Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T he line to enter the city of Sparta was ridiculously long. They lumbered along with merchants, farmers, mercenaries, or anyone else having business in Sparta. Two hours later, they made it through without a hint of awareness from the guards posted there and along the western wall.

The region was mountainous, and Sparta took advantage of the landscape. From where they entered, the city spread out, white buildings with red-tiled roofs climbing the mountainside. Terena’s eyes rose to the structure crowning the city. It appeared as if Arestia Castle had been built into the mountain, although it was difficult to make out from where they stood.

When they neared the city center, Terena blinked, her mouth falling open at the sight of the enormous statue before them. The man depicted was even larger than the stone statues of Calix and Alexandros in Metilai. This man was a warrior, wearing armor and a plumed helmet, hiding most of his face. In one hand, he gripped a spear, and the stone muscles of his other flexed as he held his shield. The ground beneath him was a mass of rubble, as if the man had landed on this spot and split the earth. He stood tall and menacing, his gaze overlooking the city as if he alone would protect it .

Icy awareness overcame her.

This must be the Olympian god, Ares.

Sparta was one of the last Greek kingdoms not swallowed up after the Olympians were defeated. Their heritage was proudly on display, with no fear of punishment for worshiping the ancient deities. There was no one who’d dare.

“Gabriol and I will scout around, get our bearings,” Rydon said. Terena looked over at him. He sounded exhausted. He looked exhausted.

She looked at the others. Everyone looked wrecked.

“We shouldn’t split up yet,” Terena said, turning her gaze back to Rydon. “Let’s find somewhere to stable the horses. Then we need to find an inn. The sooner we’re rested, the faster we can plan our next steps. That includes reconnoiter.”

“Aye,” Rydon grunted, and they set off on foot, walking the horses slowly through the shifting crowds. Rydon and Gabriol stopped every few feet to ask someone a question, Terena assumed to the nearest stables.

“The best inn that might have enough rooms for all of us is a mile away, but it’s also close to Arestia, the castle. And they have their own stables,” Gabriol said as they sauntered back to their group. “We paid a couple of boys to take them there for us.”

Terena shrugged. “Good. Get something to eat on the way?”

The others grumbled or grunted their agreement. Terena motioned for Gabriol to lead and they followed, Sonah next to Croak, Terena walking alone, and Rydon at the rear.

Ever since she’d told Croak about Sonah, he’d been much more attentive to her, staying close to her as they travelled and making a point of getting to know her better. Terena ducked her head, smiling, thinking of how cute he was with her; it made her heart happy to see them together.

She had said nothing to Sonah about it, yet, wanting to wait for the right moment. Maybe now they’d be sharing a room again…

A few minutes later, a roar went up around them and Terena and the others turned as the earth beneath them trembled .

Terena watched as a company of warriors thundered past. Their warhorses would have given them away if the men riding weren’t already legendary.

“Fuck,” Croak breathed as he slunk down a bit. Terena, too, tried to hide, lifting her hood as she ducked behind a tall man carrying a bushel of potatoes.

“The Liodari,” Rydon said in an awe-filled whisper.

“We knew they’d be here,” Gabriol said, resigned.

Terena and Croak exchanged a look.

“Come,” Gabriol said when the warriors had passed. “There’s a tavern across the way.”

“We shouldn’t eat all together,” Rydon said.

Terena glanced over her shoulder at him. “Agreed.”

“I’ll go with Terena,” Rydon said. Terena looked at him and shrugged.

“You two, let’s go,” Gabriol said to Croak and Sonah.

“We’ll get the rooms, too. Yours will be under the name Lorence.”

Sonah flashed Terena a look of panic, but Terena squeezed her hands when she stepped close to the younger girl. “You’ll be safe with Gabriol,” she reassured her. “And Croak. For whatever that’s worth.”

That earned her a smirk from Sonah.

Terena watched them until they reached the tavern doors, turning when Rydon hit her shoulder.

“There,” Rydon said a few minutes later.

Terena looked to where he pointed. “You go in first. I’m going to get the rooms. I’ll be right back,” she added.

Rydon looked as if he would protest, but then gave a quick nod and strode off toward the tavern.

Terena bumped into a woman holding the hand of a much older man, apologized and moved around them. She walked in the direction she thought the inn was, about to give up ten minutes later when she spotted the sign for public rooms written on a wall to her right. She went inside and secured a room for herself and Sonah, then asked for rooms for her ‘brothers’.

Satisfied, Terena walked out into the waning sunlight, lifting her head to catch the last rays with her eyes closed. A moment later, she sensed the shift in the people around her, their excitement in the way they moved and spoke. Opening her eyes, she saw Commander Daris Antonius pass not twenty feet away with ten of his men. The way they moved as if they were all of one mind and body fascinated her, and she stood rooted to the spot, her mouth hanging ajar.

There were shouts of praise and homecoming to the men, but they ignored it. Terena arched an eyebrow and scoffed.

The ones closest to Daris Antonius started chanting something in Greek she didn’t understand except for the name of the goddess Athena.

