* * *
(POV of Pancracio)
"Do not question me! Do your job, I will be back later!" I screamed at a lazy worker.
I found my stallion and jumped on and rode off to the house to get some air. Arriving the servant took my horse to wash her off, and another servant offered me some water. Ignoring them I walked into the house and called for Atalo's wife.
"Yes Pancracio?"
"Do you want to know why I am particularly angry today?" I asked rhetorically as she stood there in shock.
"Well, I am angry because I found a hidden compartment in our wall. And what do you think was inside? Did you know about this? Did you know that Thanatos is not my son?!" I raged as I pushed her against the wall.
"I knew," she mumbled.
I turned away from her and let out a scream of fury. Composing myself I turned back to her and glared at her.
"And you did not think to tell me this? She had a lover, and you did not tell me? The master of the house! Get out of my sight!" I boomed as Althea came in.
"What?" I barked.
"Sir, please sit down and relax, let me get you some wine," Althea offered.
"No, not now. Did you know?" I asked hoping she would say no.
"Not at the time sir, but when Thanatos was about five years old I found out, I overheard a conversation that I should never have heard, so I just pretended it didn’t happen."
"Does anyone else know?" I gritted.
"No one but me and your wife's sister," Althea said truthfully.
"Good, no one is to ever know," I demanded ending our conversation.
* * *
(Thanatos POV)
"Thanatos, haven't seen you out and about in a while," one of my father's comrade's said.
"Oh, yes, I decided to take a stroll, get some air. How have you been?" I asked.
"Good, thank you. Anyways, I was just at your house and your father sent me to find you. The Olympic Games will be starting tomorrow, and to start the games, he has given you the honor to start them off. He says it's a surprise, but you will need your best fighting weapon. Good luck."
"Seriously? Me, why.. well, that is a surprise. Thank you for the message. Callista I must be going, but I would like to take that parchment on Athena," I said as I handed her five drachmas.
"Thank you," She said nodding her head at me.
"If you are not busy tomorrow, will you come to the opening, to see me fight?" I asked.
"Oh sir, um, if you wish."
"Great, the games start around noon, so I will meet you here, we can get some lunch, and I will escort you to your seat," I said with a smile and she just nodded in shock.
Meeting Atalo at the bakery I informed him of my father's decision on making me open up the games. He seemed excited, but there was a moment of hesitation. On the way home I couldn't get Callista out of my head. I knew it was going to be frowned upon, for someone of my stature to fall for someone of her stature, but I couldn’t help it. I just felt this connection.
