Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Sparta Returns

“Form up, men! Stand together and make ready for battle!”

Agemon was in a hurry and today was a very bad day for getting left behind. Just to his left was the pride of the city of Corinth. The city’s army occupied a flat plain only about four miles southwest from the city. Older and younger men alike moved forward in one line several ranks deep. Most of them held their swords and spears like they might reach back and bite them. Their mettle would be sorely tested today, as the army of their enemy was now taking the field.

Agemon looked on the other side, where he could now see the Spartans marching onto the field in orderly fashion. Even from this first vantage point, it was obvious that the Spartans were better trained and drilled than the Corinthians. Their ranks marched closely together and at the same speed, moving like one giant beast instead of many small insects.

Agemon swallowed heavily and decided to keep moving. If Corinth was going to win the day, he had to keep up the men’s morale. Only men with a firm and patriotic purpose could hope to stand against the Spartans.

It was the only advantage they had.

He moved quickly through a section of the line made up of about three hundred volunteers—men who’d answered Cypselus’ call to fight Spartan tyranny. These were men from Athens, from Thebes, from Thessaly and other small cities in between. Their numbers were much needed but even with the volunteers, the Corinthians were outnumbered by a third.

If there was ever a need for divine intervention, today was the day for it.

Agemon continued moving until he reached a group of men just beyond the foreign volunteers. Many of them were men that he recognized, being part of his ad hoc training group that he’d set up after Praxis went back to Argos. They saw him coming first.

“Agemon, there you are!” yelled out one of them. “We thought you might join us in giving the Spartans a traditional Corinthian welcome today.” The man grinned and thrust forward with his sword, leaving no doubt as to what the welcome would be.

Agemon laughed and nodded his head. “I’ll never miss a chance to welcome the enemy to our city. They’re going to wish they never took our form of welcome though.”

“We’re going to have to give out many such welcomes today in order to stay on the field. The Spartans outnumber us and they’re good fighters,” added another man, clearly more apprehensive than the first.

There was some grumbling around him, showing Agemon that their anxiety ran deeper than he imagined.

“Don’t give into your fears,” said Agemon quietly. “Those men across the battlefield? They’re still men, just like you and me. They might be wearing a fancy red cloak but they still bleed. And they’re going to need that cloak to hide all the blood that we’re going to draw from them today, right?”

There were some cheers that erupted from that speech and the second man said nothing more. Truthfully, Agemon knew he had a point but it would do no good for the men to hear that. They had to go into battle with confidence to the point of insanity. It was only the only way they might beat the odds stacked in front of them.

“Remember our training today,” continued Agemon. “This isn’t just some fight for the sake of fighting. This fight is for all of Corinth. It’s for your families, for your wives, and for your children. Today, we’re going to show Sparta that they should have never left their city. Today, we’re going to show Sparta what it means to be a warrior from Corinth. Are you with me, my friends?”

A loud deafening roar erupted from the men, warming Agemon’s heart. He knew they would fight with courage and skill today. Raising his sword, he nodded to them and kept moving, having similar speeches with men all down the line for the next half hour.

Finally, it was time for Agemon to take his place. He moved to the right flank, taking his position near another group of his handpicked men just as the Spartans started to cross the field. Even here, they seemed to move as if one giant beast, their shields all at the same level and perfectly faced. Agemon swallowed heavily as the Spartans got closer.

“Prepare your spears!” he bellowed once they were close enough.

All along the Corinthian line, those men with spears yanked them back, waiting for the right moment to launch. Just across from them, the Spartans came to a halt to prepare the same movement.

In a sudden blur of activity, the Corinthian spears were released, sailing through the air into the Spartan host. A good number of Spartans were felled, although Agemon was disheartened to see how many were still left standing after the volley. After that, it was their turn.

They pulled back their spears as one and launched them directly into the Corinthian line. Screams and yells were heard instantly as a great mass of men on Agemon’s side fell. For many of them, it wasn’t a killing stroke but it was enough to disable them for the rest of the battle as their limbs were pierced. Agemon was further discouraged to see that the Spartan spear volley was much more deadly than their own had been.

After the spears had been exchanged, it was time for combat.

“Hold fast, men!” yelled Agemon. “Make them wish they never came to Corinth!”

In a great wave of humanity, the Spartan line crashed against the Corinthians moments later. Almost instantly, the Corinthian side wavered from the force of the blow. Several men fell over, never to rise again before the Spartans even started their butchery.

And butchery it was because they left no one alive who could even bear a sword, even those that were merely wounded were quickly dispatched by a sword to the chest. The Spartan juggernaut continued onward, its neatly packed ranks loosening to allow for individual combat. It was here that the superiority of the Spartan warrior showed its value. Their better-trained men were too good for the Corinthians, who couldn’t match their moves nor stand up to them for very long.

