CHAPTER TWENTY
Demaratus was swearing at me in my head for not paying closer attention, for not checking to see if the first man had been alone before I d prematurely celebrated my victory. My head throbbed and I turned over onto my back, intending to crawl for my sword.
I saw Quynh attempting to hit the man, but he took the pole from her while shoving her away. Her head hit the wall and she went completely still.
Quynh! I screamed, now trying to get to her side.
The man snapped her pole in half over his knee, like it was a child s toy, and then tossed it aside. I took out my throwing knives and heaved one at him, but it went wide. He ran over and kicked the other one out of my hand.
He yanked me up and slammed me into the stone wall. I leaned forward so that my head wouldn t hit. I couldn t lose consciousness.
That is my brother! the man hollered at me as his hands closed around my throat, inclining his head toward the armored man currently on the ground, bleeding out.
My attacker was so strong. His fingers pressed in and I clawed at his hands as he began to crush my windpipe. I tried to lash out with my feet, but he was tall enough that he could keep clear.
I m not going to use my knife on you, he growled at me, baring his teeth. I want to squeeze the life out of you with my bare hands. Every Locrian deserves a painful death.
His grip tightened and panic tore up my deprived lungs as I hit the man s hands, trying to make him let go. Nothing was working. Stars exploded behind my eyes, and the edges of my vision had started to turn black.
This was it.
It was over.
As the world began to go dark, I saw Quynh, standing off to my right, holding my sword, offering it to me.
I reached out and took it, bringing it up swiftly to stab the man in the neck. Blood spurted out, covering my weapon as his hands fell away from my throat. I collapsed to my knees, gasping and drawing in deep breaths, feeling as if I d never have enough air again.
Lia! Are you all right? Quynh got on the ground next to me, her fingers gently pressing on my neck, checking.
I m about as good as can be expected, I finally said, my voice sounding rough. You didn t have to give me the sword. You could have stabbed him.
I was afraid I d hit you again.
Forcing myself to get up, I shook off a wave of dizziness. There had been little possibility of her missing and accidentally stabbing me, given how massive her target would have been. I appreciate your consideration.
She gave me a small smile and we gathered all our things before heading back into the maze.
My body felt shaky, my throat ached.
But my senses were not entirely dulled, and I heard the sound of a spear cutting through the air. I dived at Quynh, knocking her down to the ground as the spear flew past.
I immediately helped her back up and we continued running.
That spear almost- she said.
I know, I interrupted her. Don t talk. Save your breath. Keep moving.
We continued west, heading for those rooftops I had seen. We were fortunate that, other than our first encounter, no one had attacked us in a group. That we d only been dealing with one man at a time. I was concerned that was going to change.
That while there were some hunters who wanted to get the glory solely for themselves, the rest would figure out that they d be better served to hunt us in packs, like wild animals.
Lia! Quynh called, and I turned, my xiphos up, ready to defend her.
I have to rest, she said. I m sorry. I know we can t stop, but I have to drink something.
The sun was past its apex in the sky and had started its slow descent down. It would be hours until nighttime. We would have had a better chance to stop and recuperate under the cover of darkness. I wanted to keep going, but she deserved a break for how well she d been keeping up with me.
If anyone came down this passage, they would instantly spot us. There was no good place to hide. And someone had already thrown a spear at us; there was no question we were still being pursued.
I handed Quynh my pack, and she found the waterskin. She took a long, deep drink. Not too much, I warned her. Your stomach will cramp up.
She nodded and handed it to me. I had just gotten a mouthful when I sensed someone behind me and immediately ducked down and pivoted, moving my body away. The tip of his blade kissed my cheek. I lashed out, bringing my sword up, deflecting his motion while knocking his weapon loose.
How many times would someone be able to sneak up on me? My concern for Quynh was distracting me. My attacker reached for my tunic and got a fistful of cloth at the shoulder. He raised his right hand, intending to punch me. I turned my face at the last second so that his fist met my hairline above my forehead, and although the shock of the impact rang through me, he had it worse.
He yelped, a high-pitched noise, as I heard the bones in his hand break from hitting the toughest part of my head instead of my cheek. It was another maneuver I d only ever actually practiced-I hadn t realized that it would work so well.
Go! I shouted to Quynh. She began to run while I turned to finish with this man. He picked up his fallen sword in what was obviously his nondominant hand, and I was easily able to parry his thrust while running my own blade up the inside of his arm, spilling his blood into the dirt.
Considering him sufficiently dealt with, I grabbed all my things and raced after my sister. She had come to a crossroads.
