Athenian Arrow

Chapter VI

Adonis spots the Spartan ship up ahead which makes him order the Athenians to row faster. 

Cries from the Athenian soldiers rowing their oars through the water are heard from the Spartan ship. Andreas watches as the ship fast approaches and immediately tells the archers to have their bows and arrows ready at hand. Though Andreas has not mastered the art of the bow and arrow, his spear-throwing skills have always been rightfully aimed at his targets. Andreas then realizes that he needs to retrieve the spears under the deck. Rushing towards the hatch and climbing down the ladder under the ship, he gives Alexi a look. Alexi knows exactly what that look means. The war is starting. Adonis and his men have arrived. No words were needed in this exchange, just a look of confirmation. Andreas then quickly gathers the spears resting on the ship's wall to climb back up the ladder and use them for battle.

When Andreas' feet are back on deck, he sees that the Athenian ship is almost side by side with the ship Stefanos is leading. "Aim!" His father shouts as he notices Andreas at his side holding spears in hand. "Andreas, bring me a spear!" Andreas throws a spear at his father which he catches in mid-air. His palm shoots up in the air as if to tell the other soldiers to pause, "Wait for my orders!" The archers all aim at the Athenian ship but none fire. Andreas looks over to the Athenian ship now in harm's way. Adonis has his men aiming at their ship as well. Andreas lets the rest of the wooden spears drop on the deck to pick one up and have it ready with the pointed tip aimed at the opposing ship. He waits for his father's call.

Adonis makes eye contact with Andreas. His look is menacing. Angry at what stunt Andreas has pulled but Andreas can also see hurt behind those bright blue eyes. They remind him of Alexi. The same bright blue eyes showed sadness when the Spartan that he trusted decided to betray him. The sadness that Andreas has never seen in his father's eyes. Too clouded with anger and judgement in those brown orbs whenever he looks at his only son. Andreas starts to feel jealous of the way Adonis cares for Alexi which his father never could.

It's when Adonis breaks eye contact and looks off to the side that Andreas starts to focus on the battle again. His father stands beside him making Andreas able to see him from the corner of his eye. Stefanos' hand finally lowers and without a word, throws his spear into the heart of an Athenian soldier. Andreas' mouth is agape at the sudden attack. Both Spartan and Athenian soldiers grew silent as the archer fell over the ship and into the Mediterranean Sea. Andreas cannot believe his eyes. His aim slacks downward as he looks at his father questioningly about what he has done. His father ignores the questioning look and yells, "Fire!"

Without hesitation, the Spartan soldiers shoot their arrows into the air, aiming at the Athenian soldiers as they were trained to do. The Spartans have always been quick to attack first, unfair more often than not. Fairness does not seem to exist with the Spartans. The weak must fall and the strong must rise. Athenians on the other hand, have always sought fairness. Believing that everyone should be entitled to their own opinion. The beliefs of Athenians and Spartans have always been too different for them to seek common ground.

Some arrows miss their targets, and some pierce the hearts of Athenian archers. The soldiers that still stand make it their duty to fire back in defence. Andreas lets himself forget about his father's ridiculous motives and prepares for battle. He raises his spear back to the rightful aim and with a cry, slices the air with his spear to hit an Athenian in the head. The force sends him hitting the wooden deck hard. Pleased about hitting his target successfully, he picks up another spear only to hit it at an Athenian archer who was aiming his arrow at Andreas. The archer falls to his death at sea before he has the chance to shoot the arrow.

He looks over to see his father fighting the same. Aiming and hitting Athenians with the spears he throws. The other Spartans continue launching their arrows at the side of the ship.