Chants to Persephone: The Future of the World Hangs on a Knife's Edge - and Only a Human Sacrifice Can Save It

by Jennifer Macaire

‘No what?’

  ‘I won’t be quiet.’ He nearly grinned.

  Axiom finished mixing a potion and gave it to him, holding his head tenderly. ‘Drink it all,’ he said.

  Plexis swallowed it, then said, ‘The master druid has paid for the capture of Paul. So has the Celt king, Bran. The druids have predicted the end of the world. You must believe me. They know where you are.’ His pupils were dilating. A flush reddened his cheeks. ‘I only killed three of them. But there were too many …’ His voice trailed off. The poppy juice put him to sleep. His breathing was deep and sonorous.

  Plexis slept for two days. Twice, the weird woman came and wove her strange magic. We changed his bandage three times. Axiom managed to find some mouldy bread and we used that on his wound. His fever flared and then subsided. His heart beat rapidly; his breathing was shallow and pained. He didn’t stir when we moved him to clean him or change his bandages. His skin hugged his bones, and I thought he looked more like a cadaver than a living man. At night, we lay awake and listened to his breathing. Every time there was a falter or a sigh, I felt Alexander stiffen beside me.

  Three days later, Plexis opened his eyes. They were bright with fever, but they were clear. The clouds of pain had gone. His arm was still infected, but it seemed to be getting better, not worse. His breathing was even now. He took a deep breath and didn’t cough.

  ‘Salutations,’ he said.

  ‘Plexis!’ Alexander leaned over his friend and clasped his good hand. ‘How are you feeling.’

  Plexis frowned. ‘I’m not sure. Thirsty, I think.’

  Axiom gave him a cup of broth, and he managed to drink most of it. Afterwards, we let him rest. Just the act of drinking had exhausted him.

  I went to the baths with Paul. The inn was becoming crowded. Besides us, there were four traders from Rome, three Phoenicians from the boat Plexis had been on, and two Celtic traders. Alexander was thinking of moving back to the boat with the rest of Phaleria’s crew, but I was wondering if we shouldn’t leave Orce. It was an important trading town, and if someone were looking for Paul, it would just be a matter of time before they thought to look here.

  Demos and Yovanix went to bathe with us. Alexander had appointed Demos Paul’s guardian, and Demos had asked Yovanix to be his lieutenant. Yovanix had been ecstatic, and now spent every free moment learning how to wield a sword, while Paul looked on jealously. Alexander still wouldn’t trust him with a sword, so Paul was learning to spar with staffs. I thought they looked dangerous enough, and hardly a day went by without Paul getting a bruised wrist or finger.

  Nearchus trailed after us. Since Plexis had found us, he had been strangely quiet. He was worried. Every group needs someone to defuse emotional situations, and Plexis could talk Alex out of his melancholy or make Nearchus stop frowning. He was not a tactician, or even a particularly brilliant fighter. His talent was his ability to put anyone at his ease. One thing he did better than anyone else, was training horses. Even animals sensed his gentleness. Cerberus had been lying near the foot of his bed since he’d arrived, even forsaking Paul. Plexis made everyone feel special, and Nearchus, who was a quiet, uptight sort, adored him.

  The sauna was divided into two parts – one for women and one for men. Paul, Demos, Nearchus, and Yovanix went to their sauna, and I walked over to the women’s hut. There were three other women there. I took off my clothes and left them in a wooden cubbyhole near the entrance. Then I went to the first room, where I slathered soft, black ‘soap’ made of ashes, tallow and oil over my body. Hot steam opened my pores and sweat ran down my back and chest. I only stayed half an hour before jogging outside and plunging into the pond.

  The women’s side of the pond was hidden from the men’s side by a small grove of trees. If I swam to the middle, I could see the men as they cooled off in the dark water. Women swimming too far out in the pond were considered loose, and one’s reputation in this village apparently hinged on how far you swam.

  I didn’t swim very far. For one thing the water was freezing. It came straight off the mountains. The pond was very deep, and the water so dark it looked black. When I couldn’t see the bottom it made me nervous. There was probably a monster of the Loch Ness variety hiding under there.

  I swam just enough to cool off. Back in the hut, I combed my hair and braided it. I applied the cream Phaleria had given me for my dry skin. It was greasy and smelled faintly like sheep. I dabbed some jasmine perfume on to cover the sheep smell. Finally, I dressed and dashed back to the inn.

