66. CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
Alena scooped cold water from the babbling brook on the edge of the camp and drank.
A sharp wind rippled over the lake, carrying the promise of rain. It rattled the tents and prickled her skin.
Summer had come to an end.
At the centre of the camp, Theo and Nik, along with two broad-shouldered men were taking down one of the larger tents. Pelagios shouted orders while others collected the skins and furs, rolling them up for transport.
Most of the rebels were leaving the next morning except for Elishat and a handful of scouts who had planned to stay behind.
Having secured two horses from Theo, Alena was also ready to depart. The wolves had found the fox roaming by a small campfire a half-day away. She intended to investigate by herself first, then return for San and Kaixo and see the Megarians off.
Amid all the commotion at the rebel camp, an immaculate white cloak caught Alena’s eye. Leukos sat on his haunches in front of Kaixo, speaking to him in low tones. The boy looked on the verge of tears as Leukos handed him a small knife and helped attach it to his belt.
Kaixo hadn’t taken the news of their departure well. He’d argued with San early in the morning and stomped out of the tent. San had told her to let him be, and with a heavy heart, Alena had set off to collect supplies.
Rising to his feet, Leukos scoured the camp, and his gaze settled on Alena.
Her pulse quickened, and she turned away, heading for the forest. She couldn’t bear the thought of arguing with him again… or saying goodbye.
“Alena!”
She slipped between the pine trees, but her pace was no match for him.
“Alena,” Leukos called out, “stop this madness and come with us to Achaea. It’s the safest way.”
She halted and took a deep breath. When she faced him, a rock dropped in her stomach. From the fire in his eyes, it was clear he wouldn’t let her go without a fight.
She shook her head, keeping her distance. If he came any closer, he would burn through her resolve. “I know it’s hard for you to understand. But I have to go. That fox I told you saved us from the Blood Wolf, the first time around? It wasn’t just a fox. It’s a messenger, Leukos, and it was sent for me. Elishat told me so.” His eyes widened slightly at the reveal. “The wolves found it wandering around a campfire. I’m going to scout the area, then come back to see everyone off tonight.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And then what? Follow this fox on some quest through the wilderness?”
“Yes.” She fought to keep her voice steady despite his mounting ire. “If I am truly the Omega, then I need answers. I’ve made up my mind.”
“Then unmake it.” He strode closer, looming over her, and the fragrance of scented oil on his skin enveloped her senses. “You pledged yourself to the rebellion. You must come with us.”
“I’m doing what’s best for the rebellion,” she said through gritted teeth. “You heard what Xanthos and the others said. If I go with you to Tiryns, I won’t be helping your cause.”
Leukos stiffened, then reached out to take her hand. His skin was warm to the touch, and his voice softened. “I don’t care what the others say. I’m not leaving you behind.”
His stoic expression cracked, revealing a tender vulnerability that sent a tremor of emotion through her.
“Why are you making this so difficult?” She swallowed, pushing her feelings aside. The rebellion came first. Their promise to Brennus, Alcaros, and the tribes came first. He was being selfish, and they both knew it. “We need allies, and you’re going to marry a queen. Why can’t you just accept it?”
He tightened his grip, his eyes blazing. “Because she isn’t who I want.”
Her heart soared at his words. She’d longed to hear him voice his true feelings ever since their kiss at the hillfort. But now, she almost regretted that he had.
“It’s too late.” She took back her hand and curled it against her chest as if to catch her breaking heart. “However we may feel, it doesn’t matter anymore. Your parents made a vow, Leukos. You’re betrothed. Even the Freefolk know that such promises can’t be broken.”
Emotions warred on his face before frustration won. “No, there has to be a way. Oaths be damned! The Emperor breaks them all the time, and yet the gods don’t punish him.”
The urgency in his voice spurred her, and she pressed her free palm to his cheek. “Perhaps, but you’re not him. You’re an honourable prince of Megara, one of the heirs to the throne, and you’ll keep your parents’ oath. We need allies if we ever hope to defeat the Empire.”
“You don’t understand, I can’t…” He faltered and looked away, clenching his jaw. “Once we depart, I might never see you again, and I can’t bear it. Not quarrelling with you every day, or listening to your rambling about the heroes of Old, or seeing your smile…” His throat rose and fell, his dark gaze returning to meet hers again. “I promised to fight for you until the end, remember? I can’t let you go.”
Her heart cracked a little at his words.
“You must.” A lump formed in her throat. “I can’t go with you, Leukos. I have to find out the truth about my Gift and what being the Omega means.”
