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Tales of the Eternals chapter 21: Asterion

Kiya felt her feet leave the ground and something touches her face. It was warm and soft, like freshly washed wool. At first Kiya thought maybe she was dead and that this was the afterlife, any moment the god Anubis would be there to guide her. Slowly, she started to open her eyes.
The gloom of the labyrinth greets her. She stares blankly for a solid minute before it dawned on her what the warm thing was.
Kiya gives a small squeak of terror and starts thrashing around in the creature’s grip but freezes when she catches sight of the beast in the murky light. It is huge and would have towered over a fully grown man, with a powerful muscly body and thick arms covered in dense white fur. Two massive horns curve from its brow and it had a soft pink muzzle which was creased into a gentle smile. A thick mop of long wavy hair grows on the beast’s head and hangs over the upper half of its head, so that its eyes seemed to be peaking trough a curtain And those eyes. They were the bluest blue Kiya had ever seen. Although still scared, something about the creature was calming to her and in her mind she no longer saw it as a creature or an it for that matter, but as a person.
“You’re-” Kiya started, but her throat was dry and her mind slow. “You’re not going to hurt me?” she finally says. To her surprise, the minotaur shakes its head.
“You can understand me?”
The minotaur nods.
“Oh no, I’m sorry! I said some horrible things and if you’re angry I under-” Kiya splutters, but she’s swiftly silenced when the minotaur instead pulls her into another hug.
“I’ll take that as a ‘don’t worry about it! You don’t say much do you?” Kiya asks, as the minotaur puts her down. In response he puts a finger to his lips and shakes. Kiya’s eyes widen. “Oh, you can’t speak! I wish I knew your name, I don’t want to call you ‘the minotaur’ or ‘the beast’ or- what is it?”
He had crouched down nearby and was etching letters in the dust. When he’s finished, he steps up and points to the word and then to himself.
“My Greek is a bit rusty, but I’ll try,” Kiya mutters as she reads them. “As-ter-ion. Asterion?” The minotaur nods and smiles. “Oh its a lovely name. But one thing I don’t understand, how do you know what I’m saying?”
Asterion points to his ear and then mimics talking with his hands.
“I see, you heard guards talking and learned from them. Do you know where you come from?” Kiya asks nervously “I’ve never seen anyone like you before.”
Asterion glances around him, as though wanting to see other minotaurs and then he gives a sad shrug and hangs his head. Seeing the saddened minotaur tugs at Kiya’s heart and without thinking she reaches up and gently touches his face. “I’m sorry.” she says in a hushed voice. “I wish I could say I know what its like, but I don’t think I can even say that. But I do want to help you.”
Asterion slowly raises his head and takes one of Kiya’s hands into his.
“Lets get you out of here.” Kiya says warmly. She picks up the thread tied around her waist and shows it to Asterion. “To guide us back to the door.” Asterion’s eyes lighten up and his beaming smile returns.
Trekking the labyrinth was much easier now with Asterion. The twisting passages appeared larger and brighter than before, though they were both eager to leave this prison as soon as they could. All the while, Kiya kept glancing back at Asterion. Something about him kept drawing her eyes and she couldn’t help but feel her spirits lift whenever she reminded herself of his presence. They found the door unlocked and the adjacent corridors of the palace empty.
“Looks like Ariadne sorted out the guards.” Kiya whispers. “I’ve just realised, that muscle head Theseus will be disappointed. Well, actually its probably best he never meets Asterion. You wouldn’t like him,” she adds to Asterion who was looking curious. “He’s all vain and thinks he’s the best. You’ll probably like my friends. There’s Altallo, though he is a bit weird and Shern’aath who is a silly feathered lizard thingy. What’s wrong?”
Asterion had stopped and was looking back towards the labyrinth with furtive glances here and there. It struck Kiya that it had been the only home he known for so long. She takes his hand again.
“There’s a bit of this corridor that leads out onto a veranda overlooking the sea, the guards led me past it. You’ll see the sky out there also,” she says gently. Asterion perks up at the mention of the sky. “Most people say its blue, but its not always. It can be the colour of gold or silver. Or pink, orange, red and even as dark as ink at night with glittering stars like speckles of silver. Would you like to see it?”
Asterion nods eagerly and Kiya takes the lead. They pass more passages and corridors, almost exactly like the maze they had just left. Frescoes seem to follow them with their painted eyes and Kiya’s nerves prick with every twist and turn until they came to a door.
