The God Games

Chapter One "The Messenger"

Thrust, duck, backslash, swing, parry, roll. The warrior somersaulted across the sand, slashing his sword at an unseen enemy as he rolled before jumping to his feet with enough grace to put a gymnast to shame. Sweat covered the naked chest with a fine sheen over the hardened muscles there. Black hair hung limply to his broad shoulders, covering his face for a moment as he regained his breath before dodging to the side.

From the shadows of the pillars stood a beautiful woman, who watched the man with pride and love. Her simple gown of beige highlighted her dark hair that lay just past shoulder length. She narrowed her dark eyes when sand flew up after another roll, but couldn't help but grin. Even at the ripe old age of thirty, her husband could make even her reserved blood boil with passion.

"My Queen," said a deep, quiet voice. The woman turned to see another man approach her. He was the same age as her husband, and had the same fine physique of any well-to-do Spartan. He had a goatee of solid black, and neatly combed short, black hair.

"Captain Artemis," Queen Gorgo whispered, and bowed. She tried not let her husband know of their presence, it threw off his concentration.

"I need to have a word with King Leonidus," the Captain said quietly but firmly. "Do you know when I can have an audience with him....?"

"You can say your piece now, old friend." Artemis and Gorgo looked to see Leonidus looking at them, standing still yet his chest still rising and falling quickly from his exercising, hands on his hips, eyes stern but mouth curved in a curious grin. "What is it?"

"There's a messenger waiting for you," Captain Artemis said slowly.

"A messenger from whom?" Gorgo asked, the Captain turning to her. He had a look of slight confusion on his features when he replied, "From the Ephors, m'lady."

"The Ephors? Those leperous relics?" Leonidus asked, thinking that perhaps he had heard wrong. "Though Spartan they may be, they don't offer assistance unless consulted and bribed for it. What could they want?" This last part was spoken to himself rather than to his wife or captain. He walked past them to the open courtyard where the Ephor's messenger supposedly waited.

A cloaked figure sat waiting on the steps outside of the courtyard. The figure rose when Leonidus approached, and bowed to him, the Queen, and the Captain.

"My king, my lady, good sir," said a girl's voice. "I bring a messege from my masters, the Ephors."

"And what was deemed so important by those inbred swine that they sent down one of their slave-girls?" Artemis asked harshly, his distaste for the old priests quite noticable.

Leonidus had slightly more tact than his captain, but said nothing to him about it right then. "What is this messege you deliver?" he asked firmly.

"The Hundred Year Moon approaches, my king," the girl said quietly. "You would do best to think of preparing yourself and your warriors for the battle to come."

"Is that a threat?" Artemis asked quietly, dangerously. The hooded figure began to tremble when he took a step toward her, but Leonidus put out his hand, a command to halt.

"You are a good friend and good captain, but at this rate I'll never get the message if you continue to threaten the messenger. Wait outside, Artemis." There was no questioning his tone; the King had spoken. The Captain glared one last time at the girl before turning, biege colored cape flying in his wake.

"I sometimes think that if he didn't think of every situation like a Captain, he would go crazy, husband," Gorgo teased quietly, gently. Leonidus took the hint; he would go talk to his friend and perhaps apologize. 'Perhaps' being the operative word.

"Now, for you," he said to the hooded girl. "Finish your message, and stop with the riddles already. What do you mean, 'The Hundred Years Moon'?"

"I mean what I say, my Lord. Have you noticed that, though the time for falling leaves is soon upon us, the air retains the warmth of earlier summer days? The moon that comes once a century will soon come over the horizon, and with it-the metal and thunder chariot of the gods!"

Leonidus was a hardened Spartan King, but that last statement made a chill race up his powerful spine. "How certain are your masters?" he asked calmly while Gorgo looked between them, slightly confused. She was glad her husband knew what was going on, at least, although this sounded vaguely familar...

"They read the stars numerous times, and consulted the Oracle even more to be sure, my King."

Leonidus stroked his clean shaven chin in thought. "Is that all?"

The girl bowed. "'Raise your soldiers quickly, for when the next moon rises, they will arrive.' That is the entire messege, my King."

He waved her away. "Return to them and thank them for the messege." The hooded figure bowed again and ran across the courtyard until she bounded through the gates and
was gone.

"When the next moon rises, they will arrive," Gorgo repeated. "Leonidus, do you mind explaining now?"

He looked at his wife for a moment, before turning to look over the courtyard and the city's walls outside. "Every century they return, bound by honor, to battle against the strongest warriors we offer. And now, its our turn." He turned to her, the familar flame of bloodlust dancing in his eyes.

"It's our turn to play in the God Games, my queen. When the moon rises again, we'll have a little more company than usual." He grinned at her. "Yes, a little company can brighten even the dullest day!"


A.N. As of now, I will NOT post new chapters to this story until I get reviews, so just review already! Thanks.