Chapter 1: The Fall of Troy

Iantha nods her head towards Odyessus as he peaks to her, giving a polite smile. 'I can;t say we will stay long, we have other business to attend to. Still if Nikias will give us a lift to your your land, we may as well see the area before we carry on.'

Kouru's query is the needed distracted to stop her getting drawn back into conflict with Tiwaz, ad she raises and eyebrow, trying to figure out the exact nature of his words. As a woman among an army of mostly men there had of coure been proposals or various kinds, all turned down.

'I have no mind to settle down for a long time. Artemis guides me, I even share in her vow, and I hope she will grant me hunts till I can no longer ber the weight of my spear.' The polite smile is back as she bows her head, hoping no offence is taken. While they had not fought side by side, the Spartan seemed honourable, especially in respect to the remaining survivors.

At his second request a look of confusion crosses her face but she nods. [b]'Very well, I Will lend you my spear. As long as it is not stealth you are after. '[ /b] She raps her knuckle on her breastplate. Though not obvious the protective piece was thicker than most, but it did come with the downside of weight and restriction.

Though curious what the Spartan was up to, she was not ure he wished to stay behind and party right now. A walk and fresh air would do her min good.

A soldier's salute is flashed to Nikias - he's a superior officer, after all - and the scout nods absently as he ranges out past flung-open gates at a leisurely pace. His eyes immediately begin scanning both the shore and the land, easily noting the firm footfalls of the amazon behind him "I... saw something in the temple, and King Odyssius' command stirred something in the back of my mind". He was familiar with the habits of most animals and knew how to track any human, stag, and most birds, but how... "I believe that... I think that we're looking for a boy child. I saw... there!" a (somewhat shaky) arm would point to what is seemingly yet another random chunk of the cliff face as he sets off at his usual speed, a yard-eating lope as eyes flash, trying to take in every tiny piece of information.

'A child?' She furrows her brow. ' How is it you came by this information?'

Even as she ask she joins him in searching, but turns up nothing he himself doesn't see.

"Yes, a child" His expression turns suspicious as he walks to a particular spot, turning over a single rock, then shaking his head "I had a... vision in the temple. Though I'm not sure if it was brought on by the gods or a blow to the head at this point." Never the less, he continues searching almost absently, clearly going through the motions "How can there be nothing at all? Not a feather, not a single scrap of fur, not a blade of grass out of place?"

Nikias asks a pair of his men, stationed nearby, to stay with the four Kouru asked about, and quickly hurries after the other two. "I will follow," he says, "my men are loyal and are virtuous."

"Perhaps a healer should see to your head, if you took such a blow, Cousin?" Nikias suggests. "There seems to be nothing here but refuse."

It was a wise suggestion, and he'd take it. Perhaps it was the strain of battle, or the shock of victory, or the near-death experience, "Or perhaps it's simply long past time for me to be home". He'd be nearly silent on the quick walk back to the city, his reverie broken only by the light banter between the siblings "Interesting choice of words. We were looking for a child borne aloft by wings. That or chasing a fever dream. Get a blessing from your parents, they'll not be traveling with us. My king has use for them, and you are temple goods" At long last Kouru would sit, resting his feet and his aching back before looking up at his newfound companions "With your permission of course, cousin. I think that my king will be appeased in taking his frustrations out on old Priam without us risking the wrath of allowing two priests to be abused during our journey home"

Nikias takes a deep breath and exhales through his nose, his jaw clenched in thought. "I could allow this. These two may come aboard my ship. My men know better than to...take out their frustrations in such ways."

He turns to the young ones, Helenus and Cassandra. "My men stood with you this day, you have some inkling of their worth. For better or worse, you now belong to Sparta. I will not deny them that, but I will give you a choice - perhaps the last such choice you'll get: you may sail with me, or sail with your family. Decide by morning."