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Endless (Spartan) Summer, by Deidre Knight

Mon, 06/08/2009

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With fangirl apologies to the Beach Boys for my blog post title, I'd like to continue this week's discussion about how the immortal Spartans in my "Gods of Midnight" series might spend the lazy, hazy days of summer in their new home of Savannah. Of course, when do Spartans ever mix with the word lazy? Never, and definitely not in Red Kiss, the latest installment in my series about this band of warriors.

No, nothing about these alpha males could ever be slothful or indolent-which only makes our task of finding ways for them to unwind all the more crucial. If not us, then who else will charge them with having a little bit of summertime love and madness? Right?

Lazy, hazy days of summer in Savannah. I don't know about you, but my mind is instantly filled with images of time on the beach, long walks through Spanish moss-draped squares. Side note: did you know that Savannah has an open container law? In other words, it's perfectly legal to stroll through the city carrying alcoholic beverages that locals term "travelers"? I'd say that said law reflects a certain loose and easy feeling that hovers over the town like ten days worth of humidity.

Speaking of which, here's something that fans of this series don't know about Kalias-he has naturally curly hair. He just happens to wear it cut very short, modern military style. But I have it on very good authority that the "dour one" has been wrestling with managing even those close-cropped curls, short as they are, ever since moving to Savannah's ninety-plus percent humidity. And trust me, Kalias is far too buttoned up to enjoy anything unruly.

So let's start a summertime campaign just for him. Let's call it "Live Free, Die Curly." Just because. Because for this stoic, silent warrior, nothing could possibly annoy him more than for us to focus on his appearance. Never mind the fact that back in the day, the Spartans were all about their hair. They grew it long, braided it and wore it fancy because they believed it was a sign of manhood.

Kalias, brother, are you following me here? Live a little this summer. Grow your hair, spend a little time at a sidewalk café like your brother Ajax loves to do. There's nothing wrong with F-U-N. You could even start your own Twitter account and hassle Aristos online.

Speaking of "hassling" there is one Spartan in this crew who nobody dares to tease and that's Straton. This intense, laconic warrior is privately referred to as "the monk" by Ari and Ajax, but never to his face. There is only one thing that Straton ever lights up about, and it's a shocker. It also relates to how he should spend his summer vacation. Cooking. You heard me, the guy loves to spend time in the kitchen. It's like his therapy, and generally he's the one who cooks big meals for the whole crew. So for Straton, I'm totally suggesting that he go take cooking classes over at The Mansion on Forsyth. I think he particularly needs the "team-building" exercises they describe on the site.

That leaves only one final warrior: Nikos. Sigh. Nikos, Nikos, what to do with you, my dear friend? At the moment, I'm probably the only one who really understands you since you reveal so very little to your own Spartan brothers. You're carrying a heavy load with all those secrets of yours, and with River missing-and him not knowing about those secrets-I know you're really struggling. All the more since you're the official tracker for the squad, and you're coming up with nada in terms of finding River.

Take heart. Like I told Ari the other day, I happen to know how this whole saga turns out, and River is going to be fine! If you don't believe me, maybe you should buy a copy of Red Kiss and read about what will happen to you in August. I'm not saying you're not going to have some big challenges coming your way, but I am promising you this: I got you into this mess, I'll get you out of it. That sort of makes me like the eighth Spartan or something, doesn't it?

In the meantime, how should you spend your summer? I think having movie marathons with Shay's brother Mason. You know he was a Marine, so he understands what makes you tick. Plus, he's got awesome taste in film. Just ask him about Aliens. Ari loves movies, too, but his taste is semi-questionable. Just last night he tweeted something about Texas Chainsaw Massacre and how it was a classic. So don't go there. Get ahold of Mason's DVD collection.

Not only that, but when Straton is done with cooking school? Get him to show you a few things in the kitchen. You need something else to distract you from all this furor over River being missing, and taking up a new hobby is just the ticket.

Last thing, Nik, and it's a big one-let yourself read a good book now and then. I know it's your greatest love, and you've been denying yourself the pleasure while tracking River. I happen to have a really great novel to get you started reading again. It's called Red Fire. Go check it out, why don't you? And in the meantime? Have a terrific endless summer! That goes for all of you, readers and Spartans alike.