CHAPTER FIVE
The palace was a hive of activity as everyone tried to prepare for the Ilionians arrival. My mother refused to be embarrassed that her home might not be up to their standards, so we were all roped into cleaning. I had hoped to spend this day talking to my family, saying all the things I needed to say, but instead I was sweeping stone floors.
Quynh proved why she was my favorite person when she found me and said that she had sweet-talked Hippolyta into drawing a bath for me. The water was warm and soothing and I sighed as I lowered myself into it. I thanked Hippolyta for fetching the water. She was one of the few maidservants that we had left, and she was always so helpful and sweet.
I dunked my hair under the water, and Quynh insisted that she help me to wash it. Usually we would work sand into it to clean it and then brush it out, but given that it was a special occasion, we dipped into our ever-diminishing store of soap. It was created from tallow and ashes, and it was a complete luxury to have such clean hair.
Do you think we ll have to do this for the male guests? I asked. In some countries it was normal for the virgin daughters of a household to bathe male visitors. It wasn t something that any of us had done before, but I had heard rumor that the Ilionians might expect it. I d never seen an unclothed man before. I was a tiny bit curious.
I hope not, she said. If you re allowed around naked, unarmed Ilionians, my fear is that they will wind up murdered and then we will certainly have to go to war.
True, I mused. The temptation might be too great for me to withstand.
The Ilionians weren t the only visitors we were expecting. People would arrive from all over Locris to attend the selection.
To bear witness.
Quynh helped me to get ready for the festivities. I looked down at my plain tunic, knowing that I was about to be judged on my appearance by hundreds of people.
I raised my chin. I was a princess of Locris. I wouldn t allow others to make me feel small.
Mother wanted you to wear Grandmother s pearls, she said.
There was a pang of regret that I had to brush aside. I had sold them to ensure my plan was successful. I just nodded.
I m going to go check on Kallisto and see if she needs anything, Quynh said. After she left I studied my reflection for a moment longer before going out into the hallway.
I walked toward the throne room, where all festivities and celebrations were held.
There was a muffled cry, and then I heard a short scream and the sound of someone being slapped. I darted left and went down a hall toward the sound.
Hippolyta was on the ground, covering her head with her hands, wailing, and a strange man was hitting her. I ran over and threw myself between them.
What do you think you re doing? I demanded.
Without answering me, he caught the side of my face with the back of his fist, flinging me backward, knocking me off my feet. Pain exploded where he made contact, stars blooming to life in front of my darkened eyes.
My first thought was that my regiment had been pulling their blows during our hand-to-hand training. I realized that none of them had ever hit me with their full strength, as this man just had.
This was why Demaratus had told me to keep clear.
Learn your place and obey your betters, the man said, spitting on the ground next to us. I took in as many details about his appearance as I could. I wanted to be sure that I could find him again later. His hair was a strange color, almost yellow, and he had dark, cruel eyes. He stared back with a sneer, and then he left. I had no weapon and my mentor would have been furious with me. Stupid girl, no Daemonian warrior should ever be more than an arm s length away from their sword!
Ignoring my inner voice, I crawled over to Hippolyta.
Are you all right? I asked, looking her over.
I m fine, she said in between sobs.
There weren t any visible bruises now. That didn t mean there wouldn t be any later. What happened?
I don t know, she said as she attempted to stop crying. He told me to bring him something to drink and I suppose I wasn t going fast enough.
So he hit you? I asked, completely shocked. I had heard of this sort of thing happening in some other nations, but I had no experience with it at all. The men of Locris were gentle and kind.
I held her tightly, rocking her until her cries came to an end. When her breathing returned to normal, I released her and said, I m going to tell my father.
Please don t, she protested. I don t want to make any trouble for your family. They ve been so good to me.
I had no problem lying to her. Of course. It was the first thing I would do when I found the king.
He needed to know that one of his guests hit defenseless women.
I should go back to the kitchens, she said, her voice wobbly.
Only if you re certain, I said. And maybe you should find someone else to serve the guests.
There is no one else, she said in a way that broke my heart.
I knew what that felt like.
Call on me if you need my assistance, I said. Hippolyta nodded and headed toward the kitchens.
Adrenaline built up inside me. I wanted to hit something.
Or stab someone.
