Killer of Men - Christian Cameron [0]
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Glossary
Part I - The Lovely Bloom of Youth
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Part II - Some Made Slaves
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Part III - Freedom
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part IV - Scattering the Leaves
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Part V - An Equal Exchange for Fire
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Part VI - Justice
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by Christian Cameron
THE TYRANT SERIES
Tyrant
Tyrant: Storm of Arrows
Tyrant: Funeral Games
OTHER NOVELS
Washington and Caesar
Killer of Men
CHRISTIAN CAMERON
Orion
www.orionbooks.co.uk
AN ORION EBOOK
First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Orion Books
This eBook first published in 2010 by Orion Books
Copyright © Christian Cameron 2010
The moral right of Christian Cameron to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All characters and events in this publication are fictitious, except for those already in the public domain, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library.
eISBN : 978 1 4091 1192 4
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For the Plataeans
These were urged on by Ares, and the Greeks by flashing-eyed
Athena, and Terror, and Rout, and Discord that rageth incessantly,
sisters and comrades of Ares, killer of men.
Homer, Iliad 4.440
Glossary
I am an amateur Greek scholar. My definitions are my own, but taken from the LSJ or Routledge’s Handbook of Greek Mythology or Smith’s Classical Dictionary. On some military issues I have the temerity to disagree with the received wisdom on the subject. Also check my website at www.hippeis.com for more information and some helpful pictures.
Akinakes A Scythian short sword or long knife, also sometimes carried by Medes and Persians.
Andron The ‘men’s room’ of a proper Greek house – where men have symposia. Recent research has cast real doubt as to the sexual exclusivity of the room, but the name sticks.
Apobatai The Chariot Warriors. In many towns, towns that hadn’t used chariots in warfare for centuries, the Apobatai were the elite three hundred or so. In Athens, they competed in special events; in Thebes, they may have been the forerunners of the Sacred Band.
Archon A city’s senior official or, in some cases, one of three or four. A magnate.
Aspis The Greek hoplite’s shield (which is not called a hoplon!). The aspis is about a yard in diameter, is deeply dished (up to six inches deep) and should weigh between eight and sixteen pounds.
Basilieus An aristocratic title from a bygone era (at least in 500 BC) that means ‘king’ or ‘lord’.
Bireme A warship rowed by two tiers of oars, as opposed to a trireme, which has three tiers.
Chiton The standard tunic for most men, made by taking a single continuous piece of cloth and folding it in half, pinning the shoulders and open side. Can be made quite fitted by means of pleating. Often made of very fine quality material – usually wool, sometimes linen, especially in the upper classes. A full chiton was ankle length for men and women.
Chitoniskos A small chiton, usually just longer than modesty demanded – or not as long as modern modesty would demand! Worn