i.i Learn to Let Go

There was a war inside of his mind.

One voice told him that in order to succeed in his task, he must gain the trust of men of a culture he had hidden. To get close to the man who fathered him. A man who had loved him. One who trained him and saw that he grew from a boy into a soldier. The father who would see his son be a proud Spartan soldier, but that day had never come.

He was betrayed as a boy by his own father. Throwing him from a cliff as if he was nothing but a disgrace. All because of some prophecy. They were young. They were just children! His own baby sister was no threat. Yet, they saw her as one. Alone in a world without proper guidance, Alexios found his own way in life. One would have never known that one day, Alexios would have to kill his own father.

Then, there was another voice that was not so silent in their endeavor to seek truth. When all would be revealed to him, like a riddle he needed to solve. A reason why he was going down this path. There was someone within the shadows guiding him and yet, mocking him because of a woman who had come from the sea. Her purpose made clear that she was to be a mother of his child. Not something he would have ever dreamed of and he would do everything within his own power to keep that from coming to pass.

How long would he keep that a secret before Dakota finds out? If she does, she will not be so considerate of those around her.

' She will hate me if I keep her purpose from being known to her.' He thought, unable to comes to terms with it himself. ' How will I tell her without her trying to kill me in the process?'

The smell of the passing rain storm had given relief to a cool breeze. The birds near the seashore were gliding gracefully with the wind blowing against their feathers. There was movement within the stronghold waiting for their chance to fight against their enemy. Blood will spill this day where two clashing armies will meet each other in battle. Victory will come to them; praying with all their strength to come to strike down those who oppose them. The god's choose the side of the victor, never the loser who will only suffer from their wounds. Even the wolves wait in the trees for their chance to devour the unlucky men who rush foolishly without armor. The birds will circle above the dead. The smell of rotting flesh will remain upon the land.

There was an anticipation that was yet to settle. Soldiers were heavily on guard in the distance. Generals were scrambling about, trying to keep their men in line. Desertion was not uncommon in times of war. Men would not want to fight for many reasons, but when their own comrades were dropping rapidly, they believe their enemy has hired a sword. Someone who hides within the shadows. One who works for money and cares not for whose side, as long as they paid big coin.

The dead Athenians were struck down with a clean wound. No one saw the shadow. No one knows his name. All they knew was that he was followed by an eagle and that the shadow killed without remorse.

It is not why chance that I have come across the roads of uncertainty. He thought to himself.

The night was rough. He had not slept, for he was tracking her down. Trying to find her when she had kept her tracks from being seen. Dakota was not one to walk away without being noticed. With Ikaros's cry, Alexios went out into the dark night to find the woman, he had come upon a dead end.

No sign of her. No sign of a struggle. There was nothing of Dakota. She just disappeared into the night. He could feel a heavy feeling of loss. A sense of weariness from having not slept and dreading his failure of not knowing what happened to Dakota. He felt a bit of anger- not for himself- but for her. Walking away in the night, knowing the danger that lurks within the land. The wolves that hunt down weak and weary prey.

Ikaros watched as his master and Phobos stood in front of a cave mouth. Listening to the wind blow inside. Echoes of water dripping from rocks to the ground below. Alexios believed that this was the last place Dakota was before she went missing. Could it be possible for her to have been captured without her fighting back?

No. She would have fight back, but there are no signs of a struggle. He looked to the eagle that was perched upon a tree branch. Looking down at him with his sharp eyes that could see far beyond any other bird of prey.


She could feel the pulse inside of her head pounding hard against her skull. Every nerve inside was sending jolts of pain and agony to every part of her body. Muscles underneath her skin were twitching and she was certain her legs have fallen asleep. The pins and needles were causing her even greater pain. The bruises on her body were healing, but she still looked a mess. One would look at her with disgust, but Dakota did not care for the gaze of men.

She felt stupid for her own actions the night before. How her nightmares woken her, hearing a voice calling out to her, and unable to control her body. Dakota was growing tired of strange occurrences happening to her without true reason. She was angered by her own stupidity at having to be a captive; not by the choice of her own.

