Chapter 14
During my life in Ikaria, when stress seized my soul and pounded against my skull, I’d walk along the waterways and pick flowers. Flowers that would die by the morning, but would brighten my tiny home for a single night.
Tonight, I relieved stress by washing a muddy dog. Whisper stood in the brook, brown murk washing from his coat and drifting down the stream. I shivered in the cold water, rubbing soap between my palms before running it down his fur.
Scrubbing the dirt from his snout, I smoothed back his wiry fur and beheld his handsome face. Tongue flailing from his mouth, he tried to lick the soap from his tall, pointed ears.
Leaping from the stream, Whisper shook himself dry, throwing water and suds everywhere. His tail whipped violently across the river stones, alerting me to someone’s approach.
A black shadow ducked between two trees and descended upon the hound. “Did she wash you, boy?” Seth cooed, rubbing the dog’s ears.
Smiling, I rinsed off my hands as Seth joined me at the riverbank. Blood soaked his arm and dripped down his forearm. Examining the wound, I met his gaze.
“Shouldn’t you wrap that?” I asked, gesturing.
“Hm?” Seth raised his arm. “It’s probably fine. Chthonics get used to bleeding.”
“It’s not fine,” I said, hiking up my wet skirt and reaching for my bag hanging from a branch. Pulling out a roll of gauze, I flicked my fingers at him. “Take your shirt off.”
“I thought Eleos was the resident healer.” Seth loosened his cloak and pulled off his tunic.
“He’s a scholar,” I corrected, unrolling my bandage. A jagged wound similar to the scar on my breast snaked down his bicep. Grabbing a handful of water, I washed the laceration off and set to binding it.
Seth stared quietly at the top of my head as I worked. “You entered the Empty,” he said.
“I did,” I confirmed, fingers trembling on his skin.
“Who are you, really?”
“Nobody,” I said earnestly.
The stern gaze in Seth’s eyes softened, but I couldn’t read him. He guarded his expressions as tightly as his mind, barring both psyche and con woman out.
Stepping away, I checked over my work. Good enough.
My eyes quickly drifted to his bare chest, tracing the myriad scars crossing his back and abdomen.
Tattoos painted his uninjured arm, black swirling patterns I didn’t recognize.
They rose from his elbow, caressed his shoulder, and covered his pec, as though vines reaching for his heart.
My gaze lingered on his defined chest and the way his arm muscles flexed as he shook out his shirt. Forcing myself to stop ogling, I pointed at the scar crossing his rib cage.
“Where’d you get those?” I asked.
Shoving his tunic over his head, Seth straightened out his black waves. “The scars? From a fight with a dragon.”
“Very funny.” I splashed water across my face and stood. “You lectured Eleos about keeping secrets, but I think you have more to hide than he does.”
“I have every intention of being truthful.” he slung his cloak around his shoulders, “Once I know I can trust you.”
His words sounded like hypocrisy to me. Shaking my head, I retrieved my cloak from where it hung from the trees and wrapped myself in it. “And how long does that take?”
“Depends,” Seth said, the corner of his mouth turning up, “Percy? He knew all about me in only a couple of days. But he was a trained warrior, so I imagine it’ll take much longer for you to best me in battle.”
I’d almost forgotten his offer to trade secrets over sparring matches. “Sounds like you never intend to tell me who you are,” I said, slipping through the trees. Whisper trotted at my side as we returned to camp.
Seraphim had suggested we stay away from the city. Instead of a warm inn, we nestled between two ranches in a rocky depression hidden from sight.
I felt a little better about my disheveled state: everyone now shared a few cuts and scars.
Seraphim’s hair had flown loose from its braid, Percy’s ridiculous outfit had been torn in several places, and Eleos’ collar had been ripped in half.
Gratefully warming my hands by the fire, I sank to my knees.
“Feel better?” Eleos asked, offering me a wooden bowl filled with some kind of stew.
I chuckled, taking the food. “Yes. He needed a bath.” I glared at Seth.
“He’s a hunting hound,” Seth said, dropping beside me. “Not a prince’s show dog.”
“Why can’t he be both?”
Seraphim paced around us. “Did the cold water jog your memory?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m certain I’ve never met him, and I don’t have family or old friends.”
Running a hand across her forehead, Seraphim stared into the fire. Concern bloomed in her eyes, and a slight tremble shook her fingers. But the moment passed, and her confident stride returned as she paced the camp.
Eleos stood, tying his cloak around his shoulders. “At least we know why he tried to kidnap you. He wanted to drag you out here and see if you could weather the Empty.”
“Which you could,” Percy added quietly, plucking at the strings of his lute.
