Chapter 3: Her soldier

The moon rises high in the dark sky. Kassandra lies on her bed with eyes widely open staring at the small dots of light. She can rely on staying awake by gazing at the stars. For quite some time, there is total silence. Still, she awaits to make certain that her parents are asleep and then sneaks out through the window. She doesn't go far. Just beyond their yard, that's what his note suggested. 'Close to your house, under the apricot tree.'

She walks with a smile, her heart beating fast in her chest. Every step she takes is one step closer to him, thus closer to hope. He is already here, leaning against the bole. She runs up to him and places her hand on his chest lightly.

"My dad knows." She whispers before he can do any move or open his mouth.

He stands up straight and lowers his voice to match hers. "What did he say?"

It appears to her that his tone sounds worried. Or maybe it's a reflection of her own feelings. She takes a deep breath with eyes glued on his shaded face.

"Not to see you again. It is a rule that I broke."

He nods. "We have to be careful. He may have men watching you. He would do everything to ensure your marriage with Pausanias."

She shakes her head. "No. He swore he'll try hard to prevent it."

"Really? And your mother?"

She hesitates for a second. "Mater doesn't know. She is more persistent about the union, claiming my uncle died because she chose my dad at my age. She says it's my obligation to keep Alexios safe."

Maybe, it isn't the wisest decision to share this information, but she doesn't want to lie. He seems to have misunderstood her father's intentions and his good heart. She feels obliged to try and fix that. The man is silent for a while and it makes her anxious.

Strong hands touch both her arms in a gentle, yet assuring way.

"I won't let anything happen to you and your brother." He voices giving a squeeze before he lets go.

"How?" She asks, breathless.

His head tilts to the side. "I have my ways. Don't worry, my aster. I want you to tell me what your father says and does, related to the king and your marriage, and rest assured you will be free."

She looks up at him, quiet as a mouse, with furrowed forehead. He cannot see her, though he probably senses her reluctance as he doesn't push her further. He takes a step back giving her some space and reaches for his belt. He holds out a blossom between them, silently offering it to her. She picks it up and brings it to her nose breathing in the delightful delicate scent of dianthus. He remembered. She smiles to herself.

She takes in a long breath and agrees with his request with hesitation after she makes quite a small scene. She fears he is unreasonably mistrustful of her dad. He reassures he simply worries about Nikolaos encouraging the wedding with the prince and that there is nothing more there. They sit down on the grass side by side. One conversation leads to the other and back to their big concern.

"My aster, let me worry and protect you. You can be happy and carefree for both of us."

"It's impossible. I even have nightmares every night."

He cups her hand with his in a gentle way. "I swear, you'll never become Pausanias's wife as long as I breathe." He finishes and keeps it there.

Her stomach tightens at the touch. In an instant, she no longer feels the cool night breeze. Her flesh begins to feel hot. She honestly wonders whether it's the warmth radiating from his skin on her or the effect of his sweet words that flatter her. Color creeps up her cheeks, she can feel it and she is glad that darkness covers her.

She isn't certain what makes her most uneasy, the fact that she is ignorant of men or his gentle treatment. Her lack of confidence makes her feel completely lost about how to react. Her mind spins with possible replies, but they are all too stupid to speak them out loud. However, he doesn't mind. He casually fills the silence changing the subject, asking her about her favorite games as a child. Simply and smoothly, they continue conversing about various subjects until the moon rises high in the sky. He is the first to stand up extending his hand to assist her and prompt her to return.

Later, she sneaks back into her room walking on her tip-toes. She curls on her bed and closes her eyes. Her heart beats in her chest in a fast and loud rhythm, so unfamiliar and new to her own ears. A beaming smile adorns her face. The promise to meet tomorrow makes her want to let out a happy screeching sound that she struggles to repress.

Eventually, she falls asleep and when her mother wakes her up from the strangest dream, that feeling returns. Morpheus brought him in her sleep, a beautiful face to the man she secretly meets. His lips brushed hers when the image dissolved and she found herself in her bedroom.

"Up. We have lots to do. Don't be late." Myrrine casts her a glance full of suspicion before leaving.

When she steps foot into the main room her father stares at her with the same examining look he recently does. The one he always used on her or Alexios when they had done something wrong and tried to hide it. Every muscle on her body tightens. She breathes through her nose and tries to switch her focus on anything that calms her. The man. The shadow that was revealed in her dream. She casts a smile at her father. Her eyes light up at the thought she'll meet the soldier again tonight. Nikolaos motions for her to approach him and she obeys.

He kisses her forehead. "Good morning, sweetheart." He says and embraces her.