"She could be a spy." Dakota raised her head to the sound of a man's voice outside the tent. Her eyes were staring at the ground beneath her, fighting off sleep and the nightmares that come to her when she did not feel that safety that was the confines of her small room she shared with the horses. When danger was present, she had to stay vigilante. There was no room for error in a place such as this. Being the only woman in a stronghold of men, Dakota had to comply by their rules and standards. Only speak when spoken too; as much as that was an annoyance for a modern-day woman. Their rules were strict, but she was treated fairly without any harm coming to her. Though, it did not stop the men from talking about her or even staring at her.

Their eyes looked on in curiosity at the woman that was being escorted into their stronghold. She looked battle worn from the head down. She did not slouch or had a defeated look, like that of their enemies. Dakota had to keep her pride and dignity.

"The woman is a witch." One soldier had said.

"I hear she had run away from her master. Have you seen the bruises? She does not look like the Athenian women. Could she be a sister of Sparta? Why would Stentor keep her bound?" The young man standing by the gate on guard duty said to his comrade.

"Could she be an omen of the gods?" Another spoke.

"I heard she was found alone near the mouth of a cave. She might be a runaway Amazon that found her way in the midst of war. Maybe she is not an omen, but a sign of good will. Amazon's are said to be fierce in battle. The gods will grant us victory." This coming from a young Spartan who was seeing war for the first time. Dakota had heard them talk about her as if she were invisible. Many claimed her to be something she was not.

Dakota was just a regular woman; caught in a world she knew she did not belong in. She shouldn't even exist in this world, but every logical possibility about time travel was already fucked. All Dakota could do at this point was go through the motions of following a set-in stone path. A path she hated from the beginning since it dwelled into one of war and death. The moment the grey-eyed man took her blood, Dakota wanted to find reason. She was pissed off and angry, but the man still haunted her dreams.

"The gods only sent one woman. She looks a warrior, but she looks useless. She is thin. Her hair to wild to be considered an Amazonian." A soldier mocked. There was a hint of bitterness within his voice, as if, he already knew that Dakota was this weak and worn woman.

How could they say she was nothing when others claimed her to be this or that?

Then again, they had every right to be cautious of her. Whether they believe her to be a spy or some made-up story, Dakota would have to comply with the rules of war. Being a captive meant that she had to do everything within her being to survive until she was either let go or death. Seeing as the option of death was not in their playing cards, Dakota had hoped for the latter. Even if the odds were against her right now, no man would put a sword through her chest.

The more she thought about her ordeal, it was becoming clear that sooner or later, she would come face to face with Alexios. She could almost imagine the look of disappointment upon his face and possibly scold her about her disappearance. Not that she had a choice in the matter because of her fucked-up dreams and the voices calling to her sub-conscience. Best to just wait it out until her 'oh-so, rescuer' comes to her aid. The thought almost made her gag in resentment.

You are pathetic. She thought to herself.

Very pathetic.

"Spies would try to plead for their life. A woman would try to trick a man into freedom." Dakota ignored them further into their conversation. They would lose interest shortly once they realize that Dakota was not going to beg or plead for freedom. Never in her life would she had known that this was the outcome of her choices. The cards were stacked against her at this point.

What did the gods have against her? Gods.

"Soldiers who stand about and chatter can lead to spilled information." Dakota knew that voice. Was it possible to already loathe someone's voice the moment it was heard?

You did not choose this. Someone had chosen this path for you.

As much as she wanted to yell, Dakota did not have the strength to fight back against some invisible force tugging and pulling her in the direction they wanted her to go to. If Dakota wanted to go left, they would push her right and down a winding road.

She was getting tired and frustrated. Dakota had to fight back, but it was hard to fight when you did not know who was controlling you. Every step was calculated. What did they want from her?

What use am I, when I always end up getting hurt or get close to death? My own blood, even it had more use than myself. She moved her aching legs close to her chest. Placing her chin on her knees, Dakota was in an uncomfortable state. Her bones were aching in all places. Her hands were tied behind her back, making finding a comfortable position impossible. The rope was was digging into her skin. Irritating her skin almost raw. Dakota tried her best to loosen the rope, but it would get a bit tighter, even if she wanted to scratch away the irritation.

To make matters worse, the sun was high in the sky.

She did not sleep that night.

The many thoughts that were circling within her mind had kept her awake. Her body would jolt itself awake before she could close her eyes, but she could not feel at ease just yet. Not that there was danger within the stronghold of the Spartan army. It was what was outside the walls that lurked in the shadows that caused great unease within Dakota's mind. Whatever had lead her to that cave was trying to lure her into unquestioned territory.

