σὺν Ἀθηνᾷ καὶ χεῖρα κίνει

Along with Athena, also move your hand.

-Greek Proverb

'So you have no idea where she went?'

Alexios was growing tired. It was midmorning and the sun was already unbearable. The outskirts of Sparta were normally lush and green with farmland. But this brutal summer had baked everything yellow and brown. He stood in his mother's kitchen, watching her and the family servant dry herbs.

'She went out the front door, saying that if you weren't going to be using the Adrestia, someone should,' Myrrine replied, using a paring knife to shear off the bitter ends of fragrant strands of thyme.

'Well this gives me nothing!' Alexios said, raising his voice.

Myrrine pointed her knife at him. 'Remember with whom you're speaking lamb.'

'Why is it that every time I come home, no one know where Kassandra goes or what she does?'

'She took Stentor with her this time.'

'For Zeus' sake woman!'

Myrrine shrugged her shoulders. 'You all three are grown now. Am I to keep you close here with me? You certainly decided to move on.'

Alexios wiped the sweat from his brow. He wanted, for the thousandth time, to justify why he had left the comfortable little cocoon in the Spartan hillside. Why it was easier to visit than stay.

'Do you have an inkling of where they may have gone?' he asked.

'That Artemis priestess. Has Kassandra told you of her?'

Alexios cocked his head. 'Daphne?'

'Ah!' Myrrine said, smiling. 'Yes, I believe that's the one! I think she is off to find her. She mentioned something about slaying beasts. This is the plight of having such blessed children. They always want to leave.'

Alexios caught the edge of sadness in her voice. He came around the side of table, slinging an arm around her shoulder. 'Yes, but it makes the return so much sweeter.'

Myrrine sighed. 'Are you ready to set off?'

'Yes, though I'll need to borrow a skiff or something of the like to get us back up to Delphi.'

'Nikolaos will help you with that.'

'Thank you, mater.'

Myrrine smiled, tears threatening to spill over. 'You know you are welcome here, always. You and your strange companions. They bring good luck, I have never seen my herb garden so healthy!'

'Indeed, the first bit of luck I've had on this gods forsaken trip.' Alexios muttered as he opened the front door.

Kian was sparring with Nikolaos again on dusty flagstones. Eudora was sitting on an overturned crate, laughing to herself. 'Ready, priestess?' Alexios asked.

She looked up at him and nodded, standing to brush off her short chiton. She pointed to Kian, and then looked back at Alexios.

'They are almost finished,' he answered.

She shook her head and gave him a timid smile. She held her hand aloft, as though she were clutching a sword. She then opened up her palms, furrowing her brow.

'Oh,' Alexios said. 'Nikolaos is training Kian how to dodge oncoming attacks with a sword in his hand. It seems easy, but rolling on the ground with a sharp point takes finesse.'

Eudora nodded, tapping her chin as she watched.

'Will you let me have my translator back?' Alexios called to his stepfather.

'In a minute Alexios!' he shouted back. 'Now, one more time,' he said to the boy, preparing to charge at him.

In an instant, Kian ducked and rolled perfectly, dodging the burly man and getting to his feet in a flash, holding the sword out, primed to attack. 'Ho ho!' Nikolaos said, clapping Kian on the shoulder. 'I told you that you'd get it!'

'Did you see that one Eudora?' the boy asked, holding his sword in the air. 'This is Sparta!' he mimed in a deep voice.

Nikolaos laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. Alexios felt a tug in his chest. He sometimes wondered what life would have been like had he really belonged to the Wolf. Would everything have been easier? Would he have grown up as a true Spartan, instead of an outsider, never really knowing his place?

'Kian, we need to reach the docks before noon!' Alexios said.

'Yes, sir!' he said, grinning.

Being held captive was decidedly undignified. Firstly, she was being held in a room with a ceiling so low she could not stand to her full height. Save for a window, there was a very tiny porthole which rested so low, seawater poured in when the boat rocked. The wood was damp and moldy, groaning with each wave swell.

