Page 159 of Eryx

“His thirst and hunger became unbearable, and yet, he still could not leave his spot,” I continued. “And so, he took the dagger from his belt and stabbed himself to escape the misery.”

“What?” Axios exclaimed. “That is a horrendous story. What happened after that?”

Chuckles followed my lover’s outburst, though many of the men shared his shock.

“He gained immortality by becoming a flower,” I answered.

“A flower?” Demetrius asked. “Well, they are beautiful. Perhaps it was a symbolic representation of him as a man. Beautiful, yet fragile.”

“Possibly,” I said, impressed by his theory. I hadn’t considered it before.

Cassius kissed Demetrius’ shoulder as he put an arm around his waist.

“Why was he unable to leave?” Axios asked.

“Some say he was cursed,” I answered, tearing apart a strand of grass. “That one of the gods was jealous of his beauty and wished to trap him for all eternity as punishment.”

“Where do you hear such stories?” Haden asked before shoving more food into his mouth.

I froze at the question. No one had ever asked me before, not even Axios.

“My father,” I said, feeling like a weight was pressing down on my chest. “I used to have difficulty falling asleep at night, so he told me stories before bed.”

I felt eyes on me, but I kept my gaze on the ground. Eventually, conversation shifted to the campaign and the men wondered how we’d ever get past the blockades. I heard their words, but I didn’t register them. All I could think about was my father.

He had made me promise to keep Spartan ideals close to my heart, to never surrender. I hoped he’d be proud of the man I had become.

That night, Axios pulled me into his arms when we lay down to sleep. I usually held him, so the change was unexpected but appreciated. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to be held until his arms were around me.

I rested my head against him and closed my eyes. He smoothed his hand up and down my back, a calming touch that helped me welcome sleep.

I dreamed of our home. Axios lay in the grass and I lay on top of him, our mouths moving together as my fingers entwined with his. There was a crack of thunder before it started to rain.

I opened my eyes to an overcast sky, still feeling the rain. Men rose from their beds and packed supplies, and it took me a moment to remember where we were. Axios touched my shoulder, watching me with worried eyes.

“I am well,” I said, standing before offering a hand to help him up. He accepted it.

“What did you dream?”

The heavy feeling from the night before returned. “We were home.”

Drops of rain streamed down his face as he stared at me, his eyes reflecting the same yearning I felt inside my heart. I lifted a hand to caress his jaw, and he leaned into the touch.

“Eryx,” Kleonymos said, bowing his head respectfully. “My father sent me to retrieve you. He and the officers wish to discuss strategy.”

My hand fell from Axios’ face, but not before he placed a light kiss to my palm. I left his side to speak with the officers, who were gathered in the only tent at the camp. Kleonymos nodded to his father before leaving us.

“The scouts have returned,” King Cleombrotus said. “There is a passage through the mountain that will take us into Boeotia from the southwest. Tell your units.”

“Yes, sir,” was echoed all around.

“Permission to speak, sir,” I said. The king narrowed his eyes at me before nodding. “Thebes has been one move ahead of us this entire campaign, blocking all routes they knew we would take. It can be assumed they have left this passage open intentionally.”

“You think they have set a trap?” he asked, rubbing his chin. “If so, we will be prepared. I’ll alert the men at the front of possible attack.”

We were dismissed and the army continued the march. As expected, a Theban force waited on the other side of the mountain. The unit I commanded was toward the middle of the line, so we saw no combat. The cavalry and soldiers in the first few rows easily defeated the Thebans before our unit reached them.

“They were too arrogant,” I said as we passed the enemy corpses. “They brought two hundred men when we greatly outnumber them.”