Eros's hooves pounded against the dirt path with the power of a thousand men. They rode hard, and they rode fast, fighting off death and his hungry demons. Aleera had one arm secured tightly around Thaletas, and she could feel his body becoming limp and cumbersome as they rode on. They weren't far from where her ship was docked, and he only needed to reach it, then she would be able to save him.
The night gave way to complete darkness, giving Aleera the cover she needed to slip through the countryside unseen. She spurred her horse, urging him to run faster down the dirt path. Just over the hill, she could see the mast of her ship standing like a beacon in the night.
"Stay with me, Spartan." She commanded in a harsh tone, "You must stay awake."
Thaletas's body grew heavy, leaning back into Aleera for support. He didn't respond to her verbally but simply groaned in response.
"Aceso," Aleera whispered, "Goddess of health and healing, I ask for your help, heal Thaletas as you have once healed us." She craned her neck and placed a soft kiss on top of Thaletas's head as she strengthened their embrace.
Thaletas sucked in a large breath of air, then exhaled slowly. He placed his hand over Aleera's supporting arm and gripped it tightly. He turned his head to the side and looked up at her, his brown eyes searching the shadows that surrounded her face. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a strange strength inside him. Just moments ago, he was closer to death than ever before, but now he felt as though he had a second chance, something that he would not take for granted.
As they reached the top of the pass, the majesty of Aleera's ship was revealed. It wasn't a large ship, but it had two masts that varied in size and flew dark-colored sails. The smallest sail was utterly bare except for the brilliant white outline around it. The larger sail, however, was decorated with a symbol depicting the seal of the Goddess Hecate. The emblem was outlined in the same vibrant white as the smaller sail and resembled a woman, praising the full and crescent moons in front of a five-pointed star. Surrounding the symbol was a large circle outlined in a thick white paint that matched the surrounding edges.
Thaletas broke his gaze away from Aleera and instead focused on the ship. It was unlike any that he had ever seen and captivated his thoughts. He had heard stories about a boat that could sail on the sea and remain completely untouched by its elements, holding the same majesty as the day it was created. But that ship was only a legend, a fisherman tail spread across the islands to evoke fear and wonder into the hearts of young sailors, and unlike others, Thaletas was not naive enough to believe them.
As they descended towards the ship, Ikaros made his presence known with the sound of a loud screech. He flew swiftly over the riders, catching Aleera's attention. She looked up at him and smiled. He indeed was a magnificent sight to see, and his presence was certainly welcomed. He beat his wings faster and flew ahead towards the ship, drawing the attention of its crew towards Aleera.
The crew began to shout and cheer, for their fearless commander had returned from battle. There was one man that stood out from the celebration. He was taller than most of the crew and had the most muscle out of all of them. His hair was dark, slightly longer than Thaletas's, with more volume and texture. The sea breeze brushed stray curls away from his chiseled features and revealed a hint of excitement in his deep brown eyes. But that joy quickly turned into worry when he realized that there was not one, but two figures upon the Eros's back.
"Cicero!?" Aleera called urgently as she spurred Eros up the wooden dock.
"Aleera?!" The dark-haired man answered in a deep voice. He usually never addressed his commander in such a way, but the tone in her voice made the situation direr, and therefore formality was invalid. He grabbed the hilt of his sword, which was fastened around his waist, and weaved his way through the crew members until he reached the loading platform of the ship.
By the time Cicero had reached her, Aleera had already dismounted and was giving Eros the command to bow onto his knees.
"What happened?" Cicero asked in a heavy voice. He ran his hand down Eros's neck, taking note of how much blood was caught within his short hair. Cicero felt uneasy, a feeling that was only amplified by the sight of Thaletas, "by the gods." Rushing to Aleera's side, Cicero helped Thaletas off Eros's back and called for some of the crew to come to aid him.
Two men came running from the ship, eager and willing to help. But as soon as they came close, Aleera draped one of Thaletas's are around her and gave the men different orders. She pointed at one of them, "find some freshwater, and clean linen" she turned her attention to the other man, "and you," she said gruffly, as she straightened her posture, "Take care of Eros."
