The Amazons traveled rapidly, ahead of Velaska, and then stopped to work. Autolycus, having followed them, saw them dig and disguise their pit. When Velaska arrived, he stared, frozen, as Solari delivered her speech about offering Velaska a sacrifice, and Ephiny kneeled, scorn on her face, her sisters holding knives at her. It effectively lured Velaska into the hidden pit.
But, the scene was over in moments, Velaska easily free of the pit, the Amazons scattering. He was relieved to see the crazy goddess did not chase them—instead she continued, steady, on her journey.
"No," he muttered to himself. At what, he wasn't sure as he found a path for himself around and past Velaska, easily outpacing her. If he was going to do this, he had to move now, before he could no longer keep up, before the pounding in his chest led to either a faint or a frenzied fleeing in the other direction.
He didn't want to think of Gabrielle. He'd never had a sister, but if if he had, perhaps this is what it would be like.
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A young woman named Haemerasia had volunteered to be the scout when Ephiny had needed someone to check on what the thief was up to. The young woman reported back to Ephiny. "He's headed toward Artemis's temple—same direction Velaska is going."
"So, he's going to try something. Perhaps he'll have better luck than we did, with that mouth of his." Ephiny announced this to Solari, who almost chuckled. Then Ephiny muttered to herself grimly, "May Artemis protect him."
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Autolycus cringed as he watched Velaska blast the Temple of Artemis and murder temple guards. He looked away, shaking. A half-thought out plan had formed in his head, and he counted on himself to improvise as needed. Now he just needed to find a place in Velaska's path to implement it—and fast, before his common sense and good judgment could prevail.
But then, he thought of the Temple. Would it hold something that could help him? He decided that if he moved fast he had time to find out and still intercept Velaska.
He entered the silent Temple with cold stone walls, hearing only the slight sound of a fountain, apparently still undamaged, at the far end of the large building, and his attention was immediately caught by the imposing statue of Artemis herself.