Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

W ithout the Liodari, Terena and the others returned to Melanos much faster this time.

The sun was high in the sky when they finally reached Melanos’s cave. The wind whipped at her cloak as Terena hopped off Nyx. She called out to Croak to stay with the horses. Rydon came to her side as they walked off toward the cave entrance.

“What? Why always me?”

“I’m coming with you!” Sonah yelled and Terena turned her head in time to see Sonah racing to catch up.

“I’ll stay with the whelp,” Gabriol called out.

Taking her time, Terena cautiously walked through the dark entrance. Inside, she saw a much tamer scene than the one she and the others had initially witnessed when they had met Melanos.

As Rydon and Sonah came up behind her, she heard Sonah’s gasp. White columns surrounded the large room, transforming the cave into a beautiful outdoor ballroom. Every variety of rose imaginable adorned the room, and thick garlands stretched across the columns. A canopy of sheer fabric covered the cave, concealing the starry sky above them. Guests took advantage of the many areas for privacy provided by large oak and black pine trees along the edges of the cave .

“Come on,” Terena said with a smile as she tugged at Sonah’s cuff. Sonah gawked a few more seconds before following Terena and Rydon, stumbling once because she was paying more attention to the people than she was where she stepped.

A few people were laughing, sitting on large pillows and plush ottomans beneath a willow in a far corner. As Terena drew closer, her eyes widened and she stopped, moving fast to cover Sonah’s eyes with her hand.

“Melanos!”

The deity was reclining on the floor, kissing one woman, while another crouched near his stomach, her head bobbing in a rhythmic motion. When Terena bellowed his name, Melanos lazily tore his lips away from the woman and stared at them for a moment before recognition dawned. Sonah squawked at her side, clawing at Terena’s hand.

The scene disappeared and Melanos strode toward them fully clothed, thank the gods.

Terena lowered her hand from Sonah’s eyes and the girl got her first look at the enormous god. He stopped a few feet away, a huge grin on his face as he folded his arms at his chest.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away,” he laughed.

“I told you I’d be back,” Terena snapped.

“Where did all the people go?” Sonah asked, glancing around.

“Would you like me to bring them back, little one? I can?—”

“No!” Terena yelled, lunging with an arm out toward Melanos. His deep laughter rang through the cave, and Sonah moved closer to Terena’s side.

“Can you please,” she said with a sigh and closed her eyes for a second, “can you please not corrupt my sister? We came back to get you out of here.”

At her words, the big man arched a sandy eyebrow at her, then shifted his gaze to Sonah.

“Another daughter of Ares?”

Sonah watched him silently, but Terena nodded. “Aye.”

The god inclined his head and winked at Sonah. “It is a pleasure to meet you. ”

Sonah was too awed to say anything until Terena nudged her. Her lips formed an O and then she blinked at Melanos. “The pleasure is mine, Melanos,” she said as she curtsied.

“None of that now.” Melanos waved his hand, but Terena saw the color blooming in his cheeks. He turned his bright blue eyes to Terena. “And have you figured out how to do it correctly this time?”

Terena shrugged. “No. I mean, it’s not like I have a bunch of divine advisors to help with this sort of stuff, but I’m hoping, now I’m fully healed, it might work.”

Melanos stared back at her for a moment before giving her a sharp nod and clapping his hands. “Let’s go then. I’m ready.”

Rydon led the way to the entrance, followed by Terena with Melanos behind her. She reached back to take hold of his hand when he stopped before the dark passage, his body stiff.

Taking a few steps back, Terena saw the god’s startled expression as he looked behind him. Sonah stood behind Melanos, and Terena strained to see what was happening. In the passage’s gloom and with his enormous frame blocking everything behind him, Terena opened her mouth to speak when she heard her sister.

“Don’t be afraid,” Sonah was saying. “It’s all right.”

Terena stilled. The god turned back to face her and motioned her forward. Walking, she reached back to grasp his hand again, and this time, he didn’t let go.

