I am fully aware that there are probably 12 people on the planet who have read this series and I cannot recommend it enough. I wrote a little prequel one shot about Dexios and Melia and the First time they met.
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Other people seemed to be naturally gifted at mingling, sipping cups of watered wine. Dexios wasn’t one of them. Stiff-backed, hair plastered to his forehead from the short walk up Sysisphus Hill to get to the Basileus's palace. Or maybe it was his nerves, the mere idea of being perceived by so many judgemental people at once.
Especially his father, with his long dark hair and the layman attire that didn’t fit his broad frame and burnt skin from his latest campaign.
Dexios felt out of place among them. Too young to be somewhat important, too promising a soldier to socialise with the other young recruits, too well-known as the son of the strategos to just have fun. All he could do was stand in the corner of the marble andron with his kylix in one hand, the wine untouched, trying to disappear. It wasn’t easy on the white wall, with creme coloured columns. A dark splotch of hair and a tan chiton over all that whiteness and grandeur.
Basileus Letho passed effortlessly from guest to guest, with his stridulous voice and fingers thick as sausages tracing invisible pattern in the air anytime he was particularly taken from a conversation. Behind him, a couple of servants were always ready to pass him either wine or a bite to keep their governor hydrated and fed. And Letho had to be fed a lot, given his shape.
In that precise moment, Dexios’s father was chatting with the basileus, in hushed tones, as always when something important was discussed.
Why even take me, if I have no one to speak with.
“It doesn’t seem like you’re having fun.”
Dexios almost jumped at the voice that rang way too close to his ear. His training kicked in immediately, making him turn and face the potential enemy. But there was no enemy, at least that he saw. There was just a girl, or young woman, dressed with a deep orange chiton, with stern black eyes staring at him from under two straight eyebrows.
“Sorry…”
“For what?” she asked before he could even formulate a complete thought. “For not having fun? Well, that’s just stupid to think.”
“That’s not what I meant” he finally managed to say, straightening his back and smoothing his chiton with a hand. He became painfully aware of how close she was. As soon as he stool as tall as he could, he saw the young lady lifting her chin as not to concede. “I am not in the mood for conversation.”
“Then why come to a symposium? That’s the whole point.” She smirked. “But don’t worry, I will not force you to converse if you don’t want to.”
“Then why come here?”
“You were looking rather lonely, and aside from a couple of old lochagoi that know since I was a child, there’s not many people to talk to.” She shrugged and got a fresh kylix from a servant passing by. The took it to her lips with grace and took a small sip. “At least you aren’t talking about was, imminent war, possible war and again, war.”
That comment made him smile. “I get that. Unfortunately I am an hoplite and a lochagos, but I will keep my opinions for myself.”
“Lochagos? You must be barely 25.” He eyebrows shot up in a look of surprise. Then, recognition. “You must be the stragos’s son, then. The star of the evening… you’re not as I imagined you. My father wouldn’t stop talking about Agelaos’s son.”
“And how did you imagine me?” he asked.
The young woman cocked her head and sucked her teeth, thinking. “How do I say it… I imagined you better in such a context.”
“I’m not a good people person. I am not Polydius.” He felt himself blush, but there was nothing he could do. “I am sorry to disappoint, both you and apparently your father.”
“Neither of us is so quick to judge, don’t worry. But maybe it would be good for you to talk to him.”
“Who is he?” asked Dexios, stupidly.
“I’ll take you to him. But promise me you will try and say something.”
“Can I at least know your name, first? You know mine and my father’s. It’s only fair I know yours.”
The lady tucked a curl behind her ear. “I am Melia.”
Alex Robins is an author of fantasy novels. He writes the War of the Twelve series and the Ruined Gods series. Alex was born in Norwich, England, but moved to Nantes, France when he was 12. He grew up reading fantasy novels such as the Dragonlance Chronicles and The Lord of the Rings, but he also read science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction. Alex is married and lives in the France’s Loire Valley.
The Ruined Gods
Panacea (2022) — Buy on Amazon!
Caduceus (2023) — Buy on Amazon!
Metanoia (2023) — Buy on Amazon!
Titanica (2024) — Buy on Amazon!
War of the Twelve
The Broken Heart of Arelium (2021) — Buy on Amazon!
The Ashen Hand of Kessrin (2021) — Buy on Amazon!
The Burning Tears of Morlak (2021) — Buy on Amazon!
The Obsidian Eyes of Klief (2022) — Buy on Amazon!
Robins combines a fleshed-out fantasy society with engaging characters to create a “slumbering evil awakens” novel that embraces the tropes without seeming derivative. …
Science and conspiracy collide in new play Fireworks by Alex Robins
Science and conspiracy collide in new play Fireworks by Alex Robins
Science and conspiracy theories are trying to answer questions in their own ways. We got in touch with Alex Robins and Jack Bradfield writer and director of the new play Fireworks to ask them questions about science, conspiracy and telling brilliant stories
