CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
I had always suspected that this was the kind of person she was-bloodthirsty, evil, preying on those weaker than herself-but now she had proven me right. I tightened my grip on my weapons.
You won t take me without a fight.
She gave me a malicious grin. Oh, I m absolutely counting on it.
Her sisters spread out, intending to attack from different sides at the same time. I wouldn t be able to use the surprise tactics Antiope had taught us. They knew them as well and would be expecting them.
I kept backing up but eventually I would hit an actual wall. Which was probably what they were trying to do. Forcing me to corner myself.
Crossing one foot over the other, I headed away from the stone fence and back toward the temple.
One of the women leapt forward, arcing her staff down at me. I shoved the butt of the broom handle into her gut, causing her to double over, and then immediately whirled to meet the next attacker with my sword.
While I was engaged, someone jabbed their staff into my still-healing left shoulder and I swore in pain and backed up, breaking off the standstill I d been stuck in.
So, so fragile, Artemisia said, watching while her sisters attacked me. Have you ever asked yourself why so many people want you dead?
She meant to distract me but I wouldn t allow her to do so. I kept all her sisters in my line of vision, and when one of them tried to get behind me to attack, I was there, ready to block her blow.
But I wasn t quite fast enough to stop the woman coming from the opposite direction and she hit me hard across my shoulder blades, knocking the air from my lungs.
I hit her staff away and tried to back up again so that I could stay at the fringe of their group, but they were no longer allowing me to do so. They made their circle tighter, moving in to finish me.
Another swing that I blocked but it meant that I missed the one aimed at my head. That blow drove me down, blurring my vision.
I lifted my eyes to see one of them being jerked to the ground and another being hit with something, knocking her sideways.
My sisters.
Suri was grappling with one of Artemisia s adelphia while Zalira punched another in the face. Ahyana swung her own staff high and then brought it down hard on an attacker trying to reach her.
I saw Io.
Io was here. She was safe.
She also had Antiope with her.
What is going on? Antiope demanded. She had obviously been pulled from her bed and didn t look pleased.
They attacked Lia while she was doing her chores, Io said. I saw the whole thing when we arrived a few minutes ago.
She s lying, Artemisia said.
I m the only one who has a reason to be out here, I said, reaching up to touch the blood trickling out of my nose. You ambushed me.
You told me to meet you out here and then you tried to attack me, she countered. I couldn t tell if Antiope believed her.
We are sisters, Antiope fumed. And it is against the rules of the temple to attack one another.
She is no sister of mine, Artemisia said and then spat on me.
That isn t your choice! Antiope roared. Return to your rooms immediately. I will consult with Nysa as to what your punishment will be. Pray that it isn t banishment.
The rest of Artemisia s adelphia picked up their staves and headed for their dormitory. When she got close to me, Artemisia leaned in and said, This isn t over.
Anywhere, anytime, I told her. I m not afraid of you.
Then you re an even greater fool than I thought.
She left and my sisters came over to help me stand. I was so tired of being beaten up. They took me to the infirmary.
How did you get inside the temple? I asked Io.
I don t know. They just let us pass. A soldier told me that they won t let anyone here leave and that they won t allow any supplies to come in, but that it was fine to let priestesses return, she said.
I wondered if there was more to her story that she wasn t sharing. Had it been her royal blood that had made it possible for them to get through?
Regardless, I was glad she was back. We had all worried about her. Ahyana convinced Io to go back to the dormitory and get cleaned up. Zalira stayed with me while Tryphosa looked me over and declared me fine. It looks like you have a bruise here.
My tunic had slipped slightly and the spot she was pointing at was where Jason had sucked my skin into his mouth. I felt my cheeks turning pink. I ve had that for a few days.
She nodded. Drink water, get rest. I find that tends to heal most things over time.
As I walked with Zalira to the dining hall, she said, What were you thinking? Didn t I tell you not to go anywhere alone?
I know. I m sorry. It honestly didn t occur to me that Artemisia might take this as her golden opportunity to kill me.
