Demi-God

Lucian's whiskers twitched as he surveyed the marketplace through feline eyes. His first challenge as a cat was locating the elusive fishmongers, Aristos and Kyra. He padded through the crowded streets, his small form weaving between the legs of oblivious shoppers.

The market square buzzed with activity. Vendors hawked their wares, their voices rising above the general din. Lucian's ears swiveled, trying to catch any mention of his targets. He slunk past stalls laden with colorful fabrics, aromatic spices, and glistening fruits, but no useful information reached his sensitive ears.

Moving on, he made his way to the temple district. The air was heavy with incense, and the sound of chanting drifted from open doorways. Lucian paused at the entrance of a grand temple, watching as worshippers filed in and out. He listened to their hushed conversations, hoping for a clue, but found nothing.

As he prowled the city square, other cats took notice of the newcomer in their territory. They approached with arched backs and bared teeth, yowling challenges. Lucian paid them no mind, focused solely on his mission. He had no time for feline politics.

Hours passed, and frustration gnawed at him. The sun climbed higher in the sky, beating down on the cobblestones. Lucian's paws were sore from his search, and his belly growled with hunger. He paused in the shade of a market stall, his tail twitching in irritation.

"This isn't working," he thought, licking a paw. "I can't cover every inch of this damn city hoping to stumble upon something useful."

He overheard snatches of conversation about The Whisperer's arena - hushed whispers of excitement and fear - but nothing related to Aristos and Kyra. The vastness of the city and the enormity of his task began to weigh on him.

Lucian knew he needed to be more strategic. "Think," he urged himself. "Where would fishmongers be? Where could I hear something specific about them?"

The answer hit him like a wave - the docks. Of course. Where else would fishmongers conduct their business?

Lucian set off toward the waterfront. The scent of salt and fish grew stronger as he approached, and the clamor of the marketplace gave way to the shouts of dockworkers and the creaking of ships.

The docks sprawled before him, a maze of piers, warehouses, and vessels of all sizes. Workers scurried about, loading and unloading cargo. The sheer scale of the operation made Lucian's tail droop. This would take forever.

As he stood there, contemplating his next move, a large ship began to dock. Workers swarmed around it, ready to unload its cargo. Lucian watched the scene unfold.

He remembered Thais' words about the fishmongers' involvement in smuggling. His gaze shifted to the guards patrolling the docks. If anyone knew about illegal activities happening under their noses, it would be them.

Lucian crept closer to a pair of guards, keeping to the side. He settled into a hidden spot behind some crates, his ears pricked forward to catch their conversation.

"Another long day ahead," one guard grumbled, adjusting his helmet.

His companion nodded. "Tell me about it. At least it's not as hot as yesterday."

"True. Did you hear about what happened at the arena last night?"

"No, what?"

"Some new fighter showed up out of nowhere. Took down three opponents like they were nothing."

Lucian's ears perked up. Were they talking about him?

"Shit, really? Wish I'd seen that. Might have to check out the arena tonight."

"Good luck getting in. Place has been packed since word got out."

The conversation drifted to more mundane topics, and Lucian's attention waned. He was about to move on when one of the guards spoke again.

"Hey, isn't that Aristos' ship?"

Lucian froze. This was it.

"Yeah, looks like it. Wonder what he's bringing in this time."

"Probably just fish, like always."

The first guard snorted. "Right. 'Just fish.' You really believe that?"

"What are you saying?"

"Come on, you can't be that naive. Everyone knows Aristos is into some shady shit. The question is, what exactly is he smuggling?"

Lucian's claws dug into the wooden crate. He'd found his lead. Now he just had to follow it.

His feline form slunk along the edge of the dock, his eyes fixed on the ship the guards had identified as Aristos'. The vessel was a sturdy fishing boat, its wooden hull weathered by countless voyages. The name "Poseidon's Bounty" was painted on the side in faded blue letters. Despite its modest appearance, there was something off about it - the cargo hold seemed deeper than necessary for a typical fishing vessel.

As he watched, a thin man with curly hair strode down the gangplank. His voice boomed across the dock, "Alright, you lazy dogs! Let's get this catch unloaded before the sun sets!"

The workers, a mix of young men and seasoned sailors, scrambled to attention. Lucian crept closer, hiding behind a stack of crates to observe the scene.

One of the younger workers approached the man. "Hektor, where do you want us to start?"

