As a Prince, one would expect me to be relishing in the wonders of High-Class Food and the latest Chiton or in random brothels. One would not expect me to see his city-state Kingdom flooded because his parents angered the Sea Lord, Poseidon.

Here we are, In the Cretan-Aegean Sea going Westward, according to my Ship Captain. I am Prince Soter, Son of King Kaithus and Queen Jania, both of whom were swept off to sea, meeting their unfortunate demise. They angered Lord Poseidon by not Sacrificing a damned cow because it was too “beautiful”.

They left this world, Leaving me, the newly crowned King of a Ship, with a Cohort of 1200 people and three Tireremes. A Functional Fighting force, yes, but not comparable to anything, really, except maybe a ship or two of pirates. We were at least superior to those bandits.

I don’t know what Poseidon is thinking about keeping those ruffians around while massacring A Kingdom of People. I mean really? Old Barnacle Beard couldn’t keep his temper because Us Mortals didn’t sacrifice a white Cow to him? I should shut up before he sinks my ship.

I looked at my Admiral, Haithus, who was grimly looking into the seas. We had managed to escape into the seas at the last moment, before our home, Liares, was submerged.

I said, “Haithus, how far are we from the Saronic Gulf? I want to dock in Athens.” Haithus Studied a Map he pulled out of his Pockets. He then said, “We are going at 10 Knots per hour on all three ships, It would take about 9 hours to reach Athens.”

I nodded at the captain. It was about 3 am, according to the Clepsydras on the table in front of me. So, if things go well, we will be in Athens by noon tomorrow. I bid the Admiral good sailing and retired to my Cabin.

I stared at the Ceiling, the waves swaying objects in my room. The Immortals, I refused to call them gods, for they were nothing but glorified immortal Super man-children who had the luck to be from Gaia’s Bloodline, were cruel. They were childish, arrogant fools, who take their anger out on us weaklings. In less than an hour, Liares was no more. It wasn’t that grand or anything, but it was home. It was a few miles away from the kingdom of Calliste.

So many people died in less than an hour…My friends and family are many feet under. The sheer tragedy of the affair finally caught up to me, breaking my façade of leadership and bravery. My Mother…Father... My younger siblings were washed away due to a damned cow. I cursed Hera, the Immortal whose Symbol was these nasty Quadrupeds. I broke down, curling into a ball in my cot, sobbing. I had been left with the responsibility of the remnants of my nation. I then drifted off to the land of Hypnos…

I dreamt of that day. The sun was shining an impressive yellowish orange that day, The Farmers were in the fields, tending to the crops, the shepherds grazing their livestock, The Smiths forging, and the Hoplites training. I stood on my Balcony, Sword in my scabbard, at ease, observing the tranquility of Liares, The Kingdom of Freedom. But I guess the Immortals never liked freedom, damn them….

The Scene Shifted, and I was trying to grab my mother onto my ship. “Mother! Hold on!” I cried at the top of my lungs, trying to pull her up. But she just smiled at me. She grabbed my face and said, “My death will not be your fault, Soter. Let me go, move on. I shall join your father. Just know that you were my pride, the Pride of Liares, and the Pride of your Father. Your Father is not Kaithus, You are the son of-” At that precise moment, the tidal waves around us flung my mother many yards away and into the sea. My arms were outstretched, and I was sobbing in Sadness and confusion.

I awoke with a start, drenched in sweat. The nightmares were getting worse. I wiped the sweat off my forehead with a rag, changed into new clothes, and walked onto the deck.

I saw Athens in the distance, Mount Lycabettus was visible from here. We were a few minutes away from docking at the Athenian Harbors.

I roused the Hoplites in all ships. We had about 430 Hoplites. Six hundred Oars Men, 120 Sailors, and the rest were other roles like surgeon, officer, captain, admiral, carpenters, quartermasters, etc. I told the Hoplites in all ships to keep their swords and spears low, but ready.

I looked at Haithus, my Admiral. I said, “Haithus, dock in the harbors.” Haithus nodded and repeated the orders to the Sailors and Oarsmen. In a few minutes, we had docked into the Harbors of Athens, the descendants of Athena.

I was met with a Harbor Master, who was glaring at me very annoyed and full of frustration. He asked, “Boy, who docks three warships in a random nation’s Harbor? We thought you were a pirate, you Imbecile.”

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I laughed nervously and said, “Old Harbormaster, I apologize for not making it clear that we weren’t pirates. I am the King of Liares.” The Harbormaster looked me up and down, grimaced, and said, “Poseidon? Zeus?” I nodded and said, “Poseidon.” I paid the old folk 20 Drachmas and entered the city. I told Haithus and the guys to stock up on supplies and to do some odd jobs for Drachmas. I took twenty of my more experienced Hoplites with me to explore the city. Right away I saw the Athena Parthenos, made in honor of Athena. I then sampled some of the local street food as well. Me and the Hoplites crashed at a Tavern to eat food, where we met up with Haithus and the Sailors, to eat lunch.

The day turned to evening. We chatted and drowned our sorrows in Wine. I abstained, for I didn’t want a hangover. Suddenly, a lady, with a black cloak and veil, entered the Tavern and sat at our table. I was puzzled but then some rough-looking men entered the Tavern. I immediately understood that she was being pursued and I led her out the back door. She seems relieved, to say the least, to escape the hooligans.

