Chapter 40: Ugliness in the Market

"Who's going to escort me to the market today?" asked Aria's mother, looking at Buddy.

Buddy, not understanding the meaning of her look, kept silent, knowing that Master would volunteer.

"I would be happy to escort you," replied Master.

"Well, I'd enjoy your company too, of course, but I have lots of things to get, and I need some strong arms..."

Buddy smiled a pleased grin, "I'd be glad to."

Master had second thoughts, for he had gotten behind in his goal to finish transcribing his leaf-notes to tablet. "Do you mind if Buddy takes my place?"

Slipping her soft hand around Buddy's massive arm, she replied with a wink, "I'd be honored."

Buddy hooked a dilapidated old wooden cart to a small ugly donkey. As Aria's mother hopped on the narrow seat to drive the cart, Buddy wondered how the scrawny animal would be able to pull driver and market goods back up the hill to the house.

He felt awkward as he walked behind, taking half-steps to keep pace with the donkey.

Aria was busy in one corner mending some clothes, while Master studied his leaf-notes. He would read the brief notation, sit back and reconstruct the events of that day, and then write out the episode more fully on the soft clay tablet, using his homemade stylus. Suddenly, the front door of the house swung open and several men barged in.

"What do you think you are doing!? Get out of my house!" shouted Aria, standing up from her mending.

The man who entered first, appearing to be the one in charge, slapped her with a powerful backhanded swing, knocking her down.

"Now, stop that!" shouted Master, not taking into account how greatly outnumbered he was. He was roughly shoved back, falling to the floor and hitting his head against one of the support posts of the house.

Aria quickly scrambled over to where Master was lying, checking to see if she could do anything to help ease his pain. She also shielded him with her body, embarrassing him.

"Shall we kill the old man?" asked one of the men with a leering grin.

"No," ordered the man in charge, "we'll get a little extra gold for him. Just tie him up along with the girl."

"What are you doing!?" Aria demanded.

"Two things," spoke the man who seemed to be in charge. "One, getting even!"

In that instance, Aria recognized them as the shepherds Buddy had so thoroughly shamed while protecting her.

"That's right, interrupted one of the other men, "you two are going to be slaves for the rest of your lives!"

"And secondly," continued the leader, angry at the other man for interrupting him, "getting us some money!"

The bright sun in Knosses, the capital of Minos, beat down upon the thick-walled homes and businesses. At midmorning, it was hot out in the streets, but the houses still stored the coolness of the night in their thick clay walls. Merchants shouted out their "exceptional" deals, animals protested their confinement, and the smells of spicy and meaty smells mixed with the animal smells of the market. Altogether, it would have been a pleasing trip, under different circumstances.

But today, the beauty of Knosses mocked them.

In the slave market, Master and Aria were branded with a hot iron to show they were slaves (the smell of burnt flesh and the fears of lost freedom soured their stomachs).

They watched in dread as slaves were put up for sale, handled roughly or lewdly, treated no more respectfully than a sack of beans on sale at the market. The slave market was abuzz with noise... the slave-seller calling out prices... the crowd joking or bidding... and the occasional drunk stumbling up front to check the merchandise, with no intent of bidding.

Master and Aria each lived their own private horror, forbidden to speak while the bidding was in progress. Neither could believe this was actually happening. In each ones mind, they imagined that the authorities would interrupt the process and correct this miscarriage of justice. But, it did not happen that way.

Their freedom was sold all too quickly, and a repulsively heavy man, their owner, walked slowly to the front, his many-folded flesh actually rolling in rhythm with his walk.

"What do you plan to do with us?" Master asked their new owner, looking up into his watery eyes, almost hidden in the rolls of fat surrounding his face.

"Don't speak to me that way! When you address me, call me... Master!" the spittle shot out as he shouted, and the puffed cheeks slapped against his teeth to declare the end of his sentence.

"But this is Mas...!" Aria interrupted, trying to point out a man who deserved such a title.

Master waved her to silence. "Yes, Master. What do you plan to do with us...? Master...?"

"I don't care whether you live or die, old man. I only got you because you came as a pair. It's the girl I want. She shall be my... 'wife'!"

"Your wife?!"

"Watch your tongue, girl! I own you... and I can sell you... or use you to feed my dogs! Now, use a little respect!"

Aria watched his shaking jowls curiously, for he appeared almost nonhuman in his grotesque fatness. The thought of such a creature demanding respect caused a laugh to begin to gurgle up in her throat.

Master nudged her to seriousness. "Yes... Master."

"That's better!"

The rest of the journey to the slavemaster's home was passed in silence, except for the creaking of the old wooden cart they rode uncomfortably in.

Once inside his home, he announced in a loud voice, as if addressing a larger audience, "Now, I'll just chain you two up to this post here." He grunted as he carried out his task, testing the security of the chain and lock. "I've got a little business to do. Then, I'll be back and we'll be able to... 'get acquainted'," he leered at Aria.

"I'd rather die!" Aria said under her breath.

"What'd you say?!" the slavemaster demanded.

She shook her head, refusing to answer.

The slavemaster decided to ignore it, and stepped out the door.

