Chapter 79

Steve slowly took in her beauty. After nearly half a minute, he finally spoke. “We are men with no home. We are warriors with no cause. When we die, we have no one to mourn us. I cannot honor your request, but I make one of my own in its place. Allow my men to remain in Sparta. Grant them full citizenship as Spartans. Let them keep their weapons. Allow them to live peacefully when possible, but to fight for Sparta when necessary. Grant us this, and we will pledge our loyalty and fidelity to you, our Queen. Deny it, and we will march away, never to trouble you again,” promised Steve as he removed his own cloak and gently placed it on the shoulders of the stunned queen.

As Gwen slowly stood, she gathered the cloak around her body, collected her thoughts, and then commanded, “Give me your sword, Barbarian!”

Steve stood before her, bare-chested and with numerous scars and cuts on his ripped torso. He unsheathed his heavy sword and spun it around so the hilt was facing the Qu