Chapter 10: Right Revoke Rule
Leinad didn't keep the old man waiting for too long before he rushed to open the door, and when he did he acted surprised to see who was standing outside: "it's you..old Neighbor sir is there anything I can do for you"
His childish voice was as humble as possible and his face revealed cluelessness and he looked just like any other young helot in Sparta, always ready to serve!
As a shrewd leader with years of memories putting up this little act was a piece of cake.
Seeing Leinad like this and his small the Old neighbor's conviction wavered: 'this boy doesn't look at all like someone with the willpower to study the way of the sword, was I wrong? And it's not like I can directly ask him to show me here, that will be too risky, I'm sure if he does those old men in Pitana would do their best to find who used intent now, it's best I try the other approach '
The old man quickly thought of so many questions and finally, he managed to calm himself and his caring old man facade before saying: "young lad I just came here to see how you are doing, you must have been so frightened think about how that demon Heracles will take revenge for what you did today "
Immediately the old man said this Leinad shook his small head and confidently said "I'm fine old sir but I already dealt with him so my mother and me safe now, all that's left for me is to get into the Agoge training and our lives can be better, my mother said that if I can become a Hoplite warrior even the weakest bronze ranked warrior our lives and status will improve, even the shame of my father fleeing from battle will be completely washed off "
Saying this the Little Leinad looked to the sky with a yearning look as if imagining the day he can walk proudly amongst spartan as equals and not mere helots.
The Old Man snorted in his heart on hearing that then he said in a concerned tone: "that's where you are wrong Naive little boy!, if you have handed whatever Manager Heracles wanted to him and patiently waited for the 'Agoge' entrance test you might have been fine but now that you've exposed your strength the ones behind Heracles will make sure you never get into 'Agoge', I'm sure they are already plotting how they'll make your life miserable, it's possible they find a way to send you to the vast farmlands outside to work with the other helots your age"
Leinad's small face 'fell' upon hearing that his body began to tremble in fear for a while but then his big eyes brightened up as he thought of something before he answered: "that's not possible even though I'm a helot my father was a Hoplite so according to go the spartan law we are exempted from any helot slave duties"
The Old Neighbour shook his head in return: "you still don't get it do you?"
Leinad stared at him in confusion before saying: "can you enlighten this little one old sir"
"Indeed, you and your family don't need to perform any helot duties because your father was once a hoplite, on the other hand there's something called the Right Revoke Rule to deal with former Helot Hoplite that fled from battle, So all manager Heracles need to do is go to the council and file to revoke any right you and your mother still have, as long as that paper is signed not only will you lose everything you will become a real helot and at that time you might be overloaded with work and be too busy to even take the entrance test!" The Old Man calmly explained, his voice sounding very concerned about Leinad's predicament.
Leinad was a bit shocked upon hearing this in his heart after all even his predecessor didn't know there was such a law 'this is going to be a bit troublesome, no wonder that fat guy acted confident before, sigh it appears I need to learn more about life in Sparta, oh well I guess this old man should have a way out so I'll just depend on his help for now' he inwardly thought calmly but on the outside, he appeared scared and helpless: "How can this be, there's even such a rule?, they'll revoke all the right my father work very hard to fight for, this punishment is too much even though he ran away I'm sure he had a good reason, how can they treat us like this, doesn't anyone care about our lives, wait Old sir should...."
getting to this point he looked at the old neighbor once again and began to beg:"that's right there's still old sir! you can help us, right? Please help us, even though my mom is sick right now and can't 'serve' you'll, I promise this little one will work hard to pay you back for your kindness" at this point he fell to his knees.
This time the Old man felt genuinely sorry for Leinad, he sighed before shaking his head: "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you, as long as they bring the right revoke papers and you see it, you will lose everything"
He said those words slowly hinting at a way out for Leinad, too bad little Leinad chose to remain oblivious and continued to cry with both hands clutching the old man's feet: "please sir, there has to be away, I can't return to farming, my mother is too sick, she might die if she does such arduous work"
'This stupid lad really wants me to say it' The old man cried in his heart before saying: "stop crying there might still be a way to salvage the situation"
"What... What you have a way!" Leinad's shouted as if being granted a new lease of life.
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