Page 340, Doreion, Hound and Ball Player were all dead. The living would need us more then ever.
Though this would seem like the end of the adventure with casualties, especially for the dead, that only means they have to work harder then ever. Just because they want to mourn the deaths of their fallen comrads, that doesnt mean they can actually stop to accept the deaths or mourn them, especially with all the deaths that are going on back on the battlefield if they were to take a break. Nothing is ever easy in war, but is anything ever easy?
Page 321, Ball Player assumed a stance to urinate. "Don't," Alexandros nudged him. "Or the deer will never use this nest again."
It is odd how a small act like that can create such a large effect to someone else. Ball Player wouldn't have thought twice about his actions, but it could change the deer forever, they would never nest there again and it would create a large overall effect. Luckily there are still people like Alexandros who think about these kinds of things and care enough to stop it from happening. It only takes one person to make a huge difference for somebody else by standing up to somebody.
Page 323, I have searched all my life for that which you have possessed from birth, a noble city to belong to.
This returns to the theme of having a city to belong to. Xeo felt worthless after he had lost his city and searched for a new city to set down his roots and try to join. Another quote comes to mind here, when Xeo choose the spartan city of spartans, over Athens because it raises men instead of profits. He wants to be able to make himself be something and help his city, rather then be something himself. He would rather have something that he works to represent.
Page 374, Those were the last tears of mine, my lord, that the sun will ever see.
He is finally ready to embrace his fate, and is ready to die. He has accepted all the deaths up until now and has set them aside, so he can concentrate fully on the battle coming up, the final battle with no survivors. There is no longer a way out for him and he will fight to the end and try to die with honor and kill every last persian he can.
Page 380, They had defeated the mightiest army and navy in history. What lesser undertaking could now daunt them? What enterprise could they not dare?
This is taking place after the battle of Thermopylae the Greeks were able to win against Persia. They were inspired from the works of the Spartans and the fight at Thermopylae. The Greeks were literally the strongest force in the world, for they had defeated the mighty Persia with less numbers, but more spirit and power in the numbers. The spirits of the Greeks won out in the end and became the worlds strongest. They were truly the victors (though still with many losses.)
