She could tell he was trying to spare her the worst of it.
‘You didn’t see Heracles?’ During the battle with the Earthborn, the hero had dived from the deck of the fleeingArgoand returned to the Doliones shore in an attempt to save Hylas from the six-armed beasts.
Hylas shook his head, his brow furrowed.
‘He went back for you …’
Hylas’ eyes widened. Then he winced, stretching out his false leg. He undid the leather straps and removed it, then massaged the end of his limb.
Danae stared at the wooden leg, marvelling at how something carved from a tree could move like a limb of flesh and bone. She had never seen anything like it.
‘Brilliant, isn’t it?’ Hylas flexed the leg, the ankle joint rolling. Danae caught a couple of glints of bronze as it moved, the pins that must hold the contraption together. ‘The inventor, Daedalus, made it. He’s incredible – you’ll meet him when we reach Troy – if you come with us,’ he added swiftly. ‘There’s nothing that man can’t create.’
‘How did it happen?’
Hylas was silent a moment. ‘The Earthborn like to play with their food.’
Danae swallowed. ‘And then … once you escaped? How did you come to travel with Odysseus? Have you always known about the Children of Prometheus?’
Hylas shifted his weight forward, leaning on his crutch. ‘I made it back to the beach. The Doliones took pity on me, treated my injuries as best they could. I lived with them for a few weeks, until Odysseus came,’ his eyes settled on Danae, ‘looking for you.’
Another bare bone of an answer.
‘How did he know I’d been there?’
‘He knows many things. And before you ask, I did not know of the Children of Prometheus before I met Odysseus. He told me who you really are.’ An edge had crept back into his voice. ‘His vision for the future is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. A world without gods, without priestesses, each person in command of their own destiny …’ Her doubt must have been written on her face, as he added, ‘You can trust him.’
His words hung in the air between them.
‘How much did he tell you?’
Hylas watched her. ‘I know the truth of what lies in the Underworld, if that’s what you mean.’
She drew a breath. ‘How did you know you could believe Odysseus when he told you?’
‘Because when he spoke of the last daughter, I knew in my bones it was you. I have faith in him, Danae. I believe he can help you win this war.’
Faith. There it was again, that word that held mountains. She wondered how he could offer his so easily, when she found it so terribly hard.
‘Hylas …’ Words failed her. She remembered the last moment they’d shared together before they charged into battle with the Earthborn. The two of them squeezed together on the viewing platform inside the Doliones’ cave. He had tried to kiss her. And in return she’d left him to be savaged by those six-armed beasts. Another casualty of her destiny.
As though he could divine her thoughts, Hylas murmured, ‘It’s all right, Danae.’
‘No, it’s not.’ Tears stung her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. ‘I left you. I just stood there and let that thing take you. I could have used my powers, I could have jumped into the sea and swum back to you –’
‘You couldn’t have done any of those things. I carried you to the ship, remember? You couldn’t stand, let alone save me.’
‘Don’t. Stop making it easy for me.’
He huffed a sharp breath. ‘What do you want me to say? That I hate you?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t.’
‘You should. I lied to you about who I was, I concealed my true mission. I only joined Heracles’ crew because I overheard you were joining Jason’s expedition sailing for the end of the world, and that’s where I needed to go to find Prometheus.’ She paused. ‘I chose following my destiny over your life.’
Something raw flickered in the depths of Hylas’ eyes. ‘Youdid what you had to do. You are the hope of mankind.’ His voice was hollow, as though repeating something he had learnt.
