Page 58 of Eryx

I held his hip with one hand as I slowly pumped into him. The furrow of his brow smoothed once he’d grown accustomed to the feel of me. That’s when I moved a bit faster. His eyes rolled back as his nails dug into the dirt.

I didn’t need to die to see paradise.

I was already there.

***

After our bodies were sated, we continued the hunt. Axios walked beside me, occasionally stroking my elbow or smoothing his palm over the curve of my backside. He enjoyed touching me as much as I enjoyed him doing it. We caught a few rabbits and decided to return to the city as it was getting late in the day.

The sun was still high in the sky, but it would be lowering for its slumber soon.

Once back with our group, I handed the rabbits to a helot. The boy bowed his head and took the rabbits before rushing off to skin and cook them for evening meal.

Haden approached, and his massive body cast a large shadow behind him as he faced the sun. All of us had grown the past two years, and he was no exception. He’d always been large and he was even bigger now.

Younger boys from theagogejoined us in the yard. I recognized their terror-stricken faces, for I’d seen the same expression on my brothers’ faces once upon a time. We’d come far since then. As Haden passed them, they cowered together and stared at him as if he was a god in their presence.

“You fool no one,” Haden said once in front of us. A smirk played at the corner of his mouth as he looked between me and Axios. His gray eyes missed nothing. “The rabbits are not all you impaled with your spear, my friend.”

Axios slapped him on the shoulder and turned red. I quietly coughed to cover my laugh.

“Doesn’t it hurt, Axios?” Quill asked, after running over from the fire pit to join us. “I have often wondered. Having something put up...there.It seems highly unpleasant.”

Somehow, Axios blushed even deeper and appeared as if he’d rather hide behind the shed than endure another moment of this conversation.

“That is absurd,” Theon chimed in, popping up on the other side of Quill. “Of course it doesn’t hurt him. Have you not heard his moans in the dead of night when they think us asleep?” His brown eyes crinkled as his smile widened. And then he began to speak in a higher pitch, “Oh, Eryx! Right there. By the gods, do not stop. Harder. Oh, yes.”

Axios gaped at our small friend. My poor raven had become the target of many jests because he was so much fun to tease.

“To the arena!” Felix’s voice boomed from the training field.

Axios shook his head at Quill and Theon before brushing past them. I followed after him, unable to hide my smile. Even once we were side by side, I continued to smile. He shot me an annoyed glare, but I saw the underlying amusement in his eyes.

“You enjoy my humiliation,” he said, bumping my arm.

“Indeed. I do.” My grin widened when he scoffed.

Theon and Quill giggled behind us but fell silent once we reached the arena. Neither Gaius nor Felix appreciated their silly behavior and both men stood in the center of the field, glaring at all of us.

The younger boys from theagogestood to the other side of them, some shaking with nerves while others appeared more confident.

“Observe these young men,” Felix said, motioning to our herd. His dark hair fell freely around his face, ruffling in the light breeze. “They have lived and breathed theagogefor many years, have undergone the most challenging of obstacles, and have proved themselves worthy. Soon, they will complete their training and join asyssition.”

The youths stared in admiration. Even the ones who’d been cowering and close to pissing themselves only moments ago stood a little taller, as if seeing us gave them the encouragement they needed to be strong. We were what they hoped to one day become. Skilled and lethal fighters. Survivors of the toughest training in all of the Greek world. I remembered staring at Linus and Nikias that way.

How strange it was to be on the other side of it now.

“Everything you are about to face, they have faced,” Felix continued. “Any fears you hold within yourselves, they once held, but they have long since thrown away such weak emotions.”

I glanced at Axios, admiring him in the same way the younger boys admired us.

He’d changed so much throughout our years of training, yet he’d never lost himself in the chaos. He’d grown stronger and finally accepted the Spartan way of life… but I still caught him staring at the stars when we sat outside each night. I caught him smiling, ever so softly, at the butterflies fluttering in the valley. Sparta had shaped him into a man, yet signs of the curious, beautiful boy remained.

“You,” Gaius said, pointing at Haden. “Step forward.”

Haden obeyed without question. He stepped from the line and stared ahead, awaiting further orders. The youths stared at him with wide eyes. I suspected Gaius had chosen Haden because he was the most intimidating in appearance.

“Tell me. What have you learned of being a soldier?”