> When I learned what it was that Diogenes had devised, I thought myself lucky. I considered myself a cunning manipulator, even. Gods I was a fool. How does one think themselves the victor, when placing their heart ‘twixt the claws of a lion? How could I have ever thought myself brilliant, when I had invited a cataclysm into my home, and set it on a path to pull all of Graecia into hell with it? My husband and I needed a Champion. My daughter needed a Knight. It seemed so perfect. So clever. Now, I weep at my own stupidity. Even now Stars burn across the humanosphere, and I weep.
True to his request and with a commendable level of honest assessment, Cassandra had in fact recommended Arthur to one of the best legal practitioners on Asfalís, and perhaps within the Ascendancy as a whole. The journey to the quaintly named offices of ‘Diogenes Legal Services’ had been largely uneventful following his departure from the Ascendancy Royal Navy’s headquarters, thanks partly he was sure to the intimidating appearance of his two companions.
As if the soft hum of movement from both Endymion and Perseus’ power armor was not enough, the sheer presence exuded by the pair was such that passersby actively moved away from the trio while they traversed the streets of Port Asfalís.
It had taken only a little convincing for the two Kidemónes to consent to allowing Arthur the chance to see the artificial port city from the ground, and only cost him the concession of not drifting off from their vicinity.
Given they seemed to subconsciously adjust to his every subtle shift in direction without issue, that was a small ask indeed. The Kidemónes were the elite royal guard, after all. It made sense that they had a knack for bodyguard duties.
A pleasant revelation from his time with the two was that both Graecian natives appeared to genuinely share his appreciation for the city’s beauty, and Perseus especially was more than happy to serve as a font of information and insight; pointing out every important landmark, explaining cultural oddities Arthur couldn’t quite understand, and even explaining some of the inspirations from human history that informed many of the statues, sculptures, and pieces of art displayed proudly throughout the city.
Their journey passed quickly in that way, and before long Arthur had found himself approaching the very legal offices within which he sat at that very moment, opposite from what might have been the most interestingly unassuming person he’d ever met.
Diogenes Carius, the owner, operator, and sole solicitor of Diogenes Legal Services was a short and portly Graecian man of advanced age. His hair, as wispy and silver as any Arthur had ever seen; was neatly brushed everywhere save for the sides of his head where it seemed determined to puff out as if the elderly lawyer had been electrocuted.
His simple brown suit and neat gray pocket square seemed oddly appropriate for the offices themselves, which were painted a faded cream color that somehow granted an homely or comforting feeling to the entire premises.
In fact were it not for the clearly modern holo screens, autoprinters, and AI assistant hologram manning the front desk; Arthur might have thought himself stepping back in time to the 20th Century.
“This contract does look quite generous.” Diogenes said in a voice that might have once been bass, but was now softer from the passage of time. “My only point of contention on your behalf, dear boy, would be the lack of an exit clause in the more lucrative of the two offers.”
“Isn’t that to be expected?” Arthur asked while looking into the other man’s startlingly blue, exceedingly sharp eyes. “One does not simply swear an oath to a House and walk away absent cause.”
“Cassandra Leos is the daughter of an ancient and deeply venerated military bloodline. I am not remotely surprised that she is seeking to tie your fate to her House’s own in whatever manner she can. Sending you to me, however…”
“A mistake?” Arthur asked with a searching gaze.
“No. Very much intentional.” Diogenes said firmly. “I believe that we are seeing the separation of role and person. The Lion Duchess may need to do whatever is in her power to tie you to her bloodline, but Cassandra—the woman—is seeking to give you the chance to build your own future.”
Arthur frowned at the seriousness of the elder man’s tone, and looked to where the contracts floated between them in holographic projection. “I didn’t really think it was such a dramatic action.”
“And that is precisely why she sent you to me, my boy. As you rightly stated, you cannot join the world of the Eupatridae and leave at their leisure. Hetairoi usually serve for an agreed-upon term, but this contract has no term limit. Usually Hetairoi swear to abide by a specific timeframe, and those oaths are quite binding both legally and morally.”
“So if I’d signed the contract, I’d have been indentured then and there?”
Diogenes chuckled dryly. “No, hardly that. You would, however, have been legally tied down so firmly that you’d have never been able to charter legal passage out of Graecia, let alone operate an Eidolon independently again. I suppose the difference could be seen as semantic, but the devil is often in the details as the saying goes.”
Arthur leaned back in his chair—which had a feature that adjusted it to fit his posture perfectly each time he moved—and reached up to rub his temples. He was no stranger, according to his murky memories, when it came to legalese or complicated matters of law and contract; but part of him had not thought a mid-Rim star nation to be anywhere near as capable of ruthless legality as his homeworld in the Pendragon System.
Yet another baseless assumption that might have gotten him into trouble.
He made a mental note to not allow his resurfacing memories to encourage them.
“So what are my options, then?” Arthur asked with a frown. “The second deal is evidently the only feasible one. I can’t pay for nor earn enough drachma to fund my own Eidolon without House Leos’ help, and I definitely have no interest in flying a stock Rim machine.”
