Danae watched them leave, rushed to the doorway and peered out into the square. After making sure the guard was nowhere to be seen, she slipped after them.
She followed Heracles and his companions to the outskirts of the town. The rich darkness of night had swept over Corinth by the time they stopped at a stable.
She crouched down behind a large juniper bush and watched the older man pay the stable owner while the others saddled up their mounts. At the turn of each new street, she’d told herself this would be the moment she would introduce herself, but everywhere the hero went, admirers were drawn to him. This was her last chance. Once they were on horseback, she would never be able to keep up with them.
She’d almost summoned the courage when she felt the cold kiss of a blade on her neck.
“Get up.”
Slowly, Danae rose to her feet. She hadn’t even heard the woman steal up behind her.
“Move.” The knife pressed into her jugular as the woman marched her out from behind the bush. “Told you there was someone following us.”
Danae fought to keep calm as the others stared at her. “Unhand me, if you want to live.”
The flame-haired man laughed. The blade jiggled against her skin as the woman caught his mirth. Evidently these warriors were not as easily cowed by her disguise as the ship’s captain at Cirrha had been.
Despite the knife, Danae lifted her chin. “You dare mock a messenger of the gods?”
There was a pause. Then Heracles said quietly, “Let her go.”
The woman withdrew her weapon.
Danae’s pulse quickened as Heracles dropped the reins of his horse and walked toward her. He was so powerful, and yet he moved with the grace of a panther.
“You were in the square.”
She was grateful for the poor light as her cheeks turned the color of a ripe fig. Heracles’s eyes were startlingly blue. Everything around him seemed to disappear under the weight of all that ocean. She dug her nails into her palms to focus.
“I received a vision from the gods. It led me to you.”
The woman tensed beside her, but Heracles said, “Go on.”
She had one chance to convince him. She bit the inside of her cheeks and tasted blood. It helped. As the metal tang swirled around her mouth, she thought of how easily Manto had lied to Captain Erastus.
“I was trapped in a labyrinth. I couldn’t find my way and was sure I was lost. Then, I saw a great lion. It led me through the maze and showed me the way out into the light. I did not know what it meant until I came here. When I saw you in the square, I recognized you.”
“Everyone recognizes me.” It was a fact, stated without arrogance.
As she looked up at him, she noticed a dark curl had escaped from the jaws of the lion hide to twist against his temple. She hadn’t thought it possible, but he surpassed his likenesses painted on pottery and stone. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Doubt began to weaken her resolve. Perhaps she’d imagined the prophecy stone burning her side when he appeared, perhaps she wasnothing more than a delusional girl caught in the thrall of his fame.
“The lion had blue eyes. Your eyes. I have felt the will of the gods and I know destiny’s voice when it speaks. I am to accompany you on your journey across the Black Sea.”
“She’s been spying on us!” The woman’s knife returned to Danae’s throat.
“Atalanta.” Heracles’s voice was the thunder before a storm.
Atalanta glared at Danae, but she lowered the blade.
“Above all things we honor the gods.” Something danced behind his eyes and she wondered if he was being entirely truthful. “What is your name, Seer?”
“Daeira.”
“Daeira.” The way Heracles spoke the name sent a shiver down her spine. “You may travel with us for now, and we will see if your company proves useful.”
“Heracles—” Atalanta began, but the hero raised a hand to silence her.
“I have made my decision.” Heracles gestured to his companions. “This is Telamon.” He pointed at the flame-haired man, who winked. “Atalanta.” The woman sheathed her knife in a strap on her thigh, still smoldering with mistrust. “Hylas—” the younger man smiled “—and Dolos, our healer.” The gray-haired man frowned, as though he didn’t quite know what to make of her. “They’re not bad company and occasionally come in handy in a fight.” Heracles’s eyes twinkled. “But despite what you’ve heard it’s not all guts and glory.”
