Chapter 2 continues

     Vyakles stood there shocked and in silence, his maddening thoughts a whirlwind of emotion he could not find which words to speak, nor could he believe the stunning, naked woman standing in front of him, as if in a dream, was truly the long, hard sought after Queen who was now, at long last, in his presence. Thera was looking even stronger and more ravishing than the king remembered. Vyakles was taken aback by the look of extreme anxiety etched upon Thera's lovely face. Then she turned her backside to him as she went over to the Themiscyran women imploring them "Do not do this my ladies! Do not give yourself up today to Hades for my sake! You must return to Sparta and raise your children." the Queen spoke in a painful pleading voice full of grief, tears welling up in her emerald eyes and Vyakles realized he had never heard Thera cry.
     However, Kayla looked up at the warrior Queen and, on behalf of Amarra, Jessa, Ia, Katara, Johanna, La Scoffa, Iona and Scotia, she replied in a proud voice "No." she paused before she continued, for Kayla, nor any Themiscyran woman had ever disobeyed the command of a Queen of the Royal House of Themiscyra "We have lived here on this  island, where you, yourself, have brought us to, and by your wisdom and grace we have all learned what it is to live free, to have our liberty, confined by no walls, nor military rule. So.., we here, kneeling in the sand, naked as we were at the time of births, will use our Freedom of Choice and we WILL give up our lives to accompany you in to the afterlife."
     Amarra gazed up into her Queen's caring eyes and replied with the fierce desire of a hungry tiger saying "This is our message and answer, this is the path we chose."
     At this moment Thera knew for certain her warriors were determined to give up their ghosts to follow her into the Underworld. The last Queen of Themiscrya knew there was nothing she could do to stop them, nor could she steer them off this course of ultimate self destruction, so Thera had to be clever and weld her intellect and logic against the king, her last weapon to change the mind of Vyakles. Thera looked down into the face of each of her glorious, brave warriors as she closed her eyes and when Thera opened them again there came a deep and peaceful abiding serenity to her expression,  she smiled sweetly, speaking softly telling them in her parting words "Very well." here the courageous Queen went over to each of the women calling them by their name, gently stroking their cheeks and touching their hair, each given a light kiss upon the forehead as she said "I will welcome you all here now, to share in my death. And you men! You Greeks! Remember what  you witness here today! That these fine, warriors gave up their lives by freedom of choice, in service to their Queen! We will gladly sacrifice our lives if but as a votive offering to the Glory of a King! Tell this story to our children and tell them we will love them FOREVER!" Thera shouted out clearly so her voice could be heard above the roar of the surf crashing against the shore "So now, my ladies! We have lived our lives through Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor!" here the women gave up a battle cheer "And now we die as every women should.., Happy, Unafraid, and FREE!" Thera gave a strong confidant gaze upon her ladies whom she was so proud of this day, then said "I will go first and wait for you all there, beside the River Styx and we shall go and dine with Hades, this night, TOGETHER!"
     Vyakles and his men were astonished at the great joy and elation Thera had stirred up in the women and neither the king nor his soldiers had ever seen any people so excited to die. Here Thera turned and faced the man she had betrayed with a strange look of humiliation, sadness mixed with stunned relief. She looked into his dark eyes bowed her head in supplication and knelt down before him directly in front of  the line of women. Her eyes were brighter, and greener than Vyakles remembered, her hair longer, more golden than before, her body seemed leaner, stronger, if that was possible, and after endless, sleepless nights tossing and turning in his bed thinking, dreaming of her face, here and now she seemed even more lovelier than he had remembered, even the anger and rage spewing from his heart and mind could not see anything but her radiant form. For Thera was not like any woman he had ever known or laid eyes upon, and though he came from Sparta where he lived among women of legendary beauty and strength, they could not even begin to compare to the women of Themiscyra. This is when the thought occurred to him that perhaps these were not ordinary women, perhaps these brave, radiant creatures were the descendants of the gods, or were in truth the offspring of Aphrodite, for the beauty and bravery of these women was unmatched in anything these Greeks had ever seen or read of in myths and legends. For one brief moment the thought came to Vyakles that, perhaps, to kill these women wold be to bring great offense to the gods, and being a Spartan, Vyakles was very religious and very superstitious, now  as for Thera she quietly stared up at the king waiting for him to speak first, out of respect. Vyakles gazed into her eyes his expression of fury as dark and deep as a grave and he did not know what to say. "Thera!" was all that came.
     "Yes, it is I.., and I have come to kneel before you.., oh, Great King! To lay down my life and die" she said in clear, calm words and when she spoke the sweet sound of her voice did a world of good for the king's heart to hear."I have come to face you and take the punishment you deem necessary to quell your hatred and rage for me, but I have not come here to ask, nor will I beg you for your forgiveness!" Vyakles gave her look as sharp as his blade."It is only because I am fully aware that I DO NOT deserve it!" her Thera paused to let her words pour out over  the buds of the mind of Vyakles, whom was disappointed by her statement, for he had longed dreamed of seeing the former Queen beg for his forgiveness in front of his men before he killed her, but Thera betrayed him still and would not allow him to have even this little satisfaction. "No, but I must let you know that from the bottom of my heart and soul I am so sorry for what I have done, I regret any, and all pain, grief, humiliation and strife I have caused between you, and your people, your Nation and your wife." now Vyakles did not appreciate the mention of his deceased wife, Queen Keeva, but Vyakles stood there with both eyes trained on Thera and one hand resting on the pommel of his sharpened sword at his side as he listened, the indignation in his eyes blazing like fire.

