SPEAKER_09 0:01

Leslie, what's wrong? What are you sensing?

SPEAKER_05 0:05

I think we're being watched.

SPEAKER_09 0:08

I think you're being paranoid. I cast a detection spell right before we entered Pythia, honey. My spell will warn us if danger is about.

SPEAKER_05 0:17

The way it warned us when the ghost attacked us.

SPEAKER_09 0:20

Uh, you have a point.

SPEAKER_05 0:22

What do we do? Well, for starters, you could be. Uh I don't know. Quiet?

SPEAKER_09 0:28

Oh yes, great warrior and almighty Cravex, I shall kneel before thine great glory, my lord and master. Is that what you want?

SPEAKER_05 0:38

Sounded like the opposite of what I wanted, which was quiet. But if you're going to be talking, then you may as well speak the truth.

SPEAKER_09 0:46

Oh, you want truth? You know what I think the truth is, Leslie?

SPEAKER_05 0:51

No. But I bet you're going to tell me, and all the guys hiding that are surrounding us right now.

SPEAKER_09 0:56

There is nobody surrounding us, and the truth is I think you're jealous of Thamro.

SPEAKER_05 1:02

What? Me? Jealous of the kid? I'm out here. About days' ride from being eaten by Evox, trying to find a way to bring the kid out of a coma. If this were jealousy, then I would hate to see Envy. Envy probably involves me giving him a kidney or something.

SPEAKER_09 1:19

You've been hesitant to make this journey from the get-go, Leslie. And now, just when we're so close to finding a cure to help him, all of a sudden you hear invisible people in the trees just so you can turn us around.

SPEAKER_05 1:32

This isn't about Seth. This is about our baby, isn't it? What what do you mean? If our baby had been still born, he'd be about 20 years old right now. The kid is also 20 years old, and let's face it, he's easy to love, right? By helping the kid, we somehow helped the kid we never got to help. That sound about right.

SPEAKER_09 1:55

I all I know is I need to do this, Leslie, okay? I need for us to help Thamro. Is that can't that be enough for today?

SPEAKER_05 2:07

Of course it can.

SPEAKER_09 2:09

Thank you. Now, if you're done pretending to see the invisible man, can we keep riding?

SPEAKER_05 2:16

I really wish we could, babe. But I was dead serious when I said we were surrounded. I assure you, my lady. We are far from invisible.

SPEAKER_09 2:24

We we mean you no harm, sir. We are simple travelers headed to Tron Lordon seeking It doesn't matter what you seek.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

What matters is that you are collaborating with our enemies. Seize them. The soldiers began walking towards Kravax, who had already drawn his axe. Lysa made eye contact with him, a spell already coming to her mind. Kravex eyed the man in the black cape, recognition starting to happen. He suddenly just dropped his axe to the ground and shook his head no to Lysa. She stood down, though she wondered why he had chosen not to fight. A wise decision.

SPEAKER_05 3:07

Far be it from me to start a fight with Achilles and the Mermidons.

SPEAKER_02 3:11

You know us then, of our prowess in battle.

SPEAKER_05 3:14

I know the legend. Legends tend to get overblown. And as for your prowess, that remains to be seen. Here's what I know for certain. I know that there's thirty-one of you, and two of us. Math don't lie.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

No, it generally doesn't. You are proving to be wise. It is a shame you did not pick your allies as wisely as you do your words.

SPEAKER_09 3:38

What allies? We are simple travelers from Finn on a mission of mercy. We are not your enemies.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

You are aligned with Clan Thamro, the mortal enemies of the Myrmidons. Heard you say yourself that your companion was jealous of another Thamro, a common trait among your clan, most certainly.

