The Athenian Akropolis was a fortress in itself, but it had not been used as such before. Indeed, the fortifications were merely a first step towards a truly unbreachable Acropolis. Under the last king of Athens the construction had begun, but ever since the Archons had been elected to watch over the city, support and financing had been flowing slowly. For the glory of Athens and its prestige, building a true acropolis that could not be replicated by any other city-state would have been highly important, but the Archons had long since used such prestige projects as a levering method against the other aristocrats.

Today as the walls fell, a certain Archon would come to regret this decision dearly.

The former throne room was a meeting place for the heads of the noble families and the Archons and served as the center of the current crisis. Whether they understood it or were blissfully unaware, the aristocrats were confined to the throne room. Guards were standing at every exit to make certain that nobody would leave in haste.

And at the largest balcony leaned the head of the troops that were defending the Akropolis from the coming threat. His name was Achaeus the wise. A moniker he could only snort at. Today he had felt much the fool.

“Lord Achaeus!” One of his men entered the throne room and approached him with a grim look.

“What is the situation in the city?” The black-haired Archon asked while leaning on the balustrade with both arms.

“Sir, the citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes. Archon Leander has sealed off port Piraeus and the city gates. But that isn’t the worst of it.” He swallowed and bent a knee. “He has gathered a small army of four hundred men. They are headed for the Akropolis right now.”

“Four hundred? You could not gather more Leander?” His sharp eyes looked over the walls and into the distance. The foot of the hill was too far away to be seen clearly from here, but surely they were marching along the path right as they spoke. “Reinforcements will arrive in two days from Thebes and the east, correct?”

“They are on a death march to make it here in time.” The messenger nodded and still had his head lowered.

“We merely have to hold out for two days. To be honest, I feel little threat from a bunch of guardsmen and volunteers. Yet there is no reason to risk even a single of our men if we can simply repel them at the gate.” He tapped the stone railing with two fingers.

“But sir, their march is determined. Archon Leander is heading the enemy troops with his head held high.”

“I would expect no less from a ‘hero’. Did the scouts find any siege equipment yet?”

“None.”

“Then he must be truly desperate. You will inform me of any new developments.” Achaeus was satisfied and waved his messenger to leave. After taking in another deep breath he returned to the throne room where he was greeted by mixed expressions. Far from shackled, the aristocrats were standing and sitting in their social circles as usual, but the tension could have been cut with a blunt knife.

“Achaeus, will you tell us the details already?” A lank man with deep dark rings under his old eyes questioned him angrily. He had gotten on in age and was holding an oddly shaped piece of glass to look through. When asked he told people that it helped him see people better with his failing eyes, but if anyone else looked through they would only be met with blurry imagery. This was no doubt the handiwork of a certain scorned scholar.

“Do not glare at me through that thing Kleitos.” He sighed and raised his hands in a placatory fashion.

“You will not earn my compliance until you have answered me. I cannot fathom why Leander would betray us and I have even less patience for your idea of ‘safe-keeping’. My daughter and my future son-in-law are outside the Akropolis right now, with that rabble.” He was incredibly irritated and no doubt represented a large faction of the upper class present with the same issues.

“I hear your worries and will answer them.” Achaeus raised his hands to the sides and called out to the gathered crowd. “Leander would resort to many things, but taking hostages is not one of them. I know that you are quite close to him Lord Kleitos. Your daughter, Eopia, is certainly still on good terms with him as well.”

“Are you suggesting that I am involved with this?” Eopia’s father glared back at him with disgust.

“I have no reason to accuse you of anything. The reason I bring up this fact is to reassure you. Leander has always valued his comrades far more than common sense! That is why he can betray you and still uphold his own twisted form of honor.”

“Now you speak highly of him, despite his apparent betrayal? Who is to say that this was not an act too?” A corpulent lady joined the voices of many that showed disapproval.

“I knew Leander for many years… thought I knew him, I should say. He had me fooled indeed. While I was preparing my campaign against the east he must have seen his opportunity. To slay me and take the palace would mean no less than seizing monarchy once more. You would have no objections to that, isn’t that right Topos?” The dark-haired Archon pointed at one man sitting close to the old throne.

There sat an old man, greyer than dust, more brittle than the oldest parchment. A thousand folds on his skin and another thousands curls in his chest long beard. Between the deep and thick eyebrows he hid the old and nearly milky eyes of ages past. Archon of balance, Topos, a man that had lived longer than his own offspring and the last of his house. What could possess a corpse to move beyond the limits of human existence? Nobody could read this man.

Topos opened his crusty eyes just enough to return his fellow Archon’s gaze.

“I blame you not, old friend. The days of kings are not behind us just yet. But Leander shall not have his way. His methods have become twisted, perhaps thanks to an outside force. He poisoned my assistant and freed a prisoner. When I uncovered his plan I immediately sealed the Akropolis to prevent a coup. I lay all my cards bare in front of you valued houses.”

“Leander has no power over our soldiers, so how did he hope to take over? You are telling us that he intended to do it all with poison?”

