Athenian Arrow

Chapter XIII

After Stefania insisted on having her son found, Stefanos ordered his army to leisurely look for Andreas as they were not ordered to go to extreme lengths to find the missing person. Stefanos thought Andreas was dead after all so he had already come to terms with that thought. But if they ran into him in Sparta, then they were to inform the leader. Needless to say, Stefanos was left dumbfounded upon hearing the news. "Are you for certain it was my son? He was taken by the Athenians after all."

"I am positive sir. He seemed to be threatening an elderly man in one of the wealthy caves. I was unable to gather information on the matter considering my distance from the scene. However, I did spot a Spartan ally with him. His skin was fair and obtained blonde hair. He looked like he belonged to the north yet he wore Spartan attire. That is all I know," the Spartan warrior reports with his hands behind his back.

"Very well," Stefanos dismisses the man.

He nods his head in acknowledgment and proceeds to leave.

Hearing this news confused the Spartan leader. He was unsure whether to feel relieved that his son was still alive or angry that the burden his son forced on him was back. This was the first time Stefanos ever thought his son was truly dead and now he had no clue how to feel about the news on Andreas' current well-being.

...

Andreas drops the old man onto the cave's rocky floor after he so kindly gives the two information about Vasilis and immediately turns around to Alexi, "We have to find Zoi."

"You should at least say thank you for what he divulged," Alexi rushes to kneel down in front of the poor old man and help him up to his feet. "I apologize for my friend's behaviour sir. Thank you kindly for the report."

The way Alexi kindly smiles as he helps the man stand, made Andreas think of what an Athenian he truly is. A kind one at that. That was the first time Andreas smiled at an Athenian acting like an Athenian.

As soon as Alexi finished assisting the elderly, he joined Andreas again to continue the conversation from earlier. "There aren't too many symposiums held in Sparta considering it's a rich man's party," Andreas starts. "Though we are one to celebrate our victories and flaunt them. If anyone knows when a symposium is about to be held, it will be the men drinking at a Kapileion," Kapileia are wine bars for the lower class while the upper class had symposiums. Kapileia were simple. You were there to drink, dance, and socialize while symposiums were a party with riches and female entertainment along with food, drinks, and music. "But again, not many are held."

Alexi nods considerately to Andreas' warning. Neither of them knows how long this woman is going to stay in Sparta. They were running out of time.

"We must leave. It must be dark by now," Andreas states as he was probably one to think how much time they had left as well. Andreas starts to walk in the direction where they came from when something holding him back forced him to an abrupt stop. Andreas looks down to see Alexi's firm grip holding his tan bicep in place.

Alexi looks into Andreas' eyes before speaking, "Our journey to Sparta was a lengthy one. We were successful in gathering the information. Let us continue at dawn," Alexi tries to reason.

Andreas noticed how those blue eyes begged at the request thrust upon him. Andreas did not feel tired at all but he knew very well he could not leave Alexi's side by Nikolas' orders. Resting was probably wise for the Athenian anyway, Andreas thinks. "Very well, I'll lead you to a more secluded part of the cave. We'll lay by the fire and fall asleep."