The dark head slowly rose, followed by the rest of the large, powerful body. Kneeling for an hour or more did not come easy when one's legs were not human but goat. Sotirios groaned softly as he stretched, his hands rubbing over his face and his closely trimmed beard. Prostration was easier, but he felt a personal touch to his prayers, such as making things hard for himself, would ensure they were heard and answered. The grapes, peaches and oranges were from his orchard and vines and the flowers from his garden. However, this was not Dionysus' temple, but Aphrodite's. He had already made his devotion to Dionysus, now he petitioned the goddess of love. Above all else in his life, Sotirios desired to be loved for himself.
Whether he was called satyr or faun made no difference to the lonely man. The perception was always the same; a salacious, sexually rampant follower of Dionysus. In his youth, he had taken part in the orgies that followed monthly devotions and he had enjoyed male and female company. However, although one might enjoy a romp with a satyr, you did not marry one. Sotirios knew he was easily attractive enough to entice any number of shepherds or maidens. It made him out of step with his contemporaries who simply sought gratification in whatever shape it came and as often as possible.
Sotirios had met Aphrodite on one of his visits to Olympus with Dionysus. He had found her to be beautiful, charming and intelligent, if somewhat remote. Remoteness seemed a trait that was common amongst the goddesses. He had met Hera once, who had remained distant, and Athena, goddess of wisdom and the arts who let him occasionally visit her library on Olympus. Sotirios was proud of his own collection of poetry and prose. Athena, like Dionysus and Aphrodite, knew of his wish for love as he ensured he petitioned them all. But, as yet, he remained as lonely as ever.
He was aware of the impending appearance of a god by a displacement of air that he and his kind were sensitive to. A second or two later Aphrodite stood before him. Sotirios bowed low, wondering what occasioned a personal appearance from the beautiful goddess.
"I have a job I would like you to undertake for me, Sotirios," she said. Her tone suggesting it was less of a request and more of a command.
Not that Sotirios would have presumed to have refused, but he was given little choice. A hand clasped his shoulder.
"Come with me," Aphrodite said.
Sotirios steeled himself for transporting to Olympus. It was not an unpleasant sensation, but could leave one slightly dizzy and disorientated, especially the first time. As his stomach settled, he realised that had not materialised in, but outside, a temple. Glancing around, he saw Dionysus heading towards his personal temple and received a careless wave from him which he returned. He realised Aphrodite was waiting with an inscrutable look on her face. He followed her as she headed to her temple. He was surprised to see Athena already there, peering intently into a scrying mirror.
"Good choice," she said tersely, glancing up and taking in the figure of the satyr behind the other goddess. "Come here and look, Sotirios," she commanded.
Sotirios took his place at Athena's side and gazed into the shifting images the crystal displayed. He gasped at the picture of a young man of breath-taking beauty. The youth's glossy hair was straight to his shoulders, his eyes were a deep liquid brown, his cheekbones high and sculptured and his lips the perfect shade of pink to compliment his olive-toned skin. He growled as he saw the young man accosted by two rough men. He could see them taunt him and then catch hold of him as the beauty struggled. He tried to rise to his feet, but a hand on his shoulder from Aphrodite held him immobile. The mirror rippled and the next vision showed the youth with a bruised cheek and lightly swollen eye.
"The attack was in the past, Sotirios," Athena explained. "Akakios awoke to be tended by a passing matron whose 'sudden appearance must have chased away his attackers'. In reality, the matron was Aphrodite and I ensured his assailants will hurt no one else," Athena added with a growl.
"Why show me this?" Sotirios asked. "How could they hurt such an exquisite beauty?"
"Because they sought to possess him and it was not his desire to be a possession. Many assume because he is so beautiful he has little intelligence or will lie with any who use flattering words. Akakios is a very intelligent young man. He is on a pilgrimage which will terminate at my temple close by your home, Sotirios," Aphrodite explained. "We cannot watch over him all the time and do not want him hurt again. I thought you would be a good travelling companion for him and to bring him safely to my temple."
"He seeks one willing to look beneath the surface and see him for who he really is," Athena added, watching the satyr from the corner of her eye.
"He would never trust a satyr to escort him," Sotirios said, looking from one goddess to the other. Whilst he did not want to openly refuse their request, he could not help feel that to force him to travel with such an exotic and beguiling beauty when he ached for love was a cruel request.
"If you do not trust him to accept you as a friend when a satyr, Sotirios, then I can ensure you look human except between the hours of midnight and dawn."
Sotirios gave a silent mental sigh. It seemed he was the goddesses' choice and no amount of squirming on his part would get him off this particular hook.
"All you desire of me is to accompany him, ensure he is protected?" Sotirios asked, wanting the scenario clear in his mind.
"Exactly," Aphrodite said. "You won't quite have the same strength as you possess as a satyr when in human form, but you'll be stronger than most humans. That is, if you wish Akakios to only know you as a man?"
Sotirios had a feeling he was being tested in some way, but his mind was in a whirl and he nodded absently. He wanted this task completed as quickly as possible. Even as his head moved, he experienced a strange sensation throughout his body. He stared almost uncomprehendingly at the human legs that supported him. He glanced into a wall-mounted mirror and saw a strange, saturnine human visage staring blankly at him. He retained his dark curly hair and beard, but his horns were gone, his body was still large and furred, but it was human. He took a couple of wobbly steps.
"You may find the legs ache as well as needing to get used to walking in them," Aphrodite said curtly. "However, if you prefer...?"
"No, no, they will suffice. I will learn to use them. It is only for a couple of days?" Sotirios added worriedly.
"For as long as it takes you both to reach my temple," Aphrodite stated. "Your speed of walking may be compromised. "
Sotirios was more certain than ever he had failed the goddesses in some way and yet he was undertaking their task. Athena no longer looked at him and Aphrodite's face was a closed book. Closing his eyes as she reached for him, Sotirios sent a prayer for guidance to Dionysus.
****
Akakios moved slowly closer to the faint cries for help. He moved cautiously in the wooded area, straining his eyes and ears for anything that suggested a trap, but saw and heard nothing out of place. When he reached the small clearing, he circled it carefully. The man seemed genuinely trapped, but it paid not to be careless. He hefted a large branch before advancing on the hapless man.
"Please don't hurt me," Sotirios pleaded. As soon as he was capable of walking with his human legs, Aphrodite had left him here, his foot trapped underground with a root pinning it. He had expected Akakios' company a couple of hours earlier and his throat was hoarse from shouting. He was immortal as a satyr, but had not thought to ask how appearing as a mortal would affect him in other ways than a lessening of his physical strength.
Akakios felt a strange connection to the man as he spoke. It was almost as if an inner voice was encouraging him to trust him. He had never felt such a feeling for another before and it made him lower the branch and advance a few more steps before self-preservation kicked in and he stopped, listening intently.
