Chapter 4: Who you are
Kassandra freezes, breath caught in her throat. "Spy from another city?" She phrases in a frail tone.
Nikolaos shakes his head. "Gods, no. A Spartan. One of those who were investigating the former king, I presume, or someone involved in it, even behind the scenes. Your friend may have framed Pleistoanax."
"Why would he?" She questions wide-eyed.
Nikolaos clenches his fist. "In hopes to get rid of the prince. Kassandra, things are serious. Don't protect him anymore. Tell me who he is."
"Dad believe me. I don't know." She pauses. "Do you have reason to doubt the evidence?"
He hesitates but eventually shakes his head. "Not really, just my fear for this man."
She gets her hopes up again. There is no evidence against him, which lifts a weight off her chest, whilst there is no actual reason to suspect him. That's what her heart says and her mind agrees. He should be an even cannier fox than Odysseus to plot something like that, just to do what? Win her? It's absurd. What other reason could he have? Who could be so smart and influential to persuade everyone? No, it must be irrelevant. Pleistoanax isn't framed. He couldn't be.
She inhales calmly, searching for the right words. She doesn't want to anger her father.
"Then, maybe he had nothing to do with that. Who were the men responsible for the mission, pater?"
"Diodoros, Kleanthes, and Theophilos are the named spies. Brasidas and Markos are the two ephors who brought it forward."
"Are they all young?" She questions fidgeting her fingers.
He wordlessly observes her for a moment, carefully reading her face. The way his eyes scan her thoroughly makes her shrink under his gaze.
"Diodoros, Kleanthes, and Brasidas are under thirty." He pauses and looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "How can you know his age and not who he is?"
"We talk, but it's dark and I can't make out his characteristics."
He sighs shaking his head. "Be careful and don't trust him. Can't you see that the way he acts is suspicious?"
He doesn't yell or scold her. She doesn't even spot disappointment in his stern gaze. On the contrary, her father is earnest and this is yet additional proof of his genuine concern. He doesn't attempt to draw her away from a man he simply doesn't approve of. Her brain says she should listen to him and end everything without a second thought or explanation to the man. Her heart disagrees.
"I'm sorry dad." She whispers face down. Biting her bottom lip, she finds the courage to face him again. "Those three you mentioned, are they untrustworthy?"
His head falls and he huffs resigned. "I don't know, yet." He concludes.
. . .
August 429 BC
A week later the soldier sends her another letter in order to meet and she goes.
"I won't come ever again unless you reveal your name."
He sighs. "Don't say that. I can't. It's a way to protect what we have from prying eyes."
"It doesn't make sense! When will I meet you? At the wedding? You are scheming something. My dad s..." She stops abruptly.
The damage is done. She is so foolish, she can't keep her mouth shut. She shouldn't mention her father, what if he is right and this man is using her? What if he intends to harm her father, he is the Wolf of Sparta after all. The General of the Spartan army. One of the kings was dethroned, it can all be part of a plot.
"I do, as a loyal Spartan. Search the traitors elsewhere." He huffs a spiteful short laugh. "What did Nikolaos say?"
Hearing her father's name simply like that sounds more than awkward. No one calls him that, but his wife, the Kings, some of his friends and colleagues at most. At least no one younger. Everyone calls him General out of respect or refers to him as the Wolf. She shakes the thought off.
"He is concerned about me and fears you framed..." She is cut off.
"No one. I'll prove it if they don't get to me first. In case I don't reach for you again and you hear of someone who's missing or died somehow, that will be me."
He stands abruptly and turns on his heel, vanishing into the night, leaving her behind with her guilt. She doubts him, not without reason, but maybe harsher than he deserves. She stands up and walks in the direction he vanished.
"I'm sorry, come back. Please, we hardly meet." She calls and comes to a pause searching around for any moving shape in the dark.
She hears footsteps and freezes. It may be someone else. She hopes not with all her heart. The last thing she needs is to get into trouble.
