The Spartan and the Persian

Chapter 3

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~Persian City~

Cirus

Cirus shook the dice in his fist and blew on them before chucking them across the wooden barrel lid. The loud men that were circled around him quieted down as the dice rolled slowly and spun on the corner in suspense. One of the dice landed on a 3.

"Come on, give me a 4" Cirus whispered at the other dice. It fell on a 3. The greedy drunk in front of Cirus grinned with rotted teeth. Cirus kicked the table and the dice rolled onto a 4 and the small gathered crowd burst into drunken noise.

Grinning at the man Cirus raised his empty cup. "Pay up old man"

"Cirus" A voice called out.

He sighed. "Looks like the fun must end" He turned in his seat to see his friend pushing his way through the crowd. "What can I help you with Kia?"

"I have been looking everywhere for you, should have known I would find you in a place like this. Your father sent me" Kia crossed his arms and looked down at Cirus.

Rising to his feet he patted his friends shoulder. "Must you always be so serious, if you carry on being an old wench I will have to trade you in for a younger more fun version"

"Like you could find anyone else to put up with you" He scoffed.

Placing a hand over his heart he gasped. "I'm offended, I really am. Here I thought I was some handsome, charming, loveable person when apparently I'm just a-"

"Bastard" Kia finished.

Cirus frowned. "I was going to say a loathed man"

"You're that too"

"I still get the woman, your just jealous of my manly charm" Cirus gave a grin and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Yes, you're very pretty. Now we must leave, your father is waiting"

"The term is ruggedly handsome" He ignored Kia's scoffs. "Let me collect my winnings" Cirus swiped the bottled of rum from the old man with a satisfied expression. "Ok, now I'm ready"

"You bet on a bottle of booze?" Kia asked incredulously.

"No dear boy, I bet on you"

"You what!?"

Cirus pulled the cork from the bottle before taking a swig. "It seems my opponent took a liking to you, if he won he got you and if I won..." He shook the bottle. "Well you know how a bet works"

Kai stood in shock and looked back at the drunken man who was smiling and giving him a wave, he quickly carried on walking.

"He must of like your soft womanly features" Cirus laughed and danced out the way of Kia's swinging fists.

"That's treachery towards the king of Persia!" Cirus huffed at his friend.

"You're not king yet, thank the gods" Kai mumbled.

The two friends laughed and Cirus slapped his friends shoulder as he made his way to his father's palace unaware that his carefree mood was soon to be destroyed.

"Where is my son" A gruff voice called through the spacious room.

"Here father" Cirus replied, going to stand in front of the King's comfortable cushioned chair.

The Kings beady eyes raked over him before he waved a wrinkled hand through the air. "Leave us" His words echoed through the room and the scarcely dressed dancers and snooty advisors shuffled out of the throne room. The guards pulled the heavy golden doors shut behind everyone leaving them truly alone.

"Now, we have matters to discuss" His father started, dragging a hand over his short grey beard. "A company of Persian soldiers raided the Spartan city. We have captured young healthy men easy to manipulate into working and new attractive whores. I want you to be positioned and over look the work and make sure they are falling into place and if any step out of line punish them by your hand"

Cirus stood in shock. "You need me to do this?"

Cirus couldn't believe his ears; his father knew how he detested the work of unwilling slaves.

"Listen boy, you are too weak, a spineless king. You need to learn what side you are on and how to crush your enemies like the beetles they are, you will never do this by gallivanting around with your band of merry men and acting like a thieving commoner. If the slaves see the prince giving out punishment you will be seen as the strong willed king that you will soon to be. Do you understand me?" The old King growled in his throne.

Cirus glared. "Why must you proceed to think that this is what I want!? I would rather be a respected king than a feared king, and whipping young boys and woman is not something that should be looked up too"

"Hold your tongue when speaking to me boy! I am no mere man! You will do as I say-"

"No father" Cirus spoke over him. The king's face twisted into an outraged sneer. "This is your war not mine, you choose to poke your enemy with a sharp spear and claim that they seek war. You may be a feared and strong king but you are not wise. You choose to have war instead of peace because you are hungry for blood. Well congratulations my King. You have got what you wanted"

Cirus turned on his heel ignoring his Fathers outraged screams following him out the door. He had no desire to stay in the city of Persia and watch thousands die because of a power mad king. And knowing the stubborn thick headedness of Spartans a war was what he will get.

And the city ran red with blood and the cries were heard for ever more.

No, Cirus had better things to do than fight a war he had no interest in and possibly get stabbed. And by the looks of it all the angry Persians with sharp swords where coming to his city.

He strode past Kia giving him a grin. "Do you fancy taking a journey to Persepolis"

"The city of thieves, my friend, its across the water, plus I don't think there is anything left for you to raid" He laughed in return.

"Well knowing us I'm sure we will find something"

"And the King was alright with this?" Kia raised a suspicious eye brow.

Cirus strolled through the arch to the stables. "He insists" He mumbled over his shoulder.