This I Know

by A K Clark

  “Thank the gods,” Ilinor said before smiling at me. “You have a way with him.”

  “I agree. I’m really great at annoying him.”

  “No. It’s something else. He listens to you. He would never have left if I was the one suggesting it.” She cocked her head at me. “What have you done to bewitch the master?”

  I scoffed. “Don’t drop your arm.” I mocked her before swinging my sword. She barely managed to block it before growling in frustration at my surprise attack. We spent the rest of practice in a fierce battle. The time we’d spent in training was paying off. Our bodies anticipated every move, flowing with an ease that hadn’t been there weeks earlier.

  Isaias called the practice sometime later. We both heaved out a sigh of relief. We may have become accustomed to the training, but it still wore us out. I said my goodbyes and went to see Ivien before heading home to get some much-needed sleep.

  The next morning came too soon and I used the extra time to see Cora, if only for a few minutes. I hadn’t seen or heard from her since I’d eavesdropped on her conversation with Milo. I had many questions for her.

  “Alex? What are you doing here so early?” Cora asked, yawning when she opened the door.

  “I need some trousers. All the ones I have stink because I haven’t had time to wash them.”

  “Ah, the truth comes out. Don’t tell me your mom washed your clothes before you moved out.”

  My silence was answer enough.

  “Alex, you need to wash your own clothes at least once a week. Your mother would be ashamed.”

  “I know.” I groaned as I followed her down the hallway to her room. “I’ve just been so tired with the training and work.” Cora handed me a pair of trousers. I shucked the dirty ones off and pulled on the clean pair.

  Cora crossed her arms. “You poor thing, doing the things you want to do must be very hard.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

  She blew out a breath. “Milo’s been a bit overbearing. He is dominating most of my free time…I don’t get to do much besides working with new clients.” She examined a piece of hair, not meeting my eyes as she spoke.

  I frowned, unsure of an appropriate response.

  “It’s fine,” she said upon seeing my face. “Really, I love being Pythia.”

  “Shouldn’t you be allowed to enjoy your life outside of that?” I stepped closer, reaching a hand toward her. She moved away, shaking her head.

  “I’m the Oracle of Delphi. There are more important things to do than spending time with friends.”

  “Like spending time with Milo? Or is it seeking out the new god? Does that make you happy?”

  She tensed. “What do you mean?”

  “I saw you two the other day, kissing. I heard your conversation.” I didn’t mean it to sound like an accusation, but I found it hard to mask my hurt. She hadn’t confided in me and it rankled.

  “Milo is Speaker of Delphi. He understands the importance of my position and the importance of education. What good is a Pythia if she has no knowledge of the new god?” Her voice hardened with every word.

  “I don’t mean to upset you. You are right, education is paramount in your position, but shouldn’t the one you care about want you to enjoy life instead of keeping you in isolation?” I asked, failing to placate the situation.

  “It must be nice to live a life of freedom. I’ve come to terms with my fate, maybe you should too.”

  I cringed at her tone. I had messed up this conversation. I’d come to see her because I missed her, and now we were fighting.

  “Cora, please don’t be mad. I wish nothing but happiness for you.”

  “Your words contradict that statement. Being Pythia makes me happy. Milo—”

  “Is controlling you. I heard him deny you the opportunity to train. Why would he do that? If he cared about you, shouldn’t he want you to be able to protect yourself?”

  She didn’t speak for a long time, staring down at her feet. I began to regret coming over.

  “I think you should go,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

  “Cora.” I failed to find words to make the situation better.

  When I reached for the doorknob, I heard her sniffle. She saw my hesitation.

  “Leave.” I’d never before heard her speak to me the way she spoke to Ilinor, with hate, until today.

  This time I didn’t hesitate.

  Were we still friends? I hadn’t seen her much these past weeks and I found myself wondering if Milo was the reason. Twenty years of friendship wasn’t something you just threw away. There had to be a way to come back from this argument. We’d fought before. She’d forgive me and I her. At least, I hoped.

