Danae stood, her blood racing. ‘I lied to you! I left you to die. Don’t you care?’
A muscle pulsed in Hylas’ jaw.
‘All right,’ he said quietly. ‘I didn’t just hide in the Earthborn’s nest, then escape. I slit the belly of a dead one with its own claws and climbed inside. I lay there, in that stinking carcass, for two days until finally, when the others were out hunting, an opportunity came to crawl out of the cave. Yes crawl, because my leg had all but been chewed off. I dragged myself down the mountain, and the pain was so excruciating that when I reached the cliff I threw myself over the edge. But the fall didn’t kill me, so I lay there, on that gods-forsaken shore amongst the rotting corpses, praying for death. But the Doliones found me instead. They cut my damaged leg off then and there. I can still feel it. The limb has gone but the pain wakes me in the night. Gnaws at me every godsdamned day.’
She stared at him, eyes stinging with salt. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, the word a drop in the well of her remorse.
Hylas shook his head, lips pressed together. ‘I care. I didn’t realize how much until I saw you.’ He drew a breath. ‘Still, you are here now and two of the Twelve are dead. Every man in Odysseus’ army would do what I did for you on the Doliones shore, because they believe like I do, like Odysseus does. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of your destiny.’
Danae wiped her face. His belief burned so bright she could not look at him.
Have faith.
She forced herself to meet her friend’s gaze. ‘We willcome with you to Troy. We will face whatever awaits us there together.’
Hylas blinked as though he hadn’t expected her to give in so easily.
A knock sounded at the door.
‘That will be the food,’ said Hylas.
‘Come in,’ called Danae.
The door swung open to reveal Odysseus. For a moment, Danae wondered if he’d been outside the entire time, listening to their conversation. But there was a swathe of black fabric in his arms.
‘I thought, if you did decide to join us, it would be prudent for you to take on a disguise.’ From beneath the fabric, he produced a blade. ‘I believe you are familiar with the duties of a seer.’
Danae’s heart sank. She glanced between the two men. It looked as though Hylas was holding his breath.
‘All right. I will come with you.’
Odysseus’ weathered face broke into a grin. ‘Excellent.’ He slipped across the room and lay the clothing down on the pallet, alongside the knife. ‘We shall leave you to it.’
For a moment, Danae expected Hylas to offer to cut her hair, like he’d once done aboard theArgo, as seers were expected to wear their hair cropped. But he rose and followed Odysseus out into the street, leaving her alone with the shadow of her lies draped across the pallet, a skin she must don once more.
39. Lure of the Sea
Danae emerged from her lodgings, dressed in the obsidian seer’s robe and matching cloak. The yellow light of dawn spilled through the narrow streets like pressed oil. Odysseus’ guards were waiting for her outside. Silently, they escorted her back to the ship, snatching sideways glances at her as they walked.
Once aboard, she tucked her bundle of broken armour, trident and collar behind a barrel in the prow cabin. A strong northerly wind whipped her crop of hair as she emerged onto the mid-deck. She ran a hand through her short curls, and a smile tugged at her lips. Reluctant as she’d been when Odysseus first suggested she slip into her old role, it was strangely comforting to be back in the familiar disguise.
As she climbed up to the prow deck, Telamon’s voice boomed across the ship, regaling Hylas, Odysseus and Atalanta with last night’s antics.
‘… by the time Hylas joined us, the man was four drachmas down and ready to throw his eldest daughter into the bargain.’
Hylas laughed. ‘You lost a round later, as I recall.’
Danae was pricked with jealousy. Hylas had evidently joined Telamon and Atalanta in thekapeleionafter leaving her room. They’d all been together, without her.
‘The game was rigged,’ grumbled Telamon.
‘Can’t rigpetteia.’ Atalanta leant on the prow rail. ‘You lost because you’re an arrogant arse who doesn’t know when to take his coin and leave.’
‘You can talk,’ Telamon began, then noticed Danae. ‘Ah! You look like Daeira, the Seer, again.’
‘Yes, we must think of a new name for you,’ said Odysseus. ‘It cannot be the one known by the Argonauts.’
‘What of Danae?’ asked Hylas.
