Hero for Hire Read Online Free Page B

why it was so very red at the tip.
    For the rest, his hair was dirty white and swept off a high brow over eyes too small for his face. He was missing an eyetooth on the right. I wondered who had tired of his permanent sneer and tried to knock it off. Whoever it had been, I liked him already.
    Temas pointed at me. “He’s going to destroy the harpy for me.”
    “I hold to our bargain, Master Phandros.”
    “No doubt," he said, running his hand down his beard, "but does my lord forget that there are other, nearer, dangers? Mortal dangers?”
    “He means the guards,” Temas said in an aside to me.
    “Word will reach them soon of your father’s passing. They will not long delay their attack. They know we are defenseless.”
    Temas seemed to be squinting down the neck of the bottle. “What would you have me do, counselor to my late father? What wise words made him kick you downstairs?”
    The bony face showed two pink patches on the cheekbones matching the wine stains on his tunic. “I spoke true. We must leave, seek assistance from another kingdom. Your uncle, Scoros of Phyros, would grant you ships and troops. Leave Leros to this captain and return in force to rout him out. There is a ship in the Roads now; take it.”
    Temas seemed now to be attempting to balance the bottle on one outstretched finger. It fell, of course, but did not break thanks to the stone chips littering the ground. He stared at it, his eyes round as an owl’s. He glanced at me. “What think you of wise, frightened Phandros’ counsel, Eno the Thracian?”
    “I don’t think he’s a coward, or he would have run away in Athens.”
    Phandros bowed to me with gracious irony. “Praise indeed.”
    “It’s your kingdom now,” I said, ignoring him. “I’d not give bits of it away to anyone else. Scoros is known as a hard bargainer. He does nothing from kindness, not even for close family. He might help you and leave you penniless, prey to the next renegade.”
    “There are other kings to aid you if you don’t trust Scoros. But if you do not seek aid, sire, Captain Eurytos and his men will overwhelm you.”
    Temas stood up, swaying slightly. “My father was a good king before these trib-trib-troubles came on us. I haven’t his wisdom. But I can rec-hic-ernize a gift from the gods when it appears before me. Phandros...where are you...Phandros....”
    “My lord?”
    “Persuade Eno the Thracian to send the Captain and his fellows to Hades.”
    “Sire,” Phandros whispered. “He is but one man.”
    “Then you help him.” Temas walked away, his left sandal not knowing what his right sandal was doing. He didn’t seem to hear Phandros’ gargling protest. I knew the boy was weeping again.
    I turned to Phandros, staring him down. “What villagers have experience in arms?”
    "Few indeed." Holding his elbow tight to his hip, Phandros extended his hand, flat, in the ancient sign that bargaining had begun. “I am prepared to offer three hundred for this task. In addition to our agreement regarding the harpy.”
    “How many guards are with this Captain?”
    “Ten. They killed two, including the lieutenant, when they refused to betray the...er...late king.”
    “Only ten some guards for a place this size?”
    “Our other soldiers went to Troy to honor our treaty with Menelaus.”
    “Then the Captain has not held his place for long?”
    “No, indeed. Had our prince been older, he would have taken the command. Being but a lad, however....”
    “And now he is king and no older than he was.”
    Phandros looked grim. “He has always been a sensible boy. I have known other princelings who have run wild, chasing nymphs, racing chariots, torturing their slaves. When I was tutor to the forty-seven sons of Pharaoh...no matter. Yet even a careful boy may make unwise choices in such dark times.”
    I thought of the hacked trees of the sacred grove, of desperate men, of the unseen villagers. “Twelve hundred,” I said boldly and added, “And I’ll