#apollonides

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

immortal apollo kids headcanons!

this is specifically for the rrverse versions of Apollo's immortal kids! but feel free to think about it in the mythology context too! :3

Hymenaeus

still has a room in Apollo's palace

still sleeps in it

but he also has a room in Eros's because he's an Erote

this makes for some awkward situations when Apollo and/or Eros have to go to the other's place to grab him for something or other

they basically share custody of him

divorced dads behavior

when he was little he tried to get people to marry his dad because he reeeally wanted to plan his dad's wedding

technically, he succeeded, because he was the one who made Apollo/Cyrene's marriage official XD

his hair is fluffy like a sheep's fluff. also somewhere between strawberry-blonde and a very light amber. and reaches to just under his chin. don't forget the floppiness tho >:3

has his dad's bright blue eyes

LOVES his dad's swans. and corvids. he loves birds.

probably because he also has wings

wings are brilliantly white with a soft pink and gold flush

never looks older than 16

many of the other Erotes find Apollo hot. Hymen is distinctly horrified to know this.

Himeros: Your dad's a DILF

Hymen: a what?

Anteros: don't you dare-

Himeros: A Dad I'd Like to FUCK-

Hymen: *much screaming*

Ialemus

also still has a room in Apollo's palace

as a matter of fact, he still lives in said room

his room is also in apollo's basement (he wanted it there)

he is the emo kid. but he's also not necessarily antisocial

he just likes his solitude. and honestly, mood

imagine dragons is a favorite band. and hozier. he likes "slower" songs as well as sad ones

has Apollo's long hair, but in a very dark brown

has vivid green eyes. like radioactive ones.

likes ponytails

cows are his favorite animal

they are calm creatures he can ramble too so he likes them

knows a lot about things. comes with listening rather than talking ;)

WILL infodump

Apollonides

these girls are the PARTY KIDS

they are the ones throwing parties in their dad's house at 2 am

they also still live in Apollo's palace

frequent clubs and discos; can be seen at concert venues and are in many of the big city concerts (ie, Las Vegas, Madrid, Vienna, ect.)

Borysthenis is the 'oldest' (Hypatē - the lowerest & first string on the lyre); has curly brown hair and dark green eyes

Apollonis is the 'middle' (Mesē - the middle string); has Apollo's blonde hair, but straight, and dark eyes (crow-like, even... >;3)

and Cephisso is the 'youngest' (Nētē - the highest string); has poofy black hair and silvery-blue eyes

Hypatē has a comfy sort of style, such as sweaters and sandals

Mesē likes to wear aesthetically dark clothes with silver accents

Nētē wears blouses and loose jackets

one time they highjacked the sun chariot and got away with it by pulling the puppy eyes

they have demigod children in CHB

Asclepius

the baby

died at 15- still treated like he's 10

snuck onto the Argo mission at 13

Idmon and Orpheus played pass the babysitter with Jason

He kicked Heracles in the shins once for "trying to steal my dad's stuff!!"

Atalanta and Asclepius were buddies

The Boreads played games with him to keep him occupied

went on the Calydonian Boar Hunt to make sure Atalanta didn't 1) hurt herself; or 2) kill someone

he grew up in the beginning stages of CHB

in 'camp' with him were: Jason (the oldest), Atalanta (raised by bears), and Hippolytus (it was his boarding school).

Theseus dropped by sometimes and Asclepius was able to smuggle his way into his belongs so he could visit Athens. just because :)

Jason and Atalanta freaked out and they and Hippolytus went on a 'quest' to find him

Phoebe the hunter is his favorite sister

he befriends snakes quickly

he died at 15

his death pushed Phoebe into distancing herself from her other siblings

when he was resurrected, he wasn't allowed to see Apollo

his only visitors in his prison medical school is his wife and children. he hasn't seen or heard from his father or any sibling in centuries.

has his mother's shiny black hair but his father's curls as well as his bright blue eyes

Aristaeus

the REAL baby

has anxiety

severe imposter syndrome

pov: all your siblings are great and wonderful and accomplished people. and you made cheese and honey :)

mom and dad were very proud of u ofc but you feel like you didn't even do much

especially when your cool older brother went on the Argo mission even though he knew he would die (RIP Idmon)

gets easily defensive over agriculture (specifically the innovations and how they have taken over the Good Ol' Days's way aka his way)

(he got that from his dad <3)

he also got his dad's blonde hair, but in a honey tone. his skin tone is also darker and closer in shade to Cyrene's

makes really good charcuterie boards

hangs out in the Midwest

visits his mom in Cyrene, Libya (he is a good son ty)

(ironically) mice are his favorite from his dad's sacred animals

he hates locusts though

don't u love it that apollo's number is 7 and he has 7 immortal kids...

