by A K Clark
“I’ll come back for you. After all, you deserve to know when Cora returns. I’ll come to tell you personally.” I smiled at her. She thumped her tail as if acknowledging my promise. I brushed off the dirt on my peplos and headed to Cicely’s house.
I pleaded my case to her, but it didn’t take much convincing. Cicely had wanted to be Pythia when we were in the candidacy. She was more than happy to take my place while I went to find Cora.
I tried to see Ilinor before I went back but she wasn’t home. I debated on trying to find her but I had no clue where to start. I could only hope she would understand why I left.
I returned to the house in a foul mood. I found the men waiting in the living room—something was wrong. Grief hung heavy in the air. I closed my eyes, hoping they weren’t grieving Cora.
When I opened them, my gaze locked with Theo’s. His attempted smile couldn’t mask the sorrow his eyes held. My heart lurched, dreading the news to come. I tried to meet Darrien’s gaze, hoping to glean something from him but he avoided me, looking down at his hands instead. Isaias, Chad, and Stefan all frowned, none daring to meet my gaze.
“What is it? Is it Cora?” I asked, my blood ran cold at their continued silence. I wanted to yell at them. TELL ME! Stefan looked up at Isaias, opened his mouth to speak but dropped his head into his hands. His shoulders heaved as he cried. I looked at the other men, noting the redness of their eyes. They’d been crying. Oh Gods, Cora.
“Well?” My voice came out sharp and panicked.
Theo broke the silence, looking beyond me as he spoke. “There was an incident in Thebes. Bandits ransacked the polis. They killed members, brutally slit their throats. Only one escaped. I assume the reason he survived was because he is a coward.” Theo spat the last word. I collapsed on the edge of the couch in relief. Isaias scooted over to make room for me.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, uncertain of how to console them. Nothing I could say would lessen their pain. Kind words were welcome but did nothing to soothe an aching heart.
“Alex,” Darrien said, still refusing to look at me. “Zeus was in Thebes.”
I nearly fell off the couch. No. No, he had to be the one that escaped. He couldn’t be dead.
“Alex,” he whispered, as if reading my thoughts. “Zeus was among those killed.” He looked up at me, his face a mixture of sorrow and anger.
My ears rejected his words. Could the gods be so cruel? A rational part of me realized what they said had to be true. Zeus was gone. Dead. My heart, shattered as it was, broke even more. Vero, Cora, and now Zeus? I would never see his smile or hear his laughter again.
I swallowed the hurt, not wanting to sob in front of them. They’d all known Zeus longer than I had. Losing myself in my sorrow would only make it harder on them.
Though I tried my damnedest to fight them, tears still slipped out. I swiped them away in a desperate attempt to control them. I would not cry in front of these men, his brothers. Grief burned my throat, leaving a lump I couldn’t swallow. I tried to push it down and hide my pain, but my heart ached. My body wanted to mourn. Needed to. A strangled noise escaped me as the mounting pressure became too much, filling me with the urge to scream, to curse the gods.
“He’s gone?” My voice cracked.
Isaias rubbed my back, comforting me in his silent way.
“Yes,” Theo answered, the only one brave enough to do so. I wasn’t sure if I loved or hated him for it.
“When?” I whispered the words so quietly I wasn’t sure he heard the question.
“Last night.”
“What of the community?” I asked.
“Some escaped. Most died. Homes were burned, the herds slaughtered.”
Slaughtered. The harsh word sent my mind into a horrific vivid spiral. I pictured Zeus bleeding out on the dirt. Alone. Blood trickling from his mouth as he choked out his last breath. My whole body trembled at the images. I stood and walked to the door. I had to leave. I gripped the doorknob and ripped the door open, seeking solace in the violence. I sprinted toward the combat yard, seeking further relief.
Darrien followed. I picked up two fighting sticks, tossing one to him. He caught it but set the staff down, holding his palms up in surrender.
“I won’t fight you,” he said, holding up his hands to placate me.
“Coward,” I spat.
