Behind was the way back to the main training area. Had the captains and their troops even seen which way Clio and he had gone, or were they too preoccupied with the sudden attack by the magical golden animals? He was fairly sure that such an attack would have occupied his attention if he had been the one on the receiving end. However from here, he couldn’t see them.
And how long would the magical animals last for anyway? If the potions provided any guide, the effects would be temporary.
Just then, the pair of fugitives saw another group of fighters begin to emerge from the door of Titan’s Rest. In the lead was a single Spartan Warrior in a full-face helmet and bronze armor, with several male and female hoplites following behind. So – again they were entirely surrounded by enemies.
Troy recognized Canis and Leon among the hoplites; the boys must have at some point returned to the training ground from their recent quest. He also saw Europa, and noticed that the unusual axe from the amphitheater was hanging at her belt, the decorative runes on its iron-and-gold blade gleaming in the midday sunshine. This confirmed that the contest had finished – and Europa had been victorious.
Troy half turned and glanced back, but he already knew it would be madness to go back to the main training area. Despite Plato’s efforts, it was surely only a matter of time before the captains caught up with them all. Once again, they found themselves surrounded.
However, what had at first looked like a coordinated movement aiming to stop their escape was beginning to look more like a stand-off. The two groups – the soldiers at the back of the square and the group that had emerged from the building – had their weapons leveled at each other, not at Troy or Clio. For now, neither was advancing; instead they were eyeing each other warily.
Then the leading warrior of the group with the hoplites pulled off his helmet, and Troy immediately recognized his features.
“Andros!”
The big warrior nodded. “I am sorry. Make no mistake – I have always been on your side, Troy,” said the guide. “But now you have to get away from the training camp – I can’t protect you here. Fall in behind us, both of you.”
Clio and Troy exchanged a glance. They could already hear more running footsteps from the main training ground. Without delay, they hurried together down the back of the group of hoplites who were supporting Andros.
“These here hoplites are on our side,” the guide called out to Troy, “but some of the others are still loyal to the captains. Don’t trust anyone.”
As Clio and Troy moved in alongside the outer wall of Titan’s Rest, their fellow hoplites raised their spears in unison, guarding a narrow way through for them. But the hostile Spartan warriors at the back of the square were still lined up side-by side, locking shields, blocking the narrow gap between the two buildings. There was no way the hoplites could force a way past without a fight.
Just then, there was another flash of reflected sunlight, a flap of broad golden wings, and a large object thumped into the back of two of the enemy Spartan warriors, causing them to stagger forward and drop their spears. The eagle, thought Troy – the last of the five animals from the hut!
And sure enough, he could now see Plato among the thorny bushes behind the buildings. His friend must have found his way down the other side of the storehouse building, and from there made it around behind the warriors. As Troy watched on, Plato ran forward and thumped another of the warriors across the back of the head with the flat of his sword, causing the man to collapse to the ground. But the effort of controlling the magical animals was clearly weighing heavily on Plato, as he then collapsed to his knees, clutching at his temples once again.
This diversion was enough for Andros, however. He led the hoplites forward into the gap that had been created as the Spartan warriors scrambled to reassemble into formation. Soon Andros and the hoplites had forced the opposing warriors back against the storehouse wall, sword clashing on sword. From there, the Spartan warriors gradually retreated towards the main training ground, taking up position in the narrow gap between the front of the buildings.
As their foes resumed formation, each force holding the other at bay at spearpoint, the standoff resumed. And beyond, more of Troy and Clio’s original captors had now reached the scene, many showing signs of wounds and bruises from their battle with the magical animals, but they were unable to get past the narrow gap to intervene further.
Behind the hoplites, the way to escape was clear at last.
Troy and Clio rushed over to see to Plato, and they helped their friend to his feet as Andros looked around at them. “Troy and Clio – hurry! Now is your moment. Flee now, and we will join you when we can.”
Troy looked over at the guide, and then at Europa and Canis who were standing by his side with spears pointed at the warriors in the gap. “But Andros, you must all come with us now. Please! You’re in danger here.”
“Yes. We have to stick together,” added Clio, approaching their comrades.
“Perhaps. But for now it is the two of you that they are after,” said Andros calmly.
Clio had now stopped just behind their allies, resting one hand on her dormitory comrade’s shoulder. “Europa! You’ll come with us now, right?”
But the powerful hoplite shook her head. “Somebody needs to hold this line.” Europa’s face was stern and her gaze remained straight ahead as she spoke, as she held her spear point directly towards the other squadron of troops.
“But Europa…”
“Clio, like the guide said, it’s you they’re after. It could have been the other way around, but that is how it is.”
“We can’t risk losing you.”
But for a moment, all of them were distracted by an organized retreat of the troops that faced them. With their spears and shields still raised, the group of warriors stepped backwards, once, twice, and soon were retreating into the main area.
Troy hurried forward to watch, and saw that enemy warriors from many positions were now regrouping at the center of the large rectangular training area in response to urgent shouted orders from Captain Theseus. Captain Semele was crouched on the ground, her wound being strapped by a man from the House of Healing.