[allmythologies]

greek mythology: mousai apollonides

mousai apollonides are three younger muses, daughters of the god apollo. they were honoured at the shrine of delphoi.  their names nete, mese, and hypate are synonymous with those of the lowest, middle, and highest chords of a lyre.

[mrsoftthoughts]

I have this little headcanon that some of the godly relatives (or really close people, but mostly relatives ) likes to check upon demigods or they do by the child parent request

So I'm sharing my thoughts about this!!

Leto LOVES to take care of her grandchilds, the Apollo kids are pretty used to the fact that every single one of them have at least one history were they meet this kind woman , she also checks up her niece childs (Hecate) sometimes, she knows that her sister asteria also would have loved to have the chance of meeting her grandkids, so she's there doing that for her

Artemis also has an eye upon her nieces, especially the ones that she seems potential for joining the hunt, but in general she's there at the distance taking care of them

Both Hecate and Hermes kids (who are more aligned to their father cthonic aspect) can get some help of the god or goddess if they are lost in some way and have a pretty good chance of maybe see them in person sometimes

Macaria and zagreus used to visit the di Angelo's house pretty often to see Nico and bianca during summer and spring when hades couldn't be there himself , they also try to look upon them at the lotus casino but it was to risky ( that doesn't stop them from shot Alecto with their questions about their little siblings everytime)

The nine muses kids always end up meeting at least one of their aunts when they are little

Same for the apollonides and the Apollo kids with musical alignment, 99% they have seen some of their sisters around them

Melinoe used to see how hazel was doing it pretty often, it was for both pluto and Hecate/trivia request, she end up having a little of affection for her step-sister, just a little bit

I would love to see other people headcanons around this idea so feel more than welcome to share your thoughts!!

[thatweirddolldude]

Oh golly a pinned!

Hello!

I am Gore or Apollonides!

I'm a mature semirealism artist and writer. I'm the guy who makes HC for things no one will ever ask about!

I will take asks about anything! You may even suggest drawing ideas to me!

I draw mostly podcasts! I don't really enjoy characters with canon designs, so if you ever do see a character with a canon design drawn by me it will be a personal design.

-

Things I like!

Malevolent

The Magnus Archives & The Magnus Protocol

Archive 81

Welcome to Night Vale

The Two Princes

Invincible(Show & Comic)

The Boys(Show only)

Books by Ned Vizzini

Anthropology(Religious, artistic, cultural)

Woe.Begone

-

I do write and make my own things!

A lot of things are in the works right now but look out for some stuff!(some may never come, but a man can dream)

Books:

A Greek Story of Sex Love and Death - Apollon, Greek theoi of who knows what anymore, even he's lost track, finds himself in a standstill. Be the story of the ancient Greek Apollon and stand with the ideals of Ancient Greece or Be the modern Greek Apollon that everyone but him says is wrong.

Jane Doe - A woman finds herself in the aftermath of the Apocalypse, brought on by the birth of The Horned Tooth King. Apparently, she was born to birth a new world. One problem, she wasn't born a woman.

Comics:

A Not So Greek Story - Just retellings of multiple different stories of Persephone. (Not Just, Minthe, Adonis, or the story of spring)

Core - The Government has many different superhero factions under its belt. They even have one just for looks—The Disabled Hero's League, a group of very functional superheros who tend to have to take saving people into their own hands.

Animations:

The Magnus Archives: Somewhere Else - A six-part animated series exploring the possibilities of where The Archivist and their companion can end up.

Quattuor Duivels - A Slenderman Analog Horror series where all the fanon Slender Family exist.

Podcasts:

Hellside Tales: Things go bump in the night, but what's really behind those bumps? People have been dying left and right in what can only be described as cannibalistic murders. Thankfully, your narrator is here to give all the gorey details.

