His soft laugh turned into a sudden cough. It hacked out of him in a great burst of noise, and she glanced around, nervous. The dryads had lost interest in them a while ago, and everything was too quiet, just like the calm before the storm.
A chill shuddered over her, and she gently coaxed her magic closer to the surface, warming her skin. Once she’d dried off, her power came back stronger than ever, especially with the Shard of Olympus doing exactly what they thought it would. A few hours in the saddle had given her time to get used to the shard and start to understand how it worked. Her usual fire and her new sun flare both came from deep within. She could use them separately or together now—shecontrolled what came out, when, and how strong. The Shard of Olympus amplified everything already inside her, but it wasn’t woven into the very fabric of her body like her own magic was. Its influence stayed external. If she had it in her possession, it would help her. If someone else had it, it would helpthem.
Carver drank more water and finally stopped coughing. “What about Eryx?” he rasped. “That son of a Cyclops will be harder to kill with magic. He’s good with a sword, and hisancestors were mostly water mages.”
An involuntary wince tightened her features before she forced them smooth again. They both knew how well she mixed with water, but what choice did she have? “A Magoi ruler takes a throne by might and magic. If I kill Eryx before he has magic, I’ll just be murdering a man. Granted—a horrible man. But it’s not a legitimate takeover.”
“That’s Thalyrian thinking,” Carver said. “And you’re just making the task harder by potentially making it a fair fight.”
“Shouldn’t it be?”
“No. We should kill the bastard and be done with it.”
Her shocked laughter landed somewhere between disbelief and worry. “You’re supposed to be agoodinfluence on me!”
His grin—the first true one she’d seen since they swam into the owl cavern together—warmed her all over. “I’m supposed to advise you. My advice is to kill Eryx.”
She crushed a smile, mashing her lips together. “I think I might be a bad influence onyou. These don’t sound like Carver-approved tactics.”
“My only tactic now is whatever brings me peace and happiness,” he said matter-of-factly. “With you.” That was matter of fact, too.
“Peace and happiness,” she echoed. Those words swelled in her chest again, taking up all the room.
“Look.” Carver nodded in front of them. “The woods are definitely thinning.”
“Finally.” She breathed a sigh of relief. Just a little farther and they’d be a whole lot safer. The sparser canopy let in more daylight and neutralized the brightness of her amulet, especially under her clothing. Dusk was on its way, but they’d be over the border well before nightfall.
They saw the soldiers just as they left the trees, and tensionsnapped her spine straighter than an arrow.
“What in the name of Zeus?” Carver reined in and held out a hand to stop her.
Her stomach sinking, Bellanca halted Arete next to Zeph and stared in shock. A large contingent of Eryx’s soldiers blocked the meadow. “They crossed the border.”
He cursed under his breath. “But not by far.”
“No… Just enough to block us and be able to run back across the river.” Was that Silas? And Dex? She glanced nervously at Carver. “That’s your whole guard unit.”
Carver’s gaze flicked over the blockade, his jaw stiffening. “And another one. I don’t understand.”
“What’s not to understand?” There were at least forty men, swords drawn and ready. Killing more soldiers was the last thing she wanted, but Eryx kept forcing her hand. “That son of a Cyclops must know about the shard, and he wants it before we get to Atlantapol.”
Carver cursed again. “But how?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged in anger. “Maybe he’s been torturing another seer while we were gone.” Squinting down the meadow, she asked, “Who’s the other unit leader?”
“Pavlos.” Carver’s nostrils flared. “Pav. These are Eryx’s two best guard units.” Turning to her, his voice suddenly even hoarser, he said, “Full of men I know.”
Her heartbeat faltered. “It might come down to them or us,” she warned in a low voice. “I might not have a choice.”
Nodding, he exhaled slowly. “Let’s do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen.” His eyes swept over the small army blocking them. “We don’t even know what they want yet, and there’s a slight chance we have allies. I did talk to Dex and Silas.” He gently prodded Zeph forward.
Bellanca nudged Arete to follow, very little hope in her heartthat a peaceful resolution could ever follow that many armed men coming for them in a place like this. She was willing to try, though.
They stopped again partway down the meadow. “Silas. Pav,” Carver called out in greeting to the unit leaders. “What’s this about?” More jovially, he added, “As far as I know, Eryx released me from service, so I don’t think I’m late for duty.”
Despite Carver’s gaze landing firmly on Silas, the older man kept his silence, and it was Pav who answered. “Fishermen reported seeing two people on horseback traveling north toward Mount Olympus. We were sent to apprehend the riders upon their return to the border. Eryx wants you for questioning.”
Bellanca’s brows crept up her forehead.Questioning?More like torture and imprisonment.
