“It’s a simple deduction.” Arthur disagreed with a mild massaging of his temple.

“Not one for flattery, I take it?”

“No, your grace.” Arthur said with a shake of his head. “Not one for flattery.”

Cassandra grinned openly at his words.

“You really might be what I’m looking for, then.”

“Assuming I’m not a spy, fugitive, or political refugee.” Arthur observed.

“Assuming so.” Cassandra agreed.

“And you need to be certain.” Arthur said with a sigh of annoyance at his head. “Beyond reasonable doubt.”

“I must.” Cassandra agreed with an intense look before turning to the Kidemónes. “Could one of you please retrieve a glass of water for Kyrio Magellan?”

“Yes, your grace.” Endymion said immediately and stepped out through the door.

“That’s not necessary.” Arthur said with a glance back in surprise at Endymion’s rapid obedience.

“You’re evidently in some small measure of pain. It’s the least I can offer.” Cassandra said simply.

Endymion returned a moment later with a tall glass of water, and set it smoothly into Arthur’s hand. He glanced at the Kidemónas in surprise again, but inclined his head in thanks. A paranoid part of him wanted to check for some sort of chemical in the water, but he doubted that was in Endymion’s character.

And if they really wanted to hurt him, they were wearing power armor.

With those facts in mind, Arthur took a grateful sip of the chilled liquid.

It helped. Somewhat.

“Better?” Cassandra asked with a smile.

Arthur simply nodded and set the glass onto a coaster on the desk.

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“Thank you.” he said with his full focus back on the Rear Admiral.

“Do you have any questions regarding what I’ve said so far?” Cassandra asked when he set the glass down.

“No. I’m mostly just interested in getting the ‘potential spy’ part of the equation out of the way. I can’t imagine that is going to be good for my prospects, as far as employment in Graecia goes.”

Cassandra laughed warmly. “No, I can’t say it would. I am glad you understand that. It will make this much faster, and likely far less unpleasant. We have an easy way of qualifying your nature, in fact...”

While she spoke the doors to her office opened when she trailed off, and the sound of heavy footsteps followed their parting.

“To that end,” Cassandra resumed, “I took the liberty, after being informed of your coming here by Kidemónas Chloros, to request the services of someone uniquely suited to resolving this matter quickly.”

Arthur shifted in his chair to look to his right at the same moment as a new figure came into view, and his heartbeat sped up in response to what he saw. The new arrival wore armor of a similar design to Endymion and Perseus, but where theirs was silver and they bore thick cloaks of luxurious cobalt, the figure that entered was bedecked in plates of matte black.

A cloak of spartan crimson covered the warrior’s pauldrons and fell across their back like a river, trailing down upon the floor as they walked. Their right hip bore a Greek Xiphos with a hilt suitable for one or two-handed use, and a blade built to a larger scale than was tradition.

When the Myrmidón—for that was the only thing they could be—came to a halt and turned to face him properly, Arthur felt a small chill roll down his spine at the symbol proudly rising from the center of their chest: the Λ. Lambda.

The symbol for ancient Laconia.

The symbol for Sparta.

“Thank you for joining us, Lord Atreus.”

The Myrmidón reached up and removed his helmet without replying and set it on Cassandra’s desk, revealing the face of a man that looked to be in the prime of his life. A well-kept black beard lined his face, and onyx hair cropped with military precision covered his head. His eyes, which were a bronze that seemed to match well to his olive skin, remained fixed on Arthur even when he at last chose to respond.

His voice was like the rumble of a mountain.

“It is my honor to serve the interests of the Ascendancy, Yponávarchos. That said, I can scarcely believe so much pageantry and commotion has arisen from the arrival of a single young man.”

“You and I both, my lord.” Cassandra said with a twinkle in her eye that Arthur couldn’t quite parse. “Were it not for the insistence of the Kidemónes, I would not have believed the matter as important as it is.”

“That is assuming this Freelancer speaks the truth,” Atreus said coolly, “and does indeed possess the skills he claimed.”

“That—” Cassandra said decisively “—and his intentions and allegiance, if any, are what I am hoping you will be able to discern.”

“Then let us not waste any more time.” Atreus decreed.