The Queen of Sparta (31 page)

“Euryanax also escaped just before his trial,” said Demaratus. “I have heard the Crypteia is sent to assassinate him. Gorgo is suspected of abetting his escape, though there is no proof that she did. Rumours abound about Archidamus’ conspiracies against Gorgo and Pleistarchus.”

“This is the Sparta you wish me to return to?” asked Pausanias. “Where one of my cousins is being hunted by the very men he and I led at Plataea; the other is slowly being stripped of her power and dignity; and my nephew, the King, is under threat from his own colleague. This is not the Sparta I once knew.”

Pausanias moved away from them, turning again to the defences of the city. But from his vantage point Sherzada had already seen the dejected looks on the faces of the city militiamen. From the windows and doors he could see people huddled together, terror plain in their eyes. Sherzada knew that Pausanias had seen this too.

Pausanias stopped and without turning his back asked, “If I were to leave here, where would I go? There is no place, other than the Persian court, which is out of the question. I have nowhere to go, except perhaps to Hades? As you can see, death is a very attractive option for me.”

Demaratus finally spoke. “There is a Greek city in Ionia, a city called Colophon that has just liberated itself without any Athenian help. Its citizens hate the Persians, but they don’t trust the Athenians either. They say that they don’t want to replace Persian masters with Athenian ones. Moreover, they are well disposed to Sparta and Spartans. They will happily welcome you.”

Sherzada saw confusion in Pausanias’ handsome face as he weighed his options. Going down fighting would certainly be heroic if completely pointless and Sherzada saw Pausanias was beginning to realize it too.

“Cleonice once told me about a dream she had about Byzantium becoming a great city and remaining so for centuries. It is certainly beautiful, just as she was.” Pausanias once again looked to all those below – anxious soldiers and frightened civilians – and then turned to Sherzada. “Highness, Lord of the Sakas,
Legatus
of the Senate and People of Rome, and Guest-friend of the Royal Spartan House of the Agiadae, I beseech you to convey to Aristeides,
Strategos
of the armies of the Athenian People, on my behalf the following terms for the surrender of Byzantium …”

CHAPTER 39

THE “PUPPY’S” SON

Royal Compound of the Eurypontidae

Limnae District

Sparta

The same night

Gorgo could not help wondering that this young woman in front of her had once been a spoilt girl with a short temper and a hard fist. She had become famous in all of Sparta for her pugilistic skills; in brawling she had broken many a nose – both male and female.

But on this night, she looked different. Gone was the long hair she used to tie up in a tight knot above her head. She had cut her hair very short in the wake of her nuptials.

Gorgo had trouble thinking of this young girl as a queen. In her late teens, she was a little younger than her husband Archidamus, and his half-aunt by blood. Lampito was the daughter of Leotychidas by his second wife. Leotychidas had ordained that the two should wed and they had done so dutifully.

Lampito went to fetch her husband and soon, Archidamus came out of his apartment, with his usual contrived smile. Gorgo could not help but notice how much of a weakling he looked in comparison to this tall brawny wife. His long hair was disheveled as if he had lately risen from bed. Still, he chose to be maliciously cheerful. “What a pleasant surprise! To what do I this nocturnal visit? Have you come to confess your involvement in cousin Euryanx’s escape?”

“Not before you admit you played a part in your grandfather’s treasonous activities.”

Archidamus’ composure melted as he began to protest.

Gorgo calmed him down. “I am here to talk to you about the murders of our senior generals, Eurybiadas and Evaeneutus included, as well as Theras, commander of the Knights. And his deputy has seemed to have lost his head, literally.”

Archidamus scoffed. “Eurybiadas was knocked off his horse by a low-lying branch and fell headfirst into a ditch full of hard rocks. He should have known better than to ride a horse at his age, with his bad leg. Evaeneutus, my kinsman, died of drinking spoilt wine and he too ought to have known better. And for Theras, an unfortunate accident. And I am not really sure what happened to Iason. All these incidents are as untimely as they are unfortunate; that is all. ”

As calmly as she could manage, Gorgo explained that Euybiadas’ body bore distinct signs of a struggle and it was not a question of his head being smashed on a rock, but of someone smashing his head in with a rock. Theras’ death was also a cover up. Everyone knew that he was the best horseman in all of Sparta. And as for Evaeneutus, she asked Archidamus if he had ever seen him drinking alcohol, let alone being drunk. She knew he would not have touched any wine, bad or otherwise. She went on to mention two other cases of generals who had died under similarly suspicious circumstances; apparently from poison.

