Page 121 of Eryx

A breeze circled around us, carrying with it the scent of salt, and he practically vibrated with excitement. I touched his hand. When he looked at me, the elation in his eyes took away every bit of cold in my chest.

“You have made it to the sea at last,” I said.

“I have.” His smile widened.

King Agesipolis sent messengers to our allies to inform them of the altered plans before we continued on.

As we went through the gates and entered the city, I sensed the tension in the air. People stared at us with wary eyes, and women ushered their children inside. The stone path beneath our feet echoed with the sound of hundreds of marching men. Yet, it was quiet in the city. Even those in the marketplace who fussed over selling chickens and bargained prices on perfumes stopped to watch us pass.

Spartans were known all throughout Greece for being elite warriors. Some even called us war-hungry mongrels. The people in Aphytis knew of our reputation and feared our wrath should we turn against them.

After the king made arrangements, we housed our armor and weapons in an armory, keeping only our swords in case of an attack, and the army was divided. Felix and the other Spartan commanders were led to a building farther up the hill, while theperioikoiand helots went to another. I had expected us to camp outside, but the people provided nice accommodations and a roof over our heads. More than likely out of fear.

Our unit was led to a building near the shore. The white rock formation was a stark contrast to the blue and green water beyond it. The setting sun caused some areas of the water to darken while lighting other areas in an orange glow.

Axios began to wander toward the water’s edge, and I gripped his wrist to stop him. Now was not the time to explore.

Theon and Quill entered the chamber first, running over and placing their supplies down where they planned to make their beds. Haden followed and took a spot near the wall. The room was big enough to house our entiresyssitionof fifteen men.

Axios approached the windows on the far side of the room, staring out at the sea. Waves gently crashed against the rocks. I neared him, ignoring the sapphire water and tropical terrain, for he was more breathtaking than anything I could ever see outside the window.

I stepped up behind him and kissed his shoulder.

“Come to bed,” I whispered against the back of his neck, right below his ear. “The sea will still be waiting for you on the morrow.”

“I’m not tired,” he said, and then the truth betrayed him when he yawned.

When I pulled him away from the window, he uttered no complaints. And when we lay on our mat, my chest against his back and my arm secured around his torso, he drifted to sleep.

The next day, we woke and dressed before being told where to go for morning meal. The walk to the dining hall was slowed each time Axios saw something he wanted to further investigate. His curious mind reminded me of a child sometimes, easily distracted.

“At this rate, the food will be gone,” Quill muttered, rubbing his belly as he frowned.

Axios flashed an apologetic smile and didn’t stop again until we reached our destination. The hall was simple in design but still far more lavish than the one back home. Sconces flickered on the walls and decorative tapestries were hung. This was only the soldiers’ dining quarters. I could only imagine what the grand hall looked like.

Platters of fruit, cheese, and bread were brought for us, and even though there was plenty of food, every man at the table only ate enough to satisfy his hunger and no more. After we ate, we returned outside. The blue sky stretched above us, and there were no clouds in sight.

Felix advanced toward us, wearing arm guards, greaves, and his cape. His bare chest gleamed with sweat, as if he’d just returned from training.

“Retrieve your armor and meet me down by the water,” he said, his dark hair blowing behind him, free of the leather strap he normally kept it secured with. “Our king has ordered us to stay in the city through the winter, but we must not remain idle. We must keep up our strength.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once we’d grabbed our shields and spears from the armory, we met Felix on the beach. My feet sunk into the sand as we walked, and I smiled at the challenge of practicing drills in it. But we had all endured worse than sand in our training.

“Ery, look.” Axios pointed toward the crystalline water. “It’s glistening. Like sapphires.”

“The sea is nice,” I said, shrugging.

“Only nice?” he asked before scoffing. “What could possibly be more beautiful?”

I turned to him, seeing the way the sun reflected in his honey eyes, bringing out other hues of orange and lighter brown. His skin had lost its former dark complexion because of the colder days, but it remained smooth to the touch and slightly golden. A breeze came off the sea and ruffled his black hair.

Everything paled in comparison to him: the sea, heavens, and earth.

Yet, I said none of this. Instead, I softly smiled and looked to where Felix stood waiting for us.

Felix ordered us to get in formation, placing his hands behind his back.