"Rhi, are you alright?" I jumped at the concern and relief emanating from the voice, because it was not Poseidon's, but Adon's. I flinched back from his extended hand. He looked hurt for a fraction of a second, but the now-familiar mask of smug superiority and annoyance replaced it quickly. How could he have the right to be afraid for me when he was so hostile? Not to mention the fact that he could kill me.
"Here, drink this." Adon, still hostile, held a cup to my lips, and I started to drink. I drank the first few mouthfuls greedily before the taste registered in my brain, and when it did, I spluttered and spat the liquid out. Before, when I first drank nectar, it had been a relief to have it flushing my mouth out, washing away the taste of the ambrosia. Now, with nothing to dilute it, the taste was unbearable. Sickly sweet, it tasted like death. I shivered. Somehow, despite the sleep I had gained, I felt no more rested.
"Drink!" Poseidon ordered. "It will build your strength." Then he added, "Unless you want to eat ambrosia." I shuddered. I did feel better, though only a little. I grudgingly allowed the moisture to enter my mouth, and drank the whole cup. I immediately felt better.
"Good," Poseidon said. "Now your life force has been regained, you can resume your lessons."
"Life force? What has that got to do with anything?" I asked cautiously. Adon snorted.
"Like I was trying to tell you, your life force will suffer if you don't have finite control," he said. "First, your energy is used, then your life force. If that is gone, you will die. You are not a full god yet." I scowled at him.
"How would it help if I get back to my lessons now?" I asked.
"We don't have enough time to waste it on any unnecessary rest," Poseidon answered. "You have slept a full fourteen hours. You need no more rest."
"I was hardly resting. I dreamt. My dream…" I broke off, remembering how important it really was.
"Someone is sending an army of…" I broke off, struggling to remember. "Of…Old monsters? Yes that's it. They are sending an army of old monsters here."
Adon gasped in astonishment. Poseidon was a little more composed. Only a little.
"What? How do you know this?" He demanded.
"I told you, I dreamt it."
"A dream means nothing," Adon said uncertainly. "Does it?"
"Of course it does. Has no-one told you never to discount a dream?" Poseidon snapped. "Dreams are quite often true – at least, for Halflings and God-children. You should know that, Adon." He continued sharply. "What did you see?"
I described everything that I could remember. I shuddered when I thought about that voice – not to mention the fact that they could apparently hurt me when I was asleep. When I was finished, Poseidon cursed.
"I knew it was Kronos. Zeus would never listen – drunken fool," he muttered. "Of course it was. Adon," he barked, "Keep teaching her. I am taking the strongest of our warriors to fend of the beasts."
"No!" I gasped. "He will attack the city while you are gone!"
"I must go. Kronos will destroy the ocean if I don't."
"But…"
"SILENCE!" Poseidon roared. "What do you know of warfare? You are only an infant when it comes to gods." I stared him down, only a little scared.
"I know enough that taking all of the strongest is a bad idea," I replied calmly. "And besides, I thought that you couldn't interfere."
"Adon, what do you See?" Poseidon's voice was still tense, but he had apparently calmed. Talk about mood swings.
I focused on Adon. He looked like he was not entirely here – like he was focusing on something distant. His beautiful golden eyes were oddly clouded, and when he spoke, he was not speaking to us, but more to himself.
"The city will fall. The city won't fall. The city may fall."
"Okay, I didn't understand a word of that," I admitted when Adon returned to the present. "Care to enlighten me?" He glared.
"You are both right. The city – and all who remain – will perish if Poseidon takes the strongest, but the ocean will stay safe. Vice versa, if they remain here. But…" He hesitated, and slipped back to the future. "There is something there that will tip the scales if the army is split. It will be almost even at both battles, but there is a third battle that I can't See the end of. There is a streak of blue light, and a streak of darkness, tearing each other without mercy. There will be blood, tears, and surrender. One in particular will make the greatest sacrifice of all…" He slumped into a nearby chair. "I see no more."
A/N Hi all!
I apologise proffusely for my unacceptable absence. I would explain, but explanations are excuses, and I hate excuses. Well, I promise that I will be more vigilent with my writing.
I really don't deserve it, but please review anyway.
Bye for now, not forever!
Maddy