DIMITRI

  Constantinople 733 AD

  ‘’I would like some jasmine tea…’’Dimitri mumbled in the marketplace while the owner of the caravan was facing him with a strange gaze. Dimitri tried to ignore him while he kept remembering the list.

  ‘’Chamomile, too, please, and oh, honey.’’He said with a small smile. The owner nodded and handed over the items he had ordered slowly.

  To the next caravan, he ordered cummin and dried arnica leaves. After that, a few oils and perfumes. One guy who was watching him for a while tried to speak to him with a laugh.

  ‘’Big orders for a young man like you. Someone special?’’He winked, and Dimitri laughed.

  ‘’Yes, my fiancée will meet my parents soon and she needs to be at her best appearance.’’

  He lied between his teeth, and even for a second, he believed his lies. That was his Teacher’s second lesson after all. To cover himself, he had to believe his lies.

  His eyes looked around and saw a pair of soldiers wandering to the marketplace, trying to search for criminals. One of them found the young man, and Dimitri instantly paid the shop owner and gave a farewell before going to the next one.

  Eggs, cheese, fish….

  The same man let another laugh, and Dimitri tried to hold his lying face as he looked at the bag of coins, which was now almost empty.

  This bastard of a Teacher will make me go to jail again.

  But the order was the order.

  ‘’Twenty gold’’ The owner announced with his mustache getting thicker from fuming anger.

  Dimitri had ten gold coins.

  The laughing man spoke again.’’Seems that your girl is worth fighting for.’’

  Dimitri smiled and looked at the owner.

  ‘’How about five?’’

  The owner’s thick brow arched.

  ‘’Listen, my mom will visit today, and my girl needs to be in perfection.’’

  ‘’Fifteen’’ the owner rasped.

  At first, Dimitri thought he could outrun him as he was as thick as a boulder and an owl like a turtle, but he knew that soldiers would have caught him.

  ‘’Do you want my girl to be ashamed? My mom will yell at her if she has no fish on the table. And she loved eggs and oh cheese…’’

  ‘’She shouldn’t get a poor boy then’’The owner smirked, and Dimitri looked back at the coins.

  ‘’Here’’A brute voice spoke from behind, and he found a soldier standing all tall with his face covered in an iron mask.

  Well, that was it. Jail again.

  But instead, the soldier gave the young man five gold coins. How did he know that he needed that much? And that soldier had a build of ten men, with the air around him bringing fear.

  Before Dimitri said anything, the soldier said.

  ‘’She must be a lucky girl’’And with that, he walked away.

  Dimitri didn’t like that sign of charity, especially from a soldier who could send him to jail. As it felt suspicious.

  After finishing his errand, Dimitri began walking to his usual route by hiding between the alleys. Over the years, he found the right paths, the right corners to avoid the eyes of a soldier or suspicious person who could rat him out. No beggars or thieves, just a house with a red door waiting for him right before getting back to his home.

  But this house wouldn’t be a problem with the door opening and looking at a beautiful woman with long brown curls. Years ago, this brothel was owned by a woman with bright blonde hair who was as cruel as a tyrant. And suddenly she got caught by a high fever that none, even his Teacher, could cure. Or that’s what the Teacher made everyone believe. Now, the establishment belongs to the woman who jumped on Dimitri’s arms.

  ‘’Oh Jonah’’She laughed, calling Dimitri by his fake name.

  ‘’How long has it been? Look how much you have grown’’The woman spoke with a flirtatious tone, but Dimitri knew she wouldn’t do anything to him. However, he could see the beautiful girls looking from the window with impatience.

  ‘’Fine, miss fine, I am just going to my Teacher. ‘’ He answered with honesty, and the kind woman laughed.

  ‘’Well, tell him to visit sometime, it’s been a while, and my girls must get their check-ups.’’

  Dimitri nodded, but he answered with honesty while he noticed that no one was around to share the secret. Just the woman and a silver bird who was eating a rat near a barrel.