“Ariadne said she would unlock this door for us. Yes!” she says testing the lock. “Are you ready?”
Asterion glances back to the labyrinth one last time and then after a deep breath, nods.

The door swings open, Asterion blinks his eyes rapidly, and shields his face from the light for a moment as light spills in. As he becomes adjusted, he looks onward, his face is in an expression of pure awe and he shuffles almost in a daze to the railing. On the horizon, the sun was just beginning to rise, staining the sky with warm shades of pink, yellow and orange. Directly above them, in stark contrast, the last of the inky night was fading slowly, with stars shining like diamonds. Asterion's expression of amazement becomes one of joy and a few tears run down his cheeks and Kira smiles and looks onward with Asterion at the scene before them.

In the prison cell, the Athenians were huddled together in a corner. Some were trying to sleep, but others were wide awake. Altallo paces up and down.
“Will you stop that!” Theseus suddenly bursts out. “You’re making me all jittery with all that walking.”
“I should have done more!” Altallo says to himself, ignoring Theseus. “Its my fault Kiya’s in danger to begin with.”
“What are you complaining about? There will be more girls anyway. More attractive ones at that, she really was quite ugly now that I think about it-” Theseus began but he’s cut off when Altallo seizes him by the scruff of his chiton. Despite being considerably bigger than Altallo, the Eternal’s grip was much stronger than any person or animal Theseus had encountered. Whether it was a trick of the light or something more otherworldly, the prince could have sworn he saw small pinpricks of electric like particles dancing in Altallo’s enraged eyes.
“If you dare insult her again, I swear you will regret it for the rest of your life.” Altallo snarls in a low, yet dangerous voice.
Footsteps approach the cell and the locks grate open. Altallo lets go of Theseus, who cowers behind Altallo, his whole body shivering.
“Quick! You must go first so that I can think of some way of escape and I will avenge your sacrifice...wait no YOU must survive since you’re the brains. Let the beast take another to sate its-”
“Shut up!” Altallo hisses. “I’m going in and-Kiya!”
Kiya steps into the cell and, beaming with triumph, she takes Altallo’s hands into hers.
“I was so worried! What happened? Did you...oh my.” Altallo gasps as he sees the towering figure behind Kiya. In the cell, the Athenians huddle closer together at the sight of the minotaur, but Theseus’ fear disappears and he glares at the giant with hatred in his eyes.
“Altallo,” Kiya says happily. “This is Asterion. Asterion this is the friend called Altallo I told you about.”
Altallo holds out a hand.
“Nice to meet you Aster-OOF!”
Asterion had lifted Altallo into a massive hug and stuck out his tongue goofily.
“Aww, he likes you!” Kiya laughs.
“I like him too!” came Altallo’s muffled reply and he gave Asterion a pat on the back.
“Look at them! That foreign girl has done a deal with the beast! It’ll devour us all and let them live!” Theseus cries out, pointing to them. “Hear me youths of Athens, they are no friends of ours!”
“What is he talking about?” Kiya asks as Asterion lets go of Altallo.
“Oh the usual ‘heroic’ nonsense of ‘I’m gonna slay the beastie’ and all that. Never mind him, lets just focus on getting out of here. Especially with our new crewmate here, if he wants to come that is.”
“What do you think Asterion? Do you want to come with us?” Kiya asks Asterion, who immediately nods eagerly and grins. “Well that’s settled then!”
She goes out with Asterion. Altallo pauses in the doorway and turns back.
“Well? What are you all waiting for! Come on!”
The Athenians edge out of the cell slowly but quickly pick up their paces, with Theseus stomping behind them.
“What now?” Kiya asks Altallo as they dash down a grand hallway and into a walled plaza. Asterion was looking around the huge space with great interest, a far cry from the narrow passages and dead ends he was used to.
“Back to the port, get a boat and leave as fast as we can. Ariadne said she’d take care of that.”
“But-” Kiya says, lowering her voice “Why didn’t we use the ship? Fly it over here.”
“Too conspicuous, besides they,” Altallo gestures to the Athenians. “Wouldn’t understand and probably panic. You saw how they reacted to Asterion.”
In the plaza they meet Ariadne, who’s worried expression melts away when she sees them.
“Oh thank the gods you’re safe! I was starting to fear the worse and...oh!”
She hugs Asterion’s middle and the minotaur smiles bemused down at her. Kiya grumbles and folds her arms so tightly and hunches her head, making her look like a crab glaring from its shell.
