Page 84 of Eryx

We had to.

Chapter Sixteen

386 BC – Two Years Later

“See these men around you,” Gaius said, standing in front of us. Candles lit the otherwise dark room. “They are your brothers. Honor them. Fight for them. And die for them.”

We pounded a fist to our chests and shouted our approval. Haden roared and threw an arm around Quill’s shoulders before ruffling the smaller man’s hair. Theon jumped up and swatted at Haden’s head, which caused Haden to turn and pick Theon up with one arm, swinging him around before tossing him aside.

Axios smiled at them before meeting my gaze.

Finally, we had reached adulthood and had been accepted into asyssition. Haden, Quill, Theon, Axios, and I had been accepted into the same one, along with ten other men. We had finished our preliminary training in theagogeand were now soldiers of Sparta. From this moment forth, we were truly brothers in arms.

And I would die for each and every one of them.

“You are no longer boys,” Felix said, his voice cutting through the noise of our celebration. All men stopped and turned to him. “You will now train with the army. If called to war, you will be amongst the men who go. For tonight, celebrate this final stage of leaving boyhood behind. Forge bonds of loyalty with the men at your side. It has been a privilege watching you grow from weak youths to the men you are now.”

Gaius scoffed. “You are all still worms to me.”

Felix peered at Gaius and smiled. Something passed between them as they held eye contact and very subtly nodded. Then, they left the room.

“Where’s Quill?” Theon asked moments later.

Haden, who constantly mocked Quill’s short stature, lifted his foot to look under it. “Well, I did not step on him.”

Axios snorted a laugh, and everything else faded away as I observed him. He had changed a lot in two years; more muscle and a stronger set to his jaw. Yet, his eyes remained warm, and when he touched me, his gentle touch still comforted me in ways nothing else could.

“Miss me?” Quill asked, jumping in front of us. His dark hair stuck up around his head and his smile was mischievous. He held up a pitcher. “I have stolen wine for us. Let us drink and celebrate this special occasion.”

Theon smiled at him, almost bashfully.

Our group sat around the table and poured wine into our goblets. We spoke of our excitement about leaving theagogeand then the topic shifted to the war. Tensions had risen over the last two years. Now that we were of age, we could be sent at a moment’s notice to join the fighting.

A year earlier, an Athenian commander by the name of Chabrias had gathered reinforcements from Athens and traveled to Aegina where a Spartan unit was stationed. Chabrias and his army had set an ambush at night and waited for dawn. Gorgopas, the Spartan commander, had led his men right into the trap the following morning. He, along with three hundred and fifty of his men, had been killed.

Sparta then sent Teleutias, another commander, to rally the survivors of the ambush. They successfully raided Piraeus, a port in Athens, and captured several ships.

“Did we ever hear news of the peace talks in Sardis?” Melias asked, sitting forward in his chair.

All eyes flickered to me.

“Tiribazus summoned diplomats from each of the Greek forces to the city to discuss the peace terms,” I answered, leaving my wine untouched in front of me. “The envoys from Sparta have not yet returned. We will know nothing until they do.”

Axios’ expression was grim as he stared at his goblet. He had told me he no longer feared being sent to war. Waiting to hear the news, though, caused him apprehension. It did me, as well, but I hid the fact behind a cool demeanor.

The men in mysyssitionhad made me their leader without even saying the words aloud. Their uneasy stares in my direction and how they all turned to me for clarification of events was all the proof I needed. I had to remain confident to keep their minds at ease.

“That’s enough talk of war,” I said, grabbing my wine and raising it in the air. “Drink, brothers. For tonight is ours.”

They smiled and held their goblets in the air before taking a drink.

Weeks later, I sat outside the barracks sharpening the blade I had started carrying at my hip. We were permitted to carry weapons now that we were full-fledged Spartiates, and I took full advantage of it. The small dagger gave me peace of mind. An enemy could attack at any moment, and while I could kill a man with my bare hands, I preferred to give them an easy death.

Who said Spartans were without mercy?

I smiled at the thought and continued sharpening the edge.

Winter had passed, but remnants of it remained in the early morning air. Frost covered the grass, and I could see my breath when I exhaled. Though a slight chill still lingered, spring was upon us. Birds nested in the tree before me and sang their morning songs. Flowers bloomed in the valley. Sparta thrived with life, and as I sat alone with my thoughts, I allowed myself to find peace in the moment.