CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT #2
I scoff but he continues. ‘And I do truly believe you would make a wonderful queen. But kings rule because they are not so easily led by their hearts and their emotions. I had to act in the best interests of my people and your father made it quite clear that marrying you would not secure an alliance. But I’d given you my word.
Leaving you on that island was the only solution I could come to. ’
‘Olympus above, tell me you didn’t leave me there because you were too stupid to do anything else.’
‘I was wrong. My hubris is not so large that I can ignore the gods placing you once more in my path. Perhaps it is with you by my side that I will truly achieve glory –’
The time comes to switch partners but he holds on to my hand – though I’m in no hurry to turn away either, too busy sputtering: ‘You think the gods brought me here to help you?’
‘We worked well together. And there are still people in that labyrinth who need us. You can open it.’
The labyrinth … the labyrinth. An exchange of prisoners.
‘Daedalus,’ I say as realization dawns. The man whose inventions built my father an empire.
That’s what Theseus wants – a contingency so that if my father doesn’t agree to hand over Daedalus as part of Phaedra’s dowry, I might break him out regardless.
Theseus nods. ‘He’s ours, you know. Lived in Athens his whole life until he fled a murder charge.
Your father gave him refuge because a brain like that is an asset.
And, of course, because what’s one murderer to another?
Come now, you can’t want a man like that to stay within your father’s reach.
I’ve hurt you, I know. But can’t you see this is the greater good I thought I was working for.
It’s this – us. We were brilliant together,’ he breathes, disguising our closeness with the dance.
‘We could be again. I know you, Ariadne. You can’t be content to be the wife of a flippant, partying god.
You care about people. You should be married to a hero.
Help me save Daedalus and his son and help me save a dozen people afterwards – I could truly change the world with you by my side. ’
I swallow, trying to pretend like I can’t hear ringing laughter surrounding me, or the chatter of female voices or a world changed right at this very moment. As though I’m considering it, I say: ‘I’m already married.’
‘You made a clever bargain when I left you with none. But you swore yourself to me first. We were married in all the ways that counted. We could be again.’
The beat shudders, and finally we twist to new partners.
His words echo long after the last string is plucked.
When nearly everyone is lost in the throes of the music, I grab Dionysus’s hand and draw him into a quiet corner.
‘Theseus wants Daedalus. His inventions could make Athens the most powerful city in the world,’ I say. ‘So Theseus tried to seduce me into opening the labyrinth for him.’
A wicked smile unfurls on Dionysus’s face. ‘Ariadne, are you trying to make me jealous?’
‘Yes, is it working?’ I deadpan.
‘Oh, trust me –’ his eyes wander across me – the suns on my cheeks, crown on my head and my presumably flushed, somewhat bedraggled appearance after all that twirling on the dance floor – ‘all of this is working.’
‘If you’re not going to be threatened by his advances, can you at least defend my honour?’
‘Well, if you didn’t defend your honour yourself, I assume you’re trying to manipulate his newfound affection.’
I shrug, but it’s too forced. Truthfully, I’m a little fearful of how he might react to this suggestion.
And I’m not sure what it is I’m hoping for.
‘Theseus having a mistress might not prevent my father from agreeing to a marriage with Phaedra. But if he finds out there’s still something going on between the two of us –’
‘No,’ Dionysus says quickly.
‘But my father would never allow a further blow to his ego. It wouldn’t have to be public. If they caught us privately, he’d cover it up and banish Theseus from Crete. He’d expect you to discipline me so I doubt he’d come for me directly and … What?’
Dionysus is looking at me, astounded. ‘How can you possibly think about doing … anything with Theseus after what he did to you – after you were just told he was probably planning on killing you?’
I square my shoulders, swallowing my sudden doubt. ‘I’m practical.’
I am not, of course, practical. I could scarcely stomach dancing with him, his hands on my waist, his palm to mine.
Could I really kiss him again? Close my eyes and pretend it doesn’t make me feel like my skin is peeling away, like my insides aren’t lurching back even if I can’t?
Even if we did not take it very far, far enough to be caught beyond reproach is still …
Gods, I felt sick just having his hand against mine.
‘I’m practical,’ Dionysus says. ‘If you think this is the best move then I’ll disguise myself as you and I’ll kiss Theseus.’
