Dark Prince by David Gemmell

Author:David Gemmell [Gemmell, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical, Fantasy
Published: 2010-10-24T12:33:32+00:00

The City of Sparta

Word of the defeat had reached the city, and there were no crowds to greet the returning soldiers as they marched in formation along Leaving Street to the marble-pillared palace.

'Stay close to me,' whispered Parmenion as the warriors returned to the nearby barracks and he and Leonidas entered the great gates, 'for I have never seen the inside of this place and it would not help our cause if I were to wander off and get lost.'

Leonidas grinned. There are six androns on the ground floor and the kitchens are ahead of you. Your quarters are up the first flight of stairs and to the right.'

Parmenion nodded and glanced at the luridly painted walls leading to the marble stairs. Battle-scenes were everywhere, filling the hall, and even the mosaic on the floor showed Spartan warriors in battle array. He smiled. 'Sparta does not change,' he said, 'even in another world.'

An elderly servant moved forward and bowed. 'Priastes, whispered Leonidas.

'Welcome home, sire,' said Priastes. 'I have prepared you a bath and some refreshment.' The old man bowed once more and turned to the stairs, Parmenion and Leonidas following. The stairs were lined with statues of spear-carrying Spartan heroes from the past, none of whom Parmenion recognized. Priastes reached the top of the flight and turned right into a wide corridor, opening a door to a series of east-facing rooms. Parmenion stepped inside, following the servant through to a small chamber where a bronze-plated hip-bath had been filled with hot, scented water. The servant unbuckled Parmenion's breastplate and the Spartan swiftly undressed.

The bath was a delight, the heat easing his tired muscles. Priastes poured watered wine into a golden wine-cup, first sipping it before passing it to his King.

'Thank you, Priastes, that will be all,' said Parmenion, lounging down into the bath. The man bowed and left. The new King scrubbed the dust of his travels from his skin and then rose from the bath. Leonidas handed him a towel which Parmenion wrapped around his waist before strolling out to the balcony beyond the main windows. A cool breeze whispered across his wet frame and he shivered. 'That feels good,' he told the Spartan warrior.

'It is always wise to remove the smell of stale sweat and horses before greeting your wife,' said Leonidas carefully.

'Wife? What wife?'

Leonidas took a deep breath. When the seeress Thena allowed him to see Parmenion's life in the other world of Greece, he had observed with sorrow the loss of his love. 'This will not be easy for you, Parmenion. In this world you married my sister, Derae.'

'She is here? In the palace?'

'Of course. But know this: she does not love you. She was to have wed Nestus, but duty came first and she married you to give you a link to the throne.'

Parmenion looked down at his hands; they were trembling. 'I don't think I can do this,' he whispered. 'You cannot know . . .'

'I know,' whispered Leonidas. 'Believe me, I know. But we have embarked on a course from which there is no turning back.

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