Beneath the Walls
Aethshus watched the walls. It was fast becoming a habit. There was little else to do once he had looked over his equipment. Today was a quiet day in the siege, one where neither side tried anything. Most days should have been like that, only this siege was unlike any other. For within and without, gods stalked the lines, seeking a way to win the war.
Gods fighting a war of men. Immortal and immoral. They did not care how many thousands died. They stalked the camp boasting of their victories while being unable to take the walls or drive the besieging army away.
All the world waited to see who would waste away first.
Thudris sat down next to him with a grunt. “Still alive?”
“No,” Aethshus answered. “I’ve died and my shade is tortured by making it relive the same day.”
Thudris grunted. “They say that there is to be a wedding of the gods. A great affair of princes and kings.”
Aethshus remained quiet. There was nothing to say.
“You hear what I said?” Thudris asked.
“Yes. Yes. Damn me I heard it. The gods are getting wed. There will be flowers, and pies, and sheep, and nymphs. They party and celebrate while we stay down here to be killed. We hold the line while our wives are alone in distant lands, at the mercy of cowardly men. When this war is over, we’ll all be dead, but they’ll make peace and go back to their homes laughing.”
Thudris stared at him blankly for a moment.
“What?” Aethshus said angrily. “It’s the truth.”
“No. I’m just glad I’m not the only one cracking. But did you hear what I said? The gods and the princes and the kings will all be at the wedding.”
“So what!”
“So…nobody is going to be watching us. No on will notice if two spear men go running off.”
Aethshus took that in. They would all be busy. There was no one to enforce discipline. The war could be over for them. “Yes. Yes. We have to. Yes. Let’s do it.”
They stood together, giddy with the chance to get away. A hand clapped both of them on the back. They turned to see a water god looking at them.
“Hello boys. I’ve got a sneaky plan for tomorrow, and I think the three of us could pull it off.”
Michael Frutig 