“Who are you?” she whispered.
The woman reached out and pressed her thumb to the spot between Sonah’s eyes, and they slid closed.
Minutes passed, and Sonah floated on clouds soft as satin. She burrowed deeper, a groan escaping her lips as she shifted, awareness tingling over her body as she opened her eyes. Creamy light flickered in haloes from numerous candles above her.
Sonah frowned.
She lifted onto her elbow, lips pursed as she took in her surroundings. Her mouth opened when it finally dawned on her she was no longer in the woods.
“And I’m not on a cloud, either.”
“No, child.”
Sonah sprang upright, her head on a swivel. A soft laugh sounded to her right. Sonah gasped as Pytho stepped forward, dropping slowly to her knees at Sonah’s side.
After the initial shock of seeing the oracle again after so long, Sonah shot forward. Hugging the woman, she sobbing into Pytho’s shoulder. To her credit, Pytho let her cry, tightening her arms around Sonah and slowly rocking them back and forth, whispering soothing words.
“You are safe,” she said, stroking Sonah’s bramble-covered hair. She shuddered and cried harder, the events of the last few weeks overcoming her in a flood she feared would break her.
A long time passed before her tears slowed and her breath settled enough for her to loosen her death grip on the oracle.
When she finally pulled away, Pytho stroked Sonah’s blonde hair away from her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she smiled at her.
“Was it you in the woods?” she asked, sniffling. She swiped at her eyes and took in a deep, ragged breath. “I thought it was at first, but your face was darker and lined with weird symbols. And you had a dog.”
Pytho’s smile turned wry. “No, child. That was not me.”
“How did I get here?” Sonah looked down at her wrist, marveling. “My wrist isn’t broken anymore.”
Pytho sat back while Sonah regained her composure.
“The future has shifted. You were to have stayed with the commander in Sparta, to await your sister’s arrival and that of your eudaemon,” Pytho said, her eyes on something over Sonah’s shoulder.
“My eudaemon?” Sonah shifted against the pillows. “But Daris is my eudaemon.”
Pytho shook her head, pressing her hands together in her lap as she turned back to Sonah. “No, child. He is Terena’s eudaemon. He was always hers. Daris was marked for her, and so the Fates made it so.”
Sonah’s eyes darted around as she thought. “But that means… Rydon is my guardian?”
“Aye. You must now wait in Messene. A traveler wearing green robes will come to the inn. When he leaves, follow him but remain unseen.”
“Pytho, I can’t with your riddles today,” Sonah grumbled. She moved to stand, and Pytho rose with her, reaching out when Sonah stumbled. “Shouldn’t I just go back to Sparta?”
“No,” Pytho scowled. “You need to follow the traveler until you find the Rivermen. They will shelter you until your sister finds you.”
Sonah gaped at the woman. “Rivermen? Those bastards work for Emperor Solon! I might as well kill myself now!”
“Do not!” Pytho snapped. Sighing, the oracle leveled her strange black eyes on Sonah once more and continued. “Trust I have your best interests at heart. There are larger forces—stronger forces—at play here. Stay in Messene and find the man with the green robes. He will lead you to the Rivermen.”
“And then… what?” Sonah asked, jerking her arms out and letting them fall at her sides. “How will Ren find me?”
“That’s not for you to worry about. The goddess has intervened on your behalf, and now you are to do as I say.”
“The goddess? You mean Terena? What—you spoke with her? Where is she?”
Impatience flickered across Pytho’s otherwise serene features. She reached out, her hands wrapping around Sonah’s upper arms. “Focus, Sonah. Remember what I’ve said. Next time you open your eyes, you will recall my voice. You will recall my words. And you will follow the traveler in the green robes.”
Transfixed, Sonah blinked against the intensity vibrating from Pytho’s black eyes, the determined set of her jaw. Black edged Sonah’s vision as Pytho’s words rattled around in her head. Sonah felt like her body was liquifying, free falling into?—
