Page 32 of Phoenix Chosen 3

“Apologies,” he says. “I didn’t want anyone sneaking up on me while indisposed.” He yawns again and stretches his arms high over his head. With a simple brush of his hand, his frazzled bed hair somehow falls perfectly into place. I don’t know if it’s magic or he’s just that blessed.

“You with the living?” Kalistratos asks.

“Barely. Were we in a city, I could make this recovery quick with a simple trip to a brothel. As it is, I must suffice with a night’s rest and a plentiful meal.”

“Are yousureyou’re a real monk?” Kalistratos mutters.

“You probably should let your phoenix powers recharge more, right?” I ask. “It’s not like I’m going to be of much help to you guys against these bandits…”

“Not true,” says Kalistratos. “You’re deadly with a sling.”

“I know you’re trying to be encouraging, but what good would a sling do against a sorcerer? I couldn’t even dodge a magic tripwire.”

“May I remind you it was you who defeated the soul reaver with a single shot?” he says.

I give him a resigned shrug. “That was luck.”

“Have you made any progress accessing your powers?” Airos asks.

“I’m still not really sure if I have any powers.” I reposition the sling so my egg is held against my chest. “I’ve been thinking that everything I’ve experienced has come from this little guy. I’ve been trying to reach out to it and make some kind of conscious connection, but zero luck so far.”

Airos gets out of bed, completely shameless about his nudity in front of us. I quickly avert my eyes, but still catch a glimpse of what I’m pretty sure is a bunch of terrible scars slashed across his back. They’re too numerous and too brutal to be the result of a simple accident or even a fight. What happened to Airos?

“Cheesus, Airos,” Kalistratos grunts. “Would it kill you to give us some warning? Or do you just like showing yourself off?”

“To you? Absolutely.”

“Feh. Save it for your brothel omegas.”

“There’s plenty of me to go around,” Airos replies as he puts on his chiton. He turns to me. “It’s an interesting thought, Tyler, but don’t discount yourself. I’ve always been able to sense a phoenix within you, and I still do. Whatever abilities you may possess may not have fully emerged. Remember, Kalistratos and I learned to harness our phoenix abilities when we were very young. It’s like learning to speak. No one can tell you how to do it. You listen, and when you are ready, your voice comes.”

“They say that the older you get, the harder it is to learn a new language,” I say. “And I got shit grades in my Spanish class. But I’ll keep trying.”

“And we will do what we can to help you,” Airos says. “Now… let’s get some breakfast. I’m famished.”

The three of us leave the house for the winery, and as we trudge up the hill, Markos comes shuffling down towards us in a great hurry. He waves his arms frantically over his head when he sees us. I’m concerned he’ll lose his balance and tumble down the hill like a runaway cheese wheel.

“Thank the Gods!” Markos cries. “Great heroes, it’s terrible!”

“Calm yourself, grandfather,” Kalistratos says, grabbing the old man’s arm. “Before you hurt yourself.”

“What’s going on, Markos?” I ask.

“A trade wagon from Aelonos,” he wheezes. “Everything gone…”

“Now?” Kalistratos asks.

Markos nods furiously as he fights to catch his breath, sweat pouring down his wrinkled face. “Follow me.”

The old man hobbles back up the hill from where he came so quickly that we have to power walk to keep up with him.

“What was on this trade wagon?” I ask.

“Food supplies, medicines… Our land is used to grow grapes and olives. We trade the wine and olive oil for barley from Aelonos. It’s how things have been for generations. Without these shipments, our granaries grow thin.”

The three of us share an awkward look, like maybe we shouldn’t have fat-assed so hard last night.

“Don’t worry,” Markos reassures us. “We would happily give our heroes whatever they need. We are in your debt.”

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