After a short wait, to make sure he was really gone, Aria asked, "What are we going to do?"

"Well, I'd like to leave."

"Ha! How are you going to manage that?!" she responded with a smile of incredulity.

"If I'm not mistaken, I've got a piece of wire in one of my pockets that might work in this lock."

"A piece of wire?"

"Yes. Help me look for it. Can you reach into my top pocket here," Master pointed toward his shirt pocket with his chin.

Because of the tightness of the chains, Aria had trouble reaching her fingers far enough to look into the pocket. After adjusting her position several times, she was able to insert her fingers, barely. Finally, Aria located a short wire and handed it to him.

"Ah, good girl!"

"What will you do with it?"

"Most nonAtlantean locks are pretty simple..." he started working with the lock as he talked. "We should be out of this one..." he continued to probe the lock with the wire, twisting occasionally. "About... ...now!" The lock dropped open.

"That was pretty simple!" Aria stated as she checked outside the door to make sure no one was around.

"Maybe too simple."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just that we shouldn't celebrate yet. Keep your eyes open."

Chapter 41: A Worse Place

They were heading back home through town, for Aria's home lay on the other side, when someone grabbed the girl's arm roughly and pulled it up close to his face. "Ha! This looks like the brand of a slave! I bet your friend here, the old man, has a mark like that himself!" He reached out and pulled Master's hand toward him, immediately finding the mark he was searching for.

Neither said a word.

"Yes! Quite a catch! You know where you two runaway slaves are going!" The soldier was quite cheerful and sounded like he was expecting them to share his joy.

Master and the girl were taken to the Citadel, a crude jail hidden behind the palace, and put into a cell with a large barred window in one wall. The night was cold, with the wind blowing in freely through the unshuttered bars. They were both lightly clothed, having left the house hastily. Their shivers kept them awake most of the night, despite Master's attempt to keep Aria warm by placing his thin arm delicately around her shoulders.

During a brief time each day, they received a little sunlight through the bars, but not enough to make them fully warm, due to the doubly thick walls.

They heard cheering outside. Master rose up on his toes and leaned out to check out the source. "A bull is attacking some men!"

In the courtyard below, several bare-chested men and one tiny lady were trying to get away from a charging bull. One man was charged by the bull and attempted to somersault over the bull's head, but his hand slipped and the bull gored him. His fresh blood stained the ground beneath him.

Aria came quietly to Master's side. "It's a game. They call it bull leaping." Two of the men quickly retrieved their fallen friend, protecting him from any further damage from the bull. The rest continued to bait the bull, jumping up in the air as the bull charged, to step on the bull's head, or place their hands there and flip over him.

Master was a little ashamed of his hasty statement. "You're right, I should have remembered that." As Master watched, he had to admit that the successful ones looked rather daring and graceful.

"Remembered?"

"I saw it once, as a child, on Atlantis."

She looked at him with a mischievous smile, "Have you seen anything at all on Minos that you didn't see first on Atlantis?"

He smiled grimly at her teasing. "I'm afraid my native land has cursed you with its civilization. You would have been happier with the simple life of your ancestors."

Suddenly, she grabbed Master's arm fearfully, almost hurting him.

He followed her gaze and saw their slavemaster approaching the jail.

"Oh no, that wicked slavemaster has found us!" Aria exclaimed, when she saw him excitedly talking with the Captain of the guard and gesturing their way.

"I am hard-pressed to decide which is better, execution or life under him," Master wondered.

"I know which is better!"

The Captain of the guard came into the room outside their cell and rattled his knife on the cell bars to get their attention. "Your slavemaster has demanded the return of his property," he smiled cruelly at them. Using his knife, he pretended to be very concerned about the dirt under his fingernails, "But, the King has decided that, because you ran away, you will be executed." He glanced up from his cleaning job to see the effect of his words. He was disappointed, so he left without saying anything further.

Later that same day, three guards came and unlocked their cell door.

Aria looked over at Master, frightened.

He patted her shoulder lightly, wordlessly trying to assure her that it would still turn out well.

They were escorted down stairs so dark that even the guards stumbled. A torch burned feebly along one wall. A cell door was opened and they were shoved in. This cell was in the basement, and without any windows.

Shortly after the cell door clanged shut, they heard loud roaring echoing back and forth off the cold, damp dungeon walls.

"What was that?" asked Master, out of curiosity, not fear.

She did not take her frightened eyes off the huge door opposite their cell. She whispered, "That is the most horrid beast on earth!"

"If he was dumb enough to be thrown into a jail, he's less to be feared than his captors." Master reasoned without whispering.

She looked at Master in disbelief that he should mock the mighty beast, and fearful, lest the beast had heard. "Oh, Master, that is not his jail, but his throne room! He rules all of Minos!"

"I thought the King ruled Minos."

"Only because the beast allows it. The King rules men's bodies... the beast rules their hearts."

"If he rules, why is the door shut on him?"

Again the girl looked at Master, questioning his wisdom. "The door is not to keep him in, but his captives."

"Captives?"

"Yes. Offerings are made to him to keep him happy."

"Offerings?"

