Page 27 of Eryx

“Are you eager for the dining mess?” I asked, bouncing a bit as I walked.

“I do not feel one way or the other over it,” Axios answered with a slight frown. “It will be just another evening to me.”

Did nothing make him happy?

“Yes, but,” I stopped and turned to him, grazing my hand down his forearm, “there will be merriment, food, and wine. And I’m sure the men will speak of their time in battle—tales of scars, triumphs, and experiences as soldiers. It will be excellent.”

Excitement bubbled inside me. I couldn’t wait to learn from the men.

Axios smiled. “If you say so, it must be.”

The leisurely walk was nice, but I had too much energy building inside of me. The excitement for the dining mess only intensified it. It was rare for me to let my guard down. Our days were spent preparing for our futures as soldiers, leaving no room for childish games. However, Axios brought out a part of me no one else saw.

“You know what else I say?” I asked, and something in my tone made his smile widen. “If we race to our spot by the stream, I will win.”

“You’re mistaken, Ery,” he countered. “Here, let me prove it.”

Axios took off running.

As I sprang after him, my feet slid in the dirt and scattered pebbles. I laughed as I stared at his quickly retreating form on the path in front of me.

“Cheater!”

“What’s the matter?” he called over his shoulder. “Too slow?”

Oh, he’d be sorry when I caught up to him. I planned to tackle him to the ground and tickle him until he pissed himself.

I shot after him, quickly gaining speed. Scars streaked his back from all the lashings through the years, but like a true Spartan, he’d withstood the pain and used it to make himself stronger. His heart, though, had remained soft. He rebuked the harming of helots, even though that treatment of them was necessary to keep them in line.

Ahead of me, Axios slowed in his sprint to look at a group of women standing outside a small house. The older women shook their heads at the pair of us, but the younger one—a helot girl—beamed and waved at him.

My thoughts drifted to the night after thediamastigosiswhen Axios admitted to finding the dancing girls beautiful. Did he think the same of the helot girl? She was young and still held a carefree attitude, smiling when she should’ve dropped her eyes to the dirt. Perhaps Axios fancied this about her. Many times, I’d seen him staring longingly at my body.

Did he only stare because he wished to have my physique?

Not knowing the answer irritated me.

That irritation pushed me forward, carrying me faster along the path. We ran past the tall grass swaying in the field and the olive trees before passing the larger tree we’d climb after an exhausting day in the arena. Lounging in the shade of the branches as I told him stories had become one of my favorite pastimes.

At the curve in the path, I darted past Axios and descended the hill into the valley. I stayed a foot or so in front of him, not using my full speed.

“Perhaps you would be faster if you weren’t gawking at the women, my friend,” I said with a laugh, tossing him an amused look.

His dark hair ruffled like raven’s feathers in the wind as he continued to run after me. Determination sparked in his honey eyes.

My humor only went surface deep. I detested the notion of him pursuing a woman someday, of another person receiving his shy smiles and gentle caresses. Very little stayed secret between us, but I couldn’t speak my private thoughts to Axios. Not when the admission could tear apart our friendship. Nothing was permanent in this life, yet I couldn’t bear to lose him. And even if he did return my feelings—my desires—I knew nothing could come of it.

We were men of Sparta. Our only goal in this life was to fight for our home. Better for me to forget the yearnings of my heart.

The path went on for much too long and I grew tired of following it. Making a quick decision, I dashed to the right and cut through the knee-high grass. Axios laughed from behind me. The sun warmed my neck and caused sweat to bead on my skin, so I headed for the barrier of trees. The woods would provide a nice shade to keep us cool.

Sensing Axios catching up to me, I grinned and picked up my pace. I’d been going easy on him, allowing him to think he had a chance of beating me, but it was time to leave him in the dust. He stumbled through the shrubs behind me, cursing under his breath. I found the path through the undergrowth that led to our secret place and didn’t stop until I was beside the stream.

“I told you I’d win,” I said, once he’d barreled into the small clearing.

“Only because I allowed it,” he wheezed, resting his hands on his hips. Leaves were stuck in his hair and a thorn bush had snagged his leg, leaving a very thin cut.

I smiled at his fib but didn’t call him out on the lie. It was satisfying enough to see him huff to catch his breath.