Chapter Sixty-Two
As Ninniya faded in the distance, the chatter quieted, and the silhouette of an owl passed once across the moon.
It swept down to the ground and rose again, and though I could not see the prey in its claws, I had no doubt it was there.
The owl was the symbol of the goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom.
Were my actions gaining her patronage or losing it? Only time would tell.
Those on horseback rode beside the women on foot until the sun broke over the horizon.
At that time, when we knew we could be seen, we separated.
Those walking remained on the road, while those of us on horses moved into the scant covering of trees to shield our presence.
This was the hour I expected the men to come into view. But they did not.
“Should we not be able to see them now?” Aina asked as the sun continued its upward arc. “We have been traveling for half a day.”
This was not what I had hoped for. The walkers had long since abandoned their torches, and the lack of sleep was slowing their every step.
“Do we keep riding?” Aina spoke again with the voice of all present.
“Keep the others hidden here. I will speak to the women walking,” I said.
I kicked my heel into Erebus’s side, and he and I raced out of the trees and down to the road. The women stopped as I approached. Several dropped to their knees with exhaustion.
“What do we do?” Sotiria was at the front of the gathering. Though she could ride as well as many, she wanted to be the first to look the men of Oreia in the eye.
“It must be a mistake. Nothing more than drunken tavern talk,” I replied. “We will rest; then we will return.”
Silently, I cursed my impulsive decision. I had marched us away from our homes in the dead of night, using our time and resources, and for what? Nothing. As I prepared myself to issue a command, to sit and rest, a single whistle cut through the air. Thalassa’s whistle.
“Wait there!” I commanded them before galloping back up to the coverage of the trees.
“Otrera, there, look.” Iphinone pointed across the valley.
I strained, squinting as I scanned the length of the horizon. They came into view on the neighboring hill.
There were nearly a hundred, but at such a distance, that was all I could tell.
Numbers alone were not enough. If half were nothing more than boys, then what would I do?
Could I slaughter them for following their fathers’ orders?
And what about weapons? Rilaena had assured me there were only a few skilled hunters in the group, but surely they would not come at us unarmed when they knew what we had done?
“Keep the women here!” I ordered and pulled Erebus around.
Feeling my urgency, Erebus lengthened his strides, pushing himself faster.
When we reached the crest of the hill, I brought him to a stop.
We stood there, as motionless as if we had been transformed to stone by a gorgon’s gaze.
I was grateful for his stillness and the darkness of his coat to keep us hidden as I pressed my body low to his.
There, with the spring sun beating down on us, I waited to learn all I could.
The sun had begun its descent when the men finally drew parallel with me.
I gasped sharply. Rilaena had been correct in their number, but she had been wrong to believe they were unarmed.
It was true they were not warriors and carried no bows or swords, but like us, they had made use of what they had.
They carried spears used for fishing in the shallows as well as scythes and rakes, axes and mallets.
Flasks passed between their hands, yet there was no swagger or sway to their steps, telling me that it was only water they drank.
They had come for a fight, and they had come prepared.
Having seen all I needed to, I turned Erebus and galloped back to the women.