He paused.
“Ah, no offense—”
“You have no need to apologize.” Diogenes said without missing a beat. “Your honesty does you credit, and your assessment is correct: The first offer is little more than a formality. It is even structured to be a formality, and attempting to make it anything more would be a fool’s errand.”
Arthur sighed. “Okay. So what do I do? I wasn’t entirely certain a true counter-offer was actually on the table.”
“In many ways it isn’t, no. House Leos clearly wants you, and their desire to keep you firmly tied to their bloodline is not something that will subside easily. However… There is room to play within that minefield. Especially since the honorable Duke Leos himself must consent to your appointment, no matter what contract you sign.”
“I’m all ears.” Arthur said while leaning forward again.
“Serve House Leos with the explicit intention of representing their interests, in return for all that was promised—as well as an open endorsement from the House Head, at the time of your term’s expiry, patronizing your right to create your own Eupatridae House. You would never be able to serve as a Knight-Errant in the same capacity, but in many ways you would enjoy far more freedom regardless.”
Arthur listened to Diogenes carefully and frowned while he processed the older man’s words, his fingers tapping on the armrests of his chair in thought.
Hetairoi were the storied companions of Alexander the Great, and served as his Knights and champions. It stood to reason that the translation, while not so directly exacting, would infer something equivalent to a sworn Knight. “So I would use my combat skills for House Leos, to then buy the political capital to ennoble myself with their sponsorship?”
“Yes. We Graecians still retain a great swathe of our classical roots, and among them is a heavy Spartan influence upon our martial and ruling echelons. While Attica and Laconia both play host to the seat of one of the two Kings, it is currently Sparta that enjoys the greatest influence upon the Ascendancy.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Because of Parthia?” Arthur guessed.
“Because of Parthia.” Diogenes confirmed simply. “With war ever-looming, the citizens look ever-more to King Leonidas, while King Pericles is content to allow his counterpart the scrutiny. The power of Athenai has always been commerce and social engineering, where Spartan might is drawn from manufacturing and the military. Once there was some balance, but in recent decades it is Sparta that has ascended to primacy.”
“Leonidas and Pericles…” Arthur repeated thoughtfully. “I understand them to be names taken upon ascension?”
“Indeed. The Kings doff their born names and moniker themselves after the greatest legends of each city-state. Leonidas is the fourteenth to carry the name, and Pericles the seventeenth to bear his.”
“What does swearing to House Leos entail?” Arthur asked carefully. “Forgive my wariness, Diogenes, but I am cautious of anything that has oaths of service in a society where they are upheld with such dire, and literal emphasis.”
“Your caution is warranted.” Diogenes reassured him calmly. “To be candid, House Leos is one of the best you could ask for, in terms of opportunity, treatment, and reputation. The process is simple enough, as well. You will arrive, be vetted by the Patriarch, demonstrate your skills, and either be offered an official appointment or sent away.”
“That is simple, and you sound familiar with them.” Arthur observed.
“Well, yes.” Diogenes chuckled. “I represent them.”
Arthur smiled at that wryly, and leaned back in his chair with a resigned chuckle.
“She really did think of everything, didn’t she?”
“Of course she did.” Diogenes said with his first proper smile. “That is why she chose me to take care of your needs.”
“Oh? Here I thought I was just being maneuvered by her.”
“Well of course you are.” Diogenes said with an owlish blink. “That is the nature of these games, dear boy. Everyone is a piece on the board. In your case, it just so happens that while I may be assisting a long-term client and ally, I am also looking out for your best interests.”
“Is that so?” Arthur asked skeptically.
“It is indeed. House Leos is one of the most storied and well-respected bloodlines in Graecia. They’ve recently fallen upon hard times, given that their last Hetairoi died valiantly in combat against pirates of all things some five decades hence.”
“Cassandra boasted wealth, influence, and power. What manner of hard times could they truly be suffering if she can make me such a lucrative offer?”
Arthur had his suspicions, of course. If his assumptions about the requirements to become an Hetairoi were accurate, he could perfectly understand why House Leos was desperate to have him.
“Because all the drachma and land in the galaxy means little if you cannot enforce your dominion. Hetairoi are the means by which most inter-House disputes are settled, dear boy.” Diogenes said, and confirmed Author’s assumptions in the act. “Not to mention, being unable to supply bannermen when called upon by one’s sovereign does not look good. Surely you saw much the same in Aurelia.”
“And elsewhere besides.” Arthur said noncommittally.
“So you understand.” Diogenes said with satisfaction.
“I do. Am I to also understand then, as a matter of certainty, that being an Eidolon pilot is a requirement for becoming an Hetairoi?”
“Indeed so. It is the only unequivocally universal requirement, in fact.”
Arthur had suspected as much. The existence of Eidolons and the rare, special breed of soldier that piloted them meant that most higher society factions across human space settled their disputes with ritual duels between champions, usually to disablement, though sometimes even to the death.
It was a tradition that had been pioneered—even aggressively pushed—by the Grand Imperium since the creation of Eidolons, and had become a universal cultural norm across all of human space. Eidolon pilots were as intrinsically tied to the cultural traditions of most societies as the worlds upon which they resided.