It was coming to a point where she was afraid to even trust sleeping alone without someone watching over her. She was going to go crazy at some point with her dreams becoming all to real.

She could hear the sound of light chatter on the other side of the tent she was in. The sea wind blowing the flaps, opening slightly to let the air circulate with the smell of burning meat that made her stomach growl in hunger. Smacking her lips together to wet them with her tongue, Dakota moved away to block her view of the outside.

It was hard for her to sleep. Her dreams were showing images that disturbed her from within. Seeing her father standing right in front of her; not a single ounce of love left within the hollow shell of his body. The very man Dakota had known since she was born.

She did not know why she needed to fight those she loves. The confusion of that nights dream was causing her head to spin. It was frustrating to Dakota that she, not only had to fight when she was awake to survive in this world, but also had to fight in her dreams.

It was a life she knew too well.

Her blurry eyes looked around the tent that was too large for just one person to occupy. Decorated with linen that could be worth a soldier's pay and armor that could shine under the sun. Dakota let out a frustrated sigh as she kicked at the air. The ache within her body sent a jolt of pain through her leg.

"Thought by now you would plan your escape. I was wrong to think you would do something to cause harm to yourself, now that I can see the bruises on your skin." Dakota did not pay much mind to the voice of the man who she had encountered the night before. The way he talked had an arrogant air that surrounded him as he walked with authority in his step. Was he trying to intimidate Dakota into being scared?

"Escaping would do me no good. I have learned that it is better to cooperate with your captives then to anger them. Maybe then, the captors would not bring harm to their captive." She spoke as she gave the man a lop-sided grin. The dark circles underneath her eyes were indicators to him that she had yet to sleep. The bruises on her body were still visible in the morning light.

"Better to be in the confines of safety then what lies out there." She looked to the flaps of the tent. The man looked as well, but saw nothing that could signify itself as a danger to her. What was she referring too, that scared her so?

"You think you are safe here? Surrounded by Sparta's trained soldiers; a threat of war in the distance? You must be speaking nonsense if you think you are safe." Dakota could see the impatience within the man. He thought that he could just waltz inside the tent and expect Dakota to speak freely about last night.

"War is the least of my concerns if you were me. But what does one know about safety when all your life, you have been trained for war?" Dakota stated with a clenched jaw. Her eyes fierce as they stared at the man standing before her. If she wasn't bond by the wrist with her hands tied behind her back, she would point her finger. The anger within her was boiling with this interrogation, but she had to remain as calm as she could right now. Her life was hanging by the hands of this man.

"A woman's place should not be asking such questions to a soldier. Clearly, as it seems, you have fought with the bruises upon your skin." He said.

"A woman's place? Does one expect me to cry and plead for mercy when there is something much bigger then a war between men? Do no make me laugh, because I am rather dry on the humor." Dakota moved an inch towards the man. Even though she was still on the ground, sitting with her back straight, she made a small jolt towards him. Dakota may be in pain and with the lack of sleep and food- she just wanted to be left alone.

"I expect you to answer why you were alone at night near a cave. The bruises on your skin and face have a story to tell, and in a war, enemies are everywhere. Even women can be an enemy if she has slept around enough." Dakota's eye twitched angrily. Her fists and jaw clenched tightly, holding back all the anger she had bottled up. The moment she spoke out, she was ready to face all the consequences- no matter the punishment. No one had the right to say such disgusting thing about her.

He could accuse her of being a spie all he wants. The soldiers could see her as an enemy. They could talk down about her and eye her bruises; talking among themselves about her true origins until the sun goes down, but no one should ever dare accuse Dakota of sleeping around. Not when she had too much troubles in a world that was against her.

Dakota opened her mouth to retort with anger- she was gonna cuss at this man, but her words would only fall empty when the flaps of the tents opened wide to let in a man that held much higher rank and seemed familiar to Dakota. He was an older man, but he looked physically fit for someone of his age.

There was an authoritative stature about him. He was also dressed in war armor, but it was easy to pick him out in a crowd of regular soldiers, as this man was someone of importance in the Spartan army. Dakota's anger had ceased for the moment when the older man walked inside of the tent. She was too focused on the man that her thoughts went blank.

What was it that was so familiar to her?

Officers.

She thought bitterly. I fucking hate officers.