“Pensions are only awarded to those who are killed in battle.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you authorize payment to be given to those killed in a whorehouse?”
“They—”
“You do not speak!” his father roared. “You listen!”
I thought you wanted me to answer.…
“Have you any idea the drain you’ve put on our resources?”
Styxx kept his gaze on the floor.
“Have you?”
“You told me not to speak.”
His father backhanded him. “I should have you whipped for going behind my back as you’ve done and draining my finances with such frivolity. How dare you!” He growled furiously then kicked at Styxx’s chair. “Get up!”
Careful to keep his expression blank, Styxx stood.
“Since you think it’s funny to spend my money so recklessly, I’m selling your farm and your horse.”
The farm he’d bought with his own coin from the blood of his own brow and back … for Bethany.
Styxx ground his teeth as pain racked him. But he didn’t dare let it show. He knew better.
“You are being stripped of your military rank. And your armor, hoplon, and swords were sold and melted down this morning. Furthermore, you are cut off financially. Since I can’t trust you to spend wisely, I’ll treat you as I do Ryssa. You will have to come begging to me for every obolos, and then only if I deem your need worthy will you get one. I’m increasing your daily obligations for work and you will pay back every single bit you authorized paid for such rampant stupidity. Now what have you to say for yourself?”
Don’t do it.…
Stay silent.
But he couldn’t. He was too raw and angry. Glaring at his father, he pulled the gold cuffs off and slammed them down on his father’s desk. Next he removed his fibula and chlamys then his shoes.
The king curled his lip. “What are you doing?”
“This is about punishing me, is it not? You’re stripping me of everything I own to pay for your soldiers. Fine. Take it. Sell it all. I don’t want it, anyway.” Styxx dropped his silk chiton to the floor. With his gaze locked on his father’s, he jerked his signet ring off and slammed it down next to the cuffs.
Completely naked and with what little pride he possessed, he turned and walked out of the room. Ignoring everyone who turned to gape at his horrifically scarred and marked body and speculate over it, Styxx headed out the main doors and descended the steps.
With no place else to go and too sick to walk very far today, he went to the barracks. Thankfully, they were empty of Didymosian soldiers.
Galen rose to his feet as soon as he saw him nearing his headquarters. “Oh dear gods, son…” Pulling his cloak off, he wrapped it around Styxx. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Galen frowned, but didn’t question him further as he guided Styxx into a chair. “Your eye should have had stitches.”
“I know. But there was no one there for it.”
Galen poured a cup of wine and handed it to him. Then he went to fetch him clothes.
Styxx didn’t say a word as he dressed. Unfortunately, Galen’s shoes were too small for freakishly large feet. “Would it be all right if I bunked with you for the night?”
“Of course, son. You know you’re always welcome wherever I am.”
“Thank you, Master Galen.”
“Highness—”
Styxx held his hand up to stop him. “I’ve been disowned, Galen.”
His old mentor gaped. “What?” he asked incredulously. “When they came for your armor and equipment this morning, I thought it was for you to be dressed in it.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been decommissioned. The king has sold off my armor.”
“This is outrageous! Why?”
Styxx refused to tell him the reason. Galen would feel guilty for his part in it and Galen was not at fault at all. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You should go to your Bethany.”
“She’s gone, Galen. She left me … a while ago.” Styxx bit back a sob at the loss of the only thing that really mattered to him.
That and his horse. He was really going to miss Troian. Bethany more, but he’d been through a lot with that horse.
“What can I get for you?”
“I’m fine, Master Galen.”
“You’re not fine, Styxx. I’m old, not stupid.”
“And I’m stupid and not old.”
Galen laughed at him. “You look like you’ve been swallowed by Charybdis and spat back out. Come with me and lie down and rest for awhile.”
Styxx started to argue, but he had a bad fever and vicious sore throat from being chilled last night after his fight with Acheron. Coughing, he followed Galen to his quarters.
Styxx lay down on the bed and Galen pulled the covers up around him and tucked them close to his body. Strange, it was the only time in his life someone had done this for him.
“Sleep if you can. I’ll be back to check on you soon.”
“Thank you, Galen.” Closing his eyes, Styxx tried to sleep, but it was useless. Too many voices and too many bad memories tormented him. And the worst were the memories of a gentle hand in his hair that he’d never know again.
January 31, 9528 BC
“Get up!”
Styxx flinched as someone slapped at his head. His fever was so high that at first he couldn’t focus on what was happening. Finally, his vision cleared enough that he saw his father standing over him.
“I said, get up, you worthless dog!”
When Styxx didn’t move fast enough to suit him, his father jerked him to his feet.
“You ever pull another stunt like this and I will have you killed while you sleep. You understand?”
No. He didn’t. Scowling, he looked from his father to Galen. “What are you talking about?”
“He doesn’t know, Majesty. He’s been burning with a fever for two days and hasn’t left the bed except to piss.”
