Chapter 2: Strategic and sacrifice
Notes:
Thank you all for your kind words and support. I hope this new chapter exceeds your expectations! I look forward to your reviews and don't hesitate to send me a PM if there are any mistakes, as I said English is not my native language!
Enjoy!
. . .
After walking around the city walls, Brasidas finally reaches the gate and makes his way through the less crowded roads to the room he rents the past months that he's been sent as a spy by the Spartan kings. During his long walk, he had plenty of time to contemplate in his mind the plan to perfection, and now as he removes his armor and lies down, his mind slips to Kassandra.
The shadows form shapes, tricking his eyes and creating her figure, her pretty face in the dark. He tried since she took off the helmet, not to let his thoughts conquer him, blind him and lead him astray, but he can no longer resist.
She is so beautiful and strong like a goddess of war. Her strong, lean body is curved with muscles, her brown hair is knit in a braid that falls on her left shoulder. She is like Athena incarnate in flesh with a little of Artemis. Her light brown eyes burn him like fire when he looks into them.
She is almost as tall as he is and he is considered a tall man himself. She fights with incredible vigor and superiority over her opponents. A warrior compared to no other.
She is a confident and smart woman, without fear of men or power. The fact that she leads that kind of life in a world where women have no power and are completely diminished, is astonishing. Outside of Sparta women have no rights, no voice of their own. They are supposed to marry and each becomes property of her husband, or else they are slaves or hetaerae.
In honor of her, she is none of these. He finds himself with a wide smile on his face, being glad. He tries to command his mind to halt the thoughts in order to sleep praying for tomorrow.
In the meantime, Kassandra gives a small treat to Ikaros and sends him to notify her if there are any people close. She approaches the walls and starts climbing at the spot across the orichalcum ore area where she can tell that there is no one as Ikaros made no sound above that spot. It's easy for the mighty misthios to stay unnoticed.
She moves around Korinth until she reaches a little further from the ship dock at the other side of the town where Adrestia is docked. She finally enters the small room she uses when she travels with her ship and goes straight to the bed after lighting the old plated brass candlestick.
The small, dim room has no other furniture. There is just Kassandra's wooden bed, which is opposite from the door. It is covered with a dark grey fur and has a red pillow on top of it. Another fur is stacked at the end of the bed in the right corner of the room, along with some bright linen fabrics used as blankets. On the left side of the room, beside the bed, there is a small sack with fruits.
She wonders about Brasidas while she takes off one by one all the pieces of her armour starting with her red and gold heavy breastplate and finishing with her golden lion-carved greaves. He seems to be a good man, but he is Spartan. Did he spy on her, too?
He seemed to be honest with her. He was amicable and generous to assist. Could it be because he knew her parents? He knew her father, to be precise. That's when it occurs to her, as she's staring at the Wolf's helmet. He was trained by Nikolaos as she was; that's why they co-operated so well.
She picks up an apple from the sack to eat while she removes her sandals. She blows out the candle and lies down with her spear in her hand. Before falling asleep, her mind wanders to Brasidas again.
The night for Kassandra flew by beautifully. Her dreams were peaceful and joyful after a long time. On the other hand, Brasidas's night was awfully restless because the thoughts of Kassandra didn't seem to wear off and let him sleep.
The next morning Kassandra has a quick meal with Barnabas on the ship, though she refrains from mentioning anything about the Spartan. She tends Ikaros and Phobos, her horse, before going to Anthousa to inform her that the Monger is going to be taken care of shortly.
Anthousa objects about the plan and attempts to persuade Kassandra to wait until the Hesperis, when there will be a play at the theatre. The hetaera wants a public execution so that the civilians can witness his death as a way of revenge after his cruel ruling of the city.
Kassandra refuses to follow this way of action and after informing the other woman of the overall plan and today's meeting she leaves. She has no second thoughts; she doesn't want to draw attention unnecessarily. At least not while she is in her mother's tracks.