“He had support from Eretria.” Achaeus explained curtly.

“Eretria?! Those coinless rowers supported him? For what reason?” Kleitos was full of doubt.

“I would garner that it was for the sake of the Ionian Alliance.”

“What? Do you mean to say they have betrayed us as well?”

“We cannot make such hasty judgements. I have captured the assassin and will press the motives out of him soon enough. For now he has confessed to be working for the Eretrian traitors.” Achaeus responded quickly.

“I cannot believe this. Leander has no connection to Eretria or the Ionian Alliance.” Kleitos again opposed the Archon. It seemed to be turning into a debate between the two of them. But his sentiment was far from the exception.

“After the pirate war he had been staying in Eretria for an entire year.” Achaeus revealed with a heavy mien. “He went around Attica and all the cities to support them in wars and squabbles like possessed. He must have thought himself a hero of legend or something. In that time he certainly could have gotten his connections.” What Achaeus did not mention was that those Attican support troops had been sent in his name. An unimportant detail as far as he was concerned.

“This is how they repay our shed blood and sweat?” The aristocrats were outraged.

“I am certain that Eretria and Leander are working outside of the Alliance’s true interests, but for now I will have to ascertain their cooperation.” Achaeus smirked. The troops placed in all the cities of the Alliance would gladly investigate on his command. “If there is one thing we can thank the gods for, it is that Leander was exposed now. Had I began our campaign, nobody would have been here to defend you. Now we can nip this scheme in the bud and assert ourselves over our careless allies.”

The crowd murmured and seemed to eat up his words. Nothing was more convincing than the need of control. Humans desired nothing more than to have an influence on their own little world. That was especially true for people who had tasted power already. If Achaeus words were true, no, even if they were mostly lies, they could only gain from such prospects.

“Why? Just why would my brother do such a thing?” Finally a rather young, but deeply pained voice cut through the murmuring. It belonged to a young man, barely twenty summers of age. His hair was shaved with the exception of a braided ponytail. His fashion reminded more of the northern tribes far outside the range of Attica, the Thracians.

He was the youngest member of Leander’s house. A distant blue blooded boy married into the family under distress. He was clearly ostracized among the rest of the gathered, but his words had managed to silence them nonetheless.

“Thracus.” Achaeus spat out the word and looked down on the boy.

“Leander is a heroic man. A good man. He has never held an evil emotion in his heart since I met him.” The boy’s thick accent made him feel more foreign, which would make his claims less believable, but he could still not stay quiet.

“We all know Leander’s circumstances. He is a bastard.” Achaeus said straightforward. The others gasped. It was not something that was brought up often, for the history of house Leander was that terrible. “A man born from a mere slave woman in Thebes… I cannot underline how much I respect a man who could move up from that. But no achievement will ever change what he truly is. A bastard. One that has only become the head of his family due to tragedy. I will tell you why Leander has turned out this way. After losing his brothers in war, his parents to sickness and the fortune to the money lenders… what else could he have become? All of you gave him your trust! You voted him to be Archon despite his makeshift role as the head of a house and he slandered your names and went behind your backs! Is that how an honorable man repays his debts?” He balled his fist. “No, that is the way of the cutthroat and criminal that his blood forced him into. It may not even be his fault. The gods made him that way.”

“How- how dare you speak of my brother that way!” Suddenly the young man lunged forward and swung his fist against Achaeus cheek.

The Archon took the blow cleanly. Then he forced the fist back with his head. His eyes were sharp as a blade. Without remorse he punched the boy across the head and made him fall to the ground. His swing had more force and more devastating consequences. The young man spat blood at his feet.

“Thracus, you would do well to keep your mouth shut around us Atticans. Just like your traitorous brother, I have no patience for foolishness.” He still held his bruised fist raised and all the attention was on him. When sweet words ran out, the fist would reign. The complaints had turned silent already.

With a quick breath he regained his composure and made an apologetic gesture towards the crowd.

“I swear that your relatives will be safe. Your enemies will be slain. And I will be victorious.”

The certainty in his voice could finally convince them to believe.

KRA-KOOOOM!

And that was when everything became chaotic.

The palace shook from something like an earthquake and there was a blinding light outside the windows. Achaeus had managed to keep his legs steady and immediately rushed to the balcony. The troops down below in the yard were apparently just as riled up as the aristocrats inside and began shouting and dispersing, but the officers kept them in line.

Soon a messenger came running into the main yard and shouted something towards one of the captains below. They then hastily advanced the message to the higher levels. Achaeus was already halfway down the stairs when he met the pale faced man.

“Zeus' thunder!! The gate was struck by the force of the king of gods!” His hysterical words were met with a smack to the face and an even glare of his superior.

“Get a grip. That is simply impossible.”

“B-But the gate! It is no more! It was blown away by thunder!”

“Who is Zeus?”

“W-What?”

“Who is Zeus?” He smacked him again.

“T-The god of the sky… the father of all…” The messenger swallowed his fear.