"Yes, Commander!" the men said in unison.
Aleera could feel Cicero's grey-colored eyes on her, but she didn't care for the thoughts nor his opinions on how she was choosing to handle her predicament. All she cared about at that moment was saving Thaletas, and if Cicero had any objections to it, she would have gladly listened to them after Thaletas was out of harm's way.
Cicero shook his head and let out a soft sigh. He gently placed Thaletas's free arm over his shoulder and led the way to the ship, where crew members were already clearing a path for them. Although he was concerned about the events that had led up to Thaletas's condition, Cicero knew his commander all too well to know that she would not share such details with him unless inclined to on her own. He could only pray that she sees his intelligence as beneficial and would share such secrets with him.
The trio made their way down to the belly of the ship. From the outside, The Spyro did not seem significant at all, but once you got below deck, it was as if the walls expanded, creating the illusion of space. They crossed the rows of cots and beds where the sailors slept, bound toward a secluded room at the end of the ship. As they approached, Aleera carefully slipped away from Thaletas and trotted towards the door.
"To Hates with whoever made this damn thing," She scoffed, pushing on the heavy wooden door.
Cicero stopped just before reaching her, "You realize you designed it, don't you?" he chuckled.
Aleera glared at him over her shoulder, even from underneath her hood, she had an intimidating stare. Aleera gritted her teeth and prepared to respond but hesitated when she heard soft laughter.
"Women are so much alike." Thaletas attempted to look up at Aleera but instantly regretted it, grabbing the right side of his abdomen in pain.
"You might live until the morning, Spartan" Cicero chuckled, "But with a tongue like that, you will have more than just your injuries to worry about." Cicero smiled a handsome smile at Aleera, but she did not accept it. Instead, she thrust the door open with a mighty shove and made her way inside.
The room itself was tidy, looking more like a study than a place where someone would sleep. It was dark, with only one lit candle as a source of light. Maps and scrolls sat neatly upon built-in shelves, in the far back of the room was a ledge that seemed to serve as a place to sleep, being covered with an assortment of pillows and blankets from every corner of the ancient world. There were only two other pieces of furniture in the room. A small writing desk that was tucked into the edge of the room and a rather large table that served as a centerpiece in the middle of the cabin.
As Cicero and Thaletas entered, Aleera rushed to clear off the table. She grabbed a vibrant blue pillow from the bed and rested it on the hardwood.
"Come on," she said rapidly, "We need to get him out of that '' Aleera jerked her head, ushering the men forward, her eyes fixated on Thaletas's leather armor.
Cicero led the injured man over towards the table, allowing him to lean against it for support. He looked down at Aleera, who had already sunken to her knees, rapidly untying the leather straps that held Thaletas's armor together. However, when she felt Cicero's burning gaze on her, her movements slowed. She looked up at him, her blue eyes barely visible in the shadows.
"The candles," Aleera said softly, pointing towards a row of assorted wax candles on the desk.
Cicero's throat became dry, making it difficult for him to respond. There was something about Thaletas, and Aleera's urgency to aid him that raised doubt in Cicero's mind. Nonetheless, he obeyed his commander and used the small, pre-lit candle to illuminate the others, strategically placing them around the room to allow for the most light. He put the remaining candle on the table next to Thaletas just as Aleera had begun to disassemble the Spartan's armor.
Aleera skillfully removed the leather belt around Thaletas's waist and handed it off to Cicero, who waited tentatively to assist her.
"I'm afraid this might be uncomfortable," Aleera said as she rose to her feet. She wrapped her arms around Thaletas's waist, her fingers searching for the edge of the cotton sash he wore.
"There are worse things that you could be doing." Thaletas hissed. He braced himself against the table as Aleera began unwrapping the blood-soaked cotton.
"Try not to enjoy this Spartan," Cicero scoffed.
Aleera smiled and shook her head, amused by the jealousy in Cicero's voice. Once the sash was undone entirely, Aleera motioned for her second in command to come closer.
"Come help me with this," She tossed the bloody fabric aside and with Cicero's help, began to lift the chest plate off of Thaleatas.
