Page 59 of Axios

“Good day, my king,” Gaius greeted him before taking his leave.

The king acknowledged Gaius before turning his attention back to me. I struggled with what to do. With his focus on me, I couldn’t walk away for that might be seen as ill-mannered, and behavior such as that to a king would most likely earn me a handful of lashings.

Was I supposed to approach him? Or perhaps I was mistaken and he had no interest for me; therefore, approaching him might result in angering him.

Fortunately, he made the decision for me.

“Pardon my intrusion,” he said in a deeper tone than I’d expected from someone of his build. His rich, smooth voice was of a lower tenor: rumbling but pleasant to the ears. “There are not many occasions for me to watch the men train, and since I had time to myself this day, I took the rare opportunity to do so.”

I moved closer to him, leaving between us only the appropriate distance required for conversation.

He was handsome, just as I’d concluded that day upon seeing him in the marketplace. However, being closer to him, I realized he was even more so than I’d thought.

A dusting of hair covered his jaw and chin—not enough to be a beard, but enough to give him a masculine appearance. Yet, his brown eyes softened his features and exposed his youthfulness; a man not many years older than me.

“You are no intrusion, my king. I am honored by your presence.” It occurred to me that I’d never addressed a king before and wasn’t sure whether I’d used the correct title. Gaius had used the same as me, and yet, it seemed odd on my tongue, so I tried another. “Your Majesty.”

“Please do not address me as such.” He smiled. “You may call me Agesipolis. Or Agis if you prefer.”

“As you wish,” I answered, not entirely surprised at his kindness. Yet, it was appreciated all the same.

A Spartan with a gentle heart was a rarity, and Agesipolis’ nonconformity to the strict Spartan ideals was no secret. Talk of it had spread amongst some of the older men when I’d heard them speak of society and politics. Word had traveled even more since the king’s return to Sparta.

They said he was quiet and timid unlike other kings before him—tender-hearted and retiring. His father, Pausanias, had been exiled, and that’s when Agesipolis had taken the throne; unexpected and when he was still a boy. Not only was he young, but he was forced to take on the burden of his father’s abhorrent reputation as well.

“And what is your name?” he asked.

I focused back on him, realizing I’d become distracted by my thoughts once again.

“Excuse my unfocused mind, my kin—er, Agesipolis. The sun, along with training beneath its unyielding heat, has exhausted me, mind and body.” Ignoring the uncomfortable twinge in my ribs from the fight, I slightly bowed to him out of respect. “I am called Axios.”

A smile touched his lips. “Join me for a walk, Axios.”

I nodded. “It would be a pleasure.”

He might have been polite, but I did not think it wise to refuse his offer. After all, he was a king, and there were certain lines one must not cross. Disobeying a member of one of the ruling households was one of them. Even if he was well-known for being of good temperament.

As we strolled through the outskirts of the city, I wondered where his intentions lay. I was but a common young man still in theagoge, not yet a true warrior nor an adult citizen.

What purpose did he have with me?

“Do you often become lost in your mind?” Agesipolis asked, looking at me.

Although we walked outside of the bustling city, I concluded we were traveling toward the woods near his home. I’d learned the area well throughout the years and knew short-cuts to avoid coming across many people. Eryx and I had often snuck around, especially once we’d awoken sexually and desired privacy to roll around in the hay.

“Forgive me,” I said, trying for a smile but I was sure it came out more as a grimace. “It is a curse, I suppose, to forever be trapped in one’s thoughts. For a solider, distractions can be the difference between life and death.”

“Then it is fortunate you are not yet a soldier,” he said with a light tone. “From what I have witnessed on this day, I am certain you will be victorious in your endeavors when the time comes. You fight with heart and such determination. I have not seen a thing quite like it before.”

In all my years, I had never been praised for my skills—not that I felt I should’ve been. There had always been men who’ve excelled far greater than me: Eryx, Haden, and Melias. Even Theon, who was small and lacked the intimidation Spartans were renowned for, was unmatched in his swiftness.

I had improved, but my talents were average at best. Nothing extraordinary.

And yet… here the king is commending me.

“You flatter me,” I told him. “If you had witnessed my companion, Eryx, on the field, I guarantee you would not think so highly of my mediocre abilities.”

The king regarded me a moment, reminding me so much of the way Eryx looked at me sometimes, before looking ahead.