His gaze shifted to the forest, and he tensed. Sitting among the line of trees was the fox, its gaze shimmering like two golden jewels.
Stars be damned, it had the worst timing.
A strained breath escaped Leukos’ lips, and he dropped his gaze as if yielding to the reality they couldn’t escape. “I apologise. It wasn’t my intention to make the choice harder for you. I never wish to hurt you, Alena.” His emotions disappeared once more behind his controlled mask. “We’ll be leaving just after dawn.”
She offered him a small smile while her insides felt torn to shreds. It was better this way. “I’ll be there to see you off. I promise you.”
Threading his fingers through hers, he brought her knuckles to his lips. Then he took a step back and released her, taking her heart with him.
Her gaze lingered on him, etching into her memory the image of his raven-black hair gleaming in the slanting sunlight, the tautness in his shoulders, and the blue and gold motif embroidered into his cloak.
Going their separate ways was best. Memories of their time together would fade, and the distance between them would soothe the gaping hole in her chest.
She’d allow herself one last goodbye in the morning, and then she’d force herself to let him go.
If they ever met again, they’d never be alone or speak so freely again with one another.
Next time, he’d be King of Tiryns and husband to Queen Charis.
He’d no longer be hers.
A surge of panic engulfed her, and she lurched forward. “Wait!”
Leukos halted, and she ran to him. His dark gaze was steady as he pulled her close and crushed his lips to hers. She melted into his hold, his armour pressing into her skin. She kissed him with a nervous urgency, and he deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of her mouth.
She raised onto her toes, every nerve set on fire. His hand released its grip on her waist and made its way into her hair, clutching a handful and drawing a whimper from her. The raw longing behind his kiss made her glow with warmth from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, and in return, she let him steal all the words from her lips that could never be said.
He kissed her once more, then broke away, his warm breath caressing her cheeks.
Alena clung to him, trying to memorise every detail of his face: the tousled hair falling across his brow, his high cheekbones, and the strong line of his jaw. Her heart beat wildly, screaming at her not to let him go, and it took all her strength not to cave in.
In her periphery, the fox still waited under the canopy.
Tears gathered at the corners of Alena’s eyes. They needed more time…
Leukos enveloped her in his arms, his lips to her ear. “After the massacre, I lost a part of myself. I became numb to the world, with no desires or cares left. I believed Achaea was doomed so I put all my focus into rescuing my brother. However, after meeting you…” He paused, his breath trembling. “You breathed life back into me, Alena.”
She closed her eyes and rested her hands on his chest, feeling his heart hammering beneath her palms. His lips brushed her temple.
“No matter what happens next in Tiryns, with Charis, or the war,” he whispered, “remember that I wouldn’t trade the time we shared for all the Gifts in the world.”
The full weight of his words seared into her soul, and tears coursed down her cheeks. Yet when he withdrew, she forced a smile on her lips, not wanting his final memories of her to be tainted with her weeping.
Leukos’ knuckles brushed along her cheekbone. “Go. We’ll meet again in the morning.”
Holding her gaze a moment longer, he pressed his lips to her cheek, then turned away.
This time, Alena let him go.
The fox slinked through the rocky terrain in the direction of the campfire. Alena followed a few paces behind, shoving all thoughts of Leukos from her mind.
It wasn’t goodbye, since he was still at camp. When he departed for Achaea in the morning, Nik, Theo and the others would be by his side, and she intended to be there to send them off.
She’d promised.
Alena drew in a ragged breath, glancing at the dying sun. How much further was the campfire? Once night fell, she’d have no choice but to return to the rebel camp.
Not that the fox seemed to care. Its red fur bounded down a grassy slope and disappeared among the pine trees.
“Wait!”
She hurried after it, her sandals slipping over uneven ground. Her two wolves, who’d tagged along when she’d left camp, sprinted forward, two dark shadows zigzagging through the grass on their way to the forest. Grumbling under her breath, Alena walked on until wisps of smoke rising from the treetops caught her eye—a campfire.
She hurried towards the forest’s edge, where the grey wolf was waiting for her. The black one had rushed ahead to scout the area. Above, the sky was ablaze with bright pink and orange hues.
She didn’t have much time.
Beneath the dark canopy of the trees, the fox’s fiery fur glided through the murky foliage like a flame.
When the faint glow of a campfire flickered ahead, Alena eased her pace, the grey wolf flanking her. A few feet away from the flames was a chestnut horse tied to a low branch. It whickered at her approach. Saddlebags and a pile of furs lay by a tree trunk.
The fox had curled up beside the fire, waiting.
“Welcome, Alena.”
