Page 5 of Eryx

Now he stood beside Felix and Gaius, facing the dark-haired boy.

“These youths have shown their cowardice,” Gaius roared, putting his large hands on the boys’ shoulders. “What do we do with cowards here in Sparta?”

“Maim them!” a boy beside me shouted.

“Punish!”

“Whip!”

The behavior came as no surprise to me. Every boy, regardless of which herd he stood in, knew the rules of the game. They would gladly sacrifice one of their own if it meant saving their own hide. Darius and the other boy were diversions. Better for them to be punished.

I didn’t share those thoughts.

One of the older boys picked up a rock and threw it, grinning as he did. The dark-haired boy ducked right before it hit him. Before I could stop myself, I moved toward the boy who’d thrown the rock with the intention of… I wasn’t certain what I intended. All I knew was anger.

“Enough!” Gaius shouted. That one word pulled me out of my rage and made me halt in step. The chanting silenced instantly. He pivoted on his heels to glare down at Darius and the boy. “As of this moment, you two are a disgrace. But here is your chance to prove your worth.”

Understanding dawned on me, and I looked at the dark-haired boy. His once calm expression now morphed to horror. He had understood as well. My gut tightened.

“What are you called?” Gaius asked Darius. Darius cowered even more, gaze cast downward, and mumbled a response. Gaius punched his arm. “Speak up!”

“Darius!”

Gaius then glared at the other boy. “And you?”

“Axios.” Despite the shaking of his hands, his voice didn’t waver.

Axios, I played the name in my head. It suited him.

“Darius and Axios,” Gaius said with a nod. “You are to fight until one of you is unable to continue.” A chilling grin spread across his face. “And if either of you thinks to forfeit, think again. If I see you surrender, I will kill you where you stand.”

Darius trembled and visibly paled as he eyed Axios. Was he comparing their size? Calculating who had the advantage? Axios stared back at him, but instead of fear I saw sadness. Confusion.

Gaius stepped away from them. “Begin.”

Neither of them made a move. Boys yelled all around me, encouraging them to fight. They wanted a good show. Entertainment to end an exhausting day. Fools. All of them. This was not a time for cheer. Axios and Darius would be forced to fight until one of them was knocked unconscious or too bloody to continue.

Axios glanced at the shouting youths, his gaze darting between them. While he was distracted, Darius rushed forward. I tried to call out a warning, but it was too late. Darius reared back his arm and swung, hitting Axios so hard in the face he stumbled backward.

Regaining his balance, Axios snapped his head toward Darius, shocked. Instead of the timid boy who’d cowered in the presence of Gaius, Darius stood taller and faced Axios in a defensive stance.

The shock on Axios’ face faded and resolve took its place. He squared his shoulders. The boy who refused to let the world beat him down had made a decision.

He’d chosen to fight.

Axios lunged forward and cracked his knuckles against Darius’ cheek. Darius cried out and touched his face. Then, he rushed forward. Their bodies collided and punches were thrown as they became a tangle of thrashing limbs.

The fight was brutal. Exactly as Gaius wanted. He watched with a smug smile. He cared little one way or the other who won. To him, the strongest would endure and that’s all that mattered.

Felix, however, showed his disdain. He had trained both boys that day and thought them to be worthy. If he’d believed them to be weaklings with no hope, he would’ve slit their throats in the dirt earlier. But Gaius cared not. He wanted the weakest boy to be humiliated.

This wasn’t the first time Gaius had forced two youths to fight. It was common. The defeated boy was treated harshly for days afterward. Once, a boy’s injuries were so severe that he died days later.

Though I didn’t quite understand the reason why, I said a silent prayer to the gods that the boy with the beautiful raven black hair and honey eyes would live to see another day.

The boys continued to brawl.

Darius jabbed Axios in the stomach, and Axios slammed a fist to Darius’ chest. Blood splattered each of their faces. Axios’ nose was busted, as was his lip, and Darius didn’t fare much better. I followed their movements. Darius became predictable, attacking the same way each time. His body language was very telling of his intended move.