Excerpt: The Eromenos

Anieli sat on the edge of Chiron’s bed, monitoring the slow pulse in Ambrosius’ unmarked wrist, while Chiron searched for proper bandages for the other one. Finding said bandages, Chiron took a seat on the other side of the bed. “There is not enough time to close the wound, so this will have to do, at least for now,” he tore off the makeshift bandages the Anieli had made, tossing them carelessly to the floor as he began wrapping the new, clean ones, “How is he doing?”

“His heart is slow, but I think he is stabilizing.”

Some of the worry drained from Chiron’s face, “That is good.”

Anieli watched the boy’s face closely. Ambrosius had gone under on the way back to Chiron’s house, and Anieli had to make sure that the boy was still breathing. Said breathing was much improved from earlier; deeper and more regular.

“So you really do not know what happened, hmm?”

Anieli contemplated telling Chiron what Ambrosius had said about Lykaios. “He...” No, that was not his place. “He did not say anything.”

Anieli would not lie about such a thing, would he? He did not want to think such a thing, so Chiron believed him.

“I am going to be keeping Ambrosius here for the night; it would be best not to move him yet. So, when you go back to the barracks tonight, would you tell your paidonómos that he will be staying here with me? They do not need to know the reason. I think that this is something that should be kept between the three of us, hmm?”

“Yes. Okay.” Chiron seemed to have everything under control. Anieli looked out the window. “It is getting late; maybe I should go?” Chiron did not protest, or say anything else, so Anieli took that to mean that he really should go. “Would it be alright if I came back tomorrow?”

Chiron met his eyes for the first time since finding Ambrosius, “Yes. I think that would be a good idea.”