Chapter 2 - The Council

Matthaios trudged back to the city of Sparta, receiving a warm welcome by the Spartan citizens and soldiers who are organized with their placing. They were invigorated to see the Champion of Sparta after the second war between the Persians who dared to liberate Greece once again after it was rebuilt, and he is still contemplated as their hero of war indeed.

"Lord Matthaios has returned!" Shouted by the Spartan citizen.

The posture of the soldiers was even, and their shields and spears were on a proper placing. Matthaios kept his mouth shut, but he felt so honored inside. He immediately went to the marketplace to watch the young Spartans polish themselves for combat, grinning at what he is witnessing slightly. The soldiers who were inforcing the practices were also doing excellent work, and Matthaios slowly clapped behind them.

"I am very impressed, Daetor. Sparta is back on its feet, I see." The Demi-god praised the soldier after clapping.

"My lord." Daetor kept his weapons in him, carrying it.

"Don't you love the atmosphere that Sparta gives after striving from the attacks?" Matthaios asked the warrior in front of him.

"Yes, my lord. The essence of not backing down and resisting to submit... That is what we are made of." Daetor reminds of what Sparta is all about.

"Where's the Queen and her toy Heiron?" He asked where they are.

"The Queen is resting, my lord. While our brethren Heiron has been promoted recently." The soldier tells their state.

"Don't tell me that he is now the King of Sparta..." Matthaios couldn't picture his closest friend being the king.

"No, my lord. He is now the Captain of our infantry." Daetor tells the Spartan Demi-god that Heiron is now a Captain.

"Not bad..." He smirked before facing the youthful would-be-warriors of Sparta.

Matthaios took a deep breath upon looking at the Spartan boys, assessing them one-by-one. He was appreciative of what they are capable of, but nothing amuses him like the tallest and the strongest of them all. The Demi-god steps in and faces the adolescent Spartan that intrigued him, asking what is his name.

"And what is your name, Spartan?" Matthaios asked the young man.

"Kaenas." He cites his name.

"You look a little old to train with the younger ones, I'm granting you permission to leave the column." He evicted the young Spartan from his fellow ones.

Matthaios stared at Kaenas, testing if he would last in a simple manner of intimidation. The boy stared back and finds himself in a comfortable position in front of the Champion of Sparta, and of course, he kept his shield and spear in the right position. The Spartan Demi-god breaks the tension by smiling, telling the trainee that he did well.

"Just like what I expected... Boldness." He applauds at Kaenas' demeanor.

"A Spartan never lets himself get afflicted by intimidation, my lord. We live by wielding it." Kaenas felt proud after saying it.

"Do not dare to fail me, Kaenas. I see you as the one who will lead your brothers to battle once we step out of it. Can I count on that?" Matthaios asked the young Spartan.

"Of course, my lord. I-"

"I didn't hear you." The Demi-god disrupted him, wanting the young warrior to unleash the inner fearsome Spartan in him.

"Yes, my lord!" He strengthens his voice to make things clear.

"For Sparta." Matthaios taps Kaenas' shoulder before approving it with a smile, dismissing him.

"Aha, the Champion of Sparta returns..." Heiron walks in wearing his newly-made cape, indicating that he is now one of the authority.

"Heiron... How's your first day as Captain?" He asked how is he doing as a Captain.

"Never been better, my friend. " The Spartan Captain gleams, looking at the Queen who is watching them on her lair.

"Sparta remains a thriving city as it seems." Matthaios looked around, seeing the Queen being so proud of her lover Heiron.

"The Council didn't bother questioning my rank as Captain even if the Queen brought me in, but what they are questioning is you, brethren," Heiron tells the Demi-god the Councilmen are against his tactics on the second war between the Persians.

"What? I just saved Sparta from the perils of the Persians, but the Councilmen not trusting any of my actions? I beg to differ." Matthaios stared at the Council of Sparta that is preparing for a meeting.

"You shouldn't have allied with the Amazons, Matthaios. Are you- Damn! Explain your actions in front of the Council." Heiron points at the Councilmen's room, and the Champion of Sparta enters it.

"Good morning and welcome back, Matthaios of Sparta." The head of the Council greets him.

"Good morning... You might be asking what brings me here." Matthaios stood in front of them, thinking where he went wrong.

"You are here because of the laws you have violated, Matthaios. Do you think you're powerful enough to disobey the Spartan law?" The Councilman goes straight to the point by telling the Demi-god that he disregarded the law.

