Danae heard the screams before they reached the cliff. People were spilling into the ocean as the crush of bodies forced too many onto the steps. Manto tucked Lithos under one arm and grabbed her hand.
“Whatever happens, don’t let go.”
She nodded. Then, a dash of crimson darted across her vision. She scoured the crowd ahead and spotted the red dress of a priestess. The woman’s veil and headdress were gone, her dark hair pulled loose. Something about the tilt of her head made the tendons in Danae’s neck clench. As though the priestess could feel her gaze, she turned.
It was the woman who’d interrogated her with snake venom.
The priestess’s eyes met hers and ignited with recognition. The woman dived against the current, fighting her way toward Danae. She tried to turn back, but was penned in by the tightly packed bodies.
“Manto,” she shouted, “the priestess!”
Just as the woman’s fingers stretched close enough to touch her, they all reached the top of the steps. Manto lunged at the priestess but was shoved to the side by the crowd, and Danae’s hand was wrenched from theirs. With a grunt of triumph, the woman latched onto the fabric of Danae’s dress. She tried to prize her off, but her grip was hard as iron.
“You did this,” she snarled and yanked Danae toward her, then faltered as her heel slipped over the lip of the first step. She fell, dragging Danae with her, and they both tumbled across the steps below.
Danae heard Manto call her name as she was trampled under a stampede of feet. Through the rush of legs, she saw the priestess crawling toward her. Then Manto dropped Lithos and hurled themselves through the mass of bodies toward the woman. The priestess let out a guttural roar as their knife sank into her thigh. She grabbed Manto by the hair and dragged them toward the edge of the steps, knocking several people, screaming, into the sea.
“No!” Danae yelled, fighting her way toward them.
Manto disappeared over the edge. Then Lithos was at the priestess’s neck, a wild mass of teeth and claws. The woman thrust her arms up to protect her face and lost her balance. She teetered for a moment, then Lithos’s attack tipped her back and she fell, still fighting with the fierce little dog as she tumbled toward the rocks below.
Danae crawled to the edge of the step and there, clinging by one hand, was Manto, their other clamped around Lithos’s tail.
Lightheaded with relief, she grasped their arm and pulled them both up. Manto bundled Lithos into their arms, and together they all crawled through the crush of people toward the inner wall, flattening themselves against the rock while bodies battered past.
“Are you all right?” rasped Danae.
“I’m alive.” Manto managed a smile.
“Thanks to Lithos.”
In response the little dog proceeded to lick the grime from Manto’s face. They squeezed him tight then turned to Danae.
“Come on.”
The pink of dawn cracked through the burnt crust of night as Danae and Manto reached the bottom of the steps and ran toward the port. Several ships, laden with fleeing pilgrims, had already left their moorings. The pair joined a clamoring group trying to board a merchant vessel. The ship’s captain stood in front of the gangplank, physically restraining people from climbing aboard.
Manto elbowed their way to the front. “We’re seers! Let us through.”
The captain’s head twitched in their direction. Then the crowd surged, almost toppling the man into the sea. He clung onto the mooring post and unsheathed a long knife, sweeping the blade through the air like a sickle.
“If anyone shoves me again, no one boards my ship!”
The first clutch of people backed into the row behind, chattering with desperation.
“Who said they were a seer?” the captain called over the racket.
“Us!” Manto pulled Danae through the throng, Lithos tucked under their arm.
The captain’s brow creased as he took in their filthy faces, tattered black robes and the ragged dog.
Manto drew themselves up to their full height. “The Twelve see you and know you. I am the Seer Melampus of Mycenae. This is my apprentice, Daeira.” The lies rolled effortlessly off their tongue. “We were in Delphi on the orders of King Eurystheus. I guarantee our master will reward you generously for our safe passage home.”
“All right,” said the captain. “You two can go aboard, but the mutt stays here.”
Manto’s eyes flashed. “How dare you. This creature is sacred to Apollo.”
If it weren’t for the severity of their situation, Danae would have laughed.