She jumped in fright. For a moment, it seemed the fox had been the one to speak until Alena caught the scent of another human with her Gifted senses.
From behind the horse, a cloaked woman emerged, garbed in riding leathers, much like Elishat. The pelt of a spotted beast Alena didn’t recognise was draped over her shoulders.
“Who are you?” Alena reached for the grey wolf in comfort. It pressed against her leg, unperturbed by the stranger. “How do you know my name?”
“I’ve been searching for you for some time.”
The woman’s long, dark hair was held back with leather ties, and a dirty bandage wrapped her head, covering her left eye. The other eye, a pale silver, was most remarkable. It glittered with a soft, ethereal light that reminded her of the Huntress.
“You’re an Amazon,” Alena said, unable to look away.
With a cryptic smile, the woman moved past Alena, unfurling a blanket of furs beside the small campfire. She then gestured for Alena to join her.
Taking her chances, Alena sat, and the Amazon muttered a prayer under her breath before breaking a loaf of bread and handing her half with some dry cheese.
“My name is Phoebe. Have you met our kind before?” Up close, the woman was much older than Alena, perhaps old enough to be her mother.
“No, never.” She accepted the piece of bread and nibbled on some cheese to honour her host. “Why are you searching for me? And why send the fox?”
Phoebe’s lone silver eye trailed over her face, unnerving her.
“I didn’t send the fox. I merely followed it until it found you.” She untied a waterskin from her belt and took a few hearty gulps. “I knew you wouldn’t come until you met your sister again, so I bid my time.”
She tossed the waterskin to Alena, who fumbled to catch it.
“One of the Achaean Twelve sent me.”
Alena frowned. “Most of the Twelve are dead.”
“Wrong. That’s what the Emperor wants us to believe.”
“If you mean the Huntress, then we’ve already met.”
“So it seems.” Phoebe glanced sidelong at the wolves. “When I heard about the Blood Wolf’s downfall, it led me to believe that despite appearances, there might still be some hope for you yet.”
Alena narrowed her eyes at the veiled insult. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to guide you to your destiny, Alena, daughter of Andrasta.” A wry smile graced her lips. “And seeing you up close for the first time, I realise just how much you’ll need my help.”
Alena wasn’t sure what she’d expected when choosing the fox, but it wasn’t finding an Amazon with an attitude.
She got to her feet. “Thank you, but I’d rather keep following the fox.”
When she glanced about the campfire, it was nowhere to be seen.
Phoebe snorted, leaning back against the tree trunk. “What about Katell?” She tore a chunk of bread with her teeth. “Don’t you wish to save her?”
Alena froze. “What do you know about my sister?”
The Amazon shrugged. “More than you, apparently.”
“Speak plainly!”
Phoebe’s silver eye flared at her tone, but Alena was too sore and tired to care. By the Moon, she needed answers.
“I saw you try to save her,” the Amazon said. “I saw you beg for her to come with you and fail. She’s too far gone, Alena. She’s already under Dalmatius’ influence—and soon, it’ll be the Emperor’s.”
The Amazon set the bread aside and rose. She towered over Alena, her body lean with muscle. “Your sister’s magic will grow, and none will be able to stop her—none save those with old magic.”
“You mean the Omega.” Alena raised her hand, revealing the golden Mark etched on her skin.
Phoebe quirked an eyebrow. “Do you know what that Mark means?”
“Not really. That’s why I came looking for answers. I was told that an ancient goddess from the east chose me.”
“Not just any goddess. The Mother Goddess.” She grasped Alena’s chin between her cold fingers and scowled. “You‘re the new chosen Omega. There have been many Omega warriors throughout time, all Gifted by the goddess to kill a specific person. A king, a chief, sometimes even a priest.”
Alena snatched her face away. So, the Omega warriors were assassins? It was all starting to sound like a terrible idea. The Huntress had mentioned an enemy, but no specific name when they’d met.
“And who exactly am I supposed to kill?”
Phoebe’s lips curled into a sharp, toothy smile. “Caius Tarquinius.”
Although Alena had suspected the Emperor might be the evil the Omega was supposed to eradicate, it still seemed impossible that she’d been chosen to kill the most powerful man in the Empire. “He killed both my parents… is that why this Mother Goddess chose me?”
“Not exactly.”
Phoebe didn’t elaborate further, and Alena released a sharp breath. “Fine. And how exactly am I meant to kill him? I’m not a trained warrior.”
“Clearly,” the Amazon shot back, settling down on the furs again. “That’s why you’ll use your Gift to take his. That should kill him.”
