The pungent smell of laundry faded, and a gentle herbal scent wafted through the air. The warm steam caressed her face as she looked at the crackling fire and the pot of boiling water tilted above it. It was a comforting warmth for those working in the cold.
Everyone passed the time with small talk. The conversation naturally shifted to the topic of Thebes’ holy troops. The troops protected them, and the women supported the soldiers in preparing for battle without any difficulties. They cooked for them, did their laundry, and even helped take care of the wounded. Eutostea guessed that the soldiers were surprised to see her not because she was a familiar face, but because she was a stranger wearing eye-catching attire.
“Captain Macaedes?”
When his name came up, the women’s faces brightened. It seemed that some of them admired him.
“He’s a brave man…”
“Even though he recently suffered a great loss, he still carries out his duties without faltering. It’s truly admirable.”
“Anemone, we agreed not to talk about that.”
Anemone pouted her lips at the soft scolding.
“Is there something I shouldn’t know?” Eutostea asked cautiously.
Anemone reacted to her gaze. The woman sitting in front of her gave her a warning. However, she opened her mouth with a rebellious spirit. “Most of the troops are in same-sex relationships. Captain Macaedes lost a beloved comrade in a recent battle. That’s why we referred to it as a great loss.”
“You shouldn’t talk carelessly about someone else’s grief.” Letia spoke up. She had lost her son on the way to refuge, and her husband, an ordinary farmer, had been dragged into the war with his fate unknown. “Sometimes it’s best to remain silent.”
Anemone finally closed her mouth after receiving another scolding from the gray-haired woman. Eutostea secretly sent her a grateful look for sharing the new information, which made Anemone’s expression relax.
The love between an adult man and a boy who had not yet reached adulthood, both mentally and physically, was a widely accepted form of love throughout Greece. Although it had now become a hidden practice, platonic love and mentoring between men were still openly carried out.
What was unique about Thebes’ holy troops was that they had been composed of adult men in same-sex relationships since their inception. Eutostea naturally did not know the strategic significance behind this, but the thought that even he, who seemed as strong as a well-forged sword, was just an individual sacrificed in war after losing his lover, made her somber.
After a brief silence, the women regained their conversational vigor, as they were all elated by the news of today’s victory in battle.
“I’m really happy that our army keeps winning, but I just wish the soldiers wouldn’t get hurt. We have a small population and limited resources, but we’re holding on quite well. More than anything, the other side is protected by the god Ares. It feels like fighting ghosts. No matter how much we strike, they don’t fall, and instead, our side keeps falling. If one collapses under an invisible blow, it must be Ares himself walking the battlefield…”
The idea of suffering a mysterious death at the hands of an intangible enemy was frightening. The lost souls who had died a horrible death would be wandering the battlefield, singing mournful songs. Eutostea brushed away the sorrowful thought with a heavy heart.
The women pulled the cloth out of the pot. They rinsed it in the icy cold stream water, wrung it out, and shook off the moisture. It was frosty winter weather. If they hung their clothes outside, they would freeze stiff. Eutostea helped the women set up a laundry line by weaving branches radially around the bonfire to dry the clothes. Once warmed up, the children who had been following their mother closely jumped up and started to pester her about wanting to see the horses.
“Excuse me, priestess. Could you please watch the children for a moment? They keep insisting on seeing the warhorses. The stable is behind the fortress, so you just need to take them there. We’ll finish up here and follow you shortly. The children should know the way.”
Eutostea gladly agreed to do so.
“Oh, please make sure the children don’t get too close to the horses! The horses might be excited after the battle, and even well-trained ones could kick with their hind legs.”
The mother’s nagging continued, but the excited children, like puppies rolling in the snow, laughed and took Eutostea’s hand, leading her on.
“Priestess, it’s this way!”
They entered the stable. Horses, their saddles and armor removed, shuffled around and stood near their stalls. As warhorses, they had thick legs and impressive chest muscles. Eutostea remembered the mother’s warning and made sure the children stayed at the fence.
