A Scripta

Plato wrote about the code of honor of the Sacred Band of Thebes:

"The beloved, when he is found in any disgraceful situation, will be pained at being detected by his lover. If there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves, they would be the very best governors of their own city, abstaining from all dishonour... For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms... Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger?"

Dimitrius carried Kalius' spear and shield and sat astride the horse while his commander looked down from his horse at the village stretched out below him. "This looks too easy."

"It never is," Dimitrius said.

Kalius grinned with pride at his eronamos. So young, yet so insightful. Twenty-four summers, eight years in the army, three years with the Sacred Band. Six years as his lover. Kalius was only four years older, but he treated the younger man as his equal. Age didn't matter with the Band - as he himself well knew, being among the younger commanders in the army.

"Let us go introduce ourselves."

Dimitrius jerked forward slightly to move the horse and followed his erastes down the hill. The rest of the unit followed them.

At first they advanced slowly, like men approaching a skittish colt, weapons drawn but not threatening. The commander's horse picked its way gingerly down the hill, reaching the flat land about a thousand cubits away. [500 yards] The unit consisted of about thirty men, with the rest of the Band resting just outside of Delphi. Scouts reported that an unknown number of Spartans had taken refuge here. Kalius thought it was better to be safe than sorry.

The men gathered around their commander, ten splitting off to take point. Kalius continued at his own pace as the point men jogged forward, arms still drawn but not at the ready. Kalius could see some people flee from the men, women gathering children and animals.

He noted there were no able-bodied men of soldiering age here, but some boys who could easily enter the Citadel if their parents so chose. A cripple on a crutch watched the men walk through the village.

Kalius reached the center, and turned to address the people who still remained outside. "We have heard you have some Spartans here. Present them within the hour and we will go without harm to you or your property. If you do not, we will search house to house, and show no mercy to the inhabitants."

Dimitrius knew that was mostly talk, though he had seen some of the other men tear through houses like men possessed, leaving nothing but a pile of debris in the center of the house.

Kalius sat down at the well and drank and Dimitrius joined him. The men relaxed, but were vigilant. Dimitrius watched the street, while his commander pretended to be at ease, but was also wary and watching. The required hour went by, the streets emptied - but no Spartans were brought before them.

Kalius nodded to the men, and they spread out in groups of four, bursting into homes. Kalius was surrounded by the sounds of screaming women and children, even though he knew they were not the object of the men's attentions. He watched as Galenos, son of Heron, dragged out a brown haired boy probably no older than 12, while his forever slighted eromanos Irenius stood off to the side, frowning. Kalius would need to talk to them after this.

"Commander!"

Kalius and Dimitrius rose from the well and looked at three men coming toward them. Two of his solders were holding the cripple.

They tossed the man to the dust before Kalius' feet. One of his men grabbed the scruff of the man's ragged clothes and cut it away. He wore a basic bronze breastplate underneath. Kalius nodded, and the men lifted him up to face Kalius. "Where are the rest of your men?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Hades take you, dog!"

"Tie him up."

The two men tied his hands behind his back and bound his ankles together. "Continue searching. Dimitrius, watch him."

The men continued to search, bringing up two more men, one injured. In the meantime, he also brought up the village elder, who claimed to have no knowledge of hiding the Spartans. Kalius let him go, believing that he might not have had knowledge, but some individual members of the village may have.

Another commander might have set fire to the village for hiding the enemy. Kalius wasn't at all like that - he was a believer that massacres turned people against the occupiers. Instead he mounted the horse and directed they bring the prisoners. Bound only behind their backs, the Spartans were forced to march at spearpoint.

Kalius joined the rest of the Band and reported to his commander. All of them expressed disappointment that there were only a few. Pelopidas looked over at his comrade standing with his lover. "I have another report, but it's too late to go after them now." He glanced toward the boy who was lighting candles in the tent. "Rest up tonight, and you can go out in the morning."

"Yes, sir," Kalius said with a salute, and the two men left. Kalius put his arm around Dimitrius' waist. "What I wouldn't give for a bath right now." Then he saw Irenius, sitting outside his beloved's tent. Kalius released Dimitrius and walked over to him. "What are you doing out here?"

"Galenos found a boy."

Kalius stormed over to the tent and tore open the door. He caught Galenos in the middle of taking the boy he had captured. Kalius stood, waiting. Galenos finished, then happened to open his eyes to see his commander standing there, his blue eyes blazing in anger. "Get up," Kalius said, his voice low and menancing. "Get dressed." Galenos threw on a tunica and went outside. Kalius pointed to Irenius. "Who's that?"

Galenos knew where this was going. "My partner," he said.

"Commander," Irenius said quietly, "it's all--"

"It is not all right," Kalius said angrily. "He is your beloved - he is who you should share your bed with."

Galenos looked down. "Yes, commander."

"Release the boy tomorrow morning." Kalius turned and stormed away. As Dimitrius watched him go, his heart swelled. He dutifully followed Kalius, and they went into their tent. Kalius turned to Dimitrius and sighed. "A man should have one beloved."

Dimitrius started removing Kalius' armor. "A man can't devote himself to more than one person," Dimitrius said, peeling off the breastplate. "I don't understand how Irenius can take that."

"Irenius is too gentle," Kalius said. "Galenos doesn't deserve him."

"Eutropios likes him. I've seen them together often when Galenos abandons Irenius."

"Eutropios has been lonely since losing his erastes. Maybe he can be a mentor and Irenius his apprentice?"

"Possible." Dimitrius looked down at his erastes, dressed only in his tunica. Dimitrius undressed, and Kalius watched, a small smile crossing his face. When Dimitrius finished, Kalius pulled him close and kissed him, deliriously happy with his devoted lover.