Birth of a Warrior Read Free Page B

Others nodded in agreement.
    â€˜I wish I had been there,’ said Ariston. ‘Diokles saysthe streets ran with blood.’ A fist of guilt closed tightly over Lysander’s heart. He felt sickened by what he’d done to his friend.
    â€˜You had to do it,’ said Leonidas from across the table – quietly, so that his voice would pass unheeded beneath the din. ‘If the whip hadn’t been in your hand, one of the Krypteia would have lashed Timeon. And harder too.’
    This didn’t make Lysander feel much better. It sounded like a coward’s argument. Lysander still had doubts about the prince’s bravery. After all, Leonidas hadn’t come to Lysander’s aid when the Krypteia dragged him from his bed.
    â€˜Have you heard any news of him?’ Lysander asked softly.
    Neither of his friends answered, so he reached across the table and laid a hand on the prince’s arm.
    â€˜Leonidas, is Timeon recovering?’
    Leonidas swallowed and eventually looked Lysander in the eye.
    â€˜The word among the Helots is that he’s being cared for at the settlement by his family. They won’t say much more.’ Leonidas paused. ‘It doesn’t look good.’
    A groan escaped Lysander’s lips, and he buried his head in his hands.
    â€˜You should go and visit him, Lysander,’ Orpheus said. ‘We can make excuses for you with Diokles.’
    Lysander swallowed back tears, and looked up at Orpheus.
What’s stopping me?
he asked himself.
Timeon’s my oldest friend
.
    â€˜You’re right!’ he said. ‘I will go. I’ll tell him how sorry I am, explain that I had no choice …’
    Even as he spoke, Lysander imagined Timeon’s wounds, leaking blood through whatever dirty dressings his mother had found. He pictured the look of betrayal in his friend’s eyes. Lysander’s confidence evaporated.
    â€˜I can’t …’ he said. ‘Not yet.’
    â€˜The sooner you go and see him, the better you’ll both feel,’ said Orpheus.
    Lysander knew it was true, but the thought of seeing Timeon terrified him. His guilt rested on his shoulders like a yoke, and he didn’t have the strength to throw it off. There was more to courage than facing your enemies. Facing your friends could be worse.
    He pushed his wooden dish away. Climbing over the bench he walked towards the door. Diokles stepped into the room and barred his path.
    â€˜Our punisher!’ he said loudly, a smile spreading across his face. ‘Your right arm did Sparta proud this morning.’
    A few boys cheered, and Diokles continued. ‘Take your seats, everyone. I have news.’
    Lysander reluctantly returned to the bench beside Orpheus. He heard the boy called Hilarion whisper, ‘What’s happening?’ No one ventured an answer.
    Diokles stood at the top of the table, leaning his weight on his massive fists. The tutor’s dark beard wasfreshly trimmed, but his eye patch was the same piece of brown leather as always. He stared at them with his one good eye as they settled.
    â€˜Sparta is the greatest State in Greece, and her men are the strongest. That is why we take you from your parents at seven years. Not like those chubby Athenians who grow up in their mothers’ bosoms, learning to sew clothes. You boys have been in Spartan training for six years now. Some – the weak – have died. Their deaths are testament to your will and determination. Now it is time for you to become young men. You must prove yourselves in the mountains.’
    Lysander felt the hairs on the back of his neck stiffen.
    â€˜You will be sent into the Taygetos Mountains in pairs,’ boomed Diokles, his eyes scanning the boys. ‘There you must survive for five nights using only your wits, your strength and your will. They say the snows are coming early this year, and icy winds blow from the north. Food is scarce. You will drink from the