The hour of Elete has come and Kassandra stands at the fountain of Glauke waiting and yet there is no sign of Brasidas. Several minutes later a child comes running at Kassandra.
"Eagle bearer, it's you?" asks the boy panting.
"My name's Kassandra, what's wrong?"
Kassandra crosses her hands ready to reject for the time being the kid's request and if it is possible, take it up later.
"A soldier wants you to meet him at the Sacred cave. I saw him running in, men chasing him." answers the boy with a quick flow of words.
Kassandra frowns "Thanks, take these for your service." She gives the boy some drachmae and sprints to the cave muttering under her breath. "Stupid, stubborn Spartan!"
Her heartbeat quickens, she can feel her pulse pound in her head, her teeth clenched, her chest and all her muscles tighten. She doesn't know him really but she surely does not want him to die. She worries intensively that she will not make it there in time.
When she enters the cave a terrible rattle of iron by striking weapons and a cacophony of screams and battle cries reach her ears. Brasidas is fighting with the Monger and his men and they have him circled. He seems to be amply hurt, although he has managed to knock some of the men down there are still too many. Kassandra jumps into action at once cutting off a man's head, that rolls down and the stream of blood staggers everyone for a few seconds. Giving her enough time to take down two more men and jump in the middle, where Brasidas stands, to fight back-to-back with him.
There are about ten men and Brasidas is already bleeding but they manage to kill five more of their opponents. The Monger hides behind his men to speak with a booming voice to unnerve her referring to Myrrine.
Kassandra feels the rage starting to grow inside her, "You know my mother?" she almost barks.
"She was trouble just like you! I regret that I didn't strangle her when I had the chance but it's better this way. I will first show her your head and watch life fading away from her face with tears in her eyes."
"You are dead!" Kassandra growls and strikes a man with her spear using all her strength.
The melee resumes and this time men fall down one after the other because she moves and attacks like an enraged tiger. She is angrier than ever before, covered in blood from head to toe filling her opponents with dread as they stand against her.
Brasidas is a little slower than the previous time as he struggles to keep his ground due to the big amount of blood loss, but manages well this far. With his shield in his left hand, he mostly focuses on blocking the enemy blows from both him and Kassandra. He's giving her the advantage of attacking unstoppably, while he does his best with his spear at his wounded right hand.
Kassandra lashes out with her dagger and spear, like crazy to everyone within reach, moving around constantly making it hard for Brasidas to have her back in his condition.
Just as Brasidas thrusts his spear to a man in front of him and blocks with his shield a strike to his left, another man to his right takes the opportunity of his exposure and pierces Brasidas's leg with his sword. Brasidas leaves his spear and punches the thug in the face with all the strength there is left in him to evade the killing blow, while Kassandra disembowels the last man, other than the Monger himself.
Brasidas relieved of them being close to victory lets his guard down, drops to his knees, and winces in pain. His vision blurs. Kassandra turns slightly, enough to take in his condition. After kicking the Monger to delay him by making him stumble back, she charges at the man with the bleeding nose that injured Brasidas, to finish him off.
It's finally over. It's just the three of them still alive.
"Hold on tight Spartan!" Kassandra demands and turns her attention to the Monger.
Brasidas crawls to the side while the misthios fights, his hands are covered in his blood. As he reaches a big rock to rest his back on it, his senses fade further. He presses with his left hand the wound at his right one and with that he presses his leg to stop the blood flow. He has some more cuts but these two are deeper and more severe.
Kassandra handles the Monger alone. She has already stabbed him three times, twice at his hands and once at his knee. The Monger falls down exhausted and in severe pain. Kassandra stands above him with her short sword high in her extended hand.
Anthousa rushes in, "NO! Wait! You must give the people of Korinth the chance to watch him die. Let's take him to the theatre now."
"No. He dies here." Kassandra says determinately and cuts off his head. "You can take it and put it on display if you want to."
"Alright, misthios. Come and find me later to give you the information you seek."
