“Whatever it takes,” she replied.
34
My Enemy’s Enemy
After another day’s sailing, two cliffs towered before theArgo. Two vast walls of rock, like a pair of enormous gates, guarding the entrance to the Black Sea. They were so close together, the rising sun looked like an orange squeezed between them, leaking its bright juice onto the stone.
“The Symplegadies rocks,” Tiphys called from the stern. “Otherwise known as ‘the clashers.’ They’re said to grind anything unworthy that passes between them. It’s the only way through to the Black Sea.”
A lone bird flew overhead, soaring between the rocks. The cliffs remained still.
“Any truth in it?” shouted Jason from the prow deck.
“An old fisherman’s tale, Captain. Still, best to proceed with caution.”
Jason was quiet for a moment. “We drop anchor here. Replenish water and food if we can find any, then we press on.”
There was no beach to run aground on. Instead, Tiphys was forced to steer the ship in between the boulders that littered the base of the coast. They were rectangular in shape, like vast bricks laid long ago by giants. Unlike the sheer cliffs at the entrance to the Black Sea, the land slanted upward away from the water. Steep, but climbable.
“Look!” Orpheus pointed up at a seam of silver that ran through the rust and dark green shrubbery of the land above the rocks. “Fresh water.” They only had two full skins left.
A couple of the men secured the mooring rope while Jason gave instructions.
“Don’t stray too far from the ship. We fill our barrels and scavenge what food we can but always keep theArgoin your sights. And if anyone sees anything, beast or man, do not engage but come straight back to the ship. Tiphys, stay here with Peleus, andthem.” He glanced at Atalanta and Telamon.
“I need to shit,” said Atalanta.
Jason’s perfectly straight nose wrinkled in disgust.
“Yes, Jason, women shit. I can always go right here on the deck.”
Jason looked pained. He loosed a sharp sigh. “You can go in a bucket in the store cabin. Pollux, untie her.”
As the twin bent down to release Atalanta’s bindings, the warrior’s gaze met Danae’s. She winked.
Danae’s eyed widened, but before she could make a sound, Atalanta smashed her forehead into Pollux’s nose. He staggered back, blood streaming down his chin, and in the space of a heartbeat the warrior grabbed the knife that had clattered to the deck, slashed through Telamon’s restraints and twisted the blade to press against Pollux’s neck.
Telamon didn’t hesitate. His reflexes honed by years of riding cheek to cheek with danger, he lunged at the other twin, who stood nearby, and swiftly turned Castor’s weapon on himself.
“Turn back the ship,” Atalanta hissed.
The rest of the crew were as taut as a freshly strung lyre, their eyes darting between the mutineers and their captain. Jason drew his dagger.
“Don’t even think about it,” said Atalanta. “I will kill him if you don’t order the men to sail back.” A fresh bead of blood trickled down Pollux’s neck as Atalanta dug the blade into the skin above his jugular.
The bald man growled, but fear flickered through his eyes.
“You would risk all our lives—” Jason shuffled back “—for a child murderer and his lackeys.”
Rage flared in the pit of Danae’s stomach, but she didn’t move. She had already made her choice.
“Stay where you are,” said Telamon as Jason continued to inch toward the stern.
“As you wish.” The captain grew still. Then he lunged across the last stretch of deck to where Peleus lay in his bed of furs and yanked him upright.
Peleus cried out in pain, clutching his wounded side as Jason pressed his dagger into the man’s collarbone. Telamon stiffened, the color draining from his face.
Jason bared his teeth. “By the time my count reaches five, you will have both dropped your weapons. Or I will slit his throat.”