“Unfortunate coincidences, all,” insisted Archidamus.

“What about Taenarus?” she asked.

Archidamus professed ignorance.

“How could he not know?” she asked herself. Of the Messenian Helots who had served at Plataea, a hundred had been rounded up and marched off to the Temple of Poseidon at Taenarus in Messene with the false promise of being granted their freedom for their services to Sparta. Instead, they were massacred within the precincts of the Temple.

“Your friend Magnas was allegedly among the executioners. Surely he must have told you all about it.”

“As far as I can recall, killing Helots is not a crime in Sparta.”

“But killing anyone in a temple is both a crime and a sin in Sparta. Your Majesty, do you know anything about your parents?”

The question seemed to have taken him aback. He frowned, but she continued anyway.

“You are the son of Zeuxidamus the son of Leotychidas, better known by his nickname
Kyniskus
– ‘Puppy’. Your father was called Kyniskus because he was so gentle and loyal. Our Upbringing takes tender children and turns them into brutes. But that had no effect on your father. He remained always a gentle and kind soul. Though brave in battle, there was not a kinder and more wise man in Sparta. When he died, all of Sparta wept. And the Helots wept, for they loved him too.

“You were a baby in our care on the day your father died and your mother, my father’s cousin, had left you in our house while she tended her sick husband. She died a few years later and on the day she died, I wept like I have not wept for anyone before, because like your father she too was loved by us and by all of Sparta.

“Your parents were decent and wise beyond their tender years. That is why Sparta expects much from you.

“There is something not quite right in this our kingdom of Sparta and you, the only adult king, have a responsibility to set things right. I have come to appeal to you, as your kinswoman and your subject, not as your adversary.”

But Archidamus shook his head. “You Agiads and your silver tongues! You reduced my grandfather to the status of a puppet. Queen Gorgo, you have told me what you expect from me, now let me tell you what I would like to have from you. Hiero, the Prince of Syracuse, is on his way here to claim you as his bride. His is the most powerful of Greek states outside our mainland. I expect you to accept his offer and accompany him to Syracuse.”

“Why should I do that?” she asked, her voice sharp with indignation.

“A woman who has made a career out of manipulation and deception; and is not above using any means to achieve her ends, seems an ideal match for our ruthless and ambitious Syracusan prince, don’t you think?

“I am jesting, of course,” he laughed, noticing her anger. “After all, they say you have always placed Sparta’s interests before your own. With your presence as the consort of the future ruler of Syracuse, Sparta will not only gain an important ally, we will extend our influence into Sicily and Italy.”

“And what will happen to my son when I am gone?”

“I shall protect him, of course.”

“As you have protected your late generals? Our senior-most bodyguards have been killed. Four of your Generals have been murdered. You have chased away a fifth, my cousin Euryanax. We are losing allies everywhere. Argos is becoming stronger while we are become increasingly friendless. Sparta is losing the goodwill of Tegea and every day we move closer to war with Athens. Do you really want to go down in history as the Spartan king who presided over our downfall? And what of the Helots? You appear to ignore that there is even a problem while your cronies go around massacring them. And you insist on this pointless feud with me and my family. Perhaps you would rather the world remember you as the grandson of a traitor than as the son of the most loved man in Sparta?”

Archidamus remained silent for a moment, perhaps contemplating the fate of his people, and himself. At least, that was what Gorgo dared to hope. As for the other – the suggestion she should be sold off for marriage – she would deal with that later. The fate of her people was hanging in the balance.

“Are you through, Queen Gorgo?” he said, finally. “It’s late and my wife is waiting for me. We have nothing left to discuss.”

For the first time, Gorgo found herself truly helpless.

CHAPTER 40

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

Athenian military headquarters outside Byzantium

The following morning

A large circular shield of bronze hung inside the tent, bearing the black emblem of the Owl and the Olive, the symbols of his city. On the table lay his magnificent helmet painted gold and black, with a long horse-hair crest dyed in alternate gold and black stripes. And that was matched by his dress – golden breastplate, over a half-sleeved black tunic. He sat motionless on a chair as he attentively listened to Pausanias’ terms for the surrender of Byzantium.

