Page 12 of Axios

I am nothing.

Gaius, who stood near the group of boys at the edge of the small arena, barged forward and grabbed Eryx by the hair, dragging him out from the line.

“Disobedience will not be tolerated,” he growled.

Eryx didn’t show his discomfort, even when Gaius punched him in the stomach.

Even though Eryx was a skilled trainee, he still struggled against Gaius as his arms were pinned behind him. Gaius motioned to one of the older boys.

“You! Approach.” He tightened his hold on my friend. “Teach him what awaits defiant worms.”

The boy, Pericles, didn’t hesitate as he slammed his fist into Eryx’s abdomen.

Seeing someone hit him caused feeling to course through me again. I was no longer numb, and a fire raged in my veins.

Quicker than I’d ever been, I jumped to my feet and ran at full speed toward Gaius, catching him off guard as I smashed into his side and sent him plummeting toward the ground. He lost the hold on Eryx as he fell.

Pericles jumped backward at my advance, his former confidence lost.

I pushed Eryx behind me and glared at Gaius as he stood. His eyes were murderous, and I braced myself for whatever punishment I was about to receive. No one had ever knocked him down before.

“You will be flogged, you shit,” he snarled as he reached for me.

Felix stepped in his path.

“No,” he said to Gaius before turning his dark eyes on me. “I knew there was strength in you somewhere, boy. Your own life may not be of concern, but his,” he nodded to Eryx, “he is what you will fight for.”

Chapter Four

Before the sun had risen, I was already wide awake. More rest was needed, but my mind was uneasy. Consumed with worry. Not even Eryx’s warm body next to mine could ease it. The day of thediamastigosiswas upon us, and its presence loomed over me like a dark cloud shielding the soil from the sun’s light.

To observers, it was a sport. Something to place wagers on and celebrate. To those of us participating, it was quite different.

Thediamastigosishad become a substitute for human sacrifice. Legend had it that an altercation occurred at the sanctuary of Artemis in many years past. Blood had been spilled and had disrespected the goddess. Since then, human sacrifices had been made to atone for that occasion. Lycurgus, who’d been a lawgiver of Sparta and who’d established and reformed the military and society structures, then replaced human sacrifice with the festival of Artemis Orthia where the youths going through theagogewould be scourged upon the altar.

Although some of the youths considered it an honor to take part in, showing their strength and courage, I did not share their excitement. There was no glory to be had in it for me.

What purpose did it serve apart from unnecessary butchery?

It wasn’t so much the pain I feared but the failure. Years of training and being beaten too many times to recall had toughened my skin and my endurance, but my pride was another matter.

The day before when Felix had been pushing me to fight, I hadn’t cared about a thing. But that was of course not true. I cared about Eryx. And in that instant, I had come to a sort of revelation about myself.

I could choose to die, or I could fight with everything I had within myself. It had given me a new purpose. If I fell on this day—my last moments being me trying to steal food from an altar and being flogged to death—what glory could ever come from that?

I would die for my home, but I would not die for a fruitless sport.

Eryx blew out a soft breath that tickled the back of my neck and brought me back into the moment. His body stirred as his arm came around my torso.

I smiled despite the worries in my mind.

He may be strong and seemingly emotionless around everyone, but at night or in early morning when it was just us two, he loved to hold me and be held in return. I always welcomed it, allowing it to bring me comfort.

“I can sense you overthinking,” he whispered at my nape.

Leaning back against him, I exhaled and said nothing.

Shuffling sounded from the other boys in the barracks as they shifted on their mats, still taken by sleep. We would not be training on that day because of thediamastigosis; however most of us would be partaking in the ritual.