His silhouette appears and he comes to stand close to her. "I'm sorry. You are right to have doubts." His voice is soft, calmer than before.
"I simply don't understand and to be honest I trust my dad. He is aware of us and he doesn't punish me. His concern for what happened shook me."
"He values your happiness. What can you tell me about his relation with the Agiads? Did he ever encourage it?"
She shakes her head. Her response is immediate. "No. Never. He is the most loyal and down-to-earth man. Despite being the General, he doesn't seek power, his abilities and loyalty gained his position. You have the wrong opinion of him." She concludes gripping his forearm.
"I'm trying to perceive whether he will support your choices."
"I sense you don't like him and I can only inform you, you are being unfair. Honestly, he-"
He speaks before she finishes the sentence. "He doesn't trust me either. Is it his privilege alone?" His words are sharp in contrast with his calm low voice.
"He has his reasons."
"So do I. Goodnight, Kassandra." He whispers. Gives her shoulder a soft squeeze and starts walking away.
They have no communication the following two days, except for him leaving each day another dianthus at her windowsill. It means a lot, albeit it doesn't erase the emptiness. She would rather see him every day even for a bit. He has concurred her thoughts thoroughly and she struggles to occupy her brain with anything else. She has little pleasant distraction as her mother's strict schedule has a lot of tasks.
She is sitting down on a chair, chewing her olive-stuffed bread. She swallows and sighs. "I wish Alexios is allowed to visit us today."
Myrrine raises her eyes from the floured surface of the table where she kneads the dough and simply stares at her daughter for a long moment. "You have already too many excuses to neglect your tasks."
"I'm just seeing my friends and I would like to pass some time with my brother on his birthday. It doesn't mean I won't help you make bread."
Myrrine shakes her head. "You don't focus on learning your duties, how to lead and tend a household."
"I do learn and I'm still too young to care about running a household." The girl grimaces.
Nikolaos intervenes. "Enough, please. Kassandra, don't object to your mother." He pauses giving a sad look at her before addressing his wife. "Myrrine our daughter is indeed young. No need to rush."
His wife turns sharp eyes on him, her face flashing with rage. Kassandra silently observes her parents sympathizing her father for daring to support her like this. He is likely sleeping at the barracks tonight either by choice to evade the trouble or by punishment. It's one of those few times that she witnesses her mother being so furious with him and she holds her breath for what is to come.
"You may command your soldiers, but I make the rules in this house. Royal blood comes with a certain burden she has to accept." Myrrine states sternly with her hard stare still pinned on her husband.
He nods and stands up wordlessly. Kassandra watches him heading outside while her mother resumes her work.
The next day, her father returns home. His behavior is slightly different and she senses he is sad. She finds the courage to confront him when the two are left alone sometime during the day.
At first, she thanks him for taking her side. Then, she manages to reveal a part of what happened the last time she met the mysterious soldier. Kassandra delivers the story like the man hides because he fears the General encourages the marriage with Pausanias. However, Nikolaos is clever enough to perceive that she conceals the truth. There is more than that, he is certain. He pretends he believes her, providing space and time, in an attempt to keep her close to him. She has to be under his influence for her safety. He hopes she is going to open up soon, just like she used to.
The rest of the summer is quiet. The soldier continues sending her flowers with the same frequency as before. Weeks have passed and he sent no letter in the meantime, which she doesn't much like. She not only misses his company but also gets anxious about the future. Pausanias is to be king, his coronation is two weeks away.
This morning she wakes up to another hopeful gift. A promise he is still watching over her. What other reason would he have to show he cares? He has nothing to gain since they ceased talking. However, she misses it, the agony of not getting caught, the meetings, the connection. Him. She misses him. She smiles at the big bouget of flowers in her palms and goes to the living room. With a soft smile, she addresses her father saying good morning. Nikolaos raises his gaze from his shield. His smile turns into a scowl upon noticing what his daughter carries.
"His flowers again. When will this end?" Nikolaos mutters staring at the blooms through narrowed eyes.
"It's a sign he's alive and he hasn't given up."
