Axios: A Spartan Tale by Jaclyn Osborn

Author:Jaclyn Osborn [Osborn, Jaclyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-19T04:00:00+00:00

***

The Spartan envoys returned days later. Eryx and I had just dismissed the group of youths and were discussing a trip to the agora, when we saw them enter the city. They moved quickly amongst the crowd that had gathered upon hearing of their approach and headed straight for the council.

Finally, we’d know the fate of the war and whether we’d be celebrating peace that night or preparing for a campaign in the morning.

My gut knotted. Not from fear, but from the anticipation of receiving news at last. I looked at Eryx, and his expression told me he felt the same.

“It shall be a while yet before they provide us answers,” he said, moving his stare from me to the retreating forms of the messengers. “The council must be told and Sparta’s next move must be discussed in full before they inform the masses.”

“How long do you suppose that will take?” I asked, battling through my impatience.

The not knowing was the worst part.

Eryx shrugged. “Perhaps they will announce it soon… or it may possibly take all evening and we will not know until the morrow. I cannot say for certain.” He peered at me from the corner of his eye. “There are ways we could pass the time until then.”

I tried—and failed—to hide my smile. “You’re insatiable. Is my body all you fancy?”

He quirked a brow before gripping my forearms, angling his face down to mine and speaking in a low tone, “Run.”

“Aren’t we too old now for such childish games?” I asked, taking pleasure in challenging his plans. “Besides, I believe I’ve become a stronger runner, and I do not wish to wound your pride by beating you.”

“Run,” he growled again.

The fire in his eyes caused my own desire to ignite and I took a step back. Slowly. I knew the moment I took off running he would be right on my heels. My statement about beating him was nothing more than a taunt and a blatant lie because I’d lose just as I always did.

After taking several deep breaths, I glanced to the left and saw the path that led toward the meadow. And then I started running, moving so fast that I momentarily slipped on the pebbles underfoot, but I quickly gained my balance and kept going.

As expected, he was behind me, only a stride or two away and almost in arm’s reach.

We’d chased each other through this meadow and through these trees so many times, I’d lost count. The destination remained the same, though. To our stream, hidden in the woods. It was the one place where nothing could reach us, where it was only him and me and no one else.

This may be the final time we ever see it.

If the news the envoys carried was that the peace talks had ended and war continued, it would be the last day before everything changed. I wondered if Eryx had come to the same conclusion and was the reason why he wished to go to our stream.

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