Kassandra nods in agreement.
"You can also join our small feast tonight at the town. Both of you, if of course, he survives." Anthousa calls behind her back while she is getting out of the cave.
Kassandra rushes to Brasidas's side. He is alive, conscious but in a daze. She rips a piece of fabric from her inner chiton and ties it firmly around his leg. She does the same for the major wound at his right hand. She picks up her waterskin and brings it to his lips to help him drink.
"Stubborn Spartan, you could have died, you morron. Why didn't you tell me your plan to at least be me waiting instead of that boy? We lost precious time!"
"Because you wouldn't agree." He states simply with a faint voice.
"Of course, I wouldn't. I should be the one to lure them in. I would run faster to hide in here and catch some of them off guard before starting a fight."
For a man like him, a clever spy, it wasn't difficult to assume she is used to work alone and depend on her own strength judging of their brief encounter and what he has heard. The eagle bearer, an incredibly strong woman working as a misthios with an eagle always flying above close to where she is, is commonly known and referred by many people.
Brasidas shakes his head. "Clever, but in that case, they might have called for re-enforcements; you are the famous eagle-bearer."
She sighs in defeat. "Can you walk? We need to leave this place as soon as possible."
He stands up with her assistance and takes a few steps.
"It seems that I still can. Can you help me get out of town?" He questions with a face wrinkled from pain.
She casts him a sideways glance. "We are going to Adrestia, my ship. I can't leave you alone in the wild. Unless you want to become some pack of wolves' next meal."
"You imply that I'm not capable to protect myself?"
"In this state yes that's what I'm saying straight to your face."
He has a short faint chuckle. "Fine. Lead the way, Captain."
"Um, I will. Just hold on a moment." She intones somewhat apologetically and hurries to the Monger's dead body searching his clothes.
"What are you doing?" Brasidas's confusion is apparent and fades only when a wave of pain causes him to lean on the rocks for support.
"Searching obviously!" She replies rolling her eyes.
"For what?"
"For these!" She triumphantly shows some papyruses. "I can explain later." She adds when he takes an even more confused look and knits his eyebrows.
Brasidas likes and appreciates the fact that Kassandra is straightforward and sincere, except that one lie about Nikolaos. Not many people are this way. Even though she is familiar with cruelty and treachery, her personality is fairly kind and caring. Despite of being fearless and capable of harming any opponent physically, she is a protector to those in need.
If she didn't accidentally push the old man, who was about to kill her baby brother, to his death from the mountain fifteen years ago, she would be the most desirable woman in Sparta. She is not only vigorous and beautiful, but she also has wit.
In Lakonia, the fact that she is also an Agiad, having the bloodline of the kings, would be equally considerable. Probably she would be already married and her son could be the next king of Sparta. All these don't matter to Brasidas though. His brain is stuck on her beauty alone and her strong personality. The immediate connection he felt cannot be compared to any other experience in his life. Her skills almost had him astounded.
In his opinion, she is admirable.
They have reached the cave's entrance. Kassandra turns her head to look at him.
"Wait here. I need to check the streets and send Ikaros ahead of us."
"Someday you have to tell me how you-" he trails off his last words as there is no longer a reason to speak them aloud as she has left the cave and is already out of sight.
She whistles to Ikaros and motions to him with her hand to do what he is doing all these years, scan the place for people and notify her where their position is.
Thankfully the play at the theatre is about to start shortly and everyone is probably already gathered there or maybe it's because Anthousa is showing at everyone the Monger's head and caused a commotion. Nevertheless, the results are the best for the circumstances. The streets are deserted. Kassandra goes back to where Brasidas is and takes his right hand carefully over her shoulder to offer him support for his injured leg.
She explains in brief, as promised, what she was looking for at the cave and what she has found out about the cult. Summarizing that they are a big group of people from all over Greece, with some kind of power or influence who have evil purposes. They are beyond any nation and aim to bring chaos with their selfish thirst to rule. Adding that presently, they are after her family.
