“He’s the Riverman who kidnapped Sonah,” Fane said with a grin.
Chapter 40
LETHE MONASTERY, RAVOS
Hermes eyed them all, pacing before them as if deep in thought. Sonah shivered and edged closer to Rydon. Leander was on her right, his solid frame doing nothing to allay the fear coursing through her as she watched the god’s thunderous face.
“You have ten minutes to gather your belongings,” he said after a very long silence.
Sonah did not move. She glanced at Rydon, who reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Where are we going?” Daris asked. He stood in front of them off to Rydon’s left, his stance wide as he regarded Hermes with a calm expression.
Out of all of them, Daris was the only one not bothered by Hermes’s tantrums. So far since his arrival, he’d almost pierced Sonah’s eardrums twice.
“Metilai,” Captain Soros said, his voice too loud in the tense quiet. He turned to address Hermes. “I heard her and the seer woman she has with her speaking about their destination.”
Sonah caught the scowl Daris hid as he turned and walked back into line with her, Rydon and Leander. He turned to face the god again as he gripped the collar of his breastplate.
“Let me go ahead with my men,” he said in a bored tone. “I’ll take Rydon and Sonah with us. If we run into her before she gets to Metilai, we can convince her to return with us once she sees Sonah.”
Sonah grimaced, shooting a glare at Daris even as Rydon squeezed her hand to the point of pain.
“Why would I want her to return? That’s where I want her. In Metilai. Do you not see?” A smile slowly stretched across his face. “You will go ahead,” Hermes said with a negligent wave, “but Sonah stays by my side. Take Rydon with you.”
“What will you do?” Daris asked, again in a tone that made it seem as if he didn’t care either way what the answer would be.
Hermes smiled and it made Sonah’s belly flip. Bile climbed up her throat to choke her as she watched the unpleasant way his lips curled.
“I’ll be right behind you, marching on the city with my army to destroy everything Emperor Solon built.”
Sonah bent over and vomited.
Rydon sworeas Sonah bent over, dry heaving after she voided everything—barely any food, really. Before he could move tohelp, Leander had his arm around her waist. The man glared up at Hermes and Rydon moved in front of them to hide his ire from the mercurial god.
“Lord,” Rydon said aloud, calling over his shoulder at Hermes. “I beg a few hours rest before we leave. The lady is obviously unwell and cannot go anywhere as she is.”
Hermes eyed Sonah, his expression a mix of dismay and disgust. “Clean her up as best you can and then go.”
“Lord—”
“Eudaemon,” Hermes said in a soft voice that never boded well, “if I have to repeat myself, I think I’ll just stab you for the fun of it.” He shrugged. “I know you won’t die, but it might make me feel better.”
Rydon ducked his head, checking his fury behind three deep breaths. “Aye, lord. We will leave anon.”
“Good.” Hermes turned away, but as Leander rose with Sonah still hunched over and panting softly, he turned to them with a raised finger.
“You.” Pointing his finger at Leander, Hermes frowned. “Are you the Riverman who took my niece?”
Leander glowered at the god and Rydon stilled. He gripped Sonah around her bicep while Leander continued to hold her about the waist.
“I am her protector,” Leander bit out.
“Oh, but… she already has one of those.”
The way Hermes was speaking so casually to Leander made Rydon’s neck hairs stand on end.
He tried to shuffle them back, positioning himself in front of Sonah in an effort to further hide Leander from the god’s notice, but it was no use. Leander was too stupid to know when to keep his mouth shut and Hermes’s ego was too fragile—especially after Terena’s defiance—to know when he’s being goaded.