  When I arrived, I saw Alexander sitting outside with his head in his arms, sobbing. I dropped my towel and my toilet case, and rushed to his side.

  ‘What is it? Oh, Alex, is it Plexis? Is he …’ I couldn’t bring myself to say it; I choked and felt tears leaking from my eyes. ‘Oh no!’ I wailed, and started to cry.

  ‘No, no. It’s not that, he’s better. Much better. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.’

  ‘You mean you were crying because he’s better?’ I sniffed.

  ‘Yes, I suppose so.’ He smiled shakily.

  ‘Don’t ever do that again,’ I said. ‘You scared me.’ I put my hand over my heart. ‘He’s better?’

  Plexis was sipping a cup of broth. His fever had finally left him.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re better,’ I said, sitting next to him and trying not to jostle his arm.

  He put his one good arm around me, and I wet his chest with my tears. ‘I don’t know why everyone’s crying all over me,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I don’t need a bath. Axiom’s been washing every inch of me for three days now.’

  ‘You scared us,’ I said, leaning back to get a good look at him. I smiled shakily and tucked a stray curl behind his ear. ‘I missed you. I’m so glad to see you, even though I know it’s bad news. Can you tell me about it now?’

  He flipped his wrist. ‘When Iskander and Nearchus are both here; everyone should hear this. You look good. The land of your ancestors suits you. You don’t look so out of place here.’

  ‘No, it’s short, dark-haired guys that get stared at here,’ I said teasingly.

  ‘Well that counts me out, I’m a tall, dark-haired guy.’ He smiled, his teeth flashing in his thin face, and then he was serious again. ‘I can’t believe I caught up with you. I left more than a month after you did. I rode four horses to death in Gaul.’ He shuddered. I knew how much he loved horses. He must have been frantic.

  ‘I heard of the sacrifice in Gaul with Paul and the druids, and I knew that I had to hurry. I was afraid I’d get to you too late.’ He was silent for a moment, looking at me. Then his mouth curved in a smile again. I felt the familiar rush of heat in my belly, and my cheeks grew hot. Plexis gave a small laugh. ‘I’m not that well yet,’ he said softly.

  ‘Soon,’ I said.

  ‘Soon,’ he agreed, a faint flush on his face.

  ‘How are Chiron and Cleopatra?’

  ‘Chiron is heartbroken. He didn’t want to be left behind.’

  ‘Like Paul.’ I grinned. ‘When did you realize he was missing?’

  ‘The next day. I wanted to kill Chiron. It was the first time I ever lost my temper with the child. Brazza took the boy and hid him in his room. The whole house was in an uproar. I found Paul’s note. It was a disaster, by the way. That boy has no talent for writing. His tutor will have his hands full when he gets back.’ His voice was getting strained again. I placed my hand over his mouth.

  ‘Hush, you should rest now.’

  ‘Lie here beside me. I want to sleep with your arms around me.’

  ‘I don’t want to hurt your arm.’

  ‘It hurts anyway. Please?’

  I carefully lay down next to him and held him while he slept. The people coming in and out of the room made as little noise as possible. They had been very considerate all during his illness, although most of them had a pitying look about them. They were sure he was dying. Phaleria came in and raised her eyebrows. I realized she was shocked. I wondered what her face would
look like when she saw him with Alexander. Or with Alexander and me.

  I slipped out of the bed without waking Plexis and went outside. Alexander was nowhere to be seen. Nearchus was sitting on a bench along the wall.

  ‘Iskander went to the baths,’ he said, to answer my question.

  ‘Where’s Paul?’ I took my hair out of its braid and fluffed it. The sun would dry it soon.

  ‘He’s with Yovanix and Demos. They went to the docks.’

  I nodded. The docks were where all the action was. Boats coming and going. People shopping, trading, talking, and gossiping. In the evenings, there was still the traditional town dinner, although now that warmer weather was coming, dinner would move outside.

  As we sat there in the sun, warming our faces and shoulders, Alexander came back with Paul trotting at his heels. I smiled as they came nearer. My heart still swelled when I saw them. Alexander sat on one side of me, Paul on the other. They leaned back against the warm wood, and Alexander closed his eyes. His mouth was curled in a smile.

