As we approached the gates, men appeared on the wall in defensive positions. None of them looked battle hardened, at least the first wave didn't. Troy had laid unsieged for many centuries, but no one knows when they rebuilt we didn't even know they had.
"State your business and allegiance, Spartan!" An old voice hissed from the wall.
"My business is my own, and my allegiance is to the throne of Sparta and The God of War!" Leo shouted back.
"Then bow to a king, boy! Show some respect for Menelaus!" The voice shouted back.
I looked upon the wall and saw the man who was shouting, he wore soldiers attire with no markings of a king and no signs of nobility. Leo looked at him and bowed, stabbing his spear into the ground as he did. Leo removed his helmet and held it tight at his side.
"Of course, my king," Leo bowed down seeing another Spartan at first glance.
"Stand boy!" Menelaus shouted, "Tell me why you're here!"
"We seek The King of Ithaka!" I shouted.
"Well he's not here, Misthios," Menelaus snapped towards me. "He was due here a fortnight ago, Minerva's sea has claimed him and we must prepare."
"You speak with a Senator of The Gods, show respect!" Leo put his helmet back on and stood up, gripping his spear and ripping it from the sand.
Menelaus stepped back a second and observed me, "Your eyes are not that of a Senators, they're sharper and twice as fierce."
"Your clothes are not that of a kings, you look like a beggar. Elysium's shores haven't been kind on you, my king," I nodded in respect of a Spartan King, the first time I acknowledged what he was.
"War wasn't kind to me….I remember the final battle, it was more of a massacre. The Trojans were blinded on drink, and trusting of us enough to bring our gift into the city. What we did, no, what I did will stay with me," Menelaus looked away and turned to look at Leo. "Open the gates, show our guests around. Double patrols and increase watch times, if Circe sent for her husband then Minerva is closing in."
The sounds of clicks and levers pulling came from just beyond the gate. Rope audibly tensed as the clicks grew louder, within moments the gates opened. Maybe all the Greeks needed to do was ask, and as the thought crossed my mind I saw The Trojan Horse standing high over the city. The rebuilt and refurbished horse stood over the entire city as fire roared around it. Leo chuckled under his breath seeing it, walking in as I followed right behind him. The army shuffled in moving around the city as Menelaus found us walking through.
"You should consider dressing like a senator, at least wear a cloak or something," Menelaus began walking past us and through the city.
"If you have one I'll take it for the occasion, maybe some new clothes as well for the time I am in The Holy City of Apollo," I smiled at the thought actually being in the City of Troy as an ambassador.
Menelaus smiled and waved a woman in simple attire over, "See that our guest receives a Troy welcome, under the full protection of…of…which god or goddess do you represent, Senator?"
I thought for a moment, I know in the original Troy Poseidon helped The Greek Army win. That being said, Poseidon hunted and almost killed Odysseus for his hubris. I could lie, but I feel like I'd be taking advantage of Zeus' Xenia. I took a deep breath and bowed my head as The Senate taught me, "I'm a Daughter and Senator of Poseidon, King of Troy."
Menelaus seemed amused looking at me, "Usually Children of Poseidon have brown or blonde hair, but those eyes belong to The God of Storms."
"We call her Fire Hair, mostly for the color but primarily for the fact that she fights like the ocean. Sara's leading this expedition, we seek the blind prophet and we need Circe's help to find him," Leonidas called from my side.
Menelaus muttered under his breath, "Minerva hid the path to The Underworld behind thick fog and music, Circe can break the fog but she can't stop The Sirens. That being said, I assume that's why you seek The King of Ithaka."
"Why are they warring over a prison? It makes no sense!" I said, frustrated that everyone was grazing over the facts.
Menelaus jaw tightened slightly, but soon released as he let out a long sigh, "A long long while ago, The Gods made this place a prison. A place for monsters to roam freely, and for those claimed by myth, speculation, or the sea to rest outside of Thanatos' grasp. Eventually the prison grew and cracks formed in its walls, a warden was then appointed and he ruled from Ithaka with his wife. When The Roman Empire showed up so did Minerva, this realms most dangerous prisoner, she rose an army of suitors all itching to get back at Ithaka's King and took over. The rest is history, now get dressed and meet us at the temple of Athena."
Menelaus led Leonidas through the city out of sight as I turned to the woman who had a renewed smile on her face. "Come with me, Daughter of Poseidon." The woman said politely.
I followed her into a nearby stone building where armor, a deep blue cloak, and even a peplos made of fine silk with golden fibulae set out in front of it were resting on a table. I'm pretty sure no one in the modern school had worn anything like this since the 1950's when the legions were re-formed, but this is originally what set the Legatus Legionis and the Tribunus Laticlavius apart. The Legatus typically wore Roman armor (swapped with a toga for special occasions), while the Tribunus would wear Greek attire which stayed the tradition until the 1990's where Greek Tribuni just wore adventuring attire instead.
"This is beautiful….how long have you had this?" I asked, stripping myself of my gear.