“Thunder and lightning are his weapons, but if he were to come to battle, surely there would be a storm.” He pointed above where the sun still reigned supreme.

“Yes…” The man regained some composure upon realizing this.

“There is no reason to assume the gods are on some self-righteous traitor’s side. Do not get wrapped up in their pace. They must have used some form of siege equipment that we are not aware of.” Achaeus’ thoughts were racing. The situation had taken an unexpected turn.

“They were apparently moving something on a wagon. But there is nothing else to report, the traitors have breached the gate, but the fighting has not started yet.”

“Four hundred men in a tight space? I want archers to take position in all the buildings surrounding the palace. Barricade the streets and get word from the lookouts on the towers! We have to cut them off as quickly as possible.” He imparted his orders and then joined his troops to explain the plan to them as well.

Not counting the ones inside the palace, he had eight hundred men at his disposal. Double that of Leander’s and at least four times better equipped. This was a defensive battle, but they had the advantage.

Leander had decided to bite at the throat of a beast that willingly went into a snake pit to eradicate it completely.

A few hours ago.

“I cannot believe you would betray me Trifos.” Archon Leander said with a miserable expression as he looked down on the beaten and tied up guard captain. He had already been in this unfortunate state when Leander arrived, so he had not been able to prevent the rough treatment.

Swollen as his mouth was, the man still managed to spit out some blood and looked up with his bruised eyelids half open. Leander lowered himself to eye level and they stayed so in silence for a while.

“I never… betrayed you…” Trifos said with pained breaths.

“You tried to kill Eugenia to prevent our trade with the scholar. Without that ore we will not be able to take the Akropolis and you knew that. Look me in the eye and tell me that you are not working for Achaeus.” His strong face belied his inner pain.

“I serve… Achaeus, yes.” He admitted.

“I knew it.” Themistokles muttered at the door frame.

“Then you have betrayed me.” Leander sighed deeply.

“I ne’er… betrayed you…” Trifos repeated obstinately. “You! You… betrayed yourself.”

“What?”

“The man I followed into battle… the reason I became a guardsman in this city… It was all for that man. The hero who never ran from a battle. The legend among the soldiers who would inspire us to each and every victory.” He raved deliriously.

Leander was struck with realization and widened his eyes.

“When did you become so… soft? So despicably… tired?” Trifos spat blood at his trousers. “Leander, the hero of the pirate war… hero of many wars. All I wanted was to keep fighting by your side. Swing my blade in your name… But you abandoned war. You abandoned our way of life!” He moved his head forward despite his ropes until their eyes were only a finger’s length apart. “Achaeus has a hunger that I can respect. He will give us the eternal battlefield we belong t-o-…” His frantic smile turned hollow as his eyes lost light and he collapsed backwards. He had fainted from overexertion.

“A wolf drunk on the hunt.” Themistokles crossed his arms and looked away with pity. He knew people like him. Men who lived on the street and knew only fighting. For the next piece of food, for some clothes and sometimes just to feel alive.

“Please do not think too badly of him.” Leander rose up and smiled weakly towards the merchant and the priestess.

“He truly adored you.” Eugenia said with a hand over her mouth.

“It was my fault for not seeing when our paths had diverged. Ares has kindled the fire in his heart until there were only ashes left.” With a twisted expression the Archon left the small storage room and entered the light.

The other two followed after him and then gathered around the map and the small strange canisters they had acquired from Epiphanes.

“I did not believe we would gain any information from Trifos, so nothing has changed. We will proceed with the plan as discussed before. That miraculous ore will be our trump card.” Leander moved his fingers across the map and placed a finger on a large drawing of a temple. “I would be remiss not to warn you Eugenia. This is a battlefield and I cannot guarantee your safety. We will free the temple of Athena once the palace is taken, so you have no reason to accompany us.”

“I am aware that this is my selfish wish. There is no need to protect me.” She said quietly.

“You have my bow at least.” Zosimos said encouragingly, although his nervous legs were not supporting those confident words much.

“Hmm.” Leander inspected the map for the umpteenth time. “I cannot sanction your plan, because it is too reckless, but there is no guarantee that Achaeus will not do something unforgivable. If I send a small group to free the temple and fortify it then you could at least evacuate the priestesses.”

“He won’t do anything to the temple.” Eugenia said with absolute certainty.

“Listen here, Eugenia.” Zosimos moved his hands frantically. “The Archon is trying to keep you safe despite disapproving of your plan. He’s worried for you!” He whispered into her ear.

“I know.” She replied loudly. “Thank you for your kindness, but I must decline.” She lowered her head.

“You think rather highly of your enemy.” Leander tilted his head to the side.

“When he spoke of the gods before… I know that he truly believed that they are on his side. Someone like that has no reason to destroy a temple. He would make himself the enemy of all of Athens too.” She moved aside a strand of her long hair and then returned to a serious expression. “If you divide your forces to protect me you will lose, won’t you?”

“Very well, your arguments are sound.” Leander surrendered.

“Even if you don’t believe in my plan, I at least have to speak to Lady Akacia.”

