Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise
Ever had that gut feeling telling you that something was off?
Kassandra had on many occasions and they almost always proved her right and this time was no exception as the moment she saw Alkibiades and Barnabas walk up, she immediately noticed the former not walking in his usual, confident walk. In fact, he actually almost stumbled a few times which she had never seen him do even when completely drunk of his ass and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight.
Her suspicions were proven correct when Alkibiades stumbled over his words next and collapsed while throwing up, lookin extremely pale as well. "You look like you drank from Medea's cup." Barnabas said and Kassandra realised he had been poisoned, even when Alkibiades tried to protest as he had been with some of the judges of the Olympics right before this and refused to believe they'd poison him or anyone.
That's when they heard a voice calling Alkibiades's name and a woman rushed over and dropped to her knees beside him, a bow in her hands and a quiver of arrows on her back as she put her hand on his shoulder and Kassandra raised an eyebrow as she wondered who this was. "Oh, hello Arti. Forgive me, but I am afraid we have to postpone our usual tradition." Alkibiades said as he tried to be as flippant as usual, before throwing up again, his vomit tinged with red and Kassandra felt her blood run cold. She knew there was not a moment to lose and stood up.
She told Barnabas to look after him while she went to find the antidote. "I'm coming with you. I want to know who did this and make sure it won't happen again." The stranger who Alkibiades called "Arti" stated as she stood up and went to join her Normally, Kassandra would insist on doing things alone, but every moment she would be spending arguing about this could be a moment too much for Alkibiades.
Besides, she could usually spot strong fighters and something about the woman told her she was one. She nodded in acceptance and introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, Kassandra. I just wish it was under better circ*mstances. My name is Artisia. Now, let's go. We don't have a moment to lose." Artisia stated as she already started to walk off. 'That at least explains the nickname.'Kassandra thought as she followed.
They first went to where the banquet Alkibiades had attended had been held to see if they could find any clues and with Artisia keeping watch at the entrance, keen eyes watching every single person who passed by through building, Kassandra carefully snooped around and found both the poisoned food and wine and the name of the merchant who had provided everything in one of the rooms. Going to find the merchant with this proof, Kassandra had one question. "What was this tradition Alkibiades mentioned?" She asked, trying to keep her voice casual and Artisia chuckled.
"Well, Alkibiades and I don't see each other very often because of our duties so we made a promise to catch every time the Olympics are held. I was about to find him for this when I saw him talking to you and collapsing." She explained with a grin, before seeing Kassandra's face and laughing. "Would you believe me if I said that I may be one of the few women in Greece Alkibiades won't have sex with?" She asked.
Kassandra honestly found that hard to believe as the woman was absolutely gorgeous, but before she could say anything else, they had found the place where the merchant was and carefully peeked around the corner to see some guards watching over him and pulled back. "I'll draw them away, you find out what he knows." Kassandra stated and Artisia nodded in understanding as Kassandra ran around the corner.
While running, she picked up a stone and threw it at one of the guards, prompting all of them to run after her and Artisia snorted. "I can see why he likes her." She muttered as she entered the building through the window and immediately found the merchant. "My best friend has been poisoned and is dying. You better tell me everything you know and where the antidote is or I'll make sure you'll face Hades faster than him." She growled as she held a dagger to his throat and the terrified merchant immediately told her everything, including that they could find the antidote in a nearby fort.
For a second, Artisia really seemed about to kill him anyway as she narrowed her eyes, before pulling back. "Get out of my sight." She hissed and he ran off as she left as well and soon found the soldiers still looking for Kassandra... who she eventually found hiding in the bushes just a few feet away. Waiting until the guards went to look somewhere else, she approached the mercenary and told her everything she knew.
Jumping on two horses, they rode out of the city and towards the nearby fort. Seeing it in the distance after at least half-an-hour of riding, Kassandra used Ikaros to find the antidote and a hidden entrance. They snuck in with their weapons at the ready in case they were spotted, only talking to each other in short and simple hand gestures when necessary until Kassandra had to scale the wall to where the antidote was.
She was spotted and Artisia had to cover her back while she continued to climb, killing many with her arrows as she shot them with almost inhuman accuracy, before switching to her daggers when they were to close for her to shoot. While they were distracted, Kassandra grabbed the antidote, carefully wrapped it in some linen that was lying around and put it in her satchel before jumping down to join the fight. The two women fought back-to-back until there was not a soldier left standing and immediately left the fort, jumped on their horses and raced back to the city.
Thankfully, they were still in time as they were arriving just as the sun set, Alkibiades having collapsed in the afternoon and Barnabas carefully helped the man drink the antidote while both Kassandra and Artisia waited tensely to see if it worked as they kneeled at his other side and Alkibiades smiled at seeing them. "My two favourite ladies." He muttered, before Barnabas told him to rest a bit to let his body recover.
Kassandra took a few deep breaths and walked away to make herself calm down and Artisia followed her. "Are you alright?" She asked quietly and Kassandra nodded, before Artisia gave her a smirk. "You asked me what my tradition with Alkibiades is, but what exactly is your situation with him?" She asked as she crossed her arms, already having seen that there was definitely something going on between the two of them.
