Leonidas was born into privilege, the scion of a once-powerful noble family. His upbringing was steeped in opulence, but he chafed against the constraints of aristocratic life. The glittering balls and embroidered silks bored him; he craved something more visceral, more real.

As he matured, Leonidas discovered the underbelly of society—the dark alleys, the whispered secrets, and the clandestine dealings. He became enamored with the dance of shadows, where power shifted like smoke on the wind. His aristocratic facade masked a cunning mind and ruthless determination.

The Warders—an enigmatic organization—captivated Leonidas. They were the unseen hands maintaining order in the city, their influence stretching from the docks to the highest echelons of power. Leonidas joined their ranks, drawn by the promise of a purpose beyond the gilded halls of his family estate.

No gang of Warders burst through the door, no darts assailed us from the walls, and nothing nefarious blew from the vents. I was about to take a drink of my wine when the door clicked open, and a man I immediately disliked slid in. Well-groomed and well-dressed, he had the light complexion, high cheekbones, and slanted nose of an Alchester aristocrat. Though he entered with a smile, it was the sort of smile men make right before they plunge a dagger through your heart or stab you in the back.

- THE ASSASSIN’S CUNNING / THE SHADOW CODE

Under the tutelage of the Warders, Leonidas honed his skills. He learned to wield a blade with deadly precision, read the subtle cues of betrayal, and navigate the treacherous currents of politics.

In time, Leonidas became known in inner circles as the Dagger’s Smile. His aristocratic features, once a liability, became his greatest asset. He could slip into high-society gatherings, exchanging pleasantries with nobles while assessing their vulnerabilities. His smile, like a blade unsheathed, promised both pleasure and peril.

Though Leonidas has thrived in his role as a Warder compulsor, his ambitions go well beyond carrying out the orders of others to achieving more significant influence and power and maybe someday ascending even to the level of the Primus itself.

FIRST APPEARANCE

Leonidas first appears in The Assassin's Cunning (Assassin Without a Name Book Two).