Page 155 of Eryx

“Hold your tongue,” Leanna said, slapping Haden’s arm.

Icarius, who had seen his mother hit Haden, proceeded to do the same.

“There is no fairness here,” Haden said with a laugh. “I am being attacked by both wife and child.”

When Icarius wiggled and pointed toward the ground, Haden set him down. The boy plopped to his backside and grinned at Axios before pulling grass from the soil and lifting it to his mouth. I squatted down and gently slapped his hand.

“Do not eat the grass, little one,” I said.

Icarius smiled at me before trying to do it again.

“I’ve heard the women speak of war. That their husbands spoke of having to return on campaign,” Leanna said, biting one of her fingernails. A sign of her worry. “Is this true?”

“Possibly,” I answered, standing from the grass. Icarius threw his arms around my leg. “If peace cannot be decided, then yes, we will go back to war.”

“May the gods shine down on us then and help them reach an accord,” she responded. “I have watched my boys go off to war too many times. Yes, I am aware Spartan men are bred for battle, but there comes a time when the fighting needs to end and for peace to reign again through the lands.”

I couldn’t have agreed more.

***

Excitement coursed through me as I exited the council chamber and walked through the winding streets of the city. The sun hadn’t fully set but stars could already be seen in the sky. When the councilmen had first arrived in Sparta, I had been excluded from the meeting, but I’d been asked to attend that evening. The assembly had lasted for hours, all sides negotiating terms.

A decision had been made.

My feet carried me faster down the path, one that transitioned from stone to dirt as I headed for the valley. When our house came into view, I broke into a sprint.

Axios stood near the table and jumped as I burst through the front door, the apples in his arms rolling to the floor.

“Ery? What’s—”

“The fighting is nearly at a close, Ax,” I said, taking his hands in mine. “Can you imagine it? A life without battle looming over our heads.”

I had no control over my excitement. It poured from every part of me, filling my voice and making it difficult to stand still. He studied me as a smile slowly spread across his face.

“What would we do with ourselves?” Axios asked, pulling me with him as he went to the window and stared outside. His delight was palpable. “Our lives will be so ordinary.”

After a life of constant fighting and war, I wanted ordinary. Craved it.

“We’d do anything we wanted,” I answered, winding my arms around him from behind and resting my chin on his shoulder. “Whatever our hearts desired. You have often mentioned wanting an orchard right there.” I pointed to the spot. “Perhaps now we can finally have one. And even plant a fig tree or two.”

And just like that, we began to plan our future.

After deciding on the trees for our orchard, we then discussed Icarius and how we’d be able to see him grow, unlike Leonidas. So many years of Leo’s life, we had been away at war. We’d missed so much of his growing up.

“We mustn’t lose focus,” I said after a while. “Even if peace is decided upon, future conflicts are still possible. When one war ends, another begins. Eventually.”

“Ery,” Axios said, shoving against my chest as we lay on our bed. “Let me enjoy this night. Keep your pessimism to yourself.”

I cracked a smile and nuzzled my nose into his soft hair.

The next day, the officers were called to the council chamber once more. I had kissed Axios that morning before I left, my heart nearly bursting when he opened his eyes and gave me a sleepy smile. He told me to hurry back to him, and I promised I would.

When I arrived and saw the grim faces of the men, my heart dropped into my stomach. Something had happened.

“Come,” Sphodrias spoke, ushering me inside. He put his arms behind his back and paced the room. “At dawn, another meeting was held between the representatives. Dionysius of Syracuse, Artaxerxes of Persia, and the king of Macedonia all settled on the terms. Thebes did not.”

“The treaty has already been agreed upon,” I said through my surprise.