Styxx nodded. "It's why I brought them here. They have no money."
"I had no idea, my lord. You know I didn't."
Styxx ground his teeth. "Neither did I ... I should have checked on it. But I assumed-"
"You can't blame yourself."
Yet, he did. He'd been their commander. It was his job to see to it that his men and their families were cared for. "Will you do the accounting? I want to make sure everyone gets what is owed them."
"Absolutely, Highness. I'll see to it, personally."
"Thank you." Styxx started to head back toward the palace, but Galen pulled him to a stop. The old man's gaze dropped to where Elpis had soiled Styxx's chiton. Before he realized what Galen intended, the old man pulled him into his arms and held him tight.
After a moment, Galen stepped back and kissed each of Styxx's cheeks. He cupped Styxx's face in his rough, calloused palms and gave him a hard stare. Then he patted Styxx's cheek with enough force that it almost felt like a slap.
But he knew better.
"I love you, too, Galen."
"Love? Bah! You sound like an old woman. Get out of here, boy, before I take offense to you ... and my sword."
Styxx laughed at him. "Yes, sir."
I do love you, son. More than you'll ever know.
Styxx smiled at Galen's thoughts that warmed his heart and then left him to watch over the women until he could send help down from the palace.
As he started past the larder, Styxx backtracked and headed inside to pull together a platter of fruit. He carried it out to the arena where the two boys were still trying to kill each other in the unique way loving brothers did.
"Hey, boys?"
They turned toward him. He held the platter up for them to see then set it down on a small wooden bench. Whooping, they came running.
Laughing at the way they descended like starving locusts, Styxx grabbed an apple for himself and left them to their snack. He bit into it and held it with his teeth before he pulled his cowl up to conceal his identity as he normally did whenever he went about on his own.
He took the apple in his hand and chewed his bite, but his smile faded as he left the barracks and headed "home."
* * *
Bethany scowled as she followed the prince up the hill, toward the Didymosian palace. Archon had sent her here today to oversee Apollo's cooperation with their plans. But from the moment the Greek god had thrown the prince against the temple wall and she'd seen the abject shame and turmoil in those tormented blue eyes, she'd been haunted by them.
Worse was the guilt she felt for having told Apollo he could have a man who obviously wanted nothing to do with him. Guilt that had tripled when she'd heard the king's cold words to his son, and Styxx's stoic acceptance of the fact his father was a selfish asshole who held little regard for him.
She would never forget the sympathetic misery on his face as he watched his sister being offered to the god. Misery so potent that she'd feared he would be ill when he finally snuck out the back so as not to witness any more of it.
That degree of compassion had surprised her.
Yet what had truly thrown her were his actions toward the family of his dead soldier. What prince would deign to carry a sick commoner through town?
And every time she thought about the little girl wetting him, she smiled. Not because it'd been humiliating for the prince, but because of his kindness.
No, not kindness.
His humanity.
Not to mention Galen's informality and laxness toward Styxx that had spoken volumes about the prince's true nature. As did Styxx's concern for the fact that his men, both those living and dead, hadn't been treated justly. And among those men he worried over was the one who held her heart.
I have so misjudged you....