(Author's Note: Bonus chapter 3/13 for the week. Okay, since we have now hit ten bonus chapters, I will increase it to 10 bonus chapters from now on. I did not expect the first day I would get swarmed. Thank you so much for the support.)
(Drakos POV)
We stood there kissing for a while. Not caring about the head at our feet, the headless body still spilling out the remaining blood from the neck, or even the people just looking at us as if we are crazy.
After parting our lips, we still had our faces close together and our breaths mixed. Kassandra looked at me with our eyes locked together. Neither one of us wanted to break from each other's eyes.
Then, Kassandra, the one to have regained her wit, realized what we just did and took a step back. I was unwilling, but I still let her back off.
There was silence between us. Neither of us knew what to say. She then grabbed the head at our feet and bagged it.
"Why are you bagging the head for?" I asked
"It is so when I see the Cyclops. I can show him that even a bounty on my head will not kill me." She said, still not looking at me.
I was a little disheartened that she would not look at me. We got on our horses heading to Markos to let him know we had the obsidian eye.
Stopping off at a stream before going into Sami, we cleaned off the blood from our armor. Kassandra had blood because of her wounds and Talos' blood. At the same time, I had blood on me because of kissing Kassandra and holding her close to me.
Riding into Sami, Kassandra remembered she needed to drop off some furs. So we decided to drop those off before going to the vineyard.
Dismounting and walking to the smithy where the drop off was. Kassandra walking in front of some, say, "I should've known it was you who'd ask for furs, Ilos."
"And I should've known it was you to get them for me. Kassandra's always on the job."
"Don't tell Markos, he'll get jealous."
"I post it publically to give the others a chance, but you're always so keen."
"What are the pelts for this time?" Kassandra Asked.
"The Athenians want armor for the war. Good protection for them, good drachmae for me."
Getting out the furs, she handed them to Ilos, saying, "Here they are, all accounted for."
"In record time, too. Take your pay, it's well earned." He said, handing her the drachmae.
"Stay out of trouble, Ilos."
"You should take your own advice!"
We then returned to our mounts and rode to the vineyard to meet Markos. Getting to the vineyard, we noticed Markos at the barn instead of the villa.
Walking up to Markos after dismounting, Kassandra threw the obsidian eye at Markos.
"Ai! Be careful!" He yelled out, catching the eye.
"Do you know how many of his guards were there? All for a fucking rock…." She said.
"This 'rock' could buy a house, my friend!" He argued back.
"And yet it's still not enough to pay back the Cyclops."
"Oh, don't be upset! Think of all the fun we've had." Markos said.
I then spook up, "I had a lot of fun, that is for sure. Also, again why do you need to pay back the Cyclops? Again I am going to kill him."
Then I could feel the sharp stare from Kassandra after I finished my statement.
Looking back at Markos, she said, "Right. Your fun, my blood. You can't keep dragging me into things, Markos."
"Take the eye – but don't sell it yet! No vendor would believe we came by it lawfully. They know exactly who it belongs to!" Markos said, handing the eye back to Kassandra.
"Fine." She answered while taking the eye.
"Better your pocket than his socket!"
"I think that's enough for one day. Chaire, Markos." She said tiredly. Then turning around and walking away.
"W-wait! I saw a boat! One I've never seen before. Other than yours, my friend." He said while at the end of his statement, he looked at me.
Kassandra stopped and looked at Markos, saying, "So?"
Now looking back at Kassandra, Markos said, "The vessel's too good for this dirty town. It must be the Cyclops – and he brought friends!"
"He's back? I can never catch a break, can I?"
"Take them out, and that's one less thing to deal with! Besides – these strangers look rich as Kroisos – the Cyclops pays them well!" He said excitedly.
"It's win-win, my friend." He continued to say, trying to convince her.
"It can't hurt. What do I have to lose?" She decided to give in.
"You? You're a winner if I ever saw one."
Getting frustrated at his butt-kissing, she said, "Then where are they?"
"In an abandoned house on the eastern coast. Who knows what golden fortunes shine in their hideout? Send them to Hades, then loot them for all they have… We'll be rich!"
I was pretty sure I saw some drool come out of the corner of his mouth from thinking about all the riches.
"The eastern coast. Can you be more specific?" She asked him.
"I think they've settled in an abandoned house. By a small forest – south of Sami!" Markos said while thinking about it.
"I'm keeping some of these 'golden fortunes,' though. No negotiations."
"Not even a drachmae for the man who sent you?" Markos said, sounding hurt by the statement.
After seeing her look at him fiercely, he caved in, "Oh, fine, fine! Now, teach those strangers what it means to be Kephallonian: draw blood, or bleed.
Heading to our horses, I tell Kassandra I will not join her on this adventure this time.
"Why not?" She said.
"I must see how my people are doing at the new base. Also, it is getting late. When you finish your business, you want to come to the base?" I said to her.
I saw her think about it for a second then she said, "Okay. I'll come by after taking care of these strangers."
We mounted our horses and took separate paths to our destinations. When I got to the valley of the base, I rode in.
Getting to the other side, I saw my men guarding the entrance. They were about to stop me, but they let me right through when they saw it was me.
I dismounted my horse and headed into the villa toward Adonis to get a report.