Page 112 of Axios
“Do you believe it will be like it was in Aphytis?” Quill asked with a hopeful expression. “I am aware we are going to reinforce the city for possible attack, but there is a chance there will not be any combat. It is only a precaution. And I do not believe Thebes is foolish enough to make any advances when our army outnumbers theirs.”
The hope was one I held as well, but knew not to voice it.
“I would not dismiss the possibility of a fight,” Eryx said, tossing a small stick into the fire and watching as it caused flames to brighten before calming again. He was so realistic and battle ready, never losing sight of potential threats. “This campaign is not one for us to relax and be merry. We’re at war. We must not allow ourselves to forget that. Be on guard. Do not lose focus, and certainly do not be distracted by hopes of peace in Orchomenus, for you will find none.”
“Do you ever enjoy yourself, Eryx?” Theon scoffed and tossed a pebble at him. “Relax? Other than the times you are balls deep in Axios?”
I choked upon hearing his last statement and cleared my throat.
Eryx smirked but then quickly composed himself. “It’s what has kept us all alive for these many years.”
“You bedding Axios?” Quill asked, sitting up and looking at Eryx with confusion on his face. “That has kept us alive?”
A moment of silence passed before the five of us burst into laughs.
Conversation shifted to lighter topics. No talk of war or what might await us in Orchomenus.
Haden spoke of Leonidas and how he could not believe his son had grown so much. Theon spoke of how he wanted to build a home for him and Quill when we returned, and Quill—who had stopped being so private in his affections—reached and took his hand.
After the fire had burnt out and was but a meager, faint glow, Eryx and I laid down to sleep. But sleep was far from our minds as his hands trailed up my back and around to my stomach, stroking my sensitive skin. Teasing. His lips found my ear and he sucked my lobe into his warm mouth.
I pressed back against him, felt the stiffness of his cock, and reached behind me to give it a slow pull.
He bit my shoulder to keep from moaning aloud. Discreetly, he removed the clothing separating us and began working my backside, slowly moving his fingers inside me.
It was me who had to keep from moaning that time. Fortunately, Eryx knew, and he put his other hand to my mouth. Once his fingers weren’t enough, I whimpered, and he positioned his thickness at my opening. The feel of him sliding into me stung at first, as it always did, but then I relaxed into it. Craved it.
His hand remained covering my mouth as he took me, slow but hard.
Once our bodies were sated and our muscles relaxed, sleep finally found us. Morning arrived too soon, and we awoke. After packing our supplies we continued the march.
It seemed as if traveling for war had become my life and that the past year in Sparta hadn’t been real. Imaging anything other than the continuous walking and sight of hundreds of men in front and behind me was difficult.
Days later, we reached Orchomenus.
The city was surrounded by mountains and rolling hills that stretched for what seemed like miles on two sides. Everything prospered with life and it was a glorious view to behold: the greenest plants and trees, and the most stunning structures of marble and stone that reached toward the heavens.
The acropolis sat atop one of the tallest hills, overlooking the valley and Lake Kopais below, and I craned my neck to see it as we passed.
The commander of the army already garrisoned in the city greeted us upon our arrival. He was called Theopompus and from what I had heard from other soldiers, he was a warmonger who constantly searched for more lands to raid and more cities to conquer. He and Gorgoleon dismissed us and then walked away together, animatedly talking amongst themselves.
We joined the rest of the army and made camp on the western shore of the lake.
Now, we wait.
For what, I did not know, but I felt uneasy.
I studied the men around us—all casually lounging on the grass or around a fire, cooking their meals. Unconcerned of any forthcoming threats.
And why would they worry?
There was no enemy charging our way and no danger in our path. As far as any other army was concerned,wewere the threat.
“What is plaguing your mind?” Eryx asked after tossing his weapons to the ground and ridding himself of his helmet. “And do not lie, for I will know.”
“In truth? I am not certain,” I answered, continuing to shift my gaze around the area. “But my stomach twists and my heart races, and there feels to be a weight settled on my chest. A burden I cannot lift.”
A memory was attempting to surface, but I could not recall it.
