Page 82 of Axios

I could not imagine how the men who went on yearlong campaigns felt.

“What is the first thing you intend to do when we return?” Theon asked as we walked. He and Quill were in front of me, and I was between Haden and Eryx. “I will discard of this damned armor and barricade myself in our quarters to sleep.”

For the majority of the trip thus far, we had found talking as a good way to pass the time. I was uncertain of the exact number of days that had passed, but from studying the landscape, there were specific markers I recalled from our previous journey and concluded we had less than a fortnight left before reaching our destination.

“I do not know about you fools,” Haden said, holding his helmet in one arm and his shield in the other. “But I plan to bed my wife with so much vigor that she will not be able to properly walk for days.”

Disgusted, I glared at him.

“Why do you scowl?” he asked with a look of pure innocence and shrugged. “I was only answering Theon’s question.”

When his lips twitched with a smile, I elbowed him in the stomach. Which felt much like hitting a wall of stone, hurting me more than doing any damage to him.

“I plan to find me a woman and do the same,” Quill said, shooting Haden a smirk. “It’s been too long since I’d felt a woman’s touch.”

If I hadn’t been looking at Theon when it happened, I would’ve missed the flash of hurt in his brown eyes as he stared at Quill before looking away. The expression was one I recognized too well, one I had seen Eryx give me when I told him of my kiss with the king. Not only disappointment, but betrayal too.

Silence followed, and we moved together on the path at a dawdling pace. The sun was nearly at the horizon, and once it sunk below it, we’d be stopping to make camp.

Nights were spent around a fire, warming ourselves and relaxing our aching muscles after marching for so many days. Days that had begun to blend together into one enormous expedition of infinite walking. Blisters had formed on the soles of my feet and hunger ravished my insides. However, our spirits remained high even through our fatigue, for we were going home.

Once we reached Sparta’s borders, all would be right in the world.

When the terrain shifted to one of familiarity, my heart nearly burst from my chest. Mount Taygetus stood mighty as it grew larger with our approach.

I knew those fields and the trees standing within them. The scent the wind carried was one of cooking meat and the smell of fallen leaves. The hill in the distance was one I’d sat atop with Eryx as we’d watched the sunset.

I’m home.

The friends we had left behind greeted us when we finally arrived within the city, as did a group of youths who looked to now be commanded by Nikias. Amongst the boys’ faces, I recognized Demetrius. He waved and the relief on his young face was apparent, even from yards away.

The commander—who had been assigned to escort us home—dismissed us from formation before veering toward the right, where I was sure he had a family of his own waiting at the end of the trail for him.

“I am pleased by your return,” Nikias said, clapping me on my injured shoulder.

I winced. It had mostly healed within the month and a half journey, but it was still tender to the touch.

“Take your hand off him,” Eryx growled, shoving Nikias away.

I gave him a look of surprise and shook my head at his fierce protectiveness. Ever since I had been wounded, he’d watched over me like a hawk. The gash had been deeper than I’d believed, but I would deny Eryx the satisfaction of being right by admitting it to him.

He was insufferable enough as it was with his constant coddling of me.

Irritating… yet endearing.

“I’m fine, Ery. Do not kill the man for simply greeting me as friends do.”

Eryx narrowed his eyes at me before turning to Nikias. “My apologies. Travel has made me weary and has placed me in a foul mood.”

“There is no offense,” Nikias said and smiled, the action causing the scar on his face to stretch and downturn a corner of his lip. Although the former battle injury in his left leg had healed and years had passed, he still walked with a heavy limp. He turned toward the dining hall and strolled a few paces before looking back at us over his shoulder. “Perhaps after a warm meal and a good night’s rest, you will find yourself in better spirits come morning.”

Ian and Melias joined us next, and we all walked to evening meal together.

***

Life had not resumed as expected. I was home, yet, I was a changed man. The relief at being sent home was tarnished by the guilt of leaving men to fight—and die—in my place. Yes, I still believed that inciting war in Olynthus was not our place, but as part of the peace treaty, it was Sparta’s responsibility to aid in any cities that needed our assistance.

Whether I believed it just or not, it was our duty.