Black Legion: Gates of Cilicia Read Free Page B

late!”
    “I, uh, found her outside,” said a slightly embarrassed Xenophon.
    “Oh, yeah, she’s one of the dancers. Bring her inside.”
    Xenophon stepped through the two thick doors and into the dark, smoky hallway. Several young men and women were leaning and laughing at something. He moved past them, but no one seemed in the slightest concerned at their almost unconscious friend. He finally reached the end of the corridor and the open expanse of the reception area. To Glaucon and his family it was one of many rooms, but to the rest of them it was more like a great hall. Chairs and seating lay about, and almost twenty people smoked, drank or danced away.
    “Xenophon!” called out a familiar voice. He helped lower the woman to a reclining chair so she could rest. He then headed to the group of people and the man that had just called his name. As he approached, he recognised the beard and bald head of his old mentor, Kratez.
    “Kratez, you are here,” he said with genuine pleasure. He moved up to the old man and pulled him close. In years past, Xenophon had attended many of the old master’s classes and lectures. He had often pushed the young man to question everything. It made neither of them popular, but it had forced Xenophon to think about everything he did, and so he hoped it had made him a better man.
    “Of course, I couldn’t miss the vote now could I?” he replied with a smile.
    The two sat down in the long reclining seats. A young woman approached with a silver tray upon which sat a decanter and a number of beautifully carved crystal glasses.
    “Fortified wine, sir?” she asked them both.
    Kratez made a happy sound and grabbed the nearest glass. Xenophon waited until he was done before accepting a glass for himself. She poured the dark red wine until both were satisfied.
    “Ah, this is more like it. They’ve been getting quite stingy when it comes to drink at the Academy.”
    Xenophon took a measure, moving the liquid about his mouth before swallowing. It had a warm glow as it slid down, instantly calming him. He turned to Glaucon who seemed busy chatting with a group of young people.
    “Excellent wine, old chap, thank you.”
    Glaucon raised his glass but didn’t turn from his conversation.
    “So, Xenophon? Tell me about your studies. I assume you have continued your work on the classics as well as the more philosophical arts.”
    “I’ve also delved into work on machine learning,” Xenophon answered, doing his best to impress the old man but without sounding too cocky.
             “Good, it is a good idea to keep one’s mind occupied with the myriad of subjects available to us. How about your study of the martial arts, have you been keeping busy?”
    Xenophon looked a little embarrassed at the question.
    “Well, boy, come on, tell me.”
    “The Boule discussed the martial arts academy I was helping to run, and they voted to shut it down.”
    “Why?”
    Xenophon shrugged.
    “We had a few injuries in the hand-to-hand weapons training, a few broken bones with the staffs. Nothing major, but the safety commission became involved and came to the conclusion our training was dangerous, and therefore shouldn’t be allowed.”
    Kratez sighed.
    “I see, this is perhaps one of the many reasons we suffer when forced to fight our enemies at close quarters.”
    “Have you tried to explain this to the Military Academy?”
    “Of course, my boy. The trouble is, there is still the opinion that our Navy is all we need to defend the Alliance. Providing no enemy reaches this solid earth, we will be safe,” he explained, as he reached down and tapped the ground. He tried to lift himself back up but groaned at the discomfort. Xenophon helped him back to his seat.
    “Thank you,” he said with genuine warmth. “Now, let’s see some of this banned training.”
    “Training?” asked Xenophon, now both a little confused and also dulled by the wine.
    “Yes, the hand-to-hand training you’re so