“How did you find this place?”
“My friend Theo discovered it when we were boys. It was our secret sanctuary for many years.”
His grief rose like flotsam on the sea of his thoughts. Danae hoped the Doliones had been able to bury their dead.
“These warriors are the best fighters in all of Greece.” Hylas appeared behind them. “I’ve seen Heracles take out a dozen men at once and creatures five times his size. If anyone can help you, he can.” He placed a reassuring hand on Cyzicus’s shoulder.
Cyzicus’s brow smoothed and the same hope that glowed in the faces of his people now shone in his.
“I’m counting on it.”
When the food was ready, Cleite called the Argonauts over to the far side of the cave. She gestured for them to sit, while she spooned what smelled like fish stew into clay bowls.
“It’s not much, but it’s the best I could do under the circumstances.”
“My lady, you do yourself an injustice.” Dolos slurped from his bowl. “This is the finest soup I’ve tasted in years.”
Cleite’s cheeks glowed, and she busied herself with passing steaming bowls to the rest of the crew. A soft smile tugged at Cyzicus’s mouth as he watched his wife work. From the little she’d seen of them, Danae thought theirs was a marriage born from love. A rare and precious thing.
“Now, Cyzicus.” Heracles set aside his empty bowl. “Tell us everything you know about these creatures.”
The King of the Doliones grew grave. “They are abominations. Like huge bears with six arms and their claws...”
Danae didn’t hear the rest of the description.
Six arms. Six hands. Three sets of handprints. This must be what the stone had been trying to show her. The vision had been a warning after all.
“Numbers?”
“We believe just over a hundred. They invaded us about a year ago.”
“Is their skin hard to penetrate?”
Cyzicus nodded. “Their fur is unnaturally tough, but their bellies are soft like a man’s. We call them the Earthborn. We’ve managed to kill several with spears through the gut.”
“Their sleeping habits?”
“They sleep at night and hunt during the day.”
“Any other weaknesses?”
“Not that we know of.”
“So, what’s the plan, Heracles?” Jason sat slightly apart from the others. It was the first time the captain had spoken since they’d descended into the cave. “If these Earthborn are as strong and as plentiful as Cyzicus says, even you won’t be able to match them in a direct attack.”
“We have fighters too,” said Cyzicus. “I have fourteen soldiers and a dozen more capable men.”
Jason laughed.
“We could ambush them at night,” said Telamon. “Stake out their nest.”
Atalanta nodded. “With bows we could take them out at long range.”
Cyzicus shook his head. “We’ve tried. Even with arrows, we can’t get near enough without them knowing we’re there. We believe they have a heightened sense of smell.”
Danae’s brow creased as they continued to toss ideas between them. The fighters would need to mask their scent for an ambush to work. Submerging themselves in the sea would do that, but then the monsters would see them when they came up for air. Unless...
“What if the Earthborn couldn’t smell or see us?” she said.