“The moment you enter that battlefield you will lose my protection. The chaos of bloodshed cannot be contained. I will try to keep the casualties to a minimum by cutting off their support lines and capturing as many soldiers as I can, but a final stand will be unavoidable. These brave soldiers that serve our great city will be vanquished by their own brothers.” His heavy words showed the depth of his battle exhaustion. He appeared way older than he truly was.

“Don’t give up hope. We need to stop Achaeus before he can hurt any more people.” Eugenia encouraged him and then left for the backdoor. There was no time to waste apparently.

“…do you think you can win this? Without divine intervention?” Zosimos scratched his head and looked at the wide open door.

“Nothing is certain in war.” The Archon replied slowly. “Please look after her.” He added more kindly.

“Planned on that even if you said the opposite. Sorry, I’m a terrible assistant.” Themistokles apologized lightly and followed Eugenia.

“Your tea is certainly lacking.” The Archon muttered with a smirk as he finished his cup. It was time for him to rally his men. One last speech.

The Archon walked into the large gathering hall of the guard house. At least a hundred men stood ready inside and even more were waiting outside and on the floor above. He recognized many of their faces, but there were also some young lads he had never met before. Town guards, retired soldiers, veterans who had been released of service for injuries. It was a great mix of fighters. He even spotted a few wives between their husbands. He would also have to fight for their approval.

“It is good to see all of you again comrades. I also welcome the lads who came to hear me out on this day. To plead for your strength in this coming battle…” He raised a fist.

“What are ya saying Leander? Pleadin’ with us?” One of the larger warriors crossed his arms and glared down on the Archon. His left eye was blinded by a large scar, but his other all the more intimidating. Leander had known him for many years. “Hahaha!”

“Nikos?” He sized him up as the frown turned into a hearty laugh.

“Raise your sword. Wherever it points, we shall wreak havoc upon yer enemies!!” He roared and large chunks of the crowd joined into the war cry.

Leander looked stunned for a heartbeat, but then turned his expression to disapproval.

“I cannot accept such bravery! Such loyalty!” He shouted and raised both his fists to the sides.

The crowd turned silent at his reprimanding.

“I am not here to ask you for your favor as your former General. I am not here to call upon your blood oaths!” He moved his gaze across their eyes. “I called upon you so I may convince you to fight this battle… for yourselves!”

“Aye?” Nikos bulging muscles seemed to grow even greater as he tensed them up.

“This is a battle between Archons. You should not have to choose a side. This is not just. You swore loyalty to Athens, to the will of the Archons, but you have never been forced to fight for a single man’s ideals. That is not the role of a soldier! And yet….” He grit his teeth and focused his anger to the core of his chest. “Achaeus has used you all for his own plans, for the senseless battles that he himself has wrought.”

“What?”

“Does he tell the truth?”

“Who was there at the defense of Lamia?” Leander asked passionately.

A bunch of men shouted.

“Who raided the Aegean pirate fort at my side?”

Another round of acknowledging voices.

“Are you the men who intercepted during the offensive on Eretria?”

The men on the upper floors all raised their fists.

“These battles, the blood you have shed, and the comrades you’ve lost. For whose sake did you give them? For what purpose did you lose them? Was it for the glory of Attica? To protect you families around the world?” Leander was taken by a fire. “YOU ARE WRONG! All of this hardship was for the sake of only one man. Achaeus! You fought his battles, you slayed his opponents and you risked it all for his political games!”

Now the crowd was visibly swelling up with anger.

“Many of you are Ionians. Allies of Athens and its people, granted a life in our glorious city as recompense for fighting our wars for us. Many of you are slaves who have known no choice or life, enlisted as our soldiers to save privileged citizens’ futures.” His hand went through his hair to contain his emotions, but he could not shackle them. Not when looking into these honest men’s eyes. “But to me you are all comrades! Brothers who fought at my side! Your lives have meaning to me and I cannot allow a selfish man’s will to decide their path. You fought Achaeus’ battles, but not anymore. This next campaign he has prepared for your sons, for your families, for all of the powerless men across the world will not be fought upon your backs. Their blood shall not run in rivers to carry the ship of one delusional man!”

Silence enveloped the guard house. Everyone was drawn to the Archon’s lips, to his wild eyes and voice. He lowered his fists and finally came to his plea.

“Not for my sake and not for that of Athens. Please, join me in this fight for all those who have not yet given their souls to war. For your children and your wives. For the ones who cannot decide for themselves. I beg of you… lend me your strength.”

As he gasped for breath he was not sure what to expect. His words had come from his heart, but he had told them that all their achievements and all of their hardships were a lie. For many of his claims he had no solid proof. If they doubted him then he would not keep them here. There was no time to gather more comrades and to start a civil war. These men were his only chance and he would not deceive them.

“I said it already, so don’t make me repeat myself.” Nikos stepped forward and put his hand on the Archons’ shoulder. “There is nobody here who would doubt your words. Your sword swings true and your spear could pierce the hide of Kerberos. That’s more than enuff for 'em.”