Styxx was stunned that Galen would speak to his father like that. “What’s going on?”
His father curled his lip. “Get him cleaned up and returned to the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
His father stormed off.
The instant he was gone, Galen helped Styxx back to bed. “Rest, boy. Don’t worry about anything.”
“But my father said—”
“He’s only angry because he learned a frightening lesson over the last two days.”
“Galen, I’m too ill to follow. Please don’t riddle me.”
Laughing, Galen took a cloth from the basin by the bed and ran it over Styxx’s forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Very confused … has it really been two days?”
“It has. About three hours after you fell asleep here, the armorer took your equipment back to your father and refused to melt it.”
“What? Why?”
Galen poured wine for Styxx. “His youngest nephew is Darian and his son was Sandros.” Sandros was one of the men who’d died on their return. As with Gaius’s family, his widow and children had been denied his pension and Styxx had paid it. “He was the same man we bought the armor from originally, and he remembered how thrilled you were when he laced you into it the first time. And how you didn’t have the money yet for the helm or greaves, but humbly asked him if he would save them and allow you to make payments.” When the armorer had refused, Galen had stepped forward to loan him the money until Styxx had paid them off. “He told your father that he would never dishonor you by destroying something you’d worked so hard for and paid for with your own coin. That it wouldn’t be right to melt down a hero’s armor or sell it to another. And when your father had it taken to another armorer, he also refused once he learned it belonged to you.”
“Why?”
“He was at Halicarnassus with us … and said that having seen your bravery and skill firsthand, he would never dishonor you by di
smantling your armor.”
“I still have it?”
Galen nodded. “The third armorer brought it to me and said that he’d pay the king the value of it out of his own pocket to make sure it was returned to you intact. And then, while you slept, word from the armorers went round to the soldiers and veterans that you’d been stripped of everything because of what you’d done for us and for the families of our fallen. That your father had taken your rank, your armor, your horse and titles, and left you unclothed to wander the streets. One by one, every single member of the Stygian Omada came and threw down his weapons and stripped naked in front of the palace in protest of what had been done to you. More to the point, they vowed that they would see Didymos fall before they picked up another weapon to follow any man save Prince Styxx into battle.”
Styxx was stunned that they would dare his father’s wrath for him. “And I slept through all of that?”
“You did, indeed.”
Honestly, Styxx didn’t fully believe him until an hour later when he got up and dressed not in Galen’s clothes, but his own that had been left for him and headed outside. There in the arena, his army had gathered, and as they saw him, they struck their shields with their swords and chanted his name.
Amazed and awed by their actions, he turned around, looking at them in disbelief. Every shield there had been repainted with his personal emblem on it. A black phoenix rising. It was an act of complete solidarity. The ultimate show of their support and respect.
For the first time in his life, Styxx felt worth something. Not much …
But worth something more than the dirt under his father’s feet.
* * *
“We have a serious problem.”
Apollo arched a brow at Zeus’s dire tone. “And that would be?”
“Have you been to Didymos lately?”
“Of course.”
“Did you see the uprising?”
Apollo snorted. “You mean the army stripping naked? Yes. It was rather amusing.”
“Yes, well, what isn’t amusing is that little bugger of yours who doesn’t respect us, leading an army of men who are willing to overthrow their king for him. Can you imagine what they’d do if he wanted our temples burned?”
Apollo rolled his eyes at Zeus’s unwarranted fear. “I’ve got him in hand.”
“I don’t think you do. Nor do I think you appreciate how dangerous he could prove to be. Didymos is one of our richest city-states and she was hard won from Atlantis. The last thing we need is to lose her to them again.”
“You’re not going to lose Didymos.” But hopefully soon, Zeus and the rest would lose all of Greece.
Provided Apollo’s pact with the Atlanteans held.
Apollo knew just what to do to make sure that everyone was kept in their rightful place.
And that Styxx learned a lesson of respect that he’d never forget.
February 1, 9528 BC
Styxx was still extremely ill from his fight with Acheron. The last thing he’d wanted was for his father to call him down to his study, especially given what had happened the last time he’d been here.
His head aching, he paused in front of the king’s desk. “You summoned me, Majesty?”
His father handed the scroll he’d just signed over to the scribe on his left. He unrolled another and responded without looking up. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve negotiated a marriage contract for you.”
Stunned, Styxx was frozen for several heartbeats as that unexpected news slapped him hard. “May I ask to whom?”
“An Egyptian princess … what’s her name … Ned … Nef … Nera…” He searched about his desk. “Ah. Here it is. Nefertari. She and a royal envoy will arrive in about two weeks so that you can meet her. If you’re acceptable to her, the marriage will proceed.” His father pierced him with a malevolent glare. “You will be acceptable to her, understood?”
Don’t worry, old man. I promise I won’t piss on her.
“Is there anything else, Majesty?”
“No. I’m done with you.”