Isaias entered the yard. My eyes narrowed into a glare upon his approach.
“Is that what you want?” he asked, jutting his chin at the weapon Darrien had laid down. I nodded, huffing out a frustrated breath. To my surprise, he picked up the stick and led me to the arena, running me through drills until my breathing was ragged. I called it. Darrien had long since left us. The sparring distracted me in the moment, but now, with nothing to keep my mind occupied, it all came back.
I threw the staff across the yard and sat, tucking my head into my arms with my legs pulled tightly against my torso. Isaias sat next to me and hugged me, knowing nothing he said would ease my pain. I was selfish. Zeus meant something to him too. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to pull away. He held me, letting me cry until my head throbbed and the tears slowed. I pressed my forehead into his chest, taking a few deep breaths before looking up at him. Aside from Theo, I least expected him to be the one comforting me.
“What do you need?” he asked.
I looked up at the sky and laughed. “I need for this to end.” My voice broke.
He grunted his agreement. We sat together, silence wrapping around us.
“I’ll do everything within my power to find Cora, I swear.” His vehement declaration eased my worries. If anyone could help me find her, it was him.
“Thank you,” I said, hoping the gods wouldn’t let harm come to Cora before we found her.
24
Despite my efforts, I only got an hour of sleep between worrying for Cora and mourning Zeus. Perhaps a portion of my grief resulted from the loss of my carefree life. Until recently, I’d never thought murder would touch my spirit. I thought I was safe. I was wrong. Twice now, death had claimed those close to me. At one point, I tried to speak with Apollo to plead for Cora’s life, but he never came.
Darrien came by the next afternoon, waking me from my slumber. He apologized for not being the one to care for me. I shrugged. His actions hadn’t upset me, though a piece of my heart softened for Isaias.
Darrien brought news of the preparations to leave for Larissa. The violence of Thebes had delayed us by two days. The news of Zeus’s death had startled the order and Stefan needed to call in extra officers to cover for the men while they went in search of Cora. I declined his offer to help me pack. I needed the task to keep me busy. I did accept his offer to walk me home and stay with me a while.
I still hadn’t seen Ilinor. When I stopped by her house on the way to mine, her mother said she’d went on a hunting trip with her cousin and they wouldn’t return for another two days. The only friends I had here were the members. Ilinor wouldn’t be back in time for me to say goodbye.
When we reached my house, Darrien gathered the few items he’d left from his stay the other night. I enjoyed his presence even though we scarcely spoke. I stopped him when we passed one another in the hallway. “Thank you,” I said. His arm tensed beneath the hand I placed on it. “How are you doing?”
“I’m all right. Thank you for the concern,” he said, stepping away from my touch. I frowned. Why did he pull away?
I packed two chitons, undergarments, night clothing, and the peplos from the festival. The formal attire was likely unnecessary, but I’d rather have it than seek one if the need arose.
Darrien’s reaction bothered me, but I decided it best not to ask him about it unless he continued to act strangely. I made my way in to the kitchen to join him for dinner—leftover food my mother had sent. He didn’t offer much in the way of conversation as we ate, and my ire at him grew. With the grief, or the wine, fueling me, I dared to ask him about it.
“Are you mad at me?”
&n
bsp; Darrien sat back, his eyebrows raised with surprise. “What makes you think I am?”
“You’ve barely spoken, and you’ve been distant.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” he said, averting his gaze as he picked up my things and carried them into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded, following him into the kitchen. “Why are you acting like this?” My words bounced off his back. His unease was apparent, and baffling. I’d grown used to our banter.
“I’m not acting like anything,” he said.
Not satisfied with his brushoff, I pushed further. “You are. Tell me what’s bothering you,” I said, urging him to let me in, to give me something—anything to distract myself from this awful reality.
“Alex,” he scolded, “nothing is wrong with me. I’m fine. I’m trying to let you lead the way here. I wasn’t capable of comforting you yesterday and I had to watch Isaias fill in for me. I don’t understand what you need or want from me.” He blew out a breath. “I wish I could bring back Cora and Zeus, but I can’t.”