Chapter 2 begins

     "If this is, indeed, the path you have chosen and you still wish to take Queen Thera's life, if only to satisfy your lust for her royal blood to quench your revenge.., well then," Kayla paused as she gave the other  women a deep and solemn look "Then we can not, will not, and shall not travel back to Sparta with our sons, and your brave men, nor you, oh King Vyakles." here Vyakles gave a confused look as the former Calvary officer continued "Rather, we have chosen a different path for ourselves, in service to our Queen, whom is willing now to give up her life in sacrifice, for the benefit and freedom of her children, and so too we." Kayla paused turning to her fellow warriors and friends "For we would rather die by Queen Thera's side, than be alive on this Earth without her."
     Here the king and his soldiers gathered behind him bore witness to the vision of these strong, brave, beautiful women slip out of their thin, linen garments, then standing naked, their bronze skin glistening with sweat in the sunshine, they all held hands with one another kneeling down in the sand before the vengeful king. Then Amarra spoke up imploring the king in a voice that was most sweet and kind "We pray only one favor, oh Great King, we will freely, easily give up our lives as a sacrifice to the gods and to our Queen, but we will only do so if our hearts can die at the end of your blade." here a great cheer arose from the women.
     "Why? Why Amarra? Why Kayla?" here the king stepped closer over to the women, who tilted their heads towards his face, and he recognized them all, even though it had been years since the last time he saw them gathered at the feast in Themiscyra. Vyakles looked into the eyes of Jessa, the Queen's physician, La Scoffa, her chef and horticulturist, Katara and Johanna her prized archers, Ia, her academia and philosopher, and lastly Iona and Scotia, the larger of the women, former, members of the phalanx and the Queen's personal security detail. "Why would you have me do this to you all?" Vyakles questioned them with a terrible vexation filling his already troubled mind.
     "We will gladly cross over with our Glorious Queen into the After World, step into all of Eternity, so that Thera may have a little company." Scotia spoke up with a bright and shining peaceful smile upon her face. All the women appeared now to be in the grip of some sort of euphoric, possibly drug induced, state. However the great king and his soldiers knew this was not the case, for these women were descended from a warrior class of people who had waged war for over 700 years, their life was a religion of Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor. So even now, as their Queen was prepared to sacrifice her life for the satisfaction and vengeance of king, so too were these ladies ready to embrace the cold, sharp steel of his blade out of their extreme Unity. Now this was very touching, but this was all a little too much for the embittered heart of the King to take, though he would be quite capable of spilling out his rage, when the time came. "We have prepared ourselves for this day." Kayla said softly.
     "So this is your message and answer? This is the path of death you have chose, the After World is where you wish to go?"
     "Aye!" came a unified loud shout from the women gathered naked together, holding hands, kneeling down in the sand, heads pointed up high towards the sky, in an execution pose, exposing the flesh of their necks and naked breasts.
     "Very well.., Ladies! I will give you, each, the death that you so willing seek!" Vyakles shouted thinking somehow he was being cheated.
     "No!" came Thera's voice as loud as lion's roar as she stepped out from the tall grass underneath the shade of the date palms where she had watched and waited. When Vyakles turned and beheld the beautiful naked, golden haired, green-eyed Thera standing so close to him it was as if she had appeared out of thin air as if by magic.