“Down with Achaeus! Down with the deceiver!”

“RAAAHH!”

Their cries were those of the vengeful and wronged. But also…. of friends who would not abandon his side.

“Thank you.” He whispered almost inaudibly.

An hour ago.

“Soldier to our left. Next to the tree.” Bion guided them past yet another enemy with quick reactions and short skips. The other two followed him with delay. That is how they had made it from the town hall all the way to the stables near the palace.

“Not many horses here. They must be short on long distance messengers for some reason.” Bion joked and then kicked open a wooden door. Then he rolled into a bunch of hay and poked his head out.

Therses looked at him with displeasure.

“It’s better than nothing fisherboy. We need a break. Especially master.” He urged him to come inside the hay filled room and they finally took refuge inside.

The smell of hay, horse urine and something rotting was stinging Therses' nose. Even as someone who was used to the stench of fish, this was vile. He set Agapetos down on a bale of hay and then flipped out his knife. It was aimed at none other than captain Irvenos.

“I’m in no state to do ya any harm, boy.” Irvenos said casually and leaned against the wall with crossed legs.

“When you came back with that piece of shit I wanted to punch you, but you just had to alert the guards. I can’t believe we walked all the way here with a backstabber.” The young Eretrian held his fisher knife steady. Its hooks were still bloody from the guard it had impaled recently.

“Told you he would make an interesting face.” Bion said with a deadpan grin.

“Have you lost your mind?! This man, he is the reason we were locked up in the first place! He is the one who poisoned that bald guy and betrayed Eretria!”

“I wouldn’t say I betrayed ‘em. Achaeus’ men were cooperating with Eretria’s great houses. My claim to work for the council is legitimate.” The captain said carefree and folded the sleeves of his worn noble clothes. There were a few white scars on his lower arms.

“I won’t believe a single word out of your mouth! We should have abandoned him in the town hall so he could rot.” He glared at Bion again who was still sticking out of the hay.

“Is he usually this judgmental?”

“What time is it?” Bion asked.

“Late noon I reckon?”

“Then yes.”

“Would you stop joking around? This is serious. You are letting a murderer walk alongside us. Do you not care for Agapetos’ safety?” Therses grinded his teeth.

“We ended a bunch of Achaeus’ men already, so it’s not like we have any chance at mercy. If we’re caught, we’re done for.” The young medico replied with a yawn. “Same goes for the captain, so why not work together?” He leaned into the hay to relax.

“I only want to get out of here.” Irvenos said honestly. “You may expect me to help ya take down the tyrant or whatever, but that’s not my line of work. We’re probably going to die anyway, but I’d rather die trying to get back to the port.”

“See? He won’t even speak against Achaeus! He is clearly a liability.”

“I don’t see a way to get out of here without taking down a tyrant or two.” Bion replied dryly.

“Heh. You may well be right ‘bout that.” The captain chuckled hoarsely.

“We probably won’t be able to sit this one out in here…” Bion rolled around in the hay and picked up some bugs that tried to crawl into his shirt. “So we need a plan. Preferably the easy kind.”

“We need to get into the palace and show the evidence we found in the office to the aristocrats.” Therses declared and smacked the bundle inside his inner pockets.

“That sounds more like a trial for Herakles.” Bion’s dull eyes looked at the ceiling.

“It’s not impossible! We made it this far already.”

“Because we kept a low profile. Won’t be a walk across the meadow from here.”

“He’s right.” Irvenos agreed, but was blinded by the reflection of the fishing knife. The swelling around his good eye had barely receded, so it hurt twice as much.

“They got people on watch in the towers around the palace. If we take those out we might be able to sneak in.” The young slave said with a deeper voice.

“We can’t leave Agapetos behind, so one of us has to carry him. That means only you will be able to fight.” Therses said dejectedly. Even though it were his words that caused this plan, he still felt hopeless.

“I could carry the old man.” Irvenos raised a hand.

“Never.” The fisherman growled.

“Then let me fight. I’m a bit banged up, but this is nothin’ compared to naval combat. Shakin’ legs make me feel right at home.”

“You really think I would hand a weapon to you? Hah!”

“Will a sword do?” Bion asked and threw one of the two swords he carried to the captain.

“You fool!” Therses tensed up and held his knife ready.

“Hrmph… Huh.” He swung it a few times and suppressed a wince. “Light. Good material. Those lads are lucky to be this well-equipped.”

“I prefer knives to be honest.” Bion shrugged and spun the remaining sword in his hand.

“Like I already said, I won’t be pickin’ a side. Never ends well. But I’ll be useful to you until the currents tear us apart.” Irvenos stood up and held the sword in perfect form. He clearly had learned swordplay from a master.

“Stormy weather ahead.” Bion joked and lightly smacked Therses with the blunt side of his sword.

The soldier on lookout fell over with a gurgle. His throat had been cleanly cut from behind. He joined his partner on the opposite end of the wooden tower. Their armor was good, but their throats were unprotected either way.

“Finally someone my size.” Bion exhaled in relief and then undressed the guard. The cuirass and boots were good fits, but the rest not so much.

