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Earth and Water Chapter Four Butcher of Egypt |
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The Spartan began to pace, passing
a finely wrought bronze breastplate that hung on a post by the main tent pole
and absently stroking the twin centaurs that graced its face.
"Well, there is a mystery
here. Certainly you seem to have made a
powerful friend, if that is what he is to you.
It is not many who can say that of the ‘butcher of Egypt.'"
"The butcher of Egypt?" I cried. "This man is that Phraortes?"
"Yes, the very same," he confirmed
grimly. "The people of Egypt have every reason to fear him
and every reason to want him dead."
I recalled what I had heard about
Persian dealings in Egypt
and also in the Ionian cities under their control during the previous 15 years
or so. When the Egyptians had revolted
against their Persian masters, the punishment had been brutal and
uncompromising. Thousands had been
killed or sold into slavery. The name of
Phraortes had been on everyone's lips. I
suddenly felt sick inside. How could my
father have been dealing with the likes of this man?
Demaratus noted my reaction. "You
must be careful, Lysis," he said. "I can
protect you, because you are useful to me, but it bodes ill for you to be
caught in a web of war, both large and small."
He walked to the tent entrance.
"I will dismiss your guards. You will stay by my tent tonight."
He moved to the tent entrance,
opening the flap and speaking sharply to Scarface's guards. I could hear them leave, though apparently
reluctantly. The Spartan returned.
"Demaratus," I said.
"Yes?"
"What of Medarnes? Who is he?"
Demaratus moved to his chair,
sitting down with a slight sigh.
"Medarnes believes your father
cheated his family of land and killed his father while doing it."
"This makes no sense!" I said. "My father was never in Persia."
His eyebrows rose once again.
"Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't," replied Demaratus. "Either way, it would be best to clear this
up. I will try to do so. You should keep away from him."
He took me to the tent door and,
calling his own men, had me led away to an adjoining awning. I would at least sleep in relative comfort
this night. As I left, however, I felt sure
the Spartan king wasn't telling me all he knew.
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