"All ships! Full broadside on the port side!" Was the last thing I remember Leonidas shouting.
Thr symphony of both Confederate and Spanish guns filled the air, as well as the scent of smoke. Rounds and rounds of ammunition shot into and around the cave, covering us in a thick veil of cannon smoke. On the beach, a few sailors from the sunken ship joined us in our staging grounds. A small camp of tents, and trenches sat on a beach a few yards away from the cave. We erected a flag pole in the middle of the camp as a marker, and flew a flag with a navy blue field and the mark of Poseidon. The golden trident glimmered in the light of the day, shining in the brilliant bright hue.
As the night progressed and the sun dropped below the horizon of the watery prisons, I sat in the main tent with a table out infront of me. Andromeda stood at full attention on my right and Leonidas towered over both of us at my left. I took a map out from my bag and unrolled it across the table, a graph drew itself onto the map and the islands finer details appeared on the map. I could see two caves and a nice field filled with sheep all within a 10 mile radius of camp.
"I know that cave is the Cave of Polyphemus, but this cave isn't mentioned in the myth, what is that place?" Andromeda asked, pointing at the second cave.
"I don't know, but when we got here I got this," Leonidas pulled a note from his pocket, setting it on the table.
I grabbed it and read through it quickly, speaking aloud as my eyes followed the damning ink stains that were bled into the paper. "Dear Leonidas, I sense you are on the island of The Many-Voiced One. I warn you, Polyphemus is not the man Odysseus spoke of in legend but a grown Cyclops capable of thought and speech better than most of his kind. The Son of Poseidon will sense you on his island, and will hunt you, stay with The Daughter of Poseidon for she can counter this brute." Thanks for the vote of confidence Ares, but what do you mean he's a grown cyclops?
Andromeda peaked over my shoulder, taking the note, finishing the second page. "The main concern on his Island is a shrine that connects Polyphemus to a larger system, once you complete this quest SHE will be aware of your presence. Stay safe, and move fast. Ares of Lakonia, God of War." Andromeda turned to us, "Well that's comforting, mysterious figure here to kill us and a full-grown cyclops."
"What do we do now? Polyphemus is after us, and the gods are being as ambiguous as ever," Leonidas said, setting up positions on the map.
"Wow! Ambiguous! That's such a big word for you Leonidas!" Andromeda laughed a bit, playing with some of the plastic soldiers Leonidas pulled from his bag.
"Fuck you, Witch," Leonidas shot back, marking the map with pens and going over potential attack plans and defensive positions.
"If he knows we're here, why hasn't he attacked already? He could tear through these defenses no problem," I said, analyzing the map.
"Last time he underestimated mortals, he was blinded. Imagine how traumatic that must've been for him, especially since the mortals have upgraded weaponry and three demigods," Leonidas answered. "The Confederates have mortars, I can get them ready to fire at a moments notice but we're low on rounds for our artillery pieces."
"How about the rounds for our infantry? Enough to prolong combat?" Andromeda circled the table, watching the map get set up.
"Yes, but they won't do anything against a full grown cyclops," Leonidas made different lines for fall back.
"What did Ares mean I was a good counter to Polyphemus?" I asked, looking at Leonidas.
"Polyphemus can control and manipulate fire like most Cyclopes, but unlike most Cyclopes he can control water with some restrictions. Ares is probably hoping you can extinguish him, or shoot water back in his face tenfold. I say our first order of business needs to be that cave, Ares is horrified of it," Leonidas responded, pointing towards the cave on the map.
"He has every right to be, the magic coming from that cave is stronger than some gods and even some titans. About a seven on a scale of 1 to Nyx, speaking of Nyx it's dark out and we'll have the advantage. Let's go, I'll round up some Spainards!" Andromeda walked out of the tent, leaving us with the map.
I consulted with Leonidas a little while longer while Andromeda recruited a conquistador party, the night got darker as the camp developed. You see, The Spartans and Romans we descended from were masters at building and packed supplies on adventures like these to continue that legacy. The legions did it better, but we could make do in proper time. I walked outside to see a group of ten Spainards with muskets, crossbows, and broadswords. The night felt cold, like Hades' classroom cold, that chill to the bone feeling that makes your soul shiver. I rubbed my arms and followed the march as Leonidas barked orders, making two lines of six with us at the head.
The march was long, not as long as the training marches in the legions, but long enough to wear me down after a long day of adventuring and sailing. Leonidas marched us to the cave entrance, Andromeda held her head as we got closer to the cave. The large entrance was carved in ages ago, at least a millennium by my estimation. Marble pillars weathered done to smooth stone, depiction of soldiers fighting with the banners and shield markings gone. In the center on the entrance was a golden owl of Athens, which struck me as odd since whoever made this should've known the Athens Owl is better crafter in Palladium.
"The magic here is strong, almost Titan-like, this shouldn't exist,"Andromeda muttered, walking towards the cave.
"That Owl, it's made of Imperial gold. The same volatile mixture the Romans use, I've only seen that mixture used on one statue for Athena," Leonidas said, looking above at the leering eyes.
"Let's get inside, we need to see more," I said, watching as the gold glinted in the moonlight.
"Men, stay out here and guard the entrance," Leonidas shouted, leading the way into the cave.
Around the area were stone statues of Athenian soldiers, standing guard in the long corridor. There were colorful paintings depicting them fighting Spartans, and losing horribly, in Athens. As we walked further down the corridor, the scenes turned into the Athenians turning the tide and forcing Sparta out once more. The Athenians wouldn't lose to The Spartans for about another 26 years, but I thought they hadn't made it past the walls until 405 BC. Over at the edge was paintings depicting Athena fighting Ares, the gods of war dueling under her statue in The Parthenon.
In one of the last paintings, Ares struck Athena's shield as she held her spear back. I've seen kids of Athena use that move, and it usually ended the same way. At the end of long corridor was a marble statue of Athena, she was draped in purple cloaks with offerings of wine and weapons. On the statue's spear was vines growing down to her hand, and her helmet was made of the same imperial gold that was used to depict her owl outside. Behind the statue was a final painting, Athena stabbing Ares through his skull and lifting his glowing body up on a spear.
"This isn't Athena, this is who Ares warned me about," Leonidas said backing away from the statue.
"The woman who bested Ares in combat, the woman who burned down Lakonia and Greece," Andromeda's hands shook at her sides.
"The Goddess Hades warned me about, and Olympus is afraid to invoke," I said, noticing my heart was racing and beating out of my chest.
A voice cut through the dread and silence that hung in the air, cutting through my core. The Many-Voiced one spoke damning words, "Minerva."