“Be glad that you’re small. My size is much rarer.” Irvenos said with a dry voice and dragged the corpse towards the inner wall.

“Huh, that so? Strange how you got the right size on your first try then.” He said with furrowed eyebrows.

“Picked the one that looked my size as our first one, naturally.” The sailor replied coolly.

“Are you two done yet?” Therses asked nervously from below the ladder. He was waiting for them to come down.

“You want anything fisherboy? Maybe a helmet?”

“Stop joking and come down here! I think there is a patrol coming.”

“Six on the right. Street corner to the well.” Irvenos nodded over the wooden wall.

From these towers it was rather easy to spot enemies. Which was exactly why they had systematically taken out all spotters. Or at least enough to finally make it into the palace without being caught immediately. Bion and Irvenos climbed down the ladder and followed the ever nervous Therses into the shadows. He was still carrying Agapetos on his back, so he was unable to defend himself well.

“They’ll notice our handiwork soon, so we’ll have to sneak inside now.” Irvenos said as he wiped his sword on some bushes.

“Why are you playing along? What is there for you to gain inside the palace?”

“An opportunity will present itself.” He replied stoically.

“He will betray us!”

“Yes, yes, I heard you the first six times. Now hold on to the old man and follow me. If we play this right we’ll be getting in without complications.” Bion cracked his neck and then walked ahead.

When they reached an unassuming door at the backside of a building he stopped and urged them to take position. Irvenos stood to his side and knocked on the door. At first there was no response, so they were about to force their way in, but then a voice penetrated the wood.

“Who’s there? Nobody’s supposed to be about. Curfew’s been laid down.”

“We know that, obviously, but we got some trouble here. There is this old drunkard we picked up on the road and he claims he is working for the kitchen?” Bion explained in an impatient tone. He really sounded like this was a huge bother to them.

The door was opened just a tiny gap and an eye peeked at them. When the man realized that he was talking to fully armed soldiers he immediately threw the door wide open and changed his entire demeanor.

“S-Sirs, we aren’t missin’ nobody. The kitchen staff’s all present on the upper floors, they are.” The man looked like a humanoid weasel and his darting eyes found no peace. From his behavior one could surmise that he was also part of the staff.

“You don’t recognize this man?” Bion pulled Therses over so he could show off Agapetos.

“N-Never seen ‘im in me life!” He responded anxiously.

“Riiight. You don’t mind if we check up on your staff for a spell?” Bion asked with a dark smile.

The man looked up at tall Irvenos and was met by the countless scars and a single gleaming eye. He immediately backed away and let them enter. The moment the door closed behind them…

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

…Bion knocked the man out with a straight right hook.

“Was that really necessary?” Therses looked at the pale face of their victim and adjusted the snoring old man hanging over his shoulder. He watched Bion drag the knocked out man behind some chests and then cover him in rags.

“We don’t have any time to join a theater troupe. You got that corrupt guard look down to a mastery though.” He congratulated Irvenos who worriedly touched his own face to check if he really looked like some evil character. The scarves he still wore under his helmet and armor were certainly not helping.

“We made it into this house. Now what?”

“These are the servant quarters and there is an eatery next door. Which means this is where they go from and to the palace.” He waved them over to the opposite door and then opened it carefully. More hallways followed.

“I never thought about that.” Therses muttered.

“Thought the servants all live in the palace, eh?” He predicted. “These side-buildings look far less glamorous, but it’s where most of the important stuff goes down. Servants living in the same place as aristocrats is unacceptable.”

“Right… one of my contractors owned a mansion, but the servants had their own little shed. Not sure who was bein’ spared the other’s presence there.” Irvenos chuckled and looked around the tight hallway. They kept moving

At the end of the short passage they left through a door that led into a backyard. It was surrounded by several other buildings and became tighter each corner they took. At the very end they reached a smaller gate inside a long wall. This was a servant entrance into the palace grounds.

“So far, so uncharacteristically easy.” The disguised medico fiddled around in his pocket and tried out several keys from a ring until one finally turned. “Whoa, that’s a lot of helmets.” He whispered with dull eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

“They gathered in the yard. Basically a small army.” Bion opened the gate just a bit more and showed them.

“That’s a cryin’ shame.” Irvenos one eye looked grim as well.

“Will we be able to get past them?”

“Only if you’re ready to crawl through some dirt.” Bion pointed at the garden area, which was rather muddy. “The captain and I can probably pass off as a patrol, but that’s not gonna fool the officers.”

“The low presence outside was because of their main forces inside.” Therses bit his lip.

“We’ll just have to try anywa-”

KRA-KOOOOM!

“Dionysus’ screeching lyre!” Bion cursed and held his ears closed.

“W-W-What was that?!”

“…sounded like somethin’ collapsed.” Irvenos said quietly.

The army inside the yard was turning frantic and there was shouting everywhere. They almost dispersed in panic, but were then ordered back into discipline.

“Whatever that was, I bet it means nothing good.” Bion shrugged and then entered the palace grounds. “Now’s our chance to slip in, though.”