End Chapter 1

     The son of the Queen of Themiscyra and the King of Sparta felt his tiny heart race as he looked up from where he knelt in the hot sand in front of the tall, fierce, warrior with a terrible look of anger in his dark eyes, that were as black as a cold winters night. Slowly he rose and in a voice as small as a dove he spoke up saying "I am here."
     Vyakles stared down at the tiny child and his son stared back at him with the the hair, high cheekbones and mouth of his mother, yet this boy's nose and eyes were just as his father, and the king felt his angered heart lift up in an elation he had never known. For the last he had seen of his son he was just a babe in Thera's arms, now he was nearly five, small in stature but looking very much as Vyakles did when he was a child. Those among the men gathered around the King, whom had known him when he was a boy growing up alongside them, all marveled at the likeness of the king on the face of the small child. The overwhelming sense of relief and happiness of the men, now finally having an heir to the Spartan Throne was undeniable even to the women of Themiscyra, whose mood was stern and stoic as they stood across from the king with arms crossed and furrowed brows, as still and silent as a tomb, looking as if they had themselves been carved out of stone.
     "My son..?" Vyakles bent down a little to get a closer look into the eyes of the child he towered over. "What are you called?"
     "My mother calls me Therakles." he said with all the confidence of a victorious little General, for his mother had taught him, trained him, not to be afraid of Death, so now he stood before a man, who, though he had the presence and stature of a God and was the crowned head of a mighty Nation, he was after all, just a man, and so Therakles spoke to him as such.
      At hearing the name of his son, the name Thera had chosen for him did the king's heart good to hear. "Do you know who I am?" he glared down at the boy, careful not to reveal the overwhelming joy rising up in his heart, feeding his troubled and tormented soul.
     "You are called Vyakles, the great King of Sparta, ruler of the fiercest Warrior Nation in all the World.., and you sir, are my father sire." here Therakles wiped away his sardonic expression with a little devilish smile, showing no worry or trepidation as he leaned closer to his father saying "My mother has told us much about you."
     "Us?" came a quizzical look upon the face of his father.
     "Why myself, and my sister, Sparta, your daughter, of course." here Therakles turned and pointed to the little copper-blond girl, a version of the beautiful Thera, in miniature, standing next to Amarra, whom the King remembered well. "Come, sister, present yourself to the King, make your presence known to our father."
     Sparta gave a worried look up to Amarra and Kayla, whom were both like mothers to her, and they both whispered to her in a clear, unified voices saying "Be not afraid, oh brave child of a warrior Queen, go and kiss your father." Sparta took in a deep breath and remembered what her mother had taught her of how she was to behave when this day came,  so she took in a breath of the salt scented air, she held her head high and walked carefully across the sand making her way through the men kneeling down, still, for the angered king. As she approached a gentle warm breeze lifted up her long curls spreading them across Sparta's face, then she neared the giant of a man, reached out grabbed his left hand, giving it a squeeze she said "Hello father, I am Sparta, it is very nice to meet you." With that the precious little girl gently, sweetly kissed the back of her fathers hand; which shocked him a little, for his mind had been so fully focused on finding his son, he had forgotten all about his daughter. Now as he looked down not knowing how to react Sparta stretched out her arms wanting him to pick her up and hold her close to him, but the king showed her no love that day. Although this hurt his heart to do so, the king stepped back and away from the dejected child. Vyakles felt the beads of sweat rolling out from under his helmet, the heat from the summer beating down on his body and the backs of the 15 men prostrated before him, so he called out in a loud voice with his daughter at his side "Spartans! Stand at attention!" Vasha and the rest of his men stood to their feet quickly wiping the sand off of their faces. They saw the King call out to the Captain of his hoplites "Take all the sons of Sparta, along with my daughter, aboard ship. Present them to the physician for a thorough examination! Make sure they are all healthy and strong.., free from any, disease. Then report back to me!"