He didn’t miss the anger underlying his father’s words or the next thought …
Get out of my sight, before I do order you whipped. Ironically, his father wasn’t as mad at Styxx as he was at Acheron. The king had never intended for Apollo to find out about his brother. But now that the Olympian knew, his father was holding Styxx responsible for it.
Whatever. Styxx turned around and left then grimaced as his nose started bleeding. Knowing better than to let his father see it, he returned to his room and grabbed a cloth to hold against it while he waited for it to stop.
But what hurt worse than the remains of the beating was the shattered remnants of his heart. He didn’t want to marry a princess.
He wanted Bethany back.
Unable to stand it, he went to search for her again. Still, the chest that held her necklace was where he’d left it and there was no sign of her anywhere. For whatever reason, she’d never returned to him.
Even their original spot was completely undisturbed. Nothing had been left in his tree. No trace of her whatsoever.
Bereft, he returned to the cottage and opened the chest that contained her necklace. The moment he saw the contents, his world truly came undone.
On top of the necklace was the ring he’d given her that he’d accepted from Kreon. The one she’d been wearing the last time he’d seen her that he’d playfully twisted round her finger.
She had been here.
And this was her way of saying good-bye.
Tears fell down his cheeks as he roared in anger and overturned the table. He sent the chest with the ring and necklace flying.
At least she’d finally let him know that she was all right. That nothing had happened to her.
She’d gone on with her life, and left him to his.
Fine. There was no need in searching for her anymore. It was over.…
Like everyone else in his life, she didn’t want him. He wasn’t worthy of her heart or her love.
I am nothing.
Furious and hurt to an unbelievable level, he considered burning the cottage to the ground. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Maybe someone would happen upon it who needed a place to stay. Maybe they could find happiness here in his stead.
Heartbroken, he glanced around then left without bothering to close the door.
He swung up onto Troian and turned the horse toward the city. Without looking back, he dug his heels in and rode away from the only place he’d ever been happy.
What is so wrong with me that no one can love me? That no one will keep me?
Stop it! You’re a prince. Who are you to feel sorry for yourself?
But in his heart, he knew the truth. He wasn’t a prince. He was a just a tired whore, and the only one who wanted anything to do with him was a god he couldn’t stomach. Not because Apollo loved him, but because Apollo craved the sense of power he had whenever he made a royal Greek hero beg and suffer. Their relationship was all about dominance and force.
Pain.
Styxx’s abject humiliation and subjugation to Apollo’s higher power. He was nothing more to Apollo than a toy was to a toddler. Something to be used and discarded, or bashed against furniture whenever its owner was displeased about something.
I have no real value to anyone.…
There was no use in fighting it or crying. It was merely a fact.
Even worse, he couldn’t change it.
February 13, 9528 BC
“You’re being remarkably accepting of your marriage. Should I be worried?”
You might be if I was sober, old man.
Styxx shrugged at his father’s question as they walked toward the throne room. “This is my duty, is it not? To marry and breed for you and Didymos. It’s what you’ve trained me for.”
“I’m still shocked over your complacency.”
Styxx slowed down as he felt the mark on his back heat up to the point it stung.
�
��Apollo,” his father greeted happily as the god appeared in front of them. “Glad to have you join us for the betrothal ceremonies.”
“Betrothal?”
“Styxx is to marry an Egyptian princess.”
Apollo gave Styxx an arch stare and there was no missing the light of jealousy in his eyes. “Really? I hadn’t heard.”
Styxx knew better than to say a single word on the matter since it would only succeed in pissing off either his father or the Olympian.
“Indeed,” his father continued. “She arrived earlier and is about to be received in the throne room. Would you like to join us?”
“Absolutely.”
As the king resumed his walk, Apollo cut Styxx off. The expression on his face said he was as pleased by the news as Styxx was.
“How long have you known about this?”
“Two weeks, roughly.”
Apollo caught his wrist and pulled him into a small alcove where he shoved Styxx against the wall and held him there by his throat. “Have you forgotten who owns you?”
Styxx kept his gaze on the floor. “You’ll have to take the matter up with my father since he believes he’s the one who holds my leash.”
Apollo tightened his grip on Styxx’s throat. “Don’t get smart with me, prince. I still haven’t forgotten about the last time I saw you, and the promise I made.”
How could he forget? Apollo had promised him his full wrath. But it changed nothing. “What do you want from me?”
Apollo’s gaze turned hungry. “You know what I want.”
I’d rather be dead.
Sighing, Styxx tried to leave, but Apollo slammed him back against the wall again, hard enough to bruise his back.
“You have not learned your place, have you?”
“Right now, my place is at my father’s side. Unless you wish to have me beaten, and then I won’t be so pretty for you later.”
Apollo laughed. “You are spirited. But be careful. Even the best stallion has to be broken.”
Styxx’s temper ignited as bitter memories of being a royal stallion tore through him. “They’ve also been known to throw and kill their riders.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I thought we were talking about horses.”
Styxx (DH #33) Page 46