Her father made a show of bending down to check the rope. “See the ship directly behind me?” he whispered.
She peered discreetly over the lip of the boat and saw a small merchant vessel half full of wheels of cheese.
“I know that man—he trades in Athens. You could hide in between those cheeses.”
She stole another peak over his shoulder. The merchant was standing next to his ship, drumming his fingers irritably on the prow. He was portly with a lavish beard, overseeing a boy, Danae presumed to be his son, unloading more cheeses from a mule-led cart.
“How am I going to get aboard without them seeing?”
“I have an idea, trust me.” He squeezed her hand. “And remember, Danie, all seas are the same beast. When we’re riding her, no matter how far apart, we’re riding together.”
He opened his palm to reveal a pebble. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. He threw the stone.
It whistled through the air and caught the mule square on the behind. The creature reared then bolted down the jetty, cart in tow, scattering traders in its wake.
“My cheese!” bellowed the merchant.
His son tore off after the mule, and while the merchant’s back was turned, Odell hissed, “Go!”
A piece of her soul was wrenched away as she leaped from her father’s boat. She sprinted across the jetty, vaulted the prow of the merchant ship, and landed in a sprawl amongst the cheeses. Hastily, she folded her limbs between the stacked wheels and nudged the wax tarpaulin over herself. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she fought the urge to retch as the sour stench of cheese clogged her throat.
Eventually, a dejected clip-clop signaled the mule’s return.
“Bloody useless animal,” she heard the merchant say. “Get on with it.”
The ship rocked as the boy continued to load the rest of the stock. With each sway she tensed, waiting for the tarpaulin to be pulled back and her position revealed, but the moment did not come. Then the vessel dipped as the merchant and his son climbed aboard.
“Just a moment.” A different voice. “May the Twelve see you and know you.”
There was a pause as the merchant presumably returned the sacred gesture.
“What is it? I’m due in Athens in three hours.”
“We won’t keep you long. Do you have a license for these...”
“Cheeses,” finished the merchant curtly. “Yes, of course.”
“Is that all you’re carrying?”
There was a rustle of parchment, then the edge of the tarpaulin twitched. Danae’s heart thumped so loudly she was sure they would hear it. There was nowhere to run. If they searched the boat, it would be over.
A crack of sky appeared, light pouring over the mottled cheese rinds as the cover was drawn back. Danae’s entire body tightened as she readied herself to fight her way out.
Then someone shouted from across the jetty, “Telchis, look at this!”
The cover stopped moving just before her leg was revealed. The man stepped away, muttering to the merchant, “Everything seems to be in order.”
Relief coursed through her at the sound of footsteps walking away down the jetty and the hiss of the tarpaulin being pulled back over the cheeses. She squirmed a hand between her legs, found the owl brooch she’d pinned to the inside of her tunic and traced the rivets in the bronze.
Whatever was happening to her, the oracle would have the answer.
10
Ledgers and Liars
The blast of horns vibrated through Danae’s teeth. They must be nearing Athens. Thank the gods. After several cramped hours, she longed to stretch her legs and be free of her cage of stinking cheeses.
