Ava and the four other recruits followed Pheros to a large weapon rack, which held five sets of sandals, breastplates, plumed helmets, spears, short swords, tunics, shields and greaves.

“Now,” began Pheros, then saw Narsus' raised hand, “yes?”

“Will we have to pay for our armament?”

“No,” replied Pheros, “the people of Athens bestow upon you your weapons and armor and in return you are prepared to give your lives in our city's defense. Now don your battle-gear and meet me at the west end of the training grounds.”

With that, Pheros turned and marched away. Ava stood back while the other four recruits stepped up to the rack and began putting their armor on. She carefully moved to the end of the rack and followed their example. It took them a few minutes to get ready. When they were done they hurried over to where Pheros stood and lined up in front of him. He gave them a small smile of approval.

“An Athenian warrior must be able to run fast,” Pheros began, “so today we shall simply be running.”

“Just running?” Ava asked quizzically, “I expected something a little more hardcore.”

“You don't call dying of exhaustion after running a hundred miles hardcore?” Pheros asked flatly. “Running fast can mean the difference between life and death. It can mean the fate of an entire battle, an entire war. Do you think we charge the enemy at a stroll?”

“Of course, running is important!” burst out Errylis, drawing an exasperated sigh from Aelynda, “and I'll run ten thousand miles just to deliver a... a loaf of bread to...”

“The King of Persia?” suggested Pheros humorlessly.

“The King of Persia!” agreed Errylis enthusiastically, then checked herself, “no, I mean...”

“You will be given ample time to prove your dedication to your city, soldier!” snapped Pheros angrily. “Now if you wouldn't mind, can you desist your pointless interruptions.”

Errylis stood to attention, a little clumsily because of her new gear, and saluted with excessive stiffness and emphasis.

“I will do anything for you, captain,” she said firmly.

“Then stop talking and listen!” shouted Pheros. “Today we will be running up and down the training grounds, one end to the other. Since this is your first day, I won’t make you train for the full three hours. We’ll start with one hour and see if you can keep going even that long. Understood?”

“I think so,” said Narsus, “but will we have to run in all this heavy armor?”

“Do you plan to leave your armor behind when you charge the enemy?” asked Pheros flatly.

“I'd charge a thousand enemies armed only with-” shouted Errylis.

“Shut it!” bellowed Pheros. “Yes, you will have to run with all your armor on. Are you ready?”

“Yes!” came the unanimous reply.

“Follow me, soldiers of Athens!” shouted Pheros as he sprinted off towards the other side of the training grounds.

Ava burst into motion at his word, determined to do her best. A few seconds later she glanced over her shoulder, seeing to her surprise that she had passed Pheros and the other recruits. She looked ahead and kept running. She came to a stop and turned around as she reached the edge of the training grounds. Pheros arrived a few seconds later.

“Now back again!” he shouted, turning and running back across the grounds. Ava swiftly followed him.

She passed Narsus on the way back and they exchanged glances. Ava did several more laps, arriving back at the start to find the other four recruits lying exhausted on the ground.

“The hour isn't up yet!” shouted Pheros as he ran up beside Ava, “or are you deserting without having seen even a single enemy spear-tip?”

The other recruits got slowly to their feet and began running once more. By the end of the hour, Ava had completed twice as many laps as any of the others.

“Training is over for today,” Pheros told the exhausted recruits, “be here the same time tomorrow.”

Ava was surprised he didn't add an 'or else' on the end.

The five recruits left the training grounds and began walking home together, discussing the day's training and their visions for the future.

“He's a hard one, isn't he?” commented Narsus.

“An Athenian officer must be,” replied Alydectes flatly.

“Tomorrow, I'm going to do ten times the number of laps as the rest of you!” declared Errylis loudly, drawing bemused glances from the others.

“If your actions were as impressive as your words, you'd be the greatest hero since Valeseus,” said Aelynda wryly.

“You know,” continued Errylis, “one day I'm going to invade Sparta alone and unarmed, with nothing but a rock and-”

“But if you have a rock, you're not unarmed,” put in Aelynda.

“And then I'm...” went on Errylis, trying to finish her story, “I'm...”

She broke off into an awkward silence.

“Tell you later,” she finished, leaving the group and heading towards her nearby house.

“You performed superbly, by the way, servant girl,” commented Alydectes, glancing at Ava.

“Well, no-one's more surprised than I am,” said Ava with a laugh, “I don't know how I did it.”

“Of course, my natural determination and finesse will leave me in the lead by the end, I can assure you,” continued Alydectes matter-of-factually, “so don't get your hopes up.”

Ava and Narsus exchanged amused glances, before Narsus said, “My house is down this street. See you guys tomorrow,” and departed.

Ava didn't like the idea of walking on with her two remaining companions, and politely explained that she would make her way home alone.