fired from both the Greek and the Viking ranks. Charon had not been paying full attention, and one of the strands struck him across his shield arm, tearing the flimsy linen and cutting deeply. Hera and Athena were also fighting furiously and as he passed them, Athena blocked a club which was heading toward his head. He nodded his gratitude before continuing his search for Hermes.

  It already felt like the battle had been going on for hours. His injured arm throbbed and blood soaked his sleeve. He tried to ignore the pain and the noise as he dodged Greeks, Vikings, Titans and Giants, arrows, rocks and bits of his ‘allies’. Finally, he came upon Hermes. He was fighting hand to hand with Artemis – never a woman to get on the wrong side of. He saw Ares, who had now dispatched Fenrir, pinning Hermes with his spear. ‘Stop!’ Charon screamed as he tore off his blood-spattered helmet and retrieved his sword. ‘Hermes is mine!’.

  ‘Charon!? What the hell are you doing here, you idiot? Go home before you get yourself killed!’ Ares bellowed back. He moved into attack again.

  ‘I said he’s mine!’ Charon’s heart pounded as he turned his ire on Ares. He remembered what Erick had told him about how to get past a spearman. He had to get the shield boss over the top of the spear and force the point down. Then he could slide up the shaft and take him down. Erick had made him practice for a whole day and if he had to, he’d use it. Through gritted teeth, he snarled, ‘He tried to kill me in my own home! I demand satisfaction!’

  Ares lowered his spear and shook his head. ‘Wow, that’s low. Dude, look, it’s your call, but have you ever fought before?’ He held an arm out to stop Charon from charging in.

  ‘It doesn’t matter! I know enough for what I need.’

  ‘If you need help—’ He tore a strip from his own cloak and bound Charon’s arm. Everyone else was too busy fighting to take any notice of them.

  ‘I won’t! Just keep other people out of it. He dies by my hand or none!’

  Ares looked at him as if seeing him for the first time and nodded approvingly. ‘I don’t know how much time you’ve been spending around them, but it looks like someone’s grown some stones. Have at him.’

  Charon nodded and, feeling no inclination to announce his presence, charged, hitting Hermes on his left side and sent him sprawling in the mud. ‘Get up and fight, traitor!’

  Artemis, stunned by this sudden interruption, attempted to rejoin the fray. Ares took her arm and pulled her away. A simple shake of his head was enough to tell her to leave this one to Charon. The goddess of the hunt needed no verbal explanation. Instead, she and Ares stood either side of them as Hermes and Charon circled each other, trading blow for blow, each holding their ground.

  ‘You think yourself a warrior now?’ Hermes scoffed.

  ‘Last time I only had a golf club. Just think what I can do with this,’ and swung his sword at Hermes, who parried it with his shield. He went in again for an uppercut but Hermes deflected it.

  ‘Not much, by the look of it.’ Hermes swung his own sword in a series of blows which were obviously an attempt to send Charon off balance. Erick’s patient training kicked in and he was able to block them while putting in some of his own. A lucky strike allowed Charon to bury his sword in Hermes’ shield arm. It fell in the mud with a sickening squelch. Hermes screamed from pain and shock.

  ‘Don’t bet on it.’ Charon charged Hermes again, this time striking him in the chest with the edge of his shield. Hermes dropped to his knees like a stone. Charon circled again as Hermes clutched his chest with his remaining arm, gasping. He could have struck then but he wanted Hermes to know it was coming. He wanted him to suffer; to know he was going to die. Killing him fast would not sate his rage. Charon did not like this side of himself, but he felt powerful. Blue lightning rippled up and down his arms and over his hands. Blue flames danced in his eyes, and reflected back from Hermes’, who, still on his knees, was either unwilling or unable to move.

  Good men have no need to gloat. They will just do what must be done. Without a word, Charon swung his sword from right to left. It passed through Hermes’ neck without resistance, sending blood spraying and his head tumbling into the mud, landing face down. Hermes’ body, now lacking the means to remain upright, slumped forward. Charon looked at the head for a moment then stamped on it hard until the mud consumed it. Turning back to Ares and Artemis who stared wide-eyed at what he had done, he said, ‘Where’s Loki?’

  * * *

  The battle lasted hours, but they were only able to round up a few of the remaining Titans and Giants and lock them away again until they could think of a way to properly neutralise them. Those they caught went willingly for the most part but a great number had fled as soon as they realised the battle was lost. Shipping containers had been found to contain them until a more permanent solution could be found. Charon stormed off the battlefield after that decision was made public. They were making the same stupid mistakes all over again. Why did they never learn? Locking them up had given them a reason to hate the gods. It had bred the animosity that had brought them there in the first place, and now they were going to let it grow stronger. Loki and Ra had vanished so he hadn’t been able to send him to join Hermes but there was time. There was always time.

  He opened his front door and sighed. He hadn’t been home in days and the place was still as he’d left it after the fight with Hermes. He leaned his shield and sword against the wall in the hall. After the display on the battlefield, Odin and Erick had insisted he keep them. He went into the kitchen where he found two bags of shopping on the table with a peony printed note pinned to it.