"Yes. Female slaves... like me." A shudder went through her body. "After throwing them in, the door is shut... though it is hardly needed."

"Hardly needed?"

"Beyond that huge door is a series of twisting passageways and doors that often lead to blank walls. They call it the Labyrinth. Once a victim loses sight of the huge door, she never finds her way out of the Labyrinth alive. Some say the slaves may wander for years until it pleasures the Minotaur to kill them."

Chapter 42: The Attack of the Minotaur

"Well, surprisingly, the cart stayed in one piece all the way back here... and that scrawny little donkey managed to pull it up the last hill... entertaining us with his complaints all the way," Buddy quipped.

"Of course!" Aria's mother displayed one of her rare smiles.

This market trip had been the most that they had talked together, and both were growing into a greater appreciation of the other.

"Thank you for escorting me to town," she smiled warmly, again. She felt comfortable... safe in Buddy's presence.

"We're home!" Buddy shouted into the empty house.

"They're not here," she observed.

Buddy searched the outside of the house as well, calling repeatedly.

"They will be back soon," she stated, with a tinge of uncertainty.

They unloaded the cart in silence, their confused thoughts slowly them down considerably. As Buddy kneeled down to place the perishables into the cool pit in the kitchen floor, he thought out loud, "I know Master. And he would do no wrong," reasoned Buddy.

"I know my daughter!" the woman responded as if Buddy's statement were an accusation. "And she would do no wrong!"

Buddy was surprised by her anger, but he replied with reason and maturity, "Then, we will have to trust that understanding will come in time." He stood up, replacing the cover on the cool pit.

She marveled quietly, once again, that such wisdom should be spoken by one with such a rough exterior. The credit, no doubt, belonged to Master. She nodded her head in agreement.

When night fell, Buddy again became agitated. "This is not like Master!"

"It is strange!"

Buddy continued wandering around the house, his huge frame tense, energetic, yet not knowing what to do. Suddenly, he noticed it in the corner, "Master's cloak! He didn't take it with him!"

"It was hot today."

"He does not wear it for comfort, but because its large pockets carry all the tools of his trade. He would never leave willingly without it!"

"What are you saying?"

"He was taken against his will. Both of them, I bet."

The next morning, Buddy was up early and off searching the countryside for witnesses. Finally he happened upon a local "bring-your-own-wine" drinking party. One of the men looked strangely familiar, so Buddy invited himself to sit across from him.

"I know you!" the man said in an abnormally loud voice, trying to quiet his fears.

Buddy was repulsed by his winey breath.

"You messed up my leg in the fight over that girl! I can no longer work, ye know!" he whined.

"I truly am sorry that you have trouble finding work, mister," Buddy said sincerely.

The man did his best to put on a victimized expression, as if to say, "Now, what are you going to do to make it right?"

"But," Buddy continued, "you and your friends did not have good intentions toward the lady, and I had to defend her virtue."

"Her virtue!? Well, that ain't worth spit now!"

"What do you mean?" demanded Buddy, rising threateningly, as his chair clattered to the clay-tile floor behind him. He reached over and grabbed the man by the collar and raised him overhead with devastating ease, "What do you know about her?"

The drunk man's fear showed plainly now, as he dangled in front of the huge man, expecting to lose the use of his one good leg. "Min... Minotaur!" he stammered.

"What does that mean?"

"She's to be given to the Minotaur... as a consort... and sacrifice!"

Buddy dropped the man and ran home immediately.

"What is the Minotaur?" he shouted as he angrily raced through the door.

"The Minotaur!?" Aria's mother responded uncertainly, as the door slammed solidly.

"That's what I said! What is it?"

"It's the local religion..."

"Go on!"

"Many of the people here believe in a half-man, half-beast called the Minotaur..."

"Where did he come from?"

"Well..." she hesitated, not wanting to go on.

"Please tell me!" he demanded.

"...they say that the old king refused to sacrifice his favorite bull to the god of Minos..." she stopped again. "I don't believe this stuff. I believe in the One True God in heaven Who cannot be replaced by any creature, statue or temple..."

"So do I. But, I must know what I am up against!"

"According to the fable, in anger the god made the king's wife fall in love with the bull he failed to sacrifice... and she bore a half-man, half-beast called the Minotaur..."

"Now I see why you didn't want to tell me of such foolishness. I'm sorry."

"Thank you. Now, why do you ask?"

"A drunk told me your daughter is to be given to the Minotaur."

A small shriek escaped from her mouth, stopped by her hand.

"What does this mean?"

"They believe in human sacrifice."

"How will they do this?"

"She will be given to the Minotaur."

"I don't understand what you are saying."

"The Minotaur! The Minotaur! Like I told you!"

Buddy was losing his temper, "All you are telling me is that they are giving the one I love to a fable! How am I to respond to that!?"

"He's not a fable... the beast lives on this island."

"He's alive!? Here!? How can that be?!"

She sighed heavily, "I don't know. It puzzled my father, too."

"Has anyone ever seen him?"

"My father did... just before he died."

"Did his death have anything...?"

"I don't think so, but I'm not sure. They wanted him to worship the beast. That's why they showed him the beast. He didn't know what to think of him... but, he would not worship him."

