Chapter 6: The Heart of A Spartan
Hundreds of refugees made their way to the Tamaranian Royal Castle as word reached them of the Emperor's recovering. Maximus was given a honorary rank of captain by Emperor Galfore and was sent to keep watch toward the west for any sign of an orc army approaching.
Maximus was riding over a hill when he saw it. An orc army, larger than any army he had ever faced before. The sound of pounding feet and drums was clear. They were marching for the Royal Castle. Maximus raced back to the Royal Castle and ran into the throne room.
"A great host, you say?" Galfore asked.
"All the orc-controlled side of Tamaran is emptied." Maximus answered.
"How many?"
"Ten thousand strong at least."
Galfore turned in disbelief. "Ten thousand?"
"It is an army breed for one purpose." Maximus said grimly. "To destroy the world of Tamaran. They will be here by nightfall."
Galfore was silent for a moment, then he turned and walked out of throne room. "Let them come!"
On the walls, Galfore was organizing the defenses. "I want every man and strong lad, able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall."
He went out to the gate. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deepening Wall or set foot inside the courtyard."
"This is no rabble of mindless orcs." Raven said to him. "These are Uruk-hi. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."
"I have fought many wars, Lady Raven. I know how to defend my own keep."
Galfore went back to the walls. "The orcs will pound on this fortress like water on rock. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Here, we will outlast them."
"They did not come to burn Tamaran's crops and villages," Maximus interjected. "They've come to destroy its people, down to the last child."
"What would you have me do?" Galfore asked him quietly. "Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread."
Maximus replied. "Send out ships, my lord. You must call for aid."
Galfore looked at him for a moment. "And who will come? Humans? Azerathians? We are not so lucky in our friends as you."
"Centari will answer."
"Centari? Where was Centari when the City ofSarifell? Where was Centari when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Centari…? No, Captain Maximus. We are alone."
Galfore turned and went toward the throne room. "Seal the courtyard."
"But we needed more time to get supplies in." An aide told him.
"There is no time! War is upon us!"
Three hours till nightfall.
Maximus was inspecting the weapons that were being given out when Rorek called him away.
"What is it, Rorek?" Maximus asked.
Rorek was very urgent. "I need to get out of here."
"Why?" Maximus asked somewhat surprised.
"This fortress is not going to survive this assault. I have a plan that may save it."
"What do you need?"
"I need a porkin."
"Alright."
Maximus took Rorek to the stables.
"Watch yourself." Maximus told him as he helped Rorek on one.
"Look to my coming at the first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."
Rorek rode out of the stables and the gate. He rode toward the east and, after a few minutes, he was out of sight.
Nightfall.
Robin was within the castle, trying to come up with a plan to defeat the orc army fast approaching.
"We could try to attack the enemy from behind by sending some cavalry out of the castle." He said to himself. "No, that won't work. We have too few Tamaranians and we can't afford to give up any."
"You are correct about that, Robin." A booming voice said.
Robin jumped when he heard that voice and looked around, but saw nothing.
"Who's there?" He said carefully.
"I am where there is war, battle, and bloodshed. I am Mars! The Roman god of war, death, spring, growth in nature, and fertility and I am the protector of cattle as well." The voice explained.
"Where are you?" Robin asked the ceiling.
"You wish to see me?"
"Yes." Robin said.
"Very well. I will reveal myself to you."
Suddenly, a large black mass appeared before Robin and it took a human shape. Mars looked like a middle-aged man but he was wearing strange armor and a Greek hoplite helmet. He also carried a sword but was too terrible and horrible to look at. The sword was covered in, and even dripped, blood. His face also was buried in the shadow of his helmet.
"Does my appearance disgust you so?" The terrible god asked.
"No, it didn't." Robin lied.
"Ha! Don't try to lie to me. I am a god."
Robin apologized. "Sorry."
"Quite all right. Anyway, I was sent to you to give you something." Mars said.
"What is it?" Robin asked.
Mars pulled out a large sack and took out breastplate armor, another Greek hoplite helmet, greaves, and a sword.
"This was the sword and armor of King Leonidas of Sparta. Jupiter wanted me to give it to you for use in the coming war."
Robin took the armor and started to put it on over his suit. "Aren't we already at war?" He asked.
"This is a skirmish compared to the war that is approaching. A power rises on Azerath. Something you have never seen. But your friend, Maximus, has." Mars warned.
Robin had finished putting on the armor except the helmet. Mars handed him the helmet. "This helmet has a magical property that you will only see if you put it on."
Robin put on the helmet. When he looked through the eyeholes, he was no longer in the Castle. He was in a large pass with cliffs on both sides. The sky was blood red. Before him were a large number of Greek warriors in hoplite armor, each carrying a spear and shield. They started to chant:
O xein, angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti täde
keimetha tois keinon rhämasi peithomenoi!
O xein, angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti täde
keimetha tois keinon rhämasi peithomenoi!
They continued to chant when Robin heard Mars again.
"Do you know what they are saying?"
"No." Robin replied.
"They are saying:
'Go, tell the Spartans, stranger passing by
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.'
They are the hoplites of Sparta who fell before the Persian blades at Thermopylae. The 300 Spartans.
"What do I have to do with this? I am not Spartan. I am not even Greek. I was born to a family of acrobats." Robin asked.
"You have many traits of a Spartan warrior. You don't need basic necessities. You find your target and then you focus on it until you have done what you needed to do with it. Remember Slade? You would not even sleep in your pursuit to find and capture him. You have the heart of a Spartan.As long as you wear this armor, you command the greatest force of Spartans ever known.
Robin turned to the Spartans as they continued to chant:
O xein, angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti täde
keimetha tois keinon rhämasi peithomenoi!