"The Daughter of The Sun" - Excerpt

Excerpt from the book "The Daughter of the Sun"

In Kynosoura the monument of the fallen had been erected. It was a large seven-meter-high tomb, "The Victory Trophy" as they named it. Two large metal tripods were attached on its right and left sides. The fire was burning sacred on them. 

On its eastern side there was an altar to the Gods and at some distance was the "Polyandreion", the large mass grave where the fallen heroes were buried. Twelve spears with helmets and shields with military symbols of the alliance on them were placed with their tips looking at the sky. Just below there was a large marble slab with a war trireme carved on it. At the bottom of it were words written about the honor of all those who gave their lives: 

«IN MEMORY OF GREEKS WHO FELL IN THE SALAMIS BATTLE,  SEPTEMBER 480» «In the sunny joy of the glorious victory, Freedom honors the heroes who gave their lives, so it can scatter its Light again» 

The boatman stranded the boat next to the rock and held it with his hands to immobilize it. Pasiphae came out and walked forward slowly. The people were already there. To her left, next to the monument, a wooden platform was set up and on it was the leadership of the Greek alliance. They talked to each other in low voices. 

When Eurybiades saw her coming from afar, he leaned toward Themistocles and said: "My niece will not speak to anyone. She must have really loved that young man, commander Teucer. I tried to talk to her but she refused every word. Stubborn kids"

"Teucer’s loss is great for me as well General," said Themistocles in a serious tone.  "I told you that this young man was very dear to me and my family. I feel bad for your niece that she lost him but also for me. I would not like to discuss this anymore. I mourn inside", he said looking at the Lacedaemonian straight in the eyes. 

Pasiphae took a peek at the podium and moved to her right. At a distance of thirty feet from the platform, stood all the families of the fallen. Her gaze caught Nikandros looking at her with wide eyes. He was standing behind, in the back of the crowd, looking at her somewhat puzzled. He was also there for Teucer. Teucer had no relatives and so someone had to be present as his family. She walked towards him at the same time her uncle General Eurybiades began his speech. She heard his voice but was not really listening. She knew exactly what he was going to say, anyway. She stood next to Nikandros, turned her head towards him and whispered to him: "Thank you for being here for Teucer!" He looked at her with a very sad look and replied: "And I thank you Pasiphae! You are his beloved and I am his best friend and brother. He did not have anyone else, you know that. My soul is relieved that you came. Please step forward when they talk about him." "That I will do!" she said looking down. 

Eurybiades had just finished his speech. A procession consisting of hoplites representing the entire Alliance, lined up in front of the crowd. Their armor and shields shone in the sunlight and their robust bodies stood motionless. The Generals all gathered in front and sat in a standing position. The trumpet sounded and the procession raised the shields and tilted the spears to the position of honor. Nothing but the fire that burned in both tripods and played with the slight breeze could be heard. Themistocles started to read the list of the fallen heroes. In each name, the trumpets played a small verse of triumph and farewell. Then Themistocles said: "Thank you, our brother. We, your brothers-in-arms, but also Greece in all its ages, will never forget you!" If there was a relative present, they would come forward and Eurybiades or Themistocles would hand them a small plaque of honor along with something personal from the deceased if there was anything. Teucer’s name was heard seventh. Pasiphae took a deep breath and began to move forward. She looked like a priestess walking to the altar. All eyes were on her. She stood in front of Themistocles motionless and brave in a rugged posture and looked him straight in the eyes. Her uncle widened his eyes for a moment, looking at her short hair that referred to a married woman. 

Themistocles was moved and he said: "Teucer was like a son to me! And since Teucer was my son, then you are my daughter! I will not say words of consolation Pasiphae my daughter, I know that they are not appropriate when a proud Spartan woman is standing in front of us. Let us keep the emotions that have flooded us in our hearts. But I will say what I very well know about him. He would not wish for any death other than the one that befits a great man! Ten years ago he stood in front of me as you do now and I was speaking for his father and my brotherly friend that we had lost. Now I am the one who has to tighten his heart and speak again about another loss. However, in both great battles, victory crowned the Greeks. And it is a consolation in the hearts of the living to talk about heroes who fell in victory rather than heroes who fell in defeat! Come close my daughter, this is a small plaque-medal of bravery and gratitude of Greece. And this is his favorite belt that he always wore! It belonged to his father. I myself had delivered it to him in a similar ceremony after the battle of Marathon". 

She took the belt with her right hand and a shiver went through her whole body. A huge sadness erupted inside her along with a why. It grabbed her by the throat and tried to make its way up to her eyes. But she gritted her teeth and strangled it. "Tears are not fitting!" she thought. "Even more so when a proud Spartan stands in front of them, just as Themistocles had said." She did not say a word. The truth was that sorrow had gripped her so tightly by the throat that if she had opened her mouth, she would have only cried. She just put her chest more forward and her shoulders even further back. Like the ones who do not fear death when it is time. She looked at her uncle in a firm and highly aggressive way, silently screaming "do not dare to talk" and with a small movement of the head she thanked Themistocles, turned and walked to the crowd. Her uncle Eurybiades took the message and swallowed his tongue and that was for his own good. 

At a slow pace she got back to her place next to Nikandros and looking him in his eyes she gave him the medal of bravery saying: "Teucer’s plaque of bravery belongs to you, his friend and brother. You fought together, you won together! May it be the only one that will decorate your home! Thank you for everything! Goodbye!"  

She turned and walked away slowly like the proud priestess who had decided not to let Hades from the kingdom of death to smile at her for his victory. He also abruptly turned his back on the podium, following her with his eyes as she left, at the same time wanting to hide the tears that had flowed from his eyes. She walked to the boat. She did not want to be there even one more minute! She stood on the rock for a moment. Untied a string from her neck that had a small vial of wine attached to its end. She closed her eyes, opened it with both hands and spilled it on the rock, in front of her feet. The ruby red wine fell like blood on the rock and painted it red. A few small drops splashed on her sandals and beautiful legs. In these soils they had met, in these soils they had shared their love and it was here that she would forever leave her beloved man behind. 

She got on the boat trying to remain calm and beckoned. The boatman untied and started rowing. They left the cape and the sun had suddenly emerged from the clouds and had come down to touch the sea. Thousands of sparkles in her eyes as the keel cut through the calm waters that seemed to be one with the horizon. It was as if the sky were coming down to help, as her mind and heart were flying high, flying to infinity. She then persistently asked to find him, but to no avail. She stayed in the vast void for a few minutes, with sadness diffusing like poison inside her. " God, how can I find him in the infinite, where can I look?" Then she remembered his words that echoed inside like a sweet light. "My love, if you miss me, now you know how to find me" Oh but yes, she shouldn’t be searching in the sky, nor in the galaxy! He was inside of her waiting. With impatience, she hurried to do as he had told her. 

As the sun painted the sea red like blood and the sky dripped blood from its deep red glows, she found him. He was right there in front of her and he was speaking! She could hear him clearly, she was absolutely sure. He was not dead! He looked at her with a sweet smile. He had spread his arms in a big hug and invited her sweetly. She ran longingly to him. She hugged him tightly in her arms, like someone who is afraid that she might never see again the one she loves. She was feeling the moment with all her being. 

The sea, the sky, her tunic, her eyes, her soul, everything was painted red. The Sun, the God of Life and Light as a loving father, came down to stand beside his aching daughter. In a big embrace of paternal consolation he was now sending his red light on her. "Teucer , my love..." she whispered..... and closed her teary eyes tightly, to be alone with him.