  19

  I arrived at an empty combat yard. Theo was nowhere to be seen so I plopped down on a rock, stretching my tired muscles. I groaned, my early morning already catching up with me. Theo stormed into the yard.

  “How did you? I was just… Where have you… When did you get here?” he asked, settling on a question.

  “Just a few minutes ago. I went to Cora’s house to borrow trousers, since I ran out of clean ones,” I explained, assuming he was angry because I’d been late.

  “I was just at your house. I heard you there,” he said.

  “I didn’t see you when I left,” I said, confusion creasing my brow.

  “I called out to you and knocked on your door. Someone was moving around in there.”

  “Are you sure? I would have heard you, but I didn’t. Which means I wasn’t there when you came by.” Someone was in my house. I looked at him and saw the moment the same thought popped into his head. His eyes widened in surprise, then immediately narrowed in concentration, as if trying to remember an important detail.

  “How long were you at Cora’s?” he asked.

  “Not long—probably just a few minutes—just long enough to grab the trousers.” The lie rolled off my tongue. He didn’t need to know about our disagreement.

  “Did you see anyone outside your house before you left?”

  “No. Who do you think it was?” My blood turned cold with fear.

  “Stay here. I’m going to get Isaias.” Theo ran to the front of the house before returning with a very tired, and very grumpy-looking Isaias. Darrien and Zeus had come as well, but neither looked as bad as Isaias.

  “I’m sure it was nothing,” I said, trying to calm their growing worry. It didn’t work. All four men were stiff as we walked to my home. Isaias instructed Zeus to wait with me while he and the others searched the house.

  I watched them cautiously approach the door, trying not to frighten whatever might still be inside. Isaias gently coaxed the door open. They slipped inside one after another. They made quick work of the search, returning shortly after they entered. I sighed in relief; at least they hadn’t found anything.

  Zeus stood as they approached, tightening his grip on the fighting stick he carried.

  “Well?” I asked. Darrien and Theo looked to Isaias, who looked angry now rather than grumpy.

  “Follow me.”

  My heart thumped as I followed him into the house. The dining table was overturned, my things scattered about the floor. It was odd, but as far as I could tell, everything was accounted for. Isaias cleared his throat. He motioned for me to follow him and I did. I paused in the guest bedroom and saw it was undisturbed. Well, thank the gods.

  My stomach dropped when we reached my room, hands trembling against my sides. The blanket was tossed to the side where I’d thrown it this morning. In the center of the under sheet where I lay down each night was an X, each side crudely drawn with three bloody fingers. I struggled to stand when I saw the dead fox placed where my head rested, the entrails hanging from the gash in its stomach.

  Why would someone kill such an innocent animal? My mind focused on the question, ignoring everything else making me want to scream.

  “Did you see anything?” Isaias asked Theo while he st
udied me. I hadn’t moved or spoken since we’d come in.

  “No,” Theo said, smacking his fist against the wall. “I should have checked, but I just thought she was ignoring me.”

  Isaias didn’t console his friend because he wasn’t asking for forgiveness. He had trained his recruits to be careful and check out anything they felt was amiss. Surely Theo received the same instructions and knew he’d been careless.

  Maniacal laughter bubbled out of me.

  “Are you all right, Alex?” Isaias asked. Concern filled his eyes.

  “I get it,” I said, gasping between laughs. “A fox in the hen house.” My finger trembled as I pointed at myself. The men shared a look of worry.

  “Maybe we should get you some tea,” Zeus said in a soothing voice.

  “Don’t you get it?” I asked them, my tone rabid with condescension. “I’m the hen. Do you know what happens when the fox gets into the hen’s house?” They didn’t answer. We all knew. As ridiculous as the threat was, it worked.

  Fear gripped me, sinking its claws into my skin. I fought the urge to cry. Someone threatened to kill me. My breathing had become shallow. After a few steadying breaths, I calmed enough to think. I refused to be a coward.

