CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
I tossed and turned the rest of the night. My sisters quickly fell asleep, which I understood. It had been a long, taxing night. I heard when Kunguru came to the windowsill to watch over us. I might have slept, but if I did, I couldn t remember my dreams.
No Jason. It was ridiculous of me to want to confront a dream version of him. I had to speak to him in person. I needed answers as to who he might have told about the book. He was the only person who knew. It was such a betrayal that, if he d done it, I wasn t sure I could ever speak to him again.
I could have been a great deal angrier but wasn t because a part of me believed he wouldn t do that to me.
But if not him, then who?
The next morning I got up to clean the temple. I still hurt but the salves and medicines that Daphne poured down my throat every few hours were helping. I could deal with the constant, dull, throbbing pain. The important thing was to stick to my routine. Those guards who had patrolled last night would talk, including the ones who had been drugged, but we had made sure not to leave any proof behind. I couldn t raise anyone s suspicions by deviating from what I was supposed to be doing this morning.
But when I got to the courtyard to fill my water vase, I discovered that the fountain was completely dry. I d never seen that happen before, and I wouldn t be able to sprinkle water after I swept.
I wasn t sure what to do.
It seemed like something I should report. I decided Maia was my safest bet. I swept until it was time for my tutorial and headed over to the auditorium. She greeted me.
The fountain in the courtyard has run dry, I told her, not bothering to return her greeting.
Her face paled and she stood up. Are you certain?
Yes.
Return to your room, she said.
I did as she asked. Obviously the fountain drying up wasn t a regular occurrence or she wouldn t have responded the way that she had. When I got back to my bedroom, I told my sisters what had happened. They were as confused as I was about Maia s reaction.
No one spoke of the night before. They all seemed afraid to bring it up. My devastation over my failure was obvious. They didn t ask what I d been looking for and I didn t offer to tell them. It was the best way to keep them safe. If they were questioned, they wouldn t have to lie. They would be able to honestly say they didn t know what I d been up to.
It was the only way that I could think of to protect them.
When we got to breakfast, nobody was eating. Instead the room was in an uproar. As I listened to the nearby conversations, it turned out the women were not only worried about the attacks the previous night that had resulted in a single arrow and two guards being knocked out, but were now tying those to the fountain drying up.
It was being taken as some kind of omen.
Again dirty looks and muttered voices were pointed in my direction.
I could only lay claim to half of the blame, though. I d led the attack but hadn t done anything to the water.
The three lead priestesses were on the dais and Antiope had joined them. Maia turned in our direction and waved me over. It seemed she d meant for only me to come but my sisters followed.
When we approached it was obvious the leaders were in a heated argument.
Someone has to investigate the source and see what happened to the water, Daphne was saying.
Send me, Antiope countered. I will take a few guards with me. It should only be a day s travel there and back.
Theano said, You are needed here.
Lia is the one who alerted me, Maia told the group, and all of them turned to face me. I wondered why she had involved me. She probably wanted me to have some credit for informing her about the fountain, given all the accusations being tossed around the room.
In a time of crisis, people wanted someone to blame, someone to be responsible, so that the world would make sense again.
And the other priestesses apparently wanted that person to be me.
I was grateful that Maia was trying to help in her own way. I wished I could tell her it was unnecessary. Since last night I d been wondering whether I had much of a future at the temple. The eye wasn t here. Was there even a reason to stay? I could send a message to Jason and have him help me return to Locris.
Then I thought of the vows I d made. I d been willing to break them to save my nation, but everything was different now. It was as if the oaths had more of a hold on me, rather than less. My word meant something to me. I d made a promise to protect this temple and the people in it. If I ran home I wouldn t be doing that. I wouldn t be serving the goddess.
In my dreams Demaratus had told me that at some point I was going to have to stop running and face reality.
Maybe this was what he d meant.
And it was time to stand still and do what I d said I would do.
Then it seemed fate decided to put my resolution immediately to the test.
Antiope said, The men who attacked us might have stopped our water supply. Maybe they re planning to lay siege.
Io had mentioned that the water from the river, which was also used in our washrooms, wasn t safe to drink. That it made people ill. If someone did plan a siege at our gates, being cut off from clean water might lead them to getting a quick surrender.
Which is why you re needed here, Theano said to Antiope. The high priestess leaned her head slightly to the right and then announced, We should send the Locrian and her sisters to investigate and report back their findings.
What?
Maia seemed to share in my surprise and concern. Lia is not even fully healed yet!
Not to mention that the temple had just been attacked. Of all the priestesses and acolytes she could have sent, Theano had chosen us? We were the youngest and had the least training.
