The eyes... Stefanos thought. It's in the eyes...
He could see some of the men already visualizing victory, as if by thinking over it again and again, they were creating it, moulding it out of nothing but their struggles to get there.
Yet, it was not the feel of dirt beneath his running feet that Stefanos felt, nor the satisfying connection of his wrapped fist shattering another man's face that he thought of.
His mind pulled him back to Kyniska, to her voice, her lips, her hair, the passionate look in her eyes. Like a Siren luring him onto the rocks, thoughts of her pulled him away from the competition, and possibly from victory.
"Argive?" a voice said. "Argive, you awake?" the Hellanodikai said, hoisting his purple himation over his shoulder. "What is your name?"
"Oh, ah...Stefanos,
