Truth and Sparta

by Camille Oster

  “And where are you to meet him?”

  “It changes constantly. I don’t know where they are meeting, they are very careful. They don’t tell everyone, they certainly don’t tell anyone affiliated with Spartans.”

  He was quiet for a moment considering her words. She was not going to let something important slip, but it also felt good discussing things with him. “As you are,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “And they know this?”

  “Everyone knows,” she confirmed.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this was happening?”

  “What should I have said? These are my people, if they wish to escape the violence inflicted on them, who am I to stand in the way? You have to recognize the position I am in.”

  “Don’t they understand that there is just more of the same or worse when they leave,” Nicias said with exasperation. “It will be even worse for them. At least here you have your own villages, your own community.”

  Chara chose not to argue that point. He obviously believed it, which was interesting. Although from everything he’d seen, people who lost the protection of their state ended up slaves. There was a distinction between slaves and Helots, with Helots being slaves in everything but name. Slaves were property of an individual while Helots were owned by the state and not controlled by any particular person. He was right, being a Helot was better than a slave, but the solution she’d found made them free. A loop hole she had ferreted out due to exceptional circumstances brought by war, famine and disease—a perfect storm of conditions that have opened a slight opportunity—one that the Athenians only allowed because it hurt their enemy.

  “Don’t be stupid and leave, Chara,” he said softly after a while. “The life I can provide you will be much better. You will have anything you could want.”

  “Rest assured, they do not trust me even if I wanted to leave.”

  “Do you want to leave?” He waited for her answer.

  “No,” she answered. “I want to be with you.” Partially it was true, there was still that annoying and useless hope that they could be together that reasserted itself again and again. That foolish hope.

  He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t leave—I will protect you from everything.”

  Chapter 25

  Chara woke up in Nicias’ bed as she had grown accustomed to. She spent every night at the Menares house, in his bed. She’d gotten used to it and she preferred it to staying in her own empty little house.

  Nicias wasn’t awake yet. She watched him for a while as he slept. He slept on his stomach with his arms under his head. She still could not completely fathom how beautiful he was. His was the perfect Spartan man—strong and handsome. He was deliciously warm under the blanket and she snuggled into his body. The mornings grew colder now, making the warm cocoon in their bed even more appealing.

  She knew he’d want her as soon as he woke up and she didn’t mind; in fact, she wanted to wake him. He would pull her to him even before he opened his eyes. Chara loved their intimacy in the morning, it was gentle and unhurried. She felt the dull ache inside her that waited for him to wake. She wanted him constantly now and her body would crave him all day when they were apart.

  He stirred and as she expected and he sought her, pulling her underneath him and he settled his weight on her for a moment, then gently sought out the tender spots under her jaw. Goosebumps followed the path of his kisses. Neither of them needed much encouragement in the mornings and he came inside her without much delay. Long, steady strokes found her release quickly and his followed.

  “What are your plans today?” he asked after he’d settled down with his head on her chest again. He teased her sensitized skin, and even his breath made her skin respond.

  “I am going to help one of the neighbors with their harvest.”

  “The season is growing late.”

  “Yes, but there is still much to do. What are your plans?” she asked as she twisted her fingers into his golden curls and kissed the top of his head.

  “I am riding north today. I won’t be gone long.”

  He didn’t really discuss what he did during the days. He was carrying out orders, searching for...her. Chara dismissed the intruding thoughts.

  “Let’s eat,” he said and got out of bed. Chara missed his warmth immediately, but the day was starting and she had to get up as well.

  One of the servants brought in a tray. Chara had gotten used to the servants now, whereas it used to make her feel very uncomfortable. But she had settled to an acceptance of their presence even if she disliked it. She dressed quickly before joining him for the morning meal.

  “When the war is finished, I think I will get a dog,” he said. “I had one as a boy and I miss him.”

  “We had a dog,” Chara said with a smile. “He used to follow father to the fields every day, then he would get bored and run off for a while. He knew exactly when mealtimes and home time was and he would always be back in time. We never knew where he went.” Technically she still had a dog, just not here.

  “Nicias!” they heard Nicias’ father call from outside of the room. Nicias stood to see to his father but the man that Chara rarely saw came in the room followed by others. The room filled with Spartan soldiers.

  “Why are you here?” he asked, but Chara suspected that she knew—she could see it in their eyes. They were watching her and Nicias’ eyes followed them to her. She could see incredulity in his eyes, which turned to shock.

  “No, you must be mistaken,” Nicias said turning back to the men.

  “We are not,” the man said. “We’ve had exact information that points to her.”

  “What is her purpose here?” one of the men asked. He stood with his legs firmly apart and a scowl on his face. He didn’t think she would fight did he? There were five of them, not counting the two residents here; she wasn’t stupid enough to think she could fight her way out. One of them had his sword drawn, she noted.

  “She’s just a whore,” Nicias said after a while in a distant voice. She could see that Nicias was trying to make sense of the information and the thoughts in his own head.