SPEAKER_09 3:57

Clan Thamro? I don't think you understand.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

I've heard enough. Take them. The Myrmidons placed Lysa in silver chains, rendering her spellcasting dormant. Cravex was shackled in iron, and his axe was taken from him. Our heroes were led deep into the woods, surrounded on all sides with no idea of what was going to happen to them. And now Tham Bro. Her name was Kumara Thamro, the leader of Clan Thamro. She was exceptionally tall, standing six feet four inches. She had lengthy black hair and features that suggested that she might have elven blood flowing through her veins, though it was doubtful given her height. She was lean, well muscled, and very easy on the eyes. Her gentleman collars could not be easily counted. Her burnt Siena Daglean leather armor was accented with solid gold shoulder plates, forearm guards with a matching midguard and chest plate. She also wore a long red cape and carried a large staff that was equal in length to a spear, but sported a sizable blade at its tip. The weapon nicknamed the Blade of Ill Omen was not a well known weapon in welcome. This was not due to any lack of skill on Kumara's part, no. But more so because no one she had faced with the weapon had lived long enough to actually tell anyone else about it. She dismounted her horse and didn't even bother to tether him to anything. She simply looked at him as if to say Be here when I return. And the animal obeyed. She turned about to gather her bearings, checking the map that had accompanied the note that Achilles, the man with whom she was meeting, the man who was her longtime enemy, had sent her. We begin here.

SPEAKER_06 6:40

Achilles! Yes, Poseidon, what is it? Kamarov Clan Thamro approaches. How many does she have with her? None, sir. She traveled alone. Are you sure? Clan Thamro is made up entirely of Myrmidon deserters. They're as skilled as we are at concealing their numbers. I'm positive, sir. She's all by herself. I don't know whether to be impressed or insulted. Bring her to my sitting area and double the guard rotation for the prisoners. If she attempts to turn this into a rescue, then we'll kill the three of them.

SPEAKER_02 7:12

Yes. Achilles made way towards his sitting area. He was both genuinely surprised and not surprised at all that she had agreed to this detente. What bothered him more than anything was the fact that he was able to send her a raven at all. Clantham was well practiced in staying invisible. He'd had his myrmidons searching for them for months to no avail. Now, all of a sudden, they find them. And here Kumara suddenly runs, responding to an invitation all by herself. This could mean one of two things. Either she wanted to be found, or she wanted Achilles to believe as much. Neither scenario was good. He needed to be extra careful without appearing to be so. He listened intently as Poseidus opened the gates for Kamara. Who are you? And what is your business here?

SPEAKER_01 8:26

You know who I am, you know why I'm here.

SPEAKER_02 8:28

What I know and what I command are not mutually exclusive. Do as I say or for what?

SPEAKER_01 8:36

You'll continue standing there holding that swording correctly? Sheath your blade and prolong your life, Myrmidon.

SPEAKER_06 8:43

How dare you? I will You'll do nothing, Poseidon, except escort our guests to my sitting area now.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

Poseidon led Tomorrow to the sitting room of Achilles, closing the door when she was inside. The room was quaint yet comfortable, decorated with crushed leather furnishings and scented with perfumes and various candles.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

I see you're roughing it.

SPEAKER_06 9:19

Well, we weren't able to get my regular scented candles for this location, but what can you do?

SPEAKER_01 9:23

What is it you want, Patroclus? I don't have all day. My name is Achilles. No, it is not. You wear his armor, carry his sword, and use his name, but you are hardly Achilles. And I won't defile his name by using it on some half-rate leader that hasn't earned the right. Yes, that's it. Go ahead, Myrmidon. Do it. You've wanted to take me on since the split. Let's finally settle the argument of which of us is the best fighter.

SPEAKER_02 10:02

Achilles slowly sheathed his sword and sat on one of the plush furnishings in his sitting room. After a moment, Kamara did the same.

SPEAKER_06 10:14

I summoned you here because I captured two individuals who claim to be familiar with one of your clansmen. Who are they? A mage calls herself Lysa and a warrior who goes by the name of Cravax.

SPEAKER_02 10:26

Kamara's eyes grew wine, and Achilles noticed. Your eyes betray you.

SPEAKER_06 10:33

You know them, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 10:34

I've never met either of them.

SPEAKER_06 10:36

I don't know what you're talking about. It doesn't matter whether you admit to the truth. The point is they're here, and they claim to be on a mission of mercy for one they call Thamro.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

They speak of one of us as a single entity?