“This gives us the time we needed,” said Troy excitedly, turning to his comrades on the small square. “We can all run for the mountains now!”
“No,” said Europa. “We still need to hold this gap, so that if they want to hunt for you they will have to take the long way around, going past the Bathhouse or down the marble steps. Hurry now, my comrades. Run for the bridge to the mountain path, and we will follow when we can.”
* * *
Troy looked again at the opposing troops. Around two dozen fully-armed Spartan warriors were still on their feet, and rapidly mustering in the training area. He began to realize the truth of what Europa had just said. Someone had to hold the gap. But it didn’t seem right that he should run while the others stayed…
“We can’t stand against them, not here, and not anywhere else,” he said. “But Europa’s right – some of us will need to delay them while the others escape.” At this, some of the hoplites that were lined up behind Andros stood back, looking towards the mountains. Europa, however, remained standing alongside Andros at the gap, still facing out towards the hostile troops.
“Come on, hoplites,” called out Troy, now looking at Canis and the others and pointing with his hatchet towards the gap between the buildings that led down to the slope. “Run now, and get out of here before this turns into a deadly battle. Don’t wait for me – make for the mountain path now.” He now saw that Ianthe and Nyx, the hoplites from the amphitheater, were among the group, and they began to move the way he had indicated.
Skill boost! You have developed your valor. +5XP
Troy then looked around at Plato, who had now picked up the shrunken golden eagle. The model was motionless and broken-looking, one of the wings badly bent. “You should get going, too,” he said, hurrying over to his friend. “You’re hurt, and
need as much time as you can. On you go.”
Ianthe and Nyx stepped up, and each one took one of Plato’s arms around their necks. “We’ll make sure he gets across the bridge,” said Nyx, “and help him on his way up to the mountains.”
“Thank you,” said Troy. “He’s a friend of mine – I appreciate it.”
“After what you have done, there are no thanks needed,” she replied.
“Thanks man,” added Plato, now clutching at Nyx’s shoulder.
Troy then looked around and gestured urgently. “Come on, Canis! You’ve been through the mountains before. We need you and Leon to lead the way.” Canis nodded and hurried towards the gap.
“Now hurry,” called Clio, whacking Nyx across the back as the three of them moved off after the others. Most of the other hoplites hurried after, and in moments they were making their way down the scree slope towards the outer path.
Troy was left alone with Clio, Europa, and Andros.
“You should go too,” said Europa, slamming the base of her spear into the earth as she spoke. “I will guard this place and let none go past.”
“We can’t leave you,” said Troy, frowning and shaking his head and then looking at Andros. It was perfectly clear that one of them might have to make a sacrifice on behalf of the others. But who?
Europa then stepped back a fraction, her eyes once again fixed on the main training area. “I have this, Troy. Andros and I will hold this gap to help our comrades. We’re Spartans. We can hold a line all day long.”
“I am a Spartan too.”
Europa glanced back at Troy. “You’re also a leader, and they need that.”
The soldiers in the main area had now broken into four groups of ten, and all were marching in different directions. One of these small squadrons was coming directly towards them.
“You fellow hoplite here is very brave,” said Andros, smiling at Troy, “but I think a more subtle approach is necessary. The two of you are the fugitives, and must now get going after the others. Leave this to us – we are still trusted by the captains, and can easily talk our way out of it.”
“No!” said Clio. “You’re our guide and we need you!”
He gazed at the young hoplite, then smiled broadly. “I know that your training has been a mess, Clio. Brutal and cruel, for which I apologize. I should have realized more quickly what was going wrong. But if it has shown me anything, it is that you hoplites don’t need me. You are better people than I will ever be.”
“Go, both of you!” called Europa. “And good luck.”
“Thank you, then,” said Troy, putting his hand on Europa’s shoulder as she began to step forward toward the oncoming troops, spear held loosely in her hand. “You’re the best of us, too.”
“I know.”
With that, Andros and Europa marched through the gap and out into the broader training ground towards the approaching squadron, while Clio and Troy ran in the other direction, and began to make their way through the thorn bushes at the back of the square.
There was no proper path down, and the pair of escapees slowed as they pushed through the thorns, the way their comrades had gone a short while before. Troy took a moment to roll up the black blanket and tie it around his waist to avoid it catching on any of the many thorns and branches.
They were veering gradually to the left as they tried to find a way through, as the thorns were too thick for them to head down the slope directly towards the path. “It’s not the easiest way to go,” said Troy, taking the lead and holding his shield up to protect them both from thorns which grew as high as face height, “but we can manage. I’m glad I’m not pushing through these bushes with a spear in my hand.”
Clio grunted, pushing on behind him. “True,” she said. “Talking of which, what happened to your spear?”
“I had to hide it,” he replied. “We can come back for it when it’s safe.”
Clio chuckled hollowly. “Troy – I don’t think it’s ever going to be safe for us to come back to Sparta after this.”
