In the middle of the night.
All throughout Sparta blood flowed.
A silent war was being fought.
Everybody thinks the Spartan Army was strong because of the rigorous training and superior weapons.
But that is a misconception, the real strength of the Spartan army lay in obedience and discipline.
So when they got the order to take out a group of traitors, they did not hesitate to follow the orders.
Even if those other soldier were their own country men.
(Pov: one of the execution squads)
"Captain we are getting close to the watchtower" reported the scout.
"Alright take your bows out" orders the captain.
5 out of the 15 soldiers takes out a bow from their back.
On the watchtower two of leotigydas soldiers were discussing the latest rumours of high society.
Right when the soldier was about to begin over a high ranking officer losing his money in gambling.
A arrow flew trough the air piercing his throath, warm blood seeped on his bronze cuirass ( armour) streaming down trickling on the ground.
He was gurgling, begging with his eyes to be saved.
While suffocating on his own blood.
His friend panic stricken was about to light the fire and alert his brethren about a enemy attack.
But before he came far, a arrow went straight trough his visor hitting his eye, and smashing his brain.
He fell down with a clattering of metal.
"Good work soldiers" said the captain "on to the next target".
They moved past the watchtower, to raid the weapon storage protected by around 10 soldiers.
This was happening all around Sparta's important infrastructure.
Like food storage's, weapon storage's, and even the house members of the magistrate were being captured.
Of course this could not be hidden for long.
After a few silent minutes, a call for arms was issued.
But the damage was already done.
Important routes to the Eurypontid royal castle were blocked by Cleomenes men.
And Leonidas soldiers already took control of important personal, and infra structure.
This way the resistance would be minimal.
While this was happening Leonidas was leading 3000 Spartan soldiers to leotychidas royal castle.
The commotion instantly alerted the guards of the palace.
Uniform steps could be heard coming to the palace.
The torches burning in the distance, giving a ominous feeling.
Slowly they encircled the palace.
"Go inform the king" said the commander of the royal guards.
"Yes sir" a soldier replied.
The Commander rallied the royal guards, ready to face the invaders.
"Why didn't we hear about this, for such a large army it is impossible to silently invade"the commander said.
Just as he had said this a fire started in the distance.
The commander frowned if they are also under attack, the chance that we can get reinforcements is small.
He shouts to his men.
"Spartans in formation"!! "we do not know who the enemy is, but we do know that WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF DEATH". the 200 royal guard shouted along.
"AH-OOH AH-OOH AH-OOH"
"THEN I ASK YOU: DO WE LET THE ENEMY STORM OUR GATES!!?"
AH-OOH AH-OOH AH -OOH
Good "move out"
Like that, the 200 guardsmen were ready to lay down their lives.
Walking down the palace steps, to the open field below.
Looking at the army coloured by scarse moonlight, they were not afraid but mostly surprised.
The commander looks at the leader of the army.
And asks: " Leonidas what is the meaning of this whole sharade?"
"Bonivicus get out of the way" Leonidas awnsers.
"I am afraid I can't prince Leonidas".
"I see " Leonidas says.
"Kill them all" he orders after.
The army of 3000 moves on the army of 200.
It would go as you would expect it would end.
It was a Slaughter.
Leonidas moves forward, with his spear in hand.
Stabbing it at Bonivicus.
Bonivicus takes three steps back, after deflecting the spear with his shield.
Leonidas makes use of this time to get close.
He drops his shield, and grabs Bonivicus shield.
The bronze of the shield gets bended by his grip strength.
Then violently he takes the shield from bonivicus.
But the arm of bonivicus was still secured by leather straps.
So with a sickening crunch his arm was ripped off.
Bonivicus held his schream, his forearm now missing.
But now there was a opening right in front of him.
Leonidas now without shield, was ready for the next attack.
When Bonivicus stabbed his spear forward.
He aimed for the neck hoping on a quick victory.
Leonidas moved his head out of the way.
But he was a bit too slow.
The spear hit the side of his neck.
It sounded like metal on metal.
Even Leonidas was surprised by this, he didn't know he was this sturdy.
Bonivicus lost all hope at this moment.
The attack he put all his hopes on gave one scratch one simple white line.
"Guess this is it" Bonivicus said.
"Yeah" Leonidas awnsers.