     "Yes my liege!" came the reply, but as the soldiers tried to collect the children the little boys all became terrified calling out to their mothers.
     "Silence!" King Vyakles shouted at them, but his voice and strength of will did nothing to abate the bitter tears shed by the frightened children.
     Here they ran over to the men they had all come to know on the island as their protectors clutching at them, tears streaming down their reddened cheeks, many of the men scooped them up in their strong arms trying to calm their fears. Sparta reached up for her father's hand, as Therakles stood at his father's right side, brother and sister waiting to see how the King would react. "Vasha!" Vyakles cried out "You and your men get on board with the children, I will return you all home soon! Now, as for these.., women.., you will all remain here on this island paradise you have created for yourself! My prayer to the gods is that you all remain here.., and live, FOREVER!"
       Now these were most insulting words to any warrior class of people, whose only hope of glory is to die fighting on the field of battle in valiant service to their Nation, for this was their  guarantee of peace in the after world, and here Vyakles wished these treacherous women, whom had betrayed his Nation, broken the treaties between them, he wished them no peace at all. Not here, not in the afterlife.
     "Vyakles!" Vasha shouted "You can not abandon these women, you must return them to Sparta!"
     "Hold your tongue Spartan! Before I slice it from out your mouth!" King Vyakles reached for the pommel of his sword, but did not unsheathe the sharpened blade. "Let it be known!" Vyakles shouted over at the women, setting his steely gaze upon Kayla and Amarra telling them "I, and my Warriors, do not acknowledge, nor do we recognize! Any of your former ranks or titles, for you are no longer warriors in the Themiscyran Army, but merely outlaws who shall be punished here in isolation forever!"
     "Vyakles!" Kayla shouted in a tone louder and more angered than his "'T'is true! We are no longer Warriors, and we are living without our ranks, or titles, bestowed upon us in battle by the Themiscyran Nation.., but we women, here, ALL have one title that YOU, and the Nations of Man, SHALL, respect and acknowledge."
     "What, pray, might that be?" King Vyakles scoffed.
     "They are the Mother's of the Son's of Sparta!" Vyakles answered quickly and with great conviction "And, as such, they have certain rights, as well as certain protections, under our Great Laws of Lycurgus.., the first King of Sparta!"
     "Of what Law do you speak?" Vyakles retorted, the furious anger in his eyes deepening to a darker shade of rage.
     "All mothers of Spartan sons have 7 years to raise and nurture their offspring before being given away to the agogi for military service. No where within the law does it stipulate, nor does it mandate, where the child must be reared. These boys still have three more years, at least, to remain in the care of their mothers. That is the law! And no man, nor woman, nor queen, nor even a king is above the laws of Greece." Vasha gave a  clever small smile with a slight bow of his head.
     Here Vyakles laughed a little stepped over to Vasha and with a sardonic reply said "Ah, Vasha.., you would have made a fine politician!"
     Now this was extremely insulting to the Admiral, but he laughed in bemusement along with the king saying. "Yes sire, but I  make an even finer warrior."
     Vyakles took in a deep breath as he looked down at the still faces of his children, he gazed at the little boys weeping in the arms of his prodigal soldiers, who now would be returned home, he shook his head but said "Yes.., you are absolutely correct in your statement, I respect the law above all else, and I in my great mercy I shall allow these.., women,  to remain with their sons,  HOWEVER! Once we have secured the boys in our military, I will banish you.., ladies.., from the Kingdom of Sparta forever!"
     "And what of Queen Thera?" Amarra shouted out.
     "She is no longer a Queen! She has betrayed my Nation, insulted my throne and my supremacy, abducted my warriors, taken my children! Thera must pay a terrible price to me! For today my vengeance requires her life!"
     