I turned to her when we arrived at the docks and said, “What’s your name?” She studied me and then said “Kassandra Kypria.”

I then said, “Why were those men chasing you?”

"Kassandra Kypria," she said, her voice a husky whisper. "And those oafs were my delightful escort, courtesy of my dear papa." A sardonic smile played on her lips. "He's rather keen on marrying me off to some dullard noble. A wife is the only accessory his reputation still lacks." She said sarcastically, but there was a charm to her that just made her anger seem angry, but a charm that people couldn’t get enough of. I stupidly said, “The Noble prick would have been a lucky guy if you agreed.”

Her eyes, those storm clouds I was drowning in, widened. A blush crept up her neck, a stark contrast to the pale skin revealed by the fallen veil. She fanned herself with a graceful hand, a gesture both regal and undeniably charming. There was a fire in her defiance, a beauty that went beyond mere looks.

“I suppose not just mere nobles appreciate my looks, dear-” She stopped herself and smiled sarcastically at me. She said, “You didn’t introduce yourself, gentleman.”

I gathered my composure and said, “I am Prince Soter.” She grinned at my name and said, “Prince Savior? I suppose you live up to the name, don’t you?” She playfully pushed my chest. But then, those previous Ruffians charged into the Docks, waving their clubs, maces, spears, and swords around stupidly. The biggest and thereby stupidest of them spoke up, “Leave the gal to us, Pretty boy! Before things get ugly!” I looked at Kassandra, who drew a Dagger from a pocket. I thought to myself that there was nothing more charming than a woman who wasn’t afraid to fight. I nodded and unsheathed my Bronze Broadsword. I stared at the stupid cyclops-like Ogres before me with a menacing glare. I spoke. “Leave, or I’ll send you to Eis Korakas!” But that seemed to anger the unintelligent fools, who started charging me one by one.

I have to say, these men, they were brutes, not skilled. They were the definition of “Bronze but no Brains.” They could not even swing a sword properly. I sidestepped, dodged, and deflected their attacks effortlessly, before charging them and giving them all bronze edges with a side of pain. I cut down the ten men before me, then I advanced at their leader, who wasn’t surprised. He probably had experience leading meat shields. I engaged him by swinging my blade sideways at his belly, he parried and tried to kick me, but Kassandra had sneaked up on him swiftly and silently like a Predator in the woods from behind and jabbed her dagger into his Chest, finishing him. I nodded at her, and took her back to the tavern, chatting along the way.

“Kassandra, would you like to join my crew? You were handy with that Dagger if I so say myself.”

Kassandra let out a throaty laugh, a sound that sent shivers down Soter's spine. It was not a sound of amusement, but one laced with a hint of something else – defiance, maybe a touch of something bitter.

"Handy, you say?" she said, raising an eyebrow and tracing the hilt of the dagger that was now back in its sheath. "Perhaps. But the 'crew' suggests taking orders, Prince Soter. That does not sound particularly appealing, does it?"

Her words hung in the air, a challenge. I felt a flicker of irritation, but it was quickly eclipsed by a grudging respect. This woman was not one to be easily swayed.

“Maybe. But I shall do you a better bargain. Become Captain of one of my Tirereme and my advisor. A King cannot be one without a female Advisor keeping him down to Earth, can he?” I said innocently, with the charm of a Raven. Kassandra echoed playfully, “Keeping you down to earth, is it?” She giggled slightly, “An Ambitious goal, for someone so…charming, don’t you think?” Her tone softened, and the Idea of Adventure and Leadership intrigued her.

“Indeed,” I pressed harder, “A King needs someone to dislodge his pride from the skies, someone who isn’t afraid to break royal decrees to help his or her highness.”

By now, we had already sat down back at the tavern. Kassandra's eyes sparkled with a dangerous glint; the amusement was replaced by a flicker of something more calculating. "Break royal decrees, you say?" she mused, swirling the wine in her cup. "That sounds less like an advisor and more like a… mischievous, rebel co-captain." A hint of a smile played on her lips, a challenge in her voice.

“Perhaps,” I conceded, “A King needs someone who isn’t afraid of going against him and will stay true to his or her morals and principles, someone who will fight for what's right, even if it goes against the King’s wishes...” I then dropped my tone down to a whisper. I spoke, “Tell me Kassandra, do you seek a partner on the seas or a King?”

Kassandra's laughter, light and dangerous, echoed in the tavern. It was not a sound of amusement this time, but a challenge, a test. Her eyes, the color of a stormy sea, held my gaze with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Kings give orders and expect blind obedience. They believe the world revolves around their gilded thrones." A flicker of something raw, something painful, crossed her features for a fleeting moment before being masked by a steely resolve.

I smiled at her with a newfound respect. I then said charmingly, “Then, be my partner. Be my equal and make the weight of the Golden Laurel on my head lighter.”

Kassandra studied me for a while with a gaze that held some hope for the future. She then slowly nodded, smiled, and shook my hand. “You have a deal, your highness. I will be your partner, your equal in every sense of the word. The weight of that laurel may rest upon your head, but I will ensure it doesn't cloud your judgment."