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!"
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!"
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