Left! I shouted to her. I caught up and went to take the lead.
Which turned out to be a good thing as a tall man stood in our way. He held a broadsword and a massive shield and filled the entire path, making it impossible for us to pass.
Grabbing one of my knives from my belt and holding my xiphos aloft, I barreled straight toward him. He lifted his shield up, expecting me to slam into him, widening his stance as he braced for impact.
Which was exactly what I d wanted him to do.
At the last moment I slid along the ground between his legs and sliced at the backs of his tendons as I went past.
He roared with pain and went down.
I got up and looked for Quynh, but she was already racing past me. When I caught up to her, she said, Your leg!
I glanced down. My outer thigh was shredded, streaks of red showing underneath the dirt. I don t even feel it!
It was true. Just as Demaratus had taught me, I was beyond pain.
We continued to run hard until we came to a crossroads where there were three different paths. Wait, I told her.
I knew we were being followed, but we couldn t keep running and hoping we d accidentally trip across the temple. I tried to get my bearings. The sun was going to the west, which meant the palace was directly north of us. I looked up at the walls and realized for the first time that there was faded paint along the edges.
One was purple, one blue, one yellow, and the other green.
There had to be a reason behind it. What was it?
It felt like the answer was right there, at the edge of my consciousness, but I was too beat up and too exhausted to figure it out.
What are you staring at? she asked.
The edges of the walls. They ve been painted. Had they been that way the whole time and I just hadn t noticed? Too focused on being pursued and not paying enough attention to my surroundings?
Why?
It was a good question. Why would someone paint the walls? The colors were faint. Someone not from Troas, like me, would easily overlook them.
Which meant they d been created for the people of the city.
Then the answer hit me like a bolt of lightning.
Directions.
They were coded directions.
Jason s voice filled my head: Head to the blue, the blue. The blue must mean the way to the docks, next to the blue ocean.
And purple would lead me to the palace, the color of royalty.
I didn t know what the yellow meant-the marketplace, full of bread made from wheat, maybe?
But green . . . green was the color for the earth goddess. The color of her trees, bushes, and grass.
While Jason couldn t assist me, he had given me a clue without my even realizing it.
Excitement bubbled up inside me. The green paint will lead us to the temple!
How do you know that? she asked.
I briefly explained my thought process as we followed the green path. While this would make it easier to reach our destination, I understood that it was also going to put more hunters in our way.
I m not sure if I m right, I said when I finished, but it s better than us wandering around.
Agreed, she said.
The green path led to an opening, and the buildings here were nicer than the first residential area we d gone through. I saw a mixture of homes and businesses, and we had just stepped onto the street when I heard a sound I recognized.
I wasn t fast enough this time. I called out a warning, but a bola wrapped around Quynh s ankles before I could get her out of the way. She went down, face-first. I dropped my sword and raced to help her.
When I rolled her over, I saw that her face was bloody. My heart leapt into my throat, pulsating with terror. I quickly realized that she had only scraped it up and had hit her nose, which was where most of the blood was coming from.
Behind you! she called out.
A man had started to thrust down at me with his sword, and I realized I wasn t going to be able to stop him. I crossed my arms at the wrist, knowing that they would absorb the blow but that I was about to lose one or more limbs and bleed to death. Now I wished I had worn armor.
I braced myself, waiting for the moment his steel sank into my unprotected flesh.
It never came.
A loud whistle was the only warning of the arrow that struck the man full in the chest, knocking him back. I watched in disbelief as the bright yellow feathers at the end of the shaft quivered.
I got to my feet, looking for the shooter while I went for my sword. I had no defense against an arrow attack, other than to keep moving. I turned my gaze in the direction the arrow had come from but didn t see anyone.
The only sensible explanation was that someone had been aiming for me and had missed. But if that was true, then there would have been a follow-up arrow, as an archer would do if he d failed to hit his target the first time.
There were no more arrows.
Quynh groaned and I went over to help her get the rope off her ankles. When she got to her feet, she immediately collapsed, and I had to put my arm around her waist to keep her upright.
My ankle! she exclaimed through clenched teeth.
Try to put your weight on it, I said.
She did as I instructed and yelled out, falling against me.
I think it s sprained, she said.
There was no way we could keep running. She would have to rest for a little while because, much as I might have wanted to, I couldn t carry her to the temple. Even if I had known exactly where it was.
Stupid girl, use your surroundings! Focus!
Again, Demaratus was right. I glanced around until I saw words pressed into the dirt that said Follow me.
I tightened my grip around Quynh. I know where we can go to get help.