“Pff, typical princess, always latching onto the first hunk she sees.” she hisses to Altallo, who frowns at her and then something catches his eye and he wanders off.
“Dear brother,” Ariadne says. “Its wonderful to see you after so long.”
“Wait, brother?!” Kiya exclaims, untangling her arms.
“Well, to me he is family, ever since he came to Crete. Some soldiers brought him from some far away land. The ship is ready by the way,” Ariadne adds. “I’m afraid its nothing fancy.”
“As long as its seaworthy, it’ll do. Hey you got your old clothes back!” Kiya says, as Altallo returns.
“Yes,” Altallo replies in a terse voice. He brushes dust and other blemishes from his poncho and then starts straightening the feather on his headdress. “Can you imagine, I found them thrown out on a rubbish heap beside the palace! Left to the rats and the muck and they’re antiques too!”
“Scandalous!” Kiya gasps while trying to hold back a giggle.
“Ugh, well never mind my poor fashion sense, we must get going before anyone sees us.”
“Wait,” Kiya turns to Ariadne. “Do you want to come with us?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t.” Ariadne says with a sad smile. “I still have a family and I still love my family. My father acted out of grief and I wish he could have controlled his rage, but I could never hate him. Besides its safer if I don’t go, they’d send searches out for me and I don’t want to put you in danger again.”
“We understand. And thank you so much for all your help,” Altallo replies, taking her hand and shaking it. Kiya also shakes her hand and Asterion gives Ariadne a massive hug.
“Wait, where’s Theseus?” Altallo asks, noticing the prince’s absence.
“Oh here he comes, a shame.” Kiya sighs. Theseus runs up to them, panting yet looking very smug about something.
The same ship that had brought them to Crete was moored up in the docks, its black sail rolled up. As the Athenians file onboard, a deep rumbling sound emanates from the water and small waves rock the boat.
“What was that?” Kiya asks, looking over the railing.
“Maybe its Poseidon?” suggests one of the Athenians. “He’s blessing our ship to sail away from this dark place.”
“No.” Altallo cuts across the Athenian. A look of creeping dread was spreading across his face. “I’ve seen this before. Never a good sign. We need to cast off.”
“But Alt-”
“Now Kiya!” Altallo begins tugging at ropes, trying to release the sail, as another tremor rumbles, this time creating small chips on the quayside.
“But what is it?!” Kiya screams.
“Earthquake!”
A third, even louder tremor rattles the shore and now massive cracks rip through the harbour and buildings start shaking. Screams echo from the town and the palace begins to rock. Ariadne stares at it in shock and is about to run towards it, but Theseus grabs her and hold her fast.
“LET ME GO!” She shrieks, punching his shoulder.
“There’s nothing you can do.” He turns her around to face him. “Please, don’t waste your life!”
Ariadne’s eyes fill with tears and she allows herself to be carried on board. They set sail again and out of the harbour. Waves caused by the earthquakes rock the boat gently. Behind them, the battered yet magnificent city burns and is slowly reduced to rubble. Ariadne watches from the stern, eyes wide and vacant. Asterion puts a comforting hand on her shoulder and she pats it without looking away. Altallo and Kiya meanwhile are manning the ship’s rudder, turning it into the breeze for the sails to catch.
“It should just take about a day to get back,” Altallo comments. “Oh I think we should give her some room.” He adds as Asterion comes back and sits beside them. From the deck below there were cheers and jeers from the dancing Athenians, the loudest coming from Theseus. Kiya grimaces.
“They won’t help much. Though I was surprised at what Theseus did back then. It was almost like a gentleman.” she says, but is interrupted as Theseus staggers up to them.
“Ah friends! It is a great time to celebrate! Our enemy lies crushed under rubble and we’re finally free! Now back to Athens with the prize, the beast to slaughter!” He points dramatically at Asterion who looks confused. Altallo and Kiya stand in front of him protectively. Theseus pulls a sword out from his clothes and holds it up high for all to see.
“Its head would make a fine decoration for the palace walls! And all will remember, I, Theseus, bull slayer and hero of Athens!”
“Listen Theseus,” Altallo starts in a calm and measured voice. “I know you want to make your father proud, but think of others. Think of poor Asterion here-”
Altallo never got to finish his sentence. Theseus had just swung out at him with a punch and poor Altallo topples to the floor, clutching his nose and wincing.
“Get out of my way you weirdo!”
