Page 165 of Eryx

Without another word, I ran with him toward the king, dodging blows and striking my own as I went. King Cleombrotus sat on the grass, holding a hand to his bleeding stomach. He swayed before collapsing to his back.

“Eryx!” Haden shouted as he sliced at an enemy soldier. “I believed your ugly face to be dead.”

I smirked before standing beside him, helping defend our king. Cassius and Demetrius took position beside us, and together we fought off the hoplites. But it seemed with every one that we killed, more took their place. It reminded me of Tegyra.

I glanced around the battlefield for Axios.

Where are you, my warrior?

My distraction nearly cost me. As I was searching for him, a Theban thrust his weapon forward.

A shield blocked the way before the sword could strike my abdomen.

I glanced up to see Axios at my side. The relief took the breath from my lungs, and I had to force myself not to tug him against my chest. He softly smiled before his eyes widened and he blocked another hit.

Hoplites stormed our wall of shields, and we worked together to fight them. When Axios blocked with his shield, I dealt a killing blow with my sword. And then we would switch, and he’d attack while I defended. Our fluid movements came from all our years together and our ability to read each other’s intentions with only a glance.

“The king needs to be carried off the field,” Axios yelled as more enemies advanced on us. “If he doesn’t receive help soon, he will bleed out.”

As I looked at Axios, everything around him seemed to move slowly. With the loss of our allies, we were outnumbered and losing more men by the minute. Spartans fell, their blood painting the grass. A red cloak drifted upward in the breeze.

We were losing this battle. And so I made a decision.

My gaze returned to Axios, and I wished I could kiss him. One last time. “You and Haden take him back to camp.”

Axios deflected a strike before plunging a sword into a soldier’s neck. “No!” His angry gaze landed on me. “I swore to you I’d not leave your side, remember?”

“Ax…” I shook my head. He had always been so stubborn. If he stayed on this field, he’d die. By sending him away, I’d spare him at least. As long as he lived, whether I did or not—that was all that mattered. “Please do as I say.”

“No. I will not leave you,” Axios said, his voice breaking on the last word. “If we are to die, we do so together. You have always been by my side, and that is how it will forever be.”

Words failed me. How could I convince him to leave me behind when I’d never do the same to him?

Just then, a grief-stricken scream tore through the air, and I looked to see Haden with fresh tears flowing from his eyes. He roared as he attacked enemy soldiers, his movements wild and impulsive.

Axios yelled, and I followed his gaze.

Quill sat on his knees in the grass, his head angled down as blood gushed from his neck. When Axios started to run toward him, I gripped his arm and held him back. No one could survive that type of wound. Even if we made it to Quill, he’d still die. It pained me to see, but I forced myself to stay strong.

“Quill!” Axios thrashed against me, and I held him tighter.

“There is nothing you can do for him now, Ax!”

Right as I said the words, a Theban hoplite swung his sword and took off Quill’s head.

My eyes stung with tears as Axios screamed like I’d never heard before, bloodcurdling cries that would forever be ingrained in my mind.

Axios turned his face toward me as Quill’s body fell to the grass. Something broke in him then. Ever since we were children, he’d had a light shining in his eyes. And now that light flickered, like a candle fighting against the night wind. As he attacked the Theban soldiers, releasing his rage with every man he killed, I protected him.

Dozens of men fell to his sword, and by the time he lost his strength, I barely recognized him for all the blood. He blocked an attack before looking at the king.

“Eryx,” he croaked, his voice hoarse from the shouting. “He needs help.”

King Cleombrotus lay so still I thought he might already be dead, but then I saw his chest rising and falling. Slowly. He didn’t have much longer.

“Haden, Demetrius, Cassius!” I yelled.

The boys approached first, both of them fighting to catch their breaths. Demetrius had a gash on his forehead, and he wiped away the blood that trickled toward his eye. Haden bludgeoned a man in the head with his shield before rushing over.