SPEAKER_06 10:48

Struck me as odd as well. Is one of yours missing? Kamara ignored the question and replied with one of her own.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

What did they say his full name was?

SPEAKER_06 10:57

I never said it was a man or a woman. But now I know for certain that one of yours that's missing is a man.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

Gamora glared at Achilles, who smiled in return.

SPEAKER_06 11:07

His name is Seth. Seth Famro.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

By the gods, he is alive.

SPEAKER_06 11:13

Well, Seth, whoever he is, is in dire straits. The mage and the warrior are looking for a cure to bring him out of a blood magic induced comatose state. He's also suffering some sort of memory loss. I'd be happy to release him into your custody. You can assist them in healing your comrade and live happily ever after.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

And this will cost me what exactly?

SPEAKER_06 11:34

You already know what I want.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

And you already know that I have no idea where he is.

SPEAKER_06 11:39

Lies. Thad trusted you more than he did anyone else. He trained you. It was his desertion that caused the split. The entire reason your so-called clan even exists is because of him. You know where he is, and if you want to recover your clansmen, you'll tell me where I can find him. Thad Bannon is just a man. He bleeds the same as you or I. Despite what the bards sing about him.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

I don't know anyone named Thad. I do know of the legendary Thamroow, though.

SPEAKER_06 12:08

For the love of Welcome, do even you call him that? The man slayed the beast of Amlin Row. How that got butchered into becoming known as Thamro will always be a mystery to me.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

Did he not earn the name like a true Myrmidin? Did he not kill what many believe to be unkillable?

SPEAKER_06 12:25

I suppose he did, to hear the bards tell it. How does that song go? The blood of the beast had stained his hands, he wiped them off on his chest and pants, and when the blood dried, you see, upon his chest it formed a T. I cut myself shaving the other day. Perhaps if I wiped it off on my chest I could get a cool nickname too. Your entire clan's identity is a mistake, literally.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

The mistake was when you decided to put on your cousin's armor and pretended to be something you are not. The legendary Thamro could have killed you, Patroclus. Remember? He bested you, and rather easily at that, if memory serves, but he chose to honor your cousin and let you live. You need to let this go.

SPEAKER_06 13:07

He needs to face me again. He needs to pay for his crimes.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

What crimes? Leaving the Myrmidons after Achilles died? How is that a crime?

SPEAKER_06 13:15

No one leaves the Myrmidons.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

No one left your cousin. We served him, not you.

SPEAKER_06 13:22

My cousin is dead. He left us, Kamara. Someone had to lead us, and who better than me? I'm his blood.

SPEAKER_01 13:29

And that is the only thing you have in common with him, Patroclus.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

The two warriors were silent for a moment. Achilles broke the silence.

SPEAKER_06 13:39

It would seem we're at an impasse. You want your comrade. I want Thad's location. What is it going to be?

SPEAKER_02 13:46

While this was going on, Cravax and Lysa remained prisoners inside of a holding cell within the Myrmidon compound.

SPEAKER_08 13:56

Okay, so gone. Alright, let's go.

SPEAKER_09 14:01

Leslie, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_04 14:04

Plotting our escape. Playing out the fight in my mind.

SPEAKER_09 14:08

Don't you think you might want to remove the iron chains from your wrists first? Your chains? You're free. Leslie, how did you do that?

SPEAKER_05 14:18

Say it with me.

SPEAKER_09 14:19

Well, there's still the matter of us being stuck in this cell.

SPEAKER_05 14:23

I've got a plan, babe.

SPEAKER_09 14:25

Oh, this should be entertaining.

SPEAKER_05 14:27

They've been rotating their guards every forty-five minutes or so. When the next switch happens, I want you to flirt with the guard. You're serious? Of course I'm serious. After you flirt with him, he'll walk over and I'll knock him out. He won't expect my ants to be free. I'll get his key. We'll get our weapons and horses and get out of here.

SPEAKER_09 14:46

Leslie, how am I supposed to flirt with the guard?

SPEAKER_05 14:49

I don't know. Flash him with your boobs or something.

SPEAKER_09 14:52

I see you've really thought this through.

