Page 137 of Eryx

“Many tales I have told you,” I said, drawing circles on his back with my fingers. “Yet, there is one that comes to mind. One of a city by the sea.”

“What made this city so special?” he asked.

I feigned shock at his ignorance, mimicking a traveling storyteller we had seen in the market in days past. “The water glistened like sapphires, you see,” I said in a wondrous tone. “Beautiful and unlike anything ever before seen. But if one looked closer… deeper… they would see the treasures that waited beneath the waves. A forgotten underwater kingdom.”

Axios closed his eyes, a soft smile on his lips.

“They say creatures lived beneath the surface,” I continued, making the story up as I went. “Men and women with fins instead of legs. They guarded the treasure of their people, for men who dwelled on the land coveted it.”

A light snore reached my ears.

“Are you listening?” I asked, amused.

“Of course,” he said, cracking open his eyelids. “What happened next?”

He fell asleep before I finished telling him.

***

Four years of war. We’d spent more time on the battlefield and traveling than we had in Sparta during that time.

The first invasion of Boeotia had been commanded under King Cleombrotus—who had ascended after Agesipolis died. The Theban border guards had been defeated, and all seemed to be in our favor… until it wasn’t. As we’d advanced to the southwest of Thebes, our army was hit and the king withdrew back to Sparta.

The second invasion was led by King Agesilaus. But once again, we were unable to take the city. Athenians had allied with Thebes and helped fortify their defenses, making the city impenetrable. When the king witnessed the Athenian leader, Chabrias, command his men to kneel behind their shields in a defensive position, he knew we were outnumbered and ordered us to fall back. We raided areas around the city, destroying their grain supply, before fully withdrawing.

Word spread throughout Greece of Sparta’s failed invasions, and more forces began to join sides with Athens. Lesbos, Byzantium, and Rhodes all abandoned our cause to side with our enemy. Men from Laconia used to be feared and revered by all, and now we were a laughing stock.

Two more invasions followed and both proved unsuccessful. Many of our men fell in the conflict, losing their lives in a seemingly endless campaign. Among them had been men we knew—Menexenos from oursyssition—and ones we only knew from afar, men who’d trained with us in theagogebut had been in different herds. After so much bloodshed and death, I became desensitized to it. So did Axios.

Following the last failed invasion, Thebes had eradicated the Spartan stronghold still at Thespiae and had taken control of most of Boeotia.

We were sent home once more. But for how long? I didn’t know. Maybe we’d stay for a week or a month. Perhaps even a year.

“What will you do when we’re home?” Theon asked during the journey to Sparta, limping from a recent battle injury but putting his mind above the pain. The wound wasn’t deep and would heal with time.

“See my wife and son,” Haden said with a strong yearning in his voice. “Leonidas was sent to theagogein my absence. Though, I have no doubt Leanna prepared him well.”

“I know she did,” Axios responded. “She has always been an athlete, and she would have instilled those values in Leo as well, teaching him javelin throwing and stamina building.”

Haden smiled. He had started growing a beard earlier that year, though he kept it close cut. It suited him. “What of you, Eryx?” he asked.

“Request that the state allow us to build a home,” I answered, adjusting my grip on my shield. “We are men of thirty now and can leave the barracks.”

Axios briefly smiled before reverting to a somber expression. “Will they approve of us living together?”

Paris scoffed from behind us. “With the war and political concerns, Sparta has enough to handle. Two men living together is of no concern to anyone.”

He spoke the truth. When we returned to Sparta and made the request, the state provided us with supplies and gave us property on the outskirts of the city. We continued living in the barracks until the house was built, and on the day we were able to move in, Axios never stopped smiling.

Neither did I.

The privacy was strange at first. We were able to embrace and make love at any time without the worry of anyone seeing. We no longer had to sneak away to the stables and return to the barracks late at night.

“The gods have smiled down upon us,” I said to Axios one summer day, placing a hand on his lower back as we walked along our property. In the distance, running water from the stream could be heard.

I had never been so happy. After four years of ongoing conflict with Thebes, we were finally able to live in peace. At least for a while.

“The gods,” he responded with an inquisitive stare. “Can we not be the reason for our happiness? Must credit always be given to them?”