He jogged the rest of the way, following the winding path up the arid, rocky incline until he reached the shade of a covered walkway. It was an impressive edifice of shining marble pillars, its stone painted in vibrant reds and blues, adorned with finely-crafted statues honoring the Pantheon.Īs he made his way higher, a pair of armored guards moved to intercept him, but they soon backed away when they recognized the sigil of the lion on his shining shield. He could see his trireme from here, the ship moored at the bustling docks below, its white sails fluttering in the breeze.Ībove him, perched atop the island's craggy cliffs, was the great palace of Minos. Behind him, the white sands of Crete gave way to the azure ocean, the sunlight reflecting off its calm surface, the calls of seabirds resounding as they circled overhead. With his spear and shield in hand, he arrived at the top of the staircase, the wind that blew in from the ocean rustling the leather strips of the pteruges that protected his thighs. His Corinthian helmet came down over his cheeks and nose, shielding his eyes from the glare, its decorative crest bobbing with each step. He wore a set of bronze armor that glinted in the light, his ornate cuirass molded into a muscled effigy of a male torso, the metal ornamented with flowing scenes of battle.

Leandros mounted the steps one by one, his tanned skin baking beneath the midday sun, his sandals pounding against the hot stone.

Labyrinth Heart by Naiad