Page 157 of Eryx

The setting of the sun was inevitable, and soon, the light of day faded and stars appeared in the night sky. We went inside and started a fire before cuddling together on our mat and drinking wine I’d stolen from the dining hall. Axios raised his brows when I showed him, but he voiced no complaints when I poured him a glass.

I didn’t favor inebriation, yet I craved the numbness the wine brought and how it steadied my nerves. For our last night in Sparta, I thought there was no better reason to drink. I perhaps drank more than I should have because I slumped backward and closed my eyes, the empty goblet rolling from my grasp.

A raspy chuckle reached my ears before lips brushed against mine.

And then I slept.

Dawn arrived much too soon. Axios woke me by kissing my neck and whispering in my ear, calling me a sleepy bear. His face was the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes, and I smiled before tugging him closer. Our lips crushed together, and as we kissed, I felt my heart grow heavy.

We had to leave for war.

Reluctantly, I pulled from his embrace and stood. We ate a small meal before dressing and grabbing our supplies. Dew covered the grass and the spring morning held a minor chill as I walked outside. Axios wasn’t behind me.

I turned around and saw him standing in the doorway, looking at our home. His hand tightened on the doorframe before he smoothed his fingers across the wood. Yes. This time felt different. I could not explain the feeling, but it was similar to the one I’d had before we’d lost Theon at Tegyra.

This campaign would take something else from us. Haden? Perhaps Quill, who I knew we’d see again because the officers had said in our last meeting that we were stopping at Orchomenus to add to our force. I refused to think on it a moment longer… refused to include a certain name among the possibilities.

“Axios, we need to leave.”

He took a deep breath before nodding and closing the door.

Spartans were saying goodbye to their families when we arrived. Young women kissed their husbands and children ran around their father’s legs. Leanna was there with the two children, speaking with Haden. We approached them.

Icarius reached for Axios, and Leanna handed the child over to him. Axios held Icarius and bounced him, trying to make him smile. But the boy seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation, for he clung onto Axios’ neck and pouted.

“Come, sweet bud,” Leanna said, reaching for the toddler.

Icarius cried and clutched on tighter to Axios, his gray eyes leaking tears. Axios rocked him and rested his face against the boy’s hair.

My heart ached at the sight of them. We didn’t know how long we’d be gone this time. It was likely that Icarius would be walking and talking by the time we returned.

Axios handed Icarius to Haden, who held his son close to his chest. The boy cried harder and grabbed Haden’s cloak with his chubby little hands.

“I wish I was going with you,” Leonidas said, holding his head high. “It is not fair.”

“Your father said something very similar once when we were youths and watching an army depart,” Axios said, grabbing Leo’s shoulder. “But war is not a thing to wish for, Leo.”

Demetrius and Cassius approached with their shields and helmets. They were of age now to fight for Sparta. It both worried me and made me proud.

Axios and I had trained them, and I had no doubt of their abilities. But I also couldn’t bear the thought of them falling in battle. I had no children, but I knew it would be like losing a son. The pain would be unbearable.

“How far is the journey?” Demetrius asked, smiling excitedly.

“Over a week at least,” I answered. “Possibly two, depending on how fast we move and whatever obstacles we meet on the way.”

“Obstacles?” His smile fell. He might look like a man with his sun-darkened skin, rippling muscles, and masculine set of his jaw, but he was still only a boy at heart. Inexperienced in many things.

“Attacks or blockades from Thebes,” I explained, wanting him to understand the danger we faced. “All invasions of Boeotia in the past were met with heavy opposition.”

Cassius looked at Demetrius, a tender expression in his eyes. His blond hair had darkened a little over the years and the wavy strands fell past his ears. Both of them had grown so much.

“Prepare to march!” one of the commanders shouted.

Axios quickly hugged his sister before kissing Icarius on the head and ruffling Leo’s hair. I nodded to Leanna, and she returned the nod with a trembling chin. I wondered if she felt it too, the dark cloud hanging over our heads.

Haden pulled her into his arms and kissed her before breaking away and striding over to where we stood. He didn’t look back at her… I knew he wouldn’t be able to leave if he did.

King Cleombrotus rode up on his horse, joining the cavalry soldiers at the front of the army. My unit of men got into formation, and I took position at the front. The people who’d come to see us off waved and some stared with solemn expressions.