He glances around and then leans forward. "Given up on what, Kassandra? He is an anonymous ghost in your life. I hate to remind you, but in eight months I'll have no excuse to protect you. Maybe you should seek a true chance to meet a real man out there to marry." He finishes in a low tone, jaw closed tight.
"You don't want mater to hear you." She teases avoiding the rest and causes him to throw his hands in the air.
"You don't hear me and you're standing right next to me."
She places her palm on his shoulder with an earnest facade. "I don't want to lie to you. I won't cease meeting him."
His eyebrows knit together. "By the love of Zeus, I'm your father, young lady." He reminds her. The muscles of his jaw clench.
"Hera is my witness, we only converse. Don't worry dad." She assures placing the bouget in a vase. "Besides, I haven't seen him since that day I told you about." She adds and picks up a fig from the plate on the table.
Nikolaos stares at his daughter with thinned lips.
. . .
On the day of the coronation, everyone gathers to pay their respects to the new king. He is young for a king but old enough to reign without a regent. Pausanias stands tall in a red and dark blue tunic. A huge round gold brooch holds the cloth on his shoulder. Laurels made of gold are put on his head, the symbol of divinity, instead of a huge crown. There are no such extravagant things here in Sparta. Everything is simple, symbolic, and humble.
Kassandra avoids looking at him for long, in fear their gazes cross. She has no intention to raise his hopes, giving him a false impression of interest. She focuses on the people around her mostly, watching their composed yet joyful reactions, glancing at him now and then. He has a strange effect on her. He disgusts her and terrifies her equally. When she senses his gaze on her, it makes her skin itch. He is not that old neither utterly ugly, yet she feels too young for him. He shouldn't look at her. He shouldn't approach her father to propose an arrangement while she was still almost a child. Boys haven't started their last stage of training in the agoge by that age. Pausanias should respect her youth.
Most importantly, what she hates most, is arrogance. His certainty that her family and she would happily accept. As though, he is a living treasure, no sane man would reject. His confidence that he already owns her horrifies her and he doesn't hesitate to show it. She has caught him staring at her on the streets lately and she can't shake the image. That look gives her nightmares.
A shiver runs through her body at the memory and she twists her focus on the current event. Making a mental note that she needs to avoid Pausanias, she scans around at the crowd for her friends. It takes a few seconds to identify a dark-haired beauty waving her hand over her head beside another familiar face to get her attention. It is Alkmene, but Kassandra isn't allowed to abandon her seat. She grimaces over at the girls and hopes they will soon come to her rescue as they always do.
An additional reason she feels it's a curse to have this lineage, as her family is considered distinguished and is supposed to sit at one of the elite tables. It makes it harder for her to skip the feasts as she gets older. What she wouldn't do to disappear, now? The official announcements are never-ending.
With the war brewing in between, the state sieges the opportunity to celebrate many occasions at once. During the event, Lieutenants are promoted to polemarchs and polemarchs to commanders. As well as few naval experts are acknowledged captains. For each one of them, a member of the Gerousia calls the name and proceeds with the ritual, saying a few details, announcing the rank, and gifting the mam a couple of laurel leaves.
Kassandra hates it. The procedure is dull. She hardly glances at the men as they get their promotions. Others must share this idea, as the whispers of the crowd start to get louder, or maybe they just miss the wine.
Then, king Archidamos stands up and demands absolute silence from everyone and everyone goes quiet. She is relieved that it's finally over, but sadly gathers it's not quite yet. The king is about to announce a promotion, a different kind though judging by the difference in everyone's stance. Fortunately, it's the last, someone especially honored for his services.
She has gotten bored listening to name after name and she would have hardly glimpse if it wasn't for her hope and curiosity that she may get a hint about her mysterious soldier. She keeps her eyes keen to spot anyone among them who is young. Most men are around thirty and some are even older.
Her thoughts are interrupted by the king's cheerful speech. Initially, it makes her marvel at the energy Archidamos suddenly transmits, and finally, she is curious to see what got him so enthusiastic.
