007: Rain
The polemarch walked back to the polis, the night was drawing closer and closer along with huge grey clouds preceding a drizzle, the sun would set in a few hours and time was running out, but Asterion did not hurry his pace, he just slowly walked like always, thinking about what to do while remembering in detail his first meeting with Theseus.
The rain began to fall and Asterion stopped to contemplate for a moment the drops falling on the river, the clarity and tranquility that it had before, now interrupted by turbulent waters and the noise of the thunderous current, a cursed thought passed through the polemarch mind, that of abandoning the polis and his companions to survive, he held the back of his neck tightly while looking at his feet and the mud that was covering them, he knows that this is the wrong decision that only a cowardly traitor would make, but returning to the city is just suicide, for a cause that is not even noble, defending a city full of slavers that the young man detested with all his soul.
-What is the point of all this?
They were the only words that his brain could formulate, Asterion has worked hard like few others to reach his position with the hope of making a change, but now everything would vanish because of a bad decision. Resuming the course to Skiathos as slowly as he could, as if that would give him more time to stay alive, Asterion, still looking at the ground, observed a small moth that, unable to fly because of the rain, had crashed into the ground. The polemarch placed it in his palm and let it rest on a trunk while the insect dried its wings. He put his hand one last time on the back of its neck and looked at the sky while clenching his teeth and eyelids.
-At least, at least I must save them.
…
Asterion finally returned to the palisade and several hoplites were armed, carrying things from one side to the other and shouting orders to each other, the preparations for battle were far from being ready. At the base of one of the watchtowers the polemarch saw a familiar face.
-NIKO!
After the shout the thracian quickly met with his leader, he had a face of extreme concern.
-You… you're alive, you, they told me that you met Theseus, I-I thought that…
-Inform me of the situation here and take me to the commander, they will attack in a few hours.
There was a small silence while Niko processed the situation and finally after composing himself, his usual voice returned.
-They try to reinforce the palisade as they can, there are not many blessed by Hercules in this area so they prioritize the watchtowers, anyway they expect the wall to fall so we will dig a ditch to delay the mycenaeans, meanwhile the citizens escape through the labyrinth.
The duo arrived at a large house where outside several guards were sharpening their weapons and polishing their rings, upon entering they saw a huge inn where Laconia, other strategists and the commander; a middle-aged man quite strong and armed like the hoplites plus a cape, discussed plans to defend the polis, none turned to see who came to see them.
-The minotaurs will arrive in three hours.
The five strategists watched the duo enter and Laconia immediately stood up to greet them.
-Polemarch, I'm glad you're okay.
The commander didn't seem happy.
-The man who survived an encounter with Theseus the founder has arrived, how strange considering his lack of blessing, Asterion the starless. What relevant information do you bring us?
Asterion understood the commander's irony and doubts, surely he must imagine that the polemarch is a traitor or simply a useless man saved by luck.
-Theseus brought a small combat force, approximately fifty mycenaeans, they come in retaliation for the minotaur slaves kept and exterminated in the city.
The commander smiled and calmed down much more.
-Only fifty, can we trust this report?
Laconia stood and turned to look at the commander.
-The polemarch is a renowned strategist, he has faithfully served heleny and the archons, his information is very relevant to us for this fight.
The commander seemed displeased by the comment but had no way to refute it, so he simply accepted the situation.
-Well, if there are only fifty mycenaeans, our only problem should be to repel Theseus. This polis has one hundred and fifty trained hoplites and we fight on our territory, this will hardly be a challenge.
Stolen novel; please report.
-Don't underestimate him commander, Theseus' troops are few because they are elite soldiers and their tactics are usually extremely aggressive, I recommend requesting reinforcements and carrying out a war of attrition, counterattacking will not result in a good result.
The commander put both hands on the table and stood up from his seat.
-Don't give me orders, boy, watch your words, I don't share your plan, our forces are three times larger and a battle of attrition will only generate unnecessary deaths and expenses.
Asterion looked down and clasped his hands behind his waist.
-I then ask to serve as captain in battle and request ten hoplites in addition to my fellow phalanx members to defend the polis.
-Denied.
Asterion, Niko and Laconia were surprised by the commander words.
-Although I understand your strategic ability polemarch, your achievements are only in skirmishes and explorations of the labyrinth, in this situation I cannot allow my troops to be misguided, besides a captain needs at least to be able to defend himself, you will not participate in combat.
Laconia took her weapon.
-If my polemarch does not participate in the battle I have no obligation to fight in this war either.
The commander raised his voice.
-LERNA BASTARD! I remind you that you are not exactly a citizen of Helena, the archons spared your life in exchange for serving us, you are not a heleny like us, you are just a slave that was "lent" to a useless polemarch incapable of fighting.
