Page 90 of Axios

“There once was a boy who questioned all things,” he started, putting his arm around me. “Our purpose for being in this life and why the sky was blue. The question he asked most, though, was what formed the stars. ‘Are they gods?’ he’d ask as he lay in the meadow at night, pointing up at them. Another boy, who had taken a liking to him, followed him everywhere he went and tried his best to answer the boy’s many questions. ‘The stars are heroes, men who died and are now commemorated for their bravery in battle,’ he’d answer the boy he adored.”

I smiled as it occurred to me the story he told—the one of us.

“What happened next?” I asked, closing my eyes and breathing in his earthy scent.

“While each day challenged them, they only grew closer,” he answered. “And against all odds and the toughest training any man could ever endure, they fell in love.”

He kissed me then, and the story came to a close.

***

Olynthus was a long journey. If fortune was in our favor, we would reach it before winter. Having traveled the distance before, I believed we would make it in time, but it would be very close. There was already a bite in the air in early mornings, and soon, the days would only grow colder and the trees more barren.

Haden had snuck from the barracks early before we left to spend time with his family and had made it back just before we set out. When he grabbed his shield, he had such a faraway look in his eyes, and I wondered if he was thinking what we all thought.

Would we ever return?

We hadn’t been marching long and were only a mile or so outside of Sparta’s borders. There weren’t many men marching with us, so we moved at a faster pace.

Agesipolis had chosen close to two hundred or so Spartans to accompany him on the campaign—myself and my syssition, as well as men of an officer class. Ten advisors to the king as well as higher rankingperioikoiwho had volunteered came too. I believed our numbers to be too small to inflict damage on Olynthian territory, but a cavalry from Thessaly and others from allied states were to join us later.

The king walked at the front of the line, and my unit of men followed directly behind him and his advisors.

Felix had been assigned as our unit commander, and it would be the first campaign we went on together. The feeling was strange to look upon him as an equal instead of the man who trained us for so many years.

When he caught my eye, he nodded in acknowledgment, and I smiled before returning the action.

Eryx had a deep scowl on his face.

“What is the matter?” I asked him.

His eyes focused on me. “Is it wrong of me to fantasize about bashing his head into the ground?”

I puffed out a breath of air, not surprised. Even though years had come to pass since my time with Agesipolis, Eryx was still highly territorial and bothered by it.

“If you are referring to the king—ourking—then yes,” I told him. “You are in the wrong.”

“Well, he was in the wrong for touching something that was not his to touch,” he scoffed and kept walking.

I could not stop my smile from surfacing. “I must admit, Ery, seeing you so jealous is very appealing. And pleasing.”

Eryx turned his head toward me. “I am happy my behavior is giving you such joy. Truly. Although, if the situation were reversed, I am certain you would not find it so amusing.”

I considered his words and instantly felt a pang of guilt. The thought of his lips on anyone except for me made my skin prickle. And highly agitated. I would drive my sword through anyone who even tried to claim Eryx for their own.

“You will never know how sorry I am,” I said, my tone softer than it had been earlier. “There is no other I want more than you.”

“It is in the past,” Eryx responded. “Put it from your mind, and I shall try to do the same.”

I nodded and looked ahead.

Quill moved sluggishly at my side as the day drew on. Usually, Haden was at my left, but he was on the other side of Quill, and Theon was on the other side of Eryx. Quill did not complain of his discomfort, but I saw how he began to struggle a bit with the continuous weight of the shield on his arm. He was still the smallest of us, even though Theon was not much bigger.

Then a sound filled the air, and I looked at Eryx, intrigued.

He grinned at me and continued whistling. The somber mood from earlier had lifted, and I was thankful.

However, it did not last as long as I would’ve preferred.