Once upon a time in Sparta

The princes and nobles of Sparta, the best young men in the city-state, have filled the hall.They discussed the victory cheerfully and loudly, reminiscing about the tense details.Young and beautiful maids shuttled by turns, pouring clean water from gorgeous golden pots, for the heroes to wash their hands in silver basins.The king ordered to mix out a tank of fine wine for the guests to worship and enjoy.Baskets of bread and piles of roasted beef and mutton are also continuously placed on the smooth and shiny dining table.

"Father, what is the origin of that singer?" Polydoces sat under his father, and asked in a low voice when no one spoke to the king.

The bard was among the feasters, but separated from them by the towering pillars supporting the palace, and there was a separate table full of bread, roast meat, and wine, and a seat studded with silver studs. chair.The uprights are hung with strong pegs for hanging the violin on it.It was the poet's exclusive seat, perfect for listening to the singing after everyone had finished eating and drinking.At this time, the new bard is occupying there.And Castor stayed by his side, pulling the other's sleeve from time to time, talking with his face up, full of admiration and happiness.

"We caught it in the palace after we captured that city-state." Tyndarius said nonchalantly, "he is a guest and a free man, and we need him to sing about his merits and honors. So I asked him if he would Willing to come to Sparta, a well-known and blessed city-state of gold and gold, and very hospitable, he came."

"No, father, I mean, do you know his life experience?" Polydoces frowned slightly. "He looks like he has the blood of God."

"So what? Even if he is a god, what we have done is impeccable, and it is in line with the hospitality established by the great god Zeus. What does knowing his genealogy do to us? He can't fight, Nor can it bring us allies."

Seeing that Polydoces still couldn't let go, Tyndarius sighed.

"Castor is finding a new toy he likes. You just let him go."

At this time, everyone had almost eaten and drank.The poet reached out and took down the qin and began to sing.

His singing voice is as beautiful as his own. In early spring, the ice and snow on the top of the mountain melted into a gurgling stream, which was extremely clear and icy cold, with the breath of tiny ice crystals and the holy grass of Hades (mint).

Castor's eyes filled with light.Everything the poet narrates is really amazing and wonderful.The golden apple orchard at the end of the earth is guarded by a hundred-headed dragon, which is the blessing of the mother of the earth, the solemn marriage of the father god Zeus and the queen Hera.A siren that seduces sailors in the barren sea.Every day, the sun god Helios rises from the deep sea, drives his golden chariot through the waves, and begins his journey across the celestial poles.There are also stories of those demigod heroes, strong love and hatred, great blessings and pains, and immortal legends made of dying bodies, making the fleeting life emit such bright brilliance.

Of course, this is not the first bard to come to Sparta.Castor had already heard some legends, but to Castor, those were just boring backgrounds.He listened casually, full of so-called impassioned tones.

Castor's past is gloomy, like a land of ashes where the dead wander, full of meaningless passing away.At this time, the world opened a wonderful door to him, from which radiated dreamy splendor.

He looked up at the poet, his silver hair was like a river of stars pouring down, extremely bright.Beautiful, dazzling, legendary, immortal, eternal existence in history.

The smell of burning oil is too strong, and the smell of wine is too smoky, entangled with the heat from the stove, making the room dull and oppressive.Polydoces walked out of the noisy hall.

Not far from the palace is a rich fruit grove, and the fragrant cool breeze blows his cheeks and body.

He didn't like the bard. There was something dangerous and dark about the man that alerted him.Perhaps he was actually one of the city-state's royals, the only remaining male, waiting for revenge.

No, it's more dangerous than that.Such an identity is really not a threat to Sparta.

Polydoces leaned against the portico and remembered a detail.The singer entered the hall.He walked past the king's throne, the queen's seat, and next to the sacred fire.When he passed the stove, the flames changed color slightly, as if shrouded in darkness.No one else noticed it, only I saw it.As the son of God, he inherited too many things beyond ordinary people from his paternal lineage.

That unquenchable, pure fire has been polluted by Ceres.Some imperceptible shadow was spreading, like the falling night.He shuddered instinctively, knowing that something, something bad was bound to happen, whatever it was, when.

And most importantly, that man attracted Castor.

From the first moment he saw the man, Castor was captivated.Shiny, beautiful people.He had never seen Castor so happy, following a man like a chicken following a hen, doing all he could to act like a real child.What he tried so hard to get close to was easily obtained by a stranger.

He felt very irritable, he didn't want to enter the hall, and he felt stupid standing outside in anger.So he went to other places, and on the way he saw servants carrying a corpse out.It was an old strange woman, with a bloody gold brooch tightly clutched in one dangling hand.The face flashed in his mind, and he remembered seeing her once standing on the city wall with Castor, and he saw a maid carrying the corpse, the beautiful, indifferent maiden, and the old woman. Somewhat alike, walking with her at that time.

It occurred to him that maybe she knew something, if she had indeed been a princess, if the poet had stayed in the castle that had been destroyed.

So he stopped them.

"What do you know about that poet?"

The girl looked at him, a dangerous and mocking smile slowly appeared on her beautiful and haggard face.

"Are you scared? Of course."

"This is your mother?"

"She's a queen," said the girl in an irresponsible answer.Her older sister looked blank.

He glanced at the corpse.

"I will bury her with due decency," said Polydoces, "and you will tell me all about the poet."

"You will know." said the little princess who died. "Because I know what you want to know and what you're afraid of. Do as I tell you, and you'll understand."

