CHAPTER TWELVE
I swapped out my dagger for Demaratus s xiphos and placed the dagger into my pack. Andronicus saw me approaching and gave Quynh one last hug, then one last lingering kiss.
She was crying as we made our way to the rowboat. The witness stood there and verified with a nod that we were the right maidens. A sailor offered me his hand to help me into the boat, but I ignored him and climbed in alone. I very nearly capsized us both but found my footing and stabilized myself.
Despite living near the ocean, I hadn t ever spent much time on boats. The Ilionians had made it a crime for us to build any ship bigger than a fishing vessel, to ensure that we could never go to war against them again. My brother had sneaked past the blockade on a foreign trader s ship.
I helped Quynh into the rowboat and we sat down together on a bench near the front. The witness and the sailor who had whistled us over climbed in after me, and the men began to row.
My face was turned toward the shore. I stared at the palace, the only home I had ever known, pushing down the emotions that were fighting to surface.
Then I turned my eyes toward Mount Knemis, the highest point in the Opuntian range. Those mountains were the western border of Locris, impassable, hemming us in.
Mount Knemis would be the first thing that I saw when I returned to my country and I wanted that image burned into my mind.
It didn t take long for us to reach the Ilionian ship. I turned and saw that it was no ordinary vessel. It was a trireme-a warship.
I shook my head in disbelief. They had sent a warship to retrieve us.
Was that to intimidate all of Locris, or had it been meant just to scare Quynh and me?
The trireme was approximately a hundred feet long, twenty feet across at the widest part. The ends of the ship came to sharp points, where they were covered in bronze shielding, and there were massive eyes painted on each end. Giant masts shot up straight to the sky, but no sails were up.
There were three banks for rowers. The top bank was on the deck, the other two on the levels beneath. The three levels were where the ship got its name. Oars stuck out of holes in the side, their tips covered in leather.
Haemon had been fascinated by ships, especially triremes. He had told me on more than one occasion that they were deceptively light and strong, capable of easily navigating very deep or extremely shallow waters. That they could take a lot of damage and holes but stay afloat.
I wondered if a ship like this one had been responsible for his death.
And I hated that I would never know.
I saw the ship s name painted on the southern end.
Nikos.
It meant victory. I decided to take it as an omen, a message meant just for me.
I was going to win and save everyone.
The rowboat pulled up alongside the trireme and there was a rope ladder for us to climb. I went up first, wanting to make sure the way was clear for Quynh and that I would be in a position to help her if she struggled to make it over the top.
It wasn t hard for me to ascend over the railing-this was the kind of thing Demaratus had made us all do repeatedly in training.
Why? Polymedes had asked. There s no chance that we ll ever be in a sea battle.
Quiet! Demaratus had roared back. You don t know what you will or won t face!
Maybe he d done it for my benefit so that I wouldn t have to be hoisted on board by my enemy.
My decision to go first had been the right one, as Quynh couldn t figure out how to position herself as she neared the top.
Give me your hand, I told her. She grabbed on and I pulled her up. It wasn t easy and I was grateful that she was so small.
Let me help, I heard a voice say and I ignored him, lifting her by myself.
Jason.
When Quynh s feet were safely on the deck, I turned to glare at him.
His expression was remorseful and I couldn t tell if it was sincere. Then I noticed the shade of his eyes. A beautiful golden brown.
Of course his eyes were the color of honey. The goddess seemed intent on torturing me.
A pulse of want throbbed inside my gut.
Why was I attracted to this man?
He spoke, interrupting my internal struggle. Lia. I m sorry you were chosen.
I m sorry you re Ilionian, I spat back, and walked away from him, bringing my sister with me.
Quynh s eyes flew to mine in confusion. I probably should have told her about him. Part of me had hoped that he would be staying behind in Naryx with Lykaon, even though he had told me that he was first mate to the captain of the tribute vessel. I should have expected that I would see him again.
Hoist the anchor! Rowers to positions! an older man called out behind us, presumably the captain, and the deck was a hive of activity as men raced around, following orders.
Pegs were hammered into place, oars striking against their rowlocks as they prepared to be lowered into the sea, grunts coming from the men pulling up the anchor.
Forward! the captain called, and the ship suddenly lurched as the oars hit the water. I felt uneasy and I wasn t sure if that was due to Jason s nearness or if it was the way the wooden boards seemed to roll and move under my feet. It was unnatural. I didn t like it.
A drummer and flautist were playing, keeping a steady beat that the rowers followed.
No one gave us any instructions and I assumed we were to look after ourselves. There was a wooden crate next to the ship railing, and Quynh curled up next to it. She pulled her knees up to her face, wrapping her arms around her legs. Her eyes fluttered shut. She didn t seem to mind the rocking ship at all. She did this during stressful events-she would take quick naps to restore her spirits and to briefly escape whatever was upsetting her. I envied her ability to sleep anywhere, anytime.
I wouldn t sleep, though. I had to see where we were headed.
Only a few minutes passed before we reached the blockade. A line of ships extended in both directions, as far as the eye could see. I gripped the railing tightly.
I wished I could take command of this ship and ram into every vessel here, destroying them so that I could lift the overwhelming economic burden my country had been put under.