SPEAKER_05 14:54

It'll work. Boobs always work, trust me.

SPEAKER_09 14:57

And what if the guard is a woman?

SPEAKER_05 14:59

Boobs will work. They're infallible.

SPEAKER_09 15:03

Ugh. Okay. Let's pretend for a moment that your ridiculous little plan actually works and we get out of here. We're a long way from familiar territory, and the myrmidons know these lands far better than we do. Even if we escape, it's risky.

SPEAKER_05 15:19

Have a little faith, babe. Life is risky. I would rather die trying to escape this prison camp, believing we were going to make it and spend another minute in this place, doubting the escape plan. We're the kid's only shot of getting out of the coma. Don't lose hope now. We've come too far.

SPEAKER_09 15:39

You're right. I'm with you, honey.

SPEAKER_05 15:42

Let me take a look at those silver chains. I can probably break those the same way I broke my iron ones.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

Before Lysa could respond, she noticed the guards changing shifts.

SPEAKER_09 15:53

Excuse me, sir.

SPEAKER_02 15:55

What do you want?

SPEAKER_09 15:56

I uh I need to use the facilities.

SPEAKER_03 16:00

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_09 16:01

What? Here? In my cell?

SPEAKER_03 16:03

What's the problem?

SPEAKER_09 16:04

Well, it's not exactly private. Not to mention there is no place to actually go.

SPEAKER_03 16:10

You were making all those veiled threats before, about bringing the whole forest down around our ears, mage. I'm sure you can manage to make a little business disappear.

SPEAKER_09 16:21

Those threats were hardly veiled, Myrmidon. That said, my wrists are bound with silver. Clearly I cannot do any magic. Can't you just let me use the bathroom, please?

SPEAKER_02 16:32

The guard sighed and then looked around, not noticing any other myrmidons.

SPEAKER_03 16:38

It's all right. You've got two minutes. If your boyfriend here makes any sudden moves when I open the door, I will got you, Mage. Is that understood?

SPEAKER_02 16:49

The guard removed the key to the cell and began walking towards the door. Inside the sitting area, Achilles and Kumara remained at an impasse. You want your comrade. I want Thad's location. What is it going to be? Before Kumara could answer, their meeting was suddenly interrupted.

SPEAKER_06 17:08

Sir, the prisoners are escaping. What? There's supposed to be a guard on duty there.

SPEAKER_02 17:13

They killed him. They're loose on the ground. Kumara smiled at Achilles.

SPEAKER_06 17:18

Stay here and keep an eye on her. I'll deal with this. And when I come back, Kumara, I'll deal with you.

SPEAKER_02 17:24

Achilles drew his sword and exited the sitting room. He looked around and saw nothing. With his ears, however, he heard the sounds of battle, and the sounds were less than promising. Inside of the sitting room, Kamara began easing her hand towards her blade of ill omen. Poseidonis drew his own blade at the movement. You might want to rethink that, deserta. In a flash, Kamara Thamil grabbed the wrist of Poseidon, twisted his sword arm backwards, snapping the bone, and then ran him through with his own blade. Kamara stepped easily over the fallen body of the dead Myrmidon and listened for the sounds of battle. If these prisoners knew where Seth was, he had to make certain they remained alive.

SPEAKER_09 18:53

What and leave you here to die? Even worse. If you survive this, I'll have to hear about it for the next thirty years.

SPEAKER_05 19:05

I don't go on about my victories that long.

SPEAKER_09 19:08

Have you met you?

SPEAKER_05 19:14

Not formally, but I hear I'm pretty damned good.

SPEAKER_06 19:17

Perhaps you'd like to give me that axe of yours now, Cravax.

SPEAKER_05 19:21

As much as I'd love to give it to you, I still have a lot more of your buddies to send to the nine. You're gonna have to wait your turn.

SPEAKER_02 19:29

Achilles raised his sword and instantly his fellow Myrmidon ceased fighting. From a short distance, Kumaro watched as things unfolded.

