David Gemmell - Dark Prince

For a time Leonidas was silent, swinging away from them to stare through the trees. Then he spoke. 'You have been honest with me, Parmenion. For that I thank you. We will go to Sparta and raise the army. I do not see how we can win, but I will fight alongside you. But if we do survive you must leave us. You are not my. . brother. It would be wrong for you to stay.'

'You have my word on it,' said Parmenion. 'Is there an oath you wish me to swear?'

'No oaths,' Leonidas told him. 'Your word — like my brother's — is promise enough.'

'Then we will continue with this. . drama,' said Parmenion. 'I will need your help. There is much I do not know about this world and you must advise me, especially when we reach the city. Who are the ephors I can trust? Where are my enemies? Time is short.'

'You believe we can defeat Philippos?'

'I know I can nullify his sorcery. You and I will discuss the strategy. But it will still depend on the numbers we can raise.'

'I will do all that you ask of me. And you will remain King until the battle is decided.'

Leonidas offered his hand and Parmenion took it. 'Victory or death,' said the young Spartan.

'Victory is preferable,' Parmenion answered.

The Spartan smiled and moved away and Parmenion turned to Thena. 'You think I was wrong to tell him?'

She shook her head. 'No, you will need a friend in the city.'

'I have you.'

'No,' she said sadly, 'I will not come to Sparta. I shall ride south-west to the Giant's Gateway.'

'But I thought. .'

'As did I. It was not to be.'

'I will. . miss you, lady.'

'And I you. Is there a message for Attalus?'

'Yes. And for Brontes. Will you and I still be able to commune from such a distance?'

Thena nodded and stepped forward, taking his hand. 'Across worlds,' she promised.

They sat together for almost an hour as Parmenion outlined his plans. Then Leonidas returned. 'The men are ready,'

he told them.

'As am I,' answered Parmenion.

Word of the defeat had reached the city, and there were no crowds to greet the returning soldiers as they marched in formation along Leaving Street to the marble-pillared palace.

'Stay close to me,' whispered Parmenion as the warriors returned to the nearby barracks and he and Leonidas entered the great gates, 'for I have never seen the inside of this place and it would not help our cause if I were to wander off and get lost.'

Leonidas grinned. There are six andron s on the ground floor and the kitchens are ahead of you. Your quarters are up the first flight of stairs and to the right.'

Parmenion nodded and glanced at the luridly painted walls leading to the marble stairs. Battle-scenes were everywhere, filling the hall, and even the mosaic on the floor showed Spartan warriors in battle array. He smiled.

'Sparta does not change,' he said, 'even in another world.'

An elderly servant moved forward and bowed. 'Priastes, whispered Leonidas.

'Welcome home, sire,' said Priastes. 'I have prepared you a bath and some refreshment.' The old man bowed once more and turned to the stairs, Parmenion and Leonidas following. The stairs were lined with statues of spear-carrying Spartan heroes from the past, none of whom Parmenion recognized. Priastes reached the top of the flight and turned right into a wide corridor, opening a door to a series of east-facing rooms. Parmenion stepped inside, following the servant through to a small chamber where a bronze-plated hip-bath had been filled with hot, scented water. The servant unbuckled Parmenion's breastplate and the Spartan swiftly undressed.

The bath was a delight, the heat easing his tired muscles. Priastes poured watered wine into a golden wine-cup, first sipping it before passing it to his King.

'Thank you, Priastes, that will be all,' said Parmenion, lounging down into the bath. The man bowed and left. The new King scrubbed the dust of his travels from his skin and then rose from the bath. Leonidas handed him a towel which Parmenion wrapped around his waist before strolling out to the balcony beyond the main windows. A cool breeze whispered across his wet frame and he shivered. 'That feels good,' he told the Spartan warrior.

'It is always wise to remove the smell of stale sweat and horses before greeting your wife,' said Leonidas carefully.

'Wife? What wife?'

Leonidas took a deep breath. When the seeress Thena allowed him to see Parmenion's life in the other world of Greece, he had observed with sorrow the loss of his love. 'This will not be easy for you, Parmenion. In this world you married my sister, Derae.'

'She is here? In the palace?'

'Of course. But know this: she does not love you. She was to have wed Nestus, but duty came first and she married you to give you a link to the throne.'

Parmenion looked down at his hands; they were trembling. 'I don't think I can do this,' he whispered. 'You cannot know. .'

'I know,' whispered Leonidas. 'Believe me, I know. But we have embarked on a course from which there is no turning back. Be strong, my friend. She will not wish to spend time with you. You will be able to avoid her. Tell yourself that she is not the woman you loved. This is a different world. Now,' he said gently, changing the subject,

'what are your battle plans?'

Parmenion shook his head, trying unsuccessfully to force thoughts of Derae from his mind. 'We will not discuss them in detail. Without Thena here I cannot know whether we are being observed.'

'We have our own seeress, Tamis. She is old, but once her powers were very strong. Shall I order her here?'

'Not yet. If she is gifted, she will know of my. . deception. No. First summon the ephors. I will see them today.

Bring her here in the morning. Now tell me, which of the ephors spoke against the battle with Philippos?'

'Chirisophus and Soteridas. They are very much the leaders of the council. Chirisophus is rich and many men live under his patronage, but Soteridas is also the chief priest at the Temple of Apollo, and it was his reading of the omens that prevented the full army from marching with us.'

'Can you find ten men with open minds and closed mouths?'

'Of course,' answered Leonidas. 'But why?'

'During the meeting I want you to have the houses of Chirisophus and Soteridas searched.'

'What do you expect them to find?'

'I hope to find nothing. But we must consider the possibility that one — or both — may be in the pay of Philippos. You and your men must seek links with the Makedones — letters, Makedones gold. . anything.'

'It shall be as you say.'

'And send out riders to watch for the Makedones army.'

'Yes. . sire.' The handsome Spartan bowed and backed away.

'Leonidas!'

'Sire?'

'I will do my utmost to be worthy of… him.'

'I do not doubt that, my friend. And I will be beside you.'

After Leonidas had gone Parmenion refilled his wine-cup and stood staring out over the eastern quarters of the city.

From here he could see the market-place, where the food-sellers were already setting up their stalls. Several messengers were running along the narrow streets, carrying news of trade convoys or shipments to the merchants.

Beyond the palace street cleaners were sweeping away the debris of yesterday, the sewage that flowed to the streets from the open clay pipes in every house; while high above the city, on the acropolis hill, the statue of Zeus gazed out over the mountains — stern, proud and forbidding.

Just under 40,000 people dwelt here, Leonidas had said, more than half of them slaves or servants. Parmenion's spirits were not high as he considered the coming battle.

It was not enough, he knew, to match the Makedones manpower. His twin had almost done that. No. Quality was the key. . and surprise. But how do you surprise a man who knows what you intend? Was Philippos even now reading his mind?