  “We need to get the fox out of here. And my bed as well as the under sheet. Take it all.” When no one moved I shouted, “NOW!”

  Zeus and Darrien sprang into action.

  “Take them out front. Burn them,” I instructed in a hollow voice. The fear I felt was paralyzing but I fought it. Isaias placed a hand on my arm, taking me down the hallway while the men worked to clean out my room.

  “Burn them?” Zeus asked, as he wrapped the fox up in the under sheet and carried it toward the front.

  “Yes. Burn them.” I couldn’t explain, not now. I turned to Isaias. “I need a new bed.”

  He studied me, searching for signs of an impending breakdown. He had expected crying or screaming, not me ordering the men about as if my home hadn’t been violated. “It appears so. Would you like help carrying it?”

  My mouth twisted up despite my anger and fear. “You and Theo will carry it.”

  “Might I ask what you will be doing?”

  “I’ll be socializing.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to wait at our house?” he asked.

  I shot him a look of annoyance.

  “I will not go into hiding. If whoever did this is waiting to see my reaction, I want them to see it didn’t bother me. I will not be intimidated.”

  After all, weakness only invites more trouble.

  “Well?” I gave him a look, daring him to go against me. “Are we going?”

  Theo spoke up from his spot near the door, stepping aside to let me pass. “As you wish.”

  Isaias nodded at his friend. They both seemed to understand my actions. We passed Darrien and Zeus trying to start a fire. I held my head high as we marched into the market, smiling and greeting people as they passed. Let them all wonder why I’m so happy. Maybe word will reach the bastard who broke into my house.

  The men made quick work of picking a bed, one just a bit longer than I was tall and just wide enough to fit one person. I grabbed a new under sheet and blanket before I caught up with Theo and Isaias. Each carried one end of the bed. Both men looked me over, assessing my mood. I ignored them on the journey back and they were wise enough not to ask questions. I saw the smoke before the fire. Darrien and Zeus stood off to the side, watching the dark tendrils billow upward from the pile on the ground.

  “That was fast,” Zeus said. No witty jokes, no smile tugging at his eyes.

  “Yes, well, it would have gone faster, but these two are rather slow.”

  He didn’t laugh.

  “Now is not the time, Alex. Don’t you take this seriously? Someone was in your house. You could have been here.” He stalked closer to me, his voice rising as he spoke.

  “Yes, I could have! I’m not going to cry about it, so why are you?” I yelled at him. I hadn’t allowed myself to focus on the threat, the bloody X drawn on the bed put there as if to say here is where I’ll take you. I didn’t want to falsely accuse anyone, but Thad was the most likely offender. My brave front began to break. I tried to fight back the tears. I would not cry in front of them.

  Zeus backed off. “I’m sorry. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Why are you all here? Why worry about me at all? I’m not your problem.”

  “That’s not true. You are part of our group now. You may not be a member, but you are still our friend. We care about you.” He looked hurt by my words. “We protect our people.”

  “I know,” I whispered, clenching my shaking hands. He hugged me, but my arms lay limply at my sides. I couldn’t find comfort in him in that moment. I needed to figure out what to do about Thad. Would he come back tonight?

  Isaias and Theo set up the bed while Darrien manned the fire burning outside. Zeus stayed by my side to make sure I wouldn’t fall apart.

  “Here, eat this,” he said, handing over dried deer meat. I chewed mindlessly before taking a sip of water from the goblet he thrust at me. The men made quick work of putting the house back together, gathering in the kitchen when they finished.

  “Now what?” Theo asked, looking at me for some indication of what he should do. He wanted to help. I almost laughed at the thought. On my best day, I only slightly annoyed him. I hadn’t expected such protectiveness. Zeus had been right: over the weeks we’d all become friends. They didn’t have to help me but they all wanted to. I’d do the same for Cora, or even Ilinor now.

  “One of you should stay,” I said.

  “All right, who?” Isaias asked, allowing me to take the lead again.

