Infinite 01 - Infinite Sacrifice

They drink unmixed wine as soon as they get home and drink until they stagger back here in the morning. Not a one fit for you, if that’s what you’re up here thinking.”
    I realize he’s right. There isn’t one with good qualities.
    He looks out onto the fields instead of at me, with his hand nervously perched on the edge of his lips. “I know I’m young”—putting his arm down, he directs his beautiful, shining green eyes at me—“but I don’t look helot at all.”
    I turn away immediately, not at all expecting him to say what he did.
    “Look at me. Look at me, Alcina.” He grabs both of my shoulders and forces me to look at him. “No one knows you better than me.”
    I look down, not knowing how I can turn him away.
    “I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
    “Theodon, this can never happen.”
    I put my hand up, wanting to avoid this embarrassment, but he pulls it down; an unfamiliar fire flashes in his eyes.
    “I know that’s not possible, but at least give me this. Instead of some useless stranger! I will stay if you will grant this. I would stay here forever.”
    How could this happen? What can I say?
    He exhales purposely and tenses his jaw as he states, “I know you care about me too.”
    I pull away from him, but he steps toward me. “Why else would you take all this special interest in me? All of the other helots see how different you treat me. How you have never made me lift a finger on this farm.”
    He takes another step closer, and I can feel his breath on my neck.
    He whispers, “I can see that you love me when you look in my eyes.”
    How can this be happening!
    He tries to catch my eyes, but I avert them now. I can’t think of anything to say that will make this all go away. He reaches down to hug me like he has so many times before, but now it feels under a different intent. I push him away and run out to my cliffs, hoping he won’t follow me, hoping I’ll think of something that will make this all disappear.
    That night I come back home after he’s asleep, and Ophira’s waiting up for me.
    She asks, “What happened?”
    I explain what occurred, and she holds her hand to her mouth the whole time in horror at the predicament. Something horribly twisted, yet she understands completely.
    She says, “We need to send him away at once to start his own life.”
    We both nod and cry.

Chapter 6
    The next day, I call for a boy to bring me Proauga. Even though she’s my oldest horse, she’s still hardy and fast enough. I ride her like I did so many times when I was young, over my cliffs and down to Nereus’s by the harbor.
    He hears me gallop up and is leaning in his doorway. “Oh, to what do I owe this honor?”
    I hop off and tie her reins to a small tree by the house. “I need to look at your helots.”
    He smiles immediately. “I’ve heard of the order.” He purses up his lips as though he’s up to something. “You’re more than welcome to my helots, although I don’t think any of them are as fine as Theodon there.”
    I cringe.
    “He’s not so young. That should not sway you. He can do the job at seventeen.” He looks up to the sky. “Oh, to be seventeen again.”
    “No, Theodon is entirely out of the question. I’m practically his mother,” I say, wishing I can take practically out so he will stop this conversation.
    “I see, all right, fine, then. My helots are your helots.”
    With a smile, he sweeps his hand across the field to show me all of them working below.
    “Is there one or two that stand out?” Squinting, I try to discern them from our distance.
    He looks down. “Well, if I was, say, interested in men”—he looks back up, straight in my eyes—“which I’m most certainly not, I would have to say there is one fine helot who’s going to be joining up next month with the Citizens’ Army. Very Spartan-like.”
    “Which one is he?” I say with my hand over my eyes to block the glare.
    Nereus points to a tall man with broad shoulders as he heaves a bale of hay onto a cart. He is nice-looking and does have a pleasing shape.
    “How’s his temperament?”
    “A good worker and never causes any trouble.”
    “Do you mind sending him up to the farm tonight, so I can talk to him and see if he would agree?”
    Nereus smiles wickedly, and I know this is too much fun for him. “I’ll do what I can.”
    Part of me is nervous he’ll wreck the whole thing, but it’s my only option. I get back on Proauga and ride back home. I pass right by