Gods colliding, ethos and mythos trying to combine. The Sacred Band caught up in a whirlwind not of any god's devising: he and Niko had wanted to save twenty-three pairs of fated Theban fighters. Now everything feels fated and fighting oversweeps its boundaries of time and place and plane.

Gods and men honor those who have fought in battle.

There is no mercy in trading life for life. And certainly no righteousness. Mercy, once given, cannot be taken back.

Death's easy to find. If She wants you, you'll meet Her here as well as anywhere.

Live to fight on other days.

Arrows are cheap; you're expensive.

What we hold sacred is honor, justice, and glory. You need not swear allegiance to our storm god, to serve with us. Fighters are among us from many lands, with many gods and many beliefs. Believe as you will. What is between a man and his god is theirs alone to say.