The idle wonder of why gigantic robots had been pushed as the chosen form of resolution between the aggrieved upper crust of mankind presented itself, but Arthur chose to defer the question for later rumination. It was not one he was likely to find an answer to soon, regardless.
His focus was needed in the present.
“So House Leos lacks Hetairoi.” Arthur said instead, and while giving no indication of his cultural ruminations. “Cassandra wants me to fix that... And she mentioned her husband?”
“Yes. She is the Patriarch’s wife, though she and he share a great grandfather. She was from a branch line of the main family, though close enough in relation to be worth bringing into the main line.”
“Ah. Gene-potency, I imagine?”
“Exactly so.” Diogenes said with a nod. “Their daughter, Circe, is the most gifted Eidolon pilot in House Leos’ history. One of the most gifted in the cluster, truth be told.”
Arthur mulled on that for a moment and realized quickly the problem. While the heiress might have been capable of taking on a Knightly role, the reality was that the path was saturated by the possibility of death, or worse.
“They can’t afford to risk her in the role of a Hetairoi, I take it?”
“That is correct.” Diogenes confirmed without hesitation. “Lord Menelaus Leos had an unfortunate accident shortly after Circe was born, and is unable to bear more children. Circe is too important to risk on a Hetairoi’s lifestyle.”
“And from the sounds of things, they’ve had no luck recruiting other Hetairoi.”
“No, they have not. Sadly it appears that those seeking an end to House Leos’ primacy in their areas of dominion are working hard to throttle their ability to find adequate champions.”
Arthur reached up and idly massaged his temples.
His headache had gotten better, but now and then it still spiked.
“You’re being paid by Cassandra,” he said with a glance up at Diogenes, “but can I assume you are still my lawyer?”
“Yes. I take my obligations very seriously, Ser Magellan.” Diogenes said with a firm and no-nonsense look. “I will not twist my advice to a client for anyone’s benefit, irrelevant of my relationship with them.”
Arthur blinked when a blur of color penetrated his vision, almost as if anchored around Diogenes, and then blinked again to clear it.
When he was done, they were gone.
He was going to need some sleep, if he was starting to hallucinate.
“Are you alright, Kyrio Magellan?”
“I… yes. Fine. Sorry. Okay, so you won’t lie to me. Somehow I feel like I can trust that. So…” he leaned forward and focused on the wizened lawyer. “Why House Leos?”
“They honor their accords, they treat their vassals with respect, and they will give you a powerful shield against others who may seek to use you for their own ends—and against your best interests.” Diogenes said immediately and with confidence. “Lord Atreus, whom I am given to understand is your sponsor—well done with that, by the way—and your Kidemónes escorts will help, but they are strictly apolitical and cannot shield you from threats that do not fall within their purview.”
“So I need a political shield.” Arthur said with a nod of understanding.
“And sword.” Diogenes agreed. “House Leos can be both, while the Myrmidón and his brothers keep you safe from other concerns.”
Arthur sighed again and looked up at the ceiling in thought. It was a risk. It was a huge risk, in some ways, but… Something about the situation called to him. Whether it was Nataliya’s wytchery, the effects of his time around Cassandra and her evident sincerity and love for her family—a love he knew he had never seen from his own family—or the simple reality of wanting to belong to something… He didn’t know, nor did he truthfully care.
Becoming House Leos’ Hetairoi might serve a personal purpose in giving him later political liberty, but it also answered a yearning within him that he could not deny.
Arthur hungered for purpose.
Becoming House Leos’ Hetairoi gave him that.
All he had, thanks to his abysmal Callandium compatibility, were the passive abilities his dense psions offered him; charisma, spatial awareness, heightened reflexes, moderately accelerated healing, and a deep and abiding ability to sense when he was in danger or when something could truly benefit him.
There was no sense in not trusting those abilities now.
If he managed to save House Leos from the edge of calamity, they would be indebted to him for the remainder of his life. Based on everything he’d learned, that was not an obligation they would ever take lightly—and having a Duke in your corner, no matter if it was the Rim or the Core, was never a bad thing.
“Alright, Diogenes. I’ll take the bait that has been so reasonably dangled.” Arthur said with an injection of mirth. “Rework the contract and prepare it for me, with the stipulation for Lord Leos to sponsor my own House down the line if I choose to pursue it.”
“I shall see to it.” Diogenes promised with a smile.
“And I assume there will be more to this than just signing the paperwork?”
“I would certainly presume so. Most likely you will be escorted to the House Leos holdings of Pallikári in Laconia, on Hellas, and brought before Duke Menelaus and Lady Circe. Whether or not Cassandra joins you is a wholly different matter upon which I cannot comment.”
“Well then. All this has made me extraordinarily hungry.” Arthur said with a wry smile and buried concern while rising from his chair. “I don’t suppose you know somewhere nearby I can find some good food?”
“Well now that depends, my dear boy.”
“On what exactly?” Arthur asked curiously.
“On how you feel about garlic yogurt and lamb.”