Cicero obeyed and joined Aleera at her side. He encouraged Thaletas off the support of the table and allowed him to lean on him as he and Aleera removed his armor. Slowly, they worked as a team to lift the heavy leather so as not to discomfort Thaletas further.
"It's crafted well," Cicero noted, examining the spartan armor. He ran his fingers over the scaled detail, stopping suddenly when he felt a significant break in the leather.
"Only the finest," Thaletas grunted. He looked down at his red tunic and could see a significant tear in the fabric. Almost instantly, he fell back against the table, once again feeling weak. His muscular arms trembled as he gripped the wooden edging, fighting to hold the weight of his body.
"By the gods!" Cicero instinctively dropped the armor and helped Aleera lift the injured man onto the table.
"Where is he with that water?" Aleera asked rhetorically. She eased Thaletas's head onto the blue pillow and shot a look at Cicero, who was already rushing out the cabin door in search of freshwater.
Aleera searched the room, looking for anything she could use to stop the bleeding. Tearing through the shelves and various books, she caught sight of what she was looking for. It wasn't linen or cloth but a small black box with gold plating. She snatched it off the shelf and returned to Thaletas, praying it contained the remedies she needed.
"Stay with me, Spartan," Aleera said softly. She placed the box on the table and extended the blade from under her gauntlet. Leaning over him, Aleera took hold of Thaletas's tunic with her opposite hand and brought the blade closer with the full intent of what she was about to do.
Thaletas shot up, his hand grabbing Aleera's and holding her and her blade away from him.
"I don't...understand.." he hesitated. His brown eyes glistened in the candlelight and melted into Aleera's mind. Thaletas's heart beat faster. Adrenaline surged through his aching body as he tried to hold Aleera at bay. But it was all in his mind, for Aleera was not trying to harm him at all.
"I'm not trying to hurt you, spartan," Aleera whispered. She extended her fingers and retracted the blade. "But I need to get this off of you." She lowered her hand, so it rested on Thaletas's chest and with the other pushed back her hood, revealing her face to him for the first time, "You can trust me."
Thaletas took deep breaths, easing his racing heart back to comfortable, rhythmic beats. There was something about Aleera that comforted him, a familiarity that was hidden from him before when the shadows consumed her face. He turned his head to get a better look at her, "Thaletas." he said in an exasperated breath. He looked into her blue eyes and slowly released her hand from his grip.
"Thaletas," Aleera said sweetly, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this off of you" She lifted the red fabric off his skin and waited for his approval before extending the length of her hidden blade once again.
"Any other time, this would be most enjoyable," Thaletas complained. He attempted to sit up, using his arms to support him, but his efforts were redundant.
"You need to relax," Aleera said calmly. She placed her hand on his chest and eased him back down until he lay flat on his back, "I don't want to be the one to injure you further."
Her words stung as they rolled off of her prominent lips. Thaletas knew what she was referencing, and it was clear that he was discouraged by it. He shifted uncomfortably under Aleera's hand, epic scenes of the battle returning to his mind as thoughts of Kyra pulled at his heart.
"Try and stay still," Aleera ordered. She Pierced the tunic below Thaletas's neck and pulled the edge down over his chest and abdomen. She kept her mind focused as she uncovered his tan muscles, her opposing hand gliding the fabric off of him as she cut.
Any other woman would have been flushed with excitement at the sight of Thaletas's bare chest and rippling muscles, but not Aleera. She was more interested in saving Thaletas than sleeping with him, and while she did find the man attractive, nothing would come of it if he wound up dead.
Once enough of the fabric was cut, Aleera retracted the blade back into her gauntlet and gently began to examine the area around the wound. She could feel Thaletas's muscles tense under her touch, creating goosebumps that scattered over his body.
Cicero appeared in the doorway, holding a basin of water and scraps of fabric. He cleared his throat as if to make his presence known, waiting for Aleera to acknowledge him before entering. He placed water beside Aleera and soaked one of the cloths.
"How long has it gone untreated?" He asked, turning his attention to the small box.
"Long enough," Aleera sighed, fearing an infection could have already taken up residency in the fresh wound.
