Tamis told me I had Talent, but it was undeveloped. What are you hiding?'
'At this moment,' he answered, gazing down at his naked body, 'I would appear to be hiding nothing.'
'I shall look,' she announced. Rolling to her knees she kissed his belly, her head moving down.
'Oh, no!' he said, reaching for her. 'You can't! It's not seemly.'
Her laughter echoed around the room. 'Not seemly? A kiss that is fit for a Queen should not be spurned by a King!'
He was willing to argue — but only for the one moment before her lips touched him, her mouth sliding over him. Then his arguments died.
Later, as they sat on a couch sipping watered wine, they heard footsteps in the corridor beyond the main room. Derae rose and walked back into the bedroom, while Parmenion gathered his sword and opened the door. Two sentries stood outside, Leonidas with them.
'What is going on?' Parmenion asked.
'Philippos is marching through the night. He seeks to surprise us. Two of our scouts have just come in: the Makedones will be within sight of the city by noon tomorrow.'
'We will be ready for him,' promised Parmenion.
'Yes. Is my sister still with you?'
'She is.'
'May I come in?'
'No, my friend. This. . last night… is for us. You understand?'
'I think I do. But the wisdom of it may seem less sure in the morning.'
'My life is full of many regrets, but even if I die tomorrow this night will not be one of them.'
'I was not thinking of you,' said Leonidas.
The truth of the soldier's words struck Parmenion like a blow. Had he not made love to Derae then her memories of him would have been of a cold-natured King who felt nothing for her, her sorrow at his passing minimal.
Whether he enjoyed the glory of victory or death and defeat Parmenion would vanish from her life, for he had made his promise to Leonidas. For five days he would be King — or until the battle was resolved.
Then he would lose Derae again. .
Leonidas saw the look of despair on the King's face and reached out. 'I am sorry, my friend,' he whispered.
Parmenion said nothing.
Stepping back, he pushed shut the door and stood in the darkness of his rooms.
'Who was it?' called Derae. He walked into the bedroom and lay down beside her.
'It was Leonidas. The Makedones will be here tomorrow.'
'You will defeat them,' she said sleepily. He stroked her hair and drew the sheet across them both.
He was still awake with the dawn when he heard Priastes enter the outer room. Parmenion rose silently and walked from the bedroom, softly closing the door behind him. Priastes, in breastplate, helm and greaves, bowed as the King made his entrance and Parmenion smiled.
'You look ferocious,' he said.
Priastes chuckled. 'Once I was a man to be feared. There is still something left of that man — as the Makedones will find. Now what armour shall you wear?'
'A simple cuirass with greaves and wrist-guards. I will be fighting on foot. And find me an unadorned helm.'
'You do not wish to stand out in the battle?' asked Priastes, surprised.
Parmenion paused. The old man was right. Always before, Parmenion had been a general serving either a monarch or a satrap, or a city. Yet here he was the King, and men were preparing to fight and die for him. It was their right to see their lord in action and, more than that, it was Parmenion's duty. Morale was a fragile creature, and on many occasions the Spartan had seen Philip turn the course of a battle merely by his presence in golden armour and high-plumed helm. Men watched him ride into danger, and their hearts swelled with pride.
'You are quite correct, Priastes,' he said at last. 'Fetch the brightest, gaudiest armour I possess.'
The old man laughed. 'That would be the golden helm with the white horsehair plume and the ivory-embossed cheek-guards. It is a work of great beauty, yet still strongly made. You will shine like the sun and fill Apollo with.jealousy.'
'It is never wise to make the gods jealous.'
'Ah, but then Apollo is better-looking than you. He will not mind that your armour is bright.'
Within the hour, as the sun cleared the mountains, Parmenion — after meeting with Cleander and the city's defence council — strode out through the palace gates to be greeted by Leonidas, Timasion, Learchus and the officers. All bowed as he approached and Parmenion felt his cheeks reddening. The helm was everything Priastes had described and the armour was blinding in the sunlight, beaten gold overlaying iron and bronze. Even the wrist-guards and greaves were embossed with ivory and silver, and the white cloak he wore was interwoven with silver strands which made it glitter in the dawn light.
The army saw him and drew their swords, clattering the blades against their shields in an incredible cacophony of sound. Lifting his hand he returned their salute, his gaze sweeping over the massed ranks filling Leaving Street.
Leonidas approached him, a wide smile on his face. 'Is now the time to outline your plans?' he asked.
Parmenion nodded and called the officers to him. The necklet of Tamis was cool against his throat and he spoke quietly, watching their reactions. They listened in silence, but it was Leonidas who tried to ask the first question.
'What if. .?'
Parmenion raised his hand. 'No, my friend. No "what ifs". What if the sun turns to fire? What if the oceans rise from their bowls? There is no time now for such thoughts. I have seen the Demon King in action, and we have only one chance of victory. It is vital therefore that his infantry attack the Spartans, leaving the slaves — at first — alone. If we can make him do that we have a chance. Without it there is none. Now prepare your regiments and let us march.'
He glanced at the faces of the men around him. None of them was content with his strategy yet, even here in this other Greece, Spartan discipline was paramount. They saluted and moved away.
Parmenion strode out to the head of the columns with Leonidas beside him. 'I pray to the gods you are right, Parmenion,' the warrior whispered.
'Let us hope they hear you,' he answered.
The vanguard was clear of the city when the three horsemen came galloping from the south. Attalus and Helm rode side by side with the minotaur Brontes just behind them, sitting awkwardly on his mount.
Attalus reined in alongside Parmenion and leapt to the ground. 'There will be no aid from the south,' said the swordsman, his eyes drawn to the splendid armour.
'I expected none. Walk beside me.'
Brontes and Helm both dismounted, letting the horses walk free. Man and minotaur joined the King. 'Welcome, my friends,' said Parmenion, holding out his hand first to Brontes.
'I am sorry that my brothers of the Enchantment would not ride with you, Parmenion,' Brontes told him, 'but they will have no part in what they see as the wars of men. It might have been that I could have persuaded them, but when I told them you had offered the new Enchantment to Gorgon their minds were further set against you. Had you not befriended that demon, you might even now have had a second army.'
'Without Gorgon, Alexander would not have reached the Gateway,' pointed out Parmenion. 'But that is no longer important. We stand alone — and there is sometimes strength in that.' The Spartan turned to Helm. 'I thought you would have stayed with Iskander. Is he not the key to your memories?'
'He told me to come,' answered the bronze-faced warrior. 'He said my answer lies with you.'
'And what of you, Attalus?' asked Parmenion. 'You have no need to be here.'
'I have grown used to your company. . sire. And I have no wish to miss the coming battle. The Demon King has hunted me across this world. Now I will hunt him.'
Parmenion smiled. 'We will hunt him together.'