Athena crosses her arms, wary.
“Fá is surrounded by an army. Do you have a plan to reach him? To deal with his army after it breaks apart?” she asks. “Hundreds of thousands of marauders loose in Ilium isn’t exactly a victory.”
“Judging by Sevro’s face, he has an idea about that,” I say.
“A real classic. You’re gonna hate it,” he says.
“What’s to stop Fá from just killing you if you do reach him?” Athena asks.
“I challenged him to anashvar. A duel of honor. Gossip like that goes through an army faster than the clap.” Aurae, Cassius, and Athena wrinkle their noses, but Diomedes nods along like it’s common wisdom. “The Ascomanni are a warrior culture. They’ll have heard of me. And I still have sway with the Obsidians.”
“You make it sound so easy,” she says.
“He always does,” Sevro says. “It’s part of his charm.”
“It won’t be easy,” I say. “But it’s the only way. That navy is dangerous, but that army is a terror. Atlas and Fá hit all the right nerves to make it dance to their tune, but so can we. I know Obsidians, and they know me. Do you have chemists? Anyone versed in poisons?”
“Both,” Aurae says.
“Good. I’ll need them to get to work on those spines we found in Diomedes.”
Aurae nods but waits on Athena.
Athena looks back at the Obsidian fleet and sighs in surrender. “After Sevro’s speech, and reviewing your…conversation about Atlas, I have recommended to the Daughters that we commute your sentence. They have agreed.” Aurae uncuffs me herself and squeezes my hand. “We will not be made to betray our convictions. We will not abandon the people of the surface. The sealifts will be opened. Refuge will be given to all. But that refuge means nothing if the enemy is not beaten.” Athena tosses over Pyrphoros. “So, you will be our spear as you should have been from the start.” I catch the blade by its leather hilt. Its balance is perfect for such a long blade. I turn it in admiration. Then brush my finger on the shape-toggle to form the shape of a slingBlade.
Athena and the Daughters stare at its shape with deep, mixed emotions. After a moment, she says, “It is not a gift. It is a reminder of your oath. Once Fá is dead, you will return it to me and you will kneel and face your sentence. Swear it, by your kin.”
I glance at Sevro. He nods.
I touch the key on my chest. “In the name of my son, Pax, I swear it.”
“And Diomedes and Cassius?” I ask.
“Already told her the Chin’s with me,” Sevro says. “It’s how Da would want it.”
Hearing this, Cassius gives Sevro a hard nod of solidarity. Aurae unlocks his cuffs and whispers something in his ear.
“And Diomedes?” I ask.
Athena nods to Aurae. Aurae brings around a tablet to hold before Diomedes. He is a slow reader. Bit by bit his eyes widen. “Abolition of the hierarchy…” He keeps reading. “Self-determination of vocation? What is this?”
“The future, Raa,” Athena says.
“You cannot believe the Moon Lords would ever agree to this—”
“Webelieve in holding someone to their word,” Athena says. “You say you have failed us. You have. But we do not accept your head as repayment. We will take your service instead. If you are a shepherd, as all Raa believe, prove it. Lead us to a new and better future. If we are to risk our lives, our cause, we refuse to return to the same chains we have lived in for centuries.”
Diomedes reads the document further. “Even if I wished to honor this…” He almost saysabsurdity. “This…treatise, I cannot. I am no consul or Sovereign. I am only an Olympic Knight. It would be false to pretend I have the power to institute even one of these—”
Athena laughs at him. “Do you know the efforts it took to install a Daughter amongst your hetaerae?” she asks. “Akin to Ares’s efforts with Darrow. Do you know what Aurae’s tasks were? Tell him, Aurae.”
Aurae looks nervous. “My tasks were to gather and pass information, particularly regarding Krypteian or naval matters. My…primary function was to ensure that no true tyrant ascended to lead House Raa. Fortunately, I found none lying in wait.”
Diomedes tilts his head. “And if you had?”
“I would have killed them. For the people.”
He’s startled.