The Ignostrum Call Center: Welcome new caller representative, we at The Human Safety Division thank you for your service! You've been personally chosen for your expert work done for your country! Your supervisor should have given you your copy of Inaccuracies and How to Spot Them. If you have any questions please ask your supervisor before contacting The Human Safety Division personally. And Remember! Answer with a smile!

[theoxenia]

A red mullet and a hake from the embers to thee,

Artemis of the Haven, I Menis the caster of nets offer,

and a brimming cup of wine mixed strong, and a broken crust of dry bread, a poor man's sacrifice;

in recompence whereof give thou nets ever filled with prey;

to thee, O blessed one, all meshes have been given.

“To Artemis of the Fishing-nets” (Apollonides) in Selected Epigrams from The Greek Anthology translated by J. W. Mackail

[lucianopodes]

118º [308 a.C.]. Andromenes de Corinto - corrida do Stádium Após mais de uma centena de anos, Andromenes (alguns autores o chamam Apollonides de Tegea) vence a corrida do Stadium para Corinto, a cidade esteve envolvida por diversos conflitos contra os persas, depois contra macedênios, fora conquistada por Alexandre e após sua morte ainda virou palco de intensas disputas de poder. Assim, levou muito tempo para que um atleta Coríntio voltasse a Olímpia com condições de vencer. O primeiro vencedor olímpico vindo de Corinto, Díocles, consagrou-se na décima terceira edição dos jogos, em 728 a.C. Aristóteles contava uma história, em que Diocles deixou Corinto após grande desavença com familiares, pois detestava a maneira de sua mãe Alcione lhe tratava, e a falta de reconhecimento de sua cidade pela conquista olímpica, não lhe deixaram outra escolha que não fosse ir embora. Desmon e Xenofonte também venceram o Stadium em Olímpia e eram grandes admiradores de Díocles, e Andromenes não era diferente. O espírito de Agon, aliado às suas firmes convicções fez de Díocles um heróis e ídolo, Andromenes dedicou suas vitórias ao antigo campeão, indo inclusive visitar seu túmulo em Tebas. Outros vencedores nestes jogos forma: Seleadas de Esparta na luta, ele era filho de Alexandriadas (antigo atleta), Teótimo de Elis no pugilato juvenil, sua estátua em Olímpia, obra de Daitondas de Sicione, recordava a participação de Moschión, seu pai na expedição de Alexandre Magno na Ásia. Antenor de Mileto venceu no pancrácio, filho de Xenares, um cidadão honorífico de Atenas, conseguiu igualmente diversas vitórias nos outros jogos pan-helênicos. Antenor de Atenas (ou Mileto) no pancrácio, foi o vencedor em todos os jogos principais, invicto em cada um dos três grupos de idade. Nikagoras de Lindos venceu a corrida de cavalos e também no Synoris, filho de Nikon, que vencera nesta especialidade equestre nos outros jogos pan-helênicos. Herodoros de Mégara venceu no Arautos (competição de trompetistas), sua sexta vitória consecutiva. @prof.lucianodornelles (em Olímpia - Grécia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0-VG1uonW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[my-name-is-apollo]

Top 5 Immortal Children of Apollo?

We don't have many options, the list of his immortal children is short, and most of them don't have myths about them. But here are my fav Apollo kids (immortal)

Asclepius - It's every parent's dream to have a child who becomes a doctor XD also non problematic in every way. No wonder he's daddy's favorite.

Hymenaeus - WINGS! Also, because he's the god of marriage hymns, I think he'd pester his dad to get married 😂 "Dad I want to sing at your wedding! Why don't you understand? Get married already!"

Aristaeus - who doesn't love a bee keeping, cheese making god? He's that dude who'd sip ambrosia amidst godly drama but lose his mind over the queen bee's death.

Ialemenus - the personification of lamentation. He's seems like the black sheep of the family 😂 making sad poem over small things like his lost handkerchief.

