Page 99 of Axios
Agesipolis traveled with the Spartan,perioikoi,and smaller allied force, while the larger force continued north to Olynthus. Spartans were divided between the two armies, with the more battle experienced men—Felix amongst them—heading north, while the rest of us went to Torone.
The king did not seem troubled that we were short men. In fact, he seemed confident as we walked—not arrogant as the Spartan commander Polycharmus had been during the first encounter at Olynthus before meeting his death—but self-assured in his warfare tactic.
Eryx was at my right, and I turned to him. He faced ahead and all that was visible through his helmet were his eyes and mouth.
Catching me looking at him, he returned my stare, and even though his eyes were partially blocked from the helmet, I still saw the questioning gleam in them.
“Do you believe this plan will work?” I asked.
He knew so much more than me when it came to strategic maneuvers, and I refused to allow myself a moment of hope until he reassured me.
At first, Eryx did not answer. He gave me a serious expression before sighing. Dread knotted in my stomach as I worried over his thoughts. If he believed the plan to be unwise, then I feared we were all doomed.
“Even though the words will taste like venom on my tongue when I speak them,” Eryx said in a rigid tone of voice. “The king has a keen intellect concerning battle and is a true leader to be feared. The city of Torone is not prepared for an army at its gates and will fall with very few of our soldier’s lives taken. I know this in my heart. Agesipolis is a commander unlike any I’ve seen before.”
Eryx narrowed his eyes at me as I grinned. Hearing him speak so highly of the king amused me.
“It sounds to me as if you fancy him,” I said in jest, still grinning as his narrowed eyes became an absolute scowl.
“That is not an implication that I like him,” he denied, tearing his gaze from mine to stare ahead. “Only that I respect him.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from saying anything more.
Taunting him before battle—even if it was a likely easy task—was not wise. A simple battle or not, fighting would occur. Men’s lives would end, whether it be from our side or from theirs, and it was a moment to be taken seriously.
We’d been walking for a while, and I wondered how the other army was faring. They should have already made it to Olynthus by then and therefore, probably in the midst of combat. As for us, we were nearing Torone.
The sea came into view again, but it no longer held the bewilderment it once had as we approached. It was a different area than Aphytis, one that was on the verge of war, and thoughts of beauty were far from my mind.
Agesipolis halted our advance before we reached the city. He stood tall and possessed such poise as he told us the details of the raid.
The left flank was ordered to seize control of the acropolis—not only a temple and shrine to the gods but also a stronghold that housed military supplies and was a place used for refuge. Once it was taken, the city would fall thereafter. The right flank was charged with storming the harbor and launching an attack on any ships that tried to flee.
Control of the fleet would prevent any ships from leaving to alert allied cities of the raid, and it would also help cut off the supply of goods to Olynthus for the siege.
As the king talked, I studied him. Something was off.
His once sun-kissed skin appeared paler, just as I had noticed days before during the farewell feast. Yet, it appeared even more so that day. Dark shadows lay beneath his brown eyes, but I concluded it must be from the stress of war and the nights of sleep lost to it. He had the burden of the entire army on his young shoulders, and that amount of responsibility would take its toll on any man.
I did not have time to ponder upon it any further. The king gave the order to begin the carefully planned maneuvers.
Theon, Quill, and Haden went with the group to take the acropolis, and Eryx, Ian, Melias, and I were part of the unit that headed toward the harbor.
As we moved with stealth, hiding ourselves in the trees, Eryx brushed his hand against mine. It had become a thing he did before every task that caused trepidation—a reassurance that he was by my side.
When we reached the edge of the trees and were near the beach, we waited to advance. Once the unit of men attacked the temple, we would then charge the waterfront during the commotion. If fortune was in our favor, there would be no lives lost on our side.
I did not favor the idea of any men on their side dying, either, but if it was between us or them, I’d rather they were met with the ends of our swords.
Eryx furrowed his brow as he focused on the shore. He looked so lethal in that moment—determined eyes and a body that was both strong and agile. It was an unspoken decision, but the men in our group had chosen him as our leader for the raid.
They followed behind him and cast glances his way—watching for his signal to move forward.
Men stood beside the dock. I counted a dozen, but there was probably more that were out of sight. They casually moved, unaware of the hidden threat.
Then, I heard the screams from atop the hill.
Battle had begun, and we charged from the coverage of the trees to attack the unsuspecting men.
