43. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Alena rode west from sunrise to sunset for five days straight, through farmlands and forests. The group trailed the Empire’s border, north of the jagged, snow-capped Eluvite Mountains, avoiding well-trodden paths and villages.
Alena’s thighs and shoulders ached from riding all day, and her fingers blistered from the rough rope of the reins. Her one consolation lay in her wounded hand, which had mended with astonishing speed.
Every day, thoughts of Katell occupied her mind.
Who exactly was the praefect Nik had mentioned, and what did he want with her sister?
Her sister would have never joined the Rasennan Legions of her own will. Their father had warned them many times of the Empire’s thirst for war and conquest. How the legions had destroyed entire cities and temples in their wake. Which begged the question, how had the praefect convinced Katell to follow him?
When she wasn’t thinking of Katell, her thoughts turned to Nik and Leukos. Had they grown up together in Megara? Was Nik also the son of a Silver Shield?
Tension had brewed between the two men throughout their journey. Leukos had barely said a word to Nik since they’d left Bruna, and it made for very awkward nights around the campfire.
Alena was grateful to have San and Kaixo with her. The boy was oblivious to Leukos’ bad mood and trailed after him whenever he left to hunt or fish. San was a blessing in disguise, keeping Alena company during the day and taking it upon herself to cook for the small group at night.
She sang chants in her own tongue while she cooked and murmured words of prayer before every meal, often coaxing Kaixo to join in. Also, her knowledge of herbs was vast and twice, she’d accompanied Alena in the forest at the break of dawn to pick plants, roots, and moss for healing and cooking.
Alena’s gaze was once more drawn to Leukos. The sight of a forested mountain range seemed to have a calming effect on him, melting the tension in his shoulders.
They continued to ride in a line, following narrow animal trails through the maze of silver firs, oak, and birch trees. Branches mingled overhead, casting the dense forest into an eerie dim light that put Alena on edge.
A Rasennan Legion with hundreds of men would be ill-equipped to withstand an attack. Which made their surroundings the perfect hiding place for rebels.
After another half a day’s ride, the trees thinned, unveiling a gleaming lake—the biggest stretch of water Alena had ever seen—and a campsite along its shores. Animal skin tents, secured with stakes and ropes, dotted the grassy length of the lake. Crudely built shelters, covered in dried mud paste, shielded horses and livestock. Dozens of people milled about, fishing, weaving, or chopping wood.
When they caught sight of Alena’s group, they stopped and stared, wide-eyed. Heads bowed before Leukos while others greeted him with a smile, which the Megarian returned.
A dark-skinned warrior not much older than Leukos and with gentle eyes welcomed them, accompanied by two other armed men. They all wore dark blue tunics beneath breastplates covered in tiny steel squares, like fish scales. Deep blue and white geometric patterns detailed their shoulder straps, sides, and lapels.
Achaeans.
Alena itched to observe their armour up close, but Leukos had already pulled the dark-skinned man into a hug, an uncharacteristic smile breaking across his face. “Theo, it’s good to see you.”
The warrior, Theo, clapped his shoulder. “The Twelve bless you, Leukos. Welcome back!”
When he pulled back, he did a double take at the sight of Nik. “By the Sea God’s beard! Nikander, is that really you?”
Nik slid off his saddle, his movement stiff and cautious as he surveyed their surroundings. “Theo. It’s been a while.”
Leukos addressed the armed men gathered beside Theo. “Tie him up and take him to Pelagios.”
At once, the warriors closed in on Nik and secured his arms. Nik offered no resistance, wearing a resigned look as he was led away.
“Wait!” Alena jumped off her saddle, but her legs buckled beneath her. Before her knees hit the mud, two strong hands caught her.
“Careful.” Leukos held her up until she felt steady again.
Heat flared up her neck, and he released her to untie her saddle bags.
“San, Kaixo, grab your bags and follow me.” Leukos hoisted her bags over his shoulder and swept past her, heading further into the camp towards the outer tents.
“Leukos…” Alena trailed behind him, struggling to keep up with his pace. “Wait, Leukos, what’s happening? Where are they taking Nik?”
He ducked inside a tent and deposited the supplies on the ground with a resolute expression. “Stay here and wait for my return.”
