About Pasion's Dream

by Kate Cotoner
33 pages / 7500 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

Pasion of Miletos has suffered from insomnia for over a year. He's traveled the length of the Eastern Mediterranean in his search for a cure, and desperation leads him to the shrine of the healing god Amphiaraos. There Pasion meets Kyronides, his former beloved and once the most beautiful youth in Athens. An accident has robbed Kyronides of his sight, and if the shrine's priests can't cure him, Kyronides will be sent into exile.

Finally able to tell Kyronides why he was forced to end their relationship, Pasion discovers that the truth cures his affliction -- but as the days pass without a miracle for Kyronides, Pasion must think of another way to heal his beloved.

Sample

Kyronides laughed. "You spoil me, Pasion."

"I'm merely following the orders of your physicians." Pasion settled on the steps beside him. "We're even facing the direction of the northerly breezes, which I'm told have a drying quality. Northerly winds at sea tend to bring cold winds and wet storms in my experience, but the priests tell me I'm ignorant of climatic medical lore and should trust their judgments."

"Their success rate is very high. Amphiaraos is a generous god."

Kyronides spoke quietly, but Pasion heard the anxiety and hope in his voice. Ashamed of the flippant comments, Pasion took a barley cake, split it, then heaped it with lamb and scattered white crumbs of cheese on top before placing the food in Kyronides' hand.

They dined, enjoying the still warmth of the evening, the murmur of the sacred stream and the pleasant song of a nightingale from the forest. The breeze bore the slightest tang of the sea along with the residue of the slow, dusty heat of the day. They passed the wineskin back and forth, and conversation was limited to meaningless chatter about acquaintances and the latest dealings of the courts. Neither of them offered anything more personal, and by the end of the meal, tension clenched Pasion's stomach.

The slaves packed the leftovers into the basket. At a sign from Kyronides, they withdrew, taking the food to share between them. Alone with his former beloved, Pasion exhaled, knowing what would come next.

Kyronides didn't hesitate. "Why did you leave me?"

Even though Kyronides deserved nothing less than honesty after all this time, Pasion heard the evasion in his reply. "It was in your best interests."

"You gave me no word, no sign that you were dissatisfied with me. I thought we were happy."