Soul tendencies 1.60

Semiramis and Viggo arrived at the city leader's house after having alerted the crew. The place was guarded in the frontis by two guards, two others in the courtyards and a guard on the roof of the second floor. All the guards had a great stature and stocky build, each one was dressed in a bronze breastplate and wore a xiphos sword at the waist.

The guys had an intimidating presence, but as soon as they saw Semiramis they were stunned and let their guard down. To begin with, they didn't even notice Viggo going after her and under his left arm he was carrying a lump of skins.

-I come to see the leader of the city- said Semiramis without even showing up. The two guards on the front were dumbfounded by its beauty. After a couple of seconds, one of them turned around and entered the house without carrying out the basic protocol, such as asking the guest for her name.

Semiramis let out a sigh full of annoyance and folded her arms as she waited for them to come and get her.

The next moment the guard returned with the red face of embarrassment. He stood in front of Semiramis and asked -excuse me, could you tell me your name?-

Semiramis raised her eyebrow in a sign of discomfort and said -Semiramis-

-I understand- replied the guard and returned to the interior of the house.

For his part, Viggo looked at the two-meter-high great wall that separated the grounds from the street. The house was two stories, with two windows on the second floor and a door on the first. In addition, flowery gardens could be seen surrounding the house. However, despite these two guys who looked intimidating, the place lacked any shelter. Well, it was understandable, on the one hand, this city only existed because it functioned as a link between Persia and Greece. Otherwise, the great merchants would have abandoned it long ago and the population would have dispersed to go to other cities. So the leader of the city was only in name. Most likely, he was just an errand of some kind who administered the city as he pleased.

For better or worse, Amphipolis was just a shadow of what it once was. It still retained a masterful entrance with sculptures of lions stationed on the sides, with a long marble staircase and at the top, a statue of the powerful god Apollo sitting on his throne. They also kept a Estoa, but no one gave sermons anymore, or explained the arts, or refuted politics or educated the population. There was also the temple of Apollo, but no one made a pilgrimage to these lands to present their offerings.

The next minute the guard returned and invited Semiramis in. Viggo also accompanied her, and no one asked him anything, not even about the lump of animal skins. They advanced through the hallways of the house and led them to a spacious living room, on the first floor. There they waited for half an hour while admiring the furniture and sculptures.

Semiramis stood in front of a beautiful one-meter-high jar, with beautiful drawings of the gods.

Viggo came to her side and said -get ready, the person they sent to bring comes with about 30 people. Practically surrounded the house-

-Will you protect me?- asked Semiramis with a feeling of uneasiness in her heart.

-If you behave well, you may be- Viggo replied jokingly.

Semiramis turned around to look at him and saw those big blue eyes smiling, next to a magnificent smile on his lips. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. Take a deep breath and looked at him again trying to retain an unflappable appearance.

-Protect me- order

-Take it for granted-

The door leading to the hall opened and two brown-skinned servants entered carrying a large semi-open chest overflowing with gold jewelry. Beautiful necklaces, sceptres, crowns, and all kinds of ornaments inlaid with precious stones of many colours could be seen.

Behind the servants passed a fat and brown man, with a brush mustache and a goat's beard. He had bulging eyes, a large jowls and a prominent belly. He wore a black turban over his head, while wearing a purple robe.

-It's long time no see, Semiramis- said the fat man in a loud voice, he seemed genuinely happy to see her.

Semiramis advanced to the man and bowed -it's long time no see, general. As you asked me, I came with the materials from Athens. I hope you remembered the fabrics and carpets-

-Of course- said the general lightly, as if it were an unimportant issue. He looked at Viggo and pointed his hand at him -what about you?-

-I'm the bodyguard- Viggo replied with a big smile. Which made him underestimated and relegated to the last position of importance in the mind of the general.

-Come with me, Semiramis- said the general, stretched out his hand to her and Semiramis stretched out his and placed it on his stubby fingers full of gold rings with some reluctance. The general took her in front of the chest and took a handful of gold coins with his right hand and brought them closer.

Semiramis frowned, but anyway she took one of the coins and looked at it on both sides. Then she left the coin on the general's hand, and he put on an apathetic face at the lack of enthusiasm.

-Is there anything you dislike?- the general asked.

Semiramis made a face full of disgust and Viggo laughed inside. He thought that, surely, this is what Kiara meant by looking like a man who is eager to be approved. Now, we should see why Semiramis thinks about doing business with this guy even though she dislikes him.

