Vangelis had been in Chaossis for the last four days. In Colchis for the last three weeks. Prior to that, he had been serving in the north once more, ensuring that their parameters along the southern edge of the continent were secure. Whilst Vangelis could rarely spare the time for such expeditions - especially ones that were not necessary to keep victory in their grasp - Vangelis always attempted to make the trips. In his experience, the regular reinforcement of defences was the best form of offence and had deterred many a battle. Whilst he was famous for witnessing carnage without expression, as if he lived for the violence, this was not true. If Vangelis could avoid bloodshed, then he always would. And if that meant losing personal time with his family and his people... for the sake of their safety... then so be it.

Once back in the capital, his duties had turned to those of a political nature. His responsibility as crown prince and baron of Chaossis, not to mention Head of House for the Kotas family had seen him cloistered away in his rooms for days on end until all orders and correspondence was sufficiently handled. His steward in Chaossis was an experienced and skilled man and never surrendered to the prince anything that could be handled locally. Yet, still, there was always a small mountain of work to be seen to when Vangelis returned to his homeland's shores.

Finally free of such ministrations, Vangelis had turned his eagerness towards the journey for Chaossis. The chance to be outside once more, to ride and to march beneath the sun and smell the fresh air of the ocean as they left Midas had been too much to resist. As they had moved further inland, towards the larger crop of Colchian mountains upon the Isle of Kos, that salty freshness had turned crisp and cold. Pure. It was the smell of snow and frozen earth. The scent of strength and power that underpinned the foundations of Colchis as a kingdom. It was the smell of home.

The ride into the provinces had been uneventful but hard work. Vangelis was always pushed for time, in all that he did. It was one of the disadvantages of holding as many positions as he did. He was always needed at his next destination, losing the detail of his experiences in the current one. He had urged the guards that accompanied him at a brisk pace that the horses barely managed. By the time they had reached Chaossis, the animals had been ready to take shelter for days to recover. But that suited Vangelis just fine. Not only did he have other horses at his disposal at his personal estate in the mountains, but his own two feet were good enough to see him through.

It had been on foot that Vangelis had come to the combat lands these last few days.

To the west of his home, hewn from the very mountain rock itself, there was an outcropping that led over the edge of the mountainside and down to a pasture of green. As if a giant's thumb had come down upon the rocky range and depressed an open field in its heart. Leagues wide, it was the only area in all of jagged Chaossis that could support the training of the entire Red Knights militia. Numbers-wise, it was the only patch of land that could hold them in within the different necessary formations.

Over the last few days, Vangelis had performed his usual bi-annual checks upon the men. He had worked them through their training, routines, through their techniques and their skills. He had tested the training regiment for new recruits and assessed the histories of the veteran soldiers amidst the troop. He had ensured himself fully aware of his men and their strengths and weaknesses, not to mention their pay and equipment. This particular check was significant as it was the first in which he would be directing his new Captain. At the retirement of his last leader of the Red Knights, Vangelis had seen to the promotion of one of the Lieutenants into the role of Captain, taking over from his immediate superior. It was important to ensure that all new officers began on the right foot. As of yet, it appeared that Captain Patroclus was a skilled director and leader of men. He knew the militia well and could appeal to the men and their specific talents.

Over the past few days, Vangelis had decided himself pleased with the new Captain's plans for the future of the Red Knights. All that remained to be seen to was the advancement of a soldier to the status of officer. A new Lieutenant was needed to fill the space that Patrolus' promotion had left.

This was why Vangelis was now standing before the men as they worked through their training. In his hands were several clay sheaths with the history of particular soldiers that Patroclus thought good contenders for advancement. Vangelis was keeping a close eye upon each of them now, assessing their individual skills. After which, he would test their abilities to read the same abilities in others. Vangelis was a firm believer that you could not lead if you could not do.

As he watched the men, one of Vangelis's aides came up to him. It was a moment before Vangelis glanced in his direction, encouraging his address.

"Your Highness, there is a man here who seeks an audience with you?" the aide asked. Vangelis was unsurprised by his lack of certainty. Most royals would only speak to people upon appointment, made weeks in advance. Vangelis was more hands-on. If there was an issue to be addressed, he normally found it easier to see it handled then and there. He didn't need the time to prep and pander beforehand.

As he was still at the stage of observation only, Vangelis saw no harm in a little of his attention being diverted and nodded to the aide that the man be allowed into the training grounds. It was only a half-minute later that a powerful looking male came striding over the grass towards him. Vangelis observed him with a stony expression.

'Prince Vangelis, I am Alexandros of Iraklidis.' the man began. The name rang a familiarity in Vangelis's head but he hadn't the chance to put a face to the name before the man went on.

'...a former mercenary.' The name 'Iraklidis' clicked into place and Vangelis recalled the title written at the top of several mercenary orders. It was rare that the Colchian forces required outside help for their soldiers. They were, after all, a nation of warriors. But occasionally, when a diverting force or separate unit of attack was needed, it behoved a General to outsource certain missions and tasks. If this was of the unit that Vangelis recalled, his men had been of use to the Colchian forces in several advances across recent years... Yet, Vangelis was still surprised by the man's next revelation...

'I have heard that you are looking for a Lieutenant to lead some of these men... I have a history of leading infantry... I am here to offer you my services.'

Vangelis rarely showed emotion upon his face but to have a stranger stroll into his training grounds and announce himself ready to take an officer position in his army was a new one on him. Even the Stone Prince could not restrain a single eyebrow raising in surprise. The aide beside him was looking awkward and quickly shuffled away. Patroclus, who stood a few feet away had come over and taken his place.

"Anything the matter, General?" he asked. It was not uncommon for men of the military to use Vangelis' militia title over his royal one. He took no offence.

"No, Captain." Vangelis waved a hand towards the men and then handed one of the three sheaths in his hand over to the man. "This one is not yet ready. Have him drill his footwork and stabilise his left hand side."

Three down to two contenders. Or, Vangelis thought, turning back to the man now in front of him, perhaps they were back up to three.

Not one for the niceties of small talk, Vangelis neither greeted nor addressed Alexandros. The man held no rank within his army or nobility and had brought the conversation to the topic at hand with speedy efficiency. Vangelis saw no reason to back-track and return them to trivial welcomes. He appreciated blunt simplicity.

"I have many soldiers across my forces, Alexandros of Iraklidis," he replied, the two clay tablets still in hand. "What makes you think I would choose an outsider variant for an officer over my own men?"