The meeting I had with the leader of Megara went well, despite their loyalty to their other allies such as Sparta, Micheal and the rest of Megara had a bigger and more prominent problem to deal with. Namly Corinth.
The two city states had gone to war, as Michael explained Sparta refused to intervene as they had bigger problems to deal with, and that they were officially allied with both of the two warring city states. So Megara, realizing the strained relations between Athens and Corinth petitioned for our aid. Nicias, the other representative of Athens, and I made a case for Megara to exit the Peloponnesian league, a form of alliances ruled over by Sparta for the sake of time was what it was, this action caused even more strife between Athens and Sparta and I had barely returned to Athens when I heard that it was war.
The first part of the Peloponnesian war was quiet for me, I was stationed inside of the city of Athens for reserve duty. I was okay with this as it meant I had more time to drill the small regiment of cavalry I was in charge of.
Onias, on the other hand, had mixed feelings on it. After news of of the Athenian defeat at Tanagra had reached Athens Onias began to grow detached, almost somber. I remember one particular instant where he failed to sound a charge.
I gritted my teeth, of course this wasn't a real battle and it wasn't as if failing to sound a charge would be the worst mistake on the field of battle, but still, I couldn't help but be irritated by this.
After practicing drill the two of us returned to the manor we grew up in we're my sister was waiting fo us.
"Your late." she said greeting us outside of the main entrance.
"I apologize," I said casting a glare at Onias, "there was a little bit of a mishap today."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes clearly suspicious of that excuse but didn't mention the matter again.
"Whatever, diners ready." She said leaving us in the middle of the foyer.
I sighed taking my place at the head of the table, our father had died only a few days before Onias and I left on our mission so it was a relatively new feeling of power and control. The council had given him a proper funeral on the day before the two of us departed giving me not a lot of time to mourn.
The intoxicating aroma of the dinner made by my sister, or more likely the servants who remained in employment, brought me back to the present, pork marinated in an olive oil sauce served with a goblet of aged red wine.
Annabeth looked at the two of us a look of disappointment spreading across her face. Guess what I've heard from Eriboea."
I raised an eyebrow while Onias mocked rolled his eyes, "Annabeth partaking in gossip? What has the world come to."
I cleared my throat glaring at Onias, sure gossip wasn't the most socially acceptable usage of ones free time, but it's not as he was one to speak.
"Anyway," Annabeth said ignoring Onias's earlier comment while slicing the piglet into thin strips "she told me that the same rank in the navy gets paid more than a land commission." Annabeth said letting that sink in before she passed the platter with the piglet n it to Onias, "Now I understand your predicament Onias," she said barely looking at the man, "However it seems with our father's reputation and your advanced educational status," she said turning to face me her normally calm grey eyes seemed to penetrate my soul. "You could have been a captain of your own ship."
I took the platter that Onias had passed me an turned my gaze towards the piglet to avoid looking into her eyes. "We already have a large enough navy, the only city state that would dare attack us via the sea is Corinth, and they had Megara to deal with."
"Still," Annabeth sighed, "four drachma a day isn't very much."
I rolled my eyes, while it was true it was nowhere near what we used to make when father was alive, four drachmas a day was more than what the average Athenian would make in a week.
"I guess it can't be helped." Annabeth said rising from the table, "besides, you said you were going to teach me how to ride today.
I almost choked on an olive pit, sure I told her that, but only as a means to get her off of my back about finding a wife. The most aggravating thing about that discussion was how it started as my father trying to get her married. I didn't really care all that much either way but agreed with father for the sake of obedience, as soon as father and I told her that she should try to settle down she's been bugging me constantly to teach her how to ride.
"Can it wait until tomorrow?" I asked rubbing my brow desperately trying to find a way out of spending any more time with either of them.
Annabeth narrowed her eyes smoothing her peplos "is it by any chance to meet up with a Kyrios of a girl you fancy?"
I gritted my teeth knowing one way or the other that there was no easy way out of this, fine I said pushing the silver away before standing up. "Do you mind if i take Highlander I asked Onias who was still engaged with the meal. "No, but dont you think Annabeth should start off on a less… rambunctious horse.
I saw Annabeth's eyes sparkle at this but I waved my hand, "it's fine Onias, I'll be taking Highlander, Annabeth can take Onyx."
Onias raised an eyebrow at this, "Your letting someone else ride your horse?" I shrugged his surprise off, "Onias, just because I won't let you ride her, doesn't mean I won't let my sister ride Onyx
Onias feigned a look of betrayal, clasping his hands over his heart before returning his attention back towards the food in front of I gave my sister a brief rundown on how to control and handle a horse I took her on a test ride down to the neerbye my sister was getting the hang of things, remarkably fast, I was busy keeping Highlander on the trail, Onias and I had ridden on this trail multiple times before, that being one of the reasons i took it, i figured Onyx would have the route memorized in her muscles by now, Highlander would always find a new path to try to follow instead.
While Highlander had more raw strength and stamina then other horses, by far, I prefered a calm and alert horse.
"So about the war." Annabeth asked as she rode up next to me "who do you think will win?"
I grimaced as I gripped Highlander's reins tighter than I had been previously, "I assume you want an unbiased opinion?"
Annabeth nodded, of course she did.
"I'm not sure, Sparta has a foothold in Boeotia if they press on the attack things could end badly."
Annabeth stayed riding next to me, both of us were silent for a couple of minutes before she broke the silence. "Hey if we do loose that would free up some time for you to teach me archery or find yourself a wife."
I groaned pressing my left hand against my forehead, sure spending time with her was fun, sometimes, but not when the only things she wants to talk about are me getting married, or her learning how to better stab things. "Come on." I said turning Highlander around, "it's getting late, and I want to finish up going over the training regime tomorrow before I hit the sack."
"Fine." Annabeth responded but make sure it's not too long, the servants get annoyed if they don't know how long their going to have to keep the food prepared for."
I chuckled a bit at this and the two of us rode back to our manor together.
The average pay for a public servant was one drachma a day, so I bolstered it up a bit for a higher office and in the military. Plus two twos make four.
A Kyrios was the head of a household in ancient Athens, they would tell her potential suitors that he was allowing the female relative, usually their daughter, to be married.
Thank you for listening to this and for those of you who know more about this than me feel free to flame me and question my worth as a person with an interest in history. Just for misinterpreted historical facts I do have feelings. Even though as this series continues some of you may begin to doubt this.
