Prompt's for 2018 - 3. You should have seen me...

“You should have seen me.” Belus spread his arms almost losing his balance on the table he was standing on. “There I was surrounded by no less than five mer-guards. I’d already lost my sword and all I had was a short dagger to fend them off with.

“I feinted to the left.” He suited action to words and knocked someone’s ale over. “But, the one in front of me anticipated it and knocked me down. I got a knee ree to hit him, flipped him off me and got up, just in time to catch another jumping at me. We went back and force with the other four watching and calling out jeers.”

By this time the crowd was laughing at his antics and Belus was jumping from table to table. The tavern was full and Belus was staggering more and more as men plied him with drink to keep his entertaining tales coming.

“I barely escaped with my life and swam back down to the deep caverns to hide out and catch my breath. After I was sure they’d lost interest, I swam back up to try again at getting to the treasure. I got further this time. I got inside the treasure cave.” Belus dropped to a knee in front of a nearby man. “There were piles of gems everywhere. Of every color and size. There were holes in the cave ceiling and light was filtering down and shining on all the walls. Colors blended together to make new ones making a beautiful sight to behold. The lights fell directly onto a throne set in the center of the room. Unfortunately, it was then I realized that the throne was occupied.” Belus made an exaggerated sad face and the crowd laughed. “And that, my friends, is the end of my heroic tale, I ended my adventure in an underwater cell.”

The crowd roared with laughter and Belus slumped onto a bench with another cup of ale.

“How do you come up with all these tales?” one man asked.

Belus smiled. “They’re all the truth. I don’t have to make anything up.”

The man snorted. “Yeah, right, you’re a merman, and you swam to the bottom of the sea to fight with mer-guards? How did you breathe?”

“Like any other sea creature does.”

The man shook his head in disbelief and moved away muttering about crazy storytellers.

Closing came and Belus stumbled out with the other revelers. After making sure he wasn’t being flowed he headed down to the sea and waded in until he was able to dive under the cold waves.

Belus allowed his shift to take him and sighed in relief when the salt water started to soak into his skin and gills.

Soon all the alcohol was purged from his system and he felt ten times better. He swam for a while longer and then headed for home.

“Hey, dad,” He called as he floated into the entrance of a cave.

“In here, son.”

Belus followed the voice until he came into a large cavern and had to shade his eyes against the glare. Reds, oranges, and greens reflected back and force over the walls.

Once his eyes adjusted he lowered his hand and grinned at his father sitting on the largest chair in the room.

“So.” Poseidon smiled as he spoke. “How was your trip inland, my son.”

Belus made himself comfortable on a pile of soft cushions and helped himself to a cup of wine on a nearby table. “You should have seen me. There I was surrounded by men….”