  ‘What’s up?’ I asked.

  He opened one eye and looked at me. He didn’t look up in the sky any more when I asked that, as he used to. ‘We’re all together again,’ he said, and in his voice there was a note of quiet satisfaction.

  Nearchus heard it too. He grinned widely. ‘We are, aren’t we?’ he said.

  ‘Now where to?’ I wondered aloud.

  Alexander opened his eyes. ‘We go north to find my soul,’ he said.

  ‘North.’ Nearchus looked toward the mountains. ‘I’d like to see the aurora borealis.’

  ‘I’d like to see the great white owl, the white bear, and an iceberg!’ Paul chimed in.

  ‘I’d like to see a white night,’ I said.

  ‘Do you think we can, Father?’ asked Paul.

  ‘Yes. I can almost feel my soul now. It’s somewhere over those mountains, north, and north some more. In the evenings, when the stars show, I see the great bear. He’s showing the way to my soul.’

  ‘The stars come out later and later, and soon you’ll see them no more,’ said Nearchus. He was impressed by the length of the days.

  ‘The land of the never setting sun. When the summer solstice arrives, we’ll be in reach of my soul. I know it. And then, my friend, do you know where we’ll go?’

  We all stared at him.

  ‘Where?’ Nearchus asked.

  ‘Home,’ he said, smiling brilliantly at all of us. ‘Home. To Egypt to fetch Chiron, Cleopatra, Usse, Chirpa, and Brazza. And then we get on one of Nearchus’s infernal boats, and we’ll go to Ethiopia and share a banquet with the gods.’

  ‘That,’ said Paul, stars shining in his eyes, ‘sounds like the best idea you’ve ever had.’

  ‘I know,’ said Alexander, and he leaned over and kissed me on the lips.

  I felt the world tilt, spin, and settle. In my nostrils was the scent of warm pine planks, on my lips was the taste of salt and honey, and in my arms was the man I loved. The relief of knowing Plexis was getting better, of knowing my children were safe, and seeing Alexander smile, nearly overwhelmed me. Tears slid down my cheeks, and I hurried to hide them with my hair.

  ‘A sweep of silver,’ said Alexander dreamily, running his fingers through my hair.

  ‘With only a few little nits,’ I said.

  ‘That’s all right. They’re probably related to the ones I have.’

  ‘You have them too?’ I pulled away with a mock scream.

  ‘We all do. It’s part of life. We’re all together. You, me, the sea, the sun, the mountains, and a few lice.’ He kissed me again and I felt my bones melt. ‘Shall we go inside?’ His breath tickled my ear as he whispered.

  I nodded. In another minute I would have agreed to do it under the bench. We left Paul and Nearchus blinking sleepily in the sun and disappeared into the darkness of our alcove. Our clothes seemed to levitate off our bodies, and we came together with a rush that left me breathless. Alexander was sleek and smooth. Under his skin, his muscles were taut. I ran my hands over his belly. I knew of the places that made him suck in his breath with a gasp. I could never get my fill of his body. I wanted to make it last longer, so I started to wrestle, but he was so much better. He pinned me with his elbows and knees. His smile was wolfish.

  ‘Did you want to do it like that?’ he asked, parting my legs with his knees.

  I pretended to relax and then just as he was about to lower himself onto me, I scissored my legs and threw him to his side.

  He laughed softly and let me win a round, just to show me he could. Then he flipped me over and proceeded to do what he liked.

  I liked it too.

  When my moans had faded to sighs, and his breath had returned to normal, he rolled off me and propped his chin on his hands. ‘I think we should leave as soon as Plexis is ready to travel,’ he said.

  ‘Fine with me.’

  ‘I didn’t want to worry you, but I think I should tell you. Voltarrix is heading this way. He’ll be here in a few days.’

  ‘I’m worried,’ I said.

  ‘Me too.’ He lifted the curtains aside and looked out into the gloom where Plexis lay sleeping. In the dark, I could see Axiom moving quietly around the sick man’s bed. The front door opened letting in a flood of spring sunlight. Demos’s large form blocked the light as he came through the door.

  ‘Something’s wrong,’ Alexander said, pulling his clothes on.