When Sherzada finished reading out the terms, Aristeides breathed a sigh of relief. “You need not worry about my men harming any civilians. I am not fond of sacking and pillaging. And I will accept all of Pausanias’ terms. As for Cleonice’s parents, I shall personally pay my respects to them and reassure them of their safety and that of all of the citizens of Byzantium.

“Is there anything else?” Aristeides asked.

Sherzada hesitated. “Pausanias wants the Athenians to stop their propaganda against him.”

“And deprive the Athenian public of their most favourite pastime?” Aristeides chuckled. “I’ll do what can be done. However, one of the flaws of democracy is that you cannot keep people’s mouths shut. So bad is Pausanias’ reputation in Athens that it will be a long time before they stop saying unkind things about him.”

Aristeides rose and patted Sherzada on the back. “You have saved Athenian lives, today, my friend … and those of others as well.”

“You also did well to stay your hand.”

“Well, I had three friends inside Byzantium,” Aristeides replied.

Sherzada rode back to Byzantium, where he once more found Pausanias. “My Prince,” he said to Sherzada, “there is one more favour I must ask of you.

“I am taking my infant sons, Pleistonax and Cleomenes, to Colophon for a little while. Their nurses, who are Helots trusted by my family, will accompany us. Once you are back in the Peloponnesus, I shall send the boys with them to you. You must take them and hand them to the care of my brother Nicomedes in Sparta, who is now regent in my place. Tell Nicomedes that he must raise his nephews as his wards. When my sons are seven they will enter the
Agoge
– the Upbringing. They will grow up as Spartan warriors. Nicomedes must ensure this happens.

“My brother,” Pausanias continued, “is very loyal and I know he will do this for me, provided you vouch for my sons’ identity … because no one else in Sparta knows of their existence.”

Promising to honour his request, Sherzada added, “You must consider returning to Sparta, Pausanias. Gorgo needs you, even if you don’t think you need her anymore. The two of you together can still out-manoeuvre Archidamus.”

“Not without Euryanax we can’t. He was our real pillar of strength. He has always kept me on the right path. If you can somehow bring Euryanax back into the picture, and I have no idea how you will do that, I will consider returning to Sparta. But for all we know, he may already be dead. The Crypteia rarely misses its target …”

Demaratus cut him off, “but then again, Euryanax was the Upbringing’s best graduate. If anyone can outwit the Crypteia, it is he.”

Pausanias nodded and said to Sherzada, “Return to Sparta, my Prince. Help Euryanax get back to Sparta to support Gorgo. If you can do that, I too shall return. If you can’t, do whatever is in your power to save her and her son. You are her last hope.”

That night, Pausanias’ entourage left Byzantium by boat. Meanwhile, the Bosporan mercenaries, paid off with Persian gold, hurried towards their ships and sailed off in search of fresh employers and more gold; or simply, more gold. To cover their departure, the town militia dressed in helmets with long flowing crests and reddish cloaks. The appearance of a Spartan presence had to be maintained until the very end. Pausanias did not want to take any chances. After all, he was up against the Fox.

Still, for Sherzada, the Fox was ‘Aristeides the Just,’ and he knew the Athenian would keep his word.

In the morning, Sherzada rose at dawn and went down to receive the Athenians. As he watched the sun emerge from the waters of the Bosphorus, he caught sight of Aristeides approaching with his bodyguards. Sherzada escorted him to the house of Cleonice’s parents, where Aristeides spoke kindly to them. His friendly words reassured them that neither they nor their city nor anyone in it was going to be harmed. This same message he delivered to a gathering of Byzantium’s leading citizens whom he met with immediately afterwards. To make good his pledge, he kept most of his force outside the city, deploying only a tiny garrison inside the citadel, for it had been Pausanias’ stronghold.

Once Aristeides had finished organizing his peaceful takeover of the city, Sherzada came to him to say goodbye. He found him poring over some documents. Sherzada told him that he needed to go, but Aristeides was preoccupied with other thoughts.

