Page 108 of Eryx

Theon and Quill walked in front of us, their helmets nearly too big for their bodies. It was somewhat amusing. Haden was to Axios’ left and removed his helmet, carrying it in one arm while he held his shield with the other.

“What is the first thing you intend to do when we return?” Theon asked, looking at us over his shoulder. The sun hung low in the sky, a sign we would make camp soon. “I will discard this damned armor and barricade myself in our quarters to sleep.”

“I do not know about you fools,” Haden said, smirking. “But I plan to bed my wife with so much vigor that she will not be able to properly walk for days.”

Axios made a sound of disgust and glared at him.

“Why do you scowl?” Haden asked him, lifting his brows in mock innocence. “I was only answering Theon’s question.”

Axios elbowed him in the gut, and Haden hardly reacted to the hit. If anything, it appeared as though Axios hurt himself more than doing any damage to our friend. I hid my smile as I turned my head toward the trees we passed.

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

I looked at Theon. The jealous rage I had witnessed over the years was present in his expression. The sense of betrayal in his eyes was a feeling I knew well. I imagined that’s how I had looked when Axios told me of his kiss with the king.

Could Quill not see that Theon felt more for him? That it hurt him to hear such things?

Silence hung in the air as we continued the journey. Theon kept his eyes away from Quill and Quill remained oblivious. As always.

When we made camp that night, Haden started the fire and cooked the rabbits we’d caught earlier. It wasn’t much meat, but it was a nice change from the dried meat we’d eaten every day for weeks.

“How is your shoulder?” I asked Axios as we found a spot on the grass to lie down.

“A bit sore,” he answered, lifting a hand to touch the wrapping. “The armor has aggravated it, I’m sure. Do not worry your mind over it.”

“Let me see.” I reached for his arm, and he sighed before allowing me to check the wound. I undid the wrapping, pleased to see it was healing nicely. After the cloth was back in place, I softly kissed his shoulder and reclined on the grass. “Come here.”

Warmth filled his eyes as he joined me on the makeshift bed. “You are demanding. Have I ever told you this?”

I stroked his unshaven jaw, admiring the short stubble that had grown during our travels. “Perhaps.”

“And perhaps I secretly enjoy it.” He kissed my fingertips, one by one, his honey eyes holding me captive. As he rested his head beside mine, he still didn’t look away. “I prayed to the gods, you know. That day during the battle. I knew not if they existed and if they could even hear me if they did, but I prayed to them anyway.”

“Did they answer you?” I asked, linking our fingers.

“We are alive, are we not?” Axios rolled to his back and stared at the sky. “When the enemy closed in around us, and we were moments from death, I accepted my fate. If we fell, we would go together. That’s the way I wish for it to be, Ery. I do not want to live in a world where you do not exist.”

His lids fluttered closed, and his breathing slowed not long after. As he welcomed sleep, I played over his words. I felt the same. Living while he perished would be a fate much worse than death.

The march continued for another fortnight. Though the days were long, I held no complaints, for each step we took brought us closer to Sparta. As Mount Taygetus appeared in the distance, Axios smiled and walked with more vigor. The unknown land around us shifted to the one we knew; a terrain I could walk with my eyes closed.

When we entered the city, we were greeted by women who sought their husbands and friends who had stayed behind. Demetrius and Cassius mingled with the crowd and they waved when they spotted us. None of us soldiers acknowledged the eager throng of people until our commander dismissed us.

Once we were relieved of our duty, Nikias approached. His leg must’ve been bothering him more that day because he used a walking stick. Or perhaps he had needed one all along and had been too proud to surrender to the need.

“I am pleased by your return,” he said, patting Axios on his injured shoulder.

Axios winced before flashing a somewhat pained smile. Before I could stop myself, I lashed out.

“Take your hand off him,” I said, shoving Nikias away.

Nikias stumbled before righting himself. Both he and Axios stared at me in shock. Pushing a cripple was beneath me, I admit, but seeing Axios in pain had overrode common decency.

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

My eyes narrowed at him of their own accord then I turned to Nikias. He’d meant no harm. “My apologies. Travel has made me weary and has placed me in a foul mood.”

I told the truth in part. Travel had taken much from me. Worrying over my warrior had taken even more.