CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The journey to Elis, where the waterfall Melanos had told them to find, was much quicker than Terena had expected. They’d rested in Thuria for the night before riding off at dawn, heading northwest from Ibros and crossed into Elis by nightfall.
The Liodari had understandably been suspicious when Terena shared the story of their meeting with the god Melanos, but they’d followed her the next morning without protest. Daris opined more than once that traveling to Elis was not safe. He’d peppered her with questions about the god and what had transpired in the cave.
“Listen,” she said at one point, annoyed with all his questions, “if we survive meeting this serpent, you’ll see him yourself.”
Melanos had told them the falls were about an hour’s ride beyond the southern border, so they made camp near a small stream once they’d crossed the border, leaving the Greek road and traveling on a worn, rough path where the horses could only ride in single file.
The food was plentiful, as Melanos had conjured three sacks full of provisions for them before they left his cave. Croak sat on his bedroll, digging through one sack and pulled out apples and grapes, and a wheel of cheese he kept for himself despite protests from Gabriol, who had tried more than once to snatch it from Croak’s lap. Theother two sacks were similarly investigated. Gabriol, the more judicious traveling companion, gave the provisions he revealed to Michael, who passed them along to Jason and Daris.
Terena slapped Croak on the back of his head and while he yelped, she passed the wheel of cheese to Rydon. When he was still rubbing at the hurt, Terena grabbed the loaf of bread peeking out from the bag and split it evenly amongst their group.
While they enjoyed their food, Croak pestered Daris and his men with questions about Sparta, about how he’d become the Commander of the Liodari. Terena tried hard not to seem overly interested, although she did lean in closer, cocking her head so she could hear better across the low crackle of the fire.
“When I was twenty, the Commander of the Liodari took an interest in me. Spartan boys train from an early age to be soldiers, but Liodari are the best of those soldiers. Only those who have distinguished themselves in battle ever receive an invitation to join. Because I had not, they tested me against Magi.”
“What?” Croak scoffed and flicked a hand at Terena. “We fought Magi! We beat them too! Make us Liodari, Daris.”
The others laughed and Terena dropped her chin as she grinned.
When she looked up at Daris, he looked bemused. “When did you fight Magi?”
Croak blew through his lips. “Seems forever ago now. Back in Agraboda.”
Terena glared daggers at him. His smile faded when he saw it.
He ducked his head.
She could feel the heat of Daris’s stare. Her face burned from it.
Terena schooled her face and turned to him. “Long time ago.”
Daris continued to stare at her. He turned his head when Jason leaned over and said something to him. She watched as he nodded before turning to gaze out at the fire.
“What happened next?” Croak asked.
Daris looked over at him, startled. His expression turned thoughtful. “Our commander fell after a small incursion from the Ibrosians five years ago and I succeeded him.”
“The youngest commander in Liodari’s history,” Michael said with pride.
“I feel like you skipped a lot,” Croak said, his eyebrow lifted. “That battle you speak of? Even in Heylisia we’d heard the Ibrosians had you cornered when you went to retrieve your commander’s body. You slew twelve men before more Liodari could get to you. Or that a bear once attacked you when scouting near the Gulf of Heroes. That’s how you got the scars along your left ear, aye?”
Daris shrugged. “We are a warrior society,” he said in a low voice. “We do not boast of our deeds. We make ourselves ready for the next ones.”
Terena couldn’t help the smile spreading on her face. She ducked her head as Rydon nudged her with his knee.
“Something amuses you,” Jason bit out.
Terena shook her head once. “Not at all.” She looked up with a quick glance at Daris. “I’ve not known you long, but that is… that’s exactly what I’d expect you to say.”
Daris watched her across the dying fire, his eyes sparkling in the flickering light. She kept his stare a moment longer before she shifted.
“Why do they call you Athena’s Weapon?” she asked, her lips twisting when his face shuttered, his eyes narrowing for a split second before he dropped his gaze to the fire.
“He’s the hero of Sparta,” Jason said defiantly. “It stands to reason he’d be the hero that was promised to help the Heir of Ares upon his return.”
Terena’s pulse quickened. She glanced between Jason and Daris, noting Daris was frowning at Jason. She saw the quick shake of his head.
