Athenian Arrow

Chapter XXX

"You do realize I can order the other hoplites to distribute the supplies you brought, correct?" Alexi was smiling as he watched his father hand out food, clothes, and other necessities to a couple of Athenian soldiers who were all crowding around his horse, waiting patiently for Adonis to hand over the next item before they were off to place those items at their rightful locations.

He finished his meeting fairly quickly after he guided his sister to the tent where Habib and Zoi stayed in so he guessed his father was still out helping his hoplites as his father hadn't come to find him yet.

The sound of his son's voice caught his attention, making him turn his whole body around to be greeted with a smile. "No need to treat me differently because of our blood relation. I am fully capable of helping your hoplites," he smirks.

"Then are you fully capable of fighting? Or is your presence wanted back in Athens?" Alexi knew that Adonis needed to guide Anastasia in order for her to get here but he wasn't sure if his father was staying. On one hand, he always loved fighting by his father's side but on the other hand, he didn't want others to assume that he needed his father in order to win this war.

"Nikolas said he has everything under control in Athens so that would be a negative. But regardless, I respect any order you wish for me to obey," he gave his son a genuine smile. However his son wanted this war to proceed, Adonis was going to show his loyalty through his actions. Alexi was the leader now and he wanted Alexi to know that he fully understood that.

Alexi was hoping his father wouldn't give him the choice to have him stay or leave since he was indecisive himself. He did admire how much respect his father had for him though. "I tried to convince Anastasia to leave and she refused me as if she wasn't speaking to the leader of Athens," that made Alexi giggle. "I am thankful that she refused though. Even those that lead, cherish all kinds of service their people provide them," Alexi smiled before pulling his father in for a hug, "it's good to have you back, father."

Adonis hugged his son with happiness as all he wished was to be with his two children.

...

Andreas had been fighting on the battlefield for a couple of hours now. He never spotted Alexi once and thanked the gods for that. The sound of a bloodcurdling scream made his head turn quickly to the left, in the direction of the sound. An Athenian archer had just been speared through the torso by one of his own. The archer dropped his bow in his left hand as he fell to the ground. Andreas was never very good at the bow and arrow, he knew that but he was also getting bored of the sword so he decided to give archery another try as Alexi inspired many to tackle the far-ranged weapon. Maybe this time he'll be better at it.

He walked up to the fallen soldier and looted the man for his bow and took one of his arrows from his quiver. Now his eyes were scanning the open area for a perfect target to shoot at. Once he found an Athenian in front of him who wasn't moving much due to him being preoccupied with his bow, Andreas thought that he was the perfect target but there was one problem, the Athenian was very far from Andreas. At least too far for Andreas to make the shot. He was certain Alexi would be able to make this shot though so Andreas didn't let the distance discourage him and treated it more like a challenge.

Andreas rolled his shoulders back before getting into position to shoot. He managed to hold the bow and arrow perfectly straight, the tail of the arrow touched his cheek as he tried to focus on his target. When he feels like his aim is ideal, he releases the tension of the string, and the arrow goes flying behind the Athenian hoplite, completely missing him and his line of sight. To Andreas' defence, Andreas was looking at the Athenian's side profile making him a harder target as his body was now more narrow.