I got up, intending to head back to my room to get my dagger. I wouldn t be caught off guard without it again. I went around a corner and nearly smacked straight into Andronicus. He put his hands on my shoulders to steady me. Lia! I was looking for you. I have a surprise.
He reached behind his back and pulled out my dagger, handing it to me. As if he knew exactly what I needed in that moment.
You re giving me my own weapon? I m only going to tell you this because you re courting Quynh, but women don t like getting presents that already belong to them. I had to tease him just to soothe my own nerves, which were unsettled by the coincidence of him bringing me what I had intended to retrieve.
Andronicus smiled. No, I had it sharpened for you. Quynh handed it off to me this morning. I thought you might need it.
The dagger was in its scabbard, but the straps I used to tie it to my leg were most likely still in my room. I wish I d had it two minutes ago.
Why?
One of our guests was hitting Hippolyta and I got backhanded in the face for interfering.
He pressed his lips into an angry line, his eyebrows narrowing. Where?
At first I didn t know what he meant. Where had it happened? Or where on my face had I been hit? I figured it was the second and pointed at the area where the man had struck me. My jaw still burned with pain, but I had learned a long time ago to push past that sensation.
I don t see anything, he said.
That was good, but as I d noted earlier, just because there wasn t a bruise now didn t mean there wouldn t be later.
Can you assign someone to watch over Hippolyta? I asked. I don t want it to happen again.
He gave me a curt nod. I think Telamon s off duty tonight. I ll get him to do it.
Good. And thank you for this. I held the dagger up.
You re welcome. And if you find the man, point him out to me. I might like to have a word with him, Andronicus said and then left.
I wondered how bad it would be for my parents if I went to hunt down the man who had hit me. I hadn t asked my captain for a guard and he hadn t offered me one.
We both knew I didn t need it.
With a weapon in my hand, I could hold my own against any man, just so long as I didn t let him touch me.
I was usually very good at darting and ducking away from being hit, at getting in blows and cuts while avoiding the swing of my opponent s weapon or fists. This stranger attacking Hippolyta and me-in our home, where we should be safe-had just been so unexpected that I d been unprepared for it.
I wouldn t let that happen again.
Demaratus would never let me hear the end of it if he ever found out.
I decided to go back to my room to get my leather straps for the scabbard. I d only gone a few steps when I heard my father s voice. I looked at the dagger in my hand. I had no place to hide it and no way to explain it. I searched around me, desperate, and my gaze landed on a serving tray that someone had left behind. I grabbed it and hid my dagger underneath it.
My father saw me and smiled. Are you joining us?
Yes, of course. I m just going to put this away. I ll be right there.
He frowned slightly. I knew it bothered him that he wasn t able to give us a life of ease and luxury, that we had to help with the running of our home. But he nodded and continued on his way.
There was a large group of people following him and I inclined my head as they passed by me.
Several feet behind the last person, I saw two more men walking toward the dining hall. My heart slammed into my ribs as I realized that one of them was the man who had hit me.
Red flashed at the edges of my vision as my blood boiled. My fingers tightened around the handle of my newly sharpened dagger. I wanted nothing more in the world than to run over and slit his throat.
Stupid girl, a warrior must obey the law.
It would be against the laws of Locris for me to harm this guest in my father s home. He had been offered hospitality and protection by my father-they had shared salt between them and that was a sacred bond that could not be broken.
Even though I very much wanted to kill this man where he stood.
And I would certainly have the element of surprise on my side. I briefly let myself imagine the way his eyes would go wide in shock as my blade whispered across his throat, just before he collapsed to the ground.
Self-control in all things, I reminded myself.
I had to get away from him before I did something foolish and reckless. Desperate to regain control of my impulses, I turned and walked outside to a courtyard I almost never entered.
A very large, ancient olive tree stood in the center. During the daytime it would shade the entire area. At night, it blocked out the stars.
I closed my eyes and leaned against the cool stone wall, willing my anger to dissipate.
There was a noise, like a leather sandal moving against the ground. My eyes flew open and I gripped the dagger under the tray I still held.
Is someone there? I said, wondering if that man had come to meet his fate. If he attacked me again, the law would clear me if I spilled his blood. It would be self-defense.
But the sound had come from the opposite end of the courtyard, deep in the shadows. A figure stepped around one of the columns and came closer.
A different man.
And as soon as I saw his face, my heart whispered, Oh , there you are. I ve been waiting for you.