CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Suri could have easily prevented me from taking the key if she wanted to. I was in no condition to retrieve it or to fight her for it. She took it out, pushed the drawer back into place, and then came to stand in front of me.
To my confusion, she offered it to me. I must have misinterpreted her earlier expression. She had looked upset about something, but what?
Can you please put it in my pouch? I asked. Again, she could have refused. She could have walked out of the room and buried it somewhere and I never would have found it.
But without hesitation she opened my pouch and slid the key inside.
There was relief despite the crushing pain. Do you sense anything else hidden?
No.
I supposed that would have made things far too easy, if the eye were in the office.
Although now I had no idea how I was going to break into the treasury. I thought of what Demaratus would have done if there had been an attempt made on my family s life. He would have doubled the guard.
Antiope would do the same. Or worse.
I might have had the key, but this attack had just complicated everything in my life. Not only in getting to the vault but in having to worry that someone specifically wanted me dead and might make another attempt.
Io s voice came from just outside the office. We have to take Lia to the infirmary. Daphne needs to help her. She didn t come into the room and I couldn t blame her.
Suri came over to my right side and put my arm around her shoulders. I leaned against her heavily, but she easily held me up.
Thank you, I told her. You don t know what this means to me.
She nodded and we walked out into the hallway. I could see that Io wanted to assist us, but that would have meant going on my left side, where I d been stabbed, and I didn t think I could bear the blinding pain. I held my left arm against my body and stumbled down the hallway, nearly tripping on the stairs.
But as we walked, I told Io our cover story. We were up late talking. We heard something outside. We came out to investigate and were attacked. I led the man away from you.
She nodded and I saw her gulp. I hoped she would be able to lie effectively or else we were going to be in a lot of trouble. They couldn t know what I d taken or everything would be ruined.
When we got outside I couldn t help but gasp and stop short. There were so many bodies. Some were being dragged out into the courtyard.
Men in full armor, but I also saw a priestess and a couple of acolytes.
How many people had died?
Come on, Io said, waving her hand and averting her gaze from the horrible scene. My mind felt foggy, but one of the things I noted was how easily the guards moved the bodies. Some of these men were thick and heavy and the women were dragging them like they weighed no more than a bird.
I also thought of what I had done that evening that I had no explanation for. How had I broken down Theano s door as easily as if it had been made of papyrus? I had managed to hold back a man twice my size with biceps larger than my legs. While I knew that people in stressful situations were capable of powerful things, panic and adrenaline could only account for so much.
Not to mention how I d managed to hold off those men who had attacked me in the streets of Troas only a couple of days ago. Technique would not have been enough to keep me safe.
It was like I d gotten stronger. A lot stronger.
And the same was true for all the women of the temple.
My head was pounding so hard that I stumbled. It hurt to think.
But I couldn t turn off my questions. Why had these men attacked us? This felt like the pirate raid on the Nikos . And the pirates had been specifically looking for me, just like the man who had chased me tonight.
Somebody wanted me dead.
Who?
Was it someone here in the temple? Theano? Artemisia? I wouldn t have been surprised by either one. But would they really be willing to commit sacrilege just to kill me? I couldn t imagine that they would go that far, but maybe they would.
Who else in Ilion would wish me harm? Why were they seeking me out? No one knew who I truly was, beyond being a tribute. My identity was a secret.
Why was this happening?
As I tried to think of who and why, I remembered that the pirates had thrown that red dirt before fighting. The man tonight had not done so. I didn t think they were the same people.
Which meant that there was more than one group of warriors trying to end my life.
That was terrifying.
Especially when I didn t know who was behind it.
They got me into the infirmary, where Daphne was helping another wounded acolyte, who was groaning with pain.
Io! Daphne said when she saw us. I m so glad you re here. I need you.
Lia is hurt, she said, helping me onto one of the beds. She was stabbed in her left shoulder and the blade went all the way through.
Everyone is hurt, Daphne muttered under her breath, but she still came over to inspect me. It was quick thinking to cauterize the wound.
That was Lia, Io said. She told me to do it.
It probably saved your life. Daphne tested my limb and I let out a muffled moan, not able to hold back the sound. It was like she was torturing me. Make a fist.
I did as she asked even though my hand protested in agony.
Daphne nodded, satisfied. You still have full range of motion, which indicates that the blade didn t hit any tendons or arteries, for which you should be very grateful. You re lucky that it only went through muscle.
I didn t feel very lucky at the moment.
We ll get you something for the pain, and after we ve treated everyone, we ll create a salve to help soothe your skin and fight off infection. Then we ll bring you something to help you sleep. Io, with me, Daphne said. She went back to the patient she d been treating when we arrived.
Io hovered over the bed, reaching for my right hand and squeezing it. I would stay here with you if I could.