  ‘’Oh well, the teacher mostly sends me now, so if they want anything, I will be happy to help’’He winked, and the girl behind the window flushed.

  ‘’Oh, you charmer’’The woman chuckled and held his fingers tight as she was passing golden coins and whispered into his ears.

  ‘’For your teacher about the accident,’’

  Dimitri nodded, and the woman chuckled again.’’Are you sure you don’t want to come in? I have a beautiful girl for a young man like you…’’

  And Dimitri jumped away from her.‘’Uh, sorry ma’am, but my teacher will be pissed if I don’t come home early, farewell’’And he rushed away with small jumps as his gaze now watched the silver bird slowly following him. He kept watching while another black bird came into the picture and started fighting with the silver one.

  ‘’Teacher, I am back’’Dimitri announced and watched Teacher snore at his desk, which was filled with messy books. The young man rolled his eyes and shut his door loudly, waking himself up.

  ‘’Dammit boy’’The teacher jumped and bared his teeth at his student.

  ‘’Bring what you asked for.’’ explained Dimitri and walked to the cracked kitchen. The apprentice tried to keep the house clean, but each time he was walking away, he could always see dirty clothes on the floor, food for rats to eat, and the teacher always sleeping.

  ‘’Good, now out of the way’’Teacher said and pushed Dimitri away and took all of the things.

  Dimitri rolled his eyes and went back to cleaning.

  Usually, there were customers from all different backgrounds for a physician like him. Beggars, orphans, families in need…Even brothels were coming into need. But only the lower class. Once, Dimitri asked why he couldn’t go higher? With his talents, he would be a physician for emperors.

  ‘’I met a soldier today’’He announced. ‘’I could have told him about you, and he might send you to the palace. Who knows, might they need baby deliveries or…’’

  ‘’Boy’’The teacher broke two of the eggs inside a pot, and then he started cleaning the fish.

  ‘’I do not think that it might be the best idea now’’

  Dimitri rolled his eyes.’’ That’s what you always say’’He moved some of the food away from the rats and began stepping to the cranky floor.

  ‘’But we could live like kings’’He tried to explain again.

  And the teacher took a deep breath.

  ‘’Why did I tell you to buy those things, boy?’’

  Right. He could cure any sickness, and he could help any person in need. Any person with any disease and problem such as…

  ‘’Abortion medicine’’the boy muttered between his teeth.

  ‘’And what else am I making?’’ He looked around the herbs the man had collected by the window and the small garden. Hemlock, marigold, daffodils, and so many other dangerous ingredients, which Dimitri had to learn about. Deadly ones.

  If anyone found out about him, truly, what he was doing, both the Teacher and his apprentice would be in prison or worse. And what if they found out the other secret of the Teacher? What would they do to him?

  ‘’Stop worrying boy’’The teacher scolded him while he had his back turned on him.

  ‘’Sorry, teacher’’Dimitri muttered and grabbed a broom to start cleaning.

  The teacher kept cooking while he began asking questions.

  ‘’Foxglove?’’

  Dimitri’s smile appeared on his previously disappointed face, and he began naming the side effects.

  ‘’Nausea, blurred vision, and skin irritation.’’

  ‘’Angel’s trumpet?’’ He asked while he started cleaning the fish.

  ‘’Hallucination, strange behavior, dissociation’’

  ‘’Cinnamon’’

  ‘’Come on’’Dimitri pouted. ‘’You taught me that yesterday. And I thought that we were talking about plants’’

  ‘’Cinnamon. The teacher repeated.

  Even if it was about poison, Dimitri loved learning about it. It almost felt like an actual training of a warrior, being prepared for any battle. Or even a study for a physician like him. Maybe one day Dimitri could become a doctor like his teacher.

  ‘’Digestive problems, Diarrhea, hives.’’

  ‘’Crocus?’’

  Dimitri opened his mouth, but no words came from it. His mind went black. How could he forget such a thing?

  ‘’Hold on, I think I can remember you taught me that last week’’He explained himself, but he couldn’t think of any side effects.