Musa Apollonides - literally "Muses of Apollo". They're 3 daughters named Apollonis, Borysthenis and Cephissso. They have no myths but. like.,,,, Apollo with his lil girls,,,niiiice (bc most of his kids are sons) They're said to be the personification of his lyre strings, which is why they're nicknamed Nete, Mese and Hypate (lowest, middle and highest string) (I know this makes the list 8 and not 5, but oh well)

[solar--serenity]

I have a question since you know a lot about Apollo; do you know the names of the Korybantes (the sons of Apollo and the muse Thalia), or any myths involving the Apollonic Muses (not the nine muses, I’m pretty sure they’re his daughters with one of them tho) 💕💕

Uh- okay, first, I’m not quite an expert on Apollo- though I do worship him, I haven’t been worshipping him long. Second, thank you for sending me an ask! I’m glad I seem intelligent enough for someone to ask this.

1. The Korybantes- from what I’ve read, are “tribes” of dancers who worship Cybele/Rhea, and are descended from Apollo and the Muse Thalia. There were several “tribes”, and the names I’ve found so far are the Korybantes Cabeiri, the Korybantes Euboioi, the Korybantes Samothrakioi. Is this what you were looking for?

2. I haven’t found any myths of the Apollonic muses, or the Mousai Apollonides, but I do know they symbolize the three notes on the lyre- Nete with the lowest note, Mese with the middle note, and Hypate with the highest note. Strangly enough there seems to be three other daughters of Apollo considered to be muses but I can’t find what they stand for (their names are Kephiso, Apollonis, and Borysthenis if anyone wants to try to attempt to figure them out). I do remember seeing something that listed an “Apollonis” as a source for something somewhere though.

🤷😔 sorry I can’t be much help, anon

[blueiscoool]

2000-Year-Old Ancient Greek ‘Graduate School Yearbook’ Carved in Stone Found

Historians have discovered that an ancient Greek inscription on a marble slab in the collection of the National Museums of Scotland is a rare, previously unknown “graduate school yearbook” type list of names.

The carved letters on this marble are a list of ephebic friends, and close friends, who passed through the ephebate in Athens, a year of rigorous military and civil training during the reign of Emperor Claudius (AD 41-54).

An ephebus was a youth in ancient Greece who had reached the age of puberty. Ephebi (the plural of “ephebus”) aged 18 or 19 were at one time required to undergo two years of stringent military training, but the requirement became less compulsory and the training less rigorous and militaristic over time. The youthfulness of the ephebi inspired the adjective “ephebic”.

Ephebic training became a requirement for all young males eligible for admission as Attic citizens in the 4th century B.C. If they were 18 years old of Attic parentage on both sides, the youths would be de jure citizens, but to actually exercise those rights (vote, be a party to a lawsuit, attend the assembly), first, they had to sign up for two years of military studies. The requirement was ultimately dropped, and by the 2nd century B.C., ephebic training was open to foreigners and the study of literature and philosophy was added to the curriculum. From roughly 39 A.D., everyone who had completed an ephebic training was considered an Attic citizen.

It lists a group of 31 friends who went through the Athenian ephebate together during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius (AD 41-54) and was intended to commemorate the close relationships they had formed.

When they read heard about it, experts assumed it was a replica of a similar list in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, but when they examined it, they realized that was not the case.

Because inscriptions from this time period are uncommon, scholars say it’s even more remarkable that the newly discovered ephebic list dates from the same year and cohort as the Ashmolean’s inscription.

Dr. Peter Liddel, professor of Greek history and epigraphy at the University of Manchester, who led the discovery, said: “Because of lockdown we were not able to travel to the museum until July 2021, and on seeing it we realized that this was not a copy of an already known inscription but it was a completely unique new discovery which had been in the storerooms of the NMS for a very long time, since the 1880s, and it listed a group of young men who called themselves co-ephebes or co-cadets and friends.

“It turned out to be a list of the cadets for one particular year during the period 41-54 AD, the reign of Claudius, and it gives us new names, names we’d never come across before in ancient Greek, and it also gives us among the earliest evidence for non-citizens taking part in the ephebate in this period.

The top of the plaque is peaked and a worn relief believed to depict a small oil amphora of the type ephebes would have used in the school gymnasium. It is not known where the list was displayed but it is thought it could have been put up somewhere such as the gymnasium where the young men trained.

In the archonship of Metrodoros, when the superintendent was Dionysodoros (son of Dionysodoros) of Phlya, Attikos son of Philippos, having inscribed his own fellow ephebes (and) friends, dedicated (this).