“Leukos!”
“Stay in the tent, Alena.” He disappeared without a word.
Alena cursed under her breath but did as she was told. A moment later, San and Kaixo entered, and she helped them get settled. Their new dwelling was wide enough to fit four straw beds comfortably. Unlike Camp Bessi’s tents, these were rectangular and lacked an opening at the top for a fire.
“You should rest, San.” Alena gestured to one of the beds covered with furs. “Both of you. Your legs must be sore from riding all day. Get some sleep.”
San raised her eyebrows, no doubt troubled at the idea of resting in the middle of the day, but finally lay down after Alena insisted. Kaixo jumped onto the bed, running his fingers through the soft furs, then snuggled beside his mother.
Alena found a basin with fresh water and washed her face, waiting for Leukos. When her patience ran out, and there was still no sign of him, she checked on the sleeping Non-Humans and then headed out.
The sun was still high in the sky as she walked through the camp. No one paid her any attention. She passed a woman striking flint into a firepit by the lake while a couple of men brought freshly caught fish. All of them wore tunics in various colours, lengths, and sizes, each stitched with geometric patterns similar to Theo’s.
A line of men strode past, leading unsaddled horses. One of the men spotted Alena and winked.
She dropped her gaze and pressed on towards the largest tent. The flaps were rolled back, giving her a view of a long table, chairs, and a few scattered belongings inside, but otherwise, it was empty.
A deep voice bellowed across the camp, making her whirl. More shouts erupted, and she followed the voices to a smaller tent set further apart from the others. One of the men who’d taken Nik stood at the entrance, sword on his hip.
She slipped around the back of the tent and listened in.
“What if he betrays us? Are you ready to gamble our lives for one man’s sake?”
“I’m not an idiot,” Nik’s voice filtered through.
“Shut your mouth, you—”
“Peace, Xanthos!”
“It’s too dangerous to keep him with us. Not after everything. Not when we’re so close.”
“We should kill him now and be done with it.”
A multitude of shouts erupted from within, and her heart seized. They were arguing over Nik’s life and planned to kill him.
She grabbed a rock and flung it in the bushes towards the tree line. The guard left, investigating the sound, and slipping past his notice, she stormed inside the tent.
In the next beat, a flurry of blades was pointed at her neck, and she halted, heart in her throat.
Leukos huffed out a breath. “Alena, I told you to wait.”
She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim candlelight. Bags of grain and stacks of amphorae filled the tight space. At its centre, tied up against a wooden pole, was Nik. The sight of him triggered memories of her own imprisonment in Camp Bessi, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
She stared at Leukos. “No one is killing him.”
His onyx gaze sparked, and she paused, observing the three armed warriors encircling her. A chill crept through her chest, prompting her to second-guess her impulsive entrance into the tent.
Her pulse quickened. She didn’t know these men nor how they would react to a woman intervening in their affairs.
After an unbearably long silence, Leukos gave a short nod, and all three men lowered their blades.
“Xanthos, I thought you said a guard was standing watch.” Leukos glanced at an older, gangly man with deep lines furrowed in his brow, a rigid posture, and a neat, pointed beard.
The man gave Alena a scornful look. “I did.”
Beside him, a hulking warrior with an imposing frame clad in leather and steel armour gave a loud snort and sheathed his blade.
Finally, the one named Theo turned to Leukos. “This is the lady you mentioned?”
Leukos nodded, his stoic expression revealing nothing, as usual.
“Welcome to our camp.” Theo was as tall as Leukos, and when his face broke into a warm smile, it soothed Alena’s nerves. “I’m Theodoros, son of Heleus, but everyone calls me Theo.” He gestured to the brawny, bearded warrior. “This is Pelagios, Silver Shield to King Pandion.” Then to the man with the pointed beard, who glared back at her. “And this is Xanthos, councillor to our late king.”
She stared between them, a little overwhelmed to be standing in the same tent as a Silver Shield and councillor to the infamous Megarian King.
“Alena,” she answered. “Pleased to meet you.”
Xanthos raised an eyebrow, no doubt from her lack of decorum, as the other two shared a glance.
“Alena?” Theo repeated. “That’s an Achaean name.”
