This time, however, the hurry proved unnecessary; there were enough spears for each hoplite in the room. Soon the four companions were sitting down once more, trying to lean the awkward long spears against the wall without letting them fall.
“It’s beautiful,” murmured Europa, running her fingertips over the molding of her spear’s blade, still holding it as she sat. Each spear was made from a shaft of neatly sanded ash wood, with a gleaming iron blade, and was around eight feet long.
“I can’t wait to see what it’s like to throw it,” said Clio excitedly. “I was always good at throwing and catching, and I think this will be perfectly balanced.”
“It will make such a difference in all the challenges to come,” said Troy, nodding, “though I kinda wish they had handed these out before we had to face the hydra.”
“Well – they were making it harder for you,” said Europa, catching Troy’s eye with an intent and meaningful glance before turning to her food again. Even when seated, the young woman looked strong and powerful, with muscles that bulged as she now ripped apart a piece of bread.
“I wonder if that’s all the spears taken,” said Plato, looking around the room. “Cause there are still four boys that aren’t back.”
“Where was it that Canis had to go, again?” asked Troy, looking around at his companion.
“To kill the Erymanthian boar,” his friend replied. “I seem to remember the captain saying that the beast is cunning and intelligent.”
“That’s well known,” said Europa.
“How so?” asked Troy.
She shrugged. “I speak to people, Troy. Villagers, travelers on the road. I’ve heard the legend of every beast that lives in Greece. How do you think we knew where you were?”
He frowned. “I guess I had just assumed that you were passing that way.”
She chuckled and then shook her head as she chewed another mouthful of food.
“So, how did you know?”
“A traveler told us,” said Clio. “A man in a blue velvet cloak.”
Plato and Ajax exchanged a glance. “We know the one,” said Troy. “He helped us to get these shields, and gave us directions, too.”
“Didn’t catch his name, though,” added Plato.
Europa smiled. “Didn’t catch, or didn’t ask?”
“Well…” Plato glanced at Troy, who was scratching his head.
“His name is Homer,” said Clio. “Like the ancient bard. I assume that is who he is based on, at least partly.”
“Cool,” said Plato, “though the real Homer lived long before this era.”
“Pity we didn’t ask him to recite some poetry,” said Troy, grinning.
Europa leaned forward. “Someone like that has been put in the game for a reason. He helped us with our quest, and it sounds like he helped with yours, too. With luck, your other friends will also get some help, and make it back here safely.”
Plato nodded. “I hope so. I don’t know them very well, but they were on our first mission together. Leon is a good guy, at least…” He trailed off, looking at Troy.
“Yeah,” said Troy, frowning. “Canis and I have had our differences, but I hope that they will both be, you know” – he glanced around the room, and then lowered his voice – “on our side. When we tell them about the captains.”
Europa licked her lips, looking at him thoughtfully. Clio just sniffed, reaching over and grasping her new spear once again. “Well, I am going to go and do some last-minute training,” she said.
“Catching a deadly flesh-eating horse is not training enough?” asked Troy, with a slight smile.
But Clio, perhaps taking his comment as a barb, stood and began to walk away, just muttering, “See you.”
Europa watched her companion go, and then took another honey cake. “You’re right, you know,” she said. “There’s no sense in training tonight. We’ve done enough already, and should get some rest.”
“Why don’t you tell her that?” asked Troy. “She might listen to you.”
Europa blinked at him. “She’d have listened to you too, if you’d said it in a nicer way.” With that, she, too, stood and made her way out of the building.
* * *
Soon Troy and Plato were walking around the edge of the great rectangular training area by twilight.
All the discussion of plots and conspiracies had left Troy feeling alert and wakeful, and despite the ordeal of their recent quest, he didn’t yet feel ready to sleep.
Off to their left, in the middle of the area, Clio could be seen repetitively throwing her newly-acquired spear into the straw target, retrieving it and walking back, and then throwing it again. The boys, however, were walking around the edge of the area, going past the storehouse building where Troy had first found his hatchet.
Troy nodded in the direction of their friend. “Did you notice that she left pretty quickly after I mentioned the captains tonight? Europa did too.”
Plato nodded slowly. “I guess it’s one thing to talk about this on the road, man, and another thing to tackle it now that we are back. I reckon that neither of them want to get into it right now.”
Troy looked around at Plato. “That’s disappointing.”
“Maybe. But on the other hand, they both have this trial tomorrow. After that it might be a better time for them to focus on… you know. Planning.”
Troy nodded, frowning towards the ground as they walked. “And what are our plans, exactly? Andros just fobbed us off.”
“Maybe we should try again.”
They had now passed the Temple of Ares and reached the stretch of the area where there were several smaller dwellings; the boys didn’t know which one Andros slept in, but Troy was sure it must be one of them, with the captains in the others. “Do you think he’s back in his own place?”
“I don’t know,” said Plato. “He looked like he was still injured, though. Perhaps he still needs some treatment before he is fully healed.”
“We should try the House of Healing, then.”