SPEAKER_06 19:41

I admit, I've been looking forward to this. Is that a fact? It is indeed. I wasn't sure if you were real or a myth, to be honest. Wait. Before today, you had heard of me. A man is accused of killing the wife of Provost, gets condemned to a life sentence in the arena, and then somehow survives as a gladiator in the Finn Dungeons for more than 20 years? There are few warriors who have not heard the name Kravax.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

Kravax looked at Lysa and smiled coyly.

SPEAKER_09 20:11

Oh, shut up, Leslie.

SPEAKER_06 20:12

If you can defeat me, then you're free to go.

SPEAKER_05 20:15

How do I know your myrmidon buddies here will honor your word after you're dead?

SPEAKER_06 20:19

You don't, but a true warrior wouldn't really be worried about that now, would he? Come, Kravax, let us see if what the bards say about you is true.

SPEAKER_02 20:28

Kravax watched as the Myrmidons formed a circle around him and Achilles. Lysa stepped back, fear shrouding her, wishing she could free her hands from her silver shackles. Gamara tensed up as she watched the events continue to unfold.

SPEAKER_05 21:01

This is the best you can do, Achilles.

SPEAKER_02 21:10

In a flash, Achilles spun, twirled his blade, and caught Cravenx across his chest. The Myrmidonis began to look nervously at each other. Achilles shook his head at them. No, my brothers, he is mine.

SPEAKER_05 21:25

What are you waiting for, sweetheart? Take your shot.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

Kravex then grabbed Achilles' sword arm by the wrist, twisted it, took Achilles' sword, and then removed Achilles' sword hand.

SPEAKER_06 21:46

It's over. Stand down and I'll let you live. Let me live? Myrmidons, take them all.

SPEAKER_02 21:53

Kill them both. The Myrmidons surrounded Kravex and Lysa with their shields ready and their weapons drawn. Lysa spied a woman hiding in the distance out of the corner of her eye. Kumara noticed that Lysa had seen her. She then pointed to the red T's on her gauntlets and mouthed the word Samro. Lysa nodded that she understood, holding up her chained wrists. Kumara nodded and gripped her bladed staff like a gentleman.

SPEAKER_05 22:23

What are you waiting for? Kill them! I don't think any of them want to end up like you, Myrmidon. Why not call your dogs off before somebody else gets hurt?

SPEAKER_06 22:33

Do I have to do everything myself?

SPEAKER_02 22:36

The Myrmidons eyed one another as Achilles stood to his feet, taking the blade from one of his fellow Myrmidons in his remaining hand and turning to strike at Cravax. At that very moment, Kumara hurled her weapon directly into the circle. Lysa raised her chains at just the right moment, and the sword snapped through them like butter.

SPEAKER_09 23:01

Wind, thunder, lightning, rain. Take me far and bring them.

SPEAKER_02 23:08

Lysa called down lightning from Elysium. At the exact same moment she caused the winds to carry Cravax and herself at least a mile away from the encampment. Achilles stood, gripping his arm, still feeling the pain from losing his hand. He turned to the Myrmidon next to him.

SPEAKER_06 23:29

I recognize that spell. They haven't traveled far. Take a detachment and find them.

SPEAKER_02 23:35

What about the Thamro?

SPEAKER_06 23:37

I'll deal with Kamara Thamro.

SPEAKER_02 23:39

But when Achilles turned to look for her, the only thing that remained of her was her weapon. The woman herself was gone. Achilles screamed in anger. He then bent down and collected his severed hand.

SPEAKER_06 23:55

Send word to a thousand years in the town of Twin Swords. I require healing again.

SPEAKER_02 24:02

He'll want the tribute.

SPEAKER_06 24:03

I am aware that he will want tribute. Just go now.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

The Myrmidon guard left Achilles and began making way to the city of the Twin Swords. Unbeknownst to him, a certain bounty hunter was also headed there seeking information about his wife. Cravex and Lysa landed hard in a forest clearing. No idea where they were. And what about Genekiss? She had been stabbed when we last saw her. What would Ursula do to her when she arrived in the mouth of hell? Don't worry, gentle listener, the answers are coming in the next exciting episode of Themro.