Page 48 of Eryx

“Get clothed.” I grabbed my tunic and fastened it, my movements clumsy in my hurry. “We did not go back to the barracks last night.”

Every youth was required to be in their assigned quarters by curfew. Not even married men could break the rule. The barracks was our home until we turned thirty. Only then would Sparta allow us to live elsewhere. Punishment awaited anyone who disobeyed.

Axios, now understanding, quickly rose from the hay and searched for his tunic. It was difficult not to laugh as he fumbled with the clasp and sloppily buckled it. After we were dressed, we ran to the heavy wooden door and slowly opened it.

“Should we attempt to sneak back unnoticed?” Axios asked.

It was our only choice.

I surveyed the area, checking to make sure no one was around us, before stepping out of the stable and instructing him to follow. The sun hung low in the sky, which was fortunate. Not many people were awake yet. We might actually make it back without being seen.

We dashed across the clearing to hide behind a chicken coop before swooping down and moving along the fence to the hog pen. I caught Axios smiling as we ran forward and concealed ourselves behind a small shed. I smiled too. Sneaking around caused my blood to pump faster.

Sometimes, it was fun to break the rules. And even if we were caught, having known Axios’ touch would be worth the punishment.

We waited for a group of women to pass before darting forward into the tall grass. The early morning made the grass wet, and it wasn’t long before Axios slipped and slammed into me from behind. I lost my balance, and we tumbled to the ground like plucked weeds and rolled down the hill.

Once we stopped rolling, Axios landed on top of me with anoof.The sun brought out the gold in his eyes as he peered down at me. One look at my face and he started laughing.

“Ax,” I said, trying to keep a straight face but failing. I giggled at a piece of grass sticking out of his hair. “This is not getting us to our bunks.”

“No, but itisfun.” He glided his fingers along my jaw. “We could run away and not return. Run to the city’s edge and just keep going.”

I was about to laugh at his absurd idea… but then I saw the look in his eyes. He meant the words.

“Perhaps find a spot of land miles and miles away from here,” he continued. “Build a home and have a life. Just the two of us.”

Words failed me. I could only stare at him.

As much as I rebelled against the idea of abandoning my duties as a future soldier, for a moment… I pictured the kind of life he dreamed of.

I saw a small house with fruit trees all around. I saw Axios pluck a fig from the tree and smile when he saw it was perfect for eating. And I saw us wrapped in each other’s arms as a fire crackled beside us. There was no threat of war, no violence.

There was only us and the amazing life we built together.

A dream was all it’d ever be.

“Do you truly wish to abandon our home? Our responsibilities?” I asked, my voice quiet for I feared saying the words aloud. I feared his answer even more.

Axios nodded. Tears shone in his eyes.

“You know there is nothing I would not do for you, Axios.” I paused, dreading the disappointment I’d see in his eyes as soon as I spoke my next words. “But this… I cannot give you. You ask me to relinquish my birthright as a warrior, to run away like my coward of a father. Spartans do not run, nor will I.”

The hope in his eyes crumbled. I wondered if his heart did too.

I wished he’d toss aside these daydreams and accept our fate. Holding onto his dreams would only make it that much more painful when they were crushed.

Axios rolled off me and stood. Without looking at me, he strode through the grass toward the barracks. He wasn’t just disappointed; he was angry. I swiftly rose to my feet and followed him.

“Ax,” I called out, trailing after him. “Face me.”

He didn’t turn or slow in his step. If anything, he walked faster. I could’ve easily caught up to him, but his behavior wounded me. Probably not as badly as mine had wounded him, though. So, I walked behind him, holding my tongue even though I wanted to say more. The sun, now higher in the sky, bounced off his black hair and caused his tanned shoulders to glisten.

Even when taken with rage, he was still beautiful.

When we returned to the barracks, the boys were still asleep on their mats. Gaius, Nikias, or Felix would arrive soon and wake everyone from their slumber. Fortune was in our favor, for they hadn’t yet come. Axios walked in first and headed for his bed, and I wasn’t far behind him.

He kept his back to me as he lay down.