As they walked on and passed by the small lane between two of the villas, Troy noticed a pair of people speaking in the shadows, and was struck by a momentary sense of recognition. He pulled back into the front of the building, grabbing Plato by the cloak to indicate that his friend should follow. Then, moving slowly and quietly, they both made their way around the other side of the house, and began to walk away from the training area down the parallel lane.
“Did you see something?” whispered Plato.
Troy nodded, but did not respond. Staying tucked in closely to the side of the dwelling, he peered around the corner to the small area between the back of the villa and the thorn bushes and scree slope beyond. He could now see a figure that very much resembled Andros’s assassin. And the man was speaking to Captain Theseus.
Troy knew that Plato had by now seen the same thing, for his friend moved in close to his shoulder, watching on in silence. He kept very still, listening.
Skill boost! You have developed your survival skills. +5XP
“Tomorrow, at the contest,” Theseus was saying. “No mistakes.”
The black-clad man, his face obscured, nodded silently, one hand on a dagger that was strapped to his belt.
“Any of the recruits that get in your way,” added the captain, “make sure to kill them too.”
Troy and Plato began to back away the way they had come. And as they moved, Troy heard someone say, “What was that?”
The boys looked at each other for only a fraction of a second. Then, both of them turned and ran back towards the training ground once again.
“This way,” called out Troy urgently, pointing to the left. He had quickly become aware of running footsteps behind him, as well as a slightly familiar crackling chill in his hands. He led Plato round the nearest corner, making for the entrance to the supply building. It was only one building away, and if it was open, they might be able to hide inside.
But if it was locked…
Reac
hing the store, he pushed at its wooden door, and to his relief it swung open. Plato rushed past him into the gloom of its interior, and Troy turned at the door itself, pulling his hatchet out and carefully peeking around the edge of the door to look back the way they had come.
The assassin was slowly approaching now, with a dagger in each hand. The person’s face was still wrapped in black cloth, leaving only their eyes visible, but Troy was sure it was a man. There was no sign of the captain, however. Perhaps he had had the sense to keep clear of the incriminating situation.
“He’s coming,” whispered Plato. “Step back – we need to hide in here in the dark. He won’t see us.”
“It’s too late for that,” said Troy. For he had locked eyes with the oncoming assassin, and he knew that there was no turning his back on this man if he wanted to live.
The attack, when it came, was swift and brutal. A dagger flashed through the air towards Troy’s face, and it was all he could do to pull clear and fling himself backwards, raising his hatchet up from a crouching position inside the room. The assassin stalked towards him, looking for another opening, but as the man lurched forward once again, Troy’s hatchet took on a familiar glow. Holding it out in front of him, he focused a blast of white light which took his attacker by surprise, hitting him directly in the chest and sending him staggering towards the open door of the building, where he collapsed onto the stone threshold just outside the door.
Skill boost! You have developed your weapon skills. +5XP
As the man struggled to get to his feet, Plato followed up the attack, running the man through with his sword.
Soon the pair of hoplites were standing at the open door, just feet away from the body of the slain assassin.
“We must speak to Andros,” said Plato, looking down at the corpse. ”If we don’t tell him what we saw, who knows – maybe he’ll be attacked tonight too, before we get another chance to warn him.”
”Right,” said Troy. “Let’s hurry. But be ready for another fight. When I saw this guy before, there was another one with him.”
Plato nodded, and the pair exited the building and began to sprint directly across the area towards the House of Healing. Troy was strangely reassured to see that Clio was still out, throwing her spear again and again.
They arrived at the House of Healing and pushed inside, but were immediately met by an orderly; an old man with cropped Grey hair and white robes; he looked like a former soldier.
“Yes, hoplites?” said the man, blocking their path. “Are you wounded?”
“No, sir… but we wanted to check on Andros. Is he here?”
“Master Andros has completed his medical treatment,” said the man, with a nod. He stared down his nose at the boys as he spoke. “He is no longer resting here by night. And I am afraid that I would not allow visiting at this hour in any case.”
“Sorry,” muttered Plato, and the two backed off, looking around the area.
“So he’s not in here,” said Troy. “But then, where is he?”
“Perhaps Clio has seen him?” said Plato, pointing.
Troy nodded, and together they hurried to the center of the area to speak to their friend.
“Isn’t that enough training?” said Troy as they walked towards her. But Clio just glared at him again as she walked forward to retrieve her spear one more time.
”Sorry,” he added, “I was just thinking… you know… Important to get enough rest and all.”
“I think Troy is meaning to say that we wish you luck,” said Plato, clapping his hand on Clio’s armored shoulder with a grin.
She nodded, and then half smiled. “I am really not ready. But thank you, I appreciate you thinking of me.”
“There’s something else,” said Troy. “We still haven’t managed to speak to Andros. Have you seen him?”
Clio regarded him coldly for a moment, and then pointed towards the marble steps that led down to the outer path. “I saw him go down that way.”
“That’s great – thanks.”