The man, Hektor, pointed to the far end of the ship. "Begin with the crates at the stern. And be careful with them, you hear? They're more fragile than they look."

"Yes, sir," the worker nodded, then turned to his companions. "You heard the man! Let's move!"

The crew sprang into action, forming a human chain to pass crates from the ship to the dock. Lucian's keen ears picked up their conversation.

"Fuck, these are heavy," one worker grunted, struggling with a crate.

Another laughed. "What did you expect? Fish ain't light, especially when there's this many."

"Still," the first worker panted, "something feels off about these. They don't smell like fish."

"Shut your mouth," an older sailor hissed. "It ain't our business what's in the crates. We just move 'em."

Lucian's whiskers twitched with interest. He scanned the dock, trying to identify Aristos among the crowd. Was it Hektor, the curly man giving orders? Or was Aristos someone else, perhaps not even present?

As the unloading continued, a sleek carriage pulled up near the dock. A man stepped out, his appearance was different than that to the rough sailors around him. He wore a finely tailored chiton of deep purple, edged with gold embroidery. A heavy gold chain hung around his neck, and several rings adorned his fingers. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly trimmed, and a well-groomed beard framed his face. Despite the heat, he wore a cloak of rich fabric, pinned at the shoulder with an ornate brooch.

He surveyed the scene with the gaze of someone used to being in control. His skin, though tanned, lacked the weathered look of those who spent their days at sea.

Hektor straightened up at the sight of him. "Ah, Aristos! Good of you to join us. The unloading is proceeding as planned."

Lucian's ears perked up. So this was Aristos - not a rough sailor, but a man who looked more at home in a merchant's counting house than on a fishing boat.

Aristos nodded. "Excellent. Make sure the special cargo is taken directly to the warehouse. No detours, no inspections."

"Of course," Hektor agreed. "You heard the man!" he bellowed to the workers. "Double-time on those marked crates!"

As the pace of unloading increased, Lucian realized he had found his target. Now, he just needed to figure out what exactly Aristos was smuggling.

The last crate thudded onto the dock as a worker called out, "That's the last of 'em, Hektor!"

Hektor nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Good work, lads. Now get these loaded onto the wagons, quick and quiet."

As the men hustled to transfer the crates, Lucian seized his chance. He darted between legs and crates, slipping under Aristos' carriage just as the driver called, "All set, sir!"

The carriage lurched forward, following a pair of heavily-laden wagons. Lucian clung to the undercarriage, his claws digging into the wood as they rumbled through the streets.

After what felt like an eternity of jostling and the stench of horse, the carriage slowed. Lucian peered out, seeing a large, nondescript warehouse. Its weathered wooden walls and rusted metal roof blended seamlessly with the surrounding buildings, perfect for avoiding unwanted attention.

As the carriage stopped, Aristos' voice rang out, "Unload everything into the secure room. Move it!"

Lucian darted from his hiding spot, finding shelter behind a stack of crates. He watched as Aristos' men began unloading the wagons.

"Careful with that one," a worker grunted, hefting a crate. "Feels like it might break if you look at it wrong."

His companion snorted. "Yeah, and I bet it ain't fish inside neither. What d'you reckon, Aristos got us moving weapons?"

"Shut it," the first man hissed. "You want to end up fish food yourself?"

Aristos oversaw the operation. Once the last crate disappeared into the warehouse, he turned to a lean man at his side. "Kyra, make sure everything's secured. I'll be in my office going over the numbers."

Lucian's ears pricked up at the name. So this was Kyra - not a woman as he'd assumed, but a man. He filed away this information as he shadowed Aristos to his office.

The office was richly appointed with a large desk, plush chairs, and shelves lined with scrolls and ledgers. Aristos settled behind the desk, pulling out a fresh sheet of papyrus and an inkwell.

A knock at the door preceded the entrance of a thin, nervous-looking man. "You wanted to see the accounts, sir?"

"Yes, Doros. Let's go over last month's figures."

Doros spread several scrolls on the desk. "Well, sir, our legitimate fishing operations brought in 5,000 drachmas. Expenses for crew, ship maintenance, and bribes to port officials came to 2,000."

"And the special cargo?" Aristos asked.

Doros swallowed hard. "The, ah, 'wine' shipments netted us 15,000 drachmas. After paying off our suppliers and the necessary officials, we're left with a profit of 10,000."

He leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "Excellent. And our Persian friends?"

"They're pleased with the quality of our, er, 'wine'. They've requested we double the next shipment."

"Good, good," he mused. "We'll need to be careful, though. Increased volume means increased risk. Make sure our friends in the city guard are well compensated for their continued blindness."

Wine shipments that weren't wine, Persian connections, massive profits... He'd stumbled onto something big here.

"Anything else?"

The accountant shifted nervously, eyes darting to a particular scroll. "Well, sir, there is one more matter..."

"Out with it."

Doros cleared his throat. "It's about Councillor Lysander. He's asking for an additional 2,000 drachmas this month."

"What?" Aristos' face darkened. "We just paid him last month. What's his excuse this time?"

"He claims he needs to bribe more members of the assembly to ensure the new trade regulations pass in our favor."

Aristos slammed his fist on the desk, causing Doros to flinch. "These fucking politicians! They're like bottomless pits, always demanding more."

"Should I... should I tell him no?"

Aristos stood, pacing the room. "No, we can't do that. The bastard knows too much. But I'm tired of these constant demands." He stopped, turning to face Doros. "Tell Lysander he'll get his money, but make it clear this is the last time. If he wants more, he'll need to start earning it."

"Yes, sir. I'll draft the message right away."

"And Doros," Aristos added, "make sure Lysander understands that if he even thinks about betraying us, he'll wish he'd never been born. We have enough dirt on him to bury his entire family."

"Understood, sir."

Aristos returned to his seat. "Now, let's go over the projections for next month. With the increased shipments to Persia, we should see a significant boost in profits."

As they were about to continue their conversation, a sharp knock interrupted them. The door swung open, revealing Kyra's lean figure.

"Aristos, I need to speak with you. In private."

He nodded, turning to Doros. "We'll continue this later. Leave us."

As Doros scurried out, Lucian felt a sudden, sharp pain in his head. It was as if something was pressing against his skull, a strange sensation he'd never experienced in his feline form. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but the feeling persisted. It reminded him of the presence of a god, but why now? He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the conversation unfolding before him.

Kyra wasted no time once the door closed. "The shipment of 'poppies' from the Persians is solid. They're ready for distribution to our network."

Aristos stood, moving to a small table where a pitcher of wine sat. He poured himself a generous cup. "Wine?" he offered to Kyra.

"No, thank you."

He took a long sip before responding. "Excellent news about the poppies. I checked on the men unloading earlier. Everything seemed in order." He paused, a small smile playing on his lips. "You know, when we first started this partnership, I never knew you'd push through like this."

"Oh?" Kyra's eyebrow arched. "Doubting me, were you?"

"At first. But you've really delivered on your promise."

"Nice to be appreciated," Kyra said."Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Why work with the Persians, though? It seems... risky."

He shrugged, taking another sip of wine. "They offered a much better price on the poppies. Simple as that."

"You're not worried about the Persians invading?"

Aristos let out a bark of laughter. "Politics? Invasions? I don't give a shit about any of that. I care about one thing - drachmas. As long as the coins keep flowing, the Persians can do whatever they want."

"You don’t care that a lot of people are going to die because of their invasion?"

"Do you know what us Thracians hate more than the Persians?"

"What?"

"The Greeks. These filthy opportunists have bled us dry for too long. If the Persians sweep through and shake them from their silver-studded thrones, let them. It's not my blood they'll be spilling."

Kyra leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "You always have a way with perspective. Why do you hate them so much?"

"When I was a child, I watched from the hills as their fires engulfed the only home I ever knew. The Greeks descended like locusts. Every man, woman, and child in our village was slaughtered because of their senseless war. I had to bury my own parents with these hands," he held up his hands, the veins standing out starkly against his tanned skin.

"How did you survive?"

"I had to hide, buried among the dead. I laid still for hours, choking on the stench of blood and ash until the Greeks were satisfied with their pillage and left us as carrion for the vultures," he set his cup down with a clink that sounded like shackles breaking. "When the moon rose, I crawled from the heap of my people and fled into the woods. I lived off the land, a boy with no name."

"But you rose up."

"That I did. So when the opportunity came when I had the chance of retaliating against the Greeks, I didn’t hesitate."

As Lucian listened, the pain in his head intensified. Something was off about this conversation, about Kyra, but he couldn't put his paw on what it was.