  “Nicias...” she said, but he looked away from her.

  “Take her.” She could hear the cold anger in his voice.

  The leader gave Nicias a pointed look while two of the others came for her. She held back her instincts to fight because she knew there was no point; although there was something in her mind that wondered if she’d be better off fighting and dying now, but he couldn’t quite bring herself to do it. They marched her outside and she didn’t resist. She was tiny compared to the group of large men that surrounded her. The sun was bright in the courtyard where their horses were being held and Chara had to blink at the harshness of the light.

  They placed chains around her wrists and mounted their horses. The servants stepped back and she could see the shock on their faces as well. They’d had no idea she was the one causing all the trouble for the Spartans. She looked around only to see Menares’ stark disapproval. Nicias was standing further away in the shadows. She wanted to say something to him, but she didn’t know what she could say. She dreaded to think was he was thinking. He’d called her a whore and that stung, but didn’t matter now, she said to herself—nothing did. She was dead, it just hadn’t happened just yet.

  Her chains yanked hard as the horses started moving and she almost fell over. They weren’t riding at a quick pace, so she could walk behind them provided she kept a reasonable pace. They didn’t say anything to her as they rode through the village. All the people from the village came out and lined the road they were taking her through.

  “Get back in your houses,” the leader yelled and they reluctantly did. She silently said goodbye to the people, nodding at them as she passed. She could see the anguish on their faces as they reluctantly turned to retreat. She saw more anguish in them than she actually felt herself. Whether they regretted her fate or the collapse of the escape she pro
vided, she didn’t know. Probably both when it came to the people who knew her. There was a part of her that felt incredibly sad—her life was over and she wouldn’t get the chance to see her daughter again. It was the latter what she truly mourned. But she also knew her daughter was safe and well, and she would grow up happy with two doting grandparents—not to mention that she would grow up free, as would lots of other children that she had taken away from here.

  Chara didn’t regret the things she’d done; it had given her life meaning and it had given many people the future that she was now foregoing. The more she accepted her fate, the less fear she had. She would be with Doros soon; she was just afraid of the pain that would be inflicted in the process. She couldn’t quite decide what to pray for, but a pain free death would be preferred.

  It would take days of walking to get back to Sparta. She was certain that the Spartans would take no complaint from her; if she couldn’t or wouldn’t walk, she would be dragged behind them leaving her skin and flesh behind as they went along. The slow walk to her eventual demise gave her nothing but time to think about her accomplishments, her daughter and the man she had been taken from. She’d seen the anger in his eyes, there was also hurt there. She could well imagine what he was thinking and he likely hated her. She wished he would know that she really did care for him despite how things looked.

  Nicias felt shock. His sweet girl had turned into a vile creature in front of his eyes. The scale of her deception was just dawning on him. He’d been such a fool and she’d manipulated him in every conceivable way. She’d used her body in pursuit of the gains she wanted, and had toyed with him—probably laughing behind his back. His father had asked him angrily what secrets he’d been departing to her in his bed. It was what they were all wondering, he could see it.

  He’d been out searching for the Helot leader and it turned out to be the whore warming his bed. He felt bitterness fill his insides. Whatever she hoped to gain for her deception, he hoped she didn’t find it. It pulled their whole interaction into question. He wondered if she’d somehow manipulated her way into his bed, but he couldn’t quite see how, unless she was superbly good at it, which might be the case for all he knew. He accepted that the girl he knew had been a delusion concocted to deceive him. The girl he’d found comfort and release in had been something else entirely and it made him feel sick with revulsion.

  She hadn’t even fought; she had just accepted that she’d been caught. It only added to the fact that it wasn’t a mistake. She’d been the one they were looking for and she had been under his nose the entire time.

  All those warnings that Helots were untrustworthy rang through his mind. He hated them, all of them and her the most. She’d smiled to his face and attacked his country when he’d had his back turned. He was surprised she hadn’t attacked him personally when his back was unprotected. Perhaps she had plans in that direction, a dagger in the back when he wasn’t looking—trusting her implicitly.

  He couldn’t even begin to grapple with the embarrassment of being that one that had been duped by her. His loyalty would be called into question as would his intelligence for not having seen through her ruse. This was a devastating blow on every level. He hated her and he’d now come to realize he’d never really hated anyone before.

  She would suffer for her deception; he knew they would show her no mercy. He couldn’t even imagine how she thought she would get out of this. Her pleas would fall on deaf ears, no matter how many tears she fell. Maybe she thought the people would come to her rescue. Actually there may be a danger of revolt now, he conceded. They would have to keep tight control now that the Helots had lost their... He didn’t know what she was to them.

  She posed a threat even chained and disabled. The dangerous mood amongst the Helots would only be squashed when they gave up hope. She had to died and the sooner, the better. He was surprised they hadn’t killed her on the spot. They should have asked him to do it, he would happily have complied.