"Describe him."

"My father told me he was as tall as this house, with the head of a bull, but the body of a man... but, no ordinary man. He was huge... with large bulging muscles... like yours... only bigger."

"What can be done?"

"There's a chance... but, hardly none at all."

"Tell me!"

"I have heard that you can contest the Minotaur's right to a maiden, in trial by combat."

"Then, I will do that!"

"You will die!"

"Better I should die trying to rescue my love, than live with only her memory and my cowardice!"

Over the next few days, Buddy was home seldom. He wandered the countryside and towns, asking strangers questions about the Minotaur.

"I hear you are interested in the Minotaur!" spoke a deep voice behind Buddy.

Buddy turned around to face a man somewhat smaller than himself, who tried to make up the difference by swaggering. "That's right."

The two sized each other up, mentally testing each other's prowess, should they ever have to fight.

"What do you have in mind?"

"The beast is to receive the woman promised to me in marriage."

The man made a grimace when he heard the Minotaur referred to as a beast. "That is our god you're talking about!"

"Your god doesn't need my woman!"

"You talk mighty brave!" the man swept his cloak aside as he rested his hands upon his hips, his legs spread. It was a poor imitation of a warrior's stance.

Buddy fought not to smile. Then he noticed the knife! An Atlantean knife stuck proudly in the leather strap draped ceremonially across the chest of the man from his right shoulder to beneath his left arm. It was a very awkward position for the knife. Obviously, it was for show rather than service.

"That's an unusual knife! Where did you get such a prize?"

"From the King himself! I'm a very important man to him, you should know," he bragged and threatened at the same time.

Buddy nodded agreement. "What is your station under the king?"

"I'm Captain of the guard."

"A worthy position," Buddy tried to sound sincere in his false praise for the haughty man.

"Yes!" he flipped his cloak over his shoulder clumsily and turned to go.

Buddy smiled at his back. He now had the edge that he needed.

He returned home to prepare for battle. On the way he stopped in the market at the wharf to buy a single bronze shipplate.

"How many was it ye said ye wanted?" asked the merchant, teasing Buddy.

Buddy did not dignify the question with a response. He merely held up one finger.

"One shipplate it is, then. Mighty simple ship ye have there!"

"What are you doing?" Aria's mother asked.

Buddy was sharpening the shipplate on both ends with a foot-operated grinding wheel, making a very light, double-bladed ax. "I'm preparing for battle with the Minotaur."

"But... this strange weapon...?" Only single-bladed axes had ever been used on Minos to this time.

"Master taught me to fight with my head, not just my muscles. I need a secret weapon against this terrible beast of yours... of Minos," he corrected himself.

A huge man with the head of a bull stepped out into the arena from the shadows.

Buddy's eyes widened upon seeing him. He was everything Aria's mother had described, and worse. His shoulders were a full foot above Buddy's. He carried a heavy ax, no doubt able to split the largest treetrunk in Minos with one blow. His muscles were even bigger than Buddy's. Buddy had never faced such a foe. He had never even seen a man bigger than himself.

The Minotaur made fearful grunting noises as he walked. He stared at Buddy with glassy eyes, then let out a terrifying roar.

Buddy immediately guessed that speed, not strength, was his only chance to win this battle, so he altered his traditional style. He began bouncing on his feet, dodging in and out, with quick thrusts, not full swings or with full strength.

The two fought each other for a long time, Buddy flitting like a bee, but landing no stinger; the Minotaur splitting the air with giant, bone-crushing chops.

But, Buddy was tiring. The giant's single-bladed ax just missed him, burying deep in the soil clotted by old blood. Only the wooden handle showed above the soil. With a loud grunt, the Minotaur was able to pull the ax free in a single yank.

Buddy decided he must risk all for a quick victory, or he would become too tired to defend himself any longer. The giant had two stroke styles: a two-handed overhead chop and a two-handed sideswing. The overhead chop would be deadly, and his only hope was to be standing elsewhere when the ax buried itself in the soil. But, a sideswing may be survivable.

As soon as the Minotaur swung back for his next sideswing, Buddy rushed at the giant with his first full swing.

The Minotaur jumped back, surprised at the force of the swing, but saw his opening. The stranger's head and shoulders were unguarded as his strange double-bladed ax swung across in front of his own body, just missing him. Swinging with all his might at the shoulder level, the Minotaur intended to sever the stranger's head and shoulders from his body.

Buddy did two things even while swinging his light ax through its great arc. One, halfway through the swing, he began reversing direction with all his might. Although his ax missed the Minotaur, it barely kissed the earth, not sticking at all in the soil. So, while the Minotaur was in the midst of his sideswing, Buddy's double-bladed ax was already beginning to return for an unusual upper cut under the Minotaur's powerful arms (a single-bladed ax only has a downward or sideways cut, not an upper cut). Secondly, even while Buddy's blade was heading into the giant's side muscles, Buddy dropped to his knees and ducked his head. As he had guessed, the giant's sidecut swung over his head, only slightly bumping his head with the lower part of the wedge.

