24 AD

"If you want him as a commander then you are being far too gentle with him, your majesty." Cinix's scathing rebuke was muffled in its delivery through the closed, solid, wood door. "Humans aren't meant to know the things we know. It tends to drive them mad."

Still wearing his wolf skin, Helix cringed. Eslein's apt nickname of, bastard, never rang truer. Why the creature felt the need to insert himself into this situation was beyond him.

"We do not need your help, thanks!" Marcel snapped, anger taking the place of shock on his face, "And I am not mad."

"Yet."

Helix groaned inwardly, outwardly he hardened his tone, "Cinix, let us be."

"As you wish. But your highly attractive male witch is here to see you. Figured you might want to know."

Great.

Helix forced his mind to focus on Marcel who looked at him with the expression of a man waiting to explode into questions. If he did not convince his friend to at least calm down, he had the feeling Marcel would end up getting hurt by either Cinix or Ynyr.

Scenting the air Helix could smell Marcel's fear but also his anger. "What did he mean by the, Your Majesty?"

"I have told you before was born in Arcadia."

Marcel nodded.

"What I did not tell anyone is that I am the last surviving son of the royal house Lycon. My family was murdered in person by Zeus when I was eight. He killed my father, my mother, my father's many wives and concubines, and all of my siblings, plus a good portion of the palace staff that day. He rained down lighting from sunny skies to strike everyone his eyes touched. This is why I hunt him.

"You are my friend, Marcel, a man I trust without reservation. Become my commander. I promise you knowledge beyond reckoning and if you choose it, a chance to become more than human. Only if you choose it."

Marcel took a deep breath, "Can you," he gestured at Helix, "Go back to the normal you?"

Standing, Helix forced the shift again. Panting through the pain he crouched on his hands and knees until the torture subsided. After pulling his clothes on Helix crossed the room, standing in front of Marcel.

"Let me think about it?"

Helix nodded, "Yes. There is one more thing you need to know."

Marcel visibly winced, "Not sure I can take much more."

"Commander Ynyr is a witch."

Curses again poured from Marcel's lips. "He's here isn't he?"

"Yes."

"And that is why you need his help?"

"Yes."

Marcel ground his teeth for a moment before pulling his shoulders back and standing taller, "Give me overnight to think about all this... information."

Helix tilted his head in agreement, "I accept that. Please be careful with Ynyr. He has his own ideas0 about things, and I am not sure how he will react to my approaching you."

"I've known the commander longer then I have known you. Him being a witch explains many things. I will watch my step."

***

Helix took a breath before entering the main sitting room. Brushing a hand through his hair, he smiled as he entered the room. At his friend's request, he had let Marcel out a side door. Even though Helix knew the commander would likely already know Marcel had been here, he could not find it in himself to tell his overstressed friend no.

Ynyr's eyes snapped up from where he sat on the couch, "How did he take it?"

"Fine."

Helix crossed the room, dropping into a chair across from the witch.

"That isn't what your world walker said. He said Marcel was somewhere between denial and terrified. I told you to let me brief him first."

World walker? Had to be Cinix. He also was not wrong about Marcel. Still, Helix had faith in his friend.

"Marcel will give me his answer tomorrow." Helix left no room for negotiation in his tone.

Raising single eyebrow Ynyr's face contorted slightly into a disagreeable expression, "If he doesn't choose to join us he poses a great risk. What will you do to mitigate that?"

Deep in his throat, Helix growled, "I know the risk."

But did he? Knowing what he did, Marcel could create problems of so many kinds.

"What do you need commander? Why are you here so soon?"

"I found a rift to suit our purposes, but there is a catch. It sits in the consul's estate."

"I assume consul Marcus still hates me for disobeying him?"

"He'd like nothing more than to have a blade put through your heart." Ynyr leaned back in his chair, "I can persuade him to allow us into his home but that is risky. Marcus is tangled in Decuma's web."

Helix remembered the scroll Ynyr had ordered delivered to Marcus when the consul's servant had come to get him. The commander had said something about the consul losing his support. He also recalled the conversation in Rome at Decuma's house. They had discussed the emperor's cousin. Studying Ynyr with a tilt of his head, Helix decided that perhaps Eslein was right to be cautious.

"What do you and Decuma have over the consul's head?"

He answered without hesitation, "Marcus Sabinus is a friend to the Emperor's cousin Dramus. Dramus desired the favor of the gods in unseating his cousin. In short a coup. Sal got wind that he was negotiating with Ares agents and wanted me to make a better offer on her behalf. To do that we needed Marcus's cooperation. He gets me an audience with Dramus, I make him the most powerful and affluent consul in the empire.

"Marcus knows that I put him in power and that I can take him out again if he does not cooperate amicably. But, he also knows that Decuma was behind everything. She got interested in my dealings and came to directly oversee me about the same time she brought you. It is a good bet Marcus can contact her directly. They got along quite well."

Digesting the information Helix asked, "How do you mean, contact her?"

"Decuma has a network of witches whose sole job is to send her messages, each stationed in various areas of her interest."

"Could a messenger witch be used to find Decuma?"

"Unlikely. They do not need to know where she is to send their messages."

Helix thought it over, his mind organizing facts like a strategy board. "Convince Marcus to allow us access to the rift, whether by threats or bribery. If he tries to betray us, what is the risk in just killing him?"

"His loyal men will try to kill those responsible and Marcus's favor with the emperor will turn into a headache for us."