"And what law you are implementing to see where I went wrong?" He starts asking if this is against him.

"Going to war without our consent? Joining the side of the warriors we don't have any relations with?" They knew about Matthaios' choices of departing for war and joining the Amazons' side for one battle only.

"Sparta is under attack and I didn't have a choice! What am I going to do with Muzguth and his men? Surrender my pride as a Spartan? I did the right thing, with all due respect." Matthaios defends his side by explaining his strategy.

"But why did you get along with the Amazons? Care to elaborate on what does that signify?" They kept on throwing questions with the Demi-god.

"Because women do also have a place on the battlefield." Queen Colubra interferes with the meeting to be on the Demi-god's side.

"And what treachery is this?!" The Councilman exclaims at the Queen's presence.

"Do we have time for a small debate, gentlemen?" Queen Colubra stands beside the Champion of Sparta to be on his side.

"Pardon?" One from the Councilmen stood and dared to disobey the Queen's wishes.

"You heard her, Councilmen of Sparta. And this is what I have noticed for the past few years of my tenure as the Champion of Sparta." Matthaios has the chance to speak out about what he has seen inside Sparta.

"I disagree with this ideology of not allowing women to go to war... If Sparta aims for equality, then why is that?" The Queen questions the law by emphasizing her concern.

"Excuse me, Queen Colubra. But the law states that Spartan men will carry our flagship and the women have to stay inside the city and do their duties as a mother." The Councilman repeats what the ordinances are.

"A part of me is from the Amazons. My mother's side, rather. Do you Councilmen think that a woman like me doesn't belong to the battlefield?" Queen Colubra smirks at them.

"My Queen, what are you doing?" Heiron intervened to talk to his lover.

"Easy, my love. Do not let worries enter upon you." The Spartan Queen seized the opportunity to grab her lover's shield from him, carrying it with ease.

The Councilmen and the soldiers themselves were amazed by what the Queen's ability to lift a shield such heavy, she does it effortlessly. Yes, the Queen still has something to prove. Carrying the shield isn't enough evidence to show her skills in combat, but she knows a lot about it due to her studies. And upon showing her background that she has Amazonian blood in her, and having it mixed with her Spartan descent makes it a fine combination.

"The shield, my Queen." Heiron tries to persuade Queen Colubra to have his shield back.

"Your sword, Heiron." She demanded her lover's blade.

Heiron couldn't do anything but to obey his Queen, providing his sword for her to carry it. She retains her battle posture as she lifts both the shield and sword and Matthaios himself still couldn't believe in her feats. The Councilmen still couldn't find a way to agree with the Queen's actions and proposal to allow her kind to go to war, and they still wouldn't drop the regulations that Matthaios broke to defend the city from the onslaught of the Persians.

"We still have something to settle, Champion of Sparta. Think of what you did and take your time, consider this as a warning. And you, Queen Colubra of Sparta. You may lay low for now, we have to decide whether we will allow you to join our warriors." The Councilman tells them to stay on foot while they make their decision.

The debate between the Councilmen of Sparta took long enough until they came up for an agreement. Heiron removes his cape to cover the Queen from the cold, and she accepts it whole-heartedly. They have come to announce their judgment of Queen Colubra's wishes, and Matthaios couldn't wait for more. "Go ahead, Councilman.

"We, the Council of Sparta, has decided to induct our ravishing Queen to be an honorary Spartan warrior. And by honorary, we mean it. She might need the strength of a Spartan to develop, but her wisdom is quite extraordinary." They allowed Queen Colubra to join the Spartan Army.

"Told you so." She smirked at the Demi-god who himself didn't think of her feats.

"It looks like you are destined to make history, my Queen," Heiron added while Matthaios pays his homage to the Queen of Sparta by clattering the Arms of Sparta on the ground.

"No, Matthaios. Sparta will make history by embracing the glory upon us." Queen Colubra raises the sword, making a move for herself to signify that she is now allowed to go to clash within her soldier's side.

The proclamation was cut short when a wounded Spartan rushes into the Council Room, seeming being scarred for life after facing such a threat that an average Spartan soldier couldn't withstand. This has brought Matthaios worrying about his fellow Spartan, and he waits for him to speak up about what happened and where did he receive such a fatal wound.

"H-He's coming, my lord... He is coming back to haunt you and your dreams!" The injured Spartan warrior tells the Demi-god that someone is after him.

"And who is this vile being who dares to take on me?" Matthaios felt so threatened by the soldier's remarks.

"Morpheus..."

To be continued...