"Admiral Lazarus, you will need to show us around your flagship, it seems to be the talk of the camp." Leotychides teased as he ate the cooked leg of a lamb. The rest of the Spartans seemed to eat a more simple meal compared to their leader, but none seemed to judge him.
"It doesn't compare to your own." Dom replied honestly, knowing that the longer the campaign dragged on, the more he would be pulled in to the politics between the competing Greek States.
"A tour would be good, we could also see some of your warrior crew in action." Xanthippus agreed, a move that caught Dom off guard. He did want to get Xanthippus alone to talk with him some more, but not at the expense of exposing his small fleet to the Spartan King. As they spoke, a Hoplite that had been stood overlooking the sea quickly got their attention.
"The scout fleet is returning!" The Hoplite shouted, pointing towards the sea where the signs of the Sibylla returning could be seen. They were currently little more than shapes in the distance, but a small contingent of Spartan Ships that were currently creating a perimeter line were dispatched to meet them.
"They have only been a few hours; I expect the mission has been a success." Zhou Yu said to Dom from behind him, he was masked as was everyone else except for Crassus, GiantWrangler and Steven McSteven. The sun was high in the sky they had just finished eating lunch whilst wasting away the day talking. Dom had wanted to move the conversation on to strategy but Xanthippus had hinted that he should wait for Gan Ning to return.
"Then let's hope the Samos delegation can persuade Leotychides to move as expected, we need to defeat the Persians before GeneralSlaughter can persuade them to fight." Dom replied seriously, whilst Crassus nodded his head beside them. Artemisia however looked across the distant Sibylla longingly.
....
Astrid's Longship was being tied on to the wharf at the bustling dock of Halicarnassus. The city was vibrant in the afternoon sun, with the dock workers running around to help the Longship, whilst others loaded a merchant ship that was nearby. The city soon followed from the Dock, with clean white houses built from stone and a large market in the centre. People walked around happily, whilst armoured Hoplite were stood guarding some of the key buildings.
Kai was impressed by the city as he prepared himself to climb off the boat, his Player guard ready to follow him, with Centurion Chariovalda and a select number of crew staying behind to guard the gold that Crassus had given him temporarily.
"Good afternoon, I haven't seen a ship like yours before, where are you from?" A Clerk politely asked from the wharf, with two Hoplite stood beside him. He seemed relaxed at the arrival of the Longship and that even during these war times that Halicarnassus seemed relatively safe. Kai thought it was interesting as the Battle of Mycale would take place only slightly north of the city itself.
"We have come to see the son of Artemisia, Pisindelis." Kai replied politely, whilst Astrid handed over a couple of gold coins to the clerk as a form of bribery.
"Artemisia has been away for a while, so Pisindelis is currently our ruler under the guardianship of his elders. I can have a message passed to him." The Clerk replied politely, as Astrid handed him another gold coin.
"Tell him his mother sent us." Kai stated with a polite smile, taking out a golden band from his pocket that Artemisia had given him to prove her identity, she had also written a letter for her son and the elders that Kai had with him.
"Messengers from the queen?" The Clerk exclaimed with wide eyes as he took Astrid's coins and ordered the dock workers to be as helpful as possible to the Longship's crew. "Please follow me immediately to his highness."
Astrid rolled her eyes at Kai as they both climbed off the Longship and began following the Clerk and his two guards, with four of their own armed crew joining them. They soon passed the busy market, with people seemingly not interested in their strange presence. It seemed to Kai that Halicarnassus was used to different cultures passing through from it's key coastal location. The people seemed well fed and clothed, showing the growing prosperity of Artemisia's home.
They soon passed began to walk up a slight hill to a large manor that was the home of Artemisia. The Manor was clean, with guards stood at the doors and a clear space around it so it was safe from any intruders. The gardens in the front of the house were stunning, with a natural stream flowing through one part and marble seats in another. Her and her deceased husbands faces were carved in to stone and placed on pillar's, alongside them were other male faces which Kai assumed were their own predecessors.
The Clerk asked them to politely wait as he ran inside with Artemisia's golden band in hand. There was a slight risk that their plan could fail if there was another Artemisia in this battle map as there was with Gan Ning in the other, however Artemisia seemed confident that there wouldn't be. They stood outside for a few minutes when the clerk arrived with an older man who was tanned and still had enough muscle definition to impress the Warrior Players in Kai and Astrid's guard.
"Where is the Queen, is she safe?" The old man asked, genuine concern in his voice. Historically Artemisia had been Queen for at least another ten years after the Battle of Mycale, so her disappearance was already strange enough.
"She is safe, she is currently an Admiral in my Lord's service." Kai explained politely, following the script that they had agreed the day earlier. Kai produced the letter from Artemisia and handed it to the old man. "This is an explanation by Artemisia herself; she has sealed it with her own seal that she brought with her on the Sibylla."
"We heard her ship had sunk, it is great to know that both her and her beloved ship are safe. We knew they would be, but we haven't heard anything for months. Are you part of the King of King's Xerxes's kingdom?" The Old man replied with clear honesty, before inviting Kai and Astrid inside, the guards staying outside with some food being provided for them on the marble seats. The Clerk stayed with the guards, whilst Kai and Astrid walked through the well-lit manor house.
