Page 4 of Eryx

As he walked, he almost fell down several times, but he gritted his teeth through the pain and made it to the line without doing so. Blood dripped down the backs of his arms, and his sun-kissed skin was scraped and bruised. Once he stopped in the line and stood still, he surveyed the boys again.

I couldn’t help but smile when his eyes met mine.

His dark hair fell past the tops of his ears, and his gaze roamed my face. As if taking in my appearance just as I was doing to him. He wasn’t close enough for me to see them, but I knew his eyes were the color of honey. Warm and light.

“You!” Felix demanded, pointing at me. “Here.”

Boys around me shirked back and stared with wide eyes. I looked away from the dark-haired boy and approached Felix. Gazes burned into my back as I left the group and walked through the small arena. Many of the youths feared our trainer. I knew better than to fear him. He had to make warriors of us, and any weak links would weaken the army as a whole.

Once I reached the spot he’d indicated, I looked up and awaited his next command.

Felix walked circles around me.

I followed him with my eyes, turning my head slightly when he was at my back. He’d tried to intimidate me many times but was never successful. It mattered not if he towered over all of us. I refused to buckle before any man.

His black hair was tied in a leather strap at the base of his neck, and the heat of the midday sun caused the scarred flesh on his chest to glisten with sweat. A scowl marked his face. He circled me once more, slow and heavy footed. His body language spoke of his intended attack before he even acted on it.

Behind me, he suddenly raised his weapon.

I ducked to avoid his blow and rolled to the left before getting to my feet.

“Good,” Felix said.

He lunged for me, and I slid forward in the dirt, going under his outstretched arm. I jumped back up and pivoted around before kicking him in the back of the knee. He might’ve been a large brute, but I was fast.

Felix stumbled before righting himself.

The boys gasped. None of them had ever been able to get a hit on our trainer. How foolish it was to feel pride at their amazement, yet I did.

Distracted by the group of youths, I wasn’t quick enough to dodge Felix’s next attack. He hit me in the back of the head and I fell into the dirt. My pride hurt more than anything. I was a fool for letting myself become distracted while in combat.

Felix swung again, aiming for my back.

I rolled out of the way before the rod crashed down on me. My head stung from the impact earlier, but I ignored it and got back to my feet, facing off with him. He didn’t hesitate before swinging out his leg and trying to trip me. I jumped to avoid it.

“I will make a true warrior of you yet,” Felix said, then told me to get back in line.

My attention drifted to the dark-haired boy once I’d returned to my spot. His mouth was agape and his breathing was quick. Had he been concerned for me? Our gazes held before I broke contact.

Other youths faced off with Felix. One boy was knocked down only moments after reaching our trainer, and the rest lasted longer, though they limped away with scrapes and wounded prides.

“That is enough for the day,” Felix said, after the last youth had his turn. His mighty voice boomed around the arena. “Clean yourselves off and meet in the barracks.”

The dismissal cut through the tension in the air, and boys started to leave. Grateful they survived another day.

“Wait!” Gaius stepped forward, a sneer in place. He mostly observed us, letting Felix do the brunt of the training. When he did interfere, it was usually to humiliate or punish us. “You two, come here.”

He pointed a beefy finger at the dark-haired boy and another called Darius. My fist clenched at my side. I had a feeling this wouldn’t end well.

Felix crossed his arms and squared his jaw, glowering at Gaius. He either didn’t approve of or was irritated by what the other man intended. They had often butted heads in the past, quarrelling over the best way to teach us. Where Felix was tough but fair in his teaching methods, Gaius could be cruel.

The boy who’d captured my attention for unknown reasons stepped forward, holding his head high. I knew he was frightened for I saw the shaking of his hands, yet his expression didn’t falter.

Darius slowly stepped forward to join them in the center of the arena. He had a similar build to the other youth and the same black hair. His composure slipped when he eyed the trainers, his timid nature becoming known.

I had only spoken to Darius once or twice. In our herd, I kept to myself, preferring solitude. Many of the youths felt the same. However, Darius had approached me once and quietly asked if I’d share my meal. He’d appeared so weak at the time and his ribs had protruded from his skin. I’d seen other boys steal his food at meals, and he never fought them. An easy target.

To this day, I didn’t know why Darius approached me. I was far from welcoming. I’d heard some of the boys even whisper when they thought I couldn’t hear and say I was cold. I had given Darius part of my food, and he’d offered his thanks with watery eyes.