Penelope reached out to take her hand. “It is your choice.”
A somber silence settled over us. Then Actoris announced loudly, “Fuck that.”
I choked on a surprised laugh. “Actoris, you should consider—”
“Nope. I’m not considering anything,” she said, folding her arms decisively. “I’ve been carted around on slaver ships since the day I was born. I’ve seen what it’s like for us out there. I’m not interested in any of it, and I’m not leaving.”
“Then what of staying with another household in Ithaca—”
“Nope.” Actoris lifted her chin. “Not happening.”
“She’s right,” Hippodamia said, her hand tightening around Penelope’s. “We won’t let those vultures drive us from our home.”
Home. I felt something thicken in my throat at the word.
“But I cannot protect you,” Penelope whispered.
“We protect each other,” Autonoë said, reaching for her other hand.
“I’m not sure what use my old bones will be.” Eurynome chuckled softly. “But no foolishboyswill drive me from these shores.”
Thratta nodded emphatically. “I stand with you, Penelope. With all of you.”
“Think of what’s she’s offering, Thratta. You could return to Thrace.”
“Iwillreturn to Thrace,” she amended my words. “But not this day. Thracians do not run from battle. We stand and we fight.”
“But your people—”
“Mypeople,” she scoffed. “My people sold me to foreigners to save their own hides. No.Youare my people now, and I will fight at your side.” She paused as if considering something. “And as my people, I wish to give you a gift.”
Thratta rose to her feet then, and we all shifted a little closer,staring up at our friend towering before us, gilded in the firelight.
“Skaris.” Her voice hitched, eyes gleaming with pride. “This is my name. When I came to these shores, it was all I had left, so I held it close. Now, I give it to you in return for all you have given me.”
“Skaris,” we all said in turn, watching our friend blossom beneath the sound of her name.
“In my tongue, it means ‘quick-footed,’” Thratta—Skaris—told us.
“Thank you, Skaris,” Penelope said, bowing her head low.
I took Skaris’s tattooed hand in mine, unsure what words could convey my love for her in that moment.
“And you, my friend?” she asked me. “You will stay with us?”
“Always,” I said.
I met Penelope’s gaze and smiled. Of course, I would not leave her. Even if our world came burning down that very night, I would simply hold her closer and dance in the flames.
“Then it’s decided!” Hippodamia clapped her hands excitedly. “I think we should have a drink to celebrate. Don’t you?”
Without waiting for a response, she whisked around the room in a flash of golden tresses, handing out cups.
“What are we drinking to?” Autonoë asked.
“To the return of Odysseus?” Eurynome offered.
“To the death of the suitors.” Actoris grinned.