  I shrugged. “I’ll let you decide. You’re the one in charge.”

  “Normally, I would suggest Zeus. I know you two are close, but he has to go to the order in Thebes tomorrow. He’ll be gone for a while.”

  I looked at Zeus, surprised. He had failed to mention that.

  “There’s been a lot going on. I forgot about the trip.” Zeus shrugged in apology.

  “So, who?” I asked. I didn’t want to hurt Theo’s feelings, but I hoped it wasn’t him.

  “Darrien,” Isaias said, frowning as he spoke.

  “Theo and I need to be at our house to show a united front, in case anyone is watching. Not many know Darrien is here, so he is the best option. I’d prefer to do it myself,” Isaias added.

  “Fine.” I agreed with his choice, sympathetic to the frustration he felt. He was better equipped to protect me than anyone else, but he couldn’t.

  “We need to start practice,” Theo said.

  I looked at Theo like he’d lost his mind.

  “What?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  “You can’t be serious.” I made a face at Zeus, openly expressing my contempt for Theo. Zeus didn’t find it amusing. Tough crowd.

  Theo tilted his head in amusement. “You’ve known me for, what, two months now? Do you think I’m kidding?”

  Theo, despite his desire to help earlier, made my life hell during practice. He ran me harder than he ever had before, making me sprint while they alternated racing me. I lost every time. It wasn’t that I was slow, they were just fast. Damn members and their damn training.

  Theo counted down as I started yet another run. Darrien took off after me when Theo reached zero. He was faster than Theo and caught me within seconds, whooping in victory. I shoved him away and stormed back to Theo, who was smiling.

  “No one likes a sore loser.”

  “Then you must not have many friends,” I shot back.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “If I say no?”

  “GO!” he shouted. I ran, using my core to build my momentum. I heard Theo take off. I pushed harder, pumping my arms in wild synchronization. Then, I saw an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I slowed, letting him gain on me. When he was almost on top of me, I veered to the right, circling a big bush before sprintin
g back toward Darrien. Theo cursed as he skidded to a stop and turned to chase after me. I had the advantage. I panted as I worked to increase my speed despite my protesting body. I reached Darrien just as Theo reached out and grabbed my arm.

  “YES! Yes! WHOOOO!” I screamed, jumping up and down. “I won!”

  “Hardly,” Theo said.

  Darrien laughed. “She did make it back before you got her, Theo.”

  “She was supposed to run that way.” Theo gestured to the hills behind him.

  “The objective was to run faster than you. She did.”

  They continued to argue the semantics of the rules on the way back to the house, but I didn’t care. I beat him in the sprint.

  Isaias waited for us in the combat yard, smiling when he saw how happy I was. “Did you do it?”

  I grinned and told him how I outsmarted Theo.

  “Oh good. I was starting to worry about you. You can’t just run in a straight line and expect to win.”

  I rolled my eyes, eliciting a breathtaking smile from him. It was fleeting, but for a moment we shared smiles, our eyes dancing with amusement as Theo grumbled over his loss.

  Someone cleared their throat. I turned to see Chad, looking troubled.

  “I have news,” he said.

  We all shared a look. My elation subsided, replaced with a burning curiosity. Isaias saw the look in my eyes and sighed.

  “Come on then.” He gestured me forward. “You may as well hear this too.”

  “Are you certain?” Isaias asked Chad.

  “Without a doubt. It was Argos.”

  I’d been staring at the wall, trying to work through what he’d told us. Argos revoked our gods, became a Christian, and now fought with a small rebel force to control Larissa.

  “How is this possible?” I asked.

  Chad’s jaw ticked. “More of our people are converting. I don’t understand why or how, but they are.” His eyes held a hint of anger, though it didn’t seem directed at me.

  If Argos succeeded in overthrowing Larissa’s speaker…what did that mean for the polis? The council vetted each speaker, ensuring they knew the laws governing the lands and had good intentions. The thought of Argos, a murderer, ruling anything angered me.