CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Despite my repeated requests, they refused to give me any further details and seemed to be enjoying the fact that they knew something I didn t.
They all changed into similarly short tunics and we walked across the complex together. In my outfit this felt so eerily similar to going to work with Demaratus in the morning that I again felt homesick. I listened as they bantered back and forth, looking beyond the temple toward the labyrinth walls, trying to remember where the southern entrance was so that I could use it.
Zalira looked over her shoulder at me and announced, We heard all about Jason.
Oh no. Now they were going to turn their teasing on me. You told them? I said to Io.
She shrugged innocently and said, We don t keep secrets.
Suri s gaze turned guilty and she looked away. There was at least some comfort in knowing I wasn t the only one holding back.
Yes, and we would like all the details, Ahyana added, her eyes sparkling.
There are no details, I said.
All four of them managed to exchange knowing glances.
No one here believes you, Io said in a singsong voice.
It was nothing! I protested.
Suri shook her head and Zalira said, Again, we don t believe you.
In exasperation I threw my hands up. Fine. I kissed him once.
There were too many voices and questions for me to keep track of and try to respond to.
Was it good?
Did you enjoy it?
What was it like?
Suri waggled her eyebrows at me suggestively.
Was it a long kiss or a short kiss?
How did you meet him? Was he someone you grew up with?
Where is he now?
In my dreams . I wondered how they d respond if I gave that answer. I suspected the inquiries and teasing would amplify, so I stayed quiet.
We entered the gymnasium and I came to a stop so quickly that Zalira smacked into me. I apologized and she stepped around me while I took in the massive room.
It reminded me of the temple, with twenty-foot-high ceilings supported by large wooden beams, but that wasn t what had surprised me.
There were women of various ages engaging in combat. Some were doing hand-to-hand fighting, boxing, wrestling, and there were others practicing battles with all sorts of weapons. Staves, swords, spears, axes, knives. I heard wood hitting wood, metal clanging against metal, grunts and shouts as fists hit flesh. It smelled like sweat, which wasn t surprising, given how hard the women were working and that it seemed hotter in here than it did outside.
They moved like my regiment back home. None of these women were novices.
No wonder Artemisia had defeated me so quickly.
As if I d summoned her, she smacked her shoulder into mine, hard.
Stay out of the way, Artemisia growled as she entered the gym with her laughing friends.
Most likely her own adelphia.
I internally thanked the goddess for giving me such decent and kind people to become sisters with.
There was a large dais against the farthest wall and I watched as Theano entered the room flanked by Daphne and Maia. I caught Maia s gaze and she smiled at me with her eyes. A fourth woman was with them. She had fair skin and very light brown hair that was shaved on both sides and longer on top, where she had a series of intricate braids interwoven to make one giant braid that hung down her back. Her face was scarred and she wore a leather breastplate that had obviously been designed for her, given how well it fit.
Who is that? I whispered to Io, feeling a bit awed.
Antiope. She s the battle master. Others say she used to be a Scythian. At my quizzical expression she elaborated. They were a race of warrior women who ruled themselves.
Why would she come here? I asked. Ilion did not seem like a good place for women.
Probably for the same reasons that so many of us have. I ve never asked and I never would. She s too scary for a conversation.
I already liked Antiope. She reminded me of Demaratus with the confident way she held herself.
Theano stepped forward and held her hands aloft, meaning to gain our attention.
All the battles ceased and the room quieted.
Kneel, she said, and almost as one, the entire body got to their knees. I was a beat behind, copying them. Then they prostrated themselves on the ground, hands in front of them, faces nearly touching the floor. I did the same so as to not draw attention to myself, but it felt strange.
Theano s voice boomed above me. We kneel before you now in humility to honor and worship you, who is above all other beings! We dedicate ourselves to you, to your eternal cause of vengeance. We ask for you to send your savior to wreak your punishment upon those that deserve it.
Although I couldn t see her face-not only because of the veil but because I was face down-it felt like that last comment had been directed specifically at me.
Ilion has become hard-hearted against you and your ways, and the only way to clear out the blasphemy is for your savior to rain down terror upon those who would deny you and your laws. The time is nigh and we ask for the strength to carry out your furious and terrible will.
After a beat, the people around me started to stand up. I did the same, but I was very confused. The high priestess hadn t followed the format Maia had just taught me that morning, and the prayer Theano had offered had been so unlike Io s I wasn t sure what to think.
When Maia and Io spoke of the goddess, their words were filled with talk of love and peace and kindness.
But the image Theano had just painted?
It was of a bloodthirsty deity who hungered for more carnage.
I supposed it wasn t entirely inaccurate, given that the furious and vengeful goddess had cursed my own lands.
Who is the savior? I asked Io.
No one knows. There s an ancient prophecy about Ilion turning their backs on the goddess and that it would put us in danger. It says that a savior would rise up to protect the Ilionians and restore the goddess s glory. And that we will know the savior because they will be flame-kissed and bear the mark of the goddess.
She pointed to a spot against a far wall of the gymnasium to indicate where we were going, and I followed her. What do those two attributes mean?
Again, no one is quite sure. There s lots of guesses, though. The flame part-maybe someone who has been burned in a fire? Perhaps a metalworker or swordsmith, who works with intense flames? Someone infected with a fever? A person with red hair?
