Sonah scowled up at Fane, who grinned at her like a fiend. Struggling against his hold, Sonah slapped at his arm.
“I wish! You’re about as easy to get rid of as lice,” she grumbled.
Fane threw his head back and laughed. As she twisted to get into a more comfortable position, Fane slowed his mount and set Sonah down when they’d stopped. Horse hooves sounded behind her and Sonah turned to see one of the men was the soldier from Messene with Fane at the inn. Two more soldiers pulled up near them.
When Sonah made to turn back to Fane, another rider came into view and Sonah’s heart stopped.
Shrieking, she ran for the big man who dismounted much more gracefully than she would’ve imagined for a man his size and leaped into his arms.
Melanos laughed as his powerful arms wrapped around her and swept her up in a spin that left her breathless. She squeezedhim tight, tears springing to sting her nose and eyes. She blinked rapidly to clear them.
The god they’d rescued from the cave outside of Thuria a few months ago grinned down at her, his face the most welcome she’d seen in ages.
“What are you doing here? I saw you when we were attacked, but I thought it a hallucination!” Sonah asked him breathlessly, squeezing his arms as he loosened his hold on her. She felt Fane come up beside them, but paid him no mind. She had eyes only for the god whose presence put her immediately at ease.
“I heard there was a beautiful woman in need of rescuing from Rivermen,” he said in his deep, rough baritone.
Sonah grinned up at him like a crazy person. “Well, this beautiful woman thanks you for the thought, but I freed myself.”
“Of course you did, clever girl,” he said with a smile and tweaked her nose.
“Were you followed?” Fane asked, swiveling to look around. “Did anyone see you escape?”
“No,” Sonah laughed, stepping out of Melanos’s arms and turning to her would-be rescuer. “No, I left while they slept.”
“While they slept?” Fane asked, scowling as he turned around again. When he looked back at Sonah, he asked, “So you’ve been walking for hours? Alone?”
“Aye,” Sonah said with a shrug. “Well, mostly. I befriended a wolf and he followed me up until a short time ago.”
“A wolf?” Melanos exchanged a look with Fane over Sonah’s head and she sighed. Of course they thought her insane. What normal person makes friends with a wolf?
“Aye, a wolf,” Sonah mumbled. Holding up a hand, she added, “He was very well mannered. And he kept me company without eating me, so…”
“You escaped Heylisian soldiers—nay, not just Heylisian soldiers but the worst soldiers: Rivermen. And you befriended a wolf while making your own way to Thuria?—”
“Wait, this is Thuria?” Sonah asked, looking around. The soldiers behind her chuckled as Fane covered his mouth with his hand.
“Aye, little one,” Melanos laughed, “this is Thuria. And unlike Fane here, I fully believe you capable of besting Rivermen, escaping on your own and then befriending a wolf. You are a daughter of Ares, after all. No fear.”
Sonah cocked her head. “Well, fear wouldn’t have helped me in that situation. Besides, I had to do it on my own after this one let me be captured.”
Fane’s mouth dropped open and he stuttered objections while the others ribbed him mercilessly. Sonah grinned at his discomfort.
“Enough,” Melanos called out, putting a huge arm around Sonah’s shoulders. “You must be starving. Let us find some food and water for our goddess. Then we can head north to find your sister.”
“Wait,” Sonah said and they stopped to look at her. “One of the Rivermen said Ibros is now Heylisian territory. Is that true?”
The men glanced at one another before Fane spoke.
“I have not heard it officially, but there are Heylisian soldiers everywhere. Spartan soldiers as well. We’ve had word from our officers that the Heylisians escorted Duke Ovenno on his way to Sparta. Although, they believe it was a ruse to explain their presence.”
Sonah chewed on her lip. “What if they’re in the city? What if?—”
“They are not,” Melanos said in a tone that made her relax. “This is my city. We’ve already dispatched one squad nearby.”
Mounting their horses, Sonah settled as they neared the city a short time later. She was grateful for the small inn Melanos led them to and pictured the warm bed awaiting within. She was even more grateful for the food being set before them, her stomach growling so loud Sonah put her hands to her belly to quiet the sounds.
“You said earlier you had heard from your officers,” Sonah said, to Fane as he passed her a goblet of wine. “What news did they share?”