"I'm just themisthios who he hires whenever he needs someone to either clean up his messes or get someone out of his way, usually by not telling me the full truth." Kassandra replied with a shrug she hoped was casual even as Artisia gave her a knowing look. There was no way she could ever have anything more than she already had. She was already thankful that she could share his bed with him, but she was just a mercenary with a broken spear and an Eagle while Alkibiades often entertained the highest of ranks in Athens. There was no way she could ever be anything more to him.
"Kassandra, I have known Alkibiades ever since we were both babies and because of that, I know that there aren't many people who he calls his "favourite" and he has met and f*cked many people. It is one of the highest compliments he can give you. He clearly cares about you in a way not many people have had the privilege to experience. Nor to mention that you're definitely a capable fighter." Artisia stated.
Kassandra simply scoffed in disbelief at this, shook her head and walked away even as she finally understood why Artisia had said that she was one of the few people Alkibiades wouldn't f*ck if he really grew up with her. Artisia watched her go with a small frown on her face and with crossed arms. She had met many people during her long life and had become pretty good at recognising the types of people she met
Kassandra definitely seemed the type of person who either tried to stop herself from growing too attached to people in fear of losing them with her life as a mercenary in case and am enemy she had made came after them to get revenge because of something she had done or had a very low view of herself and didn't believe she was worthy of having a true relationship with someone. "Maybe it's a mix. She has very clearly not have an easy life." She muttered as she went back to Alkibiades to check up on him while Kassandra went to find the Cult member behind the poisoning.
Finding the man, she made sure that he was alone, before tearing into him for what he had almost done and driving her dagger into his throat, which felt incredibly relieving. The Olympics were over soon after, meaning Kassandra and her crew would soon have to continue on. The evening before she had to go, Alkibiades invited her to spend the night with him and she accepted as he always knew how to make her forget her worries for the night and this time was no exception as he held her like a lover, but f*cked her like a beast. She eventually fell asleep with him already sleeping on her chest.
The next morning, she woke up to Alkibiades carding his fingers through her hair that was for once out of its usual braid and opened her eyes to see him watching her with a look in his eyes that was somehow both soft and intense at the same time, but it softened even more at seeing she was awake. "Good morning, dear one. You never cease to surprise me with your endless stamina." He greeted her and she chuckled.
"You truly gave me a run for my money as well, Allie. I'm honestly surprised you eventually ended it to go to sleep." She muttered and he snorted as he tapped her on the tip of her nose. Sitting up, Kassandra had to get used to standing on solid ground once she got out of bed. She had slept on The Adrestia" for the entirety of the Olympics as that was way cheaper than the "rooms" the people here offered this close to the event.
She was about to stand up when Alkibiades put a hand on her shoulder and asked her to wait, gently starting to braid her hair once she had sat down again. "I honestly cannot wait until I feel your passion again. You most certainly know how to give me the best nights of my life and I think you even managed to impress Arti and that is not easy. Trust me, i should know." He told her as he carefully finished the braid and started to kiss his way down her neck, shoulder and arm. Kassandra did stand up once he was done and got dressed as she knew Barnabas would come looking for her soon.
Alkibiades quickly got dressed as well and went with her to see her off. Standing on the dock as her crew got the ship ready to leave, Kassandra turned to the man who intrigued her and frustrated her all at the same time. "I wonder what the next mess will be that you need me to clean." She said and he chuckled in answer, before he grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it, her trying to fight the blood rushing to her cheeks.
"I promise that it will only be the most devious of plans saved just for you." He replied and she rolled her eyes, before they heard Barnabas calling her as the ship was ready. Alkibiades let her go as she got on and after looking at him one more time, told her crew to sail away. As the ship started to catch wind and leave, he kept watching until it was a speck on the horizon. "What do you think?" He asked as someone joined him.
"She's certainly more interesting than some of the other partners you had over the years, albeit either incredibly stubborn or with a very low view of herself since she won't admit that she has feelings for you. You got your work cut out for you with her." Artisia replied as she watched the ship as well and Alkibiades chuckled as he was more than aware of that, but he wouldn't want to have it any other way. There were so many people who would fall all over themselves to please him, but she was different and that had made her special from the moment they met and even before that.
"I'll admit she is a very capable fighter, even if her technique can use a lot of polish." Artisia continued and he gave her a look. She explained how Kassandra had distracted the guards and he burst out into laughter "Take care of her, brother, but be careful as well. Mortals are so easily gone." She warned and he nodded before they left, him giving the almost disappeared ship one last look as he hoped he'd see her again soon.
On the Adrestia, Kassandra was making doubly sure that the ship was fully stocked now that they were still relatively near a port, but they had enough supplies for a few weeks. "So, do we have another clue to the next cultist?" Barnabas asked and she nodded as she opened her satchel, only to find a laurel branch. Giving it a funny look, she shrugged and put it back as she gave instructions to the crew about where to next.
They were off to a new adventure
