Page 126 of Eryx

“There are plans I have kept secret,” the king said in clear voice. Eloquent, even. “I did not wish for the enemy to catch word of my strategy and ruin the element of surprise. The only people who know of the plan are the commanders and me.”

Axios tensed at my side and took a deep breath. Anticipating the worst.

“I’m dividing the army,” Agesipolis continued. “One force will be sent to Olynthus as planned. The other will storm the gulf of Torone and take the city. Torone has provided aid to Olynthus in this fight and remains a strong ally. Without their essential aid, Olynthus will eventually fall.”

He’s brilliant,I thought to myself. It was a tactic I would’ve used.

The commanders then spread word to the men at the rear who were too far back to have heard the plan. The army traveling to Olynthus would be led under General Eudamidas and would consist of both Spartan and allied forces. The king would lead the one set for Torone, taking a small group of Spartans andperioikoiunits with him. Oursyssitionwas chosen to accompany him.

The army was then separated, the larger force continuing north while the rest of us changed course for Torone. From the corner of my eye, I saw Axios turn his head toward me.

“Do you believe this plan will work?” he asked.

I understood his fear. Our unit had fewer men, only two hundred or so. Maybe more. Not nearly enough to conquer a city. However, he failed to realize our advantage in this strategy.

“Even though the words will taste like venom on my tongue when I speak them, the king has a keen intellect concerning battle and is a true leader to be feared,” I said in a rigid tone. “The city of Torone is not prepared for an army at its gates and will fall with very few of our soldiers’ lives taken. I know this in my heart. Agesipolis is a commander unlike any I’ve seen before.”

Axios grinned, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“It sounds to me as if you fancy him,” he said, his grin widening.

“This is not an implication that I like him,” I denied with a scowl. “Only that I respect him.”

He pressed his lips into a line, saying nothing further even though I suspected he wanted to.

What irritated me was not Axios taunting me… it was that I feared a part of him was right. For years, I had failed to see what had drawn Axios to the king. Now, I had a better understanding.

Agesipolis was soft-spoken but authoritative when he had to be. As he walked in front of us, he radiated confidence. But not arrogance. His mind was sharp and his body was strong. A true Spartan.

It frustrated me because I didn’twantto like him. Hating him was easier.

Hours passed as we walked. The other army should have already reached Olynthus, since we’d only been two miles outside of the city when the king announced his plan. I said a silent prayer to the gods for our men to claim victory. The scenery shifted from countryside to glimpses of the sea again as we neared Torone.

Before we reached the city, the king halted us. When he turned to address us, he removed his helmet and I noticed the paleness of his skin. We had been walking for a while, but his exhaustion seemed to go deeper than that. However, he then stood tall and observed us with determination.

“The left flank will seize control of the acropolis,” King Agesipolis said, motioning toward the men. His dark eyes flickered to me. “The rest of you will storm the harbor and capture the ships. Prevent any of them from fleeing.”

Again, I admired his keen mind. The acropolis contained supplies for the military, as well as acting as a place for refuge. The city would fall once it was seized. Taking control of the fleet would not only prevent Torone from sending word to their allies about the raid, but it would also cut off supplies to Olynthus.

The king then gave the order for us to advance. He’d be joining the force set for the temple, along with Theon, Quill, and Haden. Axios and I would go to the harbor with Ian, Melias, and the others. We crouched low through the grass and entered the woods that led down to the water. As we hid ourselves in the trees, moving with stealth, I brushed my hand to Axios’, our sign that no matter what happened, we’d be together.

He nodded to me and faced ahead.

The men shifted behind me, as if choosing me as their leader. The action was unexpected but I held no complaints. I only hoped I’d warrant their respect.

I held up a hand to halt our unit once we reached the edge of the woods. The beach stretched before us, and I counted a dozen men walking the shore. Many more were hidden elsewhere, probably checking cargo on the ships. While we waited for the signal to attack, I quickly developed a strategy. Our group would need to attack the men along the shore and also storm the docked ships.

If any of the ships left the harbor, the raid would fail. I quickly explained my plan of attack, and the order was passed along the lines behind me.

Cries of war sounded from atop the hill. The battle had begun.

“Now!” I roared, charging toward the dock with my sword drawn.

The men on the beach flipped around in surprise and clumsily reached for their weapons. I sliced one of them across the chest before knocking another to the sand with my shield. One man leapt at me and I thrust my blade into his throat before withdrawing it and driving it into another man’s gut.

Spartans raided the ships, taking control of the fleet in little time. The element of surprise aided in our victory. Torone hadn’t been prepared in the slightest. After many men fell at the harbor, their blood staining the sand, the rest fell to their knees and begged us to spare their lives.

Ignoring their pleas, I approached one of them and raised my sword.