The Minotaur roared in surprise and rage as Buddy's light but very sharp blade laid a two-foot cut up the side of his ribs. The cut was little more than an inconvenience for the giant, easily survivable in a battle against any normal man.

However, Buddy had planned out every move in detail in his mind ahead of time. Just as the giant's blade sailed by his head and his own blade split the flesh of the giant, Buddy leapt to his feet to the giant's blind side (away from the swinging ax), for as the heavy ax continued its arc, it pulled the giant's body ever so slightly along with it.

That, along with the burning pain in his side, caused the beast's return to defensive posture to be an eyeblink slower. As the giant was straightening up, from behind the beast Buddy's blade was already heading for his neck. In fact, the Minotaur inadvertently raised his neck into the coming blade.

The cheering crowd suddenly became silent as their god dropped slowly to his knees, and slowly fell forward nose down into the dust.

Buddy stood by, poised to strike again, should the beast move.

The crowd silently stared in disbelief, willing their god to spring to his feet and surprise the stranger.

Chapter 43: Deliverance

As Buddy stared, he noticed an unusual slit where the beast's human neck attached to his beastly head. The gap would be large enough for him to insert his hand under the fur of the head.

On a hunch, Buddy dropped his ax and walked around to the head of the beast, placing one foot on either side. With a mighty yank and grunt, he pulled the beast's head off!

The crowd gasped, then was silent again as they saw a much smaller, human head, still attached to the beast's shoulders. He was a man! A giant of a man, to be sure, but just a man, wearing the mask of a bull!

The emotions of the crowd were a wild mixture of hatred of Buddy for killing their god, horror at seeing his head pulled off, and disbelief that the object of their pride, admiration and worship had just been a man.

The crowd began to shout for Buddy's death.

Buddy knew he had to act quickly. He pulled a rolled up piece of leather from his pocket. He had written on it earlier, back at the house, using Master's ink pen. Addressing the Captain of the guard, Buddy instructed, "This is an important message for the king. He will be very disappointed if he does not receive it."

The Captain of the guard reached uncertainly for the piece of leather, watching Buddy warily, should he spring to attack. Stepping back, he unrolled the leather and saw a handwritten message, but he could not decipher the language. Backing away from Buddy, he held up the message to his king without taking his eyes off Buddy.

The king slowly rose from his throne just behind the arena wall and stretched down over the wall to reach the message in the Captain's up-reached hand.

The crowd's curiosity stilled their shouting.

The king's eyebrows raised immediately. The message was written in Atlantean... a traditional greeting.

The king questioningly looked down at Buddy.

A few voices in the crowd had begun to shout for Buddy's death again.

The king held up his hand for silence.

The crowd quieted.

"Wash him up and bring him into my throne room. Double his guard before you bring him."

"How did you guess that I was from Atlantis?" the king asked Buddy in the privacy of his throneroom.

"My Lord, your Captain of the guard carried an Atlantean knife. He said you gave it to him. I surmised that only one familiar with such treasures would give them away so casually."

"My men must be outfitted with the best weapons!"

"Yes, my Lord, but this man uses it for ceremony only."

The King looked at him in a new light, "You know the way of soldiering!"

"Yes," Buddy said hesitantly.

"Which side did you fight on in the Great War?"

The conversation had quickly turned to a very dangerous subject. Buddy had no way of discerning which side the King had fought on, so he resolved to just tell the truth, "I was on the Peace-and-Strength Army."

"I supported the Mighty-Unity Army."

Buddy stared at the King in cautious silence. He looked around him secretively, sizing up the weapons and possible skills of the guards in the room with him. It would be a difficult battle indeed!

"That war destroyed our nation. It was started to feed military pride. Feeding that pride starved our great nation to death."

"Yes, my Lord," Buddy replied, pleased that the King did not hold any grudges from that war, "we would have succeeded in getting far more of our people off Atlantis had not the war distracted us."

"Yes, I heard about the sinking of Atlantis. You saw this?"

"From a distance, my Lord." So, the King took leave of military service before Atlantis started breaking up! Buddy would not be so rude as to ask how he managed that.

"What was it like?" The King seemed to have a catch in his voice, and his eyes seemed to glisten a little.

"Great earthquakes made travel very difficult. Yet, still both sides fought on. Between the anger of nature and the insanity of war, life for the nonsoldiers became impossible. Then, all life became impossible..."

"How many of your men survived?"

"All were killed by the enemy... I'm sorry, my Lord... by your side..."

The King dismissed the choice of terms with a wave of his hand.

"...except for our advisor... and myself. He saved me from a mortal wound."

"This man knows healing!? There is great need for such a one on this island kingdom! Where is he?"

"I believe he's in your jail... he and my wife-to-be."

The King stared at him in silence for a while, deciding what to do. "Come!" he shouted for the Captain of the guard. "Bring the old man and the young girl!"

The Captain of the guard came to Master and Aria's cell to open it. As the key turned noisily in the lock, she shrieked and tried to hide in the corner.

Master cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. He spoke gently, but firmly, "Whatever we must face, God will give us strength!" Then, wrapping one thin arm around her shoulders and holding her opposite hand in his, he guided her out of their cell.

