Chapter 47

Life in the Empire/the 3rd crusade part 2

Far away from the political Centre of the Empire in the Lands of Anatolia lay a large estate owned by the Greek family originally from Achaea, they were Loyal Imperial Citizens the Father ran a Merchant Fleet while the Mother ran the Estate.

The son was a 13-year-old boy called Lysander Ioannou he was desperate to Join the Imperial Army he wanted to Fight against the Crusaders even thought the Crusaders never got as far as Anatolia by Athena they never made it past Crete.

Now while Lysander wanted to Join the Military, he wasn't the only child in this family he had an older sister called Rhea who was the head prestress of the local Cult of Kassandra Temple at the age of 22 she was deeply religious.

It was the same for many families across the Empire Lysander had an uncle in Kassandria who was a Mage he had made his fortune as a part time trader while doing his main job as a teacher that after 6 years of teaching he requested permission to become a full time trader it was approved.

Now he was once of the Wealthiest men in Kassandria importing exotic goods from India and Japan as well as exporting Goods from his family's Farm in Anatolia, in all Life was good for the citizens of the Empire.

However, on that day Lysander saw something truly horrifying to him his best friend's father who had an estate Next to his family's talking to a group of cloaked men, at first, he thought it was just a group of Misthios hiring them for a job.

That changed when he saw one of the men's swords its pommel was marked with the Templar Cross Lysander had no choice, he ran all the way to the Port just over 2 miles from his Home to the Local Garrison commander.

Needless to say, the commander wasted no time in marshalling his troops to ride out to the estate while also sending a squad to secure the Ports owned by the supposed traitors while he took Lysander back home with them.

(Papadakis Estate Anatolia)

With the Group of Templars hidden in his home Adonis Papadakis began to breath normally he knew what would happen to him and his family if they were found out, the Immortal Queen was a just ruler to her people until you betrayed that trust.

And that is exactly what he was doing he was committing Treason against the Empire using his Ports his Brother in Kassandra's Ships the entire Papadakis Clan would be Declared enemies of the State because of his crimes.

The doors to his home were smashed open followed by Spartan Infantry units. "What is the meaning of this outrage do you know who I am!". He yelled at the Spartan Troops only to see the garrison commander his sword drawn.

"Adonis Papadakis, in the name of her majesty Queen Kassandra you are under arrest for high treason." Looking at his 4 battlemages the commander ordered them to capture or kill the Crusaders hiding downstairs.

To the Locals they witnessed the Spartan troops dragging out the Papadakis family and 4 crusaders in chains before tossing them onto carts for transportation to Sparta to face the Queens justice young Lysander was given a bag of 1000 Drachma with a note from the Queen.

My dear Lysander I thankyou for your loyalty to the Crown and Empire, you do your Mother's Bloodline proud I remember your Ancestor The Wolf of Sparta well upon your 15th Nameday I invite you to come and study at the Imperial naval Officer academy in Athens or should you wish to join the imperial army I invite you to come to Imperial Officer academy in Sparta.

Until that day may the gods of Olympus watch over you and your family.

I remain

Queen Kassandra Agiad

The Immortal Queen of the Spartan Empire

Pharaoh of Egypt

Queen consort of Themyscira.

It turns out the Crusaders plan had been to cause chaos deep within the Spartan Empire and force Kassandra to pull troops from the front lines including naval forces making the front weaker. The Papadakis clan was brought to trial the clan in Anatolia were found guilty of High Treason and sentenced to Death.

While the branch in Kassandria were heavily fined as no proof could be found of their involvement it might have also helped that once he heard of his brother's treason, he publicly disowned him before the entire Royal Court.

In 1190 AD the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor launched an attack on the Northern Spartan Border his Grand Army was a combined Total of 100,000 men as they marched towards the Border fort guarding the only land-based entry to the Balkans.

The Spartan Defenders were Commanded by Princess Donna Agiad leading an army of 90,000 Imperial Troops the Siege of Fort-Justice lasted 3 months leading to Heavy Causalities on Both sides however on the 3rd month Donna saw the Emperor himself inspecting his defences firing one of her Amazonian Arrows dipped in poison her arrow found its mark in the Emperors abdomen.

He died 3 days later effectively breaking his Armies Moral in total 15,000 imperial troops died defending there Empire while the Holy Roman Empire suffered just over 40,000 casualties, the two sides would occasionally but heads but with the Loss of King Richard of England's Support and the Death of the Holy Roman Emperor the war would not last much longer.

The 3rd Crusade ended in the year 1192AD when Spartan Forces attacked the City of new-Jerusalem under the Command of Princess Diana, destroying the Crusader army presence in that Region a peace deal was signed in the city 2 days later allowing Spartan forces to withdraw from the Region back across the Athenian-Line to Imperial Territory.

(Modern Timeline)

Sparta 1993

Kassandra read the report her Spies in England had sent her it made her shake her head in disappointment the Rat Peter Pettigrew had escaped from Azkaban Prison and was now on the loose in Brittan undoubtably Looking for his Master not out of loyalty but for protection.

If Kassandra knew anything from these reports of her Family her former Godfather would hunt him to Hades and back for a chance of Revenge for many years after her supposed Death Sirius had thrown himself into work hunting down dark wizards across Britain and other ICW member-states the once funny and master pranker cared for nothing but revenge until he was cornered one day in the office by Amelia Bones and had the sense knocked into him.

Kassandra could easily find Peter if she wanted to but refused the gods had a plan and she had agreed to follow it despite her power even she would not disagree with the Gods of Olympus and deep down she really didn't care about her Old life.

After over 2000 years of life Kassandra really had no memoires of her birthparents or her Godfather so it made her wonder every so often did, she really want them in her Life after all this time? she could only wait and see.

(Authors note: hey people hope you like the chapter until next time.

Revan Shan 2077