Chapter 2
Sparta
481BCE
18 year old Kassandra Agiad was one of the youngest Spartans to pass here final test at 15 years, she was the pride of Sparta loved by everyone from citizens to Helots.
Things had changed over the years her Grandfather had passed on and her father was now King of Sparta she also had a little brother whom she adored, little pleistarchus loved his big sister she was a warrior like father but she also read and sang to him.
Many Spartans have fond memories of the prince at the age of 7 running to his sister as she returned from patrol with her troops Kassandra laughing picking him up and carrying him back to the palace.
But recently Kassandra had been distant from her family she had been having dreams horrible dreams and it worried her, and just when she believed everything was fine word came that the Persian army had been gathering near the city of Byzantium a powerful Greek colony if it fell to the Persians they would have a powerful foothold for an invasion of Greece.
Leonidas was with his wife as they watched there daughter from afar they were worried for her she never came to dinner she stayed out on patrols with her troops or with Ikaros.
"Talk to her husband" Gorgo said to her husband squeezing his hand looking directly into his eyes.
Walking up behind her he was impressed with her reflexes as she had quickly turned to face him spear ready to strike. He smiled "fine form Kassandra a true spartan warrior is always ready for battle even at home"
He sat next to her and for over an hour they said nothing even Ikaros was just relaxing on a branch near them, " you've been having nightmares haven't you Kassandra" Leonidas said calmly but with a small hint of worry in his voice the last time Kassandra was like this his father had passed away. What he did not expect was for Kassandra to hug him with tears dripping from her eyes,
"Father I fear war is coming to Greece a war in which you won't comeback I saw you die on the battlefield alongside hundreds of Spartans "
Well that was something he did not see coming holding her tightly he gave her time to calm "I am sorry father I should not show weakness like that a true Spartan does not show weakness"
Her father gave a small laugh.
" when a true Spartan is with her father showing emotion is not a weakness, you are a strong Spartan warrior my daughter but you are still my little girl, now come your mother will be wondering why we are not home yet".
A week later Kassandra was at the training yard when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her she smiled turning to the Spartan boy her age, "hello to you to Astinos you're in a good mood"
Astinos son of king Leonidas captain of the royal guard and her childhood friend they had become very close over the years and were no seeing each other had it been 20 years ago they would never have been allowed together but the rules had been abolished they had shared their first in Kassandra's Chambers.
Smiling at his love he kissed her cheek "of course every day I see you is makes the day worth it after-all when the woman you love makes Aphrodite look like a commoner you have something to be excited about.
The other Spartans laughed when Kassandra slapped him around the back of the head he had a cheeky grin on his face as he trapped his spear and began training Kassandra was overseeing the training of her personal soldiers though she seemed in a far better mood.
2 months later
Messina
Greece
A large group of bandits had been launching successful raids in the area it made Sparta look week and Kassandra was not going to let that stand the helots in the area had told her the group was going to raid an important lumbar yard her force was ready unlike the standard Spartan army not all of her soldiers were hoplites.
Out of her 1000 solders only 600 were hoplites 200 were archers the other 200 were mounted horsemen they wore the same armour as the hoplites but when they charged your flanks it was a beautiful sight to see.
"General the bandits are taking to the field all 3000 of them ha good enough odds for any Spartan" came the response of one of her horsemen she smiled Turing to her men she gave a bloodthirsty grin.
"These fools dare challenge us they believe they have a chance well let's show them what happens when you choose poorly, ready men? For glory for Sparta!"
The sounds of the Spartan chant echoed across the battlefield AHOOO AHOO AHOO!
The lines were drawn the bandits may have had the numbers but no real skill or tactics giving the signal her archers let lose volley after volley striking there targets who kept running staring at the Spartan shield wall,
Kassandra right in the middle yelled to her troops, "give them nothing! but thank from them everything earn your shields boys"
It was a massacre they fell to Spartan spears and arrow fire no matter what they did the Spartan phalanx would not break.
Kassandra was in her element her blood sang for battle bandit upon bandit fell to her spear she needed to break the fools, "Ikaros Now!" She yelled to her friend who took to the air heading towards the hills on the eastern half of the battlefield.
To the bandits horror the eagle came back but behind him were hundreds of Spartans on horse pack there spears pointed right at them, the bandits that were stupid enough to turn to face the horsemen were killed by the Phalanx that they were already fighting for those who were out of range of the spears were cut down by the archers or run down by the horsemen.
3 hours of fighting only 300 bandits were left standing on there knees before the Spartan princess and her troops. One of her officers turned to her "general what shall we doo with them" Kassandra pondered she had lost 42 Spartans in this battle while a small loss it was still a loss.
While killing them was a good plan it would make their punishment to quick, giving the bandits an evil grin she turned to her troops "escort them to the mines they are now helots to Sparta and will work till they die".
authors note: hey guys hope you like chapter 3 its a bit of a time jump but hey I want to get to the war with Persia
next chapter will be up soon.
Revan Shan 2077