Master was still guiding her protectively when they entered the King's throne room. As soon as she saw Buddy, her strength returned and she ran to his arms. She still didn't know what she had to face, but she felt she could bear anything with Buddy at her side. She clung to him desperately.

Buddy smiled self-consciously at the King.

The King smiled also, "Your friend here has won your freedom..."

She looked up at Buddy questioningly.

"...by killing the Minotaur."

"The Minotaur!? You killed the Minotaur?!" she shrieked thankfully.

"Yes."

She clung to him all the more tightly, gratefully.

Buddy, sensitive to the King's presence and the need to go on with their business, reached over the girl's shoulder with his arm to direct the King's attention towards Master, and introduced him.

Master bowed slightly to the King, then walked uncertainly over to Buddy, who still had Aria attached.

"What's going on here?" he whispered in Buddy's direction.

Buddy shrugged slightly, "The King feels he owes us something. What should we ask for?"

Chapter 44: The Beginning of Justice on Minos

Master took note of the casual way the King had announced the death of the Minotaur, "How is it that you, being an Atlantean, tolerated this cult of the Minotaur?!" Master was taking a chance here, for Thoth, whom he suspected had created this cult, was as evil as anything seen on Minos.

"The Minotaur cult was set up by an Atlantean sorcerer before I became King five years ago. The wisdom of Atlantis allowed me to become King, but the beast owned the hearts of the people."

"Do you believe in the One True God?"

"As a child I did, but I left such beliefs behind when I became a soldier."

"Choose today whether to go on serving evil... or the One True God."

The King was silent for a long time. Finally, he asked, "What would you have me do?"

The Captain of the guard was astonished to hear his King speak so meekly to this stranger!

"The sorcerer will return."

"You think so?"

"He did not set up the cult for the benefit of the Minotaur. He will return for payment. You must prepare."

"How?"

"You reign over an unjust society," Master spoke to him as Atlantean to Atlantean, freeman to freeman, or as a Master Teacher to student, rather than subject to King. "You must establish laws that bind everyone, including your own household, and yourself..."

The King's displeasure shown on his face.

"...and future rulers of Minos."

The King's eyes brightened as he began to understand the wisdom. "Perhaps this can be done. What laws?"

"First, no slaves. We sat in your prison unjustly, because we were unrightfully sold into slavery."

After a long silence, the King responded, "All right."

Master continued talking of laws and punishments for murder, theft, and injury to life or property while the King's scribe wrote down everything, after each time the King had paused to think, and then nodded his head in agreement.

The King was not happy with every one of these laws, but the sudden freedom from the shadow of the Minotaur, and the obvious wisdom of the strange teacher, a fellow Atlantean, convinced him to agree to this curtailment of his sovereignty.

"My friend, Buddy, will be your advisor to help you establish these laws in the people's hearts, and help you prepare for the sorcerer's return."

"Ah, but you would be a far better advisor... especially with your knowledge of healing."

"My apologies, my lord, but I cannot stay."

The King silently considered whether he should force him to stay on the island. However, on second thought, he noted that this was no ordinary man. He spoke like an educated man. "You were an advisor in the war?"

"Yes."

Then, he would also be a very dangerous captive to try and keep. "If you ever return back this way, remember my offer still stands. I would supply you a house worthy of a king, and whatever pleasures you would desire for the rest of your life."

"My Lord, you complement me far beyond my worth, and it is with great sadness that I cannot take your offer."

"Yes, no doubt."

"However, there is a favor I must ask of you."

"Yes?" The King leaned forward in anticipation that he may still gain advantage.

Master lifted up his sleeve slightly to fully expose the slave brand on the back of his hand. "This mark invites all fools and debased fellows to capture me for ransom. It brings my freedom into continued question."

The King was repulsed that a fellow Atlantean, particularly one so educated, should have to carry the mark of a slave, that he quickly forgot any thought of turning this situation to selfish gain.

"Captain!" he called.

The Captain of the guard quickly ran into the room, fearful of the tone in the King's voice.

He pulled at the large golden ring on his finger. Finally, the ring came off with a grunt, "Here, place this in the coals." The King smiled pleasantly at Master, who did not understand what was happening.

"This will hurt a little," apologized the King, as he waved for the Captain of the guard to proceed.

The Captain picked up the hot ring from the coals with a pair of metal tongs. Grabbing the right hand of Master, he briefly touched the ring to the slave brand. He quickly did the same for the girl.

The Master quickly licked the burn and put his other hand over it to exclude air, easing the pain. Aria, seeing this, did likewise.

"With the seal of the King, all will know that you have the King's pardon, and will not dare to disturb you."

"You are most gracious, my Lord."

"I require one thing of you... Buddy!" the King commanded.

"What is that, sir?" Buddy responded uncertainly.

"You must give me your famous double-bladed ax with which you killed the Minotaur. It will make a fine scepter and symbol of my might."

"Done!"

Chapter 45: The Retelling

"Oo, I wish I'd seen it! Tell me again how you beat the mighty monster of Minos!" laughed Aria delightedly.