After a long while, Aristeides raised his head and told Sherzada the news. The Persian stronghold of Eion had also fallen a few days before, but only after overcoming incredible resistance. The Persian soldiers had fought to the last, inflicting heavy casualties on the Athenians. Hundreds of Cimon’s men had perished taking its walls. And inside the citadel, no Persian – man, woman or child – was found alive. Once the walls were breached, all of the civilians had committed suicide, preferring to die than to become the slaves of the Greeks. Eion itself was left a smoldering shell. Burning the city to ground had been the last act of its Persian governor, Bogesh, before he too fell on his sword.

And now another war was flaring up in Thrace. Alexander’s Macedonians, who only two years ago massacred the Persian stragglers from Plataea, were now attacking the Athenians at that very same crossing. Eion, which could have been a useful stronghold for the Athenians to protect the crossing, was but a charred ruin. Moreover, Alexander was using Persian gold to sow disaffection among the Thracian tribes, undermining Cimon’s influence over them. The Macedonian King had also unleashed his soldiers against the Athenians all over Thrace, in a bid to weaken their foothold there and deny them the Thracian timber and silver they so badly wanted.

Aristeides shook his head. “All of us were on the same side not so long ago. Did we fight for freedom only to go at each other’s throats?”

Later, when Sherzada was ready to leave, Aristeides accompanied him to the port. They walked a while in silence, and then Aristeides spoke in a grave voice. “I received a message from Elpinice. According to her source in Sparta, it appears this Helot business is becoming serious. And Euryanax’s disappearance is being linked with increased restlessness among the Helots of Messene. I am sure this is adding to Gorgo’s woes, if they weren’t enough.”

Aristeides told Sherzada that Prince Hiero of Syracuse was coming to ask for Gorgo’s hand. Sherzada knew about Hiero from his time in Italy; he was an unscrupulous, power-hungry man.

“I suspect Gorgo will not be pleased with this arrangement,” Aristeides replied. “Pleistarchus is still a boy and his regent, Nicomedes, is not well-equipped to counter Archidamus’ machinations.”

With a wrench, Sherzada changed the subject; thanking Aristeides for solving their ‘Pausanias problem’ in a happy way.

“I would love to claim credit for all of this. But it is Gorgo, not I, you should thank for orchestrating this,” said Aristeides.

“Gorgo?”

“After asking you to return to Greece from Italy,” Aristeides explained, “Gorgo met with Elpinice in Megara. Elpinice agreed to convince Cimon to call off his assassins against Pausanias, and allow me to lead Athenian forces against Byzantium. She knew that of all Athenians, only I was sympathetic to Pausanias and would help him find a way out. And Demaratus’ presence here was no coincidence, either. His task was to find a place Demaratus could escape to. However, Gorgo realized how difficult it would be to get Pausanias out of Byzantium alive. She said only you could convince him to leave Byzantium safely … you were the only one who could save his life.”

Looking back at the high walls of Byzantium, Aristeides said, “Well, my friend, at least we did not make a mess of it like Cimon did at Eion. Eion is now useless to defend against Alexander’s attacks. Byzantium is still intact. And that is all that matters to me.”

The two men finally reached Byzantium’s usually busy port. Activity was beginning to pick up as merchant vessels and fishing boats were again being allowed in by the Athenian navy. Sherzada caught sight of the passenger vessel which was to take him away, docking close by.

“What will you do now?” Sherzada asked.

“I am tired of all of this. I shall await my replacement and then go into retirement; living off whatever crumbs my friends can throw at me.”

“That will not be necessary,” Sherzada responded. He still had an interest in the amber trade controlled by Scythian merchants at port of Olbia across the Euxine Sea. He reached into his bag and pulled out a parchment. “Give this to the amber merchants in Olbia. It is a letter of credit. They will honor it and provide you with a generous sum of talents.”

At first the proud Aristeides refused to accept the parchment, but at Sherzada’s insistence, he reluctantly agreed. He shook his friend’s hand warmly. “Thank you. And you … where will you go now?” he asked.

“I need to find Euryanax,” Sherzada admitted. “I need both he and Pausanias back in Sparta if we are to help Gorgo fight Archidamus and his cronies.”

“Be careful, my friend. There is a vicious streak running through Sparta now. They are becoming more intolerant towards the Helots, and more suspicious of all foreign influence. King Archidamus believes that the only way he can lead Sparta is to remove the only obstacle on his way to greatness: Gorgo!”