As the soldiers took positions and moved away in groups, the yard was slowly turning emptier. If they slipped through now they could make it. At least that was their hope. The moment they turned around the garden area to move towards the side entrance they were met by two soldiers who were carrying horns.

“What are you doing? Leander is coming. Get back to your posts!” One of them shouted at them.

“Sorry ‘bout that, we were just moving these prisoners…”

“Prisoners? What are you talking abo-?” The words got stuck in his throat as Irvenos pierced it with his sword.

Therses was shocked, but had enough sense to slam the horn out of the other man’s hand. Bion followed it up with another strike of his short sword and the second soldier went down.

“That was a bit hasty.” Bion scolded the sailor.

“’Tis unavoidable. There’ll be no time for acting any longer.” The one-eyed captain pointed at the approaching helmets from the staircase. If they had gotten involved in an argument with these two they would have been caught by the next ones.

“Pleh. Brace yourself, fisherboy. You better keep master away from most of those spears.”

“Most, huh…?” Therses sighed and followed the two brazen killers in front of him.

The battle had begun. Leander rode into the Akropolis with his sword held high and then shouted orders at his men. The phalanx of men advanced forward steadily, shields raised and spears in position. They were a walking wall that closed the gaps between the buildings and made it hard for archers to shoot them down on ground level.

Right behind the phalanx came the few archers and slingers on Leander’s side. They shot down the enemy far ranged troops with their arrows, rocks and clay projectiles. To their luck, the angles from which to shoot on the rooftops were awkward, while the slings had a far better reach than most bows.

These veterans were experienced in war and had some of the best intuition for aiming. Combat in cities was not as common as one might believe, but these men had fought in many siege defenses alongside Leander, so they knew where to stand and where to aim.

The opposing ground forces were slowly backing away. Despite their superiority in numbers, the tight roads and alleys of the Akropolis did not allow for them to spread out completely. To carelessly clash in the open would create heavy losses on both sides.

“Keep pushing onward!” Leander kept shouting and then gave the order. “Javelins!”

Just as the enemy soldiers began their charge they were skewered by dozens of thrown spears. Javelins were destructive and deadly, more so than any tiny arrow. A man with a strong arm even managed to pierce most shields in one throw.

The first clash of soldiers happened right in front of the palace plaza. Spears met shields and swords clashed with swords. Blood wet their armors and shields in a cacophony of war cries.

Leander knew that he had to contain the battle to this one place or they would be surrounded in no time. He looked back at the second wagon which was filled with spare arrows, rocks and three more metal capsules filled with the magic ore. Their resources were limited, but they could win this.

At the last moment he dodged a stray arrow that was aimed for his heart by jumping off his steed. The horse neighed fearfully, but he managed to calm it with a single clap on its side. Then he moved forward, fitting his helmet tighter, and joined the fray!

The temple of Athena was far off from the skirmishes. A few dozen soldiers had been sent to lock the priestesses inside and prevent anyone from moving about. When the fighting began a couple of them were moving off to get involved, but the rest adhered to their orders. Armed men in the temple of Athena were not just rare, it was frowned upon. Under normal circumstances whoever ordered this atrocity would have been faced with Akacia’s wrath.

Instead one of the unfortunate guards was taking the fire for his master.

“I understand that you are upset Lady-”

“UPSET? Do not dare tell me what I am feeling at his moment.” She was seething. If glares could have inflicted physical pain, the man would feel like he had been skinned alive. Telling by his facial expression his current experience was not far off however. “Your asses have trampled into this holy temple – destroying our sacred flowerbed mind you – and forced my girls to fear for their lives inside their own rooms! And the greatest ox of them all tried to ram his overcompensating horns into my quarters to tell me what?”

“Y-You… have to come to the palace with me… P-Please!” He shrieked when he saw her reaction.

“You truly believe that I would leave your dirty donkeys to run amok in my temple? Without my supervision? Your buffoons sully the purity of this place with your mere presence! If Lady Athena finds out about this travesty, there will not be any walls or any amount of ignorance thick enough to protect your feeble minds!”

“Milady… I’m just following orders. Archon Achaeus said-”

“Do you honestly believe I care for what he wants? If he has a request of the grand priestess he will crawl over here and flail before the temple steps like the overgrown maggot he is.” As she pounded the young man’s will to live with her verbal fists something caught her eye.

At the entrance behind the man she could see the pillars and statues. Two more soldiers stood there with their backs turned to them, clearly relieved not to be in their comrade’s position. In their attempts to ignore the yelling they were far less vigilant than expected. That’s why they didn’t notice the stray arrow that hit the steps closely.

“The temple has political immunity. Do you even comprehend what that word means?” Akacia hissed.

“Y-Yes, grand priestess.”

“It means that your dirty lackeys will take their mud covered boots out of our halls and leave!”

At the entrance another arrow managed to lodge itself into a pillar. Whoever was shooting seemed to have incomprehensible aim. A few more kept hitting all over the place. Eventually even the guards seemed to notice the strewn about shafts.