They had to wait for the horses to calm down. The stable hand reached out to stroke the head of a horse, making a calming sound. A dark brown horse with a white pattern on its head snorted and pawed the ground. The children’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s so big. I want to ride it.”
The chubby-cheeked boy mumbled with a finger in his mouth.
“Warhorses don’t let anyone ride them except their owner.”
The stable hand chuckled and told the children.
“Especially this one, it belongs to the commander. It was at the front, defeating the Marean soldiers. With its hooves, it must have sent hundreds of enemy soldiers to the afterlife today.”
“Wow…”
The other children looked enviously at the black horse being groomed. It was the horse that had calmed down the quickest and entrusted itself to the stable hand’s touch. Its muscular body was covered with shiny black fur, and its leg muscles were bulging. It took an adult man to brush it with a wide swing of his arm. As it was groomed, its beauty shone even brighter. To the children’s eyes, the large warhorse was a beautiful beast.
The horses started eating their feed. The children sat on the ground, resting their chins in their hands, and watched the animals eat. Warhorses were at the core of the military power, and they received special treatment. The black horse belonging to Macaedes drank water from the trough with a gentle expression, flicking its tongue. The straw on the stable floor looked luxurious, perhaps because they had seen their owner sleep on a simple mat.
“Come and have dinner!”
Women from the village announced the end of dinner preparation with their booming voices. The children said their goodbyes to the horses with regretful eyes. Eutostea led the children out of the stable. The food was prepared on a bonfire in front of the soldiers’ makeshift tents.
It was a thick soup with ingredients thrown into a large pot. The soldiers lined up in front of the cooking area with wooden bowls they had rinsed with water. Fortunately, it seemed that individual bowls had been distributed for them to use.
As everyone gathered around the fire, the aroma of the soup filled the air, and the soldiers eagerly filled their bowls. Though simple, the meal provided much-needed warmth and nourishment after a long day. The women from the village, along with Eutostea, helped serve the food, ensuring everyone had their fill. The atmosphere was lively and full of camaraderie, offering a temporary respite from the harsh reality of war.
The pungent smell of laundry faded, and a gentle herbal scent wafted through the air. The warm steam caressed her face as she looked at the crackling fire and the pot of boiling water tilted above it. It was a comforting warmth for those working in the cold.
Everyone passed the time with small talk. The conversation naturally shifted to the topic of Thebes’ holy troops. The troops protected them, and the women supported the soldiers in preparing for battle without any difficulties. They cooked for them, did their laundry, and even helped take care of the wounded. Eutostea guessed that the soldiers were surprised to see her not because she was a familiar face, but because she was a stranger wearing eye-catching attire.
“Captain Macaedes?”
When his name came up, the women’s faces brightened. It seemed that some of them admired him.
“He’s a brave man…”
“Even though he recently suffered a great loss, he still carries out his duties without faltering. It’s truly admirable.”
“Anemone, we agreed not to talk about that.”
Anemone pouted her lips at the soft scolding.
“Is there something I shouldn’t know?” Eutostea asked cautiously.
Anemone reacted to her gaze. The woman sitting in front of her gave her a warning. However, she opened her mouth with a rebellious spirit. “Most of the troops are in same-sex relationships. Captain Macaedes lost a beloved comrade in a recent battle. That’s why we referred to it as a great loss.”
“You shouldn’t talk carelessly about someone else’s grief.” Letia spoke up. She had lost her son on the way to refuge, and her husband, an ordinary farmer, had been dragged into the war with his fate unknown. “Sometimes it’s best to remain silent.”
Anemone finally closed her mouth after receiving another scolding from the gray-haired woman. Eutostea secretly sent her a grateful look for sharing the new information, which made Anemone’s expression relax.
The love between an adult man and a boy who had not yet reached adulthood, both mentally and physically, was a widely accepted form of love throughout Greece. Although it had now become a hidden practice, platonic love and mentoring between men were still openly carried out.
What was unique about Thebes’ holy troops was that they had been composed of adult men in same-sex relationships since their inception. Eutostea naturally did not know the strategic significance behind this, but the thought that even he, who seemed as strong as a well-forged sword, was just an individual sacrificed in war after losing his lover, made her somber.
