Heroes of Bronze - The Warrior Child (short story)

The year is 510 BC, three years after the Persian king's campaign into the lands of Scythia. The coast of Thrace, near the Bosporus strait, is gripped by chaos. The Persian incursion has left old rivalries between the tribes simmering, ready to ignite at any moment. Amidst this turmoil, a Thracian boy dreams his dream of glory...

The world of the Thracians fascinates me. It is mysterious, as not much is known about them, especially regarding the period I am depicting. Nevertheless, from what we do know, they must have been ferocious.

For this short story, however, I didn’t want to focus on their prowess in battle. Instead, I chose a child hero to see, through his eyes, how cruel and harsh such a world must have been. I’ve wanted to write an origin story about Teres ever since I published “A Few Steadfast Friends”, where readers expressed their sympathy for the diligent young boy.

I have big plans for this character in the wider story arc of Heroes of Bronze. For now, though, let me show you his tragic origins.