Terena ducked to her right, hoping to stay hidden while she watched the commander.

Daris Antonius was almost out of sight when she turned to the woman next to her and asked what the words meant.

The woman grinned at her and sighed. “Athena’s Weapon.”

Rydon pushed through the doors of the tavern and held it so it wouldn’t bang shut behind him. He pushed back his hood and strode to the bar, motioning to the barkeep and ordered an ale. After dropping a couple of coins on the counter, he grabbed the tankard and moved beyond the bar to one of the back tables. With a satisfied sigh, he settled onto the wood chair and leaned back, stretching his legs out under the table.

He glanced around the room, his green eyes taking in the patrons, the stairs, the doorway to the kitchen on his left. A barmaid made her way toward him and through to the kitchen, returning a few minutes later to stop at his side.

“Get you anything, lord?” she asked, her voice slightly winded as she smiled warmly at him.

“Another ale. And food. Whatever you got,” Rydon answered.

She nodded and strode off to the bar. Rydon shifted his gaze from her to the room at large once again .

Twenty minutes later, Terena came into the tavern, casting a cursory glance around the room until she spotted him. She wound her way slowly to his table, taking the chair to his right, facing the rest of the room.

“Stew’s good,” he said by way of greeting. Terena grunted, her face shaded by her hood.

Rydon passed her his tankard of ale. “I’ll get more,” he said as he rose and went for the bar. He leaned on the counter after he’d ordered more drinks and asked for another bowl of stew and bread.

The barkeep had set the drinks on the counter when the doors behind him opened, a gust of wind rushing in. He glanced over his shoulder, then froze. Five men—five big men—strode in, one peeling off from the right and heading toward a large table. Another followed, grabbing a chair from a table he passed and bringing it to the table they’d chosen.

Rydon turned back slightly so it wouldn’t be obvious he was watching.

He picked up the tankards and turned slowly, all the while watching the rest of their party. They all wore the same colors, although the clothing varied, as did the armor. They were not in their uniforms from earlier, having replaced the bronze breastplates for leather armor, but they still wore the colors of the order they represented.

Liodari.

The man closest to him turned to another, said something before the other man dipped his chin and walked toward Rydon.

Rydon moved, taking the drinks back to his table. He placed one carefully in front of Terena, then took his seat, his hand wrapped around his tankard, and brought it to his lips.

He glanced over at the bar, then looked at Terena. She’d taken off her hood and now sat hunched forward and stiff, arms braced on her knees. She, too, watched the man who now walked back to his friends. Rydon stared as the man sat and his gaze naturally lifted.

To them.

Or more specifically, to Terena. Rydon peeked at her and saw she, too, had her eyes locked on the man. Rydon shifted his gaze between the two, noticing how still the man had gone.

“Food’s coming.”

“We need to leave.” Terena said, not taking her eyes off the man.

“They don’t know?—”

“I’ll go first,” she said as if she hadn’t heard him. “You follow five minutes behind.”

“What’s that gonna do?”

Terena tilted her head to him. “It’ll look like I’m leaving because I’m done. And then you leave. Did you forget you ordered food?”

“But we’re sitting together. Who would leave their companion behind? That’s suspicious.”

Terena turned her chin slightly toward him, her lips scrunched up, and glared at him. “We cannot stay here. So when you leave, be as natural as possible so we don’t draw any of their attention. Especially his ,” she hissed at him.

Rydon glanced back at the man who was now speaking with his men. They looked to be sitting companionably, their limbs loose, conversing in twos or across. He shrugged. “Hate to break it to you, kid, but you’ve already drawn that man’s attention.”

“ That man,” Terena said, her voice pitched low, “is Daris Antonius. Commander of the Liodari.”

Rydon’s eyebrows shot up. He was saved by the barmaid placing a steaming bowl in front of Terena. She sat back as the woman then placed a plate of bread.

Terena mumbled her thanks and took the spoon in her left hand. Without looking up, she blew on the stew and said to Rydon, “He’s seen me before. And if he sees me now, he’ll remember me and I’d rather not have to outrun four Liodari and their commander.”

“You’ve met Daris Antonius?” he asked, huffing in disbelief. “Where?”

“What’s it matter?” she ground out and shoved a big spoonful of meat into her mouth.

“Well… I mean, what’s he like? I never thought I’d run across him. Gods, the stories don’t do him justice. ”

Terena rolled her eyes. “Stop it. We’re fucked.”

“Oh shit,” Rydon said.

“Hmm?” Terena looked up at him while she chewed.

“Absolutely, do not—do not!—turn to look,” he said and then kicked her under the table as she went to do just that. “ Don’t! He’s heading right for us.”

Terena froze, then said quickly, “I don’t think I can take him, but I might be able to take two of his men before?—”

“Terena Luca,” the man’s—Daris's—deep voice said. Not a question, either.

Rydon looked up in feigned surprise.

A second passed and Rydon shot Terena a look.