  ‘’Actually I did not’’Chuckled Teacher. ‘’It was a trap and I caught you’’

  Dimitri pouted and, with a red face, he walked back to the now stinking kitchen.

  ‘’If you still had your manhood, I would kick you in the groin’’

  And the teacher shoved the wooden spoon, which he was using for the potion, right to Dimitri’s mouth.

  Egg, herrings’ guts, cheese, and a small dose of honey.

  ‘’Oh God’’Dimitri muffled and watched Teacher smiling with victory while his apprentice felt his entire stomach about to turn upside down.

  ‘’Pup’’The teacher whistled, and Pup rushed from the upper wooden stairs and jumped to the place where Dimitri was puking. And now, his vomit was the dog’s dinner.

  ‘’Good boy’’Dimitri coughed, and his gaze moved to his Teacher, who was putting the potion into a few glass bottles.

  ‘’You shall send them to the brothel tomorrow.’’He announced, and Dimitri kept watching his calm expression with the sun falling into his green eyes. Five years passed, and Odysseus’ face never changed. He should have been thirty now, and there was no wrinkle, no gray hair. And it seemed that he had stopped getting out entirely. Every order, every person he had to treat, every need, Dimitri was there to help him achieve.

  ‘’Stop staring, boy.’’ the teacher commanded, and the young man tried to look away.

  ‘’You know that I am sixteen, right? I have even grown a beard’’

  The teacher stared at the small hair the boy had on his chin. ‘’When it grows like mine, then I will call you by your name, got it?’’

  Dimitri nodded and kept cleaning and avoiding the Teacher’s belongings.

  ‘’Where you followed?’’ The teacher asked.

  ‘’No.’’ Dimitri admitted.

  However, the teacher thought that it was suspicious.

  ‘’None?’’

  ‘’Yes, no man, no woman, no kid, nothing’’ He explained again, and another thought came to his mind. The teacher noticed his thoughtful expression.

  ‘’In the last few days, there has been a bird watching me…’’He muttered.

  Teacher let out a sigh of irritation.’’ That dove might belong to a soldier…’’

  ‘’No, not dove, Teacher, a hawk.’’

  The teacher's green eyes snapped from the last work.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  ‘’A silver hawk, really pretty one.’’ Dimitri kept thinking about the bird while the teacher had now stopped cooking the medicine. How beautiful the feathers were shining against the sun.

  As he was dozing off to his dream, he found himself waking up fast when he noticed that his teacher was chewing hemlock like a goat.

  ‘’You will die’’ Dimitri panicked and tried to push the hemlock out of his mouth by slapping his teacher in his face.

  The man let out a sound of pain as he spat the poison out of his lips and looked at his student.

  What was his concern? A bird noticing him could push him into a form of madness?

  ‘’Alright then,’’The teacher now let out a wide smile and clapped his hands.’’ Let’s leave the city.’’

  Dimitri knew at that point that he was losing himself in madness. He was now packing all his books into a wide sack.

  ‘’Where to?’’Dimitri wondered as he tried to hide his panic.

  But the teacher kept grinning like an idiot.

  ‘’Wherever you want’’His fingers traced his chest, where he was hiding that strange necklace of his.

  Dimitri had a quick thought to make a joke.

  ‘’England.’’

  ‘’Great, England it is’’Teacher seemed all more excited.’’Far and far away.’’

  ‘’You are serious.’’The boy gasped in disbelief.

  But the Teacher kept going on his runaway plan while Pup was watching the door.

  ‘’Oh, can you make the special tea that I taught you last week? We will have a visitor soon.’’

  What was the man thinking? They couldn’t leave at that moment. Dimitri felt that he was hiding more things than he could say to him. But what could possibly be the reason? And besides, England could be a difficult destination. And an expensive one. Dimitri knew how cheap his Teacher was.

  Nevertheless, the student began making the tea. The tea was another strange occurrence. Who was the one who were they waiting for? Of course, the man had a lot of enemies, such as the soldiers who would stop his talents of making poison and other forbidden medicines, but who could that be?

