Chapter 9:Calm before the storm

"Prince Cycnus!By the Gods!"

The palace guard, Orion rushed into the royal chamber with a handful of servants.Their faces all in horror as they took in the surroundings. King Xenahort lying dead on a blood-soaked bed with his neck broken, Queen Demitris' lifeless body, motionless on the marble floor, Prince Cycnus horribly injured, blood flowing freely from a deep wound in his torso.

"Zeus and Athena...."

Orion ordered two servants to tend to Prince Cycnus while he rushed towards the king's bed. Orion wept for King Xenahort, an old friend of his. With tears flooding his face, Orion reached out his hands and closed King Xenahort's eyes. He then went over to inspect the queen's body. Her garments were soaked wet with blood, her eyes, like the king's, were open wide with either horror or shock. Orion shook his head and closed her eyes as well.

A long period of silence entered the room. It took great effort but Orion finally stood up and turned to face Prince Cycnus. He knelt in front of him.

"What happened?"

"It was those cursed Romans! They sent an assasin! Oh my poor father, my poor mother! They tried to kill me too! I should have been dead! I want to be with my family!"

His voice shook horribly, he was very weak.Prince Cycnus drew a dagger from Orion and tried to stab himself. The palace guard blocked the knife with his own hand, injuring himself in the process.

"Do not be rash, my prince, Sparta cannot take another death. Forgive me, for I have failed in my duties. If another must die, then let it be me."

Orion bowed his head, anticipating death. It did not come.When Prince Cycnus spoke again, his voice was firm and commanding.

"Go to Laccnia, Orion and tell Axel and Kratos of my father's death. Have them return at once."

"But, Prince Cycnus, what about the barbarians?"

"What is more important than mourning for my father, King of Sparta?"

"It shall be done, my prince. You two, take Prince Cycnus to the doctor at once!"

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The Spartan main army was at a standstill a short distance away from Hispanic, listening intently to General Kratos as he prepared them to assault the barbarian stronghold.

"Months of war with the barbarians is about to come an end!Hispanic is their final stronghold!They have lost thousands of men! They would have to climb over mountains of their own dead bodies to get to Sparta! Their generals are dead! Only their king Beowoulf is left, leading them into their own demise!"

General Kratos mounted his horse and raised his right arm.

"FOR OUR FALLEN BRETHREN! FOR KING XENAHORT! FOR SPARTA!"

The soldiers all raised their swords and cheered.

"Raphael, do the honours."

Raphael nodded and shouted.

"WE WILL RETURN WITH OUR SHIELDS OR UPON THEM!"

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In Laccnia,

Tristan was with General Axel in the medical wing. Axel was recovering well and Tristan was now able to move about without limping. 3 days have passed since the ambush in the forest and both soldiers have resumed light training.They were at the archery range.

"So, Tristan, I heard that you're one of the best archers from your homeland.Fancy a friendly competition with me?"

"Commander, isn't it a wrong time for such things?"

Axel broke into short fits of laughter.

"You need to lighten up a bit, Tristan. You're so young, enjoy life!"

"We're in a war, commander."

Axel's smile faded. He picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows. He took aim.When he spoke again, it was in a hushed tone.

"The war with Beowoulf is about to end but the internal struggle in Greece is escalating to deadly heights."

"Internal struggles?"

Axel released the arrow and it hit the training dummy right between where eyes should have been on a human.

"Just like Zeus, Poseidon and Hades always fight amongst themselves, so is Greece. Sparta, Athens and Argos share an uneasy peace so fragile that a single strike can shatter it."

Tristan stared at his own feet, lost in thought.

"What interests me, is the fate which awaits you and your friends if civil war erupts. Mikel is an Athenian, you come from Argos and Raphael grew up in Sparta. Could you turn your bow upon your friends?"

"I'd rather not think about that commander."

Tristan raised his bow and fired.The tip of the arrow penetrated and split Axel's eralier arrow in half.Deadly accuracy.

"Not bad. So, shall we have a contest?"

Tristan smirked.

"Try to keep up, commander."

The gates of Laccnia opened and a man galloped into the fortress on his horse. Upon seeing Axel, he dismounted and hurried over to him. The man was around 40 years of age, but looked very old. His eyes were deep blue and he had short greying hair. He was well built and had a clean face. He carried a sword and a dagger. It was Orion, the palace guard.Axel went to greet him.

"Orion, what brings you to Laccnia?"

"General Axel, you must return to Sparta at once! King Xenahort and Queen Demitris were killed and Prince Cycnus injured by assasins sent from Rome. Sparta is now in mourning and Prince Cycnus requests your presence!"

"But I cannot leave, not now that victory is so close!"

"General! If you do not return to Sparta, Prince Cycnus will order your execution! Leave someone else in charge! You must appear at the burial three days from now! For your sake, general, I pray that you will not be late."

Orion mounted his horse and started on his way back to Sparta.Tristan eyed Axel with great interest. At last, Axel turned to him.

"The greatest war Greece will ever face is about to begin."