Page 127 of Axios

Icarius wiggled around in his arms, clearly wanting to be set down, so Haden did as he wanted and placed him on the grass. Immediately, he plopped on his backside and beamed up at me. His attention moved to the grass, and he grabbed a handful of it, ripping it from the soil and trying to put it in his mouth.

Eryx bent and gently swatted the baby’s hand, telling him eating grass was bad. Icarius just grinned at my lover before trying to do it again.

“I’ve heard the women speak of war. That their husbands spoke of having to return on campaign,” Leanna said, putting one hand on her hip and biting a fingernail on the other. It had always been a habit of hers while we’d grown up, and our mother had detested it, saying it was un-ladylike. Leanna had only grinned and then belched before saying she was no lady anyway. “Is this true?”

“Possibly,” Eryx answered, standing up and regarding her. “If peace cannot be decided, then yes, we will go back to war.”

“May the gods shine down on us then and help them reach an accord,” she said with an uneasy expression. “I have watched my boys go off to war too many times. Yes, I am aware Spartan men are bred for battle, but there comes a time when the fighting needs to end and for peace to reign again through the lands.”

Her boys.I smiled despite the sadness in her voice.

I did not favor the notion of returning to war—especially after having lost Theon during the last battle, and then ultimately Quill as well—but if it was decided upon, I would go without question. We all would.

***

Eryx told me the news when he returned from council one evening.

Terms had been decided on, and all looked to be going well. Each leader agreed to uphold the autonomy of all thepoleisby arranging to have their armies withdraw from any cities they were currently garrisoned in.

“The fighting is nearly at a close, Ax,” he spoke with exuberance, taking my hands into his. “Can you imagine it? A life without battle looming over our heads.”

His excitement ignited my own. Icouldimagine it. I’d been imagining it before we’d even reached adulthood.

“What would we do with ourselves?” I asked with an uplifted tone, pulling him with me as I went to the window and looked out into the thriving courtyard. “Our lives will be so ordinary.”

Ordinary, yet everything I had always yearned for.

“We’d do anything we wanted,” Eryx answered, letting go of my hands and pressing his chest against my back. He rested his chin on my shoulder as he wound his arms around me. “Whatever our hearts desired. You have often mentioned wanting an orchard right there.” He pointed to the area. “Perhaps now we can finally have one. And even plant a fig tree or two.”

I smiled as his words called to mind glimpses of that life, one I had believed to be unattainable but seemed so close in that moment.

Even though we had been home for several years, we had not made any plans regarding orchards, or anything else permanent. As much as we’d known, our time in Sparta had been limited. Planning for the future had not been an option.

But now the fighting might end at last.

And the possibilities were endless.

We spent the rest of the night speaking of things we wished to do: our orchard, training more of our youths, teaching Icarius how to walk or at least being home for when he took his first steps, and possibly learning a new skill.

Even if a peace was issued, we would still need to be cautious of war and remain effective in our training, but there would be opportunity to try new things. Growing up, we had only briefly learned skills such as reading and arts, and I wished to know more about them. To learn song and dance.

After we talked, we made love. We kissed, touched, and laughed with such freedom, with such liveliness. I felt like a youth again, young and still astounded by the world around me, before I’d been tainted by the knowledge of my harsh reality.

Eryx and I were only thirty-four years in age, but I felt older most days.

But not this night.

That night, I felt free.

When we finally rested and lay within each other’s embrace, my heart was full. Elation coursed through every part of me, and it took me no time at all to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep. No darkness awaited me in my dreams; only beauty and golden light.

The next midday; however, everything changed, and the rare moment of bliss shattered.

Eryx returned from a meeting with the other officers, and his face was grim. I was in our courtyard, watching a rabbit hop from one bush to the other, when I saw him.

“What is it?” I asked, alarmed, and got to my feet.

He squared his jaw and looked toward the grass, shaking his head. “Thebes rejected the demands.”