Even Agemon had a hard time with it. The first Spartan to square off against him drew blood as his blade nicked the side of torso not covered by armor. Agemon got his revenge moments later when he severed the Spartan’s arm but he was one of the lucky ones.

Most of the Corinthians were already trying to retreat.

“Stand your ground!” he yelled at the men trying to run from the field. In his anger, Agemon raced after them, bellowing at the top of his lungs for them to get back in the line.

It was a lost cause. So frightened were they by Spartan power that most of them had already forgotten the boasts they made before the battle to send the invading power back to where they came from. Now it was only a matter of survival.

It was in this chaos and panic that the entire army started to disintegrate. Men kept streaming from the rear ranks, making their way back to the city as fast as their legs could carry them.

Just when Agemon thought it couldn’t get any worse, the Spartans broke through on the left flank, chopping all the Corinthians stationed there to bits. Any semblance of control disappeared at that point as the entire Corinthian army broke and ran back to the city.

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Just as quickly as it began, the battle was now over. Corinth was as good as lost.

*****

The news couldn’t have reached the city in a more devastating manner. Cypselus and his family were watching from the main gate, waiting for word of any movement. Though his two young daughters seemed blissfully unaware of the importance of what was going on, the look on his wife’s face spoke volumes.

“Strength to you my husband,” said his wife, Lyra, as she hugged him tightly. “The army is fighting for its home. They won’t falter so quickly.”

“But the Spartans are fighting for loot and plunder,” replied Cypselus. “I wonder which motive will carry the day?”

He didn’t have to wonder for very long as the first streams of Corinthian men made their way back to the city. Some of them limped, having taken wounds from the battle. Most of them ran, moving as quickly as their legs could carry them from the Spartan beast.

Seeing the magnitude of them, Cypselus knew they were bested. There would only be a short time before the main host of Spartans arrived, and they would occupy the entire city.

As long of a day as it had been for Corinth, the true test for its inhabitants wouldn’t begin until the Spartans entered. That’s when they would all feel the Spartan fury.

“We must go,” said Cypselus to his family. “We cannot stay here. The Spartans will be here quickly.”

Lyra said nothing except for a quick word to their daughters to move quickly. They weren’t the only ones watching the road, as many of the citizens of Corinth had done the same, hoping to be the first to see the news of the battle.

Now that it was here, they rushed in a panic to get out of the city before the Spartans arrived. Ordered anxiety turned to disordered panic quickly. By the time Cypselus arrived at his house, the city was almost riotous.

“We need to leave now,” he yelled at his family. “Before it’s too late!”

Soon they could hear men at the door, many of them pounding to have it opened. Cypselus knew why they were doing so. More than likely, there were some citizens that hoped they could spare their fates with the Spartans if they presented the dead king at their feet. Cypselus swallowed hard and clutched his sword, ready to defend his family to the death if need be.

Suddenly, the door swung open widely as a large familiar face entered, his sword drawn and covered in blood.

It was Agemon.

“We need to get you out of the city,” he said to Cypselus. “I just had to kill three men who were trying to get to you first.”

Cypselus looked relieved at first until he remembered the danger he was in. He eyed Agemon’s sword warily.

“Are you going to help us, Agemon? I’d understand if you didn’t but I need to know where you stand right now.”

Agemon shook his head fiercely. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the King of Corinth as long as you’re alive. I told you at one time that I’d always fight for you and for our city. Nothing that’s happened today has changed that.”

Cypselus let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods, Agemon. I don’t know what I would do if we lost you too.”

“Come on, we can talk about that later,” said Agemon. “The Spartans will be here soon! We need to move!”

Cypselus and his family decked themselves out in hooded cloaks to obscure their identities. They exited out the rear door, joining a whole host of citizenry who were now making for the east gate—the only one that led away from the Peloponnese and the Spartans. Before they could leave though, Agemon made a quick detour to stop a plain-looking woman near the gate. He spoke with her for several moments before rejoining Cypselus.

“Who was that?” asked Cypselus, gesturing to the woman.

“Someone I care about greatly,” replied Agemon. “Her name is Cora and with your permission, she’s going to join us.”

“Fine by me, but we need to keep moving,” said Cypselus.

Luckily for them, they weren’t waiting for Cora very long. The young woman joined their group as they exited out of the east gate, not stopping until they could see the city just in the distance. The Spartans were in full control already.

“I’d hoped I’d never have to see the day when I had to leave Corinth in this fashion,” admitted Cypselus quietly as they looked out on the city.

“We may have lost this battle but not the war, my king,” replied Agemon. “There is still hope for us. As long as we’re alive, there’s still hope.”

“I hope you’re right, Agemon. The gods know we need all the hope we can get.”

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