Fury grabbed me by the throat. I d only ever seen one person with red hair. The man who had pulled Quynh out of my arms. Are there many Ilionians with red hair?
After I d secured the eye and my life mage and restored Locris, I would return to Ilion with the sole intention of tracking that man down and making him die slowly.
There is a kingdom north of here called Thrace, and many Thracians have red hair and fair skin. Some move here and marry.
A Thracian. But there might be many with the same heritage. That didn t narrow things down for me, but that was a problem for a later date. But why flame? Why not earth-kissed?
Fire gives new life. It burns away old undergrowth, creating ashes that nourish the soil, and makes it possible for new things to grow.
I nodded. There was still so much that I didn t know. What about the mark?
Again, there is only speculation. The general consensus seems to be that it means a birthmark.
Which is why you asked me if I had one, I said.
Io nodded. Every child in Ilion is carefully checked when they are born.
Maybe it could be a tattoo, I said.
Perhaps, she agreed. We re all just conjecturing. The only thing we all agree on is that the savior will come. I ve prayed for that every day of my life.
It seemed silly now that she had asked me whether I had a birthmark. Why would an Ilionian savior be born in Locris?
And what Locrian would agree to fill that role?
My adelphia gathered against the wall as Antiope stepped forward. Her voice boomed out of her, echoing against the walls. Women of the temple, what do we say to the outside world?
Never again! everyone around me yelled back, the sound overwhelming as every priestess and acolyte said the words in unison.
Why do we train? Antiope demanded.
Never again!
Why do we prepare?
Never again!
Why do we fight?
Never again!
Never again! Antiope roared the words back. Never again will a priestess of this temple be defiled, taken captive as a plaything for men! Never again will any woman here cower to a man because of his strength! You are warriors, capable of vanquishing any foe!
Everyone in the gymnasium began to stamp their feet as quickly as they could, hooting and hollering their agreement.
Even I was caught up in it. I made myself a vow. Never again.
Never again would I allow a Locrian maiden to run that race. I would find a way to stop it.
No more sacrifices.
Let our training begin! Antiope declared.
She jumped down into the crowd and started directing the women closest to her. Keep your shield up! If you were in a true phalanx, you would be responsible for breaking the line.
Daphne and Maia also left the dais and I saw Maia walking toward us. Theano stayed put, sitting in a chair and watching the room.
Does she always do that? I asked Io.
She followed my gaze. Theano usually observes training, yes.
There was something intimidating and unlikable about the high priestess. Doesn t she have more important duties to attend to?
Io shrugged and then let out a sigh as Maia came closer. I hate training. I don t want to accidentally hurt someone.
Then why did you admire my sword? I asked.
Just because I loathe violence doesn t mean I can t appreciate a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, she countered. My father loves collecting swords. He had so many while I was growing up. I used to watch my brothers practice with them for hours. They fought so well. It was like a dance.
A dance where one of them dies at the end.
She smiled. I love the way your sword is shaped like a leaf. It s beautiful.
I agreed with her. I wondered whether I should have brought it with me today.
Maia joined our group. Zalira against Suri to start us off, fighting with staves. First one to three points wins.
As Zalira and Suri retrieved their weapons, Io told me, You get points for pushing your opponent out of the ring, or for rendering them immobile. And for slipping past their defenses and making bodily contact.
Some people are using swords and axes, I said, a bit alarmed.
The points are different for more dangerous weapons.
That was a relief, at least. I d hate to lose an ear because somebody was overeager to win.
They keep track of the best warriors over on that wall, she continued. The top five fighters are always the Chosen.
Io had mentioned earlier that the Chosen were selected due to their abilities. I just hadn t realized that it had included hand-to-hand combat.
Artemisia was the top ranked, which didn t surprise me in the least. She was aggressive and seemed dangerous, and I personally knew how strong she was. I wished that I could challenge her and secure that top spot for myself, but I had to consider my situation.
If I walked into the ring and won my very first fight against the best acolyte here, the women around me might get suspicious about my background. I was sure they would realize that only someone from a royal or noble family would have the resources to be trained in fighting.
Despite my determination to become one of the Chosen, I was going to have to give it some time in order to avoid questions. I would have to slowly improve and work my way up the list eventually.
Although patience had never been my strong suit.
Begin! Maia called out.
Suri and Zalira sprang to life, their staves whacking into each other over and over again.
Ahyana and Io were calling out encouragement while Maia gave them tips. Watch your opening! Protect your left side! Better!
The fighting here was different. I had been taught to harm, maim, and to get away. To deflect and defend and escape. But this was almost entirely offensive and I didn t understand why they trained for combat. They wouldn t be fighting other women outside the temple. And if they were attacked by a group of men, they d be able to take a few of them out, but with this fighting style they would eventually be overwhelmed.
They would lose.
You didn t, a voice whispered inside me, but I brushed it aside. That had been different. I d been in situations where I had been able to face them one at a time. The priestesses and acolytes were training for war.
Zalira had just jabbed the end of her staff into Suri s gut when a high-pitched scream rent the air.
It had come from outside. All the fighting ceased and an uneasy silence settled over the room. The scream came again. We were close to an exit and we ran out into the courtyard to see what was happening.
A woman with a torn dress and wild hair was running toward the temple grounds, screaming as she went.
She was being chased by nearly a dozen men.
Help me! Someone help me!