The bestiary filled the sword with flames and at that moment, before the warrior attacked the arrogant man, Asterion placed himself in the middle.
-Calm down bestiary, you know the consequences.
Laconia lowered her weapon and walked out of the building while Asterion was done of trying to negotiate with the commander.
-I understand your instructions commander, I will immediately leave the polis.
-I do not allow it either, as a polemarch you must stay here with your phalanx, it is your duty.
-… I understand commander.
Asterion walked out of the place with his head down. Niko, who was only observing, kept his anger with the injustice used by the commander until he could not stand it any longer.
-I am not a hoplite, I trained to be a thracian, warrior and explorer of the labyrinth, I serve the archons, I do not have to serve you.
The commander did not even look at the young man.
-Go ahead.
Niko left, fed up with the commander and with his hands on his waist he could not get the anger out of his body, he was totally prepared to fight for the city, but now he felt disgusted and confused, he has to fight to save the soldiers who are not guilty of anything, but in doing so he will also fight for the arrogant commander. Niko looked around for Laconia or Asterion and was greeted by the latter, who grabbed the thracian by the arm and led him towards the end of the wall towards the beach.
-What- What do we do?
You and Laconia must learn that it is better to just accept the words of these shitty leaders so it is much easier to take advantage of them.
-Learn, take advantage, did you hear what I told him?
-Yes, I appreciate your words, now let's concentrate on saving Laconia and as many soldiers as possible.
-But how? If we escape through the labyrinth we will be considered deserters, we better win the battle.
-There is no way to win the battle. Do you think Theseus underestimates the city? He brought just the right amount he needs to crush us and maintain the siege in Helena, by tomorrow Skiathos will be mycenaean territory.
-Then how are we going to get out of this without being killed or branded as traitors?
-If I tell you the plan it will not work so I am sorry.
-At least give me a clue.
-It involves fishing.
-Huh?!
Thracian and polemarch ran until they reached the edge of the wall, both climbed to the watchtower and Asterion looked deeply into the sea, as if he were searching for something.
-What are you doing?
-This place has to have a ship.
-How will that help us?
-There's one there, perfect.
Asterion thought carefully, looking at the floor. Niko only had more and more questions in his head, but seeing that the polemarch wouldn't answer any of them, he decided to try to be of help.
-Do you want me to look for Miss Laconia?
-Please, but don't talk to her, just inform me of her situation, mainly what part of the wall she will defend. I will stay in the house behind this watchtower. Come here as soon as the mycenaeans appear.
-Understood.
Niko left and Asterion muttered with his mouth covered with his hand, he was still afraid of dying in this confrontation, but also he was excited, excited to feel his mind working looking for a solution, a way to reverse the situation in his favor, the polemarch knows for sure that the city is lost, but right now saving his phalanx is the priority, a hoplite climbed the watchtower meeting the thoughtful man.
-Hello, nice to meet you. Will you watch with me?
-Yes, nice to meet you. My name is… Tesarion, I am a polemarch sent here by the archon of light to help.
Tesarion Asterion took out the papyrus with the seal of the ram.
-The commander appointed me captain to defend this side along with ten more hoplites.
They both shook hands.
-Well, what are your orders, captain?
Asterion, with a huge smile and full of false confidence, informed him of his false plans.
-For now, help me get another nine men. Then I need us to bring that fishing boat to arm it.
-Arm it?
-Trust your captain, we will set a trap that the mycenaeans will never see coming.
-Yes, captain, I will inform the commander.
The hoplite was ready to leave but was stopped by the polemarch.
-Calm down, not yet, wait here with me, Theseus is a very intelligent minotaur, the more heleny know about the plan the more likely it is that he will find out and fail due to any carelessness, stay calm, for now let's just wait an hour, then gather the soldiers and prepare the ship.
-Oh, okay.
They both leaned on the frame of the watchtower observing the forest and the sky.
-It's a shame that we have to fight on a rainy day captain, the stars are covered by clouds and the eyes of the gods will not be able to see our battle, it is a bad omen for us the blessed ones, don't you think?
Asterion thought for a short while about his answer.
-I don't know much about omens… But don't worry soldier, they told me that when I was born it also rained like now and even so, despite being born outside the eyes of the gods, I was blessed with favors just as magnificent as everyone else.
-What god blessed you captain? I am a faithful servant of the goddess Amphitrite.
-It’s… A secret, you will see it in battle.
The trees in the distance moved from one side to the other and the rain slowly transformed into a storm, which would hit the polis in the middle of the confrontation, perhaps for good, perhaps for bad.