Helion balled up while I brought my fist down on him again and again. “It was a jest!” he managed to shout. I stopped punching and backed off. Helion rubbed his cheek. He slowly stood, still on guard, “Good to lay eyes on you as well.”
I calmed myself and rubbed my knuckles, “A welcome sight, to be sure.”
“Estrios!” called my brother. “Come find me before we march.” I nodded as he walked by.
“What of Estrianes?” asked Helion. “I have yet to see him.”
My head shook abruptly, “Last I saw, he was with you.”
“After we killed the enemies we came to grips with, we realized you weren’t with us. The rest of our rearguard started moving off the field, and we started down the road when Estrianes ran off, probably to seek you out.” My blank look stated how much I knew about the situation. “I’d have gone with but as the men moved, but I saw not which direction he had run. Not long after, more riders harassed us, and forced us to withdraw.”
“You’ve not seen him since?”
“No,” he replied. “I wouldn’t worry. More survivors like you have been wandering into the shrine. He’ll turn up.” He looked down at my broken sandal, “Let’s get you some new equipment.” Until that moment, I had forgotten that I left my dented helmet back on the plains, that my shield was cracked, and that my sandal was becoming loose again.
Helion picked up his spear and shield and walked me over to a pile of sandals belonging to the dead hoplites. Others were gathered around replacing missing or damaged equipment as well. I found a sandal that was roughly the size I needed and tied it tight.
There were many fine bronze shields on the ground in a separate pile. I discarded my broken one and looked them over. Anyone of those would have done well, but I searched through the pile for another made from wood and bull’s hide. Considering how accustomed I was to its light weight and how long we had yet to march, I was relieved to find one under the pile of bronze. Its face was plain, other than a spatter of dried blood.
I untied the Elahkarian straight sword from my cracked shield and fixed the sheath to the inside of my new one. Slinging the new shield over my back, I walked over to the pile of bronze helmets. After trying a few, I found one with a red horsehair crest that fit almost as well as the last. I pushed the helmet back on my head to expose my face. I felt whole again, physically.
“Do you I have time to rest before we move out?”
“I know not when we are departing,” replied Helion. “Let’s find Estriadites and see the answer known.”
We walked amongst the throng of hoplites by the temple. We could hear a heated discussion from the temple windows. Many pressed around them to hear what they could. “I’ll see what I can find out.” Helion nodded and sat next to the building.
I walked up to the doorway. A large hoplite moved into my path until my brother called my name and waved me in. The nobles were gathered in the center of the temple. Actually, they were pressed together in the tight space, with not much space to spare. A stone temple should be cooler than outside but with this crowd, everyone was sweaty and uncomfortable.
My brother and I stood at the edge of the war council, level with the doorway. The floor dipped down at the temple’s center so that once inside, you would have to walk down five steps or walk around the sides by the stone columns.
“The longer we wait, the more survivors find us. If we then draw the enemy into battle, a decisive victory will clear the way to the beach,” announced the noble with the red beard. “We need to draw them into open ground.” Some applauded and shouted in affirmation. “At least let us wait for Estriadamos to rejoin us with his men.”
“Well Clytomedes, what would you have us do?” replied Klysestes with crossed arms. “Would you send them an invitation for battle on the ground of our choice? I’m not sure if this has escaped your grasp, but we are not fighting another polis.”
“You think me a fool then?”
“Long before today.”
Clytomedes’ face turned hot with anger. “And I suppose you have all the answers!” Friends of his shouted at Klysestes and were answered by those who supported him.
The temple erupted in incoherent noise. I looked the side to find our tyrant, Ankarithesos. His eyes darting between different nobles caught up in the argument, biting a fingernail. I thought it strange at the time because I knew not what kind of man he was. Hindsight being what it is, it became clear that Ankarithesos, though our leader, did not lead in times of war.
If you looked at our tyrant, he had a formidable presence. He was tall and well muscled. When you saw him for the first time, he commanded respect. In battle, he was one of the best warriors you could ask for. His fault was the crippling fear he had of making the wrong decision leading up to a battle. Once committed, staring down an enemy over the rim of his shield, he was a lion. Ask him which route we should march to battle, where we should procure water, or how we should array our men, his confidence crumbled and he called for his council.
“Seize your tongues!” a voice boomed, echoing off the temple walls. Ankarithesos’ hands were cupped around his mouth. “I would hear all ideas before my decision is made. Klysestes, you have the floor.”
Klysestes let out a deep breath, “We need only remember two facts, the first of which being time. We have not the time to wait around in hope that more stragglers will arrive. The journey ahead of us will take the rest of the day, and we must be ready to aid the Lektrians in the battle to come, which may be the following morning.”
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Frustrated sighs and quiet grumbling swept through the group of nobles. “Secondly,” continued Klysestes. “We are ill provisioned to stay here for longer than we have to. If we wait too long, it won’t matter how many men we have, we will have missed the battle. The Lektrians will likely think us cowards, dragging our feet when answering their call. They will see our alliance dissolved if they survive. Facing the full might of Kalocea alone would be overwhelming at best.”
“I have something to say,” announced a voice from the back. Estriadites leaned over and whispered that it was Abaenaxes the Elder as if that was supposed to mean something to me. Abaenaxes pushed his way into the group so we could see him. His gray-white hair was short, save for a thin braid coiled around the top of his head for extra padding when wearing a helmet. His beard was longer than most but not shaggy. A deep scar underlined his eye.
