Page 91 of Eryx

Unlike his previous return from war, Nikias didn’t fare as well this time. More scars marked his face, and he had been wounded in his leg. He walked with a heavy limp, even after the injury had mostly healed. As a cripple, he would not be permitted a place in the army any longer.

“Death would be more favorable,” Haden said with a sad shake of his head. “A Spartan’s purpose is to fight for his home. Without it, he has nothing.”

“There is to be a celebration in honor of their return,” Theon said. “A night of dancing and festivity. We should attend.”

“Yes, Haden need not be the only one getting his prick wet tonight,” Quill added. The men grinned and some chuckled, probably thinking the same as him. The only one not smiling was Theon. “Perhaps I can discover how wet and soft a woman truly is.”

Theon scowled at his words and crushed the cheese in his hand before tossing it on the table and leaving the dining hall. The rest of us followed.

“This is where I leave you,” Haden said, once we were outside. His body shook a little. I empathized with him, as I had been the same way before taking Axios to the stables the first time we had lain together.

Haden turned and strode away from us.

Noise from the celebration drifted over to us—the strumming of a lyre, someone softly singing, and men’s voices rising in excitement. Women danced together in front of the fire, their gowns floating up with their graceful movements.

Quill strolled over to one and rested his hand at the small of her back, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. She giggled and swatted at him before grabbing his hand and rushing over to the stable. Once there, Quill backed her up against the wall and kissed her. She ran her hands down his spine, submitting to his advances.

Then, they ran off together.

Theon glared at their retreating forms before stomping over to Ian and Melias. His anger intrigued me, but I wasn’t one for prying so I put it out of my mind. For now.

Nikias stood in a group of other men. Upon seeing us, he limped over.

Axios smiled at his approach, but his eyes gleamed with sorrow. He had such a kind heart.

“Axios. Eryx.” Nikias stopped in front of us, and when he smiled, the action stretched the multiple scars on his face. “Join us by the fire.”

“Of course,” Axios said, and we followed Nikias over to the other men.

We sat on logs around the fire and listened as the men recounted their stories from the war. All of them were scarred in some way—a gash across the eye, scars on their arms and chest, and one had his whole arm wrapped. It must’ve been broken.

“I can still smell their bodies burning,” one man said, as he spoke of a raid in a village. “Women, children, all screaming as the flames scorched their flesh. Very little remained once the battle was over.”

Axios grimaced, and dropped his gaze to his hands.

“Here’s to Idas, who took a blade to the gut to save my hide,” another said, raising his goblet. “Our brother will not be forgotten.”

The men around us nodded and raised their glasses, too, before taking a drink.

The stories grew darker and gorier after that. I leaned forward and listened as one Spartan spoke of watching a man have a sword plunged through his neck. Another mentioned how he would never forget the screams of the dying men on the battlefield.

Axios seemed stunned as I asked questions. Where he was fazed by the horror of the fighting, I wished to know all I could about it. What techniques did the enemy use, how long did the fighting occur before one side claimed victory, and did they fight on difficult terrain?

“Our king fought bravely at our side,” Nikias said. “Many of us wouldn’t be here now if not for him.”

The men nodded.

“You should’ve seen the king,” another man said to us before taking a drink. “Agesipolis might be quiet, but when he is on the battlefield… he is a man to be feared. He laid siege to Mantineia. The city’s walls were high and the crops had just been gathered, so the people would’ve been able to hold off for a while. But no. The king had the idea to block off the main river near their city and caused it to flow right into their wall. After a while, the water weakened the wall and put the lower ground of the town underwater, leaving them no choice but to surrender.”

Now Axios was the one who leaned forward and eagerly listened. There was a twinge in my chest as I watched his eyes widen at the story.

Did he still think fondly of the king? Did he ever remember the king’s lips and how they felt pressed to his? Another question entered my mind, and it felt like a dagger to the heart even considering it.

Did he ever wish I was him?

Axios reached over and grabbed my hand. I lifted my eyes to him and squeezed his hand as the irritation left me. His touch brought me back from that dark place in my mind.

As I asked another question about the war, Axios lost interest and stared at the men who were cooking meat nearby. His thumb slowly moved against mine even when his mind was far away.