I squeezed her back. I know. I need to thank you for earlier. I know that tonight was . . . difficult. But I want you to remember that you protected life. He would have killed me and others.
She released my hand and twisted her lips to the side, as if she were trying not to cry. Deep down I understand that. I just . . . never thought I would be capable of doing it. I also know that you would have done the same for me, to save me.
A thousand times over, I told her. It was then that I noticed that black-and-purple bruises in the shape of fingers had formed on her neck. It was a miracle that man hadn t crushed her windpipe. I was glad he was dead, or I would have gone back over to the administrative building to finish the job myself.
As Io went off to assist Daphne, I realized that Suri had disappeared. I lay in the bed, aching and exhausted, and ran my right hand over my pouch to feel the outline of the key. Still there, right next to Quynh s bracelet.
The key had to be for the vault. It had been hidden in a secret compartment that presumably no one but Theano knew about. Why would she do that unless it was important?
I should have paid closer attention to the keys that Theano carried on her belt so that I would be able to tell whether it was a match.
There was at least one good way to find out if it would open the vault.
Should I wait? There was no doubt in my mind that Antiope was going to immediately increase the number of guards patrolling. So perhaps it would work better in my favor to delay trying to break into the treasury.
Not to mention that I currently wasn t in the best physical condition to be attempting a break-in.
A few minutes later Zalira and Ahyana came into the infirmary with Suri. She had apparently gone to retrieve them, and I was relieved that she had. Zalira had the beginning of a black eye and Ahyana s lip had been busted open.
Are you all right? I asked them, at the exact moment that they said the same to me.
We re fine, Zalira said. Three men climbed into our window. I was able to call for Ahyana and we fought them off until the guards arrived to help us. I m so glad we were awake and waiting for you. Can you imagine if we d been asleep and unaware? She shuddered.
The whole situation was so unnerving. How did they get past the guards in the first place?
They must have observed the guards and figured out the pattern as well, Ahyana offered. But instead of sneaking out, they were figuring out a way to sneak in.
What were they after? Zalira asked.
I think me, I told them in a low voice. The man who attacked Io said he was looking for the Locrian.
Why? Ahyana asked, and I could only shake my head.
Maybe they hate me for making it to the temple?
Now Zalira was the one shaking her head. That doesn t make any sense. Who would risk blaspheming against the goddess just because you re serving here?
All questions, no answers.
Do you think someone in the temple helped them? I asked carefully, not sure what their reactions would be.
Suri s eyebrows rose as if this surprised her.
Of course not! Ahyana said. We are sworn to each other.
Yes, we all vowed to protect one another, but that didn t mean somebody couldn t have used a third party as proxy to technically circumvent that rule.
Daphne approached and handed me a cup. Drink this. Then she turned her attention to the other three. All of you need to return to your room. It s late.
We told each other good night. They left and I could feel the pain medication doing its job.
Despite my body not hurting quite as much, I was filled with an uneasy feeling. I realized how badly things could have gone. If I d been asleep, caught up in my nighttime fantasy world, those men would have come into our room and slaughtered us all.
I woke early the next morning, my body accustomed to rising at this hour.
It was the first night since I d arrived that I hadn t dreamed of Jason, and it bothered me. I wanted to tell him about what had happened last night.
To be in a place where there wouldn t be any pain.
Maybe he would have insight that I didn t. Which was ridiculous because I was the one doing the dreaming. Anything that he offered would be something I d already thought of.
The pain medication had long worn off but my head felt clearer and I was able to move. My shoulder still throbbed like I was being stabbed on a continual basis but I could sit up. The pain was bearable.
I got myself a drink of water, which was difficult to do with only one hand. When I had finished with the entire cup, Daphne came over to check on me. She felt the pulse in my left wrist and then looked into my eyes.
How are you feeling? she asked.
Slightly better.
Good. Now why aren t you sleeping? I would have thought that you d sleep for a few more hours.
I have to go clean the temple. I didn t imagine that my responsibilities were to be ignored just because I d been stabbed.
Not today you don t, she said. The goddess can do without you. And it s a good thing you re an early riser. Especially since I think you will be needed elsewhere this morning.
Where?
An evasive look passed over her features. There is a meeting that is going to take place in a few minutes in the gymnasium. All of the uninjured priestesses and acolytes will be gathered together to discuss last night s events. And I think you might want to attend.
That unsettled feeling returned, causing a pit in my stomach. Daphne didn t say anything else and left the infirmary. Io wasn t here, either. Several of the patients from last night were also gone.
It took me a bit longer than I would have liked to make my way over to the gymnasium. All of my limbs felt too stiff, unresponsive. I saw women entering the building and tried to quicken my steps, but I could only go so fast.
When I finally reached the gymnasium, I realized why Daphne had thought I should come.
I was being held responsible for the attack.