‘That makes half as many to fight.’
‘That’s right.’
‘You’ve followed Iskander too long, you’re starting to think like an army general.’ Plexis chuckled then winced as the wagon hit a root. ‘I won’t be of much help.’
The cart lurched and he took a quick breath.
‘Are you all right?’
Plexis smiled at me. ‘Yes. Fine. Here we are again, off to save the world.’
‘Saving the world and finding lost souls. That shouldn’t be too hard,’ I said.
I sat up and looked around. The night was wearing thin around the edges. Stars were fading and the trees were showing more and more of their branches. In the distance wolves howled. The sky was tinged with rose and green, and the night shivered as dawn touched it with cool fingers.
The words of the oracle came back to me then. Words that had been spoken twelve years ago in a dark smoke filled room near Persepolis. ‘Keep your son with you, he will find the lost soul.’ I hadn’t known what it meant at the time, but now I did.
‘And after this adventure’s done we can go home,’ I said.
‘To have a banquet with the gods,’ said Plexis dreamily.
‘Why, that’s right,’ I said, brushing his chestnut hair off his forehead.
‘You can count me in,’ said Plexis. ‘You can count on me for the adventure.’
‘I know,’ I said happily, and I smiled. The stars were reflected in his bright hazel eyes as he stared back at me – the stars, the faint light of dawn, and all the joy I felt to have him near me again.
In the darkness, I smiled. We were heading toward the land of the Eaters of the Dead, but I was not afraid. The prophecy would be fulfilled. Alexander would find his soul.
I whispered his name in the night, and the pine trees rustled it back to me like an echo. Alexander.
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Chants to Persephone: The Future of the World Hangs on a Knife's Edge - and Only a Human Sacrifice Can Save It Page 23