“I swear upon my family name that we will make a large offering after this crisis is over. Would that satisfy the great Athena’s whims?”

“Excuse you? Do you honestly assert that Lady Athena’s forgiveness can be bought?”

“Er… yes?” He was not ready for the following tirade.

Of course Akacia could demolish a puny line and fold soldier like this without a second thought. So she kept observing the oddness behind him.

From the distance she could have sworn to hear frustrated arguing. The guards also heard it and looked into the left direction. In just that moment a stray arrow hit the wooden support of a statue that was still under construction. Not that that would be necessary any longer from this point forward. Construction just ended with a loud bang.

The two soldiers were buried with screams and stayed down.

The soldier in front of her had winced when the loud noise reached him and almost expected to be hit by divine retribution. He turned his head back, but in that moment Akacia grabbed him by the helmet strap and pulled him back painfully.

“I am not done with you! You have some gall to ignore the grand priestess.” An arrow sailed past the shocked soldier’s head and barely missed Akacia’s gown as well.

They both froze up and then turned around.

“That was your last arrow Zosimos…”

“I am quite aware!”

A bickering pair appeared behind the rubble. The tanned man with the bow was throwing aside his empty quiver and walked towards them.

“W-Who are you? This is a sacred temple!” The soldier stammered.

“Seriously?” Akacia hissed.

The tanned man did not stop his march and then just smacked the soldier with the bow! In his surprise the unfortunate soldier just fainted and fell over.

“There, direct hit!”

“That’s not how you use bows.” Eugenia pointed out.

“Lady Artemis would be satisfied. As long as it connects it still counts!”

The duo sighed at the same time, probably because they were as tense as the statue they had just destroyed. Somehow they had made it through the battles all over the Akropolis and ended up in this place.

“I should have known that was not the last time I met you.” Akacia was naturally not happy to meet her former protégé again so soon.

“Lady Akacia, are you alright? What about the others?” The girl was genuinely worried, that much she could tell.

But that had always been the issue. Eugenia would put her nose into matters that it didn’t belong. She caused trouble wherever she went just by being someone who didn’t understand other people. Akacia had known from the moment that she arrived at her doorstep that this girl was not normal. She was chosen by Athena, but she lacked the charisma or determination to fulfill that role. She would always cling to the grand priestess for support, not caring how much trouble it was to treat everyone equally.

Akacia’s eyes reflected the past, but the present was just as problematic.

“Nothing more than a scare. We were handling the situation just fine. At least those buffoons did not deign to destroy our temple physically.” The tanned archer followed her gaze to the crumbled statue, while the blind girl just lowered her head awkwardly.

“Oh grand priestess! Allow me to assure you that I will repay this destruction. I may not look it, but I am a rather successful merchant.” The man that Eugenia had called 'Zosimos' assured her with a steady merchant smile.

“That unfinished piece alone cost us five hundred owls.” She said curtly.

“Did I hear footsteps? You two should hide away! I will take care of the stragglers!” And in lightning speed he changed his demeanor and hastily turned around.

“What is his name?” Akacia asked.

“Themistokles. He works at the merchant guild.” Eugenia responded directly.

“Really now? Now you actually decide to call me by my real name?” He complained and put a hand onto his face.

The crunching of boots made them all alert and suddenly Zosimos words turned out to be true. He waved them away and then dragged the unconscious soldier behind the garden wall. The priestesses rushed off towards a small chamber that was meant for storing water for baths. Cleansing the body was a daily routine for priestesses. Considering how much Eugenia reeked of sweat, Akacia was deliberating to push her straight into the water.

The door closed and an eerie silence arrived as it could only appear in a dark and damp room. To counter this, Akacia lit a candle. Eugenia sneezed when the smoke hit her sensitive nose.

“You should have left Athens.” The grand priestess said bluntly.

“I am sorry for wasting your escape route.” She smiled apologetically.

“You brought war upon this place. Not on the order of our goddess, but your own. I am disappointed.”

“Oh… I…” The frank words seemed to hit home how grave her choice was.

“And yet I am used to being disappointed by you. This will not change in the foreseeable future. Now tell me your purpose here. You did not come just to check up on our health.” She rested her elbow in her hand and braced herself for anything.

“I want to end this battle before it turns into a civil war.”

“Lofty goals.” She did not move a single face muscle.

“Lady Akacia, you know Archon Achaeus, don’t you?” She was listening for a reaction. Akacia could read her face so easily still. When no response came she seemed unsure, but still moved on. “He is not the kind of man who gives up, is he? Even if he lost this battle, he will come for retaliation. Even if he dies in this battle, he has people who will follow in his footsteps.”

“Even you have realized this much.” Akacia nodded slowly.

“There has to be some way to stop him. Not with spears, but with words.” She pressed out.

“Whose words?” She already knew, but she could not accept it.

“Lady Athena’s.”

Two priestesses were standing at the crossroads of an unseen road. Indeed with the absence of the guiding light, each step was taken in complete blindness.