"I've already told you ten times! There's nothing more to tell!" insisted Buddy. In truth he enjoyed telling her of his exploit, but even more, he wanted to hear her talk, laugh, and cajole, far more than he wanted to hear his own voice tell an old tale.

So, by the time they reached the front gate of their house, the conversation had evolved into a good-hearted pushing and laughing argument. Hearing the commotion, Aria's mother ran out of the house. She was flooded with emotion, for suddenly before her stood the wisest, gentlest man she had ever known, her own sweet daughter and the biggest bravest man ever, all lost to the Minotaur, her fears had been telling her.

They looked at her in surprise, for they hadn't thought that the tale they had lived through and celebrated all the way home, was still a mystery to her.

She alternated between wanting to shout at them for not explaining their circumstances, to wanting to wrap her arms around all three and just weep. With one look at the hugeness of Buddy, she realized that she couldn't even wrap her arms around one of them, so in frustration she fell to her knees and wept.

"Mother! What's wrong?"

She looked at her daughter as if she should understand the wild mix of emotions she was going through. She stared and cried and shook her daughter's shoulders. Finally, she could get the words out, "Tell me what happened!"

A big smile came to Aria's face as she turned triumphantly to Buddy. "He's the one to do that!" Then she plopped right down on the ground to enjoy another telling of Buddy's wonderful deliverance of them... and all of Minos... from the tyranny of the Minotaur.

But, once she had heard Buddy's story, Aria's mother insisted that Master tell of his, and her daughter's, adventure. With tales of slave markets, loved ones chained in a stranger's house, a day and a night in jail outside the Minotaur's lair, debates with, and gifts from, the King of Minos, it is no wonder that they all sat upon the hard, dusty ground until the stars came out.

"I must hear this all once again, before I can believe it. But, my tired old bones demand that I treat them better for the second telling! Come into my... our house, let me set a table to quiet our hunger, and you all must tell me your tales once again!"

Laughter flowed freely as they helped each other up, for the blood-starved joints enfeebled them all, making them appear drunken or aged as they made their way into their house.

Chapter 46: Romance Revealed

With the lamps lit and the fire warming the house, they relaxed to a table abundant with wheat and barley bread, goat cheese and butter, and wine. Aria's mother insisted that her daughter let her do all the serving, so Aria was able to notice the changes.

Her mother had a bit of rouge and lipstick on, and had been plucking her brows! How long had this been going on? She had not noticed the change before, but now that her attention was drawn to it, she had to admit this was not the beginning of the change. As she thought back, she remembered her mother being cheerier than when they had lived alone. More beautiful. More careful to look her best. The revelation was suddenly upon her! For, while she had been so involved with Buddy and his attentions, her mother had also been preparing herself for someone else's attention!

"We never have adventures like this on this quiet little island!" exclaimed Aria's mother. "Now, in two days, you three have managed to cram a lifetime's worth of adventures... and I missed every bit of it!"

"No, you haven't missed anything!" insisted Master, in his typical wise speech, "You've been able to enjoy it from a safe and comfortable distance!"

"Comfortable... and boring!" she rejoined. She was laughing, with the others, enjoying this verbal sparring. Yes, enjoying was the right word! For this wise old man had awakened thoughts and emotions in her that were long buried and forgotten. Could it be true that her life was so plain and excruciatingly simple before this man came? Could it be that one day soon, he will go out her door for the last time, and she will go back to life the way it was? Life would not dare to be so cruel! Her thoughts quieted her laughter.

Almost simultaneously Master also took on a more somber mood. Though Buddy and Aria tried on their own to keep the laughter going, they soon also became quieter.

Meanwhile, Master simply stared at the wine in his glass.

"Why the sudden seriousness, Master?" Buddy asked, still searching for more reason to continue to laughter.

"I hesitate to say..."

"Go on, Master. We want to hear your thinking about today," urged Aria lightheartedly.

"Well, it's not so much about today... But, then again, perhaps it's the cause of the whole mess..."

"What could that be?"

"Wine."

All three of them looked at him noncomprehendingly.

"The men who sold us at the slave market... Did you notice, Aria? They were drunk."

"Yes, I believe you're right, now that I think back."

"Not only this incident. We can all think back to times made worse by abuse of this fine liquid, can't we?"

Buddy thought of good hunters, wounded or killed needlessly, in drunken fits. Aria and her mother thought of abuse they had received, both verbal and physical, at the hands of drunks. And Master also had his private thoughts.

"One day," Master prophesied, "a holy man will be bold enough to speak out against this elixir, and encourage mankind to end its enslavement and tyranny."

"But Master," Buddy interrupted with a big smile, "you drink it yourself!" In fairness to Buddy, he said this attempting to reach out for humor, though it failed miserably.

"That's right, Buddy, for I'm not a very holy man."

The table fell silent, as everyone was too embarrassed to speak.

Aria's mother excused herself and disappeared into her room. She came back out with a well-made deerskin cloak and handed it to Master.

The heaviness of the previous conversation was willingly forgotten as each person commented on the fine workmanship.

Master suddenly became embarrassed by his well-worn rags. "I guess you're trying to tell me that it's time to change."

Reading his embarrassment, she urged, "Go ahead, try it on. I want to make sure it fits."