She refrains completely from mentioning specific parts of the story, such as that her brother was taken and raised by them or that she did go find the Wolf of Sparta, her father, and then she discovered the existence of this association. She is not ready to talk about Alexios with anyone, Barnabas and Herodotos are the only ones who know. As for her father, she isn't sure what he would think and she doesn't want to give explanations. She wouldn't be so foolish to risk it. She decides to keep these parts to herself.
He seems to believe her. He is pensive as he nods and says nothing.
With Ikaros flying above the city ahead of them they manage to avoid coming across anyone on their way to the ship. When they finally come within view of Adrestia, they are at the outskirts of town where a couple of trees are more than a good additional cover. They are at the round cape by the sea and Kassandra whistles to Ikaros and points with her finger at the ship. The eagle flies there and lands in front of Barnabas, the ship's previous captain who at the moment is substitute when Kassandra is away, and most notably he is her confidant.
Barnabas looks at the shore and finds Kassandra, smothered in blood, waving her hand while holding a man in a similar state but undoubtedly injured. Instantly he orders a man of the crew to take the small boat, they have tied at the side with a rope for that reason, to reach ashore. Kassandra helps Brasidas get into the boat.
Once he sits down on the wooden bench, she commands the seaman to take him to Adrestia and help him aboard. The man obeys and begins to oar.
Brasidas looks puzzled and asks her where she's going.
Kassandra makes a face of disgust before she jumps into the sea. "To get rid of this sticky blood off my skin!"
She swims to the ship after diving and rubbing herself with her hands to clear the dry blood. When she gets on board Barnabas waits for her with a huge storm of questions.
"Are you alright Kassandra? Who is this man? What happened?" He agonizes.
"Slow down Barnabas, I'm fine obviously but he's not. His name is Brasidas. Do we have a free bed for him at the men's cabin?" she asks as she doesn't know because she never enters the crew's shared cabin.
The ship has a small room as her cabin, a small storage and a space which the men share to rest.
"I'm afraid not commander, but we can prepare a makeshift."
"I'll lead him to mine. I'll sleep elsewhere." She says determinedly.
She orders the crew to bring her clean rags, some fresh water, food and wine before she disappears with Brasidas through the hatch. She opens the door and aids him to lie down at her bed.
"Kassandra, I am grateful but there is no reason for such fuss."
"You'd rather I let you die? I thought Spartans desire a glorious death in battle." She teases him and he chuckles faintly.
"I am fine, but thank you."
"Let's say we are even. I owed you one." she assures him locking eyes with him. Before allowing her brain to distract her she opens her mouth again. "How does spying works exactly? The shield screams where you're from."
"Indeed, but I claim independence. Somewhat like you, and blend in with the travelers." His voice is soft and calm. His heavy breathing is the only indication of the ache he feels.
She laughs. "You think others consider you a misthios of some short while wearing the red colors so proudly?"
She almost immediately regrets her words. Her smile fades. He is still a stranger and she should be careful around him. Showing her spite for his city-state so profoundly could result in an unpleasant outcome. Stentor already accuses her of killing Nikolaos, she shouldn't be recklessly fueling the rumor. She is grateful for once that some of her armor pieces are considered Spartan, bearing the Lambda. She is in no mood to be chased anew and have yet another reason to look behind her back.
He chuckles and she is instantly relieved, releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding. The curve returns on her lips.
He smiles, yet there are formed lines on his forehead. "I don't go around with my shield as often as you may think."
She catches the hint. There is more than he initially asserted. She sits down on the wooden floor and crosses her arms to her chest resting her back against the wall. Her expression is stern.
"What had you fully armored this time?"
He hesitates for a single second and replies staring her right in the eyes. "I saw trouble coming."
