might have developed more
tender feelings for her brother than she’d realized. This also
meant that her activities were taking him away.
“ You should consider joining us,” Chara stated. “I know it’s a
scary proposition, but so far, it has worked.” Della looked
uncertain, but she finally said she would think on it.
They parted as
Chara needed to find her brother and father, and convince them that
it was time to leave. She expected that she might have a battle
ahead, but she was not going to lose. Her father would likely be
more open to the idea, especially when she reported how much her
mother had liked the farm and had seen good potential in it.
Nicias had a
few days of rest after fierce skirmishes to regain and protect
Cythera—months of campaigning had further depleted the men. Now
there were disturbing reports that Athens were preparing to move
against Megara. The Spartan spies had all confirmed that they were
preparing for something substantial.
The generals
were meeting with the Assembly to decide on Sparta’s actions and if
their key ally needed defending. They were just too few to do all
the things needed and they were all tired. He didn’t mind the
campaigning; in fact he’d been doing it his whole adult life, but
there was something new on his mind now. His mind had started
turning to more domestic matters and the potential life he could
have if they ever reached a state of peace. He could not stop being
a soldier, but there would be more room for such considerations if
the war concluded—not that it was looking to any time soon. These
were things he never used to consider at all. He knew his girl was
a part of the reason his perspective was changing.
She was coming
around, he could feel it, her body reacted to him—she welcomed him.
It was a heady knowledge that sat in the back of his mind
constantly. He now longed for the days when he could have a few
days to return to his father’s estate and if they were marching to
Megara, he would have a chance to return. He wanted to move her to
his own promised estate and to keep her there, but this war left
him with little time for personal pursuits—and the Assembly with
little time for matter such as assigning estates.
But the idea
of marching north was building excitement in him, the kind of
excitement he used to feel heading into battle.
“ Doros, you have to come. The farm in beautiful and it’s all
ours.” Chara was pleading with her brother. He hadn’t outright said
no, but he had a look of suspicious disbelief—like she would lie
about it, she thought to herself. She suspected that she might have
to change tactics. “I’ve invited Della to join us.” She just wanted
to see what his reaction would be. He frowned. Well, that was an
interesting reaction, she surmised. Maybe Della’s apparent feeling
for Doros was returned—this could mean that she might be better off
trying to convince Della.
“ I am a Helot and I am proud of it,” he said, but Chara could
tell there was an edge of detached interest in his voice. He hadn’t
outright dismissed it. She knew it was no use speaking further—he
needed to think things over. The stubborn little mule he was could
only take on so much before he ground his heels in and she knew not
to push further. She would just work on Della in the meantime. Her
success so far had given her confidence—had achieved the
unthinkable—she had worked with the cumbersome Athenian
administration and achieved the outcome she wanted. Growing up
under the thumb of the Spartan’s, it wasn’t an expectation that
one’s efforts would ever meet with any kind of success.
She also knew
that she didn’t have much time—each day she was here only increased
the chance of someone telling the wrong person what she was up to.
She needed to get her father to Attica, and her brother too—if that
included persuading Della to join them, all the better. She had
already broached the idea with Della and she
tender feelings for her brother than she’d realized. This also
meant that her activities were taking him away.
“ You should consider joining us,” Chara stated. “I know it’s a
scary proposition, but so far, it has worked.” Della looked
uncertain, but she finally said she would think on it.
They parted as
Chara needed to find her brother and father, and convince them that
it was time to leave. She expected that she might have a battle
ahead, but she was not going to lose. Her father would likely be
more open to the idea, especially when she reported how much her
mother had liked the farm and had seen good potential in it.
Nicias had a
few days of rest after fierce skirmishes to regain and protect
Cythera—months of campaigning had further depleted the men. Now
there were disturbing reports that Athens were preparing to move
against Megara. The Spartan spies had all confirmed that they were
preparing for something substantial.
The generals
were meeting with the Assembly to decide on Sparta’s actions and if
their key ally needed defending. They were just too few to do all
the things needed and they were all tired. He didn’t mind the
campaigning; in fact he’d been doing it his whole adult life, but
there was something new on his mind now. His mind had started
turning to more domestic matters and the potential life he could
have if they ever reached a state of peace. He could not stop being
a soldier, but there would be more room for such considerations if
the war concluded—not that it was looking to any time soon. These
were things he never used to consider at all. He knew his girl was
a part of the reason his perspective was changing.
She was coming
around, he could feel it, her body reacted to him—she welcomed him.
It was a heady knowledge that sat in the back of his mind
constantly. He now longed for the days when he could have a few
days to return to his father’s estate and if they were marching to
Megara, he would have a chance to return. He wanted to move her to
his own promised estate and to keep her there, but this war left
him with little time for personal pursuits—and the Assembly with
little time for matter such as assigning estates.
But the idea
of marching north was building excitement in him, the kind of
excitement he used to feel heading into battle.
“ Doros, you have to come. The farm in beautiful and it’s all
ours.” Chara was pleading with her brother. He hadn’t outright said
no, but he had a look of suspicious disbelief—like she would lie
about it, she thought to herself. She suspected that she might have
to change tactics. “I’ve invited Della to join us.” She just wanted
to see what his reaction would be. He frowned. Well, that was an
interesting reaction, she surmised. Maybe Della’s apparent feeling
for Doros was returned—this could mean that she might be better off
trying to convince Della.
“ I am a Helot and I am proud of it,” he said, but Chara could
tell there was an edge of detached interest in his voice. He hadn’t
outright dismissed it. She knew it was no use speaking further—he
needed to think things over. The stubborn little mule he was could
only take on so much before he ground his heels in and she knew not
to push further. She would just work on Della in the meantime. Her
success so far had given her confidence—had achieved the
unthinkable—she had worked with the cumbersome Athenian
administration and achieved the outcome she wanted. Growing up
under the thumb of the Spartan’s, it wasn’t an expectation that
one’s efforts would ever meet with any kind of success.
She also knew
that she didn’t have much time—each day she was here only increased
the chance of someone telling the wrong person what she was up to.
She needed to get her father to Attica, and her brother too—if that
included persuading Della to join them, all the better. She had
already broached the idea with Della and she
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