Chapter 03 – Rebirth

“Brothers, I brought you something to eat.” Hielos went into the small tent.

The quiet military tent suddenly became lively. The few people who were lying down, stood up and like a hungry wolf grabbed the food from Hielos’ arms as quickly as they could.

“Hielos, if you didn’t come, I’ll starve to death.” Matonis chewed the half-cooked horse meat, which he usually disdained, but now it was indescribable delicious in his mouth.

“I got it from Antonios. Menon asked them to form a special team and risk being attacked by Persians to drag back the dead horses from the battlefield.” Hielos sighed and looked at the man lying in the innermost part of the tent, and asked with concern: “How is Davos? Did he woke up?”

“He woke up. But he was in daze all this time, he seems to not recognize those who speak with him and he doesn’t say a word. It seems he is currently asleep now.” Giorgris answered gloomily.

“I think he may have been sitting on Charon’s1 boat when he accidentally fell into Lethe2, now he has lost his memory.” Olivos said.

“Shut up!” Matonis reached out and pressed on Olivos’ head and pushed him away.

Hielos forcefully separated the two men and screamed: “We’re all from the same town in Thessaly. In the land thousands of miles away from home, we are surrounded by enemies. If we don’t unite, I’m afraid we won’t be able to return.”

The tent suddenly fell silent.

Hielos felt the heavy atmosphere, he said comfortingly: “I’ve seen several warriors who have been badly hit in the head, at first they’re confused, but they’ll be normal after taking a rest. Maybe by tomorrow morning Davos will be able to greet us with a smile.”

“Davos is also a veteran warrior, how could he fall when pursuing!” Olivos had just irritatedly said a couple of words, and when he saw Matonis staring at him again, he immediately closed his mouth.

“Hielos, did Cyrus the Younger won or got defeated?” The temporary silence made Giorgris unable to help but speak out the most concerned but fearful problem that all of them were facing.

Previously, when they returned to the battlefield after pursuing the enemies who had fled, they then only found the Persian troops still there, while the Cyrus the Younger’s troops had disappeared. Because it was getting late, the two armies had no desire to continue fighting, they confronted each other for a while, then the Persian troops retreated.

Only then did the Greek mercenaries discover that their camp had been looted. The soldiers were tired and hungry, and of course they had no energy to think about and ask this very important question.

“Cyrus the Younger had led the cavalry. Whether they were victorious or got defeated, he could easily leave the battlefield and join us tomorrow to fight the persian king once more.” Hielos lightly said.

“But the Persian king’s army was much larger than ours, if Cyrus the Younger got defeated, then there will be fewer troops to join us tomorrow.” Georgris worriedly said.

“What are you afraid of? We have more than 10,000 Hoplites! The Persians are as timid as rabbits! No matter how many people dare to fight us! Today, I haven’t killed enough to be satisfied, there’s another battle tomorrow is just right!” As soon as Matonis heard it, he encouraged everyone in his own way.

“Even if Cyrus the Younger was defeated, we defeated their left wing and killed many of them. Tomorrow, they will only have fewer soldiers than today!” Hielos is equally confident.

“These damn Persians destroying our camp, stole our food and stole a lot of my silver coins! Tomorrow we’re going to beat them and get our things back!” Matonis said angrily.

“That’s right!” Everyone hated the enemy: “We should not only take back our things, but also take their things.”

“Oh!” Olivos thought of something and excitedly said: “I heard that the women of Cyrus the Younger also got robbed, and only one manage to escape. That’s the one I told you last time….a beautiful woman like Aphrodite, I heard that she was taken into the camp by Clearchus, he will definitely be happy tonight!….” Olivos gulped and said in a sullen voice.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Hielos warned him.

“Olivos, You have to be able to defeat the Persian king tomorrow and grab one of his woman.”

“Oh, this is a great idea! Matonis, you really are smart once in a while.”

“Damn Olivos, do you want to get beaten again!”

While several people were talking and laughing, a hoarse voice came from the innermost part of the tent: “Don’t just think that Cyrus the Younger only got defeated! He was killed!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tissaphernes arrived at the tent of the Persian king, and Massabadi, the eunuch, was already waiting at the door: “The king is waiting for you, quickly go in!”

When Tissaphernes gave his sword to the royal guard next to him, he found that the eunuch, whom the Persian King trusted the most, was somewhat melancholy and couldn’t help but think about: ‘Is his majesty hurt badly?’

The tent was filled with the rich aroma of frankincense3 and with a mixed scent of a few herbs.

Artaxerxes lay on his side on the couch, dressed in a gorgeous scarlet gown and his bare chest was wrapped in a white cloth, with a faint blood seeping out. A beautiful maid is gently rubbing his shoulders and next stood the physician, Ctesias4.

6. Mithridates was a young persian soldier who accidentaly killed Cyrus the Younger and he later got executed for kill stealing.