Leonidas went with the search party and kept his hopes up.
Wishing for a wonder they started looking by the cliff.
They scoured the place of the crime, but could not find anything.
Leonidas looked up and orders his men to climb the cliff sides.
He kept looking at the pools of blood, until he found one different from the rest.
It had a soft golden glow it was but a drop.
Yet it could not be missed.
Bending down to touch it he heard his man shout from above.
Sir we found bows and arrows up here.
Only well trained and hardend assassin's could possibly shoot from up here.
Even we would not be capable of doing so.
Hearing this Leonidas got even angrier.
Another group sent ahead rushed back.
Sir we found footprints up ahead.
"What are we waiting for then" Leonidas said.
The soldiers still high up on the wall quickly climbed down the cliff.
The 25 soldiers stood in 2 long lines behind Leonidas, and begun moving in a speed between jogging and running.
After moving fast for 1,5 hours they made it to a hidden bay.
There a docking station stood.
Seeing this, Leonidas orders his men to take control of the bay.
On the small smuggling warf it was another normal day.
30 pirates called this place their home.
Haha captain "we struck gold this time" said one of the crewmates.
You are right, these idiots were willing to pay the jackpot for that old ship we had laying around.
The captain looking at the happy crew shook his head.
How could it be so simple, the group they were talking about came 5 hours ago. Claiming they wanted to buy a ship.
The first thought was to rob, them but as a pirate you have to look out who to mess with.
Otherwise how was he able to survive right under Sparta's nose.
The men were wearing iron masks on their faces, and had heavy armour.
They looked wel trained rested and strong.
The captain did not want to mess with these kinds of people.
They threw them 30 pieces of gold and left with a old boat the pirates had.
Now he was thinking about moving, if he could be found once he could be found twice.
Right as he was about to tell his man to pack up everything, and move to a new bay his men sounded the alarm.
The Spartans have found us!!
Leonidas moving trough the pirates as a lion gave off a heavy magestic feeling. He was like a unstoppable giant stabbing trough their Hart's longs skull. He even ripped off a men's arm.
His men seeing their commander like this.
Cheered chanting battle songs while slaughtering their enemy's. After only 2 minutes of fighting only the captain was left alive.
Surrounded by body part Leonidas stood before the man.
The captain barely alive mutters monster.
He was, bending his spine backwards his hands pierced by a spear stuck to his heels.
Leonidas looked at the man with absolute apathy.
"Where is my son" he asked.
"Who is your son even" screamed the captain back.
"Do you know where a group of men went after coming here then" asked Leonidas.
The captain spits on the ground. "They are long gone now" he said.
They took a boat from us 5 hours ago and sailed away.
"Thank you" said Leonidas before taking out his sword and decapitating the captain in one swift motion.
"Burn it all down" he gave a order.
Moving back to the heloten farms there was a depressed mood.
After walking for hours they made it back, dillios together with Stelios come immediately to report.
Sir we found what you asked for.
Speletos was innocent he protected the prince till his dying breath.
The only letters he had were to his wife and child.
Leonidas hearing this sighs, compensate his family make sure they do not go hungry.
"Yes your majesty" awnsers dilios.
"And Claus"? asked Leonidas.
A small silence falls.
"We found letter suggesting he may have worked together with leotychidas to kill your son."
"Very good leotychidas" said Leonidas.
He looked at Stelios and says "start the plan"
"Right away your majesty" awnsers Stelios.
He turns around runs a bit climbs on a horse and takes of.
Leonidas looks at his men.
Let's go home he said.
They packed up their stuff and left.
Elliott was a bit flustered with the sudden movement.
Sir is something not to your liking he asked.
No Elliott just some family drama, I have to go home to fix it.
"I will do inventory another time."
Then he lift the sleeping Phobos on his horse before getting on himself.
Phobos had cried himself to sleep hearing his brother went missing.
Exhausted he missed almost the whole trip home.
This time they didn't take their time sight seeing.
Gorgon hearing the commotion outside was surprised, they were supposed to take at least another week.
With three villages to take inventory of they were way too fast home.
Searching for Leonidas among his men she found him quicky, as they both could look over most of the soldiers heads.
"Honey why are you home so fast she asked."
Leonidas with his head down didn't dare look her in the eyes.
She felt there was something off about this so with a bit more urgency she asked again.
"Why are you back"
Leonidas took her arm and let her inside.
3 minutes later he walks outside.
Sobbing could be heard behind him, then a primal howl of a mother losing a child.
Leonidas didn't look good his actions a bit off and his eyes dazed.
"You are dismissed he said."
The Spartans looking uneasy at each other nodded their heads, and left the prince to process this.
They left under the mourning screams of a mother.
A knot in their stomach.
They would let the one who took their prince feel their wrath!!
Later at night Leonidas sat alone under a Figg tree.
Looking at the stars with a pouch of wine in his hands.
His wife had cried herself to sleep, with Phobos in her arms.
"I failed as a men, I failed as a husband and most of all I failed as a father."
He then threw the wine sac down the cliff he was looking from.
"I won't produce anything usefull, wallowing in self pity."
"The plan has already started I should get ready."
"If I want to safe my son the plan has to succeed."
Cleomenes sitting in his office looked at Stelios.
"So the plan is finally starting."
"Yes your highness" awnsers Stelios.
"Why did it take so long to convince my brother?" said Cleomenes.
"Leotigydas tried to kill Deimos 34 times and he only takes action when it succeeds" grumbled Cleomenes.
"The prince is not dead your highness" said Stelios.
"I know" said Cleomenes "it would take more than that to kill the boy."
"But he has to be injured if they can kidnap the prince."
"Otherwise they would not be able to take a demigod like him."
"Your highness that's not important right now."
" We need you to move your private army to preemptively strike leotychidas."
"Leonidas army's are already making a move on leotigydas legions."
"Yes I will get to it" said Cleomenes.
"Take this seal and order them to take action."
"Yes your majesty."
Meanwhile leotychidas was over the moon.
"Haha I finally got the little bastard, I bet this wil hurt the Agiad more than they want to admit."
The attendant by his side nods his head.
"Do you know where the priest went by any chance" asked Leotigydas.
No sir he disappeard a couple of days ago.
"Strange but I'm sure he will come to me himself."
While they were discussing his victory over a small child.
The danger slowly closed in on leotigydas.