“Take his Gift? How?”
“Like you did with the Blood Wolf.”
Alena blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“Huntress save me! What do you think the Omega’s Gift is?” Phoebe flicked her fingers at the wolves. “Better senses and running around with wolves?”
Alena hadn’t really thought about it. The Gifts she’d received from the Huntress were more than enough.
Others will follow.
Had the Huntress meant other gods?
“When an Omega touches a Gifted’s Mark, they can break the pact between the human and immortal if they wish it and take their Gifts for themselves,” Phoebe went on. “That’s what makes the Omega such powerful warriors. They can have several Gifts at once.”
Alena’s eyes widened, and she half-stumbled, half-dropped onto the furs, her thoughts scattering. “So, I can… I can have lots of different types of magic?”
“Yes. Although I know very little about it myself.” Something must have shown on Alena’s face as Phoebe continued in a gentler tone. “The immortal who sent me will guide you. I’m to take you to a safe place and train you for your purpose. We have a long journey ahead, and you can ask me all your questions then. We’ll leave in the morning.”
She stuffed some cheese into her mouth and tore off another chunk of bread, no doubt done with the conversation.
Alena’s mind churned with all the information Phoebe had thrown at her. When confronted with the Blood Wolf, she hadn’t thought about her actions. His Mark had called to her, and she’d reached out on instinct. The Huntress had Gifted her then; she’d never asked for any of it. She wondered whether the other gods would be as generous.
If Leukos were with her, he’d know what to say and whether to trust Phoebe or not.
But he was leaving for Achaea in the morning.
Her mind snapped to attention, and she glanced up, taking in her surroundings. The air had grown humid, and the forest was pitch black.
Her heart lurched. “I need to head back.”
Phoebe’s brow creased. “Night has fallen, and the moon is hidden. You won’t make it back in this darkness.”
Alena climbed to her feet, ignoring the ache in her limbs. If she didn’t leave now, it’d be too late to see the rebels off. “I have to try.”
The grey wolf gave a soft whine, and she could no longer distinguish the black one among the pine trees. She paused, considering her options. The fox had led her through forests and rocky mountainsides, and she’d even crossed a river. She’d need a torch to make the same journey back in the dark. But even then, it would be a risk.
Indecision gnawed at her.
“Alena,” Phoebe coaxed, patting the furs, “stay. You’ll break your neck stumbling through the dark, even with your Gifts. Spend the night here, and I promise to wake you up before daybreak.”
Alena scoured the shadowy expanse between the trees and cursed herself. She should have paid better attention to her surroundings instead of getting engrossed in Phoebe’s revelations.
But the Amazon was right. With the lack of moonlight, the journey back was too dangerous, even with her heightened senses.
She hesitated before settling back down on the furs, and they ate in silence. The campfire’s glow illuminated the clearing, revealing a damp tunic hanging from a branch by the horse and beneath it, a bow and quiver full of arrows propped against the trunk.
The grey wolf nudged her shoulder and lay behind her with a whine, keeping her back warm. Next to her, Phoebe devoured her food as if it might be snatched from her at any moment.
She looked nothing like the lithe and graceful Amazons depicted on the Achaean ceramics Alena had once glimpsed, nor like what Damocles’ texts had described. Hard lines etched the uncovered part of her face, and her arms, corded with muscle, sported many scars.
“Were you at the Battle of Kendrisia?” she asked.
“I was.” Phoebe gulped down more water and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “And before you ask, that’s not how I lost my eye.”
Alena hadn’t planned on asking, but at least now she understood the reason for the bandage wrapping her head.
“Did you know my mother, the Rebel Queen?”
“I did.” Phoebe hesitated, then added, “Andrasta was a dear friend. She’s the reason I’m here today.”
Alena’s breath caught. The battle-scarred woman had not only known her mother, they’d also been friends.
“Did she make you promise to find me?”
“Promise?” Phoebe scoffed. “No. That wasn’t like Andrasta. One of the Twelve came to the Amazons seeking help to train you, and I answered her call. We’ve been in hiding from the Emperor for too long, and I’ve been itching for some action. I guess time will tell if my decision was the right one.”
Alena tried not to take her quip to heart. She had a feeling she’d be on the receiving end of many more in the following days.
Phoebe retrieved a couple of blankets and offered one to her. “Sleep now. You’ll need to be well-rested for the journey ahead.”
She took the blanket, lying down beside the grey wolf, patting its thick fur.
“I’ll wake you up before dawn breaks.” Phoebe settled against the tree trunk and laid a short sword across her lap. “I promise.”