"Good morning, pater."

He leaves for the agoge and the women take up the few daily morning cleaning tasks. They supervise the helotes as they wash the plates and cups, shake out the pillows and furs covering the klines and tidy up. After a brief sweeping with the chaffy broom, the two aged helotes leave and it's time for the weaving at the loom.

Myrrine picks up an inky blue thread and another in a beautiful vivid cherry red from a tall light-brown crane.

She faces her daughter sternly as her fingers unreel the strand. "You have to weave beautiful and useful clothing. The granddaughter of a king and wife of another should be accomplished." She states settling down on a low chair.

"Spartan women aren't slaves. That's what I was taught all my life." The girl retorts, crossing her hands over her chest.

"We are not. Still, we have to be able to produce. You'll have much to take care of all on your own. To run the oikos and tend for the image of your husband. All with your brain, nothing with your hands other than the weaving. At the end of the day, it's an honorable bonus. It lifts you above others."

"How so? Doing actual work isn't respectful in this city."

Myrrine scoffs in distaste at her daughter's contradiction. "Not every household owns a loom. Most do. And only a few own one as big as we do. The line of Agiad has and must preserve its prestige."

"Mater, please. Don't act like I'm already the wife of the prince." Kassandra pauses and sighs. Her eyes pleading. "I am willing to follow all your instructions. Do me this single favor. Please."

Myrrine remains silent for a while. She pretends to pick up the colors she needs. She gains time before she faces her daughter again who still has the same genuinely painful expression. The older woman sighs and places the skeins on her right side.

"Fine. Now, concentrate on my moves." She whispers and begins her work.

. . .

Kassandra looks outside her window. It's total darkness. The day was busy and kept her mind mostly occupied. It often strayed to him, but she managed to follow Myrrine's instructions without showing signs of being abstracted.

At the moment, she decides it's quiet enough to sneak out undetected. Everyone must be asleep. She steps on her tip-toes approaching the window. Her ears perked up alarmingly. Suddenly, she freezes upon hearing a light sound. Both carefully and quickly, she returns to her bed. Lying down she closes her eyes. Her door cracks open while she pretends to sleep.

Her heart pounds in her chest. She was almost caught. She is glad her door closes again shortly, though fear has already paralyzed her body. She inhales deeply to calm her nerves as she awaits a bit longer before getting up again.

She has hardly made five steps into their yard when she notices the soldier jolting from his spot. He halts in his tracks and paces around until she reaches him. She bites her inner cheek thinking she is late.

"Is something wrong?"

His voice sounds full of genuine concern. Neither anger nor grouchiness as she thought.

"Yes, they checked in my room. I fear they may find out about us." She breathes out.

"You can return to your home if it feels safer."

"No, not yet. In a while."

He simply nods and holds out a dianthus for her. "How was your day?"

She sighs. "I weaved with my mother. A painful avocation if you ask me." She pauses taking the flower from him and smelling it. "I sense the threat, the noose tightening around my neck."

He lowers down and settles on the grass motioning to the spot beside him. "Then tell me about something else. Something you like."

She sits down beside him and notices she is on his cloak. He had laid it out earlier for her. She tries not to think of how sweet his consideration is and replies to his question instead.

"I enjoy wrestling. In the past, I did regularly with the other girls and boys my age. It's been a few years since I'm not allowed to, anymore. When Alexios visits us from the agoge, we compete together. He is younger, but I have lost my shape so it's not completely a failure. It's fun actually. He is competitive."

"What about your friends? Why not with them, too?"

"They don't like it. They prefer to keep their appearance intact."

He chuckles. "I would gladly train you."

The sound is so natural. So earthy and etheric in the veil of night. Like balsam to her wounds.

"But you can't."

"Not at the time being." He consoles. His voice is so soothing that it makes her optimistic. "Though, I promise we'll train as soon as possible. What else do you like?"

"Going for walks, running, swimming in the river, meeting with my friends."

"Let's see. We could all meet together and go for a walk in the beautiful fields on the outskirts of Sparta. Race to the river and dive in." He pauses and waits smiling expectedly for a reply.

"It sounds wonderful. When?"

He chuckles. "Soon."

. . .

Two months have passed and she has sneaked out five nights to meet him. Her soldier, that's what she calls him until he decides to disclose his identity. They can't meet often right now, he said and she had to accept it. He asked her to be patient for a while longer and she complied. He writes her letters though, many. She has been thinking about him all the time, daydreaming. Her mother hasn't noticed, she believes her daughter is only a bit disappointed with the situation. She has to give her that. Myrrine herself acknowledges at least that every day is a day closer to an unwanted elopement. However, she does nothing to prevent or delay it. On the contrary, she presses Kassandra to improve her abilities.

