Prometheus was her only hope.
19
New Beginnings
“Land ahead!”
There were sighs of relief from the rowers. Despite hours of aching limbs and raw palms, they redoubled their efforts. Danae stared at the green-flecked hills of Corinth materializing on the horizon. She’d never been so happy to see land.
The port of Corinth was a similar size to the one at Cirrha. Rows of bobbing merchant ships, like their own, crowded the edges of the single jetty. Dion bounded from his bench, calling for them to withdraw their oars, then carefully steered them into an empty sliver of water. As Danae helped Phaedra haul in their oar, she noticed the handle was smeared with blood. She winced as she uncurled her fingers and looked down at her cracked palms.
Dion leaped onto the jetty. He called to the merchant to toss him the rope and set about tethering the ship to the mooring pillar. Once the plank was lowered and the rest of the passengers were on land, they gathered around Dion like sheep.
“Well then...” The helmsman rubbed his head. “I’m going to find the harbor master and tell him what’s happened.” He looked at the wounded man, who’d turned a worrying shade of green. “You’d better come with me and find a healer.” He backed away from the rest of the group. “The rest of you can make your own way. Ah... I’m sure the port officials will help you get home.”
Fat chance of that, thought Danae.
“Dion,” she called after the helmsman.
He looked around.
“Thank you.”
He cleared his throat and nodded before walking on. The others glanced between her and the helmsman, then traipsed off after Dion. Only the boy lingered, looking back at Lithos as his mother pulled him away.
“Go on,” said Danae.
The little dog barked, then ran after the boy, his white-tipped tail wagging.
She looked past the white-stone buildings of the harbor to the town beyond. Her hand tightened on the strap of Manto’s bag as she wondered what she should do next. Then she realized Phaedra was still standing beside her.
“What’s Naxos like?” The queen was staring out across the sea.
“It’s the most beautiful place in the world.”
“Is it your home?”
“No,” Danae said quickly. “Just a place I visited once.”
Phaedra smiled. “I don’t think I’ll be going back to Athens after all.” She looked expectantly at Danae. “We could travel together. I don’t have any coin, but I think I have enough jewelry to buy our passage.”
Danae’s heart felt heavy. She desperately wanted to say yes, to sail back to Naxos and see her family. But she knew she couldn’t go home.
“I can’t. There’s somewhere else I must go.”
One day, when she was certain the wrath of the gods would not follow her, she would walk the dusty path to her hut again.
Phaedra nodded and slipped her hand into her cloak pocket. She pressed something into Danae’s palm. It was the sapphire ring.
“I... I can’t take this.”
“If you don’t, I’ll throw it in the ocean. I don’t need it anymore.”
The two women stared at each other. Danae’s resolve broke first and she reluctantly took the ring.
“Thank you.”
Phaedra smiled. “It is nothing compared to the gift you’ve given me. Goodbye... ?”
