“The day is ours!” Themistocles, the Athenian commander of our fleet, banged his shield and raised his spear to the sky. “Well fought, brothers and sisters. I think we killed more Persians than the Spartans!”

He turned his back to the army and gazed out at the sea below him. He stood upright at the cliff’s edge, overlooking the strait between Piraeus and Salamis where the naval battle had taken place. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliff’s base echoed all around us while the wind howled through our helmets and cuirasses, bringing the smell of salt into our noses.

The rest of us stood in the grass field some distance behind him, the bases of our spears planted in the ground as we awaited his next order. Our greaves, still wet from the sea-battle, were muddied on our hike up here, staining the bronze. 

“Theophilus.” Themistocles boomed. “Approach.”

Illias, the hoplite to my right, nudged my shoulder, then spoke under his breath. “You earned whatever’s coming your way, Theo.”

“I’m waiting.” The commander tapped the ground twice with his spear.

The hoplites let loose a unified guttural chant. Their armor clattered slightly as they stepped aside to make room for me to walk between their ranks.

Themistocles’ bronze shield ‒ which was strapped to his back ‒ glinted in the sun. The golden insignia on it of Athena’s owl seemed to stare at me as I approached.  I looked away until I positioned myself to his left. His clean shaven face practically blended in with the color of his helmet.

“You fought well today, Theo.” He kept his gaze fixed on the strait below. The wreckages of both Greek and Persian ships littered the shallow, rocky seas. Sails floated at the water’s surface and some laid tattered about the shores. The native slender-billed gulls flocked around the scene, hovering over the large remnants and swimming next to the smaller ones.

“Chaire, strategos.” I nodded. “But I only fought as well as my comrades.”

“A humble response from a humble man.” He chuckled. “That is why I have a job for you.”

I tilted my head.

“The feats you performed today, and even those you performed at Marathon 10 years ago when you were only 15, commanded attention.” A small smile curved onto his face. “They commanded respect. If you weren’t too busy throwing your spear past four Persian ships to kill one of their commanding officers, you would’ve seen the looks on both Greek and Persian faces alike. The entire battle froze for a split second while your weapon traveled to its destination.”

“Sir, I‒”

“And the way you called the spear back?” He scoffed. “Your weapon pierced the hearts of a dozen Persian soldiers as it flew back to your hand.”

“Sir‒”

“Theo.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “People with gifts such as yours are meant for more than simple battles. Whether or not you think of yourself as a leader, the fact remains; your abilities and fighting style inspire others, and those who inspire, are meant for greatness.”

“Thank you, truly.” I turned away from him and looked back at the sea, forcing his hand to slide off. “But I can’t risk the spotlight. Should they find out that‒”

“You’re concerned about your parents being discovered.”

I scratched the back of my head while fidgeting in place. 

“Look there.” He pointed at the vast city of Athens, directly across from us on the other side of the strait. “My city has been captured and sacked. Her temples have been desecrated and burned. Her people have been forced to flee, and those that chose to remain have been slain or enslaved.”

My eyes scanned the clouds of smoke fuming from the buildings, though no fire was greater than the one burning atop the acropolis. The flames clawed for the sky, as even they wished to flee the terror that the Persians had afflicted upon Athens. 

“Don’t you see, Theo?” Anger lined Themistocles’ voice as he drove his fist into his palm. “With our homes and loved ones being held hostage by foreigners; with our gods being spat upon and our freedom being put in jeopardy, you cannot afford to worry about yourself during these trying times. Instead, worry about the men and women standing behind you. Worry about the other men and women fighting the invading Persians and worry about the future of Greece. I need you to be more than just another hoplite.”

“But if they find out‒”

“A man’s reputation is made by his actions, not his nationality.” He banged his chest with his fist, creating a subtle metallic echo as he made contact with the bronze cuirass. “It is made by who he chooses to be, not who he is told to be.”

“I…” My eyes drifted from the rising smoke down to the strait. A fleet of five triremes — donning light blue sails — came in from the western side. “What would you have me do?”

“I’ve been made aware that Artemisia, queen of Halicarnassus, was present at the battle of Salamis which we just fought, and that she managed to escape.” The black plume on his helmet ruffled in the wind. “I need you to find her.”

The men on the ships started picking up debris floating at the surface.

“Me?” I laughed nervously. “Why not just send a hoplite contingent?”

“The Greek army needs to focus on pursuing the retreating Persians so they don’t have time to regroup for a third invasion.” He sighed. “We also need to focus on liberating Athens, and the whole of Attica with her, from their rule.”  

“Ok, so.” I stammered. “What would you want me to do with her?”

“Bring her back to me.” He patted my back. “Dead or alive.”

“What’s so special about her anyways?”

“I have reason to believe that Xerxes’ invasion of Greece was designed by Artemisia.” He scratched his chin. “The Persian king is being manipulated without even knowing it, while Artemisia plays her own game. Though I don’t know what her end goal is.”

“Would I be doing this alone?”

“Not if you don’t want to.” Themistocles took his helmet off and slotted it under his arm. “My trusted dwarven servant will be accompanying you, and you may bring Illias with you as well, if that is your wish.”

“Can the dwarf fight?”

“Oh yes.” He grinned. “Damien has an affinity for conciliatory magic and is a skilled ‒ uh ‒ ‘covert operative’, shall we say?”

“An assassin?”

“That’s one way of putting it.” His grin widened into a smile. “Though no one other than the two of us know of that side of him. I ask that you keep it that way, with the exception of Illias, should you choose to bring him along with you on your quest.”

“Wait.” I shook my finger. “I never agreed to this.”

“Yes you did.” He slipped his helmet back on and turned around. “You have two months to accomplish this task, because if you don’t capture Artemisia within this time frame, she’ll have enough time to reinforce Persia by our next battle with them, among other things.” 

“Wait‒”

“And by the way, Damien knows who your parents are, so don’t worry about hiding your identity around him.”

“Are you‒”

Themistocles ignored me and proceeded to saunter over to the rest of the troops with open arms. “Come then, Athenians. The time has come to give chase to the Persian dogs who dared set foot on Grecian soil!”