  ‘’We can’t leave,’’Dimitri whispered.

  The teacher overheard.’’ It’s the only way’’He muttered, and Dimitri saw the trembling hands of Odysseus.

  He cut the right herbs and put them into the boiling water, and walked back to Odysseus.

  ‘’Teacher, we have done a good job here. People need you. Why are you trying to get out?’’

  ‘’They don’t need us now. It is done.’’

  A lie. Dimitri knew very well his Teacher's lies now. And he soon realized that he was a terrible one.

  ‘’What about money? People won’t know us, we will be strangers to them and...’’

  ‘’Boy’’The teacher smacked his hand to the table and slowly moved his head close to him. He had seen many times his teacher furious, disappointed, and even about to murder him in sight.

  This one was different. Because his teacher looked actually afraid.

  The entire argument was cut by a calm knock on the door.

  That was also Pup’s signal to rush far away and hide in the basement.

  Odysseus lifted his head, showing Dimitri where to hide.

  He followed his instructions and went upstairs to his room. Filled with books about medicine and rigged cards, the boy was about to spy on his teacher by the broken floor that led to the attic.

  The teacher took a deep breath and opened the door slowly, just for an old cranky man to be down on his knees and coughing.

  ‘’Please’’The man begged shakily.’’I need help,’’

  The teacher let out a panicking gasp and grabbed the old man from the ground and moved him to the table.

  ‘’Some men tried to rob me and they broke my cane, hit my face,’’ the whimpering bruised man said.

  ‘’Relax,’’ hushed the teacher and moved to the kitchen stove, taking the pot.

  ‘’I have some tea to relax the nerves.’’

  Sweat showered Dimitri’s body. What was the special tea for? For an old man who could not walk properly?

  ‘’Oh, you are very kind’’The old man chuckled.

  ‘’But tell me’’ said Odysseus as he was pouring the tea into a small cup.

  ‘’What brings you to this neighborhood? You seem that you are not from the city.’’

  Chuckled the old man and tried to reply.’’I wanted to see an old friend. You see, it’s been so long, and I miss her so much.’’

  Those words came from his heart. Dimitri could see that this man was kind and softspoken. What was his teacher thinking? Would he actually do something this cruel to an old man?

  Imagining those cruel intentions, his teacher looked now above the cracked floor. Right at Dimitr’s eyes. As if it were a message. To stay quiet. Because his Teacher might know best.

  ‘’How kinda man you are, now you must drink, and I will start the preparations.’’ He said softly, and the man nodded, ready to take a sip.

  ‘’Oh, may god help you’’The man smiled once again.

  ‘’I do not need his help’’ Said the Teacher as he watched the man finally drinking the poison Dimitri prepared. And Oysseus watched with a wide smile the old man drinking his death.

  ‘’Only his silence.’’

  Five seconds later, the man fell from the chair and started coughing and spitting blood. His voice was breaking like glass with his eyes facing above.

  ‘’Is this what can hurt you now? My poor poison?’’ Laughed Teacher, showing his fangs at the frightened rabbit.

  Dimitri could not take it and rushed down below. How could he, he thought. How dare he?

  ‘’Stop’’Dimitri shouted. ‘’You are hurting him.’’

  Odysseus turned to his student with a shocked expression. Right behind him, the old cranky man let out a laugh. A terrifying laugh as he was getting up. Was he always this tall? Was he always this young? Did he always have those long ears and grayish skin?

  The man who was standing now looked to be the same age or maybe older than his Teacher. His clothing seemed to belong to an eastern region with bright green colors. His long hair was dressed in golden jewels, so it could tangle those dark locks. And his eyes were covered with a white cloak.

  ‘’Oh, how much I missed you.’’

  So tall… Dimitri thought, but looking at his teacher, he could see the irritating expression he had while he was staring at the charming man.

  ‘’That actually hurt…’’His smile faded.

  ‘’It was meant to,’’the teacher chuckled. ‘’Looks like you are actually getting weaker by the century.’’

  Dimitri had so many questions about that comment, and he wanted all of them to be answered, but it was not the right time.