Nikolaos probably suspects her. Many days he eyes his daughter with a weird look full of mistrust and concern. He seems annoyed, distant and sometimes she ponders on whether it's all in her mind. Others she acknowledges she started it.

Maybe, she is in part to blame, as well. She avoids talking to him in general. She only tried to open a discussion after her soldier asked her to get him some information. Her father was eyeing her unusually and it lit the fire of fear in her heart. She thinks he knows something. He is a clever man and she does act weird lately. Her behavior is no better, they have grown apart whilst they used to have a strong and loving bond as father and daughter.

She is assisting her mother with the plates of food, now. A man comes to their house, breathless, seeking the Wolf of Sparta. It's a pressing matter, the messenger says and summons her father to the throne room immediately.

After a while the whole city of Sparta is at the roads, shocked. There is a big commotion in the streets with the speculations that leaked. Lena, a neighbor and friend of Myrrine, visits to share the news. The Agiad king Pleistoanax is accused of corruption. He is paid by Perikles of Athens, they say, to sabotage the military operations. Kassandra feels nauseous. Corruption in Sparta is already too heavy to accept. It sounds utterly obscene to her, thinking that a king was bribed when her grandfather chose to give his own life for his people. Though, she worries about more than that. What does this mean for her future? Is she rid of the prince or is he to become king already and demand his bride? Anger rises inside her and she is able to do little other than just stand there and listen, gathering all the information she can.

Lena says what she heard so far. An ephor found and provided evidence to the rest. A few men suspected it for quite some time and two of them are said to have risked their heads spying for the last months. They had informed king Archidamos and pledged allegiance before starting the investigation. Their names are protected from the citizens and only revealed inside the throne room. The ephors and the Gerousia are currently voting on what to do with the banished king. Whether he will be exiled or condemned to death. The charges are heavy so the only leverage is his lineage.

Soon, people flood the streets and scream. They yell against Pleistoanax. Most demand death penalty. Death to the traitor that doomed Sparta over gold. Death to the man that earned wealth in exchange for Spartan blood. With every passing hour, the streets are madness and get really dangerous. Most gather in their houses, but many are still out there protesting. Orders are for the mob to dissolve in peace. The kryptia roams the streets in an attempt to maintain order.

Kassandra is stuck to the window anticipating her father's return, while her mother is weaving behind her quietly. It's dark outside and she can hear commotion from afar. She is worried for him and her soldier if she wants to be honest.

"Kassandra, come here. You have nothing to gain by waiting at the window. Beside me, you can learn something useful." Myrrine calls softly.

Who are you trying to fool, mother? You are dying of worry yourself, she wants to counter, whereas she restrains her mouth. Nikolaos opens the door, face down. He looks exhausted. The way he drags his legs and drops at the first empty chair is alarming. His wife asks him softly what happened. He slowly lifts his eyes to meet hers and then casts a glance at his daughter's face. Myrrine places a hand gently over his and waits patiently for a response.

"Pleistoanax is officially exiled. His son will take over the throne soon, but we have many other issues at the war room."

Kassandra's eyes go wide. Her dreams are shattered. "What? Why? Why doesn't he leave with his family?"

"The whole Agiad family can't be exiled for the acts of a single member. It isn't fair no matter if it suits you." Nikolaos replies with a glare. "Go to your room, Kassandra."

She silently leaves her parents alone as tears reach her eyes. Her father has never been so harsh with her before. Indeed, he has been distant ever since he learned about her seeing a man, nothing more. Nothing like this before. She closes the door behind her and collapses on her bed, face down crying.

The tears have almost dried when he calls outside her door and gets in. He lowers himself down in front of her. His stern gaze softens a bit upon noticing her red eyes.

"I shouldn't be so harsh." He begins and sighs before continuing. "I know you lied to me and disobey me. You meet that man and I fear he is a spy."

She faces her father wide-eyed. No. She can't be that stupid. She has been used. She has been a foolish naive girl.

. . .

Notes:

I completely forgot to update the story here, I'm sorry! The good news is that the next 2 chapters are ready! They will be released in the next days along with the much-delayed new chapter of the other fiction. (Life of a legend) *Yay! Happy tears and many claps!*

Stay tuned and be loud, please! Even if for some reason you don't feel comfortable reviewing, send a PM with your opinion. I would honestly appreciate it! Keep me motivated!

- What do you think? Is he bad or good? Is he using her? What should Kassandra do?

In any case, thank you for your support and your love! Have a great day! 😊 3