Sword of Apollo
“Other horsemen jostled into them, crowding around to get a better look at the body of their fallen leader.
Zoticus lay on his back with open eyes, his hawkish gray-bearded face peering skyward. He had been wounded in the chaos of the battle—cut across the back of the thigh by an enemy javelin, but despite this injury he had fought valiantly, leading the rout of the enemy and chasing them for several miles before turning back. It was only after returning to the Tower of Theseus with his men that... he fainted and fell from his horse. He died minutes later.
Nikias had seen this uncanny thing happen before: warriors who’d suffered a mortal blow fought with fury, only to collapse and die the moment that the day had been won. His grandfather had explained the phenomenon as the ikor of the gods—the magical blood that flowed through a warrior’s veins in the heat of battle.
“He’s smiling,” said one of the riders with solemnity.
“A great victory,” said another.
Less than a score of Plataeans had perished during the battle, while thousands of the enemy lay dead upon the field in front of the tower.MoreLess
Zoticus lay on his back with open eyes, his hawkish gray-bearded face peering skyward. He had been wounded in the chaos of the battle—cut across the back of the thigh by an enemy javelin, but despite this injury he had fought valiantly, leading the rout of the enemy and chasing them for several miles before turning back. It was only after returning to the Tower of Theseus with his men that... he fainted and fell from his horse. He died minutes later.
Nikias had seen this uncanny thing happen before: warriors who’d suffered a mortal blow fought with fury, only to collapse and die the moment that the day had been won. His grandfather had explained the phenomenon as the ikor of the gods—the magical blood that flowed through a warrior’s veins in the heat of battle.
“He’s smiling,” said one of the riders with solemnity.
“A great victory,” said another.
Less than a score of Plataeans had perished during the battle, while thousands of the enemy lay dead upon the field in front of the tower.MoreLess
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