"Many years, it came in on a boy with a similar adventure to yours. He was killed by Antinous, and the armor was offered as trade for a temporary peace with Minerva's forces. Ever since we've been locked in neutrality with both sides," The woman bowed her head.
I thought about one of my half-brothers being sent here to die for a moment less than I would have normally. Observing the armor of a man killed by an ancient suitor of Penelope, and then traded away for peace. The irony seeped into my mouth like acid, I turned to face the woman.
"Ma'am, whenever I'm done here I'd like this armor delivered personally to The Twelve Olympians Senate to personally honor The Tribunus that died here," I stood firm and settled with my decision.
"I can't….contacting the gods, or their territory, would invoke war with Minerva directly," The woman looked away. "But….if you want, I could send it to a personal address ma'am," She bowed her head the way I had when I entered the city.
"That'd be perfect!" I felt a genuine smile come to my face, as I wrote my home address down. "Until then, I will wear it through your city to look the part of Senator."
As the woman walked out I quickly stepped out of the sweaty and slightly bloodied clothes I wore in and changed into the peplos. I pinned it over my shoulder and put whatever I didn't use in my hair, the armor i carefully put over my clothes. I could definitely tell it was made for someone half my size as the armors pressed down on my chest, I shifted uncomfortably and did whatever I could to loosen the metal corset. When I finally got it to a comfortable fit I threw the cloak over my other shoulder, draping it over my side. I put my gear back on with my swords at my side, and my revolver under the cloak, swapping my flip flops for dress sandals just as fast and walking out from the stone building.
The woman stood there, hands folded in front of her with a calm smile, "I'll have your effects cleaned and ready for your departure from the city."
"Thank you once again, ma'am. I truly appreciate it," I smiled back, moving past her and into a city that shouldn't exist.
Similar to Circe's city, many men and women from different eras moving about the city. The guards dressed in a mix of Greek and Trojan armor and uniforms, some were more modernized while the rest look like they came straight from the blocky and bulky Bronze Age. As I moved deeper into the city, the more battle hardened guards I found. The temple of Athena sat ontop of a small, two statues draped in blue stood over the entrance with spears crossed and shields out showing off The Athens Owl.
As I began going up the stairs, The Trojan Horse became visible. Elegant Greek craftsmanship showed off in freshly lacquered wood completed with golden adornments and marble statues and stands around the horse. The most notable statues were Odysseus, whose statue was carrying a bow and had the swords I remembered from Lord Hades' class, and Agamemnon. Last I remember he wasn't in the horse? Yet his statue was here, wearing a kings armor and leading the charge with his sword in hand. Not that I would say this out loud in his brother's city, but Agamemnon was an overrated king who deserved his fate at the hands of his wife. Odysseus almost cried when describing his journey home, Achilles spoke of his death with terror, and Hector spoke of The Trojan War with regret and anguish. Greek heroes and soldiers all ripped apart over one man's greed, Agamemnon was the source of that greed.
I stepped up to Menelaus and Leo as they discussed war, and further war tactics. Leo was talking about his favorite second favorite war that he studied, World War One, as Menelaus looked on in growing horror.
"So they made….a metal barrel, that fires lead? To kill people?" Menelaus asked.
"Well….they didn't make it then they just perfected it around this time, some were automatic and could fire hundred of bullets in mere seconds! Fields of men wiped out from fired lead and gas!" Leonidas almost jumped from how excited he was, explaining this war to someone who hasn't even heard of a gun.
"Leo! Don't scare him! If you're going to tell him about a war, tell him about The Persian War," I shouted, hand on my hip.
"I already told him about that one! He cried!" Leo shouted back.
Menelaus sighed, and looked at me, "Are you ready to meet The Queen and her advisers so we can help you find The King of Ithaka?"
"Yes, the sooner we can find him the better," I took a deep breath, and followed as Menelaus led us deeper into the city.
Past most of the cities defenses and further up the hilltops the higher societies resided on was a giant palace fit for a king of Agamemnon's status. The building connected to several other properties, surrounded by tall walls and protected by guards in full bronze plated metal with metal masks. They seemed to be some sort of royal guard, they carried swords at their hips and spears and shields in their hands.
"Palace guards?" I asked, watching them move along the walls in groups.
"Trojan War veterans, every last one of them fought in the war for both sides. Among them is Paris, one of Troy's greatest warriors, serving his city once again in penance," Menelaus explained.
"I don't know if I should feel bad or not, even Prince Hector was welcomed to Elysium. Achilles once said they duel regularly, well after they got over the war thing. They became good friends and sparring partners, life is funny when you have eternity together," I looked over at the guards to see if I could pick out any certain guards.
"Paris being here is punishment, but also a reward. His fate was a twist of circumstance from gods that should have known better, he only did actions according to what he was promised and defended his city. Sure he killed Achilles, but only because Apollo helped, Paris is as much of a victim as he is the cause," He explained as we neared the palace gates.
We stopped at the gates, there were horses carved into the gates with engravings of fire that carried onto the stone along the walls. I adjusted and fixed my clothes, this was either our best way forward or the worst mistake. Time to meet a queen.