Daris stared at her for so long she fidgeted. “I didn’t die.”
She scoffed, but it sounded more like a choked sob. His eye narrowed as she wiped at her eyes again. Terena nodded, her eyes sad. “Aye, Daris. You died. I saw you.”
Daris looked away, his heart squeezing tight at the look on her face. “I have to tell you something.”
“What? That you’re Eudaemon?”
Daris’s eye whipped back to her and his mouth went slack. She smirked at his expression.
“Melanos told us.”
“How does?—”
Terena shook her head and laughed. “He’s a god?” She shrugged. “He said he thought we knew.”
Daris opened his mouth to say more when the tent flap rustled. A second later, Pytho appeared, carrying a cup.
Terena twisted to see, smiling when she saw the oracle.
“I’ve brought more of the sleeping draft,” Pytho said in a low voice as she held out the cup. Terena stood, and as her hand slipped from his, Daris tightened his grip before her fingers left his.
Turning back, Terena smiled at him. “I’ll let you get some rest.” She walked past Pytho, laying her hand on the woman’s shoulder as she did so.
The moment she was gone, Pytho turned back to him, uncertain. He watched as she looked at him, then turned away. He remained silent, letting her decide. She took a tentative step toward the stool Terena had vacated.
Setting the cup on the ground at her side, she gave Daris an awkward smile. “How are you feeling?”
He was about to remark about his head aching and the fact he’d lost an eye, but he paused, frowning. The sharp pain piercing back and forth across his head was no longer there. Even the tightness around the wound at his eye socket no longer bothered him. He was still tired, but every moment that passed, he became stronger.
Terena’s tonic was potent.
“I feel much better, thank you,” he said at length, smiling at the oracle.
She smiled back, but it was tight and her black eyes darted around. They were unnerving to look at.
“I will leave soon,” she said, her words measured. He watched her but said nothing.
“I…,” her mouth opened and shut until she exhaled loudly. “There are forces at work here that will do everything in their power to keep you apart,” she said at last, and Daris stilled. He had a feeling from the way she spoke she was choosing her words with care. “When you are better,” she turned to look at him finally, “you will travel north, with Terena and Sonah?”
At his nod, Pytho pursed her lips and dropped her gaze to her clasped hands. “Whatever happens, you need to bring Sonah back to Sparta.”
Chills arced up his spine. A moment passed in silence and then he turned, inching his body up, and with a grimace and Pytho’s help, he sat up. He let one leg drop to the ground and brought his other down before he looked back at Pytho with a frown.
“What are you saying? What have you seen?”
She loosed a shaky sigh and rubbed at her forehead, her strange black eyes hidden by an equally shaky hand. Dropping her hand, she said, “Just... bring Sonah back with you. It’s the only way Terena will return.”
Daris whipped his hand out, holding her wrist, and she gasped. He leaned forward. “Tell me.”
The oracle stood and Daris had no choice but to drop his hold on her. She turned as if to leave, then turned back and held her hand out to him once more. “You’ll know when. Whatever happens, you must bring Sonah back, or you will never see Terena again.”
Without another word, Pytho darted out of the tent, taking his breath with her.
A few days later,Melanos left with Pytho and her Magi. They had formed a semi-circle around them as they said their goodbyes. Pytho had held on to Gabriol longer than seemed appropriate, and Terena arched an eyebrow at Rydon, who shrugged. When Gabriol pulled back, Pytho whispered something to him that made him stiffen, then nod. The moment was forgotten when Melanos came forward to thump Gabriol on the back. Terena had asked Melanos if he’d like to go north with them, but the god had laughed.
“I do not wish to offend you, Terena,” Melanos had said with a wry smile. “But I have no desire to see the Olympians return. For obviousreasons. Besides, after I see the oracle safely back to her temple, I’ve a mind to find Bethana.”
“What of Poseidon’s curse?” Croak had asked.
