Chapter 5

“Ilaria, it is time,” whispered Arios. He shook her gently. “We must be on our way.”

“Ari?” she yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Is it dawn already?”

“Yes, but be quiet, Father still sleeps.” He pulled her from her bed. “Get dressed, quickly.” Then he turned and left the room.

He decided to wait in the courtyard at the shrine of Kallidrios. It was at its center, a humble marble altar adorned with flower wreathes from their garden. Arios had not spent much time in prayer but his father left offerings every night and kept a lamp burning at all times. He knelt down and briefly touched his mother’s comb. Then lit some incense and began to pray. It was some time before Ilaria finally appeared.

He looked up as she entered the courtyard, “I told you to hurry!” he hissed.

She glared back at him. “It is to early for that kind of tone. Have you eaten?”

“There is no time!”

“Hmph!” Ilaria walked out of the courtyard into the kitchen and reached into a cupboard. “Lucky for you I prepared pita. We can eat it on the way.”

She held out her hand to him and he took the bread begrudgingly. “Thank you,” he muttered.

“Never mind that, we are going to be late!”

They rushed out into the street and headed towards the barracks. They were to meet Darios there. It was a long walk and the city grew progressively brighter as they went, a constant reminder of their tardiness.

Finally, they rounded a bend and there stood Captain Darios. He wore a simple blue tunic. A stark contrast from the golden plate Arios had always seen him in. And without his helm Arios could see the dark curls so common of citizens of the Kalydorian Empire. Without the armor he looked just like any other man.

“Arios! There you are! I was beginning to think you had overslept.” He held out his hand but froze when he saw Ilaria. “Who have you brought with you?”

“Sir, this is my sister—”

“Ilaria. I apologize for the shock, Captain, but I too wish to be trained… in case I have need to defend myself.”

“Ilaria it is a pleasure to meet you and I of course would be honored to be your instructor but…” He frowned and turned towards Arios, “Did your father approve of this?” he inquired urgently. There was something in his voice, not fear but…

“We thought it best not to inform him of this” interjected Ilaria. “He has already seen the value in teaching Arios to fight, why would he not wish me to do the same?”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The frown vanished from the captain’s face, “Why yes of course!” he replied. “In this time of uncertainty, we must all take destiny in to our own hands! Come, both of you, let us begin!”

Together they walked into a training yard. At all other hours it would have been filled with soldiers sparring, wrestling and training but at this time it was empty and eerily quiet.

Darios stepped in front of them and spoke, “In the field the long spear rules however in the cramped confines of city warfare it can often lack the maneuverability necessary for victory. To compromise you will train in the short spear to keep your enemy at bay and then the sword should they manage to break through.” He picked a spear off of a rack. “We will start with the spear.” He then grabbed two very large round shields and signaled for them to follow him.

He led them out of the barracks into a narrow city alley. “In the event that our besiegers breach the city much of the fighting will be done in narrow choke points. In an alley such as this it would only take one or two warriors to bar the way.”

He handed them the shields. They came up to more than half of Arios’s height, even further on Ilaria. Arios had always thought them to be made of bronze but in fact they were wooden with only a thin bronze layer on the front. The bronze was engraved with a phoenix, the symbol of House Kalydor. They were heavy, but not as heavy as they looked. Darios showed them both how to strap into the shield for extra support and leverage.

For the next hour they trained using just the shield. Various stances and formations. How to cover one while the other attacked. Arios felt exhausted, but when he looked to Ilaria he could see no such weariness in her face. It shone with sweat but her eyes were narrowed, determined. He doubled his efforts; he would not be beaten by her. They drilled on and on until the shield felt like a boulder pulling him to the floor.

“Enough!” shouted Darios. “You have both done surprisingly well, would that I could keep training you all day. Alas, I promised Erykos that your work would not suffer and I am sure, Ilaria, that you have other duties to attend to as well.” He took the shields from them. “Come let us eat together before we part.”

Darios had prepared some dried fruits and salted meats with bread for their meal. They sat together on the steps of the Barracks devouring the food too tired to speak.

Eventually Darios broke the silence, “It is quite beautiful, your city.” he said. “Much grander than where I come from.”

“Where is that Sir?” he asked. Excited to finally learn more about the mysterious captain.

“A city far to the north… It was called Eironeia.” He starred out at the city then, “And don’t call me Sir. We are comrades in arms now, I am Darios.”

“Why did you leave, Darios?” asked Ilaria.

“I would not have, had it been my choice, Eironeia was one of the first cities to fall to the Kyrithon,” his eyes shimmered. “During its sacking I was taken prisoner. It was the luck of the gods that the army was soon routed and I was freed me from captivity. I joined Lord Pyragos shortly after. But before I beheld Kenosia, I thought never to see a city as fair as Eironeia again. You two remind me of some children I knew—”

Before he could finish horns rang through the city. Suddenly the barracks was awake! All around them soldiers came rushing down the stairs.

Darios sprang to his feet as one soldier carrying armor ran to him.

“Captain!” the man cried. “The horns! What are our orders?”

Darios grabbed the plate from the man then shouted, “Prepare the men to fall in rank! Make way to the main gate! I will find Lord Pyragos and meet you there!” The soldier saluted and ran back into the Barracks shouting.

Darios turned to Arios and Ilaria. “Go home you two!” he commanded. “See to your father and stay inside!”

“Are they here?” cried Arios. “Let me come with you!”

“No!” bellowed Darios. “Get your sister home!”

“Come Arios,” plead Ilaria. “We will be no use here.”

A fire raged in Arios demanding that he stay but he could abandon his sister. He hung his head in defeat and she took his hand, leading him out of the Barracks towards home. There could be no mistaking it this time. The Kyrithon were here.