"Don't worry I will sent leotigydas to accompany you down to the River Styx"
Then he stabbed his spear trough Bonividas.
Leonidas picked up his shield before moving into the palace. His men already got the situation under control, and his command was not needed.
He moved trough the palace with 10 of his soldiers.
Going straight for leotigydas bedroom.
Kicking open the door to the bedroom. Leonidas saw that, leotigydas stood in the middle of the room fully clad in his cuirass, with a helmet on his head a spear and shield in hand.
"Leotigydas lay down your weapons, you stand trial for treason".
"Never" leotychidas said.
Leonidas didn't hesitate, and threw his spear.
Flying trough the air piercing trough the cuirass, and severing leotychidas spine.
Leotigydas now nailed to the wall had a look of shock.
He didn't believe someone actually dared hurt the king but he was wrong.
Leonidas orders his men to take leotychidas away.
Let's move on to the next step then.
Leonidas made his way to the throne room.
There Cleomenes was waiting for him.
"Is it done brother?" Cleomenes asked.
"Yes we now just have to wait for daybreak" Leonidas awnsers.
"Good our family now holds the whole of Sparta in his control".
" Agiad will rise to unprecedented heights".
"Brother you know I did it not for this reason" said Leonidas.
"Yes I know, now that we hold all Sparta's resources we can start searching for my grandson".
"We will find your son brother, it is almost impossible to kill him so do not worry too much".
"Thank you brother I needed that" Leonidas said.
Leonidas moves forward to the other throne and sits down.
Morning came fast, and people were led into the throne room.
First Gorgo walked inside with Phobos,
She moved to Leonidas and stood beside the throne.
Then Avon Gorgo's mother went inside and stood beside Cleomenes.
The magistrate member were forcefully brought inside.
The five highest members had red faces never before were they treated like this.
When they got inside the throne room, their faces turned white.
"Where is Leotigydas?" one asked.
"And why are you on his throne?"
"Bring him in" Leonidas said.
The doors on the side opend, and leotychidas was dragged inside by two guards.
Seeing their king like this, the magistrates got nervous.
The Agiad family was in charge of the military affairs, while the Eurypontids where more political.
So they worked together with the magistrates a lot.
The magistrates were almost always on the Eurypontids side taking bribes, and scratching each other's back.
Helping with keeping the Agiad family from getting too much power.
But feeling the situation now they knew their time was up.
Leonidas continues: "Leotigydas has committed treason and shall be sentenced to death".
"That is not your jurisdiction" said one brave magistrate.
"It is now" said Leonidas.
"There will be a few changes around here".
"Now I will list all his crimes"
1 he takes bribes from wealthy families
2 he collaborated with pirates around Sparta stealing, wealth and capturing citizens from Sparta to sell as slaves.
3 he worked together with Ares priests to kill children of his political enemies.
And the most important point.
4 he worked with outside organisations to assassinate agiads prince.
Hearing this the magistrates sweated.
If they got pinned together with Leotigydas they would not escape death.
Leotychidas himself did not react, his eyes were dead.
Even if he survived this his legs were useless now.
Leonidas found most of the evidence in Leotigydas bedroom.
There were also witnesses like the daughter of the old blacksmith.
After seeing the brand mark on the broken Poison dagger he could easily find the origin.
There he found the dead blacksmith and priest.
The priest first killed the blacksmith before he started raping the blacksmiths daughter.
But while he was doing that he didn't see her taking a hot branding iron.
She stabbed him in the jugular.
He stumbled back, before she got on top of him and kept stabbing him in the chest.
Knowing the priest was a high ranking member of Sparta she fled into the mountains.
Where Leonidas men found her; after she tried to steal some bread because of the hunger.
She is now hired as a caregiver for Phobos when he or his wife don't have time.
"Leotigydas do you deny these claims" Leonidas asked.
Leotigydas said nothing.
"Silence is a awnser in itself" said Leonidas. Besides he really did have the evidence.
"Then the verdict is death!"
"Take him away."
Then Leonidas looked at the magistrates.
"From now in you will hold no power."
"The magistrate will purely be a advisors role."
The magistrates didn't dare utter a word of resistance.
"Alright now that is settled it is time for the most important part, Sparta will pay 1000 gold coins to whomever can give the information that can lead me to my son."