“I have fought with honor for Demepolis for more than thirty-eight years,” he continued. “Why is it that we need this war? We can defend our home from the safety of our walls. Why should we not see to our own protection and let the Lektrians do the same? Are we not only fighting now so that we may only fight the next day? If they’re fifteen thousand hoplites fall, of what use is a thousand more? ”
The volume of the room rose with murmurs and hushed tones. Looking around, it was not hard to see the room was conflicted. Many shared the view we should go back the way we came. It seemed that fewer were of a mind to see the journey to its end. Estriadites closed his eyes.
Klysestes did not flinch. He held Abaenaxes gaze and remained silent. Other men were looking around, gauging reactions of their peers. Klysestes cleared his throat, “Our word means nothing.” That held the attention of every man. “We made an honor pact with the Lektrians and they’ve bled for us. It comes to a choice. When Demepolis is surrounded and starved by the barbarian king, how many of you would wish to face them in a field of our choosing?” Whispers and muffled voices were traded. “You really think Cassephernes would be content to sack Lektrios and leave the rest of these lands in peace?”
“Those who prefer to abandon fair Lektrios are short-sighted.” Estriadites and I listened intently. “I will continue on this path with whoever is willing to join me,” he paused, “willing to share the glory, loot, and slaves with them.” Abaenaxes’ face remained unyielding despite many other’s nodding in affirmation. The tide of the room was in motion, and I could feel its turning.
“From what we have all seen today,” continued Klysestes, “the Elahkarians seem like walking gold mines.” Muffled laughter emerges from the group. “I would see us reap such a golden harvest that every man walks away rich. The more enemies take the field, the richer they’ll make us!” Cheers and applause erupt from the crowd and echo in the temple.
Klysestes was good. He always seemed to know how to change someone’s mind. When wealth is in the picture, stubborn men will find as many ways as needed to circumvent logic. Now they applauded him, motivated by gold he didn’t even have. There are times when the suggestion of becoming rich is all the motivation needed, even if it’s not true.
The applause faded before long. “It is settled,” said Ankarithesos. “We leave in the next quarter hour. See that your men are ready to move.” With that, the council concluded and began to disperse.
Estriadites grabbed my shoulder and shoved me out the door. Once outside, I shrugged his hand off, “What are you doing?”
“I couldn’t stand the heat in there,” he closed his eyes and savored the cool breeze. “I’ll not be stuck between sweaty men for longer than required. Find me at the front of the line when you’re ready to march.”
I almost watched him leave before I remembered, “What about Estrianes?”
“What about him?”
“I was told he’s not among us. We need to find him before we leave.”
Estriadites shook his head and sighed, “We’ll leave in a quarter hour. Fuck, if he can’t find the tracks of our army on the road as you did, he deserves to be wandering in the countryside.” The grip on my spear tightened as he walked away.
I was annoyed, but what could I do? Desert the army? Wander the countryside evading enemy cavalry to find one man? The fact was that Estrianes was safer wherever he was. Estrianes wouldn’t be far behind and could catch up without difficulty.
****
Helion walked up to me, “We march?” I was lying down in the grass. My body ached but I found the breeze soothing. Helion lay down next to me. Though I didn’t think I was tired, I found myself suddenly approaching sleep.
My thoughts faded away until a shadow loomed over me. “Estrios.” I sat up abruptly to find Klysestes looming over me in his magnificent armor, helmet, and spear in hand. “Might we have words?” I nodded.
Klysestes looked at Helion who slowly got up and grabbed his spear, “I think I’ll…go do something else.” He nodded to Klysestes and walked off.
“Have you any news of your father?”
I stood up but looked down, “I-I watched him fall.”
“Why did you not tell us in the temple?” My mind went blank, and I felt like a cornered animal. Klysestes exhaled slowly. He jammed the butt-spike of his spear in the ground and put his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him. “He and I…he was,” he looked at the ground, “He was a good man.”
“Thank you for kind words. He and his men…they stood their ground,” was all I could think of to say.
Klysestes posture straightened and his hand returned to his spear. He bit his lip, his eyes distant before looking back at me. “You and Kyron took the field together. Have you any news of my son?”
I looked into his eyes and mine began to well up. “H-He,” I stammered, fighting the lump in my throat. “He fell…protecting me.” The words choked me. My teeth clenched my lip tight so that I would not openly weep.
Klysestes blue eyes welled up, and he took a series of deep breathes. Nodding his head, he flashed a quick smile at me, “He died well then. I would not have demanded less of him.” Without another word, he turned, grabbed his spear and walked away, disappearing into the mass of hoplites.
Hot tears streamed down my face. Helion was walking back so I dropped my helmet, and used my water skin to splash water on my face. My hands wiped the water off, and my eyes looked to the sky. Carrion birds were flying in circles in the distance.
“Looks like everyone’s ready to march. What did Klysestes have to say?” My eyes were fixed on the circling birds. “Estrios, are you alright?”
“I just told him his son died.”
“Kyron’s dead?”
“And my father,” I could feel my hands trembling. “What if…I’m taken next?” I looked into Helion’s eyes. “What if I die next?” He walked over to embrace me, and I pushed him away with both arms. My breath became rapid and shallow, my vision blurred with tears.
Helion pulled my shoulder to face him and hit me as hard as he could. I fell on my back, rubbing my cheek. Wiping tears from my eyes, I looked up to see my friend rubbing his knuckles. “I need you to calm yourself,” he said. “We never know when we are chosen to join the afterlife and we only live until that moment. No good will come from fearing it.”
I grabbed his extended hand and Helion pulled me to my feet. “Remember what you told me yesterday, that those who fear death are most likely to find it.” I smiled, remembering my father’s words. “Or something like that,” continued Helion. “I’m sure Estriadites waits for you.”
The mass of hoplites began to slowly move to rejoin the road ahead. I grabbed my helmet and spear, “Gratitude.”
Helion smiled and looked at his red knuckles. “Let’s go.”