Nodding Helix stood, "Handle Marcus how you see fit. Try not to take to many risks. Where is the next closest rift? I would like to have a backup."

"I will find one."

"Good. Thank you." Holding out his hand to Ynyr, Helix looked deep into the witches eyes, "There is one more thing I need to make clear."

"Oh?" Ynyr asked as he gripped the offered hand.

"While you may be Eslein's better, and something of a witch ruler, she is mine. If you do anything to bring her harm I will hunt you to the earths end."

Ynyr's black eyes narrowed as he dipped his head in agreement. "Understood."

***

Marcel knelt, in the deepest room of the barracks bathhouse. Gleaming marble walls solid on all sides save for the door and one window up high in the wall. His chest rose and fell in time to his rapid breathing. One hand reached out toward Helix's black wolf body.

Before he could think overly hard about what he was doing, Helix snapped his wolf teeth closed on the thickest part of Marcel's hand. He bit only enough to break the skin before quickly withdrawing.

There was a hissing intake of breath as Marcel looked at his bleeding hand. "That it?"

"In theory."

"How long before I know if I'm changed?"

Helix had considered this question, "If my guess is right, any time between now and a day or two. Like I told you earlier, changing is unpleasant and painful at first. You must stay out of sight."

"Is it really necessary I just sit in here?"

"Yes, but I will stay with you."

Commander Ynyr spread the word around the barracks that the bathhouse was being repaired and was not to be entered. It was the easiest place to clean up and to stay secluded.

Stepping away Helix forced the change. Once back in his human skin he crossed to the shelf where he left his clothes. Sliding into them he crossed to sit by his friend.

"Thank you, for doing this," Helix spoke quietly.

"I can't let you have all the crazy adventures." Marcel's lips twitched toward a grin, "And knowing what I know now about the world, along with what is in it, I would much rather be more than human. Knowing you have my back doesn't hurt either." His last words were spoken with a playful shoulder shove into Helix, who grinned back.

"We have each other's back."

***

Sometime after the moon crested Helix jerked awake, instincts tingling. Moonlight trickled in through the window, dancing off the bath water in a myriad of glimmering patterns. Marcel slept against one wall, head cushioned on a large bathrobe as Helix watched. For long moments everything was quiet until a sharp crunch echoed from the marble walls.

Marcel thrashed glowing blue eyes opening wide in pain. A blood-curdling shriek broke from his throat as more crunches followed the first, his body rearranging itself. The toga he was wearing ripped through the shoulders then fell away revealing thick silver hair growing rapidly over his whole body.

Even knowing what to expect Helix stared in wonder. It was quite a different thing watching a shift instead of experiencing one. The smell of blood and fear floated thick in the air.

Panting heavily the grey wolf stood, legs trembling with effort. Helix shifted his weight closer to Marcel causing the bright blue eyes to snap up, a deep growl rumbled out of his friend.

"It takes a bit to get the hang of talking while in wolf form," Helix spoke softly, knowing the overwhelming amount of instincts there would be to sort through.

Marcel snarled again, lip curling from his teeth. There was a wild gleam in his gaze that gave Helix pause. Before he could fully consider it the wolf kept at him, jaws wide.

Helix moved on instinct, sidestepping the attack. Without fully realizing what he was doing, he let some of his own wolf show, eyes glowing bright gold and a snarl ripping from his throat. Marcel dropped into a crouch, tail tucking, gaze going to the floor. To Helix's instincts this felt right, his thoughtful mind was a different story. He didn't like the way his friend was cowed so easily.

"Focus Marcel. Get control of the wildness." Helix kept his tone strong but even.

The wolf slowly lifted his head. There was caution in his eyes but slowly it faded. Opening his mouth, Marcel tried to speak but instead, only growls and snarls came from his throat. His ears drooped.

"We will work on speaking. For now, I want you to focus, focus on becoming human. Remember what your skin felt like and make yourself feel that way again."

Marcel dipped his head, eyes going out of focus. For long moments nothing happened then he let out an exasperated growl.

"Try harder." Helix admonished.

The wolf growled again.

Remembering his first change back to human Helix came up with a plan. "Wait in here. Keep trying. Marjani may be able to help."  With that, he left the bathhouse than the barracks.

The way to the healers gave Helix time to appreciate his success. Marcel had changed, and if he could learn to do similar things to him then perhaps his plan to kill Zeus was not so impossible. If his friend could overcome the challenges, and four hundred and ninety-nine more could repeat the process then Helix knew he would have a force to be reckoned with.

As ever before the eight candled chandeliers burned bright in the great room of the infirmary their light augmented with moonlight streaming in through the windows. Pausing at the entrance, Helix appreciated the constant quality of the healer's domain. Though his senses were heightened, he still could only truly identify Lavender and Peppermint amongst the cacophony of herb sent coating air.

A young healer, likely an apprentice, approached him her smile warm but concerned, "Sir is there an injury I can help you with?"

"I actually have need of Marjani. She will know how to assist me best."

The girl entire demeanor looked crestfallen. Bunching her hands in her white robes she nodded, "Of course. I shall fetch her for you."

Realizing how authoritative his tone had been Helix tried to make amends, "Perhaps after you fetch her you could bring me some pain herbs? I have a terrible case of the muscles aches on top of the issue I need to see Marjani about." He smiled broadly.

Instantly the girl brightened, "Of course sir!"

***

Authors Note: Oooooof..... writers block hit me hard this chapter. Sorry this one took so long guys. And sorry too if it is lacking on luster. I had to push hard to get past the block.