  ‘I have been feeding the Hellbeast. She asked me to tell you that her name is Susan, not Stupid Cat, and can you please get some more of the cat food with jelly, as the stuff in gravy is a devil to wash out of her coat. Milk is in the fridge.’

  Charon smiled. It was the first normal thing that had happened in weeks. Bath, tea, bed. He’d deal with the mess in the morning. Flicking the radio on as he waited for the kettle to boil, he considered the Council’s offer of a position. It beat being a doorman. With tea in hand he went upstairs and soaked in the bath. Every muscle was complaining, and he wanted to wash Hermes’ blood off. He felt tainted by it. It was like being soaked in treachery. On the upside, people might think twice before assuming he was a doormat in future.

  An hour or so later, he came back downstairs for more tea and saw the light on the answer machine, the one thing which hadn’t been destroyed in the fight, was flashing. That was weird. Nobody called his landline, let alone left messages. He’d only got one because he’d read somewhere that it’s what humans did. He hit play and went into the kitchen to boil the kettle.

  Ra’s voice came out of the machine and Charon shuddered. ‘Good evening, Charon. I thought I would drop you a quick line to tell you that, in payment for costing me everything I have worked so hard to achieve, I have taken your wife. Say
hello, my dear.’ He heard the sounds of a struggle on the other end.

  ‘You’ll pay for this, you bast—’ There was a muffled scuffle in the background and an angry yell of pain from one of her captors.

  ‘She certainly has spirit, doesn’t she? If you want to see her in one piece again, you’ll come to the paint factory as soon as you get this message.’ The message ended.

  Without waiting for the kettle or turning off the radio, Charon picked up his keys and his sword and left the house. As the door slammed shut, the DJ on the radio announced the next tune and Rhinestone Cowboy began playing to the empty house.

  RULES OF THE COUNCIL AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE GODS

  THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL

  The council are a group of divine judiciaries. They are a self-appointed body who came together, with the aim of keeping a lid on the others, after Dionysus and Hermes put all the divine realms in jeopardy. They do not include the oracles or seers because, though they were permitted to pass over from the Underworld as attendants, they were not seen as objective enough to be a part of the council.

  1.No single Pantheon will rule over the others.

  2.No god may act to prevent or undo the work of another[5].

  3.No member of any pantheon may act in aggression against either the mortals or each other.

  a.Grievances must be brought to the attention of the council for arbitration.

  b.The council has the final word in all disputes.

  4.Gods may interact socially, but all official cross-pantheon agreements and meetings must include at least two representatives from The Council to ensure the above rules are observed and adhered to.

  5.Representatives of the Council have no power to act on behalf of the Gods. They act only to pass information and see that The Council is obeyed.

  6.The Oracles must operate only under license and only insofar as the council deems appropriate. They fall under the jurisdiction of Wadjet.

  a.Predicting the outcome of mortal wars is forbidden.

  b.Using predictions for personal gain is also prohibited.

  7.On no account is Dionysus allowed to bet on anything!

  CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT[6]

  Here is the list of conditions the gods were made to submit to in exchange for the freedom to pass into the mortal world, after being thrown from their own.

  1.The gods agree to put past differences behind them. Warring will not be tolerated. All new differences must be mediated by The Council as soon as they arise. If the Council cannot reach a decision, The Sidhe Courts will have the final word.

  2.Mortal followers are not to be used as pawns to settle arguments.

  3.The gods agree to remain in human form at all times. Messing about pretending to be swans, or strange ethereal voices in caves, is not encouraged. Impersonating others (mortal or otherwise) will be met with severe punishment[7].

  4.It is forbidden to use your powers against mortals for any reason.

  5.No attempt to influence the mortal population will be tolerated. For this reason, the Gods agree not to run for public office in any capacity.

  6.The gods will do nothing to risk public exposure of their existence, or the existence of other supernatural beings. A low-profile lifestyle is expected of all.

  7.The gods agree that they will do nothing to extend their lives. Once their stories have faded from the mortal land, so must the gods. Attempts to artificially keep their stories, or rekindle belief in the world of man, is forbidden.

  8.The gods agree that the Head gods remain responsible for policing their subordinates. Above them is The Council appointed by the Fae courts.

  a.If one of the Head gods is found to have breached these conditions their discipline is to be determined by The Council.

  b.If one of their subordinates are found guilty of the same, their Head must report it to the council for them to decide punishment.

  9.Apocalyptic omens should be reported to the Sidhe Courts. Do not attempt to deal with these alone.

  PREVIEW: THE BET

  The Styx – 312 CE

  Charon woke with a start. Waves were lapping at his ankles. This was very wrong. This should not be happening. This meant that that stupid dog had let people in. Again. The Styx famously didn’t have waves. Or a current. Or wind. So what the Euripides was going on in his river? He had one job to do and gods darn it, he was going to do it. Enough is enough! He stepped onto his raft, stopping briefly to wring out the hem of his robe over the edge.

