Page 2 of Axios

Once he was back in place, the boy looked over at me. His gaze held mine for several heartbeats, and then he broke contact, not looking back for the rest of training.

The next boy did not fare so well, being knocked to the dirt not even seconds after reaching Felix.

I watched as others were called, but my mind was still on the blond who had moved with such grace, dodging the blows and standing his own against our trainer.

“That is enough for the day,” Felix said, his voice booming across the small arena. “Clean yourselves off and meet in the barracks.”

Just as I turned to leave, Gaius, one of the other instructors, spoke, “Wait!” Once everyone looked his way, he pointed at me and another boy. “You two, come here.”

Gaius was known to be cruel. As hard as Felix worked us, he had always come across to me as someone who had purpose in the punishments and difficult training. But Gaius took great joy in humiliating us.

Felix had walked several paces away and stopped, crossing his strong arms to watch the scene unfold. His jaw was squared, and I suspected he did not fancy whatever Gaius intended.

My heart beat wildly in my chest as I stepped forward, unsure of what awaited me. I walked to the spot he had instructed and stood there, looking at the other boys.

They varied in ages, and each age group was separated into what we called herds. The intriguing blond boy was in the same herd as me, but he’d always kept his distance, preferring solitude…as did the rest of us.

The other youth Gaius had pointed out was about my height and similar build, and he had raven black hair. He approached me in a timid manner with his gaze lowered.

“These youths have shown their cowardice,” Gaius said, stepping between me and the boy and putting his large hands on our shoulders. “What do we do with cowards here in Sparta?”

Boys all started yelling at once.Maim them.Punish. Whip.

It seemed they all grew in confidence once the focus was turned on someone else. A lot of them smiled as they shouted their answer, and another boy picked up a rock and threw it at me.

I ducked just in time.

“Enough!” Gaius stopped their chants and walked forward, pivoting on his heels to stare at me and the boy beside me. “As of this moment, you two are a disgrace. But here is your chance to prove your worth.”

Please, no, I inwardly prayed to whatever god would listen, knowing what Gaius had planned.

Many times, I had witnessed the instructors and some of the older men instigate fights between the trainees. It was a way to tease and humiliate the weak.

And sometimes it was a way to dispose of them.

“What are you called?” Gaius asked the boy. The boy’s answer wasn’t loud enough, so Gaius punched his arm. “Speak up!”

“Darius!” he answered.

“And you?” Gaius glared at me.

“Axios.”

He nodded. “Darius and Axios. You are to fight until one of you is unable to continue.” Shifting his stare between me and Darius, he gave a chilling grin. “And if either of you thinks to forfeit, think again. If I see you surrender, I will kill you where you stand.”

My knees shook, and I thought I was going to be ill. Darius looked as if he felt the same. I had never raised a hand to anyone other than Felix for training.

How am I to hit this boy who’s done nothing to me?

Gaius stepped back to give us room and nodded. “Begin.”

At first, nether Darius or I moved. All eyes were on us. Shouts reached my ears as the surrounding trainees egged us on. I observed them as my heart beat wildly. My throat tightened and I felt as if I was going to collapse.

Something crashed into the side of my face and sent me stumbling toward the ground.

I caught myself before I hit and turned to see what had happened. Darius stood before me, all the timidity absent from him, but his eyes still held the uncertainty I felt as well.

He had made the first move.