His booming voice is suddenly the only sound. "Despite the young of his age, this man has managed to prove just in two years of action, his worth. In his first mission, hardly a lieutenant, in charge of a small group, he accomplished a huge and surprising victory at Methone against a vast army. With a handful of men, just thirty-five, he pushed back four hundred in total and sank five triremes. This triumph obtained him a seat among the ephors. The youngest in history. Yet, away from the battlefield, he played a significant role to reveal corruption. Let's acknowledge this irreplaceable gear of our state and award him with the honor to become the youngest commander in history. Brasidas of Sparta, son of Telis, may the Gods guide you as you lead our troops."
The king's words stick inside her head. She can't find the right word. Whether it's peculiar or incredible. The man that just a moment ago bowed low in front of Archidamos rises and catches her attention.
He is very young for a commander indeed. Mid-twenties, brown hair with a braid around his hairline that hangs at his nape. Red chiton around his body and golden greaves. Simple, yet elegant. He also wears bluish-violet vambraces with a small golden detail at the center, from this distance they look a bit too dark and dull for her taste. A short sword hangs at his side. A handsome face and a strong tall frame. Head high, chest out with pride. An imposing figure, undoubtedly. His image isn't what draws her attention, though. It's his radiant arrogance. Like he owns the world. Like he commands everyone around him.
He is insolent, to think so highly of himself. Surrounded by so many elites, the kings, Admirals, Commanders, the Gerousia and he has a pompous grin, an expression of superiority. How dares this man be snooty? It irritates her more than anything. She'll make sure not to cast him a second glance from now on.
The celebrations begin freely after that and she moves away from her parents with the girls, Philothea and Alkmene. To her annoyance, both of her friends chatter about the new commander, dazzled by his appearance.
"Didn't you see how he stuck his nose so high he could only see the sky? What's nice about that? He has no manners." She huffs.
"Come on Kassie. Did you see his face before he turned it away?" The black-haired girl says.
Philothea comes to add. "Or his muscles at all? I couldn't care less of what he did or said."
Kassandra rolls her eyes. "Character is important!"
Alkmene chuckles and waves a hand. "You are stuck to that nameless soldier. You are in love with a shadow that's why you say it. Open your eyes, girl. There are real men around you."
"Go easy on Kassie, Al. You know she is timid."
"Hey! I'm right here." Kassandra protests feigning more annoyance than she feels.
"It's the truth, cutest. You have never had a boyfriend. This shadow has been the only 'scandal' you got into and you haven't even kissed."
The girls giggle and she can't join them, her cheeks flush with color. Alkmene is the worst at such topics. She is so raw and her ease with boys makes her even bolder with her opinions. Traits she doesn't share with Kassandra. On the contrary, they couldn't be more different and no matter how hard her friend has tried, she has failed to make Kassandra confident and cool around boys.
. . .
The sun is at the highest spot in the sky, radiating heat. The ground beneath her legs is dry and so hot it burns her skin. She is standing low circling cautiously around her brother. The long stick gripped tightly in her hand. She advances from his side, but he dodges and hits back. Her stick blocks his at the last moment.
"Alexios! You have gotten stronger." She admits.
He swirls around and hits again. "I won't be able to fight with you anymore. From fear of breaking you." He teases.
"You lack some height until that day, little brother."
Her voice sounds stable, but her confidence wavers. Dread rises and pools at her heart. Swallowing hard, she swings the stick beneath his legs to scoop him off his feet and then aims to hit his stomach. He dodges backward grabs his stick with his other hand and in a quick move he raises it and hits hers out of her hand. He chuckles and sticks out his tongue. Pointing the wooden spear to her neck. She unwillingly surrenders and he lowers the weapon.
He nods and teases her. "You wish. The new commander showed us some moves yesterday. I can disarm you in seconds."
She grimaces. She can't deny it. If only, her mother allowed her to train a little more, she would be stronger and more efficient to defend herself. She takes a seat on the wooden bench at the corner of their yard, to catch her breath.