“An Achaean lady?” A flicker of surprise crossed Xanthos’ otherwise hostile expression. “If that’s the case, then where’s your husband?”
His question took her aback. “Oh… I’m—I’m not married.”
Pelagios, the bearded warrior, stepped closer. “Who is your patron?”
It took her a moment to understand that he was asking which of the Achaean Twelve she served.
“None,” Leukos answered for her. “She’s from the Freefolk Lands.”
His answer had an even greater effect on all three men.
“The Twelve spare us! He’s been travelling with a savage this whole time.” Xanthos’ gaze trailed down her grimy travel clothes.
She bristled at his comment. “Not praying to the gods doesn’t make me a savage.”
Despite being restrained, Nik let out a derisive snort, and Pelagios burst into laughter. “By the Sea God’s beard, Leukos! I can see why you kept her around. I don’t recall Xanthos ever being lectured by a woman before.”
A wry grin crept onto Leukos’ face.
The older councillor flushed a deep scarlet hue, and his voice grew biting. “How dare she speak to me in such a—”
Theo stepped between them. “Peace, my friend.”
Xanthos glowered but fell silent under the force of Leukos’ stare.
“She’s my guest, Xanthos, and will be treated with respect. Call her a ‘savage’ again and we will have a problem.”
Leukos’ words had an immediate effect. The older man backed off, inclining his head as an apology. It suddenly dawned on Alena that Leukos, despite his age, was the leader of the group. They all deferred to him.
She decided to inquire about it at a later time.
Pelagios chuckled, slapping Leukos on the back. “I’m beginning to understand how she fought off the Blood Wolf and set the slaves in Bruna’s arena free.”
From his seated position, Nik’s head shot up. “You fought the Blood Wolf?”
All eyes fixed on her, and she bit her lip. How much had Leukos told them? “I tricked him—I mean, we both did—and we were lucky it worked. He was going to kill Leukos, so I did what I could to stop him.”
Leukos met her gaze, his features softening just a touch. Memories of his bloodied body tied up to the tree made her chest tighten.
“You have a very brave heart,” Theo finally said.
His compliment made her blush, and she cleared her throat in an attempt to regain composure. “What about Nikander?”
“Despite your affections for the scoundrel,” Xanthos quipped, “he’s none of your concern. It would seem he’s been leveraging his appealing looks to trick women into doing his bidding.”
Her face flushed all the way to the roots of her hair. “My affections for him? You are mistaken, sir. This man is my slave and property. You can’t kill him without my consent.”
Nik arched an eyebrow, and she shot him an apologetic glance. It was the best argument she could think of.
Theo raked a hand through his short black curls, scratching the back of his head. “Rasennan laws bear no power here. Slavery is not recognised in Megara, so you have no power over him.”
Alena’s heart stilled.
That wouldn’t do. By the Moon, she couldn’t stand by and let them execute Nik.
“Slavery may be outlawed in Megara, but Gifted warriors had different rules in the past.” She measured her words, unsure of the accuracy of her father’s scrolls. “They belonged to a kingdom and served for life. I understand it was an honour to join the ranks of a king’s army, especially the Silver Shields, but they were still slaves and could be traded for the right price. Kallinos, the Achaean hero, was sent to the Rebel Queen—as a gift.”
A deadly silence fell over the tent.
Nik gave a low whistle, followed by a chuckle. Theo’s head whipped to Leukos, who frowned. With one glance at Pelagios, the bearded warrior seized Alena’s shoulder, his other hand poised on the pommel of his sword.
Blood drained from her face.
“By the Sea, Alena.” Leukos stepped closer, his voice a dark threat. “How does an outsider know so much about our laws? Who told you this? Your father?”
“Yes.” Her throat turned dry, and she struggled to control her rising panic. “His parchments spoke of Megara’s history and laws. He also told me stories of the Silver Shields.”
“Who was your father?” Theo asked.
“His name was Damocles. I know little more. The Freefolk are forbidden to talk about their past. All I knew was that he was Achaean and a healer.”
“Damocles?” Pelagios paused. His grip on her shoulder loosened. “I remember hearing that name.”
