“Isn’t it fantastic?” Sonah added breathlessly. “Hermes is going to Ravos and he wants us to join him. He’s taking me to Terena! I’m so excited, I cannot wait to see her!”
Croak arched an eyebrow as he took a seat beside Sonah. Across from him, Migela gave a shake of her head and scowled at him.
“How did you even know we were here?” Croak asked as he reached for the bread.
Hermes smiled at Croak as one does at a dumb child. “Not that I owe you an explanation, boy, but I’m feeling generous today.”
Croak snorted.
“I felt the presence of a god,” Hermes continued, ignoring Croak’s facial expressions as he looked over at Sonah. “Imagine my surprise when I found not one, but two gods.”
“Your powers never cease to amaze,” Croak mumbled, eyeing the serving dishes with barely concealed nausea.
“We leave within the hour.”
Croak turned to Sonah with a quizzical look. “I thought you said we had to stay here. To wait for Rydon, here.”
Sonah glanced at Hermes over Melanos’s shoulder. Leaning in to speak quietly to Croak, she said, “Aye, but do you not think this is better? Why should we separate yet again if he can take us to him and Terena?”
“The stranger said you should wait here for your eudaemon,” Melanos said, his low voice husky. Sonah dropped her gaze.
“Right. And don’t forget the reason Ren sent us here in the first place. To keep us safe. I’m certain she wouldn’t want you there,” Croak added before pinching his lips.
He recalled Sonah telling him of the strange man she’d met after she’d killed Duke Ovenno. Once he’d gotten over the shock of that little detail, Croak had listened while she’d recounted her conversation with the man who’d known who she was and whom she’d killed. And the warning he’d had for her about remaining at Lethe.
Leander chose that moment to loom over them. Croak glanced up and frowned. “What?”
Leander glared down at him. “You’re in my seat,” he growled.
Croak’s brows hit his hairline. He scoffed. Winking at Sonah, he slid down the bench, making room for Leander. Croak leaned back to speak around him. “Oh, I cannot wait to see Jason again.”
Sonah’s cheeks colored prettily as she dug into her food.
“If he’s going off to fight,” Melanos said when Leander had settled, “we should remain here, Sonah. There’s a reason you met that man that night. There’s a reason for his warning. The Fates must’ve sent him.”
Sonah grumbled something around a mouthful of food.
“You should all stay here,” Croak said. “I’ll take Orry and go with them. She’ll believe me over Hermes that you’re actually here. If he goes alone, Terena might go gallivanting off somewhere else.”
“Aye,” Melanos said with a nod. “That’s a better idea.”
“What’s a better idea?” Orry asked as he happily crunched on a carrot. “I couldn’t hear.”
“You and I are going into battle,” Croak said as he lifted a goblet to his lips. Taking a sip, he groaned and set the goblet down with a shudder.
“What?”
“It’s water,” he grumbled.
“Aye,” Sonah said. “You donotneed any more ale.”
“Hey,” Orry said, rapping his knuckles on the table, catching everyone’s attention. “What were you saying?”
Croak sighed. “You and I are going with Hermes to Ravos.”
“What? Why?”
“So we can tell Ren Sonah’s here.”
