"Lift your elbow," Estes whispered in his ear. He gently pushed it up to show Styxx how to stand properly. "Hips straight." His uncle dropped his hands to Styxx's hips and twisted them slightly. As he did so, Estes's groin pressed up against his buttocks, letting him know his uncle was fully erect.
Styxx's eyes widened in shock.
"Release!"
Completely unaware of the arrow's trajectory, Styxx let it fly and quickly stepped out of his uncle's embrace so that there was some distance between them.
But Estes acted as if nothing had happened.
Had he imagined it?
Estes smiled. "You got him, little squirrel! Congratulations."
His thoughts still on the disturbing intimate contact, and whether or not it was intentional, Styxx blinked, not understanding what Estes had said.
Xan clapped him on the shoulder as he joined them. "Great shot, Styxx."
Only then did Styxx realize he'd made the kill. The other men were already at the deer, inspecting it. Noe had a small cup he was using to capture some of the deer's blood.
"What are you doing?" Styxx asked him.
"It's your first kill. You always drink the blood of your first." Noe held the cup up for him to take.
Grimacing in distaste, Styxx hesitated.
"It's all right," Estes said from behind him. He pulled out the wineskin and more of the dried meat. "I have this ready to banish the taste. But it is a rite of passage we all take."
Xan took Styxx's bow and smiled at Estes.
Not sure about this, Styxx lifted the cup of blood. Closing his eyes, he drank it then shivered in revulsion as the salty, metallic taste assaulted his taste buds.
Gah ... how could a god stomach drinking human blood?
"Here." Estes swapped the meat for the cup.
Styxx quickly shoved it in his mouth and chewed it then drank the wine. His uncle was right again. It thankfully killed the taste immediately.
"We'll all dine well tonight." Leon grinned at his friends.
Kastor winked at Leon. "Good thing, too, for I am long famished for the hindquarters of an unsullied buck. Even if it means sharing him with the lot of you."
They all laughed.
Frowning, Styxx didn't understand what was so funny about his comment.
"So who gets to clean our meal?" Nestor asked.
Estes tossed his dagger to land at Nestor's feet. "It's your turn to skin and cook the venison. And the five of you can draw straws for dessert." His uncle put his hands on Styxx's shoulders to guide him away from the others. "Come, Styxx. Let's get that blood off you."
"What blood?"
"On your chiton."
Looking down, Styxx cringed as he realized he'd spilled some of the deer's blood on his clothes. I am completely incompetent.
What else was new?
Estes grabbed his saddlebag and led him to where the brook widened to a stream. He handed soap and towel to Styxx. "You might as well bathe the day's sweat off, too."