“He served as a healer at the palace.” Nik’s deep voice chimed in from behind with a trace of incredulity, as though a sudden realisation had dawned upon him. “Your sister mentioned his name to me back in the arena… I should have known…” he mumbled, lifting his gaze to Alena. “Your father took care of my mother after she gave birth to me. He helped her until he left for war. I was too young to remember him, but my father often mentioned Damocles while drinking.”
“Of course!” Pelagios loomed over her, his rugged face lighting up. “A tall fellow with a mat of blond hair and a scar—”
“—running along his jawline,” she finished in a whisper.
The warrior released her, his grin half-hidden behind his thick beard. “He wasn’t just a healer; he was one of the healers to the Silver Shields and the king. I remember him tending to me on the battlefield during the war.”
Alena’s mind reeled. Her father had taken part in the war—of course! It explained why he knew so much about Rasenna and the Rebel Queen.
“Pelagios, that’s quite enough reminiscing.” Xanthos motioned to Nik on the ground. Strands of his golden-brown hair hung over his forehead, casting his face in shadow. “We still need to decide the traitor’s fate.”
Leukos unsheathed a sharp dagger, and Alena tensed at the sight.
“Let Alena keep her slave.” In one swift movement, Leukos slashed the ropes binding Nik’s hands. “Besides, since she used my money to pay for him, he belongs to me. We might not trust him, but he’s Gifted and can be of use yet.”
Nik rubbed his bruised wrists and got to his feet with caution. His gaze shifted to Leukos.
“Get out of my sight before I regret it,” Leukos snarled, sheathing his dagger.
Nik’s jaw worked for a moment before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the tent.
Alena opened her mouth to speak, but the forbidding expression on Leukos’ face silenced her.
“Our scouts are tracking the Rasennan Legion camps as we speak,” he said in a flat voice. “If Nikander’s information about your sister is true, we’ll let you know.”
It was a clear dismissal, but she wasn’t done yet. “Why did the Rasennans take her? Nik mentioned a certain Praefect Dalmatius came to the arena for her. Why? What does he want with my sister?”
“Praefect Dalmatius, also known as the Undefeated, trains the Black Helmets.” Pelagios’ expression softened behind his dark beard. “They’re a cohort of Gifted warriors that Dalmatius leads. The other legions have Gifted soldiers too, but none are as infamous as the Black Helmets. We’ve heard that the strongest of them are sent to Kisra and join the Tarquinian Guard who serve the Emperor.”
Alena absorbed the information as if reading a scroll, her mind picking apart each detail and locking it away in her memories for safekeeping. “So, this Dalmatius, you believe he wants to train my sister?”
Pelagios shrugged, and Theo added, “He obviously saw something in her worth his time.”
“But my sister would never agree to fight for the Empire. Our father made sure of that.”
Theo hesitated, exchanging a look with Pelagios.
“He might have twisted her mind,” Leukos cut in. Something raw bled through his obsidian eyes before he glanced away. “Dalmatius will feed her lies and half-truths and twist her perception of reality until fighting for the Emperor will become her sole reason to live.”
Alena’s heart lodged in her throat. The thought of Katell falling prey to the Empire sickened her.
“We’ve seen it done before,” Theo confirmed in a quiet voice. “We’ve lost more than one Silver Shield and other Gifted Achaeans over the years. Not to mention, the Emperor has many Gifted at his side who excel at controlling the mind.”
“Then I’ll stop them.” A newfound resolve infused Alena’s voice. A dormant strength had awakened within her since the arena, and for the first time in a very long time, the path ahead was clear to her. “I won’t let this praefect, the Emperor, or anyone have my sister. I won’t let them control her.” She lifted her chin and met Leukos’ gaze head-on. “I want to join your rebellion. Whatever it is, I want to help.”
He studied her for a while. Theo and Pelagios grinned in approval, but beside them, Xanthos scowled.
“I’m afraid it isn’t that simple.” Deep creases formed between the councillor’s eyebrows. “We cannot allow an outsider to know of our plans against the Empire, much less a woman.”
He raised his hand as if to grab her arm, but Leukos seized the councillor’s wrist.
“Don’t.” Although Leukos appeared his usual calm self, his tone held a clear threat. “I owe Alena my life. If she wishes to join us, then she will. And if you have a problem with outsiders and women, Xanthos, perhaps you should speak with Elishat first.”
