“But Hermes will do that, I’m sure.”
“She won’t believe him.”
“What are we going to do there?” Orry whined. “You know I am of no use in a fight.”
“Don’t worry,” Croak said as he forked some eggs. “There won’t be any fighting.”
Melanos and Leander chuckled as Orry gaped at him.
“Are you insane? Why do you think he’s heading there?”
Croak looked from Melanos to Orry, nonplussed. “Uh, what part of ‘Terena’s there’ is confusing?”
Orry snorted. “The part where we are riding right into a battle between your sister and Heylisia!” Orry leaned closer and hissed, “Commander Antonius and his men are on their way to help but Terena is facing an army from Metilai! It sounds like they’ve set a trap for her! You and I should stay away. Far away. Here, in fact. We should stay here.”
Croak looked from Orry to Melanos. He even looked at Leander, who arched an eyebrow at him as if Croak was about as smart as a newborn kitten.
“How do you know this? Where have I been? Have I been asleep longer than I realized?”
Melanos laughed. “Hermes arrived about an hour before you woke. He gave us a shortened account of what he and the others have been up to. The cleric speaks true. You’ll be riding into battle. As you said.”
“I was joking.”
“Joke or not,” Orry scoffed, “we should not be going anywhere near Ravos. What’s wrong with staying put? Hermes is already upset I’m even here! He told Ren I was to stay in Olympia. Besides, I have scrolls that need translating. I promised to figure out the secret of the shroud. Not to mention helping Ren find that amulet.”
“She’s got Cassandra for that, you idiot,” Croak snapped. He put his hands to his head and groaned. Today was not the day to be hungover.
“Croak!”
At Hermes’s bellow, Croak winced, letting out a pained whine. He closed his eyes and lips, willing the nausea to settle.
“Aye, my Overlord?”
“We’re leaving.”
“You said an hour,” Croak whined.
“And you need to help the men prepare.”
For the love of all that’s… gods!
“Lord,” Croak said and swallowed. “Aye. Fine. But it’s only me and Orry coming with you.”
Croak kicked Orry under the table when his friend opened his mouth to protest.
Hermes came to stand behind Melanos. As if the god felt him, Melanos straightened in his seat, and, if possible, seemed to grow three feet taller.
“You do not wish to join us, God of Heroes?”
Croak felt Leander stiffen at his side. Melanos’s face turned dark and Bethana dropped her chin.
“What’s going on?”
Orry gasped, and when Croak looked over at him, his friend had his hand cupped over his mouth, his eyes wide like a child witnessing his first solstice parade.
“Of course,” Orry breathed, his gaze turning reverent as he stared at Melanos.
“I will stay here and ensure Sonah Yahn’s safety,” Melanos gritted out. His hand was clenched on the table and Bethana put her much smaller one over his white knuckles.
