Hermes shrugged. “We never found out. Shortly after, war broke out and then we were banished.”
“And what of the shepherd’s bloodline?” Orry asked, twisting in his seat to face Hermes. “What kingdom did they rule?”
Hermes spared a glance at him as he picked up a corner of a parchment near his hip. Dropping it back onto the table, he sighed. “Olethros. Tinos was the shepherd-turned-king. The first and only of his line to have the amulet. He was killed during the war, that I know.” He clicked his tongue and looked over at Terena. “I don’t know what became of the amulet, obviously. We were no longer around to care.”
“So it could still be out there?” Ren asked, her hazel eyes narrowed.
“Possibly.”
“And where was Olethros located? Perhaps we can trace the king’s lineage and see if we can find the amulet.” Orry looked up at the god with barely concealed excitement.
Hermes winked. “Olethros is now called Metilai.”
Terena laughed.
Of course.
Dropping her chin, she grinned as she closed her eyes and shook her head.
“So, it could be in Emperor Solon’s vaults as we speak?”
Hermes waved a hand dismissively. “If it was, I’d imagine Solon would’ve used it by now. He’s been rounding up trackers who all possess amulets of power. And I do not believe he’s descended from Tinos’s bloodline. From what I’ve learned of his empire, that region’s been conquered several times before Justinian the Fair took the crown and Heylisia was born.”
“Right,” Orry murmured. He was picking at his fingernails, biting his lip in a way Terena knew meant he was deep in thought.
“This arrived just now,” Hermes said after a beat. He held up a folded slip of paper between his fingers, his aquamarine eyes on Terena.
Straightening, Terena took a step toward Hermes and snatched the missive, squinting at the words. Her eye twitched as she read. When she was finished, she lifted her gaze to find Hermes smiling faintly back at her.
“When do we leave?”
Orry turned, his eyes moving back and forth between Terena and Hermes. “What’s going on?”
“Sonah’s in Sparta.”
Orry’s brows shot to his hairline. “That’s… what you expected, right?”
“Aye,” Hermes said without taking his eyes off Terena. “We will leave in the morning.”
Terena’s pulse thrashed as she struggled to maintain calm. “Good. I’ll be ready.”
“I’ve already sent a note back confirming we’re on our way. The cleric stays here until he figures out how to open the fucking portal.” His gaze shifted at last to Orry.
Her friend visibly deflated. “I’d like to join you,” Orry said, his eyes shifting to Terena. “Please? I’ve never been to Sparta, and perhaps the king would let me see?—”
“I need you here to finish your studies,” Hermes interrupted in a tone brooking no further argument.
Terena gave Orry an apologetic shrug.
“Go find your brother,” Hermes said as he strode away. “He needs you.”
“What did your men do now?” Terena grumbled as she strode after him.
“You’ll see.”
Chapter 2
SPARTA