And very few smuggler ships dared to run past them, as the Ilionians were merciless against those who disobeyed their rules. Because Troas s location was central to several major trade routes, no other nation wanted to be shut out of those by crossing Ilion s line.
Control of the trade routes was one of the reasons why Ilion had been able to rebuild so quickly after the Great War, and how they were able to raise enough money to create the blockade, so that they could punish us not only for Ajax s sin, but for the destruction that had been visited on their capital city.
Admiring the view? Jason asked as he came to stand next to me.
I was wondering how long it would take those ships to burn.
You shouldn t joke about such things. Sailors are a superstitious bunch, and fire is one of our worst fears. Fire, women, and sea, evils three.
That made absolutely no sense as sailors spent all their time at sea, but I wasn t interested in engaging with him. I wanted him to leave me alone.
So that I wouldn t remember what it had felt like to have his muscled arms crushing me to him.
His hot mouth ravaging mine.
Go away, Ilionian.
My name is Jason, he reminded me.
Ilionian suits you better.
Except most of the men on this boat are Ilionian, which might get confusing.
Not all the men were Ilionian? That was interesting information. Had they hired mercenaries to help with the rowing? Men who worked for money could be bought. Their allegiances switched.
As I looked over the rowers on the top deck, I realized that there was no way to tell where each person had come from. Locris and Ilion had descended from the same group of ancestors.
Jason s gaze was on me, and my skin seemed to burn in response. You never did tell me who hit you.
He reached out his hand, as if he intended to touch the bruise on my jaw. I stepped away from him and his arm dropped.
Because you aren t owed an explanation. We rowed past the blockade, to the open ocean.
He stayed quiet for a few beats before saying, I had heard that Locrian men were barbarians.
And while I knew he was goading me into answering, I still took the bait. I whirled to face him, reminding myself not to reach for my sword. We aren t the ones who butcher women.
A crime was committed-and it must be repaid.
It has been repaid two thousandfold with innocent blood, I fired back. That should be enough to satisfy your bloodthirsty, vengeful nation.
Ilion is not the one who requires it. The goddess does.
It was infuriating how calm he was, how rational. I wanted to strike him. And who speaks for the goddess?
His eyebrows lifted slightly. That is bordering on blasphemy.
Better to be blasphemous than to stand by while innocents die.
By decree of the goddess, Ilionian citizens are not allowed to assist any Locrian maiden.
I hadn t heard that before, but Jason had no reason to lie to me. It wasn t a Locrian who hit me. It was one of your countrymen. Lykaon.
Anger flashed in his eyes-he clamped his teeth together, his cheeks flexing in response.
And I wasn t sure what he was mad about, nor did I care. There. Now your curiosity has been satisfied. Don t you have work to do?
Not everyone agrees with what s happening to you. If I were captain of this ship, I would return you to Locris.
Again, I believed him and I hated that I did. And I hated even more that his words had the effect of softening the edges of my anger toward him.
I glanced over my shoulder at the trierarch, who was still giving orders to a small group of men assembled around him. I could kill the captain and then you d succeed him.
Jason grinned at me, like this amused him. We have three hundred men on board who wouldn t allow that to happen. He is beloved and I am not ambitious. But none of us can disobey the goddess. This is what she demands.
It s been a thousand years. You d think her bloodlust would have been sated by now.
If you make it to the temple, maybe you can tell her as much.
While I had pictured myself throwing open the temple doors and crossing the threshold, not once had I imagined what would happen after Quynh and I arrived. What did priestesses and their acolytes do? I had no idea.
Would I actually be able to communicate with the goddess? Was there someone in the temple who spoke for her?
The captain and another man approached us and Jason snapped to attention. I nudged Quynh with my foot, aware that something was about to happen.
Greetings. I am Trierarch Nereus. Welcome aboard the Nikos .
Thank you, I said, even though I died a little inside at having to be polite to a man who made a living in part by transporting Locrian maidens to their deaths. Quynh stood up and hid herself behind me.
This is Acmon. Acmon was an older man, his face lined with wrinkles, and he had dark brown sunspots on his face. He will escort you downstairs to your cell.
Cell? I repeated. I thought we were supposed to be your guests.
With this crew it will be the safest place for you. It is my responsibility to keep you secure and whole until we arrive, the captain said dismissively. Jason, may I have a word with you?
Acmon held his arm out, pointing us toward the stairs. As we descended I heard the bleating of goats but didn t see them. At the lowest level we walked toward the back of the ship, where they kept amphorae and crates filled with goods.
A large metal cage waited for us, the door open. There were buckets inside, blankets and pillows, and hay spread along the floor. Quynh went in first and everything inside me protested at entering. I knew there was no other option here, and I would rather choose to walk into the cell than to be dragged in by someone like Jason.
I stepped inside and Acmon closed the door behind me, turning the key in the lock. I will bring you your midday meal soon. Let me know if you need anything.
As if he were our servant instead of our captor.
He hung the key on a post too far for me to reach. Then he shuffled away and I watched him retreat.
I really should have paid better attention when Demaratus was trying to teach me how to pick locks.
At least we ll be protected from the crew, Quynh said, and I could only nod as I leaned my face against the bars.
I highly doubted this was for our benefit. We were captives and were being treated as such, kept secure and whole until the citizens of Troas had the chance to tear us limb from limb.