Did she suspect what my sisters and I had done and meant to use this as a punishment?
Stupid girl, she wants to eliminate all of you while keeping her hands clean.
I hoped that wasn t true. I didn t want to be the reason the others might be put in harm s way.
I didn t have to see my adelphia s expressions to know that they were just as confused and astonished as I was.
She ll be fine, Theano said with a wave of her hand, dismissing Maia s protest.
Antiope looked like she also wanted to object, but she stayed silent.
I could see that my mentor had much more to say but she followed the battle master s lead and kept quiet.
The high priestess apparently considered the matter closed. Have them pack and leave immediately.
I will get them a map, Antiope said with a nod and left.
Daphne brushed down a fold in her tunic. I will fetch the salves and medication that Lia needs to take. I thought I sensed a note of disdain in her voice for what Theano had dictated.
Come with me, Maia said to us. We ll stop by the kitchen to load you up with supplies, and I will help you pack.
Although I couldn t see her face, I would have sworn that Theano s gaze was upon me.
If she hoped that this mission of hers would lead to our deaths, she was going to be bitterly disappointed.
Everything happened so quickly. Maia helped us gather enough food and water for the next couple of days. She also made us change out of our tunics into basic beige ones so that we wouldn t draw attention to ourselves. Daphne came with my medication, giving instructions to Io on how to administer it. Antiope brought the map and showed us where the groundwater spring began that fed the aqueduct that led to our fountain.
As she d mentioned earlier, it would only take us about a day to reach it and a day to return.
She also distributed weapons to each of us. Stay off the roads, she said. They won t be safe for you. And if someone is hunting for you, that s the first place they ll look.
Her warning did nothing to ease the large boulder that had taken up residence against my chest. She seemed to think it was inevitable that something would happen to us and that worried me.
Especially because I was not in my best physical condition. I didn t want Io to get in another fight. She still seemed traumatized from our last encounter. I d caught her crying a few times over the last couple of days when she thought no one would notice. I didn t know how to ease her pain or how to help her other than keeping her out of harm s way.
I knew I could count on the rest of my adelphia if we got into a tough spot. I d just make Io hide if we were attacked. Antiope and Maia walked us past the archway, into the street. It felt strange that they were allowing us to be here, outside of the temple, when all they d done was tell us that we couldn t leave.
Maia smiled at us, but it didn t reach her eyes. Watch over each other. Stay safe. Promise me.
We promise, Io said, but her voice was a little shaky.
All will be well, I told them both.
But our mentor didn t seem to believe me. You have seen how dangerous the world can be beyond these walls.
I moved in closer so that only she would hear me. I have seen how dangerous the world can be within these walls. I will bring them back to you. I swear it.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. She nodded and bade us farewell.
Zalira and Ahyana led the way. They were the most familiar with the city and navigated the labyrinth with ease. No one paid us very much attention. There were so many people out on the street, and since we weren t in our temple colors, we didn t attract notice. We blended in.
It didn t take us long to exit the city to the south. I d never been in this part of Ilion-the scenery was stunning. Trees and grass and bushes as far as the eye could see. An ocean of green.
It made me wonder if Locris had ever looked like this.
And if it ever would again.
Let s do what Antiope suggested and get off the road, Zalira said. She headed into a nearby forest, and that was another brand-new experience for me. I d been in groves of trees before, but those were orderly and planned. This was a riot of tree trunks and underbrush topped off by a canopy of leaves overhead. I could hear birds chirping and insects buzzing.
I ve never gone this far south, Ahyana said, worry creeping into her voice. What if we get lost?
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, I said. As long as we can see the light, we ll know what direction we re headed.
It was a false comfort-we all knew stories of people who had gotten lost, gone missing, never returned home.
I know which way to go, Zalira said. Follow me.
Maia seemed upset, Io observed to no one in particular.
She did, Ahyana agreed. I think she s worried that we re going into some kind of trap.
It echoed exactly what I had thought. If we stay together, I think we ll be all right.
If Maia thinks there might be a trap, that means it s not safe for us to leave the temple or the city, Io responded, ignoring my attempt to console her.
I don t think the high priestess cares whether or not we ll be safe, Zalira said.
Io shook her head. I don t understand why they would send us.
I think because we re the newest and it makes us the most expendable if something happens. And I m afraid it might. I hadn t meant to say the last part out loud, especially after I saw Io s face.
Ahyana frowned, pushing a branch away from her head. I hope you re wrong.
So did I, but I got the distinct feeling that I wasn t.