“Is that why you let him join you on your travels?”
Heracles pierced her with those startlingly blue eyes. Then he turned back to the sea. “Not entirely.” The lines of his face deepened. “I was put in charge of an army. I was young, and the king was foolish. He saw only my strength and none of my immaturity. I was eager to prove myself, but I wasn’t ready. I made a bad decision, led my men into an ambush. Many were killed, including Hylas’s father.” He paused, staring at the water. “The boy was wasted on that farm. I felt like I owed it to him to take him with me.”
Silence settled between them. Heracles lifted the wineskin to his lips and drank deeply.
“I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.”
His jaw tightened. “It was, and I must never forget it.” His pain was so close to the surface she could almost grasp it. “I have done terrible things, and all of them were my fault.” He shook his head. “People think they want power, but they have no idea. It eats you until there is nothing left.”
As she watched him, her fear melted away. She wished she could tell him she understood. Instead, she reached for his hand. He looked at her, scarred brow creased in surprise. Her skin prickled, her stomach pulsing with nervous energy. Holding his gaze was like falling into an endless sky. There was something else in his eyes, something beyond the guilt he was drowning in. The faintest spark in the darkness. Was it hope?
“You know you can trust me, Daeira,” he said softly.
The feeling she’d had in the square in Corinth returned with a vengeance. She was as certain as if it were written in her bones; they were destined to walk the same path toward Prometheus.
“Heracles...” she began.
“You’re missing all the fun!”
The moment shattered as Telamon appeared behind them and slapped a hand on both their shoulders.
“Peleus and I have been teaching the men to dance,properly. Believe it or not, Ancaeus is surprisingly good.” He straightened up, looking at them expectantly. Heracles sighed, heaved himself up and followed Telamon.
Danae lingered on the stern, the salt wind buffeting her hair, the hint of a smile imprinted on her lips.
31
Stranger Lands
The beach was only visible once theArgosailed past the jutting cliffs that shielded it from the ocean. The land behind was dominated by sparse, mountainous earth and the occasional smattering of woodland. An isthmus cut a pathway of sand out from the far side of the shore into the water. At its end, a mound of rocks reared out of the waves.
“Tiphys!” Jason stalked the length of the ship to stand beside the old navigator. “What is that land?”
Tiphys wiped sweat from the sun-ploughed rivets on his forehead. “Territory of the Doliones, I believe.”
“Friendly?”
“Can’t say I’ve heard either way.”
Jason was quiet for a moment, his brow heavy with thought.
“Daeira.” He turned to where Danae stood on the prow deck. “As our only remaining seer—” his tone implied this to be her fault “—consult the omens and tell us if it’s safe to land.”
She’d been dreading this moment. She was going to have to use the prophecy stone.
“Captain, we’re down to our last waterskins. The barrels are all dry,” said Tiphys. “We really need to go ashore—”
“Drop anchor!” Jason cut across the navigator. “We wait here until our seer tells us it’s safe to land.”
Danae glanced at Tiphys. The navigator was staring at her, silently pleading.
“I’ll need privacy.”
Jason drummed his fingers on the rail. “Fine, you can use the store. But be quick about it.”
Danae stepped into the musty confines of the cabin, moved a clutch of swords, and sat down between two bundles of furs. She placed her bag in front of her and took out the prophecy stone.
Carefully, she set the obsidian stone on the floor and unwrapped it. She stared at it for a moment, let out a breath, then stretched out her hand and touched it.
