Lion of Macedon

'It is not hate,' protested Parmenion, but Hermias swung the gelding's head and galloped away. 'It is not hate!' shouted the Spartan. Standing thunderstruck as Hermias rode back across the meadow, Parmenion heard footsteps behind him but did not turn. Instead he watched his friend riding into the distance.

'That was sound advice,' said Xenophon sadly. 'Take the bay mare and ride for Corinth. I will give you enough money for the journey and a letter to a friend who resides there. He will be glad to make you a guest until you decide where you want to go.'

'I cannot. It would mean giving up Derae."

'She is lost to you anyway."

'I will not accept that!" He swung on Xenophon. 'How can I accept it?'

'Are you willing to die for your love?'

'Of course. What would you expect me to say?'

'And are you willing, also, to kill an innocent man for it?'

Parmenion took a deep breath, struggling for a calm that would not come. He did not know Nestus well, but the man had never been one of his enemies, had never tormented him. Now he was seeking -

as any Spartan would — to exorcize his shame with the blood of the man who had dishonoured him. He met Xenophon's eyes. 'I cannot run, Xenophon. My life would be nothing without Derae. I know that now.'

The general masked his disappointment. 'How good are you with the sword?'

'Capable.'

'And Nestus?'

'He was — and is — the sword champion of Lycurgus. He is powerful.'

'Can you master him?'

Parmenion did not answer. 'Am I evil?' he asked.

'No,' answered Xenophon. 'Action and reaction, my boy. I knew a man once in Persia who was asked to bring water to a dry area. He built a small dam which diverted a river, irrigating fields and saving a community. They were grateful for he had given them life, and there were feasts and banquets in his honour. He stayed with them for several months. When he left he came, after five days, to a deserted town, where there were corpses and a dry stream. He had saved one community and destroyed another. Was he evil? Intention is everything. You did not set out to shame either Nestus or Derae, but now you must suffer the consequences. One of you must die.'

'I do not want to kill him. I swear that, by all the gods of Olympus,' said Parmenion. 'But, if I run, I can never claim Derae. You understand?'

'You may borrow my breastplate and helm — assuming that Nestus is geared for war. Oh, Parmenion, what has your folly brought upon you?'

Parmenion forced a smile. 'It brought me Derae and I cannot regret that — though I have lost Hermias, and he has been my friend since childhood.'

'Come and eat. The body does not fight well on an empty stomach, believe me. Take honey, it will give you strength.'

It was late afternoon before Nestus and his companions rode up to the house where Parmenion was sitting with Xenophon in the shadow cast by the sloping, tiled roof. The Athenian rose, gestured for Parmenion to remain where he was and walked out to meet the riders.

There were six men with Nestus but Xenophon knew only two of them: Leonidas and Hermias.

'Welcome to my home,' said Xenophon.

'We seek the man Parmenion,' stated Nestus, lifting his leg and jumping to the ground. He was a tall young man, broad-shouldered and lean-hipped — not unhandsome, though his beauty was marred by a hook of a nose.

Xenophon approached him. 'Have the ephors granted permission for this duel?'

'They have,' said Nestus. Reaching into his tunic, he produced a scroll and handed it to Xenophon.

The Athenian opened it and read swiftly.

'Will honour be satisfied with anything but blood?' he asked, handing back the warrant.

'No. You know what he did. What choice do I have?'

'As a gentleman, none at all,' said Xenophon softly. 'But — and I speak not in his defence, nor even with his permission — he did not know of your involvement with the lady.'

'She is no lady, she is a whore — made a whore by your half-breed house guest.'

Xenophon nodded. 'Then blood it must be. However, let us act like gentlemen. You have ridden a long way and you, and your friends, must be thirsty. My home is your home; I will have servants fetch refreshments.'

'That will not be necessary, Athenian,' snapped Nestus. 'Just send Parmenion to me. I will kill him and we will be on our way.'

Xenophon moved closer to the young man. 'While I appreciate your anger,' he whispered, 'it ill becomes a gentleman to act with such rudeness.'

Nestus looked into the pale blue eyes and saw the fury there. 'You are correct, sir. My anger spoke — and it should not be directed at you. I thank you for your courtesy, and I am sure my friends would be glad of refreshment. For myself, with your permission, I will wait in your gardens until the time for the battle.'

Xenophon bowed. 'I will send cool water to you — unless you would prefer wine?'

'Water will suffice.' Nestus stalked off into the gardens. The other men dismounted and followed Xenophon into the house. No one looked at Parmenion, who sat silently with his eyes on Nestus seated alone on a bench by the stream.

After a few minutes Parmenion heard someone approaching from behind and looked up, expecting to see Xenophon.

'You nursed your hate well,' said Leonidas, 'and the arrow you sent found its mark.'

Parmenion stood and faced his old enemy. 'I do not hate you, Leonidas, nor your family. I love Derae. What I did was wrong and I am ashamed of my actions. But I mean to marry her.'

For a moment Leonidas said nothing, his expression unreadable. 'I love my sister,' he said, 'even though she is wilful. But you are my enemy, Parmenion, and will remain so until the day of your death — which I pray will be today. You cannot stand against Nestus.'

'Why must this go on?' Parmenion asked. 'How can you carry this hatred when I will be wed to your sister?'

Leonidas reddened, and Parmenion saw not just anger but anguish in his eyes. 'It would be unfair to speak of it now, before you fight. If you survive, then I will tell you.'

'Tell me, and to Hades with fairness!'

Leonidas took a step forward, seizing the front of Parmenion's tunic. 'Derae will soon be dead -

can you understand that? My father had her named as Cassandra's victim and even now she is on board a ship bound for Troy. When they get close to the shore, she will be hurled over the side.

That is what you brought her to, half-breed! You killed her!'

The words cut into Parmenion like knives, and he reeled back from the blazing anger in Leonidas'

eyes. Cassandra's victim! Every year a young, unmarried woman was sent from Sparta as a sacrifice to the gods, to drown off the coast of Troy. It was a penance for the murder of the priestess Cassandra after the Trojan War hundreds of years before. All major cities of Greece were obliged to send victims.

The girls were taken by ship to within a mile of the coastline of Asia, then their hands were tied behind their backs and they were thrown from the deck. There was no hope for Derae; even if she got her hands free and managed to swim to the shore, the local villagers would pursue and kill her. That was part of the ritual.

'Well, what have you to say?' hissed Leonidas, but Parmenion did not reply. He walked out into the sunshine and drew his sword, hefting it for weight. He could not answer his enemy: all feelings had vanished from him. He felt curiously light-headed and free of torment. They had taken from him the only light in his life, and he would not live in darkness again. Better for Nestus to kill him.

Xenophon approached him after a while and called Nestus to the flat ground before the house. 'I have sent for the surgeon. I think it advisable to wait until he arrives before this battle commences.'

'Doctors cannot help dead men,' Nestus observed.