Just then Barnabas and two men come carrying what Kassandra requested. Barnabas stays to help Kassandra take care of Brasidas's traumas. Firstly, they clean the slashes, tie them with clean rags, to prevent any infection, and then the dry blood from his body. The cut at his leg was deep and needed stitching.
All the while Kassandra remained silent, Barnabas naturally filled in the silence with comments for the wounds, stories and questions to get to know the young man. When the treatment was done, she found a good excuse to send Barnabas on deck for a few moments.
"You were spying on me, too." She notes as soon as the door closes, leaving them alone.
"There were some whispers about break-ins at some well-protected places, most lairs of the Monger, men found unconscious. Does it sound familiar?"
Anger makes her cheeks flush and she just grins daringly. "So, you were coming for me?"
He shakes his head. "I repeat, the person stuck their nose in a thug's business, looking for something. I was prepared."
She doesn't seem convinced. "You are a smart-ass soldier."
"Commander, actually."
She is taken by surprise forgetting her annoyance and rage. "You don't look that old."
He chuckles in reply and she gets frustrated once again.
Barnabas returns in the room and takes a seat next to Kassandra. His cheerful nature makes him unable to detect her coldness. He offers food and a cup of wine to the injured man first and then at the misthios. They thank him and Brasidas finds the opportunity to ask the old man about their operation.
"We travel a lot for the past three years. Since we met, my life has become an even bigger adventure." The old sailor happily reveals.
Brasidas takes the opportunity to learn more. "Before that?"
The old man smiles bringing in his mind many memories, trying to decide which story to tell first, while Kassandra glares at the Spartan.
"I've been to so many places, almost everywhere. My eyes have witnessed incredible things. In my youth, I was in the Athenian fleet."
That last part leaves a bitter taste to Brasidas, but he remains silent. He calmly turns his attention towards Kassandra waiting for her answer. She takes a sip of wine without breaking eye contact and holds out the half-empty cup.
"I was stuck on the worst shit place of an island all over Greece." Finishing she raises the cup of wine in mockery.
Her intention to annoy him by obviously accusing his nation for her fate, fails. He isn't bothered at all. Genuine concern is shown in his gaze.
"How did you make it out?"
"War contracts." She replies dryly.
He got her right where he wanted. "You assisted in Megaris, right? Your nickname is well known."
His question makes Barnabas uneasy who in fear opens his mouth, but for the first time, no words come out and he looks at Kassandra panicked. She nods and takes her time with her wine, emptying and refilling it.
Her reply is confident. "Yes, I bumped on chaos."
Brasidas smiles. "Trouble always finds you, funny coincidence…"
"Or I bring it with me. Don't chicken out to say it."
The three of them settle in silence for a while. The lack of any bad reaction from the young man restores the peaceful attitude, for Barnabas at least. They eat and drink, the men make small talk in friendly spirits as Kassandra observes. Brasidas and Barnabas like each other and seem to get on well. The night has come and the sailor bids goodnight and leaves. Kassandra looks Brasidas in the eyes as she stands up.
"It's time for you to rest, but if you need anything let me know."
He looks up at her. "Thank you. Where will you sleep tonight?"
She laughs and waves her hand in dismiss. "I've been to much worse. I will use a wolf's fur as a bed at the deck."
"I refuse to occupy your cabin, in this case. You can stay here." He declares.
She raises her eyebrows in surprise. It was unanticipated and got her perplexed. Her previous bad feelings begin to fade, no matter what.
Brasidas sees her reaction and adds as explanation. "The room has enough space for you. No need to stay out in the cold."
She relaxes but still hesitates. "I don't want to disturb you." Avoiding his eyes, she is fidgeting with her fingers.
"And I don't want you to catch your death of the chilly weather."
"Fine." She utters feeling tense.
. . .
Notes:
The names of the twelve hours of the day were:
1 Auge 2 Anatole 3 Mousike 4 Gymnastike 5 Nyphe 6 Mesembria
7 Sponde 8 Elete 9 Akte 10 Hesperis 11 Dysis 12 Arktos