'How are you this morning?' asked the Prince. There was a small crack in the wall between the rooms where they were being held captive.

'Good today,' she said through the crack. 'And you? Have you seen anyone?'

'Just the same solider that comes in to give me my breakfast. I think we have been down here for three days. I overheard one of the men saying that we would be arriving in Athens soon.'

'Blessed gods,' Hero breathed. She needed warm sunshine again; she needed fresh air and food. Only then would she be able to start planning her escape.

'I do hope Alexios and Kian are on their way,' the Prince mused. 'Perhaps word will have reached them by now.'

Hero had been stolen away into the tiny cell before she could see what happened to the crew. Many men had been lost during the skirmish that had taken place before the captors attempted to board them.

'No matter what, they will find us in Athens,' Hero said. She was not sure if she were trying to convince the Prince or herself of that.

'Was this… was this the Dark One you were speaking of, Hero?'

Hero started. 'The Dark One?'

'Yes, when I visited the temple to obtain the prophecy. You spoke of a dark figure that had been chasing us.'

'Oh, Your Grace…'

'Please, call me Myron.'

Hero balked. He must have been able to see her expression through the crack because he added: 'I think it's only appropriate. No one can really claim to be royalty whilst locked up here. It only took one man to subdue me. No doubt any survivors have already made their way back to Cyrene, going on about their beloved, but woefully unprepared leader.'

'If royalty doesn't belong in a dungeon, than neither does self-pity, in my humble opinion.'

Myron smiled ruefully at her. 'I suppose you are right.'

'I'm not usually wrong about these things. I think we should both try to rest until we reach Athens. Then we can use our wits to plan an escape rather than go mad in this forsaken little broom closet.'

'I am sorry, you know,' Myron said.

'Yes, well…' Hero began. 'I suppose I am the one who bullied Media into letting me come. How happy she would be, to know that I have disgraced myself.'

'I promised to protect you,' Myron began. 'Looks as though I have made a rotten job of that as well.'

'But you cannot shield me from all of the evils in this world. Let us rest now, Myron. I am tired of lamentation.'

The Prince smiled at her ruefully. 'Sleep well, priestess. I hope when you wake up that we find ourselves in better circumstances.'

Eudora did not want to return to Delphi. Alexios had joked with her, asking her to keep her opinions to herself, thank you very much. He had reason to believe that his sister had stolen his ship and crew and for some reason had made her way to the sacred temple of Artemis.

Artemis and Apollo; twins and constant competitors. The priestesses of Artemis were beautiful, wild, and dark counterparts to their learned, stoic priest sisters. Eudora came into contact with them once per year, during a shared feat day. She was always aghast at their bare ankles, the dirt under their fingernails, their loose braids.

But it made sense. Artemis ruled the moon; hidden passions and wild natures. But Apollo ruled the sun; the discoverer of things, the steward of understanding. He expected his priestesses to worship at the alter of knowledge.

Eudora was not keen to return to bucolic Dephi, to wander into the forests of those Artemis priestesses. She had heard of strange things there. She had heard of sacrifice and blood.

Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her abdomen. A cool breeze ruffled her hair. She looked back at Myrrine's house. The woman leaned against her Spartan captain in the doorway, waving goodbye to the small company.

They made a strange trio; a battle-hardened warrior, a pirate-queen woman, and their demi-god offspring. What a strange family, she had signed to Kian, who nodded in agreement. They set off down the road, red mare in tow.

Later that evening she overheard the young translator and Alexios speaking.

'Eudora thinks you are strange. You and your kin,' the boy said.

'I would not fault her for thinking so,' Alexios replied.

Both of their voices were lowered to a whisper and Eudora struggled to hear them.

'D'you think she was causing all of our misfortune… the lightening strike?' Kian sounded wary.

'I am not sure. But I have seen some very strange things in this country. Eudora is special. We would do well to ensure her comfort and safety. Besides, things tend to go well for us when she is happy.'

Eudora felt her heart leap at that. Kind, she thought.