  Demos hurried over. ‘A strange boat has arrived with druids on board. Warriors from the looks of them. Not traders, despite what they may say.’

  Alexander swore, then kissed me hard. ‘We’ll be leaving sooner than I thought. Quick, get our things ready.’

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  I put our clothes, Alexander’s shaving kit, our toothbrushes, flint and pyrite, some onions and garlic, and a sewing kit into a leather backpack. Also in the alcove were Alexander’s sword, and his large, round shield that he took everywhere. Usse’s medical bag was underneath Plexis’s cot. I finished packing, pulled on my footgear, and went outside. The sunlight blinded me for a moment. Nearchus and Yovanix were still on the bench with Paul between them.

  ‘Demos told me. Don’t worry,’ said Nearchus, as I passed. ‘We’ll keep Paul safe.’

  I was looking for Alexander, and I found him at the docks. He and Demos were standing on a windy jetty with their cloaks whipping around their legs. They were talking to Phaleria. Several men were standing nearby them. They were dressed in the grey robes of the Celtic druids. Druids! They had found us. Alexander was right. We had to leave.

  My heart lurched when I saw that the new boat that had arrived. It was a long, slender boat with a single square sail and a long row of oars on either side. The bow lifted gracefully off the water and ended in a grinning dragon’s head. I stared. A Viking-style boat. The waves moved it up and down making the dragon’s head bob in a lifelike way. The dragon’s eyes glittered with chips of quartz. Its mouth was lined with rows of teeth. I was mesmerized.

  A crowd of townspeople gathered near the boat. Apparently, they had never seen anything like it. Children darted in and out of the crowd daring each other to get close to the terrifying dragon boat.

  Alexander drifted over to me and asked, ‘Did you pack?’

  ‘Yes. What’s going on?’

  ‘It seems like a whole congregation of Celtic druids has suddenly arrived to trade, but Demos is right. They don’t look like traders. We have to get Paul away from here’

  I suddenly felt strangely helpless and depressed. We had to get away from the druids as soon as possible. But how could we all go? Plexis was too weak to travel. ‘Do we go by boat, or on land?’

  Alexander looked undecided and then swore softly. ‘I wanted to leave in secret, but there are too many of them. They’ll be watching us.’

  ‘If they saw Phaleria’s boat leaving, they would follow,’ I said.

  ‘True, it would give us some time. Phaleria’s plan was to lure the dragon boat after her w
hile we go north on a wagon.’

  He left me and walked back to Demos. I turned and looked once more at the dragon boat and clenched my hands.

  We didn’t have much time. Alexander and Demos went to buy a wagon. Then Axiom and I got Plexis ready to travel. We had to slip away unnoticed. Alexander said he’d taken care of that.

  Around midnight, bells started ringing. Fires had broken out on the docks. Every able person ran to help. The druids rushed to move their dragon boat, which was closest to the fire.

  In their panic to put out the fire and get their boats to safety, no one noticed that we slipped out of the inn, carrying our belongings and Plexis. No one noticed when we turned left instead of right, and disappeared behind the inn where a horse and cart waited. We secured Plexis on a soft pallet inside the wagon.

  Phaleria would sail her boat far out into the fjord to give the druids a scare. Hopefully, at least some of the druids would think we were on the boat. When morning came, she would lead them on a merry chase along the coast.

  I hoped no one would find out that Kell and Titte had lit the fires. The two brothers had risked a great deal that night. Fire on a dock was no laughing matter; some people had their whole lives tied up in their boats. If the men were caught, they would be punished, and I didn’t like to imagine what that could mean.

  We took a trading road out of the village. Axiom drove the horse. Alexander, Demos, Yovanix, and Nearchus jogged behind the wagon. Paul fell asleep under the bench and I snuggled next to Plexis and held him tightly, keeping him from being jostled too much. Once or twice, he held his breath when a bump moved his arm. I put my head next to his and we whispered.

  ‘How are you doing?’ I asked.

  ‘I’ve been better.’ He laughed softly. ‘I’ve died twice for you. I hope you realize that.’

  ‘I do.’ My mouth brushed his in a tender kiss.

  ‘Hmm. I think I like dying. Look at me, in the arms of the Queen of the Dead.’

  ‘Very funny.’

  ‘Did they follow us?’

  ‘I don’t know. They will probably split up and half of them will take this path.’