Another historical figure who features in the story, albeit mostly off-stage, is Alcibiades, the Athenian general who flees Athens on a charge of sacrilege and functions as a military adviser to Sparta until he is recalled by a resurgent democracy in Athens. Alexias and Lysis serve under Alcibiades' command until his carelessness leads the fleet to disaster and he once again goes into exile.
Another historical figure who plays a role in the story, though mostly unseen, is Alcibiades, the Athenian general who flees Athens on charges of sacrilege and serves as a military advisor to Sparta before being recalled by a revived democracy in Athens. Alexias and Lysis serve under his command until his negligence causes a naval disaster, leading him into exile once more.