-Everything is very nice- said Semiramis -but we haven't come to this. The general promised me fabrics and carpets. At the same time, I brought goods equivalent to the products-

The general narrowed his eyes and turned around. Bring his hands to his back and interlace his fingers at the height of the spine -As always- he said -you are unwilling to give me your favor. You could have asked if it was for you, you could have asked if it was a gift or if it persisted in my proposal of so many years, but no, always elusive, always thorny, always unwilling to show me your sweet side-

-At that time, I was the wife of the prince, it would not have looked good if I had treated you too kindly- replied Semiramis -now I am a merchant, and after what happened in Persia, I am not looking for a relationship. Plus, we all know what's going on with your lovers-

The general turned around and threw a slap at her that threw Semiramis on the ground -Impertinent!- yelling at her -that's none of your business. You have fallen low, you have nothing anymore, and you still show yourself haughty. I offer you a bunch of gifts that should open your eyes and convince you what your best option is, but you are still just as arrogant- the general applauded twice, and ten men came in through the door and blocked the exit -Kill her– he said in an indifferent voice –the prince's queen will pay a good price for her head-

-Then that bitch sent you to kill me!- shouted Semiramis enraged, clenched her fists helplessly and looked at the general with unspeakable anger.

-Yes, but I hold you in high esteem from the beginning. I thought that if I showed you my worth, you would end up convinced that the best thing for you was to follow me. Once I had you in my arms, I would also convince Scheherezade. Then I would negotiate with the queen and if possible, I would keep you by my side. Otherwise, I would hand you over and keep Scheherezade. However, none of you are willing to show the slightest respect. Scheherezade didn't even show up for the meeting. It's a shame, it's a pain for my noble heart-

Semiramis opened her eyes, full of disbelief, and felt terrible knowing that all this was not even to get her. If not, she was just a mere means to stay with her friend. She looks down feeling horrible, but suddenly hear the agonizing cry of two men. Semiramis looked straight ahead and saw Viggo falling to his feet as two of the ten guards fell to the ground with their heads covered in blood. The other eight guards tried to draw their swords, but Viggo moved forward as if sliding on the ground and tore them all by giving each of them an axe to the head.

-Your orders?! - roared Viggo with powerful voice

Semiramis looked at the fat general in front of her and said with all the fury of her heart -kill him-

Viggo nodded, took the axe with his right hand, turned on its axis and threw the axe at the general, giving it in full front and throwing it to the ground.

-What happens there?!- shouted from outside

-Wait for me here- said Viggo.

Semiramis saw him walk out into the hallway with bare hands and jump back dodging a sword. Then move forward in a fluid movement, as if it were sliding and punching the attacker in the head. The face burst into blood, and the guy fell unconscious instantly. Then he advanced down the hall and Semiramis knew from the screams that Viggo had the upper hand. He was always like that, jumping on board and fighting with bare hands. Moving his fists with the speed of the wind and hitting with the force of the mountains. Who was Viggo really? Semiramis wondered.

Within a few minutes, Viggo brought in a skinny, tall guy, dressed in a purple robe with golden edges. He had to measure more than 1.7 meters, but he looked like a fearful child. Viggo pushed him and he fell to the ground on his knees.

-This guy is the leader of the city- Viggo said.

Semiramis who was standing next to the chest with gold jewelry, turned around to look at him and asked with a stern look -What are your orders?- you could still see the red slap mark on her right cheek.

-They told me to assist the general in all his requests- replied the city leader in an almost unintelligible stutter.

-Who?-

-I don't know, he is only known as the Sage of Miletus-

Semiramis bent his gaze without knowing who he was referring to.

-That doesn't matter- Viggo said. Semiramis raised her face and looked at him full of surprise. The leader also looked at him full of fear. Viggo could see it in his eyes, so he smiled contentedly and continuously -you are going to tell the Sage of Miletus that he has offended the hetera queen. You'd better take your ass to Corinth and apologize for the case-

-That, that...- said the leader in a strident and fearful voice.

Viggo slapped him in the back of the head and continued -I already told you what to do. Believe me, if you say what I tell you, no one will be able to hurt you- The leader nodded scared to death and Viggo continued -now, you carry the fabrics and carpets that this guy brought to my ship. You have an hour. If I don't see the fabrics and carpets, I'll visit you-

Then Viggo passed by his side without giving him any more looks. He pulls his axe from the dead general's head and walks to the jeweled chest. He pushes and arrange them until the lid of the chest could be closed and put the latch on it. Then he takes his axe with his left hand and then take the side wing of the chest to put it on his shoulder as if it were as light as a feather.

-Come on- said Viggo and Semiramis followed closely, a little impressed by the deployment of force. Viggo moved as if the large chest with jewels weighed nothing. However, now that he had regained his calm, Semiramis approached Viggo and pinched his stomach.

-Since when has my ship been your ship?- asked Semiramis in an annoying tone.

-It's just a way of saying it- Viggo replied with a big smile, amused to make her angry -the guy was so scared that I had to do it as easy as possible to understand so, he wouldn't mess up-

-My things are mine. That it does not even cross your mind to think that just because we have a bodily relationship, you can decide about my things-

-Well, as you say- said Viggo keeping his smile -then this chest is all mine. How good for you, now you don't have to pay me anymore-

-Thief, that was for me-

-It was! you said, past tense. You rejected it and the guy who owned this chest died. So, since I was right in the area, I took what was thrown away-

-Cheeky- Semiramis said annoyedly.

Viggo just laughed and kept moving forward with the chest on his shoulder.