Page 83 of This Divine Revelry

I’m so startled I laugh at a pitch that definitely carries. A few heads turn and Dionysus chuckles, head angled towards me where only I might see.

‘That’s … that’s …’

Dionysus smirks. ‘I thought you weren’t the judgemental priestess sort.’

‘Oh please, it’s not that,’ I say. ‘I just don’t want you kissing Theseus. It’s strange.’

‘Stranger than my wife kissing the man who haunts her?’

‘Dionysus, this marriage is fake.’

‘And your feelings regarding Theseus are not.’

‘This is ridiculous.’

‘Well, one of us has to kiss him!’

I take a breath. ‘Maybe this isn’t the best idea. Let’s leave it in reserve.’

‘Impossible – is this my wife not going through with her latest reckless and impulsive plan? I’ll prepare anyway, just in case you change your mind. Magic should be more than enough for such a disguise but I’ll shave all the same.’ He squints. ‘I may have to borrow another of your chitons too.’

I wince, shutting my eyes like it might block him out. ‘I regret every moment of this conversation.’

I resume dancing, spinning from partner to partner and yes, we really do this sort of thing all the time and yes, women too and no, it’s not emasculating to dance and yes, we all need an escape – maybe the world would be a better place if we all centred joy a little more.

And then, in the corner of the room I see someone not dancing but edging towards where the amphorae of wine are stacked. The man from Cabarnis.

All at once I am choking on the smoke again.

I am behind him in an instant. ‘What are you doing?’

He turns, clutching the handle of a smaller jug, and his eyes light when they land on me. ‘Ah! The wife of Dionysus. I was so hoping we might speak.’

‘I’ve heard that a few too many times tonight. Did you follow us here?’

‘In a way,’ he says calmly. He raises the jug and I realize he hadn’t been tampering with the wine, just reaching around it. ‘Would you care for some mead? Try as I might, I just can’t warm to wine.’

‘That’s probably because you denounce its god.’

‘I did,’ he admits. ‘No longer. Though I’m not sure any amount of worship will have me choosing fermented grapes over honey.’ He raises his cup pointedly – his whole manner so nonchalant I might half believe his presence here pure coincidence.

‘Did you start that fire?’

‘No, I did not,’ he says, as though my question were mere curiosity rather than an accusation.

‘You seemed pretty intent on driving Dionysus out.’

For the first time, emotion flickers across his face, and he glances towards his cup before he speaks. ‘I am a devout man, Princess Ariadne. I truly thought he was a pretender making a mockery of Olympus –’

‘No, you didn’t,’ I snap, in no mood to add another manipulative man to my problems. ‘You can’t tell me you knew that I, with a grandfather amongst the gods, had some connection to them while claiming you didn’t recognize full divinity in Dionysus.’

The man hums. ‘You really are clever.’

I glance around for Dionysus – but he’s twirling his thyrsus for Glaucus, no doubt explaining how he might make his own. ‘What do you want?’ I push. ‘Why are you here?’

He shrugs. ‘Very well. Dionysus proved his power. I heard the tale of his rescue of you. New stars appeared in the sky. It was all rather impressive. So I’m here for what half the men in this room are now considering.’ He gestures at a scant handful of attendees gathered in corners and talking amongst themselves. ‘A way for Dionysus’s power to benefit me.’

‘What?’