Sunset of the Gods by Steve White

Author:Steve White
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure, General
ISBN: 9781451638462
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Themistocles looked drained but triumphant. He took a swig of wine with less water in it than usual. “We won! I have to admit, that canting prig Aristides came around in the end, even though some of his usual allies advanced strong arguments that we should squat inside the walls and settle in for a siege. The same arguments we’ve been hearing for days. But Miltiades was brilliant. He stood the whole argument on its head and turned the fear of the Persian cavalry to his own advantage.”

“And, as Miltiades has more experience fighting the Persians than anyone else, his opinion naturally commanded respect,” Jason nodded.

“Naturally. But nobody ever mentioned aloud what was really at the back of everyone’s mind. It was too touchy a subject to raise in the Assembly.” Themistocles smiled rather grimly. “The Eretrians didn’t contest the Persians’ landing, but withdrew inside their walls to resist. And all it took was two traitors to open the gates from inside. And now Eretria is a smoldering heap of rubble.” He took a pull on his almost-neat wine. “In this city, with all its irreconcilable factions and aristocratic family feuds brought to a boil under the pressure of a siege, what are the chances that no one would accept Persian gold or take revenge for some old slight or seek to curry favor with the new rulers? Ha! I doubt if we’d last the five days that Eretria did before somebody betrayed us.”

“Still, Miltiades’s strategy seems to carry risks of its own,” Jason prompted.

“Oh, yes. That nonsense about hundreds of thousands is just old women’s rubbish, of course, but the fact remains that the Persian army is going to number several times the nine or ten thousand we can put in the field.” (Thirty-five thousand or so, by modern estimates, Bryan told us, Jason thought. Rutherford wants us to confirm that. All at once, like so many of Rutherford’s priorities, it doesn’t seem quite so important any more.) “So if we’re to have any hope of victory we’re going to have to commit every man we have—which means that Athens itself will be left defenseless.” Themistocles tossed off the last of the wine. “Ah, well, it’s irrevocable now. By solemn resolution of the Athenian people, we will march as soon as the beacon-fire atop Mount Pentelikon is seen, confirming that the Persians have landed.”

“Not before that?” inquired Mondrago with a frown. “If you could get there earlier, and secure the beach—”

“No. That was something even Miltiades had to concede. We can’t be absolutely certain the Persians will land at Marathon, even though everything points to it. No, we have to wait until it’s confirmed. Then we’ll march, with every available man. Speaking of which,” Themistocles continued without a break, “about your own military obligation. . . .”

“Yes, Strategos?” Jason had been waiting for this. One of the peculiarities of the Athenian system was that metoikoi, while denied practically all political rights, were liable for military service. “We naturally expect to serve the city that has so generously taken us in, as ekdromoi.

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