The 31 names are inscribed in two columns under the dedication. Attikos’ select bros in the ephebate were Aiolion, Dionysas, Anthos, Herakon, Theogas, Charopeinos, Tryphon, Dorion, Phidias, Symmachos, Athenion, Antipas, Euodos, Metrobios, Hypsigonos, Apollonides, Hermas, Theophas, (H?)elis, Atlas, Zopyros, Euthiktos, Mousais, Aneiketos, Sekoundos, Zosimos,  Primos, Dionys, Eisigenes, Sotas and Androneikos.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[gentledeathsblog]

Normalise being claimed by deities not just as their worshipers or devotees, but also as their children. They protect and give us council if we are willing to listen. We talk to them. Confide in them. We cry in front of them and feel loved. 

I am Αρηιδεσ (Areides), son of Ares. I am Απολλονιδεσ (Apollonides), son of Apollo. 

[barbariankingdom]

Cornelian gem engraved with Apollo caressed by Creusa in the grotto.

The gem bears the greek signature of the engraver: ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΔΟΥ, (made) by Apollonides. Private Collection.

[crazycatsiren]

Hi! I did have a few questions if you don't mind. I was thinking of also working with the main deities of the Greek pantheon (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter,Hades, Artemis, etc.) mostly bc I've been feeling a pull to do so. I'm still working on my skills and intuition. Also, opinions on worshipping Mousai Apollonides? Any help would be welcome and greatly appreciated. I already went through the 'Deities Grimoire' page and it was very helpful. Thank you for making and compiling it.

I'm an Artemis devotee. On this page you can find a bunch of information regarding Artemis devotion. I personally have not done a whole lot with Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, and Hades, even though I do love them all. I also have not worked with the Mousai Apollonides. I know that they are the 3 youngest muses and daughters of Apollo, and that they are associated with music.

[memories-of-the-muses]

Welcome to Memories of the Muses

Hello and welcome to Memories Of the Muses, a multi-person devotional blog to the nine clear-voiced Muses, but we still include the Mousai Apollonides and Mousai Titanides. Here we seek to bring worship and glory to the muses, bring attention to writers in their work, and promote poetry and art no matter how “good” or “bad” it is.

Submissions of poetry, art, hymns to the theoi and heroes, etc will be allowed but you must follow the guidelines. Absolutely no bigotry or else you will be blocked on site.

This post will also be serving as a masterpost for all muse educational posts and worship ideas. This will be divided into categories depending upon the author. A known epithet of said mod will be included for Kalliope reasons.

Lastly, please read the Welcome and About page for more information. Thank you for reading and have a lovely day.

Educational Posts

[ Posts by Adrian Of nature-eyed Dionysus ]

[ Posts by light-bringing Riva ]

Devotional Posts

Devotionals

Prayers and Hymns

Submission Guidelines

Thank you for wanting to submit to the blog. You will have to follow these guidelines if you expect your submission to be accepted.

Absolutely no bigotry, antisemitism, white supremacy, etc. Your submission will be deleted and you will be blocked and reported.

Do not attack other gods / heroes in your submission.

No graphic descriptions of sex or sexual content.

No submissions that promote self-harm or other destructive behaviours.

While submissions of non hellenic gods are allowed, your submission must invoke the muses or feature a hellenic god.

Your submission must be a form of writing, music, poetry, dance, astronomy, history, etc. Essentially anything that falls within the realm of the mousai.

If it is a history, analysis of comedy/tragedy, astronomical writings, etc please cite your sources and create a bibliography. You can generate an easy bibliography using this site.

Absolutely no plagiarism.

Thank you for reading and we welcome you to the memories of the muses. May your inspiraby endless.

