Chapter Text
On the day before the Winter Solstice, Andromache and Quynh left during the night. When Nicolò realized it he woke Yusuf and showed him the note:
"Back this afternoon with the virgin. It will be great fun to sacrifice her. If you could find a couple of bottles of good wine it would be good. Andromache."
"I don't know if I can witness this," Nicolò said. "Because I don't see the fun in sacrificing a young girl."
"Me neither," Yusuf replied. "When they show up again, we'll tell them that we won't take part in their ritual."
Nicolò nodded vaguely and Yusuf wrapped his arms around Nicolò.
"I can come up with an excuse for you not showing up to work today," Yusuf offered. "If you need the day off."
"I need to do something else than think of what is to come," Nicolò replied. "But thanks."
Nicolò kissed Yusuf before they went to work. Yusuf worked as a teacher, while Nicolò worked as a translator. Nicolò were truly grateful for all the people that needed translation today because it prevented him from thinking of the sacrificing of a young girl.
When Yusuf came home, he found Andromache and Quynh standing in the kitchen.
"Hi Yusuf," Quynh said. "How was your workday?"
"It could have been better," Yusuf replied. "We need to talk about the girl you're planning to sacrifice this evening. Could you not..."
"Hold on," Andromache cut in. "Did you and Nicolò actually believe that we were planning to sacrifice a girl? A real living girl?"
At that moment Nicolò entered the front door to the sound of laughter.
"I can't remember the last time we laughed like this," Quynh said while holding around her ribs. "And you were right, Andromache. The look on their faces is worth it all."
"Did I miss out on something?" Nicolò asked as he looked at Yusuf.
"I got the feeling that they haven't told us everything about their planned sacrificing of a virgin," Yusuf replied. "Or am I wrong?"
"Sorry, but we couldn't help to make fun of you when we saw the look on your faces when we mentioned the sacrificing," Andromache replied. "And you owe me four dinars, Quynh, so pay since I was the one who said Yusuf was the first to ask us to find something else to sacrifice."
Quynh handed Andromache the money.
"Yusuf, since you're a Muslim, could I ask you to prepare a lamb according to your traditions?" Quynh asked. "When we eat dinner tonight, I'll tell you why."
"And I want the bones," Andromache said. "Also explaining tonight."
"Ok," Yusuf replied. "Nico, do you mind making the flatbread and the dressing?"
Nicolò nodded and they did as they were told. When it became dark, they all gathered outside as Andromache had ordered. While Yusuf and Nicolò had prepared the food, Andromache and Quynh had made two fires. One big and one small. When Quynh saw the men, she made a sign they should come over to the big fire.
"Let me tell you why we're gathered tonight," Quynh said. "Before you two, there was another one like us. His name was Lykon. Born into slavery somewhere in Greece, he served at the court of Alexander the Great. When Alexander needed soldiers, Lykon volunteered to spare his younger brother, who was only 12 at that time. Lykon turned out to be a better soldier than a slave. It was during Alexander's conquest of Judea, our paths crossed with Lykon. Lykon told us his first death had been somewhere in Turkey. For ages, we fought together, but one day during a battle, Lykon's wounds didn't heal and he died. We still don't know why it happened, but it taught us the lesson that we don't live forever. That even we have to die one day."
"Lykon died around the Winter Solstice, so we remember the friend we lost by eating a lamb. In a way, Lykon lived in the same way as you do as a Muslim, Yusuf," Andromache said. "Whenever Lykon served lamb, he always burned the bones. We have forgotten why, but we still do it anyway."
Andromache threw the bones on the fire before placing an arm around Quynh's shoulders. Yusuf and Nicolò didn't say anything but held each other's hands. Before now they had never given it a thought that one day they would never come back to life again. It scared them. After a while, they sat down at the small fire to eat.
"How was Lykon?" Nicolò asked.
"A kind and good man but also a trickster," Quynh replied with a smile and laughter. "His favourite thing was to make fun with Andromache. Often it resulted in Andromache chasing Lykon around with her Lybrys."
"It's still not funny," Andromache replied. "But Lykon were also a good fighter and a good friend. And our brother. Just like you're now."
During the evening, Andromache and Quynh took turns telling about Lykon and all the adventures, they could remember.
"You need to remember something. is not what time steals, it's what it leaves behind. Things you can't forget," Andromache said as she stood up after midnight. "If you two insist on a life together as lovers, one of you will eventually be left behind one day. Remember that."
Yusuf and Nicolò looked after the women as they walked away. When they were alone, Yusuf pulled Nicolò closer to him.
"I have never thought of that one of us would be left behind one day," Nicolò said. "It scares me beyond words."
"It also scares me," Yusuf admitted. "And I don't want to think about that day when you aren't here anymore."
"Me neither," Nicolò replied. "But we need to have that talk, Yusuf. It will be even harder than the talk we had about not killing each other."
Yusuf leaned his forehead against Nicolò.
"I know, my heart," Yusuf replied. "We'll have the talk before we leave with Andromache and Quynh next month."
Nicolò pulled Yusuf into his embrace.
"But tonight we'll just sit here under the stars and watch them together as we always have done," Nicolò said. "Ok?"
"I like that idea," Yusuf replied. "Very much indeed."
They kissed before they snuggled together.
"Tell me about the stars," Nicolò said. "You said something there was a flying horse up in the night sky."