It did to me, she said. Not everyone here honors their vows the way that they should.
Including me.
I swallowed down my guilt.
Promise me that you ll always have someone with you, she said.
I promise.
Good. Now that Io s back, maybe she can help us come up with a means of sneaking you out. She might have a potion that makes you appear dead and we can get you out that way.
I wasn t sure I wanted to risk my life on a potion that would make me seem dead. Knowing Io, it might work a little too well.
Thank you for coming to my rescue today, I said.
That s what we re here for. You can always count on us. We can get through anything together. Don t forget that.
I won t.
I was so glad I had them. My sisters made me feel like nothing bad could ever happen to me so long as they were willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.
The fifth day of the siege destroyed that notion entirely.
Theano woke up, back to her old terrible self. Being prayed to at every meal, staring at all of us from behind her veil, watching our every move during training. She had Maia fetch me. We went into Theano s office and I was struck by my last vivid and horrible memories of being in this room.
Sit.
I did as the high priestess requested. Maia stayed in the doorway. Not sitting with me but not leaving me alone, either. I wondered if there was a reason for that.
When Antiope arrived a few seconds later, I got my answer. This wasn t just an interrogation. They were going to make a decision about me and my place in the temple.
I d been so worried that they d remove me when they found out my background, and now the time was up on that, as well.
I should have guessed that you were royal when you said you were Aianteioi. But Ajax had many illegitimate children, didn t he? Theano shifted slightly and then said, So, Princess Thalia, why should we keep you at the temple? We have a rule against allowing daughters of noble or royal households to join us.
I didn t have an answer for her.
Thankfully, Maia stepped in. That policy only applies to Ilionian daughters.
Theano s head snapped up. What?
I can recite it from memory, Maia said. And it clearly states Ilionian. Lia is not Ilionian. Therefore, she cannot be subject to that rule as she is Locrian.
Maia was the best mentor in the whole world. I wished that I could hug her.
It took a few moments for Theano to collect herself. Be that as it may, the princess has a marriage offer on the table from the Ilionian prince. We cannot afford to make him our enemy.
He hasn t declared war on us, Antiope offered. Only that we cannot leave the temple grounds. Which we generally try not to do anyways.
The level of logic being directed at the high priestess seemed to infuriate her, if her balled-up hands were any indication. But her voice was even when she answered. My messenger is not being permitted to approach. We are not receiving gifts and sacrificial offerings from the citizens of Troas, which means that we will not be able to send supplies to the women s shelters under our jurisdiction.
Theano said this like it was my fault. I was not the one who had directed an army to encamp outside.
What do you want me to do about it? I asked.
Make them leave.
It was very difficult not to scoff. Every day the captain says they won t unless I agree to go with him.
She leaned back in her chair. This stalemate will have to end. It cannot be tolerated. Today you will have to speak with this captain and convince him to vacate the street.
I don t know how to do that!
Another few beats passed by. Maia claims that you are a capable girl. I m sure you ll come up with something.
She waved her hand toward the door, indicating that I could go. How was I supposed to make Thrax and his soldiers leave?
Maybe Zalira had the right idea and the best thing to do was to find a way out of the temple so that they would have to decamp.
Are we still voting on whether Lia will be allowed to stay? Maia asked.
As you so clearly pointed out, Princess Thalia is not subject to that particular law. I see no reason to vote. You may all go, Theano said.
Antiope clasped my shoulder briefly before leaving. As I walked back to my dormitory with Maia, I said, What am I supposed to do? I don t know how to make them leave.
Especially since every plan I d come up with so far all centered around slitting Thrax s throat. I didn t think that would be very good from a negotiating standpoint.
I will talk to some of the priestesses and see if we can come up with something, she said apologetically. I have heard such terrible stories about the prince. I don t want you to end up in that palace. You won t be safe.
That just made everything a thousand times worse. As soon as I could find Io, I was going to force her to tell me what her older brother had done that would make even the tranquil Maia worried.
But as it turned out, I didn t need to ask Io.
Because the prince decided to grace us with his presence.