  He punted to the other side of the river, eyes flaring bright blue, and muttering to himself about idiot heroes and their mad ideas. If this is Orpheus again, I’ll drown him myself! Though this was, strictly speaking, not allowed. It was Charon’s job to ferry the dead, not create them. Last year Orpheus had spent a week down here sulking and moping around because he had failed to follow instructions, and you would not have believed the noise. Charon didn’t have ears but after three days he’d been driven to stuff where they would have been with marsh mud. To this day Charon would blush at the memory of the language Orpheus was yelling when he was eventually chucked out. Considering he didn’t have a face, blushing was an achievement.

  When he pulled up to the other pontoon he was very much surprised to find Hermes and Dionysus in the river as naked as the day they were manifested, stinking drunk, and frolicking with a couple of nymphs. Why is it always nymphs? ‘Oi! You two, idiots. Get out of there right now!’

  ‘Sshhh … Hermes, i’ss Charon.’ There was a lot of splashing and, oh gods, giggling, as Dionysus and Hermes tried to help each other out of the river; falling over one another in an attempt to get to the edge.

  ‘Are you quite finished?’

  ‘Nearly there … hic … old chap,’ called Hermes.

  ‘If we schtay really quiet, do you reckon he’ll bugger off?’ slurred Dionysus.

  ‘Nah, mate, he’s looking right at us. Pass the horn, I need another drink.’ Hermes belched loudly.

  Dionysus patted himself down, forgetting he was naked, then looked back over to the nymphs. ‘Left it with the girls. They’re …’ He flailed an arm roughly to where four – when he could have sworn they only brought two – were swapping two identical and slightly out of focus horns between them. ‘They’re over there.’ He continued swaying toward the shore.

  Charon was standing on the dock with his arms folded and tapping his foot, ‘Get a move on. What do you think this is, a pleasure beach? Have some respect. And look at the state you’ve left it in!’ Charon stretched out a skeletal arm to indicate the tunics and sandals left strewn across the river bank.

  ‘Calm down, Charon.’ Dionysus paused to belch before speaking again, ‘You’ll get frown lines …’ He and Hermes fell back into the river in fits of laughter.

  ‘Oh, very funny. Do you have any clue what Hades will do if he catches you two messing around down here with them?’ Charon said, pointing at the nymphs.

  ‘Whatever it is, it won’t be good.’ This was a new voice and they all jumped before turning to find Yahweh, Gabriel, Baal and Azrael, standing about five meters from the water’s edge.

  Oh, great, that lot. ‘Get lost, Yahweh,’ said Hermes, swaying as he made his way back up to the bank to get clothes, ‘you’re lowering the tone.’

  ‘From where I’m standing, I would have a job.’ Yahweh smirked and ran his hand through his greasy dark curls. ‘Besides which, it’s not the tone you’re worried about. It’s the competition.’

  ‘You? Competition?’ Dionysus had joined them on the riverbank again, this time with a naked nymph on each arm. ‘Don’t make me laugh. You’re barely five centuries old. And yeah, I’ve heard all the rubbish you’ve been spouting to the mortals about being the ‘One True God’. He dressed himself and tucked his horn in his belt.

  ‘Does the little godling think he can convince the mortals he’s the big scary now?’ Hermes taunted, and ruffled Yahweh’s hair. He then wiped the grease off on Yahweh’s tunic in disgust. ‘Listen,
boy, you’re a nothing. Even the Romans have been ignoring your lot for decades. It’s gotten to the point where they are making their own martyrs. Until you get a decent following out there, you’ll stay a nothing in here, and as Zeus is keeping a very close eye on what you minor pests are up to, it’s going to be a warm day in the Underworld before you get that.’

  Dionysus nudged him, ‘Diocletian does give them some grief.’

  ‘Oh, right. Forgot about him.’

  It was at this point that Charon chipped in, ‘Sorry to burst your bubble but Diocletian is old news.’

  ‘What? How do you know what’s going on up there?’

  ‘I don’t. I know what goes on down here, and I can tell you first hand that Diocletian has been dead for several months.’

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘I ferried him myself,’ said Charon.

  Yahweh and his gang started to laugh, ‘You clowns don’t have a clue what your own followers are up to, and you have the front to mock me? Last time I checked, I have not one but two religions following me.’

  ‘That are essentially the same …’ Hermes muttered under his breath.

  ‘Just admit it, you’re too old and too out of touch to get what we’re about.’

  ‘I get what you’re about, puppy,’ said Dionysus, ‘and I don’t much like it. Gods take care of their own affairs.’

  ‘Really? Is that what you call persecuting members of rival cults because Zeus won’t let you fight each other?’

  ‘It’s just how it’s done,’ said Hermes. ‘You’ve not seen the destruction when gods fight directly. You’re too young to understand.’

  ‘I call it cowardly,’ said Yahweh, ‘Things are going to change around here, starting with you lot.’

  ‘Yeah, out with the old, in with the new, hey, Yahweh?’ said Baal.

  ‘That’s right.’