He released him, and Xanthos paled.
Pelagios laughed and slapped the councillor hard on the back, almost knocking him over. “It’s good to have you back, Leukos.”
Theo pulled the flap open, flooding the tight space with sunlight. “Get some food and rest. I’ll show Alena around camp.”
They walked through the clusters of tents, Theo greeting various men and women along the way and pointing out to Alena where to find food and water.
During a lull in the conversation, she said, “When Leukos told me he was a rebel, he never mentioned being the leader.”
She hoped to glean some information from Theo, but his response was a nonchalant shrug, and the faintest hint of a smile danced on his lips.
“I know he’s the son of a Silver Shield, but there must be another reason,” she pressed, not ready to give up.
“His magic is powerful.” He trained his gaze ahead, kneading the thick muscles in his shoulder.
Begrudgingly, Alena dropped the subject and picked an easier one. “Who’s Elishat?”
At the mention of the name, Theo’s face lit up. He’d exuded friendliness since she’d arrived, and it was a relief to find out that not all Megarians were broody like their leader.
“Elishat’s our tracker,” Theo said. “She comes from a family of Parthian traders who lived close to the Empire’s border. She was caught helping slaves escape Ephesos and sentenced to work in the copper mines. We rescued her three years ago, and she’s been with us ever since, scouting the legions’ movements.” The hard glint in his eye told her there was more to the story, but she refrained from asking. “You’ll meet her soon.”
From what Alena had heard, she liked her already. “Is everyone here Gifted, then?”
“No, not every rebel is Gifted, but we’re all trained for combat.” He pointed at the pile of weapons stacked on a wooden bench.
“Are you Gifted?” Her gaze drifted over his dark skin, searching for the hint of a Mark. Remembering Leukos’ warning that questions about Gifts were considered rude, she stopped herself. “I’m sorry, you don’t need to answer.”
“It’s all right.” He examined her in return, his lips still quirked in a smile. “I suppose this must all seem very strange to you if you grew up among the Freefolk. I’m Gifted, but not by the Sea God. My father was a Silver Shield to King Pandion, but he wasn’t Megarian by birth. My family honoured the Grey-Eyed Maiden.”
Alena’s ears perked. The Maiden had always been her favourite among the Achaean Twelve. The goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, she had Gifted many an Achaean hero and helped them defeat their enemies.
“My father always said that if any of the Achaean Twelve could defeat the Empire, it was her.”
When spoken aloud, her words sounded foolish. The Emperor had conquered Achaea and destroyed all the temples years ago. If the Maiden was so strong, she would have stopped him already.
Theo didn’t seem to mind and kept on walking towards the lake. They stood side by side, staring at its clear waters while gentle waves lapped the mud-brown shore.
“Are the Twelve gone, then?” Alena dared to ask.
“None of them are truly gone. They’re simply no longer walking among us. Or perhaps they are. The gods are hard for us mortals to recognise.”
She blinked at him. “You believe they’re still alive? Despite their temples being burned?”
“The priests always said it was our faith that nurtured the gods and gave them their magic, not the temples or our offerings. As long as the Achaeans are alive and keep the Twelve in their hearts, the gods will be on our side.”
“But will they help in the fight against the Emperor?”
That was the true question.
Theo lifted his gaze to the brilliant sky as if the answers were written among the clouds. “Who knows? The gods may appear on the battlefield once more, alongside their chosen hero. They act because they love us and want to see us vanquish our enemies, not because of politics.”
“But Leukos leads the rebellion, and I’ve never seen him pray or make any offerings.”
During their travels, he’d been reticent to discuss the gods. The topic appeared to rile him up, causing anger to creep into his tone.
“He has his reasons.”
Theo’s measured response piqued Alena’s curiosity. “Because his Gift doesn’t hail from the Sea God?” She recalled what the Blood Wolf had told her when he’d seen Leukos’ Mark. “I suppose that made things difficult for him as the son of a Silver Shield.”
Canting his head, Theo regarded her with newfound awareness. “I’m beginning to understand what our leader sees in you.”
Her face grew hot, and he gave a low chuckle before leading her towards the stables.