Carrick's astonishment grew. "You serve the old gods. You know their names. Apollo won't help you now, slave. I will ask you once more, and once only. Who are you?"
The boy's retort would ordinarily earn the slave who said it a harsh backhand across the face, but Carrick was desperate to learn more.
"A Spartan conquers what is weak. He destroys only if the weaker fails to show submission. Are you going to submit, boy?"