  The man now kept walking close to the Teacher by hopping.

  Hopping?

  Dimitri looked down at his feet and noticed that he had no shoes. Who would possibly have shoes if their feet belonged to a grey rabbit?

  ‘’I told you before, ‘’The man sighed.’’I wanted to see an old friend and love what you have done here’’He turned his head left and right.

  ‘’You seem like you are packing…’’He muttered. ‘’Now you really thought’’He was far too close to the teacher, and it made Dimitri’s heart race. He could not move his body. He couldn’t do anything but watch.

  He had seen gods and demons before, but what kind of strength was this?

  ‘’That you could have escaped me?’’

  ‘’Why are you actually here?’’asked the teacher with a heavy rasp.

  The man smirked and looked around with the air of such confidence. As if the entire house, the entire plain of existence, belonged to him.

  ’’I never expected you to be the crossdresser kind of woman.’’He said and walked around the Teacher. So he knew the truth about his teacher. How long did those two know each other?

  ‘’Safer travels’’He admitted. And the man kept smiling.

  ‘’And a healer without a power gain?’’He tisked the man.

  ’’Disappointing.’’

  The teacher replied with an angry expression.

  This was the time for his student to ask all the questions he had.

  ‘’Teacher, who is that?’’

  The man he called a teacher looked at him with his eyes snapping wide.

  ‘’Oh, my dear, what a terrible host you are’’Said the man mockingly and passed the Teacher to go closer to Dimitri.

  ‘’I am the messenger of the gods Hermes, my dear boy. And you are?’’

  Hermes? The name that once belonged to an ancient god of Greece? One of the myths that was forced to be forgotten?

  Dimitri always imagined this mythical god to be as young as he was, with a kind expression in his eyes. This man couldn’t be him.

  But he did ask about his name.

  Dimitri blinked and thought for a second. Based on his Teacher’s expressions, he realized fast that this man was not meant to be trusted.

  ‘’Jonah, sir’’He lied between his teeth.

  The man hummed and licked his upper teeth. ‘’Pitty’’

  What was this all about?

  The teacher now moved back to his student and touched his shoulder tightly.

  ‘’If this is a way of entertainment to you, then leave.’’He explained, and the man chuckled.

  ‘’My beloved, you haven’t let me explain myself. ‘’He said and took a few more steps closer to us.

  ‘’Leave now’’commanded the Teacher again.

  The man’s smile dropped, and he began to look worried.

  ‘’I know that you hate me, but I need your help’’

  ‘’Hate you?’’ laughed Teacher.’’Help? You dare ask me for help Herald?’’

  Herald? Based on this conversation, it felt like Dimitri’s teacher and the messenger knew each other well. But not in a friendly relation.

  ‘’Listen to me for one second, Ly-’’

  Before even finishing his sentence, the Teacher showed him the closed dagger he was holding so dearly all those years. The boy never understood why and never dared to open it to see what it was hiding.

  And the man faced it speechless.

  ‘’So it’s true’’He hummed, and then he nodded, accepting defeat.

  Without saying anything else, he walked out into the darkness of the night.

  A few seconds passed, and Teacher knelt on the floor, shaking from his fear.

  The god was about to say another name. A name that could belong to Dimitri’s teacher. But he did not care. He hated seeing the one who took care of him act like a scared child.

  ‘’Can we go to Cairo before England?’’He asked and sat on the floor with him. ‘’Ishani wrote to me and said how she and her beloved miss us.’’

  The teacher slowly tilted his head to Dimitri and let out a king smile.

  ‘’Cairo it is.’’ He sniffed and let loose the fabric of his collarbone.

  Dimitri tried to hide that he noticed the golden mark once again as the Teacher showed him the necklace he was wearing.

  ‘’What’s this?’’ asked the student.

  ‘’A gift,’’ He chuckled and wrapped it around Dimitri’s neck. ‘’A special gift that was given to me at the right opportunity.’’

  His lips parted, and Dimitri faced the cold engraving of the necklace. Such a strange jewel.

