Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Styxx sucked his breath in sharply as more pain racked him.

Galen shot to the bed to make sure he was all right. "Don't move. You've been extremely ill."

Styxx tried to understand what was going on. "W-why are you here?"

"Why do you think? I heard you were dying."

And Galen had left his daughter to be with him....

Styxx coughed before he spoke through his dry, hoarse throat. "I'm sorry I interrupted your time with Antigone."

"Sorry? I'm rather sure you didn't do this on purpose." Galen helped him sit up then poured him some wine. He held the cup to Styxx's lips so that he could sip at it.

"How do you feel?"

Styxx swallowed before he answered. "Like you ran over me in your chariot."

His gray eyes irritated, the old man sighed. "You are never going to let me forget that, are you?"

Styxx smiled then grimaced. "How long have I been ill?"

"A week."

A week? He frowned at Galen's unkempt state. "When did you get here?"

"Five days ago."

That explained the way Galen appeared. He'd come immediately and had ridden hard.

Styxx took Galen's hand and squeezed it. "Thank you."

Galen inclined his head respectfully. "Your men have all gathered as well and are awaiting news of your health. I think the sight of their loyalty and love of you has frightened your father."

Beautiful. Just what he wanted to deal with.

"May I ask a favor, Galen?"

"Anything."

Styxx cringed as more pain hit him. "There's a small cottage on the edge of town ... part of a small farm."

"Your woman?"

He nodded. "Her name is Bethany. Please let her know that I'm ill, but thinking of her. And that I'll see her as soon as I'm able to travel."

"Do you want me to bring her to you?"

"No!" He licked his chapped lips then lowered his voice so that no one could overhear him. "She doesn't know, Galen."

"Know what?"

"That I'm prince. I ... um ... I kind of lied to her. She thinks me a merchant's son and that I'm your foot soldier. Please, don't tell her otherwise."

Galen gaped at his words. "How can she not know?"

"She's blind."

"And you've never told her the truth?"

He shook his head. "She thinks my name is Hector."

Galen laughed and clapped him gently on his shoulder. "You're the only prince I know who wouldn't have forced her to your palace to be your slave or mistress."

"She's happy where she is."

Galen glanced around Styxx's ornate chambers. "Don't you think she'd be happier in a palace, draped in jewels?"

Styxx scoffed. "You know better than that. Money means nothing to her, and honestly, I'd rather be in her cottage with her than here."

Galen smiled at him. "We pig farmers must stick together, eh?"

"Indeed."

"You rest, Highness, and I will see the matter done for you."

* * *

Bethany stood as she heard the approach of a horse. By the sound of it, she knew it wasn't Hector's. Dynatos came to his feet to growl and bark.

Her hand on her knife, she cocked her head, waiting to see if her visitor was friend or foe. Until she knew for certain, she held on to Dynatos's collar.

Someone with a very heavy footfall approached her hesitantly. "Are you Bethany?"

"You are?"

"Galen. I'm the top strategos to Prince Styxx."

Why would the leader of the Didymosian army be here?

Unless ...

"Hector?" She stumbled from the pain of his death. Dynatos circled her, trying to calm her down.

"Shh, my lady." Ignoring her dog, Galen pulled her up against his hard, muscled body. "Your Hector lives, but he's very ill. He asked me to get word to you."

Closing her eyes, she breathed in relief, and patted his hand. "Thank you, Master Galen."

"You're trembling," he said as he released her.

"You scared me. I thought I'd lost my Hector."

"So you do love him?"

Her breathing ragged, she nodded. "More than my own life."

"Good, because he is completely devoted to you, my lady. In all our travels and battles, I saw him turn away countless women by saying he had a lady at home whose trust and heart he would never willingly break."

Those words brought a smile to her lips. "Really?"

"Aye. While other men, married and betrothed, wenched and drank, he kept himself sober and loyal. And I can see why. He spoke of your great beauty, but even his eloquent words failed to do you justice."

She smiled. "Again, thank you."

"He also wanted me to let you know that he'd come to you as soon as he was able."

Tears filled her eyes at Hector's consideration. Even sick, he thought of her. "Please send him my best and tell him that I won't breathe again until I see him...." She swallowed then used Hector's words he spoke whenever they were parted for very long. "That I will be counting down the beats of my heart until his return."

"I will do so. Before I go, do I need to get you someone or-"

"Now that I know he's all right, I'll be fine, Master Galen. Thank you."

He patted her hand. "Should you need anything in the meantime, please don't hesitate to come to me. I live in the palace barracks."

"I appreciate it, but I'll be fine."

"Very well. I bid you good day, my lady."

Bethany didn't move until he was gone. But as he rode away, she frowned. Why would such a high-ranking member of the prince's army run an errand for a lowly foot soldier?

October 31, 9529 BC

Still weak and in pain, Styxx paused in the doorway of Ryssa's room. His father and sister were downstairs with the priests and advisors making plans for her coming union with Apollo.

Except for Galen and the occasional servant who brought food and drink, Styxx had been left alone to recover. Though during the first days of his return to consciousness his men had formed a steady line of well-wishers through his room, finally, both he and Galen had convinced them to go home to their families. Their time was much better spent there than in the barracks.

Today was the first time he'd been strong enough to leave his bed unassisted. And he'd come straight to see his brother.