The captain’s eyes narrowed. “It’s only got one eye.”
“So do the fates.”
Danae could hear the blood thumping around her skull as the captain appraised Lithos. As though playing his part, the dog lifted his head and gave an imperious bark.
“Hmm.” The captain pressed his lips together. “Go on, then.”
He moved aside to let them hurry up the gangplank, leaving cries of outrage in their wake.
The ship was so crowded, people were packed like sardines onto the platforms at either end. There was barely an inch of wood that wasn’t filled with soot-covered refugees. Behind them, Danae could hear the captain shouting that there was no more room.
“Dion!” the captain called to the helmsman as he hurried up the gangplank. “Get us out of this gods-forsaken place.”
As he jumped down between the rowing benches, two crew members hauled in the plank. There were screams from those who’d climbed on after him, as they tumbled into the sea.
Once they were both ensconced on the stern deck, Manto turned to Danae. “End of the world is it then?” They smoothed Lithos’s fur as he curled up between their legs.
“You don’t have to come with me.”
Manto snorted. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I made a promise to help you fulfil your destiny. And after seeing how clueless you are, I don’t like your chances of reaching the Caucasus Mountains without me.”
Danae offered them a tired smile.
“You know—” an idea glowed on their face “—to reach Prometheus we’ll have to cross the Black Sea.”
“Yes?”
“That’s where my father is.”
“I thought your father was killed?”
“No, he was exiled somewhere along the coast of the Black Sea. If we can find him, I know he could help us.”
Hope sprouted wings in Danae’s chest. For the first time, light chinked through the cloud of terror that had clung to her since the oracle’s vision. There was someone out there who understood what was happening to her. She might have to travel to the end of the world, but she would find answers. And she didn’t have to do it alone.
She curled her hands into fists. One day, when all this was over, she would see Naxos again.
PART 2
18
Birds of Prey
The rising sun glowed on the passengers’ ashen cheeks as they stared at the chaos they’d left behind. The Port of Cirrha writhed with people screaming for ships to carry them away from the burning city. Danae was grateful she could no longer see their faces. The wreckage of Delphi was hidden behind Mount Parnassus, but the sky still blazed with raging flames, and thick clouds of smoke billowed into the dawn.
She forced herself to look away from the devastated mainland. The tension in her shoulders eased as she glanced around the ship. Nowhere could she see the red robe of a priestess of Apollo or the maroon cloak of a guard. Besides that, it was difficult to gauge anyone’s status under the layers of torn, ash-blackened clothing. All of them, high-and lowborn alike, were crammed onto the same vessel, fleeing the wrath of the Sun God.
With each length of the ship the rowers put between them and Cirrha, Danae’s lungs expanded. She had escaped. She was free.
From what she’d gathered listening to a conversation between the captain and the helmsman, not all the crew had made it aboard. Only five men were spread across the six rowing benches.
The captain clambered between the oarsmen and made his way to the prow of the ship. He squeezed himself up on the platform, so all could see him, and cupped his hand around his mouth.
“Listen everyone! My name is Erastus and I’m the captain of this ship. We don’t usually ferry pilgrims, so you’re all lucky to be on board. Do not—I repeat—do not touch any of my stock.” He wiped his brow. “Look, it’s been a terrible night for us all. If there are any men able to row make yourself known to Dion.” He pointed at the wiry helmsman stationed at the steering oar. “If we’re granted a fair westerly wind, we will arrive at Corinth in around two hours. From there you make your own way.”
His announcement made, he jumped down to the mid-deck and hurried along the benches to speak in a hushed voice to Dion.
Danae turned to Manto. “Have you got any money in that bag?”
