“What a coincidence!” Sonah inhaled and smiled genuinely for the first time since he’d arrived. The act she was putting on earlier disappeared and she seemed herself once more. She leaned closer and whisper shouted, “Rydon said the same thing!”
“Rydon’s here? Is he alone?”
“Aye. Well, no. He came with Melanos. But he said we needed to hurry because Hermes was on his way here to take me with him. I’m not sure where, he didn’t say. But where is Ren?”
“All right,” Daris said with a quick look around. The monks had vacated the courtyard, the sun having sunk beyond the roofline, casting their surroundings in long shadows. “Go with him. Don’t tell me where. Just go, and I’ll tell Hermes you were already gone when we arrived.”
“Wait, I’ll go with you,” Jason said as he flashed her a grin.
“No,” Daris said with a shake of his head as Leander too made to protest. “If you leave, how do I explain where you are when Hermes asks? He’ll be slower moving with his army but, make no mistake, Hermes will be here soon and you need to be gone.”
“Melanos!”
Daris cringed at Sonah’s shout. He glanced up in time to see the curled-lip look Leander shot Jason who looked back uncertainly. He was relieved they wouldn’t be traveling together.
The god must’ve been around the corner because he came bounding into the courtyard with the nymph running behind him. Bethana looked alarmed, but calmed when she saw Sonah was unharmed.
“We need to leave! Daris came to warn us, too.”
“Come with us,” Melanos said, his expression solemn as he clapped Daris on the shoulder.
“I cannot,” he said with a sad smile. Turning to Sonah, he impulsively reached out and hugged her. He turned his head to her ear and whispered, “Tell Ren I’m sorry. And I’ll do as she asked.”
“What?”
Daris didn’t respond as he pulled away and kissed the top of Sonah’s head. He closed his eye for a moment before moving back.
“I—”
“Riders! Riders, lord!”
Daniel burst into the courtyard, screaming and flailing his arms as he made his way to them.
“Fuck!”
Everyone turned around as Rydon came running at them, his hand around Sonah’s arm before Daris could even open his mouth.
“You traitor,” Rydon seethed, eyes spitting fire at Daris. “You brought him right to us.”
“I came to warn her,” Daris said. “If you take off now, we can stall him.”
“There’s no time,” Leander snarled, yanking Sonah away from Rydon. “Who the fuck are you?”
Rydon glanced at Leander, nonplussed to see him amongst their group.
“Leave your things,” Melanos said as he made his way toward the rear exit of the courtyard. Daris frowned.
“Hermes comes!”
“Where are you going?”
“Fuck! We’re out of time. Sonah, stay at my side,” Rydon said loudly.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jason asked with a sidelong glance at the huffing Leander standing next to him. The young man looked as if he were about to go on a killing spree.
“We were fine until you lot showed up.”
Jason scowled at Leander. “Whoareyou?”
