Prologue
Plataea 479 BC
Tell me if you have heard this story before. The mighty Persian Empire, under the reign of King Xerxes, invades the Greek city-states, a promise he made to his father. After Thermopylae and Salamis, Plataea is the deciding battleground over the fate of all Greece. The Athenians under the command of Themesoticles number eight thousand. Their enemy, more than eight times their size and strength. But what of the Spartans? They are here as well, and today will never be forgotten. But what if I told you that this story has another ending. And this ending only marks the beginning of a much grander tale? Here begins the development of the Son of Persia.
“For Persia!” shouted Mardonius. Mardoinus was the commander of the land offensive of the Persian army under Xerxes. He and his forces engaged the small Athenian army in a head-on collision on the plains. Despite having the advantage in numbers, Mardonius realized that the Athenians were not going down without a fight. As the Persians pushed on ahead, Mardonius hears the sound of a trumpet in the air. He then gets word from one of his subordinates that the Athenians have just called in their allies from megara, around twelve thousand soldiers. The Persia commander realizes that their flanks are exposed.
“Have the immortals fortify our flanks. We cannot lose now. We are so close.” The subordinate salutes and sounds his own trumpet. Answering the call was the Persian elite, the immortals. Following the commander’s orders, the Immortals head to the army’s very back and stand guard to protect it. Just in time, too, as the military from megara arrives. The Immortals raise their shields and prepare for the onslaught.
“Attack!” shouts one of the Megarian commanders. The Megarians charge in full force and ram into the Persian flanks. The Immortals keep them at bay, but they begin to lose men slowly. Back in the center, Mardonius sees that his men are being pushed to the brink: front with the Athenians and the flanks with the Megarians. Just then, his worst fear is imagined; the Athenians manage to push back the Persians and break through their lines. The commander’s eyes widen with horror. All seems lost until he hears a loud yell in the air.
“AHO! AHO! AHO!” the sounds come from over the hills. Soon everyone begins to hear the noise. Then coming over the mountains, Mardonius sees the sound’s cause and yells a cry of excitement.
“Sons of Persia! Victory is ours! Our Allies have arrived!” Coming over the cliffs was the most feared fighting force in western Europe. Clad in bronze, from head to toe, wielding might shields and impressive spears. It was the Athenians and Megarian’s worst nightmare.
The Spartans. At the head of the army was a young and up and coming soldier from Spartas prestigious military families. Placing his helmet over his head, he lifts his spear in the air and yells with such thunder it shakes the ground.
“Spartans, let us to these Athenians to bed!” shouted the young soldier. Then, like one massive metal swarm, the Spartans descended the hill. Their battle cries shook the very ground. As they rushed into the fray, the young commander breaks his army into two groups. One section assists the Persians on the flanks while the rest follow him as he charges into Athenian forces. The young Spartan thrusts his spear forward, piercing the armor of one Athenian soldier.
He pulls the spear out and strikes another Athenian with the butt end, jabbing at him in the face. He punches the same soldier in the face with his shield repeatedly until the soldier falls to the ground, coughing up his blood. The Spartan ends the soldier suffering as he stabs into the man’s neck with his spear. Looking up, the Spartan commander looks at the horrified faces of his enemies. They knew Spartan ferocity, and they were about to get a taste of it.
“NO PRISONERS! NO MERCY!” he shouted. Following their commander’s orders, the Spartans attack their Athenian rivals. The chaos ensues once more. Now it was the Persians and Spartans against the Athenians and Megarians. For Mardonius, this was the advantage he needed. With the aid of the Spartans, their army would have no issue winning this war. It was a chance for the Spartan commander to increase his popularity and status amongst the Spartan elites and the Persians. As he fought against various enemies, there was one he wanted to kill, Themistocles. Only a few yards away, the young spartan could see the Athenian commander’s experience defeat several of his Spartan brothers.
“Your mine,” he said to himself as he moves past several soldiers until he was face to face with his prey.
“So, you’re him. The Spartan I have heard about so much,” said Themistocles.
“You escaped us at Salamis. That ends now, Athenian dog.” The Spartan thrust his spear at him, but Themistocles dodges.
“Dog?! You Spartans gave up at Thermopylae. Your king bent the knee to the Persians. It is your kind who are dogs now!” The words anger the Spartan and attack him more ferociously at the Athenian. He manages to land a cut across Themistolces’s arm and open himself up for a counter-attack.
The Athenian uses the Spartan trick against his opponent and punches the Spartan in the chest. His armor took much of the blow, but it still moves his back a little. Before the fight could continue, Themistocles hear the trumpet sound calling for a retreat. Gathering his men, he orders them to fall back. He gives one last look at the Spartan warrior before leaving.
“Until next time,” said the Athenian commander. As he runs away, the young Spartan takes off his helmet, revealing his young and handsome face.
“Coward,” he says to himself. Just then, he hears the sound of a horse approaching. Turning around, he sees Mardonius. The young Spartan salutes him.
“Thank you for your aide, Spartan,” said Mardonius.
“Glad we could get here, sir,” he replied. Mardonius examines the spartan commander. He was young with a handsome face, with amber eyes and curly brown hair.
“Your Spartans helped us win this day. The Greeks are finished, but not defeated. We march onto Athens. Are your men ready for another fight?” The Spartan replies with a salute. Mardonius smiles.
“Excellent. Gather your men, Spartan. We march onto Athens.” As the Spartan gathered his men, Mardonius calls upon him again.
“Spartan, what is your name, so that way, I may tell our king of your help today?”
The Spartan turns around and answers him with a smile.
“Amyntas, sir. My name is Amyntas.”
