Page 122 of Blood of Olympus

Caelus!

What? I just wanted to tell you I can’t function without her and cannot wait to see her again.

A deep, rolling sigh was all the answer I received, much to my delight. His exasperation was a palpable thing.

I really hope I haven’t made the worst decision of my life.

After a moment, the wolf responded. The silver lining is that if you have, you’ll die if she does.

Lykos!

What? He mimicked, capturing my tone perfectly. I’m just trying to tell you that neither of you will have to live without the other, ever.

“What’s wrong?” Aros grunted from my left, startling me out of the conversation within the boundaries of my mind. “Is she alright?”

“I haven’t felt anything. I’m sure Evie has it covered.”

“She’d better. I swear⁠—”

“Aros.” I didn’t continue until he faced me. Eventually, two strained amber eyes met mine. “They’re fine. I’d know if it were otherwise.”

After a moment, he nodded.

“I’ll tell you if things change. How much further do you think we have to go?”

Aros’ gaze narrowed on the path ahead, then he turned to me with a self-assured grin. “Not long at all.”

I looked up, quickly realising the stupidity of my question.

“Welcome to Ignios,” King Arius said, a hint of warmth shaping his tone. He gestured behind himself to neat rows of simple, wooden buildings and a dirt road that led directly into the heart of the small village. “Most of our families are either here or in Vireon. Mine live with me at the Bloodhold, but I was raised here, in that building right over there.” He pointed to a ramshackle dwelling on the outermost ring of cabins. “My father died in the war against the giants, leaving my mother to raise two boys on her own. When she died of illness a year later, I was already on my way to the fortress. I didn’t receive word until months after I’d arrived, and learned that my brother had been shipped off to Kardia with the rest of the orphans.”

My brow furrowed. “Was there no one left to raise him here?”

Arius shook his head. “We’re a hardy lot, but even we can’t take on someone else’s child. It’s why most of us only have one or two to begin with — the pain of losing them is too great, and the risk of losing them, even greater. Or they, us.

Our average lifespan is the lowest of all the kingdoms, being that we’re the ones at the forefront of all these wars. Our children are taught to wield weapons as soon as they’re big enough to hold them, and every one who makes it to fourteen goes off to train at the Bloodhold.”

My mind whirled, but Aros’ connected the dots even faster.

“How do you boast so many numbers, then, if your population is dwindling?”

Arius huffed a laugh, though there was no amusement to be found in it. “The other kingdoms are required to send conscripts every year.”

“I can’t imagine they’d do all that well, given that they’re being forced into it,” I guessed.

The mortal king levelled me with a considering look. “Depends on where they’ve come from and why.”

“What do you mean?” Diana asked. She’d remained so quiet thus far, I’d almost forgotten she was here.

Arius looked her up and down — likely seeing the similarities between her and her mother but not quite sure who exactly she was. “Athenos sends willing soldiers. Volunteers trained less with their weapons and more with their minds. After a few months in the ‘hold, they shape up rather well, and usually end up becoming captains and generals due to their keen intellect and prior studies within the walls of Aegis.

“Theris’ conscripts are physically strong, thanks to their backgrounds in farming, but their minds could go either way. None come with combat knowledge and it’s anyone’s guess as to how they’ll fare in battle.

“Thaldon is not required to contribute, as they supply the naval fleets in their entirety.

“Lunarians are excellent trackers and archers. They end up training us how best to deliver blows from afar.

“Caldrians are tacticians. By law, they are only required to serve a year in our forces, but we take full advantage of their wily minds while they’re here. They remain in the Bloodhold, improving our weaponry, and assessing and improving upon our battle tactics.