Her heart raced as she made it outside, the light blinding, and she raised a hand to shield her eyes. She turned to look at Melanos.

Sure enough, Melanos stood at the cave entrance, dropping Terena’s hand to squint up at the bright sun. He hesitated, then took a step forward, and Terena’s tears stung as she saw his face. A moment more and he was on his knees, tears falling freely as he stared in wide-eyed wonder at the world. Sonah stepped up beside him, pulling her hand from his and laid it on his shoulder. He turned his head up to her, laying his large hand over hers as he stared back at her, mute. Sonah beamed at him, laughter bubbling out of her and Melanos joined her, his laughter ringing out around them, boisterous and wet with choking sobs .

Melanos’s joy filled the air and birds took flight. Terena’s chest was so full she thought she might burst, so happy they had done something on this trip that had her feeling this good. She looked over her shoulder at Rydon, who had come up behind her and clasped her shoulders in his hands, shaking her. His jaw tightened as if he was holding back his own emotions while he watched the god laugh.

“It worked,” Croak said in awe as he walked up to her left, and she turned when she saw Gabriol come up beside him. She turned back to Melanos and Sonah, the fullness in her chest threatening to burst her heart as she looked at Sonah’s wide smile.

Melanos ducked his head at last, lifting his hands to cover his face, and Sonah gave him a quick squeeze before she skipped to Terena. Fresh tears blurred Terena’s vision.

Impulsively, she grabbed her sister in a big hug, kissing the top of her head.

“Thank the gods something went right,” Rydon said, his voice gruff.

“Looks like you were right,” Gabriol said and smacked her shoulder. “You needed to fully heal. I’m glad we came back.”

“So am I,” Terena said.

“Big man,” Croak taunted, “Ready to go or still crying?”

Sonah gasped and Rydon slammed his hand between Croak’s shoulder blades. Croak yowled as Rydon and Gabriol walked to the horses. Sonah glanced back at Melanos before following.

Terena walked over to Melanos, crouching down at his side. “Do you need more time?”

Melanos shook his head, his face still hidden in his hands. At last he dropped them and exhaled, his face red and his eyes puffy, but he was still smiling. “No. I’m ready. Let’s get away from this cave and never return.”

A few miles away from where they were to meet Daris and the other Liodari in Messene, Terena slowed Nyx to walk. Rydon was at her side and he whistled, Gabriol looking over his shoulder at them before clicking his tongue and pulling on the reins to slow his horse. The others slowed as well.

They had no horse for Melanos, but Sonah had volunteered to ride with him. They looked ridiculous. Terena sympathized with Sonah’s horse; the giant god dwarfed both the beast and Sonah. But Sonah had only smiled happily and rested her head against Melanos’s back as they rode. Terena suspected she much preferred sitting back and letting someone else do the work.

Before setting off for Messene, Terena had filled Melanos in on where they were going and why. Melanos had volunteered to join them. Once more, he reiterated his opinions on Pytho, but even he could not stand by while a child of Apollo was so blasphemed.

“Rider,” Gabriol called out, and Terena’s pulse skittered. She tightened her hands on the reins, straightening as she spotted the rider wearing Liodari colors. They urged their mounts into a trot, meeting the rider as he slowed.

The sun sat low on the horizon, bathing the landscape in rich oranges and deep blues, limning the rider in gold and hiding his face from view. As he urged his horse closer, Sonah gasped behind her, a bright smile on her face.

“Jason!”

The Liodari grinned when he caught sight of Sonah, and Terena smothered a smile. She saw Rydon and Gabriol exchanging smirks while Croak made a retching sound.

“Well met,” Jason said, his eyes crinkling. He nodded at Melanos and put his hand over his heart. “My lord. Looks like she figured out how to free you. Thank the gods you came, too. With three gods on our side, we won’t be as easy to intimidate as Solon thought.”

“He’s here?” Terena’s heart missed a beat.