I’m so startled I laugh at a pitch that definitely carries. A few heads turn and Dionysus chuckles, head angled towards me where only I might see.
‘That’s … that’s …’
Dionysus smirks. ‘I thought you weren’t the judgemental priestess sort.’
‘Oh please, it’s not that,’ I say. ‘I just don’t want you kissing Theseus. It’s strange.’
‘Stranger than my wife kissing the man who haunts her?’
‘Dionysus, this marriage is fake.’
‘And your feelings regarding Theseus are not.’
‘This is ridiculous.’
‘Well, one of us has to kiss him!’
I take a breath. ‘Maybe this isn’t the best idea. Let’s leave it in reserve.’
‘Impossible – is this my wife not going through with her latest reckless and impulsive plan? I’ll prepare anyway, just in case you change your mind. Magic should be more than enough for such a disguise but I’ll shave all the same.’ He squints. ‘I may have to borrow another of your chitons too.’
I wince, shutting my eyes like it might block him out. ‘I regret every moment of this conversation.’
I resume dancing, spinning from partner to partner and yes, we really do this sort of thing all the time and yes, women too and no, it’s not emasculating to dance and yes, we all need an escape – maybe the world would be a better place if we all centred joy a little more.
And then, in the corner of the room I see someone not dancing but edging towards where the amphorae of wine are stacked. The man from Cabarnis.
All at once I am choking on the smoke again.
I am behind him in an instant. ‘What are you doing?’
He turns, clutching the handle of a smaller jug, and his eyes light when they land on me. ‘Ah! The wife of Dionysus. I was so hoping we might speak.’
‘I’ve heard that a few too many times tonight. Did you follow us here?’
‘In a way,’ he says calmly. He raises the jug and I realize he hadn’t been tampering with the wine, just reaching around it. ‘Would you care for some mead? Try as I might, I just can’t warm to wine.’
‘That’s probably because you denounce its god.’
‘I did,’ he admits. ‘No longer. Though I’m not sure any amount of worship will have me choosing fermented grapes over honey.’ He raises his cup pointedly – his whole manner so nonchalant I might half believe his presence here pure coincidence.
‘Did you start that fire?’
‘No, I did not,’ he says, as though my question were mere curiosity rather than an accusation.
‘You seemed pretty intent on driving Dionysus out.’
For the first time, emotion flickers across his face, and he glances towards his cup before he speaks. ‘I am a devout man, Princess Ariadne. I truly thought he was a pretender making a mockery of Olympus –’
‘No, you didn’t,’ I snap, in no mood to add another manipulative man to my problems. ‘You can’t tell me you knew that I, with a grandfather amongst the gods, had some connection to them while claiming you didn’t recognize full divinity in Dionysus.’
The man hums. ‘You really are clever.’
I glance around for Dionysus – but he’s twirling his thyrsus for Glaucus, no doubt explaining how he might make his own. ‘What do you want?’ I push. ‘Why are you here?’
He shrugs. ‘Very well. Dionysus proved his power. I heard the tale of his rescue of you. New stars appeared in the sky. It was all rather impressive. So I’m here for what half the men in this room are now considering.
’ He gestures at a scant handful of attendees gathered in corners and talking amongst themselves.
‘A way for Dionysus’s power to benefit me. ’
‘What?’
‘Come now, at least I’m honest about it.
He needs temples. The priests of those temples will carry great weight.
I could set one up at Delos itself, an island so blessed that mortal births and deaths are banished from its shores.
So I’m here to find out more. I’m here to worship, little gods-touched girl.
Just so long as I can take a shred of that renown for myself. ’
My lip curls and I turn to walk away – I should have known. Dionysus must have faced this before – men claiming to follow him for their own agendas, wielding his name for their own power …
The man catches my arm. ‘Wait. Tell me of his symbols, his islands, his rites. Help me in this and I could ensure a shrine to his wife in that temple.’
I grit my teeth – but should I even be fighting this? A temple would indeed help his renown – even if I’m not exactly thrilled at the proposed head priest.
‘Pine cones,’ I say quickly – Dionysus and I can discuss the prospect later. ‘He loves pine cones. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to my sister.’
My mother is still dancing. But Phaedra never left her seat. Her head is bowed, her finger running along the edge of her barbitos, and she looks for all the world like she has no idea a party rages around her.
‘I think I owe you this,’ I say, offering up her aulos.