Terena had no choice but to look at the commander now, her expression such a believable mask of polite surprise, Rydon choked on his ale.

“Commander,” she said after a long pause.

The commander smiled. It was polite but genuine. Rydon looked back at Terena and blinked to see the flush in her cheeks.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to see you again. I wanted to stop and say hello,” Daris Antonius said, his eyes never leaving Terena.

“Very kind,” Terena said, her smile not reaching her eyes, but Rydon watched her as he folded his arms at his chest. She wasn’t entirely unaffected.

Daris Antonius inclined his head, then turned to Rydon.

“Oh!” Terena said after an awkward silence, and waved a hand at Rydon. “This is my Rydon—my worker ! That is to say, he works with me. In tracking.” She cleared her throat and gestured again at him. “It’s Rydon.”

Rydon could not believe what he was seeing. “I’m Rydon of Decu,” he said and stood, thrusting out his arm to the man. Only a moment’s hesitation before the commander clasped it.

“Decu,” the commander said, his light blue eyes assessing. “You’re far from home.”

“Aye,” Rydon said with a grin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there. I make my living in Heylisia. With Terena. ”

Rydon swore the man’s eyes narrowed, looking at him now as if he was a threat.

“Well, thanks for stopping by,” Terena said in a high voice. “Good to see you again.”

“Would you care to join us?” the commander asked, his eyes on Terena once more.

Terena blanched, but Rydon quickly answered, “Alas, we were about to leave. Done with supper. Thank you, though.”

Rydon looked over at Terena pointedly, his eyes widening slightly so she’d take the hint. Her face was bright red.

She shot to her feet and stepped away from the table, mute.

Daris Antonius stared at her a moment longer as Rydon rounded the table and clasped Terena’s shoulder. “Again, fantastic to meet you, an honor, truly,” Rydon said as he squeezed Terena’s shoulder and tugged so she’d follow him.

He strode toward the door, feeling her at his back. When she stopped, Rydon turned back to look. The commander had taken hold of her arm. Rydon stiffened and took a step but stopped, watching as Daris Antonius said something to Terena as he bent close, something Rydon couldn’t hear. He took another step, his hand drifting to the pommel of his sword.

Terena’s back stiffened, and she nodded. Without another look at the commander, she strode for the tavern door ahead of Rydon.

Rydon looked at the man one last time, their eyes locking for a second before Rydon dipped his chin and turned to walk out after her.

When the door shut behind him and he caught up to Terena, Rydon spoke at last. “What the fuck was that about?”

Terena was glad of the cool evening breeze, as it blessedly encircled her overheated body, her face so hot she pressed her palms to her cheeks.

“Oh gods, that was… that was,” Terena muttered as she gulped in air. Even her lungs seemed on fire .

“What is wrong with you?” Rydon asked, his lip curled in disgust. “A man—a fucking hero—says hello to you and you act like he’s got the plague.”

Terena scoffed and lifted a finger to point at Rydon. “That, that?—”

“What did he say to you? As we were leaving.”

If possible, Terena’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “Nothing! It was nothing.”

“By how you’re acting, that’s the worst nothing I’ve ever heard of.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Terena muttered and strode away.

Rydon caught up to her quickly. “Bullshit. Why won’t you say then, if it was nothing?”

She groaned. “He asked if I’d be staying long in Sparta because he wanted to see me again. I said we were.”

Rydon’s brows shot to his forehead, and his lips parted. “Oh, shit. Do you…” he shook his head, “do you have a thing for him? I thought you and the prince?—”

Instantly, the color bleached from Terena’s face and her stomach fell.

She pivoted, tears pricking at the backs of her eyes as she fought to keep them in.

“Hey, I didn’t mean?—”

“You know what? I’m going back to the inn. Stay, if you like,” Terena said, her voice overly loud to her ears. Rydon stopped following her a few seconds later.

Sleep. She needed sleep.

It was the only reason she could think of why her skin was clammy and her pulse raced. Her body was trying to tell her she needed rest.

That had to be it, because she didn’t want to think it had anything to do with the commander’s powerful body standing so close to her. Or the way those blue eyes looked at her as if he was starving and she was dinner.

And when he’d whispered to her, she wanted to rip the clothes from his body .

Terena choked back a sob because her mind chose that moment to flash an image of Lerek’s smiling face behind her eyes.

Ducking her head, Terena marched inside the inn.

She took the stairs two at a time and opened the door to her room. Sliding the door closed, she turned, making out Sonah’s outline in the bed closest to the window. Terena stopped and watched Sonah for a minute before she moved to the other bed.

Sliding off her cloak, she unhooked her sword belt and unfastened the sheath at her thigh. Sitting on the bed with a sigh, she lifted her right ankle and took off the sheath for her last dagger before unlacing and kicking off her boots.

She groaned over the amount of buttons on her leggings before she finally shoved them off. She kept her stockings on but chucked her tunic to the floor beside her leggings and boots. Stifling a groan, Terena bit her lip as she settled beneath the cool sheets.

She was out within minutes.