I reached for him. “I’m not asking you to do anything. I need…” I paused, thinking of what I wanted. “I want it to be as normal as possible.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I wish I knew what normal was.”
“I don’t want you to treat me like I’m fragile. I’m not. I cry, I make no apologies for it. I can’t help but be overcome with worry or sadness. I’m trying not to let it drag me down.” I sighed. “Can we forget about it all and talk for a while?” The question seemed to break down his barriers because he smiled, dimples and all, before leading me to the living room.
I struggled not to yawn as Isaias barked orders at us all the next morning. Everyone was given a steed. Isaias headed the group atop an auburn stallion. I sidled up to Darrien on my black horse. We rode in companionable silence for a few minutes while I tried to work up the nerve to ask what Isaias shouted at me but found myself unable to ask.
“Don’t fall behind.”
“What?” I asked, confused because I was keeping up with him.
“It’s what he said.” Darrien nodded in Isaias’s direction, then smirked at me. “That is what you were going to ask, wasn’t it?”
I leaned over my horse and shoved him lightly, smiling at him in thanks. I caught his gaze lingering on my mouth for the briefest second before he looked ahead. His features settled into a familiar stoicism. I didn’t trust myself, unsure if grief fueled the desire to pull closer to Darrien or if it was something else. Sorrow dampened my reactions. If it were any other day, a day when my friends were in Delphi, unharmed, my heart would have soared with our blooming romance. But it wasn’t another day.
We rode for what seemed like most of the day, though we hadn’t stopped to eat the midday meal yet. My legs were chafing and my bottom grew sore from sitting for so long. The men kept a steady pace, all of them used to long journeys on horseback.
I hadn’t paid attention to the position of the sun when we set off but now it was directly above us, high in the sky. It was almost time for lunch. I squinted at Isaias, seeing how determined he looked. I sighed, muttering something about being hungry under my breath. Darrien’s eyebrow quirked when he heard me.
“We should stop to eat,” he suggested to the group.
Isaias slowed his horse, turning around with an irritated look. His gaze traveled from Darrien to me, eyes softening.
“All right, we can stop for a while.”
I thanked him, dismounted, landing on shaky legs. I made my way to a rock. Chad pulled out some bread and dried meat from his pack, dividing it between the five of us. Isaias and Theo squatted as they tore into the bread. Darrien sat on a rock near me. No one spoke.
After the short rest, we continued riding until the sun fell beyond the horizon. Isaias had slowed the pace, realizing I needed more breaks than the rest of them. When it came time to relieve myself, I hiked out farther than necessary despite the ache in my legs.
Perhaps it was my imagination, but it felt like they all avoided looking at me as I came back. Being the only female had its drawbacks. I had to stop them and seek cover every time, but the men would fall back and go on the side of the road as needed. Even if I could, I had no desire to remain seen as they did. Never had my femininity seemed more of a burden than it did on the road. Peeing while standing was the only thing I envied of men.
At the end of the day we set up camp off the road, traveling far from the main path. Theo led the horses one by one to a small stream before securing their reins to a tree. Foliage and boulders blocked the view of our camp from those who might pass by, allowing us a semblance of privacy. After another small portion of bread, I laid out my bedroll, listening to the sounds of murmuring voices.
The others sat around the fire, chatting as they passed the wine bag around. I had no desire to take part. I didn’t want to listen to idle small talk when the world felt like it might break. What I wanted was to keep moving and find Cora before she wound up dead like Zeus and Vero. Exhaustion eventually won, settling my thoughts as the men’s voices lulled me to sleep.
25
Isaias and Darrien shared an inquisitive look when I didn’t immediately escape to the safety of my bedroll on the fourth night. Their eyes were on me as I took a drink from the wine bag before passing it to Isaias to my right. The warmth of the fire worked its way into my sore muscles while the wine kindled a small one in my stomach. I exhaled, savoring the familiar buzz from the wine. Any walls I’d built around myself dropped as I laughed at something Isaias had said.