Red light bounced off the fire as Seraphim pulled out the Bloodstone. She palmed it, sighing. “The Maiden’s Bloodstone shields us from the Empty. Everyone knows that. But few heard the rumors of a little girl who’d commanded the Empty before it was forgotten.”
I stared at her, the meaning behind her words slowly taking root in my mind. “What?” I said softly. Realization struck me like a hammer, and I flew to my feet. “You knew?”
Eleos flinched. “I wouldn’t go that far—”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I demanded.
“We thought it was a pointless hope,” Seraphim admitted, palming the stone. “Honestly, I thought they were baseless rumors, but Eleos was insistent on tracking you down.”
“Our best leads guided us to you,” Eleos said. “A woman with talents we needed. It worked out nicely.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “That’s why you were watching me! You paid Laverna. You asked her to send me on that mission.”
Seraphim raised an eyebrow. “I thought that was obvious.”
Throwing my arms wide, I repressed a manic laugh. “Why didn’t you just knock on my door and hire me? Why did you try to get me killed first?”
Eleos flinched again. “I wanted to knock, but Seraphim—”
“I thought Eleos was chasing delusions.” Seraphim folded her arms. “I wanted to test you, see if you were as good as Laverna claimed.”
I ran my hands down my face, trying to decide how I felt about everything. From what I understood of Seraphim thus far, testing me by throwing me into the fire was precisely her style.
“And the stone?” I gestured to the Bloodstone. “Does it do anything?”
“I certainly hope so.” Seraphim tossed and caught the precious relic. “Though I’m not keen to test its talents until absolutely necessary.” She stared at me gravely. “Nor am I keen to test yours. The Empty is not to be taken lightly.”
On that, we could agree. A sharp stab of pain radiated through my chest, and I sat, regretting the way I’d flailed my arms about.
“Seraphim,” I asked, “Who were you meeting in Serifos?”
“My brother’s contact,” she said. “He’ll send word of our arrival so my brother can prepare the border lords’ meeting.”
“Why were you late?”
“The Guild held him up.” She dipped her head. “I had to swoop in and rescue him. They must have wanted to delay me, keep me from you.”
Seth waved a hand over the fire, sending embers flying across the night. “Let’s focus on the present. Our masked nobleman followed your little rumor, too, but clearly doesn’t seek the same goal.”
“So what goal does he seek?” Seraphim muttered, pacing.
“We should avoid him at all costs,” Eleos said, staring into the fire. “He’s chthonic and psyche both.”
I’d guessed as much when he’d spoken into my mind, but I’d never known someone could inherit more than one god’s magic.
Neither had Percy. “Both?” He echoed.
“It’s rare, but it happens,” Eleos confirmed. “I tried to alter his emotions, get him to pull his men back. We clashed as he tried to dig into my thoughts, and I into his.”
Seraphim looked up sharply. “Did you learn anything?”
“No. He was the stronger of us.” Eleos’ brows drew together. “Though . . . I got the impression he knew me, even if the recognition wasn’t returned.”
Seth’s head snapped up. “Where are you from?”
“Therapne.”
“Then we can start our investigation there.” Rising, Seth grabbed his bag and approached Percy. “Are you alright?”
“Fine as any of us are,” Percy responded, shrugging. “I’m still . . . processing the revelation.”
His nonchalant shrug was a poor attempt at hiding his frayed nerves. I glanced over his tainted features, trying to decide if I owed him an apology or thanks.
Seth turned to Seraphim. “We should get moving.”
“We’re leaving?” I asked.
“Staying here invites another attack,” Seth said. “Leave now, and we might shake them.”
“I suppose he’s right.” Percy rose, rubbing his back. “Especially now that we know the Guild wants our heads. That being said.” He counted the horses. “We’re down to three. Traveling will be slow going.”
Seraphim chuckled, shouldering her satchel. “And here I thought muses were supposed to be creative.” She gestured to the rolling hills. “Where are we, Perse?”
His eyes narrowed, then widened. “Oh. We’re to play the part of thieves again, then?”
I choked on my stew. After breaking a dangerous assassin from a heavily guarded dungeon, horse thieving seemed trite by comparison.
Seraphim caught my gaze and smiled softly. “Aethra. Go with Seth. Find a good one. Eleos, with me. Percy . . . take a breather.” Turning on her heel, she marched off.
Eleos looked at me somberly. “Be careful. I’ll leave the fire burning. Maybe it’ll throw them off our scent.” Stepping around the flames, he followed Seraphim.
Running a hand across my aching chest, I limped to Seth’s side. “So,” I said, hoping to lighten the mood. “Are we stealing one for you or me? Because there are these beautiful blond horses with white manes . . .”
Seth glared at me, eyes the color of blood.
“Something wrong?” I asked, hesitating.