(BCE Kassandra POV)
When I rode up the hill right before the beach, I saw the camp of the malakes that took Phoibe.
'There they are. I'll sneak up on the malakes.' I think while riding a little closer.
When I reached the stream, I got off Phobos and followed the stream down the hill, getting closer to the camp.
Getting closer to the camp, I stopped in some tall grass when I heard Phoibe's voice.
"Lemme go!"
"Shut it, or I'll tighten those ropes!" I heard one of the thugs say to Phoibe.
Then another, more feminine voice, the thug, says, "She'll make good ransom drachmae for the Cyclops."
"No one's gonna buy me from you. They're all poor." Phoibe said, which got me more worried that they would just kill her right then.
"Keep quiet, Phoibe…." I say in a hushed voice to not alarm the four thugs.
Then one of the thugs looked toward me, and I promptly got down, so the tall grass covered me. However, the thug still approached me to check out what he saw.
I punched his left kneecap when he got close enough, making him bend over slightly. I then stabbed my spearhead through his throat and pulled it out on the other end.
Crouching through the tall grass and getting closer to the camp. When I got closer to one of the other thugs, I whistled to get his attention.
The thug hearing my whistle but not seeing anything, walked over toward the sound. Circling and getting behind him, I did the same thing to him as I did with the other thug.
Proceeding to do the same thing with the other thug before me. After killing the three thugs, I only had the female left.
I moved over to her, ensuring I was not in her line of sight. I get in the bushes behind her, readying my spearhead. When I was close enough, I stabbed her killing her on the spot.
With no more thugs, I walk to the hut saying, "Time to get Phoibe out of here."
Cutting the ropes binding Phoibe, she stood up, and I crouched to be at eye level with her. Asking, "Are you all right?"
Brushing herself over, she answered, "It wasn't so bad. Last time, they put a cloth in my mouth so I'd stop biting."
Cracking a small smile and shaking my head, I say, "Phoibe, just… be careful. You're alone now, since –"
Phoibe interrupted what I would say, "Since my parents died? I'm OK, I've got you! And you've got me and Markos. We're your family, right?" She started patting my left shoulder in the middle of her statement.
Which brought some memories back to me.
(Flashback into Kassandra's Memories)
"You'll have to be stronger than that!" Nikolaos, my Pater, said to me.
We were sparring with some staffs against one another.
I can hear my Mater's voice, Myrrine, behind me, "Don't give in! Let him have it!"
I dodged and blocked all of the attacks until he caught my staff and smacked my leg, releasing the staff after.
Before I could stabilize myself, I was tripped from behind. Then I heard my mother say, "Got you!" She proceeds to laugh after her statement.
Nikolaos then taps the ground several times with his staff before saying, "Again! Up!"
Get some help up, I answer him, "Yes, Pater."
"A Spartan rises as soon as they've fallen." He said while helping me up.
Taking a few steps back, he points to my staff, "Ready your staff."
Picking up my staff and getting into a fighting stance. He observes my posture so that he can give me some tips.
"Widen your stance. A soldier grounds themselves." He said while tapping my foot. "Good, good."
He took a stance before me, saying, "Approach me."
I then went in to attack, but Mater spoke before we could get into the spar, "That's enough, Nikolaos. The sun's going down. Time to eat – don't you think?"
Dropping the staff and turning around after getting Pater's permission, I hear baby Alexios crying in my Mater's arms.
"What are we eating tonight?" I ask Mater.
"Tonight we are having baby Alexios. And what a feast he will be!" I hear Pater behind me say. Before he finished his statement, he took Alexios from Mater's arms holding him high and laughing.
Joining the joke, I reply, "No, not him! Take me instead, I'm tasty!"
"Yes, yes, you're all sweet as honey, now, come inside. The lamb's turning black!" Mater responded to our joke.
Pater then handed me Alexios saying, "Here. Lay him in his bed."
"Yes, Pater."
"Kassandra." He called out.
I walked over to his, and he kneeled before me, saying, "You are my greatest pride. Remember that. You'll bring this family to glory. Go." Touching my cheek for a moment in the middle of the statement.
I then went into the house with baby Alexios in my arms.
(End of Flashback)
"Right." I answer Phoibe.
"You worry too much." Phoibe said to me.
Putting a firm tone in my voice, I tell her, "You don't worry enough."
"We'll be all right if we watch out for each other. Which reminds me! The thugs said you should watch your back." She told me while walking out of the hut.
"What'd they say?"
"They said the Cyclops put a big bounty on you. Talos the Stone-Fist wants you dead."
Walking up to her from the hut, I say, "Talos the mercenary? Am I ever not in trouble?"
"Better get him before he gets you. I hear he's really mean."
"I'll find my way back to town. Chaire!" She said before running off down the path to the town.
Waving her off, I could not help but think, 'Talos the Stone-Fist? That's just what I need today. Another broken nose.'