She shrugged. “Glad I could help.” With this, she flung the spear into the target once again.
Troy immediately saw that their good wishes had been greatly undermined by immediately asking for help. Wincing at his inability to communicate more smoothly with the young woman, Troy took a few steps away, and then turned to run towards the edge of the area, just behind Plato. Together they took the familiar route past the dormitory, reaching the top of the marble steps. And they didn’t have to go much further; Andros could be seen halfway down the steps, looking out over the city.
“Andros!” called Troy as they approached. “We’re really sorry… I know you didn’t want to hear about this, but we have to warn you.”
The tall warrior looked around as the boys descended towards him. “Warn me about what?” he asked.
Troy briefly related what had happened, as well as their suspicions about the captains, and what they had heard from the Helots. “And so you see,” he finished, “we think that our entire training program might have been infiltrated by enemies of the city. People who want to see us harmed, and have the whole thing fail.”
Andros looked from one of them to the other for a moment, then moved away from the steps for a moment, staring down towards Sparta. The amphitheater was lit up, and even from where they were, they could see that games were in progress. This was a city that enjoyed all aspects of warcraft – even blood sports.
As he looked at the profile of Andros’s face, Troy was beginning to regret speaking out. It didn’t look like it had gone down well. Just how much trouble were they going to find themselves in? Would they be punished for their accusation of the captains? Executed as rebels, even?
Then Andros turned, and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “I hear what you are saying. My priority is for the training to be a success. And therefore I need to act. I had already spoken to the Helots to get more information. Your sighting of the assassin confirms the suspicion.”
Troy felt elated. Andros did believe them. He looked briefly at Plato, seeing triumph in his friend’s eyes too, and then back at Andros. “But what can we do about it?” he asked.
Andros narrowed his eyes. “Clearly the captains must be stopped. I wish I could take control of the training myself. But there is a problem.”
“What?” asked Plato.
“They outrank me. They can bring the Myrmidons and all the army of Sparta here if they want, or throw me in a cell, or just kill me. There is no way I can stand against them alone.”
Troy’s brief elation was rapidly deflating. “Then what do you want us to do?”
“I’m thinking.”
“If we can help you, Andros, then we will,” said Troy, and Plato nodded at the sentiment. “I am sure that all of the hoplites would say the same. We stand for Sparta, not for the captains, and certainly not for traitors and barbarians.”
“Thank you,” replied Andros. “Your loyalty is noted. But I will investigate this breach alone for now. And I will do it quietly – do not be surprised if I just act normally for the time being. As for you, I think you need to get out of here. It’s not safe anymore.”
“Get out? But to where?” asked Plato.
Andros looked around to the north west, where the snowy peak and forested lower slopes of Mount Taygetus could clearly be seen. “To the mountains,” he replied. “Where else?”
Troy and Plato exchanged another glance.
“Very well then,” said Plato. “To the mountains it is.”
“But we’ll need to take the others with us,” added Troy.
“Take anyone you wish, but do not tell them exactly where you are going in advance. They should gather at the far end of the outer path that rings the training area, where the route branches off towards a bridge that leads into the foothills. You can lead them from there. But make each of them promise not to speak of these plans.”
Troy nodded, wide eyed, but Plato looked concerned. “What, you think we should leave now
?” he said. “Surely we need to gather some supplies first.”
“A Spartan hoplite should always be ready to march out,” said Andros, peering down sternly at the dark-haired recruit. “But no. I don’t think you should leave now, because it would be impossible to gather the others without attracting suspicion. Tomorrow will be fraught also, because of the Trial of Hippolyta. So I suggest leaving tomorrow evening.”
“Very well,” said Troy eagerly. “I will warn the others, but you must come with us, Andros! It’s not safe for you here.”
“Only I can get to the bottom of this conspiracy in safety. You should go for a week, and when you return – if I have been successful – your training can resume.”
As Troy and Plato turned and made their way back up the stairs, it occurred to Troy that they hadn’t clarified what would happen if Andros was not successful.
Level: Hoplite (Level 4)
XP: 0985 (unspent: 0535)
Hit points: 27/27
Luck points: 1
Mana points: 3
Equipment: arrows (3); belt; canvas bag; coin pouch; dagger; empty glass vials (3); greaves; hoplon shield; iron hatchet; spear; waterskin (72%).
Chapter 27: The Trial of Hippolyta
The morning of the contest dawned bright and sunny, and carefree seagulls screeched joyfully in the sky as Troy and Plato made their way out to the training ground, excited but also very anxious about what lay ahead.
SPARTA ONLINE WORLD EVENT: THE TRIAL OF HIPPOLYTA (SPECTATOR)
For his part, Troy was exhausted; he felt as if he hadn’t slept at all, and what snatches of sleep he had managed had, he knew, been restless. The hatchet had remained clutched in his hand all night long. Now he was carrying his new spear and his shield, too, but the largely-empty shoulder bag he left hidden under his bunk, the vials and waterskin inside it.
Nemesis (Sparta Online Book 1) Page 20