"You have a new tutor?"
Alexios shakes his head. "No, Brasidas stayed longer to regain his strength he said and my group had training just after him. He saw how awestruck we were and taught us some shiftings."
"Him again. What on earth? Is he trying to win everyone over?" She mutters under her breath.
Her brother sits down beside her and raises an eyebrow. "What's the matter with him?"
"Nothing, Al. I just don't like him."
"You'd be the only. All the boys in the agoge admire him and we see a lot of girls actually chasing him."
She rolls her eyes. "To strengthen his arrogance."
She can't help it but wonder why people always elevate the ungrateful ones. She has nothing personal with this man, she hardly knew his name before, but his behavior told her everything she needs to know. She won't hide her distaste.
Nikolaos walks up to them, greeting lovingly both his children with a quick hug and a kiss on their heads.
"Alexios, my boy, give me a second alone with your sister."
"Yes, pater." Her brother stands up immediately.
He places the wooden spears in the rack beside the door and enters the house. The agoge made him obedient and meek. He no longer resembles that loud mischievous child. He grows up beautifully.
Her father approaches.
"Kassandra, the king pressures me to talk to you."
"Dad, please. You promised me!"
"Sweetheart, I know, but... I'm sent to Megaris. If anything happens to me... be prepared."
"Dad." She chokes and rushes to him crushing her body on his with an embrace. "You'll be alright. You'll return a winner."
. . .
It's all getting worse and worse. She decides to reach for her soldier. She writes a simple small note and places it carefully between two tree branches when there is no one around.
. /
Meet me today.
. /
When she finally sneaks out in the middle of the night, she rushes up to him. Her hands cross over her chest the moment she reaches him. She doesn't greet him, she fires a single abrupt question with a nerve she has only with him and her family.
"Where have you been?"
"I thought you didn't want to see me again. I haven't found the proof you wanted, yet." He replies in a calm voice.
"You insist on your games while the king puts pressure on my father and sends him to the front line as punishment... or threat, I can't really tell."
He stands straight, head tilts to the side. "Both. It will be hard for a while. Be patient. Ah, about your father. What did he -"
"Enough! You're spying on him. You always ask me stuff like what he said and how he reacted. You're playing with me."
He sighs. "I want to exclude any possibility that your father is part of a treacherous group. If you must know. I couldn't just ask what you believed. You would see him innocent no matter what. But this way I put the pieces together."
Her heart cracks. "You finally admit it." She voices and senses a stream of hot tears rolling down her cheeks.
"No. I wanted to be certain before I talk to him." He says quickly reaching out and grabbing her arm gently pulling her closer. "If it is as you say, I'll tell him everything tomorrow. I promise you it's for a good cause. I need you to do just one last thing."
She attempts to break free and when she fails, she turns her head away. He lets her go. Her tears still drop one after the other.
"What?" She asks barely audible.
It's hard for him to handle the anger in her voice. He takes a deep breath and begins. "Don't question him who I am. You can put your faith in your father. He won't approve if I'm unworthy."
"Why are you so stubborn about this?"
He reaches out again and holds her hand. He gently attempts a tease to raise her spirits. "You have touched my face to tell whether I'm an ugly monster. But men sometimes have to display a different face in the world than who they are. Call it the mission of a spy."
"Fine." She utters with some difficulty.
"My aster, don't cry about my foolishness. I'll fix it unless they kill me."
She puts pressure on his hand holding her breath. "Why are you saying that again and again? Who is after you?"
"I work to uncover some bad people and they're not that happy about it. Also, don't forget the Athenians. My assignment at the frontline is due."
He could be lying. Her heart says he doesn't. Her heart tells her to give him one more chance to prove his love and her brain agrees. Besides, he promised to talk to Nikolaos, she can verify whether he will do or not. As quickly as her tears came, they are replaced by concern. Her doubts are erased from the surface and move to the back of her mind for later.
Another man, the second of her protectors whose life is in danger. Will she see them again? Will they both be alright? Will they return alive and well?