According to the request of the little princess, he took her to the storage room of the loot.She walked lightly and quickly, opened the box with a little ferocity, and rummaged around.She first took out an elegant dress with a fine weave.She took off the rough clothes in front of Polydoces without hesitation, put on the long skirt, then turned out a magnificent belt covered with gold tassels to tie it, and then skillfully found a pair of gemstone earrings in the shape of mulberries Put it on, the turban, as new and shining as day, was put on the clean hair, and it was tied with a golden hair crown, on which countless delicate flowers and birds were cast.

Polydoces watched her adorn herself meticulously, as if seeing a withered soul being resurrected.She was so striking, with her flowing hair and beautiful corset, a true proud princess.

Then the little princess came up to him.

"Let's go."

He turned around, and then easily pinched the spine of the bronze sword that was cutting towards him, the edge of the sword was shining with cold light.

"Is this your sincerity?" he asked.

"I know who you are, Polydoces, son of Zeus," said the little princess. "Of course I know. It's just that I need you to play a show with me."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"And I'm not stupider than you. I'm older than you, and as a priest of the Temple of Hera, I know God's temper and style better than you."

The little princess's voice was cold, cold and rigid.

"Of course you will not die, at least here at this time. The gods take care of you, want you to win the victory, and give you glorious honor. You will become a hero, with the favor of the gods, and be watched by their eyes. Until then, they will spare you accidental calamities from your preordained fate. You have great things to do, Polydoces. So you will not die here at this time. And I can tell you that you longed for."

"what is that?"

"You want to know who that person is."

"Maybe it's not as important as you think, and I don't want to know as much as you think."

"That's up to you, anyway, I don't care."

At this moment, a thought flashed through Polydoces' mind.

Maybe you can be stupid and take a gamble.

The little princess put the sword around his neck and pushed him out.

The Spartan palace suddenly exploded.

Queen Leda who came rushed screamed and was supported by the king, her husband.Countless bows and arrows and bronze swords pointed at the girl who was holding hostages, and the army with swords and halberds had nowhere to escape.

The king looked very calm.

"What do you want?" he asked. "If you want revenge, you must have killed him. Since you have held him hostage, you must have something you want."

"We can let you go, and anyone else you want to take away." Leda came back to her senses and calmed down after hearing her husband's words, but her eyes were fixed on the sword on her son's neck. "You will be free. I swear by the righteousness of Zeus, we will treat you as a distinguished guest and send you a lot of gifts to leave."

The little princess sneered.

"You ruined my city-state, killed my family, and took everything from me. Do you think that giving me some leftovers after being swallowed by you can compensate me?"

"Then we will find a famous husband for you," Leda said. "I will treat you like my daughter. You will marry very prominently and have a son of excellence. Then you will have eternal dependence. "

The little princess's expression gradually became sad.

"Honestly, maybe I don't hate you that much," she said. "This age itself is so cruel. Only God deserves complete happiness."

She looked around with a startling, hopeless smile on her face.

"And you too. Dear enemies. The bloody war will come, and no one on earth will avoid it. What I suffered, you too will suffer. One day, you will curse what you pursue Honor, disheveled hair, torn clothes, masked face, and weeping bitterly, for the blood of all husbands, fathers, and sons shed. On that day, you will lament the destruction brought about by your own ambitions, and resent the fate God designed for you. On that day, you will finally understand that all the glorious demigods are but dust forgotten by the gods."

All the voices suddenly stopped.She's a priest, and that's an oracle.The flames stagnated, but the shadows seemed so dark, stretching endlessly.Something terrible was coming out of her mouth.

In the end, it was King Tyndarius of Sparta who broke the silence.

"So, since that's the case, Princess of Subjugation, what do you want?"

"She's looking for me." A soft voice came in and answered instead of the little princess.

"Polydoces!" cried another voice sharply, and the poet stopped the boy who was about to charge forward.

Polydoces suddenly felt that this moment was worth it.He won the bet.

The little princess's hand fell down, and Polydoces ran away immediately, and embraced Castor with open arms.

"I'm fine, really." He reassured his younger brother, kissing his cheek and hair with joy in his heart.

The poet walks slowly.The little princess's face, which had been holding on for so long, finally showed a fragile expression, and tears appeared in her eyes.That's all the sadness.

The bronze sword she was holding fell to the ground, and she walked towards the poet, the sword scratched shallow marks on the ground.

"I remember every poem you sang. Every story you tell echoes in my heart." She said dreamily, her voice stuck in her throat. "I like those. But I never understood."

The poet stood in front of her and stretched out his hands to straighten her messy hair that fell on her shoulders.Those slender and cold hands were more bloodless than her cheeks.

"This is a cruel age. Gods are also cruel, so the fate they made for mortals is also the same. I have nowhere to escape. You told me that and other knowledge, and I couldn't understand it at the time."

She stood on tiptoe, and the gold shoes on her feet gleamed gorgeously.She cupped the poet's cheek in her hands and looked into those silvery, empty eyes.

"There is only one way, only one way, to be free from all destiny, from all the gods (theoi), is it not? My answer is, I would. My dear daimon. As in former times, those who As chosen. I will pass through the dreamland at the end of the world, and I will become an eternal shadow. Promise me."

She lightly kissed the poet's lips, swung the bronze sword and stabbed herself suddenly, without any hesitation.

Blood spattered, staining her new clothes and rich decorations red.

The poet embraced her body, which could no longer stand upright, and her hands were stained with her blood.

"I'm in pain." said the little princess.

The poet comforted her softly.

"Sleep, young girl, there won't be any more of that."