  Chapter 26

  Crossing the mountains was difficult for Chara and she was getting tired and thirsty. They hadn’t offered her any water the previous day and she was starting to feel the effects of it now. The bruise on her cheek where one of the men had hit her ached, but as it was the only thing they’d done to her—she counted herself lucky.

  She could see the city now that they were on the other side of the mountain pass. It lay in the valley below, where she saw the expanse of the city and the acropolis that oversaw it. This was the center of the brutal state that had ruled over them for so long. It looked nothing like she’d imagined as she’d always expected it to be a dark and desolate place.

  They crossed a river as they approached and she could see large buildings, temples and houses along the well-kept streets. The city was teeming with life, including soldiers, Spartan women and freemen. There were also Helots, but no one paid her no regard.

  They took her to the center of town past tree lined streets where young men were training—likely in the same fashion that Nicias would have done. She knew that Nicias lived here somewhere amongst the multitude of barracks. Sparta was a much nicer place than she’d expected. It was clean and well kept, its wealth on display in the buildings. Marble statues and bronze reliefs decorated many of them. Sparta’s wars had gained them wealth and their city showed it.

  They took her to the Agora, the large space at the center of the city, full of people buying and selling food and all manner of things. People were not paying any attention to her while the men yanked her chain along to a large building at the edge of the marketplace. It had imposing columns, similar to the administrative parts of Athens. They took her inside the building and chained her to the wall in an alcove before leaving her. Every noise was amplified by the marble walls.

  She didn’t know where she was but the building was quiet. She could hear the activity in the marketplace outside as she sat down in the corner of the space with her knees tucked in under her chin. She was exhausted and every part of her ached for water. Her feet were blistered and her knee scraped where she’d fallen over.

  She still couldn’t quite believe that this had happened—she known it would one day. The activities she’d started would draw their attention sooner or later, but the results had been worth it. She didn’t regret anything she’d done and would die with pride in what she’d achieved. Her daughter would know of her exploits and be proud of her, she was sure. The Spartans might take her life, but she had won the battle. She knew she’d hurt them, hurt their capacity. It wasn’t her intention, but it was a fairly substantial bonus. She had taken on Sparta and she had won, and they would never be able to erase that, no matter what they did to her.

  Chara woke by being shoved into the wall. She was disorientated, but started to notice that there were men in the little room she was being kept in. She couldn’t really see them clearly as it is dark in the room. She looked up to the window high up on the wall and could see soft pink light. It was dawn; she’d slept through the entire night. She tried to swallow, but her throat was parched.

  They undid the chain that kept her linked to the wall and marched her out into the larger space meant to keep many men, but appeared huge relative to the small group of men waiting, and she could see Nicias behind them. He kept his eyes averted from her and she could tell by the drawn expression on his face that he was still very angry and hostile.

  “So this is her,” one of the older men said looking around the others for confirmation. “Not more than a girl.”

  One of the men kept hold of her elbow and she tried to get him off, but he only gripped her arm tighter until it hurt. She stopped fighting it because he wasn’t going to let go and she wasn’t entirely sure her knees would hold her if he did. Not only was she stiff from sleeping on the cold stone floor, fear was clasping her insides even though she tried to hide it.

  “All this trouble from a mere slip of a girl.”

  “An Athenian spy,” another man said and spat at her. She tried to dodg
e it, but the chains around her wrists restricted her movement.

  “Where is the ship?” yet another demanded. He was younger and more forceful. His eyes were hard as iron and there was no mercy to be had from him.

  Chara didn’t say anything.

  “Speak or I will cut out your tongue,” he said menacingly. Chara forced her lips together and refused. He grabbed her jaw, clasping it hard enough that Chara wondered if her bones would break under the pressure. Chara shook visibly with fear as he brought up the bronze sword to her mouth.

  “I don’t know,” she finally said. “I’ve missed the meeting point, they know something is wrong and they will have gone.”

  “And where is the next meeting point?”

  “I don’t know, we only plan one at a time,” she said.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “We actually had this scenario in mind,” she said tartly and he hit her across the cheek for her show of impertinence. Impact and pain reverberated through her head. She closed her eyes and wished this would be over. She knew there would be more pain to come, then release from this world. She just had to hang in there and endure.

  “Where did you get the ship?” the elder asked and the younger more forceful man put his sword up to her throat. Chara had trouble speaking as whatever moisture she had in her throat had gone. She felt the sharp blade against her throat and she closed her eyes, not wanted to see what happened next. “Where did you get the ship?” he repeated.

  “Athens.”

  “I knew it, she’s a spy.”

  “She has grown up here, I have seen her,” Nicias said from behind them. Chara opened her eyes. She’d forgotten that he was here, having been too distracted by the shiny sword at her throat. There was no kindness or empathy in his eyes. Whatever had made him confirm that, it wasn’t for her benefit.

  “Then how has she an Athenian ship?” the younger man demanded.