Chapter 14 Evadne
Evadne
It isn’t hard to spot the crew of giants. They’re surrounded by other creatures who live on Poseidon’s and Hephaestus’s water worlds.
Personally, I find the Telkhines the most unpleasant. They look like dogs, except that they have flippers for front legs and squelchy, finned fish tails at their back end. They’re supposed to be incredible metal workers, but I can’t see how when they’re shaped like that.
The giants’ ship is called the Orion, and there are five of them on the crew. I’ve known Captain Antaeus by sight since the ceremony earlier today, and I know that he’s one of three full giants. The other two are half giants.
The groaning table I’m approaching seats giants of all sizes, as well as two Cyclopes.
I decide to go for one of the males at the edge of the group, to draw less attention to myself.
Fixing a broad smile on my face, I sit down next to a striking-looking half giant who is examining a leg of meat closely.
“Hi,” I say.
The large male starts and drops the piece of meat. It thuds onto a shining metal plate.
He looks down at me, and I’m surprised by the handsomeness of his face.
He has electric-blue eyes and thick, dark hair pulled back into a knot at the nape of his neck.
Like those of the others around him, his face bears the marks of the life of a fighter.
An erratic orange scar runs from his full bottom lip all the way down to his chin, standing out against his pale skin.
Also like his fellow giants, he’s wearing green cargo trousers, but he’s the only one with his chest covered—a fitted black shirt, open at the top.
He frowns at me, and I decide that I can’t tell how old he is.
“Why are you over here?” he asks me bluntly, and reaches for a huge tankard. The mug is almost the size of my head.
“It’s boring over there,” I say, tilting my head toward the middle of the platform, where Hercules is sitting. “And that’s not a very polite way of saying hello.” I pout.
He takes a long drink and then puts the mug back down on the table hard enough to make me jump. I wait for him to respond, but he just picks up the bone with the meat on it again.
“I’m Evadne,” I try. “I’m the gunner on the Hybris.”
He stops midway through tearing the meat off the joint with his teeth and looks down at me again. “You’re on Hercules’s crew?”
“Yes.”
He snorts and throws the bone back onto a big platter in the center of the table. “Then you definitely shouldn’t be over here. Leave before Bergion or Albion see you.”
“Who are they?” I ask, as innocently as I can.
It’s hard not to feel intimidated when everyone around me is so much bigger than I am.
A roar of laughter comes from the center of the group, and a number of equally huge mugs are clanked down on the table.
I suppress a flinch. “And who are you?” I add, trying to smile convincingly.
“I’m Eryx, and Bergion and Albion are the twins over there.
” He leans back so that I can see, and points to the end of the table.
Two dark-skinned, shirtless giants are mid-arm wrestle.
They both look to be a similar height to Captain Antaeus, but one of them is much bulkier.
They both have shiny bald heads, and the more slender one has a long black-and-gray beard.
I can’t see their eyes, as they’re both squinting and straining as they try to push the other’s arm to the table, but I’m willing to bet they’re bright blue like those of the other sons of Poseidon.
I try not to swallow visibly. “It’s a party, and I can sit where I like,” I say, straightening my back.
Eryx raises his eyebrows and then laughs. “You won’t last long in the Trials,” he mutters. “Are you even old enough to take part?”
I only just stop myself narrowing my eyes in time. It’s a game, Evadne. This is exactly what you want him to think of you. Young, vacuous, and a little stupid.
“Of course I am.” I need to be certain he’s on the crew of the Orion before I drop the bait. The color of his eyes suggests he is, but I have to be sure. “What do you do on the ship?” I say.
“Gunner,” he grunts back.
Bingo. It’s time to turn on my best acting skills.
I sigh loudly. “This feast is so boring. I was hoping Captain Hercules was going to let us go to Theseus’s party on board the Virtus, but he says we have to prepare for tomorrow.” I make my voice whiny and petulant. “Are you going to the party?”
He snorts again and throws me a sideways scowl. “Do I look like someone who goes to parties on pleasure ships?”
I flutter my eyelashes and inch closer to him. His big hands clench into fists.
“Sure you do,” I say. “I could go with you.”
He turns on the bench so he can see me better. “Why are you talking to me?”
Shit. I’ve overdone it, and now he’s suspicious. “I just thought you looked bored too, and you might be up for a little adventure.” I smile up at him.
His hands relax a little as he laughs again. “A little adventure?” he says incredulously. “Do you have any idea what we’re starting tomorrow?”
“Exactly!” I say. “I don’t understand why we can’t have some fun tonight!” I scowl this time and fold my arms. “I mean, it’s not like Leo is far away, and we’ve prepped the ship every way we can. What else are we supposed to do tonight?”
He’s staring at me, and I look innocently back at him. My heart’s racing, but I make sure my face gives nothing away.
“What? I think I’d enjoy spending the evening with someone like you,” I say coyly, unfolding my arms and leaning toward him. “I’ve always wondered about the… proportions of giants.” I glance pointedly down at his lap.
He opens his mouth but says nothing. His cheeks have darkened. Shit, have I distracted him too much from what I just “let slip”?
He definitely noticed that I said Leo, I’m sure.
Eventually, he speaks. “Your captain is right. You should go back to your ship and prepare yourself for tomorrow. That’s what I’ll be doing. You should leave this table. Now.”
I let out another big, petulant sigh, relief secretly rolling through me. “Fine. I’ll know next time not to bother coming to giants for fun.”
I stand up and perform my best flounce up the long table and back toward the other guests.
“You’ve done well,” Hercules says as I rejoin him after mingling convincingly for a while. He raises his glass of wine. “Ten minutes after you left him, he went to talk to his captain, and now the whole crew are leaving.”
I pick up my own drink and take a gulp.
Now I just have to pray that the first task isn’t on Leo, or Hercules won’t be happy.
Dealing with Hercules’s temper is worth it for the most part. Since taking a place on the crew of the Hybris, I’ve lived in luxury. I want for nothing, and Hercules is the greatest lover I could ever hope for. He’s famous, and he has chosen me to be the only woman on his crew.
And, most importantly, I have a very real shot at immortality.
A shiver works its way through my body, and I try not to think about it, for fear of overexcitement. I need to be able to concentrate.
It’s most likely that the first event will be in one of the eleven other realms, and I won’t have to deal with his wrath at all, but if I do, I just need to remember why I’m here.
I have a chance at fame, fortune, and the incredibly rare prize of infinite life. What wouldn’t I do for that?