I met Chad’s eyes over the fire, feeling a pang of guilt. His brother had possibly played a part in Cora‘s kidnapping and here we were, off to save her. He gave me a small smile before turning his attention to Theo, who howled with laughter at Isaias’s joke. Their banter was a welcome distraction from my thoughts.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Darrien said.
“I was sick—” Isaias’s laughter cut off and his whole body tensed. “Shh.”
He stood and moved around the fire with the same deadly grace I’d seen in the combat yard, listening for something as he peered toward the road. The horses’ restlessness worried me. I perked up, listening for whatever they heard. A sound like the rustling of bushes came from the path.
Isaias shared a look with Darrien before walking to the edge of the camp, peering into the dark, trying to see whatever was making the noise.
He stilled and turned to yell at us before I saw the blur of someone tackling him, his words knocked out of him as he went to the ground. The other men jumped up, sprinting to help Isaias. The assailant pinned him face first on the rough dirt.
Before they reached Isaias, four men came at our group, yelling as they charged. What came next was a work of art, each member moving with fluid grace, their movements almost synchronized. Darrien slammed a fist into one of the intruder’s stomach then jammed his knee into the intruder’s face.
Chad attacked another with a barrage of fists which instantly broke through the intruder’s defenses. Chad dragged the man down and sat on his back, holding him in place.
Theo moved like a viper, lashing out and retreating before his opponent retaliated. With a brilliant jump and a twist of his body, he landed a kick on the side of his opponent's head and dropped him. He went limp, knocked unconscious.
The fourth man grabbed me from behind. I tensed. I’d been so distracted watching the men fight, I hadn’t paid attention to the other man. I threw my head back, smashing into the man’s face. He grunted and released me.
I crouched low, kicking my leg out and spinning. I swept his feet out from under him. The man landed with a thud on the ground. He began to get up; I reached for the blade strapped at my hip, fingers hesitating when they grasped the hilt. Could I stab him?
Theo grabbed the man and held him in a headlock, saving me from having to use my dagger. My breath came out in pants, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I glanced over and saw that Isaias ha
d escaped from his captor’s hold, rendering him useless by locking his arms behind his back. We made quick work of tying them to a tree.
The intruders, or bandits as Theo called them, were filthy, covered in dirt and grime that came with traveling. Our group was hardly cleaner, but their worn clothes told me they’d been out on the road a lot longer than us. I soothed the horses, watching as Theo paced in front of the men. The one he had kicked spat at him.
“Don’t push it,” Theo growled at the man. Isaias and Darrien were talking quietly off to the side. I rubbed the back of my head; smashing it into my assailant’s face had hurt. Isaias’s horse proved difficult to settle, so I ended up petting him the longest, doing my best to calm him. He leaned his head into my hands. I smiled and patted his nose before turning back toward camp.
Isaias squatted in front of the man who attacked him. Isaias had several cuts and scratches but was otherwise unharmed. They needed to be cleaned. Thankfully I’d brought a few supplies from Ivien’s apothecary for just such an occasion.
“What’s your name?” he asked. The man looked at Isaias, or at least, I assumed he did. His right eye was swollen shut. I couldn’t see the other. He had done a good job roughing him up.
“Daenor.”
Isaias sighed heavily before smacking the man. “I’m not an idiot. What is your real name? Tell me or I’ll force it out of you.”
I shuddered, not wanting to know how he planned to do that.
“Nisus,” the man mumbled. I breathed in relief when Isaias nodded, accepting the man’s answer.
“Why did you attack us?”
The man who spat at Theo struggled against his ropes. “Don’t tell the bastard member,” he pleaded with Nisus. “You can’t. They’ll kill my wife.”
Isaias stiffened in surprise. “What makes you think we’re members?”
The man scoffed at his question. “You’re members,” he said with conviction.
“Why would we kill your wife?” Isaias asked, neither confirming nor denying his declaration.