More Chapter 1

     As Thera prayed in the silence of the Ancient Temple King Vyakles paced back and forth upon the deck of the massive cargo ship as it slowly rode in with the tide, coming to rest on the sandy beach with great creaks and moans from the old wooden vessel. He, along with his sailors, quickly disembarked storming the shore dressed and ready for a full military assault; however the Greeks found no combatants that day, only the long bearded, half-naked subjects of the King of Sparta, who had disappeared many years before when Thera abdicated her throne and abducted his men and one of his ships, along with the Spartan bred children. Vyakles had been through much worry, struggle, defeats and the loss of his beloved Queen Keeva, among other things and he had spent every Spring and Summer sailing the vast open waters of the Mediterranean scouring the many islands searching for his men, and Thera whom had betrayed him. Now Vyakles prayed the rumors he had heard from the Dan'o ni tribe were true, that Thera was living on the island of Hera, so Vyakles hoped Threa, who broke his heart and taken his son, would soon taste all the bitter rage and  terrible vengeance he would pour out all over her.
     As Vyakles approached he saw the line of men, their skin tanned a deep bronze, hair lightened by the sun, eyes as dark and sharp as a hawk, and as the enraged king came closer his heart raced with furious anger as he recognized his Admiral, Vasha standing before him. Vyakles looked out across the windswept beach and yelled to them in a loud, strong voice commanding them "Kneel before me! O' men of Spartan blood!"
     Here the missing Spartans prostrated themselves before the king kneeling down in the warm sand, not a word was spoken between them, then Vyakles noticed the Themiscyran women standing off to his left, with a small group of boys and one little girl. Here, to Vyakles' astonishment he saw all the boys bow down their little heads in the sand as the defiant, unarmed, Themiscryan warriors stood with all their heads held high, a great look of dissatisfaction upon their troubled faces. King Vyakles averted his gaze from the fearless women's sight as he strode over to Vasha standing directly in front of him so that Vasha could only see the feet of the King. "Explain yourself to me Vasha! Where is my ship, and what of Thera!"
     Vasha tried to lift his head but the furious King placed his sandal upon the back of his head forcing the disgraced Admiral to speak with the sand in his mouth as he exclaimed "Sire! We have brought Thera and her women here to this islands, we have dismantled your ship to build shelter, and provide security and protection for the children of Sparta, your new obedient subjects! We have stayed here to protect the Spartan children, your children! Your daughter and your one and only son, the heir to your throne!"
     Here Vyakles paused as he looked over at the small group of boys bowing down in the sand and hot sun. The love that had frozen up in his betrayed heart began to melt a little and this caused the King a sharp pain in his chest as he took in a deep breath, and spoke up and said in a clear voice "Arise my son! Show your face to me!"

Chapter 1 continues

                                                                 Five Years Earlier

     "Spartans!" Vasha yelled out across the white sands of the windswept beach as he spied two triremes out on the deep blue waters of the ocean. "The King's ships approach!" here a triumphant cheer rose up from the  six men who paused from hauling in their nets. All had been waiting for over three years for this day to come, and soon they prayed they, along with their countrymen, would be returned to the loving arms of Mother Greece, and rest in their beds, secure in their homesteads in their, beloved, Sparta.
     Vasha mounted his horse his heart racing, his mind in a panic with worry for he was sore afraid for the women of  Themiscyra and Thera their leader. Admiral Vasha rode off up the trail from the shoreline with great speed where he found Thera sitting in the afternoon sun combing out her long, golden red hair. Now when the green eyed Thera heard the sound of a horse and rider she sat straight up as an intense electrified feeling covered her skin in a wave of an icy chill. "Thera!" Vasha cried out as he brought his steed to a dead stop as he looked down and said in serious voice "Vyakles has come for you."
     Thera took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, standing to her feet "At long last.., you and your men can return home with the sons of Sparta, and Vyakles will have his son, the heir to his throne." the great Queen replied calmly, no hint of fear or terror in her voice, ever knowing she would finally come face to face with the wrath and vengeance of a betrayed king. "Kayla!" Thera called out to one of her warriors "Bring me my children, the time has come." Kayla gave a deep, solemn, bow of her head as heart sank and saddened, for she knew full well by the end of this day she would be placing Thera in her grave. Quickly Kayla gathered up the four-year old little twins, brother and sister with golden red curls, like their mother's.
     "Your heirs, my Queen." Kayla smiled holding back the tears of her grief.
     "My little children, come, sit upon your mother's knee." Thera said her face radiating the loving warmth of a blessed mother who adored her babes. "Now, my darling daughter, Sparta, and my brave son, Therakles, the day has come we have been preparing for, your father has come to take you away." here Thera had to be brave, she had to have the courage a lioness and the focus of an eagle, but there came a deep welling up of pain in her heart and she found it hard to get the words out from her mouth as she said "Now remember, whatever you witness this day, you must not be afraid, and you must always obey your father, for he is a great king of a mighty Nation, Vyakles will teach you many things.., but as for me.., well" Thera paused looking down into the sweet face of her child "I have disobeyed your father and broken the laws of the king.., much to his anger.., now he comes to punish me." here she paused as she saw little bitter tears welling up in their bright green eyes. "Now, now, there, there my little children," she said hugging them tightly to her body "Now, what is the most important thing I have ever taught you?" she asked as the calm, peaceful smile returned once more to her face.
     In the softest of voices, as small as two little birds, she heard them reply "Never be afraid to die."
     "That is right." she said kissing them on the cheek.
     "Mother?" her son asked his slender fingers twirling a lock of her silken hair in his hand.
     "Yes my son?"
     "When you see my father, will you be afraid to die?" Therakles asked with wide, caring, kind, eyes.
     "No, my son, not I.., for no matter how far away my spirit roams, you can still call out to me in the deep abyss, and I will always hear you.., then I will come and be with you." with that she gave each of her children one more embrace and final kiss upon their rosy cheeks, then she ordered Kayla to take them down to the beach to wait. As Thera watched them go she saw Amarra, one of her most courageous and fearless warriors, approach with an expression on her face as solemn as the grave. She said nothing only handing Thera a small clay bottle filled with olive oil. Amarra gave Thera a deep look of sympathy and grace as they met eye to eye. Thera gave a gracious, grateful smile as she turned and walked down the path that led to the Ancient temple of Hera.
     Here among the ruins of broken, cold marble columns Thera removed her white, thin linen toga as she entered the temple. Standing naked before the altar Thera opened the bottle spreading its slippery contents all over her bare skin. She would anoint her body in preparation of her death, before she knelt and prayed, as was the custom of her people. Thera offered up her prayers to the place where her ancestors lived among the lands of ghosts and winds. The great Queen, whom had abandoned her throne, turned her back on her Nation, and defied the Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor of seven hundred years of Themiscyran history, now supplicated herself at the altar of Hera, beseeching her for a quick and painless death.
     