  ‘’Boy, the god that was tonight, the person that I am, it’s better for you to -’’

  Why was he trying to explain himself? The boy knew that he wouldn’t answer.

  ‘’Cairo.’’said the boy.’’Tomorrow, alright?’’

  And the Teacher gave up by nodding.

  The boy now went to his room, which was in the attic, so he could study with the candlelight. Taking notes with his smudged fingers, Dimitri could not feel more anxious about tomorrow. They would actually leave. Far away. So none would find them. Again.

  Keep your head to your studies. Dimitri thought.

  He finally found the crocus flower. A small purple flower that grows in autumn.

  And one of the deadliest poisons. How could a flower like that have so much power?

  ‘’Burning throat, vomiting, organ disease, death’’Dimitri muttered with the candlelight being at its final breath. He wished for tomorrow to be today.

  The next day, when Dimitri woke up, the house was completely empty. There was only a chest, a wooden box, and a letter.

  Out of panic, Dimitri started reading it.

  Boy

  I lied. I always lie. I do not need you anymore, and you are keeping me back. Like an annoying leech. I told you years ago that I can be cruel, and here it is. I am not the man who can protect you, and I don’t want to do that. You can have all the savings I have gathered all those years, and the money the Ma’am gave you last day, and you never gave me. And of course, you still have to do the order, but the money will make sure you will go to Cairo.

  But I will tell you at least one truth.

  If you try to find me again, I will not hesitate to kill you by shoving a hemlock into your throat.

  O.

  Reading the letter with his trembling hands, Dimitri knew one and only one thing.

  The letter was garbage. More excuses. Another lie from him.

  ‘’Stupid old man.’’Rasped Dimitri.

  He did go to the brothel and sent the order with a wide fake smile and took the money. He could see Ma’am’s worried gaze when she saw him with all those bags, but he did not have the strength to speak. Not after that.

  With anger in his heart, he kept walking to the port, ignoring each sound and strange gaze.

  ‘’Hey,’’ a man gasped, and Dimitri didn’t realize that he had hit someone with his bags.

  Turning his head back, he found the laughing man from the marketplace from the previous day.

  ‘’I am sorry’’Dimitri stuttered.

  ‘’It’s fine, lad.’’The man laughed again, and Dimitri finally took a good look at the charming man. His clothing felt northern with a green wide tunic and a black cloak, as his eyes were covered with a half-metal mask. He was tall, taller than Teacher, and with a presence that could attract anyone.

  ‘’Are you alright?’’Asked the man.

  Dimitri nodded.

  ‘’Oh, you are not. What happened? Did the lady leave you?’’

  ‘’Yes’’That was technically the truth.

  His smile faded.’’I understand that feeling very well. His hand rested on Dimitri’s shoulder, and his eyes fell to one of the old barrels where a silver hawk was inspecting the scene.

  A wave of worry hit the boy’s spine. But he was far too furious to pay attention.

  ‘’But don’t worry, kid, they always come back. Especially if they care deeply about you or your actions.’’

  ‘’I don’t think that she will,’’ he admitted to him.

  The man kept smiling. ‘’Come on, a handsome boy like you, surely she will.’’

  Even if it was the truth or a lie, Dimitri felt a wave of hope inside his chest, showing him a real smile. Maybe the teacher will come back and apologise. Or at least tell him to come with him.

  ‘’Thank you, sir.’’He said with a soft smile.

  ‘’You are welcome, uh…’’The man muttered.’’ That’s funny, I am giving you advice and I don’t even know your name.’’

  No need to lie now, as he was about to leave the city.

  ‘’Oh, it’s Dimitri, sir.’’

  Why is smiling like that? Dimitri wondered with fear conquering his body as he realized what he had done.

  ‘’Sleep Dimitri’’The voice of the man came with his lips going out of sync. And everything went dark.

  ‘’Kids like you always fall for the oldest tricks in the book.’’ The man’s voice echoed in Dimitri’s ears.

  ‘’And I should know. I wrote it.’’