Updated as of 22 December 2020

[mrsoftthoughts]

Headcanon that when a Demigod child of a minor deity without a cabin make it to camp, depending of their godly parent ,some cabins are allowed to have them as a temporary guests instead of the hermes cabin ultil the cabin is designed and build up, or straight up as residents if both the child parent and the god of the cabin are ok with that ( prob because the minor god has a kid every milenia and when this one left, the new cabin would be more useless than the hera one)

And yeah, this is just an excuse for me to make Nico having as roommates the childs of his godly siblings and his brother in law ( the hypnos cabin fight for be the ones that should have the child of Thanatos btw)

And the Apollo cabin just messing around with the kids of Asclepius Aristaios and the apollonides (and maybe the nine muses ones too I'm not sure)

[ladyonfire28]

Is there a movie that Adèle Haenel doesn’t gorgeously cry in it?? I hope she’s not crying that much in her own life haha

haha it’s true that she does cry in a lot of her films! But i think there’s still a couple of films where she doesn’t. 

I believe she doesn’t cry in Les Combattants ? I’m not sure though. She doesn’t cry in Alyah (even though she doesn’t have a lot of scenes in it haha) and in Le Daim either if i remember well !

Also des she cry in l’Apollonide ? I can’t even remember it’s been a while and i have a bad memory haha.

But yeah she still cries in the majority of her films haha

[author-morgan]

Phobia ☤ Alexios

five - on the shores of fate

masterlist

“Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.”

Fate decrees two kindred souls from two different empires will find one another, and the spear shall be made whole again.

THE BEACHES OF Samos are among the most beautiful to Irene –especially when enjoyed with a skin of famed Samian wine. Dionysus surely blessed the vineyards and vintners of the island. Indeed, the merchant had exclaimed after offering Irene a taste of the previous year's vintage. She'd compared it to ambrosia. If the Olympian Gods drank nectar, it would be Samian wine!

A golden eagle lands on a piece of driftwood, clutching a large fish in its talons. The bird tears a hunk from the writhing bakallaros, swallows, then turns its piercing eyes to Irene. "Ikaros!" A voice calls on the wind. The eagle looks up, scans the cove then returns to its feast, though Irene is not so eager to forget the call.

"Ikaros!" The voice calls again, closer than before. A man steps from the trees onto the white sand, gaze flicking from Ikaros to a woman. She is standing with sword and spear in hand, face set in grim determination. "How did you come by that?" He asks, pointing at the broken spear in her hand. It bears an odd resemblance to the one he carries.

Her kopis is still splattered with blood from a mercenary who attempted to collect on a bounty prior in the day. She has no qualm about mixing it with the blood of another. "Don't come any closer," Irene tells him, raising the spear and sword.

"Who are you?" The man asks. Ignoring her warning, he takes another step. After the people he's fought today, she looks about as dangerous as a wolf cub.

"No one of importance," she answers –tone sharp. He shakes his head and sighs. Irene looks between the man and eagle that now perches on his shoulder. There are rumors among the islands of a misthios and a tamed golden eagle. Until now, they have always seemed like just that, rumors and legends though she is reluctant to believe he is more than just a man. "You're the Eagle Bearer," Irene notes, lowering her weapons but not her defenses.

The man crosses his arms, shrugs. "Perhaps, but most call me Alexios." He offers his name in hopes she will tell him hers, but Irene remains silent. "Who are you?" He asks again.

"Someone far from home," she quips, not willing to relinquish her identity so easily to a stranger –a misthios no less. It doesn't matter if he is the mythical Eagle Bearer, he still kills for drachmae.  

"Enough riddles!" His voice rumbles with anger. He is annoyed and tired and wants answers. "How do you have that fucking spear?!"

Irene lifts her chin, grip tightening on sword and spear. She does not wish for the day to end in bloodshed. "I don't know you, and I cannot trust you, thus I cannot tell you."

Alexios steps closer to the small fire and Ikaros takes to the sky –his features are sharpened with dark shadows cast by dancing flames. He wants answers but Herodotus' words echo in his head. Don't forget, brute force is useless when finesse is required. It seemed a common trait for women to require finesse. "What will it take for you to trust me?"

She ponders the question. There is something she could use the extra muscle for –the task doesn't necessarily warrant trust, though. "I'm hunting Eurymedon," Irene announces. Alexios is surprised by the mention of the Athenian strategos. "He's put a hefty bounty on my head," she explains. Two thousand drachmae for the person who brings her to him, alive and unharmed. The general meant to teach her a lesson in respect –she shudders at the thought.

He raises his brow –clearly questioning the reason why she is looking for such an esteemed general. Irene flushes as she remembers Eurymedon's actions in the Temple of Hera. "I turned down his drunken advances. Broke his nose and dignity." In retrospect, she should have broken a lot more than his nose for the things he said and did.

