Chapter 4: Open Sea

Hearing his name the Spartan would look up sharply, but would let Helenus speak before turning to Stelios "They are. Would you kindly head back above decks and inform the captain that we have completed the repairs to this net?". His tone of voice was that of a wise and venerable retainer "gently advising" his Lord's foolish young son - a request in only the most polite terms, after which his gaze shifts to encompass the twins "I'm going to tell you this now, and I'm going to assume that I will not have to repeat myself - and if I do, there will have to be consequences. In Sparta, you two, your parents, and everyone else I have claimed would usually be treated as 𐤄‎O𐤉‎O: you would be auctioned to a prestigious brothel or sold perhaps to one of the nobles. It is my intent to keep you both as 𐤈‎𐤄‎O𐤉O for the temple. As I have been victorious in war, I will be married and become head of my own household - a household to which you two would belong and eventually, if you serve well, be a part." "They are soft, my son, and weak..." came the voice of his father, echoing in his head from more than a decade past "And as such it is necessary that you two both know and understand your place. If you are ever heard to utter my name as casually as you have just done, you will be killed."

Heaving a sigh the old veteran would roll his head from side to side, feeling the tension growing down his shoulder blades before looking again at the twins "I find myself growing fond of the pair of you, and I would not see anyone abused or wasted. Whether from a king or a slave, a promise to the gods is a good and noble thing. You've seen that I will not allow anyone to strip you of what honour remains yours, even as slaves. But I can only do this if you two are aware, and if you two are careful. I have much to learn from you, and you still have your lives." gazing to Helenus the scout would allow himself to be as honest and open as he knew how "Help me to protect them." "... but together they are mighty, and make us mightier still"

Nikias grimaces. "Entangled again in the will of the Gods," he says quietly, then louder, to the trio, "And how precisely do you think to talk sense into him? I would worry for us, and for even you, should harm come to him in this discourse, such that the will of your mother be interceded upon."

"So, you do this for your sister, is it? And what is it she wants? You suggest he divert course based on his love for her, but what of you? If she loves him, and he her, then surely dissuading him from finding Chara would cause her similar distress, would it not? Perhaps even more so. Love, real love, is not something so fickle as to be forgotten with the change of the tide."

'You may be correct Nikias still I see no harm in letting them speak to him. If he is true in his live he will not be sway. As long as you three agree not to harm him he he refuses to change..'

Part of her wanted to ask what they meant about this Thetis and the war. It was not a name she recalled off the top of her head.

Nikias takes a breath, considering Iantha's words, then nods. He looks to one of the sailors nearby - "You, Agathinos, go fetch our new friend and bring him forth to speak."

Making solid eye contact with the fallen prince, the old soldier would look from him to his sister and then back before a slow smile stretches across a weathered face "Ahh, there you are at long last, proud Trojan. I'm honoured to finally meet you. That shield you wield with such skill would be the envy of many a Spartan." As the wind tosses about the cramped space to playfully muss black, short cropped hair, he'd peer back at Cassandra with memory flashing behind suddenly damp eyes Iphigenia... "I am, your highnesses, the son of an elevated peasant who learned that the fortunes of men can be as fickle as the wind taking a bow-shot. We are, in spite of our lands, new: new to money, new to power, new even to the lands which we were granted. We have the hate of waste common to all peasants, but the hunger for glory and legacy common, I think... to all those wishing to remain long after their bodies are dust."

Taking a pull from his battered waterskin the equally battered scout would rise to his feet, nodding at the pair "And while you two are welcome to live out the rest of your days in the temple, I would..." a quick pause, a second of uncertainty, then a decision made "I would prefer if you two added your family strength to mine. That your family legacy of strength, honour, and dignity might live on in glory rather than as a cautionary tale." and with that he'd simply turn back toward the hatch, heading above decks to check on the state of things "Think on it. Speak to each other. Take time to watch, to learn. Serve in the temple and tend to your gods. But the offer will be there as long as I am... however long the Lady wills that be"

Nikias frowns. "Stelios, o' man of despair, why do you find such sadness in matters of the heart, when the one who holds yours awaits you this very moment? Has you such cowardice so as to give up so easily, thy fancy so fleeting as the breeze - so prone to shift as the tide?"

"It depends entirely on the depths of their hunger, I should think, if it is worth the risk. This is only a decision you can make, Stelios, but make it you must."

Iantha's face hardens slight at the mention of A holes but she doesn't say anything as Stelios emerges.

She watches the exchange with a look of bemusement, not too invested in either side.

Nikias shrugs and looks to the ancient ones in the water. "Will you let this man drown, or deliver him to your sister? Either way, she will not hear of this man's fate from us."

"Friend, we haven't repaired tha- wait, there are nereids, should we- wait, don-" Things seemed to be happening rather quickly was his only thought as he blinked, eyes still adjusting to the sunlight "You know what?" he ponders as he shrugs, walking up to Nikias and thumping a fist to his chest in salute "Captain, the nets and rigging below are repaired. We should be able to safely tow that fishing boat while repairs are made" came his report as his mind wanders "This is all above my pay grade."

"Well, that is one extra stop we need not make, I suppose. Yet here we are with an extra boat. Perhaps not all is lost - it may be of benefit to us to tow the boat to the next port anyway, trade it for tidings or silver.

Thank you, Kouru."

... found himself staring open-mouthed at the retreating demi-gods only to snap his attention back to the matter at hand: someone was giving him credit for something, and as all junior leaders throughout history he knew better than to waste the moment "Of course, sir" he'd snap, firing off another salute "Might be a good idea to offer sacrifice to the gods for this sign of favour when we have a moment, perhaps grant the men a night ashore when we have a chance... dropping the salute he'd lean in slightly and lower his voice "... though it seems we were given some manner of messenger. Shall we keep to our new, modified course?"

Still watching out over the sea, Nikias takes a deep breath. "We continue along a similar bearing. I see no reason to risk betraying what is clearly a signal from Olympus. We stay our course."

He turns to Kouru. "How are the twins holding up?"