"What are you thinking?" Cicero opened the box and began sifting through the various bags inside of it. The scent that flooded the air was intoxicating, a slue of different aromas that blended beautifully.
Aleera took a moment to respond. She reached into the cold water and retrieved the clean linen, ringing it out before gently placing it on the wound. She whipped away the dried blood and sand carefully, using long smooth strokes. "Yarrow flower for the bleeding," she concluded. Aleera stepped away, allowing Cicero to take her place. She rounded the table, bloody cloth in hand. "Are you in pain?" she asked as she bent down next to Thaletas.
He turned to look at her, "I'm a Spartan," he said, "I have lived through worse pain than this." He managed to give her a small smile of assurance before holding back a hiss of pain behind his teeth.
Aleera looked up and found Cicero placing a water-soaked cloth over Thaletas's wound. He greeted her concerned eyes with a smile and a playful wink before returning his attention to the open wound.
Aleera left Thaletas's side and allowed Cicero to continue his work in peace. The dark wood creaked under her as she dawdled over towards the back of the cabin, taking her time to breathe in the familiar air around her. It had been so long since she has seen the inside of her ship; she was nearly overwhelmed by the scents and sounds.
Cicero looked up and found Aleera standing silently in the corner of the room, her hand resting heavily against the support beam. The light from the candles reflected off of her golden armor, making her appear more statuesque and cold than Cicero had ever seen before. He placed the cloth into the water and swirled it around, watching the blood slowly seep out of the white fabric.
"You seem perplexed, Commander," Cicero said softly. He reached into the black box and pulled out one of the velvet bags, the name 'Yarrow' delicately embroidered on it in white thread.
Aleera remained quiet except for an audible sigh. Cicero was right, she was perplexed, but she was also very fatigued."How long has it been, Cicero?" She asked as she moved swiftly towards the bookcases, "How long has it been since I've slept in the comfort of my ship?" Aleera's fingertips slithered across the shelves, collecting dust with every pass.
Without skipping a beat, Cicero answered, " Two hundred thirty-one nights, after tonight." He looked up and offered Aleera a smile. He had always been very attentive, so his quick response came as no surprise to her.
"Too long," Aleera breathed. She began to unlace the ties of her golden gauntlets, their weight becoming too much for her untrained wrists.
Cicero opened the small pouch carefully and shook some of its contents into his clean hand. "What about you, Spartan?" He questioned, wanting to distract the man from the possible pain he was about to endure. " How long since you've rested on the shores of your home?" He placed the bag back into the box and dipped his fingers into the water before mixing it with the yellow powder and creating a thick paste.
"As long as it took to land on these shores." Thaletas began, "As soon as got word from Kyra that..." His voice broke off with a loud hiss. He shot his head to the side and glared at Cicero with deadly intent.
Cicero kept working, gently covering the open wound with the powder mixture, "Don't let me distract you," Cicero said with a smirk. He spread the paste evenly over Thaletas's injury in slow motions, using a wet cloth to wipe away the excess blood that leaked around it.
"You came to aid with the rebellion," Aleera said softly, the wheels in her mind beginning to turn with thought. She placed her gauntlets on the shelf and began loosening the broach that fastened her red cloak. She looked over her shoulder and met Cicero's eyes in a silent exchange of words.
"Yes, Kyra's rebellion has the full support of Sparta," Thaletas said confidently. But his faith quickly faded at the sight of his now cleaned injury. "But after tonight, I fear that my men have lost the courage to fight," he said in a hushed voice.
Cicero looked up sympathetically. He had experienced the same loss once before and knew exactly the kind of guilt and humility Thaletas was feeling. Ironically, it was a similar situation that brought him and Aleera together years earlier, the parallels seemed infinite, and Cicero wondered if Aleera could see them too.
"As Generals, we must take what is given to us and utilize it for the sake of our men," Cicero took a deep breath before continuing. "The gods have spared you tonight, Spartan. Don't assume it was by chance." He squeezed Thaletas's forearm tightly before collecting his supplies and exiting the room in silence.
...
Like what you read? leave a review and tell me what you think! don't forget to favorite/follow