Chapter 22
Lyssa
I’m so full of impatient energy and barely contained frustration with Alexios that my skin aches by the time we see Cancer in the distance.
Hera’s realm is mostly flat, and its surface is covered in rich green forests broken up by sprawling turquoise lakes, and they look like hundreds of green and blue interlocked fingers to me.
As the Alastor speeds closer, I can make out settlements in clusters all along the banks of the lakes.
The buildings are all made from white stone, connected by pale paths and roads.
Epizon, Alexios, and I stand on the deck at the bow of the ship, watching the buildings get larger as we glide to a stop next to an empty raised pier at Port Galatas. Haulers run between the pier platforms and the ground.
I take a long breath and look around. We’re not the only large ship in the docks, but there’s no sign of the Hybris, Orion, or Virtus. Either we’ve beaten them all to Cancer, or our competition has docked elsewhere.
As soon as the ship is totally still, Epizon steps easily from the edge of the deck onto the pier and begins to walk toward the hauler at the end. Alexios starts to follow, and I reach out and grab his arm.
He gives me a smile, speaking quietly from the corner of his mouth. “They are most definitely watching now, darling.”
I can’t help my eyes narrowing, but force my face into an expression I hope at least doesn’t say “loathing.” “If we are to stay very close to each other, I think your captain should take the lead, don’t you, darling?”
His large shoulders are relaxed as he sweeps out his arm. “Of course. I shall follow you wherever you may go, my love.”
I incline my head, blood pounding in my ears. This man is a fucking fool. Who still can’t do his shirt up. It’s open to his waist, a new, fancy red coat over the top.
“You’ll be too hot in that coat,” I tell him.
“Your concern warms me already,” he says, shrugging easily out of the coat and passing it to a slightly worried-looking Lucas.
“Whatever it takes to keep you alive.” I grimace back, then vault over the railings and onto the pier. He follows after me.
“I doubt we’ve got much time before the others get here,” says Epizon when I step into the hauler with him. “If they’re not here already. So we need to move quickly.”
I nod.
“Even if we find the lion first, how are you going to kill it?” asks Alexios.
“That’s not your problem,” I answer, and his eyes flash a warning.
“Because I’m going to deal with it for you,” I force out sweetly.
“Epizon, you take the tavernas nearest the docks, as you have the advantage of looking imposing.” He’s wearing his favorite floor-length black leather coat, which in theory hides his weapons but in reality makes it look like he has an arsenal stored about himself.
“You really didn’t need the coat either,” I say.
Epizon looks skeptically at me and pulls open one side of the offending garment. “How else would I hide this?” he asks. He has his huge knife strapped to his right thigh.
“You’ve proven my point,” I answer. “You are the most intimidating. Let me know if you find anything out. Alexios, you stay with me.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, captain.”
Trying hard not to scowl, I step out of the hauler into the bright light. The huge bulk of the Alastor’s hull looms over us.
“Good day to you, travelers,” comes a cheery voice. We all turn to see an older man in a toga coming across the dusty ground toward us.
Hera is the goddess of family and marriage, and by far the most traditional of the gods.
In theory Cancer should be a world full of happy families.
But Hera is also the goddess of revenge.
I haven’t spent much time in Cancer’s pristine towns, but I know enough not to trust the smiling front the folk all put on.
“Good day,” I reply, walking to meet him. “You’re the dockmaster?”
“I certainly am,” he says.
“Great. How much do we owe?”
“Oh, but for you, my dear girl, it will be nothing. You are here to slay this evil creature!”
I shift uncomfortably. Just as we guessed, the people here know who we are and why we’re here.
“Have you heard of any of the other crews arriving on Cancer yet?” Alexios asks.
“No, no, and news travels fast here. You are the first, I am certain.” The dockmaster claps his wrinkled hands together excitedly. “Just wait until I tell my wife I met you all! You’re her favorite, you see. You’re everyone’s favorite here!”
“Why?” I ask, genuinely surprised.
“Dear girl! The very name of your ship epitomizes what we Cancerians stand for. You seek revenge on the man who destroyed your family.” He continues to grin cheerfully, and anger shoots through me.
These people know what I’ve been through and how dangerous Hercules is, and they see it as a game. Entertainment.
“We’ll be sure to do everything we can to help you, and we’ll make things as difficult for that father of yours as we can!”
That father of yours.
Rage surges, but when I open my mouth to tell this man exactly what I think, Alexios and Epizon step forward at the same time.
“You’re very kind, thank you,” says Epizon.
The dockmaster’s grin slips momentarily and is replaced by a look of alarm at being addressed by Epizon, and I get some satisfaction from imagining him greeting the giants when they get here.
“We appreciate your help,” adds Alexios. “Do you know where we can find this lion Hera speaks of?”
“Oh, yes, of course. The Nemean Lion. She lives in the forest just northwest of Port Nemea, south of the nymph settlement.”
“She? The lion is female?” asks Alexios.
“When she wants to be,” answers the man with a scowl.
“Right,” Epizon says. “Well, we won’t use up any more of your time. We’ll take the Alastor to Port Nemea right away. Thank you.”
“No, no, no!” the dockmaster exclaims. “The lion’s lair is not much farther from Port Galatas than it is from Port Nemea, and we can give you directions on foot from here.” He beams at us all in turn, though still slightly nervously at Epizon.
“That would be very helpful,” says Epizon. “We just need a minute to talk through our plan?” Though he words it as a polite question, it’s clear there’s only one answer.
“Of course, of course. I’ll just be over there.” The old man gestures at a small stone hut, where white roads begin to run up the gentle slope toward the town of Galatas.
I nod at him, and, with one last smile, he turns and leaves us.
When I’m sure he’s out of earshot, I turn to the others. “Well?” I ask.
“I like him,” says Epizon.
“You like everyone,” I retort. “He’s either telling the truth and he wants to help, or he’s in the pay of one of our competitors and it’s a trap.”
“I think it’s very likely that we are the first here. Isn’t the Alastor the fastest ship in the Trials?” Alexios says.
“She is.” The compliment to my ship makes my reply a little less sharp. “Len, did you learn anything last night about who the Cancerians are supporting in the Trials?” I say, picturing the satyr and projecting the question to him.
“Who do you think, cap?” comes the reply. “Blood feud and all that? Hera hates Hercules. They’re probably the most likely to back us out of all the realms.”
Athena told me she had secured assistance in getting me into the Trials – might Hera be her ally? After all, Hercules is the famous result of her husband’s infidelity.
“Thanks, Len.” I look at Epizon and Alexios. “Len says they are publicly backing us, and I think Hera might be too. I say we trust him.”