She opens her arms and closes them around him, in some kind of hug. Only then, she slowly exhales. Before she steps back again, he presses his lips at the top of her head. They hold each other at arm's length and remain silent for a few moments.
"You'll make it." She encourages gripping his shoulders tighter.
"Indeed. You need to have faith and be optimistic. I am departing shortly."
Just like her father. She will be left here alone while they'll both face the enemy, risking their lives. She recalls what women tell their husbands before leaving for battle. With your shield or on it. She is not his wife, she has no right to say these words. She doesn't want to either. The possibility that this is her only and last chance to show him a fraction of her love for him, makes her want to say something, to at least assure him of her hope for them.
"Return to me, soldier. With your shield."
. . .
The next day.
Nikolaos examines the maps as he listens to various reports by the commanders around him. They inform him about the troops, the supplies, the routes, and everything actually must be approved by him. He gives the final orders and discusses a few small details with the commanders.
A soldier interrupts them. Bowing his head, he announces that another Commander asks for an urgent brief audience.
"General, may I have a little of your time?"
"Approach, Commander." Nikolaos motions the young man inside and waves the rest out. "Leave us."
Both men wait silently until they are left alone.
"General. It's about your daughter. I love her-"
Nikolaos raises a halting hand and it's enough to make the young man shut his mouth.
"I'm aware. Don't waste time on that." The Wolf says with a penetrating stare. "Explain to me why the games. And what kind of shit you have in your mind dethroning a king!"
Despite his anger, he wears a pretty calm mask and manages to tell the last sentence in a low voice. It's only his glare that throws daggers at the younger man which matches the Wolf's tone.
"Pleistoanax was a member of the cult of Kosmos. I'm trying to free Sparta of its grasp. At first, I admit I feared you were a member, as well." He pauses and sternly makes a point. "I already risk my head, now, trusting Kassandra's judgment of you. I would be a fool to be exposed from the beginning. What told me off?"
"The day you were promoted, I gathered it was you. You tried hard not to glance at my daughter, I'll give you that." The General discloses preserving the same hard gaze.
"Don't tell her who I am, for her protection. I will when the time comes."
Nikolaos paces around the war table and closes the distance. He stands across the Commander face to face. He is a bit shorter, so he doesn't tower over him, still, his rage is intimidating and causes the other man to swallow his tongue. He sticks his pointer finger in front of the young man and shakes his head with narrowed eyes.
"You won't use me, boy. You'll have to explain everything first and for the record, you do risk your head more than you know."
The Commander acknowledges what it is. Not a threat, but a warning. He meets the older man's gaze, with no insolence, no conceit.
He clasps his hands behind his back without breaking eye contact and begins with a low voice. "I ask for your daughter's hand in marriage and I'm aware the Agiad king did, too." Noticing the General's hard stare, he rushes to add. "All I need is your blessing. I have a plan to save your family from his wrath. Hiding my identity from Kassandra serves as my alternative plan. If-" He trails off the last word upon noticing another presence.
Behind his back, the linen opening flips open.
A soldier hurries in interrupting them. "General, we must go."
. . .
Notes:
Kassandra just made the first step into the adult world by acknowledging that not everything is as it seems. Gradually we will see her becoming more mature, (maybe never mature enough in this story) reacting and making choices. She has little in common with the misthios we've adored, however, I hope you like this young lady a little at least. Don't forget that in this version, she has grown up in Sparta in a more protective environment, certainly with a loving family, friends and a place to call home.
Nikolaos is a protector (as I bet, he would be if he wasn't forced to punish his child on Taygetos) sweeter and much more loving and supportive than he could realistically be. But I'm fed up with loneliness and so my main character deserves to have a good parent and friend and everything. Especially with this Myrrine.
Also, I guess you noticed Brasidas. Here he is. He came to stay. I don't know what you made of his first public appearance. You may change your opinion a few times over as we proceed, still, it is interesting to see your reactions.
Thank you all for reading. Have a great day!