“Alty!” Kiya cries out and then she clenches her fists and glowers at Theseus. “Why you stuck up, snot nosed, pampered-”
Theseus slaps her across the face. Kiya staggers back, hand over her cheek and tears start streaming down her face. She rushes back to Asterion and starts crying into his chest. Asterion looks at her and then to Altallo still on the floor, open mouthed and shocked. Theseus meanwhile brushes his hair out of his face and grins broadly.
“And as an extra bonus, I shall rule with my new wife!” he proclaims, seizing Ariadne’s arm and dragging towards him. She struggles to wrench herself from his grasp, but he just laughs and holds her even closer.
Asterion’s hands slowly curl into fists and his eyes narrowed. He gently pushes Kiya to one side and stomps across the deck towards Theseus, his teeth clenched into a snarl. Theseus, still gloating over his victory, is taken by surprise when Asterion wrenches the sword from his grasp. The minotaur bends it effortlessly out of shape until, with an awful sound, the blade splinters and tiny shards rain down onto the floor. Theseus utters a high pitched yelp and clasps his hands together and screams.
“Oh please! Spare me, take them instead!” he jabs a finger at the Athenians.
Asterion gives Theseus a hard shove and takes Ariadne away back to the others. Although he wasn’t hurt, Theseus continues to wail and whimper at Athenians.
“That horrible monster has just hurt me! My friends, help me!”
But the Athenians back away from him. Theseus’ face flushed an ugly shade of red and he stamps his feet.
“Filthy cowards!” he shrieks but before he can say any more, he spots something that chills him. Kiya and Asterion were helping Altallo back up to his feet. The Eternal was clutching at his nose and when he lifts his hands, a strange yellow liquid oozes out.
“Thank you.” he mumbles thickly. Kiya hands him a cloth to hold back the bleeding.
“I knew it! I knew they weren’t normal!” Theseus hisses under his voice, as they stumble to the other side of the ship. He notices a shard of the sword nearby him. While small, it is larger than the other useless specks of bronze. Sneakily and with smug smile, he picks up the shard and pockets it.

Later, the Athenians, Kiya and Asterion are sleeping in the ship’s cabin. Theseus, who had slunk away, paces the length and breadth of the hold. After a while he climbs up to the trapdoor and peeks out. The deck is deserted, save for Altallo who was standing at the stern, standing as still as a statue and staring up at the stars. Keeping a wary eye on him, Theseus crawls out as quietly as he can and sneaks through the shadows towards the cabin. He could see the beast at the back of the room and reaches to his belt for the shard, but his hand gropes thin air. He looks behind him confused and almost screams out loud when he sees Altallo standing there. The Eternal holds up the lost shard and throws it away into the sea. Theseus collapses onto the floor and starts blubbering and pleading, but Altallo merely points gravely to the hold where Theseus had come, his face a blank mask. The prince scurries away like a frightened spider, glancing back only once. Altallo had returned to the very spot, staring up at the sky again.

“Land ho!”
The voice jerked Theseus awake from behind a hay bale. He looked awful; his hair was dishevelled and there were large shadows under his eyes from the restless night. He yawns widely before clambering up top.
The ship had docked in an island bay and everyone disembarks from the ship. The Athenians happily chatting amongst each other as they gather food, but Ariadne walks away from the others and sits on a rock, looking out to where Crete lay before her.
“Alty, do you think she should come with us?” Kiya asks. She, Asterion and Altallo were pushing their way through undergrowth
“Only if she wants to. I never take anyone without permission.” Altallo replies. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to leave her alone with Theseus, but its her choice and I won’t force her. Uh oh, here comes trouble!”
Shern’aath, who had been dozing against a tree, woke up at the sound of voices. He’s thrilled when he sees Altallo and Kiya come into view and runs down to meet them.
“I’ve missed you so much!” he cries out, lifting Altallo off his feet and hugging him.
“I’ve missed you too you big feathery bucket of love!” Altallo replies, kissing Shern’aath who giggles.
“Hey don’t mind me, just standing here admiring the scenery. Take your time.” Kiya says, smiling at then. Shern’aath chuckles and puts down Altallo.
“Oh come here you!” He and Altallo pull her into a one armed hug. “Say what happened? Wait,” Shern’aath notices the bruises on Altallo and Kiya’s faces and his smile fades. “Who did this to you?!”
“It was Theseus.”
“I knew I didn’t like the look of that lumbering oaf,” Shern’aath growls. “Just wait till I get my claws on him, I’ll...”
Shern’aath’s eyes widen when he sees Asterion.
“Erm, Shern, meet Asterion.”
Asterion grabs Shern’aath and