Chapter 1

     "General Elgar!" came a terrified shriek from the outskirts of camp as one of his scouts fled from the deep, dark woods, his eyes wide, blood streaming down his forehead and cheeks as he collapsed at the feet of his brave and bewildered leader.                                                                                                                                              
     The Eastern Lord of War knelt down beside his dying and injured soldier who was falling into shock and as he held him, Elgar found the man's back had long scratches, deep and crimson, warm with his life's blood seeping out. "What has happened? Where are the rest of your men?" the General asked thinking the Warrior Women of Themiscyra, his Nation's long hated enemy, had captured, and killed, his battle scouts.., however, when he strained to listen to the dying man's reply, the young Generals belly churned and his mind raced.
     "They're all gone..," the scout stammered through short, labored breaths as he said "They came.., sharp claws, bloody fangs, wet, red daggers..," his voice rose along with his pain. "a black and orange flash of a nightmare.., they came! The tigers.., ate all my men.., and then the horses, but I escaped, claws at my back, hot breath, I ran, I ran. so fast and far away!"
     "What of the city! What of Queen Thera's Army?" the frustrated General demanded to know every last bit of information he could obtain before his loyal scout bled to death in his arms, his countryman's blood seeping into the earth in scarlet stains. For he had waited 10 long years for this day! Elgar had returned a General, had returned to exact his revenge on Thera and her Army, Elgar had looked forward to returning home with Thera and Odessa's heads tied to his saddle, but now Elgar had the disturbing, uneasy feeling there would come no time for a bloody battle today.
     "ARMY!?" here the man began to laugh telling his beloved General with his last few breaths. "My Lord! The city is in ruins.., the walls destroyed by fire, rubble and ash, there is nothing.., no one.., no more!" the brave soldier looked into the dark eyes of General Elgar, whom he was proud to serve, and die for, he smiled and said "There is nothing left of the city, the streets, houses, stables, the palace.., all empty! No bodies, no blood, no bones. The rumors we have heard.., must be true.., for I found this sitting upon the ancient throne." pointing to his leather bag he took one last look up at the leaves of the trees rustling over his head in the cool salty breeze, he could hear the far off sound of the surf and he wished he were swimming in the peaceful ocean right now.., the terror he had witnessed, humans being eaten alive, the crunch of bones, the roar of hungry, bloodthirsty tigers, and the screams of dying men, he prayed his death would bring an end to this day and the pain inflicted upon his body and mind.
     General Elgar called for the bag, and as his brave and honorable battle scout bled to death before him, he slowly, carefully pulled a heavy object from out of the camel skin saddle bag. A gasp came up from his warriors gathered 'round him that cold, windswept day, for they all recognized the bronze war helmet right away.
     "Spartans!" came a cry from the captain of the guards.
     General Elgar peered into the empty eyes of the cold helmet his mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions and there in the dappled sunlight he saw something etched in Greek writing, inside the well crafted battle armament. It simply read, in bold letters.., King Vyakles of Sparta