“Yeah… I wish I’d got hold of another weapon – and perhaps taken a moment to get some upgrades in Titan’s Rest.”
Clio scoffed. “That’s true.”
They pushed on in silence. Troy could now make out the outer path ahead, and caught glimpses of the other hoplites, now far ahead of him. It was still hard going, but he did at least see a skill boost for his efforts:
Skill boost! You have developed your survival skills. +5XP
He knew that there were other ways to get to their destination – the outer path circled the entire training complex, and the route into the mountains could be reached either from the marble steps or from the western path besides the Bathhouse, as well as the direct way that they were going across the rough slope with its thorn bushes and rocks. Troy could only hope that the captains and their Spartan warriors had not quite had time to circle around the path and block the route ahead – or stationed guards there earlier.
“This way,” said Clio, clapping Troy on the arm and pointing. She led the way around the edge of another thorn bush, ducked under the low branches of a cypress tree, and at last they found themselves on a small rocky slope that led directly down to the path below.
It was less secure underfoot than it had looked at first, and soon rocks were bouncing around at their feet as Clio and Troy scrambled down and struggled to maintain their balance. The two hoplites did their best to control their own descent, but soon found themselves skidding downwards uncontrollably.
Finally they reached the base of the slope and the path’s edge, where they managed to stop and catch their breath for a moment. Troy paused, looking at where the path circled around to the north west – exactly the same route that they had run along for their great race all those days before. From here it was hard for them to make out the offshoot path and bridge that led up into the forested lower slopes of the mountain, but Troy knew it was there.
They began to hurry in that direction. The other hoplites were entirely out of sight now.
“You think they got away safely?” said Clio.
“Well, I haven’t seen them coming back this way,” Troy replied. “That’s something.”
Before long, the path began to curve around to the left, heading southwards back around the training area, while an offshoot led north. It was the latter that the pair of hoplites now took. Troy looked at the earthy surface for signs of their companions; certainly there were many imprints of sandals, and most of them appeared to be going this way. It was a good sign.
But as they passed a stand of pine trees and then turned and approached the bridge over a mountain tributary of River Eurotas, the two escapees rapidly came to a halt. They found themselves just yards away from another of their fellow hoplites – Ajax. He stood on the mountain path, blocking their route to escape.
“Stop right there, if you value your life,” he called out. “Troy and Clio, you need to return to the captains to face justice.”
Level: Hoplite (Level 4)
XP: 1075 (unspent: 0625)
Hit points: 15/27
Luck points: 1
Mana points: 3
Equipment: basket of olives; belt; blanket; coin pouch; greaves; hoplon shield; iron hatchet.
Chapter 33: Ajax, Clio and Troy
Ahead, the mountain path snaked uphill, and Troy could see a gully with a bridge over it, followed by a rougher and steeper stony path beyond. But that was some distance away still. And just twenty yards before the bridge stood Ajax, filling the narrow rock-lined path, weighing his spear in his hand as if ready to throw it.
It was all too clear that their rival hoplite had no intention of allowing them to escape towards the mountains.
Troy wondered if Ajax was reluctant to actually throw the spear, however. Perhaps his rival recognized that he needed to hold on to the weapon in order to maintain the upper hand over the pair. Troy was only holding a hatchet, after all, and Clio still just had the dagger.
Despit
e the danger, Troy and Clio approached to within a few yards of where Ajax stood. As they did so, the tall hoplite set the end of the spear to one of his sandaled feet, and pointed it towards Troy’s chest. “That’s far enough.”
“Let us past, you fool,” said Troy coldly.
“I am not going to do that.”
Troy glanced behind him on the path to see whether any of the Spartan soldiers had pursued them. Surely by now the ten-warrior squadrons would have set off to round up the escapees, regardless of what Andros and Europa might have said or done.
“Come on, Ajax,” said Clio, stepping forward but gripping the dagger firmly in her hand as she went. “We have fought side by side in the past. Our quarrel is not with you, and we want the best for the city – honestly we do.”
“Lies. You are both traitors to Sparta. Captain Theseus said so.”
“And you believe him?” asked Troy. “After everything we’ve heard?”
Ajax grunted. “The man is tough, but I think he is fair. He explained it all to me, you know, and finally it makes sense. Every group of trainees has people like you, he said. Ones that are too weak, and know that they can’t make it. So they stir up dissent, and try to claim that the system is unfair rather than working harder.”
Troy scoffed. “That’s garbage, and you know it deep down. You heard about the conspiracy when I did – I didn’t make it up to besmirch the captains. And you know that the Helots saw that captains conspiring with the assassins. They told us about it when you were right there.”
“Lying Helot scum,” replied Ajax, clenching his teeth. He nodded towards the basket of olives which Troy was still clutching in his shield hand. “Looks like you want to join them, Troy. I think that’s a good move. You were never much of a soldier, so perhaps olive gathering could suit you. And when we march out to exterminate those vermin, you will get what you deserve.”
Nemesis (Sparta Online Book 1) Page 25
