"Get down!" Alpheus the Spartan whispered, whilst raising his hand in signal. The small unit under Ling Tong crouched behind him as they travelled through the thick forest that was north of the city of Megara. Several miles ahead of them would be the main battle lines of the Greek lines. They were currently travelling near the stretched supply lines of the Greek forces that positioned themselves near the upcoming Battle of Plataea. The sun was low in the sky, as they marched through the early morning to get themselves as far north as they could towards the battle lines of Plataea.
Behind Ling Tong stood a few more Spartans, Warriors that knew the land well and had their own mission objectives. As well as the Spartans were some experienced Hoplite with similar objectives, all taking individual risks to try and achieve additional goals for Dom and their growing Kingdom. Further down the lines was Centurion Phillip and some of his Thebian's, expert warriors from a slightly different timeline, who would try and sneak to the enemy side and head to Thebes themselves. They were supported by some Balearic Slingers and Wu Dang Archers. The overall unit was small, easier to hide and travel at pace.
They had left their ship hidden to the south of Megara, hidden in a cove that they had all memorised in their mind. They had left a small group to protect the ship, whilst sending a scout to sneak towards Athens and inform Centurion Alexander of their location.
In the clearing in front of them, a small unit of Cavalry paced by, the riders mostly hidden from view by the branches of the trees and bushes in front of them. They were guarding a couple of carts that were being pulled by men who walked with reluctant feet.
"Persians this deep?" Maron asked quietly, Alpheus's brother. The work caused raised eyebrows from a lot of the Spartans and Hoplite, as one of the other Spartans slowly made his way forwards.
"They have captures supplies being sent from the south, those pulling the carts are our own." The Spartan whispered, before spitting. "Captured and treated as slaves."
"Spartans?" Maron asked, as Alpheus turned to them both with danger in his eyes to keep it down.
"Not that I recognise, most likely Athenian, or from Megara itself." He stated as he tried to discern from their clothes.
"How many enemy forces?" Ling Tong asked as he also approached, trying to look at the enemy numbers.
"Twenty Cavalry, forty captured Greeks." Alpheus whispered back, "They are chained together and are clearly injured from battle. It seems the Persians are braver than we expected."
"This isn't how it happened." A Hoplite, Myron, declared quietly. "From my understanding and Thucydides briefing, the Persian's should be holding back at this time due to the loss of their General Masistius. This allowed our own lines to push forwards slightly in confidence, giving the Persian's the chance to attack when they saw a weakness."
"Then the situation has changed, as I suspect Lord Lazarus will cause at the Naval Battle." Ling Tong declared, before turning back towards the Slingers and Wu Dang Archers and thinking for a few seconds. He turned to the Spartan Twins and those close to them. "Phillip needs a horse, I see some horses in front of us."
"I do need some horses, but not twenty." Centurion Phillip grinned in response, understanding Ling Tong's thinking.
"I will cause a distraction." Another Spartan, Dieneces, said confidently as the other Spartans nodded in agreement. The tension across them all easing as the thought of action began to take over.
"Slingers and Archers, we will wait for Dieneces to cause a distraction and then you will take them out. Centurion Phillip and myself will bring our Infantry forwards and take out the rest of them." Ling Tong ordered with a grin, the young General excited to be leading this important excursion. "Also, try not to injure the horses! Let's follow them until we find a clearer location to attack."
The unit behind him nodded in agreement as they matched the speed of the enemies who pulled and pushed the carts at a slow pace. The captured Hoplite seemed to not be in a rush, their injuries taking their toll, whilst their Persian counterparts seemed relaxed to travel on their horses, with their own scouts keeping a look out at the front and rear.
Ling Tong and his unit followed them for several minutes, with Dieneces and some of the others slowly overtaking their new enemies as they travelled. Dieneces eventually signalled, saying that the location was ideal for their ambush. He waited for a few seconds for Ling Tong to make the final decision, who passed the message back that they were good to go.
...
Alexander awoke in his own bed in Athens, he had arrived the night earlier, the dock workers surprised at a ships arrival with their fleet having departed towards Delos to meet with the Spartans. His arrival had caused shock and confusion amongst the dock workers, with some of them having worked on Alexander's land in their youth. The Hoplite that had come with him also had lived in Athens previously and some were recognised by different workers.
Alexander had dismissed them after some initial confusion, before heading directly to his home where his wife and child would hopefully be. Runners were sent around the city to inform those who were part of wider Council and hadn't departed for war of the surprise visitors. Some of his Hoplite escorted him home, whilst others disappeared in the night to their own homes to see the situation. Athens had been burnt and destroyed on multiple occasions during their war with the Persians, however their homes remained in the locations, rebuilt to some level, with most hoping their families were safe.