After a brief silence, the women regained their conversational vigor, as they were all elated by the news of today’s victory in battle.
“I’m really happy that our army keeps winning, but I just wish the soldiers wouldn’t get hurt. We have a small population and limited resources, but we’re holding on quite well. More than anything, the other side is protected by the god Ares. It feels like fighting ghosts. No matter how much we strike, they don’t fall, and instead, our side keeps falling. If one collapses under an invisible blow, it must be Ares himself walking the battlefield…”
The idea of suffering a mysterious death at the hands of an intangible enemy was frightening. The lost souls who had died a horrible death would be wandering the battlefield, singing mournful songs. Eutostea brushed away the sorrowful thought with a heavy heart.
The women pulled the cloth out of the pot. They rinsed it in the icy cold stream water, wrung it out, and shook off the moisture. It was frosty winter weather. If they hung their clothes outside, they would freeze stiff. Eutostea helped the women set up a laundry line by weaving branches radially around the bonfire to dry the clothes. Once warmed up, the children who had been following their mother closely jumped up and started to pester her about wanting to see the horses.
“Excuse me, priestess. Could you please watch the children for a moment? They keep insisting on seeing the warhorses. The stable is behind the fortress, so you just need to take them there. We’ll finish up here and follow you shortly. The children should know the way.”
Eutostea gladly agreed to do so.
“Oh, please make sure the children don’t get too close to the horses! The horses might be excited after the battle, and even well-trained ones could kick with their hind legs.”
The mother’s nagging continued, but the excited children, like puppies rolling in the snow, laughed and took Eutostea’s hand, leading her on.
“Priestess, it’s this way!”
They entered the stable. Horses, their saddles and armor removed, shuffled around and stood near their stalls. As warhorses, they had thick legs and impressive chest muscles. Eutostea remembered the mother’s warning and made sure the children stayed at the fence.
They had to wait for the horses to calm down. The stable hand reached out to stroke the head of a horse, making a calming sound. A dark brown horse with a white pattern on its head snorted and pawed the ground. The children’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s so big. I want to ride it.”
The chubby-cheeked boy mumbled with a finger in his mouth.
“Warhorses don’t let anyone ride them except their owner.”
The stable hand chuckled and told the children.
“Especially this one, it belongs to the commander. It was at the front, defeating the Marean soldiers. With its hooves, it must have sent hundreds of enemy soldiers to the afterlife today.”
“Wow…”
The other children looked enviously at the black horse being groomed. It was the horse that had calmed down the quickest and entrusted itself to the stable hand’s touch. Its muscular body was covered with shiny black fur, and its leg muscles were bulging. It took an adult man to brush it with a wide swing of his arm. As it was groomed, its beauty shone even brighter. To the children’s eyes, the large warhorse was a beautiful beast.
The horses started eating their feed. The children sat on the ground, resting their chins in their hands, and watched the animals eat. Warhorses were at the core of the military power, and they received special treatment. The black horse belonging to Macaedes drank water from the trough with a gentle expression, flicking its tongue. The straw on the stable floor looked luxurious, perhaps because they had seen their owner sleep on a simple mat.
“Come and have dinner!”
Women from the village announced the end of dinner preparation with their booming voices. The children said their goodbyes to the horses with regretful eyes. Eutostea led the children out of the stable. The food was prepared on a bonfire in front of the soldiers’ makeshift tents.
It was a thick soup with ingredients thrown into a large pot. The soldiers lined up in front of the cooking area with wooden bowls they had rinsed with water. Fortunately, it seemed that individual bowls had been distributed for them to use.
As everyone gathered around the fire, the aroma of the soup filled the air, and the soldiers eagerly filled their bowls. Though simple, the meal provided much-needed warmth and nourishment after a long day. The women from the village, along with Eutostea, helped serve the food, ensuring everyone had their fill. The atmosphere was lively and full of camaraderie, offering a temporary respite from the harsh reality of war.