Alexios laughs –there is a spark in her. He finds it alluring. "If I help you find him, will you tell me your name?"

THE HERAION TREASURY is heavily fortified, though by night most of the guards are sleeping in barracks or at their posts. They move like shadows, working in the dark. Alexios has fought side-by-side with people before, but no one has ever moved like her. She is steps ahead of enemies, as quick as Hermes and deadly as Ares.

He kicks a corpse from his sword and looks over his shoulder to see Irene pushing her broken spear through the neck of a guard from behind. She steps in front of the man before he falls and pulls the spear out the other side of his neck. Grace and brutality have never mixed until now.

Eurymedon retracts the bounty, swears it was a mistake and vows it will never happen again, nor will he speak of what happened this night under pain of death. Irene isn't sure if her harsh words are what drove him to the decision or the knife Alexios holds at his neck. Either way, she tosses the scrolls promising payment for her return into a smoldering hearth.

For the time, Irene has made a small cave her residence. It sits half-hidden beneath a waterfall in the forest and is only accessible by a slim strip of stone bordering the pool and cliff-face. It is a shallow cave filled with trinkets from previous inhabitants. Embers burn red and orange in iron braziers.

Irene discards her sword, glances down at the dried blood on her hands and arms. "What do I owe you for your services?" She asks –there was always some caveat to receiving the help of a sellsword.

Alexios laughs. She was more than capable of carving her way through the treasury guards and convincing the general of his error. "Answers," he replies, crossing his arms. "Who are you?" He inquires for the third time. Something about her is familiar –like a waking dream.

She draws in a slow breath, having given her word to the Eagle Bearer. "The bastard daughter of Amytis and Apollonides of Kos," Irene tells him.

He looks uncertain, but her fear and apprehension are enough assurance she speaks the truth. "You are descended from Xerxes?" He asks, bewildered. People have claimed to be descendants of the Persian king before, but she is the first person he believes.

She nods –wondering if she had just made a mistake by speaking of her heritage, but she is tired of being nobody, of having to craft cleverly told lies. "My name is Irene."

A smile tugs at his lips as he leans back on his hands. "Goddess of Peace," Alexios muses –to him she looks like war and chaos. As if Athena, Aphrodite, and Eris all had a hand in crafting her. "Funny name for a Persian."

As a naïve girl, she didn't understand how one person could create peace. Truthfully, Irene still doesn't understand what she is meant to do. Vengeance drives her now. "Hydarnes told me my mother hoped I could bring some semblance of unity between our nations." The princess glances across the fire at Alexios –he looks like someone driven by vengeance too. She holds out the broken spear. "This is the spear of Leonidas."

He reaches behind him, frees the other half of the broken spear from his quiver and lays it across her folded legs. "I know," Alexios replies. The end he possesses is larger and more ornate, with a single fuller of bronze running down the center of the spearhead. The misthios picks up the other half, runs his finger along the blade's edge –it tries to bite into his skin.

Wordlessly they fit the broken ends together. A jolt of power shocks them both. Irene's eyes flick up to meet his. The boy on the mountain. Alexios sits back on his haunches in disbelief. The girl on the ship. They both want, no need to know more. After a heavy silence, he speaks. "I sail for Athens," he tells her, "and there's always room for another fighter aboard my ship."

Her business on Samos is now complete, and it has been far too long since she had last returned to Attika. Besides, sailing with the Eagle Bearer is likely more eventful than traveling via the Athenian fleet. "Very well," she replies. They will depart at dawn to return to the ship and then Athens.

Irene rises and sheds the outermost pieces of her armor, begins walking toward the cave's entrance and waterfall. Alexios clears his throat when she unfastens the closures of her chiton. "What are you doing?" He asks, caught off-guard by her libertine display.

The princess looks back over her shoulder, holding her robes in place. "First impressions are important to me. I may be a fighter, but I am still a woman." She does not enjoy being covered in filth or having dried blood beneath her nails. It would be a shame if Alexios' crew mistook her for just a cut-throat. "Look away, misthios," Irene instructs, stepping out of the puddle of linen at her feet and into the water.