“No, no,” Jason said hurriedly, holding out a hand to her. “Apologies, that’s not what I meant. Well.. you’ll see. Come. Commander Antonius awaits you below. We’ve camped outside of the city.”

They crested the hill and saw the tents dotting the field, a large one at the center. More soldiers in Spartan colors stood in groups amongst the Liodari but Terena did not see Daris.

“How long have you been here?” Croak asked.

Jason shrugged. “We arrived last night. We’ve had scouts out this way, looking out for your arrival. Happy coincidence, it was my turn.”

Terena was watching him when he winked at Sonah.

“And when are we making the trade?” Terena asked.

“The commander should’ve sent a messenger as soon as my arrow was spotted.”

“Arrow?”

“Aye,” he said as he glanced back at Terena. “One arrow to signal your return.”

“Have you seen the oracle?” Rydon asked, nudging his mount closer to Jason.

“Not yet. We’ve sent scouts, though. The commander will update you.”

They rode in silence until they reached the camp. Three men came forward to take their horses away to be cared for, while the rest of them followed Jason into Daris’s tent.

The interior was sparse, with a cot to the side and a small collapsable table where four men stood, three of them with their backs to the opening. When Terena saw Daris, his usual impassive mask slipped and his lips tugged up in a smile before he schooled his face and he was the Commander once more.

“So this is where the party’s at,” Croak said, folding his arms as he stood with legs braced next to Terena.

“Melanos!” Daris’s face lit up when he spotted the god. He came around the table to greet him. Melanos held out his arm and Daris clasped it with a grin. “You’re out. How do you feel?”

Melanos made a sound and leaned back, his eyes landing on Terena. “Ask me in a few days. I might have recovered from the shock by then.”

Daris made quick introductions and Terena and the others clasped each man’s arm.

“Have you heard anything?” Rydon asked as he released the arm of the Spartan army captain, Linos Athanasi. He looked to be older than Daris but not by much. Ten years at most was Terena’s guess as she took in the slight wrinkles at the corners of his mouth and eyes. He had thick brows atop deep-set brown eyes that made him seem angry even when he was smiling.

“No, not yet,” Daris replied, “although I hadn’t expected to hear so quickly. I sent a messenger earlier telling them we’d meet them at dawn for the exchange.”

“You’re not worried they’ll just send troops in to take it from us?” Croak snorted.

Daris spared him a glance, then walked back to where he’d been standing when they first came in. “I’d love to see it. Especially with you here.” He motioned to Terena and Melanos.

“Let’s not forget this little spitfire,” Croak said as he hooked an arm over Sonah’s neck and dropped a kiss on her head.

“Have you seen her?” Terena asked.

Daris gazed at her for a moment before shaking his head. “My men haven’t seen the oracle, no. But they’ve locked up her Magi. One escaped. We’re not sure where he is, but he wouldn’t leave his priestess, so he must be nearby.”

Terena thought back to the Magi she’d seen in Pytho’s temple; the same man who had stood off in the distance while she and Croak had killed his men in Agraboda.

No, she thought. The Magi would not leave Pytho.

“So, what’s your plan?” Rydon asked, his arms stretching his tunic as he crossed his arms.

Daris shifted his eyes to Rydon before looking at Terena. “Terena, Melanos and I will?—”

“And me,” Rydon grunted.

Daris sighed. “We’ll go make the trade. A guard of four will travel with us, and Captain Athanasi will have his men positioned here.” Daris pointed at a spot on the map in front of them. “I’ll have Gabriol join them,” Rydon said as Gabriol moved closer.

“Fine,” Daris said with a nod as he continued to regard the map. “Since they have most of their men posted here, the captain will ensure our archers target them.” Looking up and around at the others, Daris’s eyes landed on Sonah. “Sonah?—”

“Sonah will stay back,” Terena said firmly. Sonah did not contradict her.

“And when we have Pytho?” Rydon asked after a pause.

“We take Messene.”