"We serve a different Lord." Kai explained as they entered a rear garden where a young teenager was seated discussing with another older man. They both turned and stood at the arrival of Kai. Pisindelis seemed to have the natural charm of his mother, whilst also not having the expected ego of a future king. He politely welcomed both Kai and Astrid, before offering them a seat and ordering some wine be brought for them.
"You bring news of my mother?" Pisindelis asked quickly, excitement in his youthful voice.
"Patience Pisindelis, remember your teachings." The second older man explained to him as the man smiled towards Astrid and Kai. "We have worried for our Queen, it is good to know she is safe."
"And flourishing." Kai replied with a smile, before the first old man explained that Kai had brought with them a letter.
"Then read it uncle!" Pisindelis demanded in a non demanding tone. The old man smiled before peeling the seal and unfolding the letter and reading the letter, his eyes changing shapes on multiple occasions before handing the letter to Pisindelis to read.
Kai and Astrid sat waiting patiently, knowing that whilst Artemisia had praised her son and the guardians that he would have watching over him, there was still the risk of the unknown.
"Uncle, raise the fleet, send messages to Kos, Nisyros and Kalymnos. I want their ships ready to depart by first light! Mother needs her ships and I will lead them to her!" Pisindelis exclaimed in excitement as his uncle rolled his eyes, knowing he couldn't control the emotions of the young teen.
"I will send messages straight away." The old man replied, before shouting for the Clerk. He then turned to Pisindelis with a light smile, "I never liked that Xerxes anyway."
...
"Eleven ships departed, but twelve returned." Leotychides grinned, patting the masked Gan Ning on the shoulder after hearing of the quick victory at sea. "Enemy ships arrived and sunk before they even had chance to warn their allies. This is a great omen."
"It is, and the most important thing is our new guests." Xanthippus agreed, as Gan Ning moved to stand beside Dom who gave him a thumbs up.
Gan Ning and the fleet had quickly sunk the two ships, both had been Player Trireme's. The first had been sunk by the Ballista Bolt tearing a hole in it's side, whilst the second was taken down by Wang and Wine Wind's ships both hitting it at different parts on the same side, turning the ship and tearing it apart in the water.
The Samos ship had quickly been pulled aside by the Athenian ships and escorted back to Delos by the fleet, whilst the two Liburna and two Bireme had stayed at the rear under the guard of the Spartans to capture a few survivors to be interrogated. The rest of the enemy crews had either been lost at sea or disappeared.
"I am Hegesistratos of Samos." The Captain of the Samos ship announced as he bowed before King Leotychides and Xanthippus. "The Persian fleet is at Samos, we wish to pledge our loyalty to the Hellenic Alliance and free our people from Persian influence."
"Spyros, that is how you ask for help." Leotychides replied proudly, looking towards Spyros of Chios.
"How many ships?" Xanthippus asked, ignoring Leotychides personal attack on the Chios delegation again.
"No more than three hundred, however they have no appetite to fight. The experienced Phoenicians' recently left, however a new batch of allies with fresh ships have arrived. The pursuers were from the new allies, but they seem to be a group of multiple competing factions. The Persians who are the majority are in no condition to fight. Morale is low and food stores are thinning." Hegesistratos explained honestly.
"These new allies, how many are there?" Xanthippus asked, looking towards Dom as he asked the question, seemingly questioning what they had heard from Dom as well.
"No more than fifty, however they are a mixture of ships. Less than ten of them are Trireme, with two of them having been sunk. They have one ship that is larger than the rest, that Captain seems to be in charge of their alliance and is pushing for them to be more aggressive." Hegesistratos replied, before pausing to think. "That is why we departed before first light, we knew that if their morale increased then we wouldn't get this opportunity again."
"Hegesistratos, your name means Army Leader. To me that is another good omen." Leotychides replied with a grin, "That gives me reason enough to agree, once we have a clear strategy."
Dom suddenly stood up, realising this was his time to take control and push his original plan. Everyone turned to look at him, with the new group from Samos seemingly grateful as it was Gan Ning that had rescued them.
"Do you have a plan Admiral Lazarus?" Leotychides asked with a sly grin. "Or does your Grand Admiral have a better one?"
"She has a great plan." Dom replied uncaringly, as Artemisia stepped forwards and removed her veil, much to the shock of everyone other than Leotychides and Xanthippus who had already guessed her identity.
"I have a plan to destroy the Persians at sea before they have chance to retreat. Crassus get me my map, I will show you the positions and angles I wish for us to take." Artemisia declared, as everyone instantly listened to what she said.
"To think, the enemies Grand Admiral would be telling us how to defeat them." Leotychides laughed as Dom realised that not only had he misjudged Artemia's impact on history, but that he now had questions about her grade. Zhou Yu had found him the night earlier and explained that he himself struggled to keep up with Artemisia's plans for the upcoming battle, but she was from this time and knew the ships better than he did.