He humbly nodded his head in agreement. Slowly he took off his old cloak, standing humbly in his simple white shroud. At first, he tried to lay the old cloak on the table, then decided it wasn't fit to lay there, so he dropped it on the floor. That was the excuse everyone was looking for to renew the laughter.

Seeing their response, he shrugged his shoulders, bent down, retreived his old cloak from the floor, and walked over to the fire to toss it in. Then the laughter increased in volume and duration.

Retrieving the new cloak from the outstretched hand of Aria's mother, he solemnly tried it on, for it must be recognized, that he truly knew how to pitch to laughter. He moved around in it, stretching, to see if it would bind.

"I like it!" he declared. "Can you add some big pockets on the inside and outside?"

Aria's mother smiled her agreement.

Buddy and Aria had gone outside to relax in the free night air and enjoy the stars.

The older woman just stared at Master in silence, his eyes downcast in embarrassment. "What would you think of me..." she stroked his fingers lightly, delicately, "as a wife?"

"I'm an old man," Master argued reluctantly.

"Perhaps finally tame enough for me," the woman teased. She enfolded his hand in hers slowly, gradually bringing it to her lips, kissing his finger ever so lightly.

"I have a long and difficult journey ahead of me."

Involuntarily, she pulled his hand away from her lips, as if slapped. "And I have land that needs tending," she countered.

He hid the yearning in his eyes. "I'm not a farmer." He could not hide the sadness in his voice.

She got up, tidying the table busily, while she quickly wiped away a tear. "What is the goal of your journey?"

"To find an evil man."

"We have many of that kind here."

"This man is particularly evil."

"If you look hard enough, you'll find many such prizes here."

"This man is a teacher of the deepest of evil. Besides, my God has told me to go."

"You seek the sorcerer... the one who gave us the dreaded Minotaur?"

Master nodded.

"Your task is more important than any I have here."

Master nodded sadly, for he also had come to cherish the wit and wisdom of the woman.

She left the room abruptly and went to her room to cry privately.

Buddy and the girl came back in. They could hear her crying softly. Awkwardly, they tried to carry on a normal conversation.

Finally, Master stood up, "We have to go."

The woman came out of her room, straightening her dress, her eyes wiped dry. "Will God let you take a wife on this journey?"

Her daughter was surprised, then excited.

Master looked at her very seriously, "I will ask Him." He went out the door for a walk in the quiet darkness.

Aria squeezed her mother's hand.

Buddy found the emotional situation embarrassing. He turned to go out the door. He nearly ran into Master at the door.

"He said you will be a valuable helper to me."

The woman rushed forward to throw her arms around his neck. Both of them took time to get used to the strangeness of holding someone of the opposite sex closely, intimately.

"May I call you Helper?" Master asked in a thick voice.

"Is this a proposal of marriage?" she asked.

"Yes," Master smiled shyly.

"Then we must walk between the candles tomorrow before the elders of my village."

"What am I supposed to do?" Buddy asked Master, feeling foolish.

"I won't tell you what to do, but I think the journey before me will be too hard on the children..." he said with a twinkle in his eye.

With a silly smile on his face, Buddy impulsively grabbed the girl's hand, "Then, I think we should tell the elders that two couples will be walking between the candles tomorrow..."

The girl looked up at him surprised.

He suddenly felt very awkward, "That is, if you'll have me."

She answered by throwing her slender arms around his massive neck and shoulders.

He spun her around the room in sheer joy. A stranger would have feared for her safety, not knowing the gentleness in Buddy's heart.

Chapter 47: Broken Promises

Aria's mother was more than a wife. She was a student, giving him renewed purpose. And, she had a sharp mind, aiding him greatly in his search for the sorcerer. Unfortunately, she was an uncommonly beautiful woman, which, though adding years to his life and energy level, caused Master trouble on the road. So, for the sake of the beasts of the earth, he dyed her hair, so they appeared to be merely a tired, aged couple. They learned that appearance was a powerful defense. And she too learned the power of prayer.

Buddy stayed behind on the farm in Minos to raise a family. With unending dedication, he saved up gold and supplies should Master and Helper return through their area.

He continued, for a while, to advise the King. But the King began to go back on his promise not to have slaves. Although he didn't allow the citizens of Minos to be enslaved, he imported captives from foreign lands and impressed them into slavery. It was a bitter and hard life for them.

Buddy objected as strongly as he could without bringing the wrath of the King down upon himself and his household.

"When a man begins to change his principles, he has foretold his end. Unfortunately, since this man is a king, the judgment he has crafted may fall upon his kingdom as well," Buddy prophesied to his wife.

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So the Greek legend goes. The Minotaur lived on Crete, protected by the Minoan Civilization. Minotaur's victims were captives from Greece.

Seaworthy ships, bronze and the double-bladed axe were new innovations brought by immigrants from an advanced civilization to the natives of Crete. The double-bladed bronze axe, called a Labrys, became a symbol of relership and a religious symbol (the native culture had only a crude single-bladed axe).

The Minoan Civilization was unchallenged from about 3500 B.C. to 1500 B.C.