"Alexander, breakfast is ready." A Servant politely informed him as he sat in his bed. His wife wasn't beside him as he had hoped, part of him was tired from last nights surprise reunion and he expected that she would have been as well.
"Thank you." Alexander replied, rubbing his tired eyes as he climbed out of his bed and dressed himself. He planned to head to the baths shortly and see if any of his old friends were here, but first he wanted to spend some more much needed reunion time with his wife and son. Last night was first shock, overtaken by that intense need to reconnect, however now he had to deal with the real situation.
He stood in his room, his house recognisable as one of the few buildings that hadn't been destroyed. It was on the outskirts, with some land that his family owned. Quite similar to that of the other Councillor's of Athens such as Xanthippus himself who was currently with Dom. He waited for a few seconds as he gathered his thoughts, before walking down the short corridor to the living space where his breakfast and family awaited him.
"Dad!" A young man called as he came down the corridor. Alexander remembered his son as a growing child of three years old, however what he saw now was youth growing in to a man, a young teen at fourteen who had height and muscle of all those who came from a strong background. Alexander wasn't sure how to react, did he embrace him as he would have, or would they clasp wrists as he would with a young warrior.
He didn't have long to think, as his son quickly embraced him in a tight hug, something that instantly caused him to relax. He looked behind his son, to his wife. She was from a successful family, that had thankfully kept them well cared for and funded in his absence. She had changed as well in his absence, crows feet growing at the side of her eyes as well as the first sign of greys in her hair. He smiled internally, as she had slowly approached his own age now, having wed her when she was ten years younger than himself. An arranged marriage between a youth and a successful businessman. Maybe she was older than him now, he thought to himself, hoping she couldn't read his own thoughts.
"Nicias, go outside and train, if your uncles retreat, you may be needed to fight with the other young men." Alexander's wife said to their son. Her brothers had clearly supported them whilst he had been gone and the worry could be seen in her eyes. Realistically if they did lose the battle, his son Nicias would do little to save Athens, but his wife was clearly trying to give him something to distract him.
"I understand mother, but I wish to speak with father soon before he decides to disappear again." Nicias stated, a matureness to his tone as he released Alexander and bowed his head slightly, before turning and walking out of a door to the rear. Alexander stood there in silence for a second, before his wife signalled him towards the food.
"Come, I have prepared your favourite." she said, it was a plate of fruits from their land, nothing extensive, but something that always kept him grounded as they created their life together.
"Thank you, Thalia." Alexander replied, as he took a seat, his seat. His wife sat beside him, rather than across from him like usual. She placed her hand on his leg, whilst resting her head on his shoulder.
"You died." She declared, a phrase she had used the night before when he had arrived home. "At Marathon, pushing the Persians back in to the sea. Miltiades himself came and told me, having seen you perish as you pushed your men forward to create space. A death of a Hero she declared, leaving a young widow and her young son. I have stayed a widow, concentrating on keeping the family business growing so our son has something to inherit. The battles I have fought may not have been at war, but the things I have had to do are no less difficult."
"I know." He replied, a simple phrase but his meaning was true. War had taken him, but it had left a lot more important behind.
"And here you are, almost the same as when you left, just with new scars and a new scent." She explained. There was a lot of emotion in her words, including pain, hurt and relief. "Where have you been? Why have you returned."
"I haven't returned alone, it is like the gods themselves have returned us." Alexander explained, as he told her the story of Riverside and his new home.
......
Ling Tong watched from the tree line as Dieneces stumbled from the tree line in a drunken stupor. He fell slightly, before standing and walking forwards again. The enemy Scout at the front paced his horse forwards in a relaxed attitude, clearly not feeling any threat from the unarmoured man who appeared in front of them.
"Are you lost?" The Persian Scout laughed from his horseback as he drew his sword from his waist. Dieneces didn't react, just falling to the floor in another drunken tumble as the Scout approached. The rest of the formation continuing their walk forwards.
The Scout reached Dieneces, calmly lowering his drawn sword towards Dieneces who didn't seem to be paying attention. The Scout was about to say something, when Dieneces looked up towards him with clear clarity in his eyes and a large grin on his face.
"Got you!" Dieneces laughed, as he grabbed the Scout's arm and pulled him from his horse, the rest of the enemies suddenly noticing what was taking place.
"Go!" Ling Tong ordered, as the Balearic Slingers and Wu Dang Archers unleashed their stones and arrows towards the surprised Persian Cavalry.